4.0 out of 5 stars
Needs Revision
I first checked out the 2005 version of this book from the library, found it helpful, as a complete novice interested in starting a blog.

Like many Dummies books, this book is comprehensive! It’s a thorough introduction to blogging from rank Internet newbie, to the typical active
blogger seeking to learn more about the medium.

As a 2008 book, it’s reasonably current. This is one of those Dummies books the publishers will need to update annually. I recommend readers always seek the latest possible edition of any blogging book, as popular technologies change so rapidly in the field. RSS, comment spam, social networks and podcasting are all given their due space. An entire chapter is devoted to adding and managing photos for your blog.

Two large chapters offer the fundamentals of blogging for business and adding advertising. This won’t be specific enough to get any would-be pro blogger rich, but *does* provide enough basics to get started with affiliates, AdSense, TextLink Ads, AdBright and the like.

Lots of screen captures and sidebars explain complex concepts quite clearly. I enjoyed one sidebar in particular about why comment spam exists (and hint; it’s more about page rank juice than possible click-throughs).

I’d recommend this book for the newbie through advanced blogging beginner. Intermediate level bloggers looking to to brush up on the basics would likely enjoy adding this as a reference to the bookshelf, and might find a few gems they originally missed.

Advanced bloggers won’t find much useful here…but as it’s a Dummies book, that’s to be expected!

From all the blogging books targeting the beginner, this one offers the most bang for your buck, and really does a nice job of holding your hand along the way.

4.0 out of 5 stars
A complete guide how to start – but I wanted some a-ha moments
.. and there was none of them. The book is really written in comprehensive style of dummies style, but I felt unnecessary:
- use so much space to copy paste the…

Don’t let the “dummy” title fool you. With so many blog “how-to” papers written, I wanted a good “how-to” book that would walk me through and hold my hand as I venture into the blogosphere. Susannah Gardner and Shane Birley provide just that … a perfect reference book that takes you one step at a time until you are ready to publish. Thanks Susannah and Shane.

4.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty decent book
This is a book for those who are completely new to the world of Blogging(hence the title.) It was broken into very understandable chapters, and even if you’re pretty intermediate…

5.0 out of 5 stars
Blogging for Dummies
I really like these books, I just wish they didn’t say ‘for Dummies.’ I own many of the ‘Dummies’ books and find all of them helpful.

4.0 out of 5 stars
Great series of books for this “dummy”
I’m toying with starting a blog with my distorted views of the world, both as to legal issues and general editorializing. This will help me along the way.