Book Alert: 31 Days to Build a Better Blog
Awesome Content: Set Up For Online Success
I’m very stingy about the types of products that I review here on Site Sketch 101. I’m not willing to promote a product on here unless I am completely willing to place 100% of my credibility on the line with it. Having said that, let me share with you a book that I am reading right now that I believe every serious blogger should own.
31 Days to Build a Better Blog by Darren Rowse. Let me start by saying that Darren is a genius. He works from home and makes a six digit income each year as a professional blogger.
31 Days to Build a Better Blog is a comprehensive guide to taking your blog to the next level over the course of one month. Each day’s chapter has information, tasks and challenges that will push your blog to a higher level than it has ever been!
Darren Rowse: The ProBlogger
If you continue to follow this blog then you will inevitably hear me making references to Darren and his site ProBlogger.net. Darren is a pro and I highly encourage you to add his blog to your list of RSS or Email subscriptions. He is definitely an expert on the subject of blogging and he has tons of wisdom that he pours out to his readers.
I recently purchased his eBook entitled ‘31 Days to Build a Better Blog‘ and have been amazed at its usefulness. I am constantly on the prowl looking for resources that will enhance my site and will help me to grow as a blogger. This book does both.
The links in this article are affiliate links. That means that I make a percentage of every sale that funnels through these links. I have sorted through hundreds of affiliate opportunities and have settled on a product that I have personally purchased and am willing to place my credibility behind.
I purchased this eBook myself and I had it printed and bound at Office Depot so that I can study it even more thoroughly. It was worth my investment of $19.95 and I guarantee that it will be worth yours as well.
If you’ve already read this book then please jump in and share your thoughts in the comments section below and let everyone else know how it’s helped you in your blogging.
Satkrit said:
Just great, this is what I needed to make my blog better.
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
Satkrit » I’m almost finished reading it and it has certainly helped me a lot. It’s a terrific book for blogging.
Jeff B. said:
If you want my $0.02, I’d say that this blog is a testimony of the book itself, as it’s obviously helped jump start Site Sketch 101.
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
Jeff B. » Thanks Jeff. This is actually the second book that I’ve purchased from this author and they are both treasure troves of information about being a successful blogger.
Most people want to become a successful blogger but they don’t want to pay anything and I understand that. I was in that boat for a long time and I’m certainly going to try to post tons of free resources on here to help them out. But I’m also going to recommend some premium resources as well that I believe are worth the investment.
Arisu said:
Awesome ^^ That´s a book I definetly want to buy.
And I think that´s a cheap price to becoming a good pro-blogger, as it´s said: How do you spect people to invest in you if you don´t invest in yourself?
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
Arisu » Like I mentioned, I bought the book, printed it, and bound it. I’m thrilled with it and it’s helped me out a ton.
Arisu said:
Nicholas>>
About eBooks and stuff, what would you say is the safest ans easiest way to buy things online?
I had a PayPal account that never used, but some people had had really serious problems with them.
Actually there was a time when we-hate-paypal forums ranked higher than PayPal site in Google.
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
Arisu » I personally use Paypal and wasn’t aware of the ‘we-hate-paypal’ crowd. I know that some people including some of my very close friends have moved to a company called Revolution Money Exchange which is supposed to be an excellent alternative to Paypal. They don’t charge to send or receive money. However nobody seems to use them in the mainstream like eBay and such which is why I’ve just stuck with Paypal. What are the complaints that people have with paypal?
P.S. That is a referral link but I don’t know how much they pay for sign ups.
Arisu said:
Nicholas>>
The one complain that really shock me was that if they think your account is “suspicious” they can freeze it and cancel it. The problem is that they don´t say in the contract what “suspicious” is… and most people who suffer that were just freelancers who lost a lot of money. Also, if they decide to cancel you account they don´t have to tell you why nor can you complain cause the contract says they can do it without give you any explanation.
Anyway, I´ll check the link later and you can tell me if they gave you something… but looks like PayPal keeps being the one.
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
Arisu » I didn’t know that they had canceled people’s accounts but I can certainly believe it. That’s really a shame. It seems like a shady business practice and I’m sorry that that happened to those people.
Mukund said:
I never knew that Paypal would be so vulnerable. Hmmmm!! So, I would like to know if Nick is using Revolution Money Exchange? Every one feel that PayPal is the safe. So will Revolution Money exchange guarantee that? How about AlertPay?
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
Mukund –> I use PayPal but I do have a RME account. I just hardly ever use it because nobody will interact with them since they are so small.
Mukund said:
Yes! I came to know about RME only after you said me that they are pretty secure and good. Who knows, they might take over PayPal one day!!
Satkrit said:
You should definetly have this for a giveaway. I am too poor to buy one
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
Satkrit » Great idea! I think I’ll do that after July’s Competition ends. I’ve been trying to think of a good competition for August. Thanks.
Arisu said:
Nicholas>>
Yeah, I know, but there´s not much to do as long as PayPal is the only one accepted in almost all sites.
Anyway, Satkrit´s idea for a contests sounds awesome! Can´t wait to see what you have in mind for August.
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
Arisu » I’ve been thinking about what I can do and so far I’ve always just done cash prizes, but now I want to try to give away some items that will enhance people’s blogs and websites.
Arisu said:
Nicholas>> Maybe a custom WordPress template? Ebooks or stock photos? Those are better than money
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
Arisu » Great thinking. Or maybe a membership at a template club where you can browse through and select premium templates for free as a member there. Great thoughts. I’ll definitely do something other than cash next time.
Arisu said:
Nicholas>>
I´m always glad to help ^^
And I know you´ll think some other great stuff to do for the contests!
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
Arisu » I’ll try. Thanks! The more creative we can be the more effective it will likely be.
Satkrit said:
How about 1 theme of your choice from woo theme. You get another one free. So, 2 people could win. Maybe thats illegal oh, well just a thought.
Custom term paper said:
yea that wud b better option, by giving away custom themes, ebooks or other things to the contest winners or ur members rather then giving away cash.
Like giving away custom theme or other useful things can be beneficial for ur reader or winner’s website to get more better.
Satkrit said:
Ah, I got an even better idea for a contest. Why not a mac book air? That would certainly help a fellow blogger like me.
Just kidding.
ebooks would be nice or another one you could do is a domain and hosting giveaway.
bisalamah said:
We got have more info frm your site,many thank i said.We will try to make blog more better.
Satkrit said:
Do you know php? If so which book would you recommend. i want to make a wordpress theme.
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
Satkrit » I really don’t know php but I can find some good WordPress theme tutorials and get back to you.
Satkrit said:
Thanks that would really help.
The Post Author at the top of your comment is a nice idea.
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
Satkrit » Thanks. And of course if someone else writes a post here then it will appear next to their name and not next to mine.
Satkrit said:
Have you got any article posted by another person. I may try it myself.
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
Here’s an article by Nelson:
http://www.sitesketch101.com/articles/web-design/fire-passion-blogging/
Mukund said:
Yeah! I love Darren Rowse and his blog. He is an inspiration to me! Even I make a lot of references in my site too! But to be frank, I don’t have the patience to sit and read his Ebook that goes for pages. I like short and crisp techniques!!
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
Mukund –> Your lack of patience in researching the amazing truths in his book will always hold back your efforts to achieve greatness.
Mukund said:
Hmmm!! The same words said my mom! Even she said you need patience to read books, but I never do that! May be I should change myself to reach great heights. I will try my best Nicholas!
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
Mukund –> Ha ha. Your mother sounds like a very wise lady. I know that you have it in you. It’s hard to have the patience and self-discipline necessary to really excel in life.
Mukund said:
Yup!! You are right! I hope I change myself sooner than later..
akira07 said:
I fear the content of the e-book is just same with other free e-book. So i wanna ask you Nicholas, is there a ORIGINAL SECRET in that e-book?
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
akira07 –> There really aren’t any original secrets about blogging. There are just certain practices and principles that really help. I bought this book and you can see where it has helped me to get this blog to. You can judge whether or not it was successful.
Mukund said:
Yes!! I trust Darren Rowse. He is a great insipiration for me! Now, I trust Nicholas too!! So, I think what he says will be true. I will soon buy this book. Have started saving some money for it!!
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
Mukund –> Great. I bought it and I’m glad that I did. It was definitely worth the investment.
ZXT said:
I think the ebook is effective as this blog keeps on soaring. I can see the Alexa ranking goes from 54k to 50k in 3 days and I bet it will keep on improving.
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
ZXT –> I hope that it does keep growing. My daily rank has been better thank 20,000 for the past 2 days in a row.
Mukund said:
You are right ZXT! And I am sure this blog will easily top the rankings in few months. Tremendous increase in traffic and comments!!! You rock Nicholas!!!
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
Mukund –> Thanks so much. I’ve had to days in the past week where my Alexa rank has been better than 20,000. Let’s just keep growing together!
Mukund said:
This is what I like in you! Your attitude. I said you rock Nicholas and said your blog will grow but you in return said, Let’s grow together. That is where you stand out Nicholas!! Even ProBlogger does not reply to every one’s comment but you do!! Thanks Nicholas for all the help you do!!
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
Mukund –> I’m getting over 200 hundred comments some days and so I’m not able to respond to every comment like I would enjoy to do simply because of the limited amount of time that I have available but I try my best and I read every single one that comes through here.
Mukund said:
Yes! I do accept with the time constraint but if you reply to every single comment in your blog, then I am sure you will cover a lot of readers! I mean loyal readers!!