The Huffington Post Complete Guide to Blogging – Book Review

Arianna Huffington of the Huffington Post. (CC) JD Lasica, socialmedia.biz.

At the recent Gastown Dialogues on the Future of the Web, Kevin Grandia gave me a copy of The Huffington Post Complete Guide to Blogging by the Editors of The Huffington Post, and an introduction by Arianna Huffington. A great book indeed.

The guide is an absolutely enjoyable read. But as I told Ianiv and Arieanna, I wish that this book had (a) been written one or two years ago, and (b) I had read it then. I’m going to start with a disclaimer. I’m not a newbie blogger anymore. Admittedly yes, it has taken me a while to get to where I am (I’d say that a solid year – my blog really took off during 2008, I would say). But I no longer need the basic suggestions. At this point in the game, I feel confident enough to help newbie bloggers and/or total strangers to blogging launch their sites. Heck, I do a LOT of my own techie stuff (of course, I am always appreciative of my friends’ help when it comes to CSS editing and issues of website management and maintenance).

I have learned a lot of the stuff that the editors of HuffPost suggest just by virtue of learning by doing, listening to other amazing bloggers speak about what they do and absorbing their best tips. I’ve learned from some of the best social media people in Vancouver, many of them recognized beyond the frontiers of the maple leaf country. So, really – for me, a vast majority of this book’s content was pretty much, a repeat of what I already knew. [UPDATE - At VIFF '09 Bridget mentioned this book and I fully endorse that this book is worth acquiring and reading]

But fear not. Whether you are someone who is just starting to blog or a total blogstar, this book is for you. I couldn’t stop reading it today. I speed-read, as most of you know. Well, I had to stop myself, and read passages again and again so that I could savour again the page I had just read. It was like sipping a good glass of wine. The editors of the HuffPost have done us all a great service by virtue of compiling, distilling and publishing some of the best blog tips out there. Particularly relevant – the whole discussion on the future of traditional (mainstream) media vis-a-vis the rise of new media. I’ve written about the topic here, here, here and here. I’ve also liveblogged other speakers who have discussed the topic (here and here and here)

Would I love to have the HuffPost’s traffic? Maybe, maybe not. But one thing is for sure. I am sure as hell happy to have a copy of the Huffington Post’s Complete Guide to Blogging.

Disclosure – This review wasn’t paid. Nothing I have expressed has been influenced in any way, shape or form by external entities

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