Starting this blog to document our family’s homeschooling journey was as natural to me as breathing. I’ve blogged since about 2001, and I kept a “computer journal” even before that, back in the mid-1990s. I’ve used more systems than I can name (remember Angelfire? Geocities? Lycos? You know, those things we had before WordPress and Blogger and Tumblr?)… and I’ve worked on sites that didn’t even have a system, just a bunch of pages in Notepad that I’d edit HTML in by hand.

The great part about learning over time has been just that – I’ve learned so much! In fact, much of my work is now helped greatly by the fact that I know HTML, CSS and Javascript, which came entirely through trial and error.

Lots of trial. Lots of error.

Lots and lots and LOTS of error.

In the world of blogging, there are now more resources available than ever before. Blogger, WordPress, and dozens of smaller platforms. Sites with legitimate stock image resources beyond that sad guy with the jackhammer that announced “under construction” on every 1990s website.

Then there are Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest… all great promotional tools, but all requiring their own set of best practices.

And don’t get me started on – gasp – making money online!

With all these resources, it’s hard to know where to start – or where to go next.

That’s why I’m super-thrilled to have teamed up with 29 fellow longtime bloggers to create a practical, easy-to-understand way to get started with your blog and/or take it to the next level. It’s all the things I wish I’d known when I started blogging!

iBlog: everything you need to know about blogging from 30 top bloggers

Our team has been hard at work on this guide for the past 3 or 4 months.

Our finished product, “iBlog: everything you need to know about blogging from 30 top bloggers,” is a 391-page, 38-chapter eBook that will walk you through envisioning, creating, growing, marketing and monetizing your blog, step by step.

We just released it for purchase at iBlogTheBook.com, and I’m hoping that you’ll consider $7.99 a more than worthwhile investment for what we’ve done!

What’s included in iBlog

All you need to create a strong vision and mindset

• Building a Vision for Your Blog
• Finding Your Niche
• Using Your Blog as a Ministry

Practical ways to fit your blog into your life

• Blog Planning and Organization
• Streamlining Your Research
• Marriage and Blogging
• Balancing Motherhood and Blogging
• Balancing Homeschooling and Blogging
• Time Saving Blog Tips

Nuts-and-bolts guides anyone can understand

• Designing and Starting Your Blog on WordPress
• Designing and Starting Your Blog on Blogger
• Disclosure and Privacy Policies
• Basic SEO

Design and style help

• Blog Design 101
• Stock Image Tips (that’s my chapter!!)
• Blog Photography 101

Best practices for social media

• Using Facebook to Grow Your Blog
• Facebook Parties
• Facebook Hops
• Using Twitter to Grow Your Blog
• Using Pinterest to Grow Your Blog

Practical ways to grow and market your blog

• Writing and Using an Elevator Pitch
• Getting Your Blog Off the Ground
• Building Your Brand
• Building Community Through Your Blog
• How to Get Subscribers
• Guest Posting
• Linkups, Hops, and Other Events
• How to Create Your Own Printables
• How to Write a Media Kit
• Running a Group Blog
• The Power of Attending a Blogging Conference

Revenue-producing tips that really work

• Selling Your Own Products
• Using Affiliate Marketing
• How to Write a Product Review
• Working as a Virtual Assistant

I admit, I’m pretty proud of this book – and I’ve learned several things myself while reading it! I’d love to know what you most struggle with about blogging in the comments below!