Bloggers Boot Camp: Learning How to Build, Write, and Run a Successful Blog [Kindle Edition]

John Biggs (Author), Charlie White (Author)

Book Description

Bloggers Boot Camp shows you how to build a great blog from the ground up. This isn't a book about technology -- it's a book about engaging millions of readers. Starting your blog is easy, but building and maintaining a popular one is hard. Blogging experts John Biggs and Charlie White (Gizmodo, Mashable and TechCrunch) share their secrets from the frontline showing you how to blog with quality and flair, find the best stories, and attract millions of readers to your blog. Blogging goes way beyond writing. It's a conversation between you and your audience. Guiding you to blogging success Bloggers Boot Camp shows you how to:

* Uncover a niche for your blog, and realize key factors about yourself that you need to know before you write a single word. * Gather the ideal tools for blogging, without spending too much or approaching it underequipped. *Discover the best ways to spread the word about your new blog. * Find the most compelling stories to write about, and get the information before anyone else does. * Transform your writing by learning the subtle art of constructing a compelling, engaging blog post. * Stimulate your readers to directly participate in the two-way conversation, perhaps the most exciting part of this new way of communicating.

* Teaches writers how to blog and bloggers how to write * Offers a simple method for writing every day and a simple formula for creating compelling content * The writers have 20,000+ posts under their belts at three of the five most powerful blogs in the world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The book 'Bloggers Boot Camp' sets the standards high, but if you are serious about your attempt to become a thought leader in your area of expertise, this book can really help you. Some information is quite basic, but in the end this book will hand you the steps that get you ahead right now. The only thing you need know is device with an internet connection and perseverance."--Customer Talk

"This book was a well-written and informative look at the basics of starting a blog and making it successful. The authors use humor to their advantage as they provide an entertaining read chocked full of introductory information. They cover topics such as what makes a good post, frequency of posting, how to monetize your blog, and the measures of success. The book assumes that you will be using something like Blogspot or Word Press to build your blog. There a are lot of sites that offer blogging templates that you can configure to a certain extent, but this book won't help you with html and building your blog without the use of templates. All in all,I feel this was worth reading and found it to be a good resource."--Book Bargains and Previews

"Blogging has become important to many marketers. Engaging with consumers keeps their messages in the email inbox, mentioned on social media and ranking high in organic search results. That's why so many are writing about their passions in a way that reaches interested audiences. Bloggers Charlie White and John Biggs know how to do just that. So they've provided tips in their book, 'Bloggers Boot Camp.'"--TargetMarketingMag.com

"The book takes the reader through the changing news environment where print is quickly moving into obscurity, and demonstrates how blogging is 'expanding your reach and voice to create a unique online identity.'  While it is assumed that the reader will be knowledgeable about topics written, an emphasis on best practices for critical elements to success like perseverance and reader engagement are articulated throughout the chapters. Through my own experience, I have learned that having the commitment and patience to consistently develop quality, timely content and create a two-way conversation with readers who comment is critical to boosting your blog's credibility and viewership. So if you have been thinking about how to take part of a conversation regarding your interests, or your point of view in how you run your business, and want to use a blog as one of the tools to do so, then Bloggers Boot Camp is right place to start."--ABA Banking Journal.com

"Over 200 pages that give an insight into building, writing and running a successful blog. Discover the trick to uncovering a niche for your blog, plus how to spread the word and create compelling content."--Web Designer magazine

"We all know that every blogger needs a few tools to run a successful blog and surely a fast loading website and tips from professionals like John Biggs and Charlie White who make a living as bloggers will get any blogger on the right track."--BenjaminKerensa.com

"Essentially, the book is a beginner's guide, rather than a path to blogging enlightenment or those already blogging. It's pretty well laid out, covering off the basics, such as registering your name, choosing a platform, design and hosting, with screen grabs to help you along your way. There are some things I'm not sure I'd agree with, such as the definition of blogging "journalism on a short deadline" (part of the problem with PRs is treating bloggers as journalists; blogging should be allowed to be much broader) and the "1,000 Words Rule" that targets bloggers with writing a thousands words every day (again, too rigid a rule for many bloggers). There's a few paragraphs on working with PR people, which I think could have been expanded (but then I'm biased) and some tips of writing reviews, plus some ethics guidelines. More useful I'd imagine to newbies are the technical tips, such as adding an RSS feed and explaining about Google Analytics. All of this is written in a non-technical format, so it's easy to follow. So, overall, I'd say it's a useful guide for someone who's new to blogging, as long as they treat it as a guide rather than a bible."--The RedRocket.co.uk

"'Bloggers Boot Camp' sets the standards high, but if you are serious about your attempt to become a thought leader in your area of expertise, this book can really help you. Some information is quite basic, but in the end this book will hand you the steps that get you ahead right now. The only thing you need know is device with an internet connection and perseverance."--Anne van den Berg, CustomerTalk.nl

This book is geared toward designing a blog that will have thousands or maybe millions of followers. Anyone who hopes to get paid for writing a blog should read the entire book carefully. The fundamentals of equipment, accessories, and the blogging space itself are well covered. Before decisions are made about a platform, though, authors White (senior editor, Mashable, CH, Jul'11, 48-6008) and Biggs (technology writer) push readers to answer some serious questions: What are you going to write about? What are you passionate about? What do you know about? Who are you? To be a successful blogger, one needs to go through this process. Academic professionals should pick and choose which chapters to read. Even those who believe they do not need the chapter titled "What to Write About" should at least browse it, given its valuable perspective on how to write a blog that followers will want to read. The emphasis is on communicating with those who follow what one writes. Readers should not skip the chapter titled "How to Write a Blog Post," which is patiently detailed and well explained, with a show-and-tell emphasis. White and Biggs valuably explain the differences between writing and blogging. Those with the time anddedication to devote to the task can learn from this book what they need to know to become professional bloggers. The appendix offers helpful hints on getting enough sleep, having a healthy diet, and not forgetting to exercise. No matter what one's field of academic expertise, one should be ready first to enjoy this book and then to learn. Anyone who has blogged in the past or is curious about blogging will benefit from reading Bloggers Boot Camp thoroughly." -- L. Lord, University of Kansas

From the Back Cover

Bloggers Boot Camp shows you how to build a great blog from the ground up. This isn't a book about technology -- it's a book about engaging millions of readers. Starting your blog is easy, but building and maintaining a popular one is hard. Blogging experts John Biggs and Charlie White (Gizmodo, Mashable and TechCrunch) share their secrets from the frontline showing you how to blog with quality and flair, find the best stories, and attract millions of readers to your blog. Blogging goes way beyond writing. It's a conversation between you and your audience. Guiding you to blogging success Bloggers Boot Camp shows you how to:

* Uncover a niche for your blog, and realize key factors about yourself that you need to know before you write a single word. * Gather the ideal tools for blogging, without spending too much or approaching it underequipped. *Discover the best ways to spread the word about your new blog. * Find the most compelling stories to write about, and get the information before anyone else does. * Transform your writing by learning the subtle art of constructing a compelling, engaging blog post. * Stimulate your readers to directly participate in the two-way conversation, perhaps the most exciting part of this new way of communicating.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 1791 KB
• Print Length: 224 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Up to 4 simultaneous devices, per publisher limits
• Publisher: Focal Press; 1 edition (September 1, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005HTQLIY
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #287,487 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars If you are interested in starting a blog that lasts, read this book. September 28, 2011

By Brandon Price

Format:Paperback

John Biggs and Charlie White do an excellent job covering not only *how* to blog, but *why* to blog. There is so much in this book about the theory of blogging and how it really is new journalism, which I found very interesting. They also provide a very realistic step-by-step view on how to create a successful blog, but they don't paint an unrealistic picture of success by saying blogging is a quick and easy road to riches.

The book covers all areas of blogging, from setup to workflow to social networking to ads to ethics to even hiring other writers once your blog is seeing some success. I especially liked how they didn't shy away from being specific with services and tools, such as even mentioning which desk chair they'd recommend. They also didn't shy away from giving specific numerical estimates, like how many words per day to write, how many pageviews per day to reach before you take your next step, and current industry norms on paying other writers. These discussions took the book from the theoretical to the practical, which I always appreciate.

The one drawback the book had for me personally (there were actually two if you count the price of the e-book) was that it seemed to be describing a detailed pattern for a frequently updated, news-type blog. Other extremely niche-specific examples were thrown out from time to time (like when speaking of introducing yourself on your blog be able to answer the question, "What makes you special enough to write about Hello Kitty all day?"). However, the authors were very specific about the need to post several times a day, and that only posting once a day was dangerous for a blog. I kept coming back to the question, "But what if you are writing about something that won't be getting a lot of news?" What if you are starting a blog on the history of something (which has an end), or the theory of something (like a self-help blog)? I would have loved to have heard a bit more about running those kind of blogs.

All in all the book was very good, and very useful. It's already changed the way I look at managing my personal blog, and it's given me dreams about creating other blogs in the future. If you are interested in starting a blog people read, get this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars You too can be the next blogging superstar........well almost. December 10, 2011

By M. A. Filippelli VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Blog away with Bloggers boot camp.

What Bloggers boot camp excels at is walking the users though initiating a blog setting the parameters like character limits and then maintaining/moderating your blog. The Authors give the reader a good idea set up RSS feeds, advertising your blog, getting search engines to recognize it. The Authors also talk about blog content and reaching your target audience and the keys to doing that depending on your parameters preference being photo blogging, political blogging, local events blogging, book/movie review blogging etc. stream of consciousness blogging etc.

One of the more helpful aspects of the book is that the authors spend a lot of space talking about blogging etiquette, punctuation, writing styles, formatting, common spelling errors, how to write to capture the readers attention The authors approach this with a kind of journalistic prose The authors also talk about weeding out rumors and facts before blogging about them which brings us to our next section in this review:

Slander and the liabilities of running a blog: This section deals with slander and how to protect your self against those charges. When is free speech not so free.

The authors also cover the for profit aspect of running a blog, deciding who you want to appeal too to advertise on your blog, and seeking advertisers that make sense for your blog. Building traffic to you blog to attract advertisers. There is a little bit about clicks for cash setup where you have affiliate links on your site and every time a visitor clicks on that link you are rewarded in either goods or cash.

The book assumes that you will be using something like blogspot or tumblr to build your blog. There a are lot of sites that offer blogging templates that you can configure to a certain extent. If your looking at this book to learn more about building a blog from the ground up you will be disappointed because there isn't much here with regard building templates. Not much in the way of html coding or css help here. Bloggers boot camp does offer some basic information about building rss feeds but not a lot of help

Bloggers boot camp will be helpful to the reader/blogger that wants to get a blog up and running and they are ok with using templates and building off of a foundation that someone else created. From that point on the authors cover almost everything well everything well.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Potential to be a true "general manual" for novice bloggers - but it's not there *yet*. May 15, 2012

By Knits in Tardis VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Early on in "Bloggers Boot Camp", there's some expansion on the notion that you have to be genuinely passionate about the subject of a blog if you expect to make a success of it. Of course, the same goes for books. I'd say after reading that Charlie White and John Biggs, as authors here, are passionate about their work and about sharing their knowledge with aspiring bloggers, but also that this is not entirely enough to make a success of a book that is being marketed to a far more general blogger audience than "technophiles who have moved from traditional journalism venues to blogging".

I found a lot worth reading in this book, even though my interest at present runs more toward hobbyist blogging, where hints on how to handle a press junket or how to protect a confidential source are a bit less likely to be germane. Where the authors did command my attention was the "nuts and bolts" department. "Bloggers Boot Camp" offers one of the most concise and newbie accessible --but useful! -- overviews of the business side of blogging, that I've ever seen . I'd recommend the chapter entitled "Building Traffic, Making Money, and Measuring Success" to anyone with even the haziest notion of one day turning a blogging avocation into a profitable business.

There are other parts of this book where coverage seems skimpy or even incorrect. A chapter on ethics covers "Cease and Desist" letters - the bane of bloggers everywhere - in such a way as might leave the blogging novice under the impression that such letters are generated mainly in cases where libel or slander is at issue, when in truth the reasons (pretence?) cited often for issuance of a C&D are varied, and include "unauthorized use of copyrighted materials", or alleged misuse of another's trademark, such as in recent years when one prominent knitting author and a number of knitting blogs and guilds came afoul of a small New York retailer who claimed copyright on the phrase "Stitch 'N Bitch". (That fight started around 2006, and I believe it is still in the courts!)

"As a rule of thumb," the authors share, "do not remove anything you have written, unless it has been proven false and potentially damaging by an impartial third party, usually a court." That advice may be all well and good for larger/professional blogging ventures or for hearty souls willing to bear some risk, possibly even defend such matters "in pro se", but as directed toward hobbyist and "one man show" blogs, C&D's work for one reason: it's costly to defend against an entity that is willing to go to some expense to "persuade" you remove your content. Even if you win, you can lose.

I also question the blithe recommendation of GoDaddy.com as a DNS server choice. This advice coming from tech bloggers, no less! The authors indirectly acknowledge GoDaddy's infamous support of the controversial online piracy bill known as SOPA, and the boycott that resulted this last December. Still, there's no hint here that an aspiring blogger with, for example, a politically attuned target readership - let's say similar to the readership of slashdot.org -- just might want to know a bit more specifically *why* GoDaddy is on the outs with much of the blogosphere, and glean some perspective on how an affiliation with GoDaddy might be viewed by prospective readers. This is extraneous/meta /"inside baseball" stuff by some reckonings, perhaps, but also potentially critical context for someone new to the world of blogging.

I'm left with the impression that the authors are passionate about what they do, yes, but not quite so much about blogging matters outside of their particular wheelhouse(s). Depth of experience, while invaluable, has places where it cannot entirely compensate for lack of breadth. If there are future editions of "Bloggers Boot Camp", I'd love to see the authors call on top bloggers from outside of their particular areas of expertise to share their insights.