Bloggers Boot Camp

Bloggers Boot Camp is a handbook aimed at anyone who wants to start a blog, or improve an existing one, with the goal of building an engaged audience. It’s not so much about setting up a simple WordPress, but a more a serious, journalistic approach to content. That is, treating blogging as if one were writing for a professional publication, with an emphasis on consistency, quality, and professionalism.

It’s not a book for me, personally. My blog is a hobby at best, far from being a professional endeavour. If it entertains the few people who read it, then that’s great.

However, if you are looking to turn your written works into a fully fledged online empire, then Bloggers Boot Camp might be a good starting point. Charlie White (journalist/editor) and John Biggs (tech journalist) walk the reader through every key area — finding your niche/audience, getting started in the technical sense, writing and content creation, sourcing ideas and content strategy, promoting and monetisation, and all things related to ethics and community-building.

It preaches professionalism and commitment, and stresses avoiding the various pitfalls bloggers face — bad domain names, poor content planning, inconsistent updates. Plus it serves as a great all-in-one guide for the key areas described above. If that’s what you’re looking for, it’s a worthwhile read.

As I said earlier, it’s not for someone like me. Blog success depends on topic, niche, and consistency. I just throw up posts on books and whatnot.

And as is often the case with print books, this one might be outdated, being published in 2011. Technical advice on blogging platforms and social media might not apply today, but the core principles on content, consistency, and ethics remain applicable. So some of it is still relevant.

That being said, people consider it to be a classic text on the subject, a vital stepping stone at the very least. The fact that it draws on the authors’ experiences with major blogs/sites to offer practical, comprehensive advice is a breath of fresh air. For those who want to elevate their craft from a hobby, to a more serious platform, to a fully-fledged business, it’s a valuable handbook. It emphasises discipline, consistency, high standards, and a thorough understanding of blogging to be mastered as a craft, as opposed to just casual diary-posting.

Maybe if I wanted a more serious, structured approach to blogging, and treat it like more than just a casual thing, then Bloggers Boot Camp would be a solid foundation. Were I looking to build my audience and monetise my writing, then I’m sure I could learn a great deal from it. But I’m not, so the text is a reference for me at best, where I can cherry pick what resonates with me rather than treat it as a rigid how-to guide.

That being said, if I ever started to take this blogging thing seriously, then Bloggers Boot Camp would be my jumping off point for sure. Great overall text, it’s just a matter of how you figure it in your approach to blogging and content creation.