Blogging to the Bank
By Anthony Chatfield
In 2006, Rob Benwell launched the first edition of "Blogging to the Bank". A year later, he returned with an update to his book, Blogging to the Bank 2.0 that promised to include information that is relevant to the current blogging atmosphere. This review will contain no comparisons between the two different versions because I have not read that original version, but I have found his update to be incredibly insightful. For anyone considering starting their own work at home business, this is a must read.
The First Read
After my first read through Blogging to the Bank 2.0 I was impressed. The original book was, according to Rob, only 37 pages and he has managed to lengthen it to more than 60. Additionally, the book contains almost no filler, something that is a wonder to find these days. All 60 pages contain real content and useful tips, and very little fluff to pad out the length.
The book is written for beginners. Essentially, Rob's goal with Blogging to the Bank is to offer a newcomer all the tools they need to set up a blog and start making money with it. He does a good job of covering most of the bases and providing well written, complete instructions for each piece of advice he provides.
Rob starts with the right material, going over the basics of researching your market – a step too many eBook writers skip when trying to show their readers how to build a blog or start a business. He guides his readers through domain name selection, hosting account comparisons, and the basics of building a website, publishing content, and optimizing a blog for search engines. He gives detailed descriptions of Web 2.0 tactics that you can us to promote your website and various traffic building tools that are free and easy to use such as Squidoo.
The book does not go beyond what a beginner would need to create a new blog and start making money from it, but it never claims to do so. For what he promises, Rob presents a solid, well written book that does not skimp on resources, examples, and useful information.
The Right Advice
There are plenty of blog building books on the market that promise high returns and successful niche blogs and many of them can deliver, so what does Rob do that makes his book different from the rest of the pack? In essence, he provides much of the same information. This is a good thing because it is good information. Everyone needs to know the importance of tools like Keyword Discovery.
It is when we get to Rob's specific methods of blog creation that we find the true gem in his product. Blogging to the Bank 2.0 wins big because Rob is able to dig deep into the dozens of options and tools available and pull out a singular path to blogging for money that actually works. It works and it manages not to be confusing or overwhelming with unnecessary options.
Rob describes exactly how you should build a WordPress blog without spending any money on unnecessary pricey tools. He describes the importance of tools like Fantastico for automatic installation and even how you can take advantage of Google's Blogger to create a free blog and use it successfully.
His instructions are incredibly clear, providing the concise, practiced voice of an expert. He knows what he is talking about and he knows how to provide that information to beginner's in an easy to follow format. For example: he walks you through the use of email response forms and plug-in installation in a format easier than anything I have read in the past.
Extra Stuff
Like most eBooks these days, Blogging to the Bank 2.0 includes a selection of additional content and updates that will continue to change as the old ones expire. Luckily, unlike other "free" bonus content, these tools are rather useful.
Included in the package was a selection of niches, banners, and content to get a beginner started on their first blog. Additionally, there was an article submitter as well as an RSS/Blog directory submitter that are incredibly useful – even for someone who is familiar with the process of blog creation. For the price of the eBook alone, the article submitter and RSS submitter are well worth it.
The Bottom Line
Blogging to the Bank 2.0 is a successful program for more than one reason. First, Rob is able to strip out the excess information that crowds our brains and provide a straightforward blueprint to creating a blog and making money from it. The instructions are clear, the content is intelligently written, and the program works. Second, the book is the ideal starting point for beginners. Because of that extra information crammed into so many eBooks in an attempt to appear more "advanced", beginners are rarely given just the facts. Blogging to the Bank provides that and much more, along with tools that would enhance any package.
Even if you think you are an expert in the blogging field, Rob's new perspective is unique and helpful in stripping away some of the unprofitable habits we tend to pick up in this field. You could not do much better in finding a first time blogging book than Blogging to the Bank 2.0.
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