Four books on professional blogging you can't afford to miss

With the proliferation of microblogging sites like Twitter and Tumblr, it's easy to assume that traditional blogging is on its way out, but that's simply not true. Since it's impossible to consistently and effectively encapsulate your marketing or consumer education messages in only 140-character soundbites, blogging will always have its place somewhere on the vast plains of the Internet.

Although it seems like everyone and their cat already has a blog, there are still some companies dipping their toes in the Weblog water for the first time. If you're overhauling your entire approach to blogging or just getting started, there are plenty of books on the market to help you find your way around. After you've skimmed the obvious choice, "Blogging for Dummies," be sure to check out these four great reads for in-depth information from experts in the blogging industry.

Blog Marketing -- Even if you've got the best blog in your niche, no one will read it if people don't know it's there. Jeremy Wright, CEO of popular blogging network b5media, penned a terrific book on the art of marketing your blog. He helps businesses understand that simply slapping content onto a Web site and calling it a blog does a disservice to your readers and why it help your company's bottom line one bit.  

Building a WordPress Blog People Want to Read -- Before Author Scott McNulty landed his gig as Chief Blogger for Comcast Voices, he was a professional blogger for noted Web sites like MacUser and The Unofficial Apple Weblog. McNulty's book is a wonderful guide for both novice users and experienced pros who want helpful tips for building a successful blog on the wildly popular blogging platform WordPress. 

Blogging Heroes -- If you want to learn at the feet of people who've been in the trenches, then pick up this compliation of advice from the blogging pros. Get advice on everything from dealing with comment trolls to finding new subject matter, and everything in between. Thirty amazing bloggers grace these pages, including former Lifehacker blogger Gina Trapani, AOL's Programming Manager Victor Agreda, Jr., and Engadget's Editor-In-Cheif Peter Rojas.

Clear Blogging -- My collegue, freelance technolgy writer Daniel Dern, led me to this fantastic book. Author Bob Walsh has tons of great advice on how to moneytize and build readership on your blog, and also takes a good look at some newer options bloggers have such as podcasting and video blogging. After reading this book, I can see why Dern was hooked by the second chapter.

Now it's your turn. What's your recommendation for a favorite book on blogging? Let me know in the comments.