Blog, Schmog!: The Truth About What Blogs Can and Can't Do for Your Business

by Robert W. Bly

Blog Schmog takes a look at the blogging phenomenon and its impact on politics, writing, marketing, public relations, publishing, journalism, and all other forms of communication. Written from a skeptic's point of view, Robert Bly holds blogging up to close scrutiny, giving practical, easy-to-use tips that can help you master blogging and its application. This book cuts through the hype surrounding blogging, enabling you to get a true and accurate picture of blogging's potential as well as its limitations. Inside you'll discover how the blogosphere operates along with real-world advice from blogging experts on how to write an effective, reader-oriented blog.

Genres: Business, Writing, Nonfiction

233 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Bob Bly is a freelance copywriter with 4 decades of experience in direct response and business-to-business marketing. He is the author of 100 published book on topics ranging from science, sex, satire, and science fiction -- to small business, writing, advertising, and online marketing. McGraw-Hill calls Bob Bly “America’s top copywriter.”

Reviews

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Outdated but still a good book for anyone interested in learning more about the blogging world. I found some tidbits interesting and useful. I would love to see a book like this but updated with the new world of blogging (this book was published in 2006) alongside the vast world of social media (definitely not present in 2006) and how internet and email marketing might have changed alongside these shiny new worlds. Would also be great to read about the big players of blogging (who probably were just getting started in 2006) like Tim Ferris and news sites like Buzzfeed and Greatist.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those who are about to read this book need to keep in mind that in it, Bly shares his thoughts about what blogs cannot do (nor be expected to do) as well as what they can do. Over the years, he has earned and deserves his reputation as a master of reasoning, reading, and writing skills...whatever the given genre may be. Among his previously published books, my own favorites are The Copywriter's Handbook, his Guide to Freelance Writing Success, and most recently, The White Paper Marketing Handbook. In his latest book, Blog School, he focuses on "the strategy of using blogs as a business-building and marketing tool, explaining how your time is best bent on strategy, not fooling around with programming or design." Bly then goes on to explain, in the Introduction, that his book "is written from the point of view of a blogging skeptic and doubter, not one who has bought into the whole blogging fad without holding it up to close scrutiny... And my conclusions about blogging, unlike those of [blogging consultants, enthusiasts, and evangelists:], are not always favorable; my positions on blogging are highly controversial within the blogosphere." He urges those who read this book to share their comments ideas, techniques, and/or success stories with him at rwbly@bly.com or to visit www.bly.com. Who will derive the greatest benefit from this book? Probably, those in need of expert advice on how to start their own blog, and, those who have done so and are dissatisfied with the results thus far.

In the final chapter, He shares a number of opinions whether or not blogging has a future and many of these opinions are certain to generate controversy. (Bly urges those who disagree with any of them to contact him at rwbly@bly.com. He plans to share feedback with readers of the next edition of this book.) I strongly recommend, however, that the first nine chapters be read with great care, first. I cannot think of a better way to conclude this review than to share the conclusion to Bly's book: "So blog if you want to. If you don't like blogs, don't bother. And if you think the advice in this book is great, and you want to let me know, or if you think I don't know beans about blogging and that my advice is useless, you can certainly say so - on my blog. Best of luck to you in the blogosphere - and outside it!"

[Bjorn Hardarson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually do admit It is a good book even lots better than the 2 stars I am giving it, but the reason I gave it two stars was I am a practical reader and I need to learn things that I want to apply. The book gave e more understanding of I should not spend my resources on blogging, even though there are good parts of the book explaining which kind of blog for which things. But what stuck is most blog are not read and maybe blog is more a way of living than to give people info,
that is though probably not right and then sorry Bly if that could be offended, (which) probably is not.
ok I change it to 3