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Create Your Own Blog: 6 Easy Projects to Start Blogging Like a Pro
Want a personal or business blog of your own? It’s easy! In this simple guide, one of the world’s most experienced bloggers walks you through every step, from getting started to building a worldwide audience. Tris Hussey covers it all , from low-cost blogging tools to high-powered writing tips! Get this book, and get started fast –with a professional-quality blog that meets your goals, whatever they are! Build great blogs like these, the easy way! Learn from a pro! Discover tips, tricks, and great solutions You won’t believe how easy it is to create your own blog… or how much fun!
273 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
10 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 15, 2021
True, I didn't read the entire book as some sections didn't apply to me or I just wasn't interested like "Creating a Business Blog." But if my blog is so successful and money starts rolling in, isn't that a business blog? And can I get over my addiction to $100 Million lottery tickets? Probably not. Anyway, the opening "Blogging Then and Now" and the second section that pretty much tells you all you need to know are good. But I think Blogging is the better teacher.
June 22, 2011
For years, I toyed with the idea of having a blog to share some of my creative projects and eventually to promote my craft business. I bought this book hoping to read it during my commute and have a functional blog within a few weeks. It absolutely gave me the motivation I needed to get started (and to meet that goal). Tris Hussey writes in a very conversational tone which was both easy to read and motivating for me. It was almost like having a friend giving you advice, thus compelling you to actually take action.
As you may guess from the title, this book is geared towards someone without a programming background. It is also obviously geared towards someone who is seeking this information in book form (like me!) rather than someone who would want to do the research themselves online.
The chapters are:
It's all about storytelling
Welcome to the blogosphere: Planning your first blog
Installing and setting up your first blog
Writing and creating a conversation
Building community
Creating a personal blog
Creating a business blog
Creating a podcast blog
Video blogging
Creating a portfolio blog
Creating your own online lifestream
Making money through your blog
What I liked about the book:
As noted above, the book includes chapters on both personal and business blogs. While some of the content in these chapters are repetitive, the distinctions, especially regarding voice, for a business vs. a personal blog are quite helpful.
Tris is the perfect foil for those of us who would let perfectionism get in the way of accomplishing something. He basically encourages you to just get started and not to worry too much about being perfect.
The book provided an overview of podcasting and video podcasting, as well as text and image based blogging.
In each chapter, Tris walks you through terms, set up, and shares links to free or low-cost online resources which would be helpful.
The book is very "action" oriented, with activities you can do within each chapter to get your blog up and running.
There is a good balance between explaining tech terminology which the reader might be unfamiliar with without being condescending.
What you may not like about the book:
Tris prefers self-hosted WordPress blogs (which is what I ended up using) and most of the book slants in that direction, as other reviewers have already noted. This was fine for me, because the book walked me through the steps of setting up a self-hosted WordPress blog. However, if you will be using another format, there is limited focus on the set up details.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book if you need a good kick in the pants for starting a blog!
As you may guess from the title, this book is geared towards someone without a programming background. It is also obviously geared towards someone who is seeking this information in book form (like me!) rather than someone who would want to do the research themselves online.
The chapters are:
It's all about storytelling
Welcome to the blogosphere: Planning your first blog
Installing and setting up your first blog
Writing and creating a conversation
Building community
Creating a personal blog
Creating a business blog
Creating a podcast blog
Video blogging
Creating a portfolio blog
Creating your own online lifestream
Making money through your blog
What I liked about the book:
As noted above, the book includes chapters on both personal and business blogs. While some of the content in these chapters are repetitive, the distinctions, especially regarding voice, for a business vs. a personal blog are quite helpful.
Tris is the perfect foil for those of us who would let perfectionism get in the way of accomplishing something. He basically encourages you to just get started and not to worry too much about being perfect.
The book provided an overview of podcasting and video podcasting, as well as text and image based blogging.
In each chapter, Tris walks you through terms, set up, and shares links to free or low-cost online resources which would be helpful.
The book is very "action" oriented, with activities you can do within each chapter to get your blog up and running.
There is a good balance between explaining tech terminology which the reader might be unfamiliar with without being condescending.
What you may not like about the book:
Tris prefers self-hosted WordPress blogs (which is what I ended up using) and most of the book slants in that direction, as other reviewers have already noted. This was fine for me, because the book walked me through the steps of setting up a self-hosted WordPress blog. However, if you will be using another format, there is limited focus on the set up details.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book if you need a good kick in the pants for starting a blog!
February 20, 2010
This book is a must read for anyone who wants to create a blog. The book is well written by someone who has been blogging for six years and is very easy to understand. Hussey shares the inside story of blogging. He identifies 6 types of blogs:
1. Personal blog: This is the type of blog that I normally think of when I think of blogs. It is the opinions of one person who shares his/her life.
2. Business blog: Companies are now using blogs to communicate information about their products.
3. Podcasting blog: This is the audio blog and want that I would enjoy creating.
4. Video blog: More popular than the audio podcast. Communicates the message with video.
5. Portfolio blog: The blog is used to share one's artistic work. Can be created by artists, photographers, and writers. I discovered that my daily poem blog and website are in the category of the portfolio.
6. Lifestream blog: This blog is cutting edge where the blogger creates one site to host all his/her electronic messages including Twitter, Facebook, etch.
The book discusses how to set up a blog, how to write a blog and how to build a community of readers. Hussey also discusses the ways to make money blogging.
I recommend this book to anyone who is a beginning blogger or is interested in becoming a blogger.
1. Personal blog: This is the type of blog that I normally think of when I think of blogs. It is the opinions of one person who shares his/her life.
2. Business blog: Companies are now using blogs to communicate information about their products.
3. Podcasting blog: This is the audio blog and want that I would enjoy creating.
4. Video blog: More popular than the audio podcast. Communicates the message with video.
5. Portfolio blog: The blog is used to share one's artistic work. Can be created by artists, photographers, and writers. I discovered that my daily poem blog and website are in the category of the portfolio.
6. Lifestream blog: This blog is cutting edge where the blogger creates one site to host all his/her electronic messages including Twitter, Facebook, etch.
The book discusses how to set up a blog, how to write a blog and how to build a community of readers. Hussey also discusses the ways to make money blogging.
I recommend this book to anyone who is a beginning blogger or is interested in becoming a blogger.
February 18, 2011
I am new to blogging and I am currently looking for books that can help me. Once you look past the author's constant references to his geekiness, the book is very useful if you are new like me to blogs. It helped me make a blog in WordPress(this is the only host that the author really helps with). So, if you do not want to make a blog and host it on WordPress then this is not a book that will help you.
The first chapters really helped and I was able to create a blog. There where sections such as the SEO Section(Search Engine Optimization)that needed more information and guidance. It informed me that it was useful and that there's a plug-in that would help but didn't help me install the plug-in.
The rest of the book is divided into different types of blogs and how to create them such as Personal Blogs, Business Blogs, Blogs for Podcasting, Video Blogs, Portfolio Blogs for Artists, and Life-streaming Blogs. I personally am not interested in all these types of blogs at the moment I would just like a book that helps me create a normal blog and gives me tips tricks on making it an interesting one.
Overall, this book was helpful but it was not what I was looking for.
The first chapters really helped and I was able to create a blog. There where sections such as the SEO Section(Search Engine Optimization)that needed more information and guidance. It informed me that it was useful and that there's a plug-in that would help but didn't help me install the plug-in.
The rest of the book is divided into different types of blogs and how to create them such as Personal Blogs, Business Blogs, Blogs for Podcasting, Video Blogs, Portfolio Blogs for Artists, and Life-streaming Blogs. I personally am not interested in all these types of blogs at the moment I would just like a book that helps me create a normal blog and gives me tips tricks on making it an interesting one.
Overall, this book was helpful but it was not what I was looking for.
October 14, 2010
I have been blogging for close to a decade and when I was offered the opportunity to read this book I figured I would read through it quickly - nodding approval as I flipped through...WRONG! I was astounded by the number of times I had to stop and implement something in one of my blogs! Thanks Tris!
For the novice Create Your Own Blog: 6 Easy Projects to Start Blogging Like a Pro is fabulous - it looks at 6 different types of blogs and walks you through the process set-up to publication! But it doesn't stop there - a chapter is devoted to Creating A Conversation - Building Community - and yes even Making Money with your Blog!
Personal Blog - Business Blog - Blog for Podcasting - Portfolio Blog for Artists - Life Streaming Blog
Whichever format you are interested in starting - pick up this book - heck even if you aren't planning to start a blog - pick up this book and you WILL!
November 1, 2011
I read the chapters covering the basics, but the author prefers and uses Wordpress and I use Blogger, so the set up and design step-by-step was no help. I also didn't need to read the chapters about a business blog, video blog, podcasting, portfolio or lifestreaming. I basically read 4 out of 11 chapters.
Read
October 2, 2016Quite useful. Just skimmed it through though.
April 27, 2012
Information is helpful, but not made for the Kindle
In terms of the information content, I would have been inclined to give this book 4 stars but as I purchased it for the Kindle reader I have to include how well it conveyed in this format. Frankly, I cannot recommend that this book be purchased in Kindle reader format. One of the primary features of this book are the screen shots that are used as illustrations within the text of the book as illustrations of specific subject matter. The displays on the Kindle are so small as to make them illegible and non-readable. This can be compensated for by reading the book while you have access to an internet connection and full-sized screen but then that defeats the purpose of the Kindle which is to make the material mobile.
That caveat aside I did find the information within the book helpful and can recommend it on that basis. The information with regard to blogging should serve the average person without experience in this area to know how to locate appropriate free blog services and then how to economically move to a dedicated site for a higher profile blog.
Subjects covered in this book progress logically from simple to more complex matters. General advice includes simple story telling methods, how to introduce yourself to the blogosphere in your first post,and how to create an environment that draws people in and makes them feel welcome to converse with you and with one another. From there tips on how to build community and what the differences are between a personal and business blog are explored. Expansion into the realms of podcasting and video blogging is explored. How to build a portfolio to highlight your work in different areas is dealt with and then issues related to exposing your personal life publicly and finally how to actually begin to generate income from your blog.
The tone and pace of the book is light and conversational. The author obviously knows their material and has valuable insight and hints for the process. The scope of the material is fairly broad as noted, above so if you're looking for a focused read on just the traditional blogging element then this book may be too broad. For the newbie just looking to get their feet wet and determine their options, this book material wise should serve just fine. Just get it in hard cover and save yourself the frustration of the Kindle version's unreadable diagrams.
3 stars - 4 on content, 2 on format and then split the difference.
bart breen
In terms of the information content, I would have been inclined to give this book 4 stars but as I purchased it for the Kindle reader I have to include how well it conveyed in this format. Frankly, I cannot recommend that this book be purchased in Kindle reader format. One of the primary features of this book are the screen shots that are used as illustrations within the text of the book as illustrations of specific subject matter. The displays on the Kindle are so small as to make them illegible and non-readable. This can be compensated for by reading the book while you have access to an internet connection and full-sized screen but then that defeats the purpose of the Kindle which is to make the material mobile.
That caveat aside I did find the information within the book helpful and can recommend it on that basis. The information with regard to blogging should serve the average person without experience in this area to know how to locate appropriate free blog services and then how to economically move to a dedicated site for a higher profile blog.
Subjects covered in this book progress logically from simple to more complex matters. General advice includes simple story telling methods, how to introduce yourself to the blogosphere in your first post,and how to create an environment that draws people in and makes them feel welcome to converse with you and with one another. From there tips on how to build community and what the differences are between a personal and business blog are explored. Expansion into the realms of podcasting and video blogging is explored. How to build a portfolio to highlight your work in different areas is dealt with and then issues related to exposing your personal life publicly and finally how to actually begin to generate income from your blog.
The tone and pace of the book is light and conversational. The author obviously knows their material and has valuable insight and hints for the process. The scope of the material is fairly broad as noted, above so if you're looking for a focused read on just the traditional blogging element then this book may be too broad. For the newbie just looking to get their feet wet and determine their options, this book material wise should serve just fine. Just get it in hard cover and save yourself the frustration of the Kindle version's unreadable diagrams.
3 stars - 4 on content, 2 on format and then split the difference.
bart breen
September 19, 2010
When I was given the opportunity to review this book I hoped that it would be interesting, but honestly was not expecting it to be that great. After all I have had a blog for years - but I was hoping to learn something new that I could use to make my blog(s) better. The bottom line is that I have already dog-eared, page marked and underlined lots of great information in this book! It's excellent. I think that the "6 easy projects" part of the title is a bit misleading. To my way of thinking this is a book about how to build a blog - and/or how to build a better blog - I am not seeing the "6 easy projects".
I have already learned so much from this book. In fact I have - within a week of reading this book- changed blog hosts,am trying an off line blog writer software and now understand far more about setting a blog up right. This book is chock full of information that will help you to start a blog from the ground up with some good understanding of what it all means and how it all works. Best of all it is an equally great book for a person like me who has had a blog for some time. I understand much more now - and am all fired up to learn more and make the blogs I have better. I've also subscribed the to the author's blog.
This is a book that will help most any blogger... I highly recommend it and I have to admit that I never thought I would be 'gushy' over a book about blogs!
I have already learned so much from this book. In fact I have - within a week of reading this book- changed blog hosts,am trying an off line blog writer software and now understand far more about setting a blog up right. This book is chock full of information that will help you to start a blog from the ground up with some good understanding of what it all means and how it all works. Best of all it is an equally great book for a person like me who has had a blog for some time. I understand much more now - and am all fired up to learn more and make the blogs I have better. I've also subscribed the to the author's blog.
This is a book that will help most any blogger... I highly recommend it and I have to admit that I never thought I would be 'gushy' over a book about blogs!
February 15, 2010
I found this book extremely informative. It took longer to read than it might, had I not stopped and spent hours implementing some of the suggestions. If you are considering a Blog or even a pro at Blogging I recommend this book - you will soon find yourself implementing plug-ins and configuring widgets.
March 17, 2016
Tri Hussey's book on creating your own blog is an incredible jumpstart for beginning bloggers. Mr. Hussey goes into great detail on blogging platforms, plug-ins, multimedia, making money as a blogger, and more! This book has heavily influenced me to go deeper into blogging than posting random pretty pictures on Facebook and Tumblr. Great book!
July 10, 2014
This book wasn't bad but all the information was pretty basic. I recently found online tutorials and articles that offer advice that is as good if not better. Also, most of the content is specific to Wordpress, so it is less useful to people like me who use Blogger or other blogging tools.
May 1, 2010
An adequate intro to blogging.
November 18, 2011
Very detailed how - to book for the beginning blogger.
July 1, 2012
I really like this book so far. Moreso than the Dummie series or other DIY series. It's more condensed and to the point.
June 22, 2012
Lots of useful tips for a novice, straight-forward, & clear.
December 9, 2012
Informational
April 4, 2016
Good general book about blogging, but a bit outdated (finished on page 122)
August 9, 2013
great for beginner bloggers.
March 17, 2014
useful and covers a variety of topics, but could have been much shorter and just as good
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews