Better Websites for Coaches

Thinking of starting a blog? Here is a tip to get you going

Technically blogging has become very easy. WordPress, TypePress and other tools and services let anyone set up a blog within 30 minutes or less

The real challenge is figuring out how to make it work for you – what to write about, where to find the time, how to find an audience

For inspiration, ideas and a look behind the scenes of successful blogs I recommend “Blogging Heroes”, by Michael A. Banks. The book contains “interviews with 30 of the world’s top bloggers”

The book is an easy read, using interview questions to solicit bloggers’ personal stories

Each of the 30 chapters finishes with a summary of the main learnings from the blogger interviewed. Whilst I skipped the summaries, I can see how this can be useful reminder or check list when taking action on the book’s lessons

There are some obvious commonalities between many of the successful bloggers, making the last third of the book somewhat repetitive. Still, I found it the book a real page turner, probably because of the personal stories. Getting plenty of repetition helps to reinforce the book’s lessons, and may give it a bigger impact then reading a book full of theory

What most surprised me is how little, if at all, the top bloggers work at building up an audience. Most of their time and energy goes into writing about their passion, creating huge amounts of quality content and driving readers to their blog

Whilst few of us have the time, energy and passion to replicate the success of the bloggers in “Blogging Heroes”, the book does offer some great insights into the art and business of blogging

Recommended for any (aspiring) personal and business bloggers. Get it from your library now or buy it from your favourite bookshop