If you’re after the best affiliate marketing books to get your hands on in 2020, then this is the review for YOU!
In my opinion, there is no better time to start and grow an affiliate marketing business from scratch.
Because as more folks hop on the web to shop from the comfort of their home or a Starbucks, technology evolves, and Wi-Fi speeds crank up…
Money (and LOTS of it) is being spent online faster than you can say Jack Robinson!
This means AWESOME news for people like US on the other side of the fence. 😉
But the biggest hurdle is knowing HOW to actually capitalize on this mammoth opportunity, right?
Yeah, sure you can spam the internet to death with affiliate links, but it’s not a sustainable strategy in this day and age of the web.
Because people only buy from affiliates who provide that magic word called “VALUE” – the ones who help rather than just sell stuff.
So this is where affiliate marketing books come into play, since “knowledge is power” as they say.
But only when action is taken.
Whether you wanna learn the ropes of affiliate marketing, actually start a Biz online and/or brush up on your current marketing skills…
There are plenty of books to fulfill your needs. Too many, in fact!
But luckily, I’ve personally read, researched, and selected a handful of awesome affiliate marketing books – ones that you’re gonna LOVE!
So enough of the rambling, let’s get to it…
Blog Post Contents:
The 10 Best Affiliate Marketing Books That Knock It Out of The Park
Well, since this is probably one of the best affiliate marketing books I’ve ever read from cover-to-cover (twice).
And with it also being one of the top picks on Hustle Life and Niche Pursuits, it gives me great pleasure to introduce…
#1: From Nothing by Ian Pribyl (FIMP Founder)
I first met Ian Pribyl inside Wealthy Affiliate – he was one of WA’s top dog affiliates with more than 15 years of experience under his belt.
Fast forward to now – “Pribs” owns a platform called First-Time Internet Marketing Profits that’s geared towards helping newbs succeed online.
And from that, saw the birth of ‘From Nothing‘ – FIMP’s companion that’s available in Kindle, paperback and Audible formats.
In fact, From Nothing’s so much more than your typical “run-of-the-mill” book.
Because it’s a step-by-step blueprint that shows any beginner how to build a profitable WordPress blog from scratch on a small budget – the evergreen way.
The key lessons cover:
- Niche selection
- Buying a domain
- Setting up web-hosting
- Starting a blog & optimizing it for SEO
- Keyword research
- And writing quality content.
With a sprinkling of awesome mindset “stuff” and affiliate marketing advice from an economics standpoint to top it off.
Oh, and did I mention that Pribs also runs an exclusive Facebook support group for FIMP members? 😉
#2: Crushing It! By Gary Vaynerchuk (aka “Gary Vee”)
If you’ve been around the online money-making/affiliate marketing sphere:
Chances are that Gary Vaynerchuk has popped up on your radar.
But if not, then see Vaynerchuk’s autobiography on Wikipedia to get acquainted with the legendary Entrepreneur/motivational speaker.
When it comes to his book ‘Crushing It – How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Businesses and Influence – And How You Can Too’…
Vaynerchuk shares his insights into current (+ upcoming) social media platforms.
Ones, like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Music.ly, Snapchat, podcasts, and voice-first.
Where he basically dives deep into mindset and helps you to use those said platforms to transform your passion into a profitable brand.
Not only will you learn how Mr. Vee uses certain platforms to his advantage…
But you’ll discover how some marketers became top dog influencers in their fields using them.
#3: Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook – Again, by Gary Vaynerchuk
OK, this is another book that dives into the topic of social media.
Except, inside this one, Vaynerchuk exposes the biggest mistakes made by numerous marketers and even big bands on platforms.
Where they’re a bit premature when it comes to the selling side of things (right hook).
So Vaynerchuk helps you to stand out from them and become more successful – by putting tons of “VALUE” out there (jabbing) before asking for the sale.
Which makes total sense because folks are reluctant to buy if you’re not prepared to help them first, right?
This is what I love about blogging – it’s a great way to address people’s problems with high-quality “free” content and product reviews.
Which in turn, earns their trust, makes you an authority, and leads to more folks purchasing your affiliate offers.
Personally, I’m not a fan of social media *boo hoo*.
But Crushing It and Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook are definitely great starting points if you are.
Especially when Gary Vee seriously knows his stuff when it comes to pretty much every social media platform in existence.
#4: Affiliate Marketing: Launch a Six-Figure Business With ClickBank Products, Affiliate Links, Amazon Affiliate Program & Internet Marketing by Noah Gray & Michael Fox
OK, this may seem like one heck of a long-winded book title…
But it’s a comprehensive read that delivers exactly what’s advertised on the tin. This is what you’ll learn about:
- Understanding & getting up and running with an affiliate marketing Biz
- Avoiding certain mistakes
- Choosing a niche
- Acquisition & promotion
- A detailed account on affiliate networks
- Building traffic & scaling
- Amazon Associates program
- ClickBank products
- Best affiliate programs to promote
The whole shebang, almost.
This is a great newbie-friendly book that helps you to start off on the right foot as an affiliate marketer and build a successful Biz in the long run.
Just like Ian Pribyl’s ‘From Nothing – follow the guidance to the letter if you wanna start making money promoting other people’s stuff.
#5: Affiliate Marketing: The Beginner’s Step-by-Step Guide to Making Money Online With Affiliate Marketing by Kevin Ulaner
YUP, another long-ass book title…
But as the name suggests, it’s a blueprint that allows newbs to build successful online businesses (with minimal capital) so they can quit their life-sucking jobs.
Inside the book, you’ll learn all about:
- The definition of affiliate marketing & the benefits tied to it
- The common mistakes that newbies make
- Affiliate marketing fundamentals
- Starting off on the right foot with the concept
Again, it’s an “actionable” book.
Where you’ll be putting all the tips and strategies into practice to acquire the skills for earning full-time with your passion.
#6: Quick Start Guide to Affiliate Marketing: Answers to The Questions You Should be Asking by Geno Prussakov
What is it with affiliate marketing book publishers and their long titles these days? LOL.
Joking aside, this book basically answers the 60 most common questions from a newbie standpoint – compiling them into a useful guide.
So step aside Google and Quora!
Additionally, Geno shares some of his golden nugget tips that help you to avoid the biggest problems made and faced by beginners.
Damn, why wasn’t this book around when I first started out many moons ago?! *SOB*
Once it’s read from cover-to-cover, any novice will be clued-up on what it takes to really succeed as an affiliate marketer in today’s climate.
However, just because this book is gonna remove many of the obstacles, doesn’t make it some “get-rich-quick” guide.
Because time and effort need to be applied for generating a passive income from promoting other people’s products.
#7: Affiliate Marketing For Beginners: Learn How to Make Your First $1000 Passive Income Online by Ray Hamilton
This is a great book containing step-by-step guidance (along with screenshots) on various ways you can make money via affiliate marketing.
Some of the topics you’ll learn about include:
- The fundamentals of earning a passive income
- Blogs & websites
- Email subscriber list building
- Making your own App
- YouTube
- Podcasts
- Selling products
Basically, they are all proven strategies to roll with that can enable you to earn your first $1K online, scale up from there, and quit your job.
However, experience has taught me that focusing on too many strategies at once can easily overwhelm you as a beginner.
So the best way of implementing Ray’s guidance is by picking just one method – whether it’s blogging, vlogging or doing podcasts, etc.
And then make it successful before advancing to the next strategy.
While Hamilton’s 59-page publication is a fairly short read, it’s still a great starting point for any beginner, in my book (PUN intended).
#8: Affiliate Marketing Splash: Building Affiliate Sites That Rank by Zen Duck Dave
This straight-talking book is all about starting and building a successful blog using two different SEO methods:
- Black Hat
- And White Hat.
In addition, you’ll learn about some “secret sauce” ways of driving instant and targeted traffic to your website.
While I’m not exactly a huge fan of the Black Hat Decepticon strategy due to it being both shady and risky…
You’ll learn some good stuff on building and ranking a blog.
White Hat is definitely the best way to go about building a sustainable Biz as a blogger because it’s more ethical from my point of view.
But each affiliate/blogger to their own, as they say.
#9 DotCom Secrets (1st Book) by Russell Brunson
DotCom Secrets (comprising 254 pages) is the first “Underground Playbook” of the trilogy.
A book that explores growing your company online through the power of sales funnels.
Where Russell Brunson offers heaps of actionable guidance (together with diagrams) on topics like:
- The concept of the value ladder
- Creating your attractive character
- Email marketing strategies
- And so MUCH more…
Basically, you’ll be taught the “secret” fundamentals of successful sales funnel creation from start to finish.
Even if you’re contemplating blogging, you’ll still discover heaps of “aha” moments that can put you ahead of your competitors’.
#10: Expert Secrets (2nd Book) by Russell Brunson
Inside Brunson’s second book – Expert Secrets (comprising 265 pages), it’s about getting your message out there and building a tribe of fans.
Where you’ll be taught (via actionable advice and diagrams) stuff on:
- Creating your mass movement of followers
- The elements, identity & storylines to create your persona
- Creating belief by understanding what makes your followers minds tick
- The stack – selling with authenticity
- And MORE…
While DotCom Secrets revolves more around the psychology and moving parts of funnels…
Expert Secrets focuses on helping you to become an expert in your chosen niche where your fans will pay you for your advice.
#11: Traffic Secrets (3rd Book) by Russell Brunson
Brunson’s final installment – Traffic Secrets (comprising 352 pages) revolves around filling your websites and funnels with your dream customers.
In other words… driving that thing called targeted “traffic” and LOTS of it!
Where you’re gonna learn all about the 3 following traffic types:
- Cold
- Warm
- Hot
With each type, Brunson basically shares the various free and paid methods you can leverage for generating millions of red hot buyers to your offers over time.
These are the same strategies that Brunson’s used himself for sending 10,000,000s of visitors to his own sites on a monthly basis.
When Traffic Secrets is combined with both the DotCom and Expert Secrets books, you’ll have one heck of a blueprint on your hands!
My Final Conclusion on Affiliate Marketing Books
At the end of the day, there’s a giant dolly mixture of affiliate marketing books to choose from – some are amazing, but others are mediocre/trash.
But the ones I’ve listed within this review we benefit you greatly – whether you’re a novice or pro.
So it’s really down to you to decide which book(s) you wanna start out with because they’re all unique in their own special ways.
However, getting your hands on a book is only half the battle.
Because you still have to apply the knowledge if you wanna crush it as an affiliate marketer.
Furthermore, buying a book is one thing, but there’s no substitute for REAL “over-the-shoulder” video training, right?
And also what happens when you’re stuck with a certain tool or strategy, huh?
There’s nobody to fall back on for support inside most books – which is why it’s vital for you to be part of a “community”.
So as a perfect book companion, you should also see Wealthy Affiliate and Ian Pribyl’s FIMP platform – they’ll put you on track to even bigger success.
Thanks for stopping by…
Your buddy, Neil 😀
Which book tickles your fancy and why? Or Have any of the books above already impacted your life? We’d LOVE to hear from you below…
Thanks for these awesome suggestions on what books are good to read if you’re interested in affiliate marketing. I have only heard about 2 of these books before, but they all seem very interesting indeed to read.
Which ones have you personally read yourself, and out of the ones you have read what was your favourite one? Also, can you give one helpful tip you learned by reading these?
Thanks.
You’re welcome, Michael! 🙂
YUP, the books certainly are interesting in their own special ways.
At the moment, I’ve read From Nothing, DotCom, and Expert Secrets. But I’ve also read others (not listed) in the past. I’d say that From Nothing is definitely the best one I’ve read so far.
Because it’s basically a whole step-by-step training course squeezed into a Kindle/paperback/audible.
As for my tip: Acquiring knowledge is only half the battle… so TAKE ACTION to see results.