Blogging in Action by the authors Shaun Taylor and Jared Conley provides the most in-depth package of all of the blogging products I have reviewed. The book, which consists of 4 parts, the first two sections begin with your basic blog setup and installation that are accompanied with step-by-step videos. The third section then talks about configuring your Wordpress blog, how to use and install themes and plug-ins.
The final half of the book discusses about content creation, with chapters on how to blog, how to write good posts, what kinds of posts to write, etc. This is probably the most valuable part of the book since it is rarely discuss in other blogging courses.
The last section of the book, which happens to take up over 60% of the book, goes through the detailed steps in monetizing your blog, generating traffic to your blog, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and other more advanced topics.
There is a lot of information to digest, so you have to take it easy when you first start out. Pace yourself so you wont burnt out with information overload. Shaun has actually written the book where you can skip any information that is not actionable.
Shaun Taylor is a well-respected blogger who been interviewed alongside other bloggers like Yaro Starak and Steve Pavilina.
The bonuses in this package are actually helpful, consisting of a simple keyword tool (this is the same keyword tool as the one in Atomic Blogging, just rebranded), security software, backup software, and a large number of videos. So whether you learn by reading or seeing, you should be able to get a lot out of this comprehensive package that sells for a very modest price.
BLOGGING in Action Package Contains: – the core258-page Blogging in Action e-book – Keyword Sheriff research tool – WordPress Secure Pro – 4 Companion Videos – 15 QuickStart Videos – 3 bonus Videos on additional blogging topics – 10 Advanced WordPress Videos – 10 Internet and Blogging basics Videos – Complete Backup Pro script, guide, and Video – Preparing Your Blog for Traffic report – Million Dollar Copywriting Secrets e-book – Dominate the Web 2.0 Market e-book – Making Sense of Google AdSense e-book – Web 2.0 Sites Exposed e-book – Lifetime product updates – Live customer support
PROBLEMS: The book can be overwhelming at times because there is so much good information, take your time when reading it — I have always come back to his book because all the information from the other blogging courses were lacking. Nitpicking time: You cannot download any of the 40+ Videos and I didnt like the fact that Shaun used 4 of his testimonials on his sales page twice!
MEET Stated Objectives? — Yes: This is a complete learning package geared towards long-term bloggers.
EASE of Use: — Very Good: Getting started still requires a blog installation. There are step-by-step instructions, but Expert WordPress makes the setup simpler.
CUSTOMER Support: — Excellent: Timely and knowledgeable e-mail responses.
VALUE for Money: — $57: Excellent — A lot of value for all the information. Hype-free material.
OVERALL Rating: — Very, Very Good: Blogging in Action is the definitive guide for anyone who wants to get started with blogging.