I have been a blogger for nearly two years. I toyed with the idea for way longer, I was a successful mystery shopper and auditor. Reviewing service and on occasion goods is second nature almost.
I felt I had something positive to share on a blog, although I worried my writing skills may let me down.Never one to be put off by a minor detail here I am splling spelling mistakes and all.
I hope I entertain readers, I hope to share my views in a way that holds a little interest.
When I began there wasn't anywhere to go to find out about blogging other than looking at other blogs. I first started looking at the American ones about four years ago and getting a sense of what worked and what I liked.
If I had Blogging The Essential Guide I would have started Given To Distracting Others years before.
Written by Antonia Chitty, entrepeneur and author of many books. Erica Douglas a true blog specialist, (whose blog Little Mummy was one of my first English blogs to read) have set out an easy to read guide to blogging.
This book is for those thinking about starting a blog, those who find the phenomenon of blogging of interest and for any blogger who needs to tweak a few edges and learn lots of new ideas. I think if you take even one idea from this book and utilise it, your blog will benefit.
In the Chapter: Basic Online Skills and Concepts, I found how to create a good link for Google to be brilliant. I am adopting the changes immediately.
The Law chapter clears up many of my questions, on whats legally acceptable to write, how to quote another blogger without breaking copyright, indeed even whats polite is covered in the book.
It will be a book I dip in and out of for a long time yet.
I am happy to be offering one of five copies of Blogging The Essential Guide to Given To Distracting followers.
It will be a book I dip in and out of for a long time yet.
I am happy to be offering one of five copies of Blogging The Essential Guide to Given To Distracting followers.
Just enter via the clever little Rafflecopter, if you don't see it appear just refresh the page.
How Rafflecopter Works (short video)
If there is no form hit refresh and it should appear
Mandatory entries first (blog comment etc) then lots of bonus entries open up. Rafflecopter will do most of the work for you. Tweet, like and follow, making it really simple to enter!
For information on how to find the url of your tweet look at Competition Grapevine click here
Really want to win the prize? Come back every day for bonus entries via Twitter and Klout
Do you need practical advice to help you go from blogging beginner to brilliant blogger? Read this book to discover what exactly a blog is, why people write them, how to pick a topic for your own blog and what makes a successful blog. You can learn about personal blogs, hobby blogs, business blogs and how to blog professionally.
Learn technical terms and quick tricks to get your blog off to a flying start. Find out about different blog providers and set-ups, and read inspiring ideas to help you keep blogging and stay motivated. Read about how often to post and get to grips with different types of posts.
This book also tells you about blog etiquette and writing comments, blog carnivals and other ways to get involved with the blogging community. Improve your blogging with tips on writing style for blogging and practical guides to grammar; common abbreviations used online and the laws you need to know about when blogging.
You’ll also discover how your blog can lead on to an eBook or eCourse, and find out how blogging is more fun if you link your blog into social media. Also, learn how to make a profit from your blog.
Chapter headings
- Blogging Basics
- Starting a Blog
- Basic Skills and Concepts
- Content for Your Blog
- Community and Blogging
- Style and Structure
- The Law
- From Blogs to eBooks
- Social Media
- Writing a Blog for Profit
Author Information
Antonia Chitty is an award-winning entrepreneur and author of 15 books including Marketing: The Essential Guide. She started blogging in 2007 and still blogs about business and flexible work, as well as providing blogging services for business clients. Alongside writing books and blogging, Antonia helps women in business through ACEInspire and Become a Mumpreneur.
Erica Douglas is one of the UK’s leading parenting bloggers. She writes on life and parenting at www.littlemummy.com. Over the last few years, Erica has made the journey from mum blogger to business owner, founding the Mum Blogger eCourse which has helped over 1,000 mums start or improve their blogs. She now works with Antonia Chitty to help women in business by offering flexible and affordable training through ACEInspire
I love the fab giveaways that you can find on blogs...such as this one. I love getting an insight into other people's lives (I'm nosey) and I love the more intimate feel of blogs.
ReplyDeleteI love blogging - it's like writing a long letter to all my friends at once. And I love reading blogs because it's like receiving the same kind of letter from other friends.
ReplyDeleteI like blogging because I get to engage with other people with the same interests, which is why I also like reading and commenting on blogs. :)
ReplyDeleteI like reading blogs as theyr about real people and real experiences. @kikicomp
ReplyDeletei like writing my blog because its just a small slice of my life and personality.. you can get people to subscribe which is great and you can view their blogs as well! theres nothing i dislike about it really, i love writing as well which is a bonus!
ReplyDeleteI like blogging as it's kind of thearapeutic and another way to brag about my lovely children LOL
ReplyDeleteI love the way it balances the mummy me and the individual me
ReplyDeleteI like reading blogs about children. It's interesting to hear about others lives.
ReplyDeleteI love reading reviews and finding out about random products you'd never know about otherwise! I love hearing about people's lives too! I'm not so keen on blogs when the person writing doesn't say anything about themselves or their lives. Ooh and of course I love giveaways :-)
ReplyDeleteI started blogging about my job hunt but now find I blog mainly to show off my photos.
ReplyDeleteTaking photos of local interest and adding some of my recipes has seen a good increase in traffic to my blog and I love seeing comments.
I have one chap from Batumi in Georgia (Black Sea) who is a professional photographer who follows to see my amateur efforts!
I follow quite a few now, I started with comps like this one but then started following and reading these blogs too.
I don't think there is anything I dislike.
I love finding out about new products and services and getting opinions.
ReplyDeleteI like reading blogs because it keeps me up to date with all sorts of things.
ReplyDeleteHazel Rea @beachrambler
I love reading blogs like I used to newspapers on a Sunday with a cuppa, they give more entertainment, more honesty and a lot more realism. Oh and great giveaways!!
ReplyDeletePerfect! Am looking to do start up a blog about our New Puppy Ziggy and how he grows! Fantastic competition, thankyou! xx
ReplyDeleteI like reading blogs because I think the authors give a more honest opinion than in, say, magazines, where they perhaps do not want to offend big brands and possibly jepordise a generous source of "freebies". There's a lot of really high quality writing out there too.
ReplyDeleteI'm nosy I love reading about other peoples lives
ReplyDelete@littleboo_21
I love reading about other peoples day to day lives as I'm so nosy and love to see how other people live! I'm also interested in blogging, but a bit too shy to start at the moment :) @pipersky1
ReplyDeleteSubscribed in Google :) @pipersky1
ReplyDeleteI like reading blogs as it's like a small window into someone's life, and even mundane things seem more interesting when they're experienced through someone else's eyes!
ReplyDeleteI like reading blogs it they often have information or products which i find useful
ReplyDeleteI like reading blogs to find out about new products and also to read about other peoples lives
ReplyDeleteI like the insight into someone's else life or their way of thinking.
ReplyDeleteI love blogging myself - when I get the spare time to write
ReplyDeleteand love reading blogs - peoples personalities really come through and you get a little look into peoples different ways of thinking
i like the large range of views you get on blogs, but dislike some of the extreme and idiotic views.
ReplyDeleteI love reading blogs if they are 'personal' as in about peoples lives,family, experiences, ideas and stuff to do about anything. What I really don't like is 'sponsored' posts in blogs. Where there is a review of a product or service and the goods are given to be reviewed. I have very rarely seen a post that says the product is totally rubbish, all seem to have near glowing or glowing praise for the item. Seems to be very biased as the blogger got stuff free. So take reviews like that with a big pinch of salt and slighty puts me against the provider of the goods for the blog.
ReplyDeleteI love reading blogs as they feel alot more honest than company websites etc.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes lose a whole evening just browsing as one blog can lead you onto another. I particularly enjoy things about make-up skin care, cooking and crafting. You have to be discerning though
Blogging has changed my life! No really!
ReplyDeleteNot only do I love writing my blog, but I love the freinds that I have met through blogging. You learn things, have debate, a nosy. What's not to love about blogging :)
Thanks for a great review, you must have been one of my first ever readers!
ReplyDeleteI don't blog myself, but it's something that I've thought about doing for a long time. I enjoy reading other peoples work though as honestly I find it interesting to see how other people think, what they think about and how there opinions may differ (or not) to my own.
ReplyDeleteI love reading creative blogs as they really inspire me to actually do some work x
ReplyDeletei love reading reviews and peoples life stories :) i have started my own blog but i really dont know how to make it look as good as some of the others i read :)
ReplyDeleteI like blogs becuase they give anyone an opportunity to get their opinion out there. What I don't like about blogs is the frequent poor grammar!
ReplyDeleteI love reading blogs as they give you honest and genuine insights into people's lives, worries, stresses and the joyous events they experience on a day to day basis. I love being able to read reviews on products by real people who have tried and tested them so you get a much more honest opinion than the information the product companies release! I also find out loads of information on blogs about a whole range of topics, and they have opened my eyes to new hobbies and experiences.
ReplyDeleteI am seriously toying with the idea of starting my own blog at the moment and so this would be a fantastic help!
coppelia100@btinternet.com
I love reading blogs, I like to hear about other peoples lives and their opinions on matters. I love reading reviews and seeing pics too.
ReplyDeletei love blogs and wanna set my own up this book would help so much xx
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading blopgs as I like to see different peoples writing styles and I suppose im a bit nosey too - always good to have someone elses views to read though :)
ReplyDeleteDont know if it was just me but i couldnt find on your blog where to like you on facebook - I had to actually go to facebook to like you - could be me being blonde :)
I love the diverse information you can pick up on them.
ReplyDelete@gholmes724
i like blogs because it's like talking to a friend, lots of great, down to earth advice
ReplyDeleteive never blogged but would love to try it
ReplyDeleteI've never blogged but I love reading them, setting one up is on my to-do list! :)
ReplyDeleteWell they say everyone has a story inside them but putting into action is agreat idea! I would love to blog but generally have nothing exciting to put except for enjoying eacg day as it comes!
ReplyDeleteI love blogging as it is a great way of sharing information and getting instant feedback from other people that are interested in the same topic areas.
ReplyDeleteI like reading blogs, its nice to read about people's lives, and their reviews on produts, both well known and unheard of, are honest and an opinion of real, everyday people, so can be believed and trusted. I like the giveaways on blogs too.
ReplyDeleteI've just started to become a fan of blogging & I love it! There's so many things to read about & I learn something new every day. I would like to start a blog page myself I'm just not sure what about yet as I have many passions maybe I could roll them into 1 blog.
ReplyDeleteI like blogs because I can share anything I want like social networks and I can have answers most of the questions asked or suggestion of any thing I wanna know.
ReplyDeletespecifically the last part :) I care for such information much. I was seeking this particular information for a very Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Extremely useful information long time. Thank you and good luck.
ReplyDeleteTombstone,Halloween