Okay. I admit it. I’m not the sharpest crayon in the internet/techno box. It’s not a fact I’m proud of, but I’m telling you so we’re both on the same page here and at least know where I’m coming from. It is the main reason why I decided to take a look at the book Blog Blazers. Right there on the cover it says: "40 Top Bloggers Share Their Secrets to Creating a High-Profile, High-Traffic and High-Profit Blog!". The key words for me are profile and traffic. And secrets. Secrets! Who doesn’t want to know the inside scoop on just about anything?
Researching the author whetted my appetite all the more. Stephane Grenier is a longtime builder and promoter of numerous web-logs; a seminar speaker about generating traffic to said blogs. He’s driven by his passion, as mentioned on the back cover of the book and echoed online, for helping maximize the power of blogs and web sites. In this relatively small tome, for all the information it contains, Stephane talks to the biggest, baddest bloggers around and gives us their greatest tips for being the best blogger you can be.
I’m an avid reader and this is a quick read. But in the long run, it took me over three months to go through thoroughly. I found that for me, it wasn’t enough just to read it. I needed to actually study the material for it to really sink in. In my case that meant dusting off some tried but true low tech gear (a highlighter and Post-it sticky flags) and coming up with a course of action.
Each chapter of Blog Blazers is an interview with a very successful blogger/business/advocate guru. The questions are basically the same for each one although perhaps worded or ordered up differently. They include what is the most common mistake new bloggers make: what was your most fruitful blog post ever and what turns you off most when visiting a blog.
My plan would be to take several chapters a week and follow the recommendations in each one. Sure, sounds a bit daunting even if they averaged out to four pages - all were jam packed with info. But in reality, mid-way through the third week, I found myself building a rhythm that worked for me. Coupling similar questions with sometimes the same answers in each interview was a big help.
Article comments
1 - Teresa Schultz
You're obviously passionate about this book, meaning it must have really helped you, as it comes across in your review of it. An excellent review. Well done.