HELPFUL ARTICLES FOR AUTHORS ONLINE
Google's SEO Starter Guide, Google Webmaster Central Blog
Available in 40 languages, this is a solid introduction to SEO.
How To Use Twitter as a Twool, Guy Kawasaki
A smart and insightful piece about Twitter.
In the Next Revolution, Atoms Are the New Bits, by Chris Anderson
A fascinating Wired magazine article about DIY product design and custom manufacturing. It's all about how anyone with an idea for making something can design it himself using free, open source tools on the web and then access manufacturers, both in the US and overseas, who can create and ship the finished product, all at an affordable price.
Should e-Books Be Copy Protected?, by David Pogue
A fascinating article about New York Times tech columnist Pogue's experiment with removing the copy protection from one of his e-books, and the impact it had on sales.
Why Twitter Will Endure, by David Carr
A great piece by the New York Times media columnist about how to use Twitter as a tool that enables your interests and brings value.
A FEW GOOD BOOKS
This is not an exhaustive list for sure, but you're at the beginning of this process and there's no reason to overload you.
The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published, by Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry
This is truly The Bible For Authors: a terrific, comprehensive, carefully researched guide to every aspect of the authorial process from writing a book to selling, pitching, and marketing it successfully. It's now in its second edition and is an invaluable resource for authors.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Creating a Website, by Paul McFedries
I've had great success with Idiot's Guides -- their book on music theory is one of the best I've found -- and this guide to building a website is very good. The author gives you the basics of writing HTML code and the book comes with a CD that contains lots of additional information and examples. This is a great introduction and explains a lot of the underlying principles of websites without getting overly complex.
Duct Tape Marketing: The World's Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide, by John Jantsch
Aimed at businesses, this book still has lots of good advice for anyone who's trying to promote and publicize a website.
Google Analytics, Third Edition, by Jerri Ledford, Joe Teixeira, Mary E. Tyler, published by Wiley
This is a well-written guide to Google Analytics that also has a section or chapter on AdSense and AdWords. It's not cheap – a $35 paperback at the time of this writing – but it's an excellent resource and companion to the wealth of information you'll find on Google's website.
Search Engine Optimization: An Hour a Day, by Jennifer Grappone and Gradiva Couzin
A systematic, easy-to-follow primer on search engine optimization – SEO – one of the most important forms of web marketing.
SEO Fast Start, by Dan Thies
This is a free e-book that covers all the essentials of SEO: mapping out keywords strategies; developing an optimizing web pages; building links; measuring results; and more. The author also runs a blog on the subject.
The New Rules of Marketing and PR: How to Use Social Media, Blogs, News Releases, Online Video, and Viral Marketing to Reach Buyers Directly, 2nd Edition, by David Meerman Scott
This book on modern marketing and public relations on the web comes highly recommended to me, and was a Business Week bestseller.
Wordpress for Dummies, by Lisa Sabin-Wilson, published by Wiley
Normally I prefer the Idiot's Guides to Dummies, but this is what my local bookstore had when I needed it, and I've found it to be very clear, easy-to-follow, and comprehensive.
Million Dollar Website, by Lori Culwell
A good book and very useful book about building a website, particularly aimed at small businesses.