By: Tris Hussey
Publisher: Sams
Publication Date: January 2010
ISBN: 978-0672330650
Reviewed by: Ellen Feld
Review Date: May 15, 2010

First, a disclosure: this review is written by a novice blogger, someone who is definitely ‘blogging challenged.’ If you’re an experienced blogger, then my observations about this book may not be helpful. But if you’re like me, new to blogging, then take my advice and get a copy of Create Your Own Blog – you’ll be glad you did!

After reading the first few chapters that introduce the reader to the world of blogging, the rest of the book is divided in such a way that you can easily skip around to topics that interest you. Need a personal blog? There’s a chapter on ‘Creating a Personal Blog.’ Did your boss just tell you that the Company needs a blog and you’re just the person to do it? Don’t worry, simply flip to chapter 6, ‘Creating a Business Blog.’

The “6 Easy Projects” the title references are actually six of the chapters in the book, and not all may be relevant to each potential blogger. They are: personal blog, business blog, blog for podcasting, video blog, portfolio blog for artists and lifestreaming blog. Other chapters include: making money through your blog, writing and creating a conversation, and building community.

For those stymied by books that get bogged down in techno-speak, you don’t have to worry. Create Your Own Blog is written in a very easy to follow, often humorous manner that will make it fun to read. “Business blogs are not usually associated with having lots of pictures in the posts, but remember, sometimes a picture tells…You get the idea.” (pg. 129) There are also little blue buttoned boxes everywhere, on almost every page, with little sidebar snippets such as tips, cautions, new terms, and notes. Just flipping through pages and reading these will educate the new blogger in lots of important aspects of blogging.

There are plenty of useful tidbits in Create Your Own Blog such as how to increase the number of comments on your blog, what an RSS feed is and how to use it, and useful apps. Note that at the start, the author outlines the various ‘hosted blog solutions’ and then admits that WordPress is his favorite (he has friends who work there) and so all examples and screenshots are from WordPress. I don’t use WordPress but had no problem following along except for the part where he talked about inserting a video – I’m convinced my hosting blog doesn’t allow them.

In a nutshell, Create Your Own Blog is very easy to read and perfect for the newbie. If you have some experience blogging, this book may be too simple for you. But for the rest of us, it offers a good start to entering the world of blogging.

Quill says: An excellent resource for those just getting into blogging.