Make Money from Blogging: How to Start a Blog While Raising a Family

Disclaimer: I was given a free PDF copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I also bought a copy when it was $0.99 as I wanted a 'real' copy for my Kindle.TL;DR - 5 stars because it does what it says on the tin and does it effectively for readers who are brand new to the blogging realm.The book gives a solid foundation to start your blogging adventures and all of the things touched on in the description are indeed covered in the book (although juggling family/time management was a single chapter, so I was a little disappointed it wasn't a stronger theme considering the subtitle).And now onto the Too Long bit of TL;DR! ;)I wasn't a good match for the true target audience of the book (I'm neither a mom nor a new blogger), but I bought and read it because my own blog could use a bit of a spring cleaning. I was looking for a guide through recalibrating the basics-- and this book matched that to a T!As stated in the introduction, this book is about the 'first year of blogging' and as such covers all of the very first steps: picking a topic, imagining an ideal reader, setting up the blog, and the basics of WordPress (themes, plugins, widgets, etc.). Then it moves onto the actual blog content, how to make money, and how to attract readers.The chapter headers are a very good indication of the content covered in the book, so check out the Look Inside if you're curious! But do note that many of the subsections are only a few paragraphs long, this is an introduction to the wide world of blogging, not a master class. :)The explanations are kept simple and to the point for each topic and I don't think a non-techie would have any issues understanding or following them. Each chapter ends with a set of action steps that help the reader put into practice what they've just covered.The book touches on every aspect of blogging that I can think of, although sometimes it's a briefer touch than I would have liked to see personally. Branding, for instance, was only a short section and the paragraph on including images in blog post was only three sentences. But Rome wasn't built in a day and the information provided is enough to start and beginners can research deeper into topics as their blog grows.I don't have kids, but time management is time management and I could use the help! I was hoping there would be more of a focus on juggling a full life and a blog from the subtitle, but the topic wasn't really touched on until Chapter Eleven. That said, the chapter was very kid-focused and I think it has some great ideas for moms who need help finding time to blog (source: I was a kid once and I would have totally gone along with these ideas!).The book comes with a 13 page worksheet that you can download from the website. The worksheet breaks out the topics covered in the book into seven sections in a ten week outline. Each section has a very short summary of the section and then action steps. It's pretty much just a recap of what's in the book, but it's not a bad roadmap for those who like to take notes. (I'm more of a 'doodle in the bullet journal' kind of gal.)All in all, it was a fun read, the authors have great narrative voices and I got out of the book what I needed, so no regrets on my end. I'd definitely recommend this ebook for folks just starting out-- definitely worth the price of a Starbucks Coffee! :D

Other reviewers have done a good job of telling you what this book is about and how it does exactly what the title promises - take you by the hand and walk you though a sensible and practical, step-by-step action plan to create a successful blog. Like all Sally's books, it's like sitting down with a good friend - very pleasant read in good company. I'm not raising a family (my child is an adult) so don't have the kid-management and time-management issues, but there is still plenty of value here for anyone, of any age and in any life situation who has always wanted to start a money-making blog, but wasn't quite sure where to start.I have had a blog in the past, don't currently, but so many times while reading had that AH-HA moment - yep, that's what I did wrong, or should have done at that point. With this book I feel ready to push the overwhelming amounts of (often conflicting) information aside, take what I did learn and this fresh, smart advice and try again. Thank you Sally and Lisa for a truly helpful how-to book!

This is by far the most useful book on how to set up and monetize your blog I’ve come across. I listened to the Audible version and immediately downloaded the Kindle version. I also purchased the print version for my daughter and I to share. The information was practical, updated and easy to follow. I used the information to set up the nuts and bolts of my blog. The technical how-to’s were invaluable. I especially appreciated the tips for saving money while still creating a quality blog. I’ve since read a few more books about this topic. IMO, they didn’t compare to the wealth of practical and easy-to-implement information found in this book/guide.

This book is such an easy read and really simplifies the process of starting a new blog and how to monetize it. I found the chapters easy to follow. My only criticism would be possibly linking to online tutorials to show how some of the steps are done. Other than that, this book is a good introduction for anyone interested in starting a blog. I also found the tips on time management and balancing family life very useful and hope to implement it in my own life.

I was hoping to learn something new or groundbreaking to help me monetize my blog. All of the tips here are ones I know from blogging for several years. If there’s any advantage to this book, it’s that everything is laid out in a very logical way to help you go step by step if you’re a beginner.

I liked the book a lot. It has a nice introduction to blogging. Unfortunately it was to short. It gave me some idea of what I was in for. It offered some constructive ideas on time management. It offered a couple but not enough checklist. It gave a couple of solids tips to make sure your website was always working. I just wish it was more. Very good I just want more.

I found Lisa and Sally’s book very helpful. I am in the early stages of building by blog indieauthor.com and having a roadmap and expert advice from people who have stepped out before and tried and tested a blogging pathway to success is incredibly helpful. I always find it inspiring to hear success stories, but also love the practicality of what’s shared in this book. Not just theories, but real on the ground strategies to break through in blogging. Great book!

Amazing book for beginner bloggers to scale up their blogging. Loved the presentation style. Worth reading again and again. Recommended for bloggers

This book really excels in introducing you to how to start and maintain a blog. The author really encourages you to dive right in and get your feet wet as this is ultimately the only way that you can truly do this. You can really feel her experience when it comes to doing this the hard way as she attempts to take you by the hand and look over your shoulder with the timely advice that she brings you in her text. Absolutely outstanding and a must read for anyone attempting to actually start and continue to write a successful blog!