When I tell people that I run my own business and I work from home, their reaction is typically two-fold. First, they tell me that it “must be nice to have all that free time” and then, befuddled, they ask me how I actually make any money. I’ve written before about how it may be easier to make money blogging for others, but it certainly helps when your own blog as an income source too. The trouble is that not too many people know how to do that.
And it was with that in mind that Blogging with John Chow was created. If you’ve been following John on the web, then you’ll likely know him best as the blogger who earns $40,000 a month from part-time blogging. While most of us will never achieve that level of success, this does not mean that your blog can’t make money.
What Is Blogging with John Chow?
You might remember that I co-authored the Make Money Online book with John. In that book, we discuss some of the initial steps that you need to take to choose your niche, set up your blog, and start developing revenue streams from it. Blogging with John Chow expands on that concept, except it is offered in the form of a comprehensive online course.
Well, I use the term “online course” loosely. There is no classroom and there is no real assigned homework, though you’ll certainly need to put in the work if you want to “blog your way to the dot com lifestyle.” Instead, it’s really a members-only WordPress site that has been filled with all sorts of useful content. John partnered with a guy named Peng Joon on this project, developing this multi-part online course on blogging and making money online.
The actual content itself is mostly text-based, but there are also several embedded videos from John that provide some added information, instruction and guidance. The net result is a comprehensive e-course that will get you from thinking about blogging to having a professional blog that actually generates an income.
Nine Modules and More
The Blogging with John Chow online course is broken down into nine overarching “modules,” supplemented by some additional material. If you’re familiar with John’s style on his blog, then you’ll feel right at home reading his written content in the course. It’s straightforward, using plain language so that anyone–regardless of knowledge level–can understand.
Depicted above is a portion of Module 4, which talks about the importance of having quality original content on your blog. “The goal of a website,” writes John, “is not to make money. It’s not to rank in Google or to have more pages than another page. It is to provide something of value to a visitor. So, when you create a website that is filled with content effectively replicated from another site, the results are going to be less than stellar.”
Each module starts with an introductory article, followed by about five additional articles. Again using Module 4 as an example, we learn about creating viral content (including videos and photos), but we also dive into how to attract comments and how to moderate all that content. Other modules include list building, monetization, social media, Google rankings, and so on.
The 30 Day Action Plan
No matter how great of an idea you may have, no matter how motivated you may think you are, nothing is going to get accomplished if you don’t get down to work and stick to a plan. That’s why one of the most valuable parts of Blogging with John Chow is the 30 Day Action Plan.
Here, John provides you with specific, actionable items that you can perform for the first 30 days of your blogging endeavor. This isn’t just a simple goal on a list; each day in the action plan is a full page of content on its own. You’ll still be making use of the information you gleaned from the nine modules, to be sure, but this action plan will ensure that you stay on track and you keep working at your goal every day. That’s the only way that your blog will ever be successful. No one said it was going to be easy.
The Dot Com Lifestyle
No, I don’t think the layout of Blogging with John Chow is all that attractive, but that is not the point. The actual content contained within is very useful, particularly to those relatively new to blogging. Considering that the price is a one-time payment of just $37, you’re getting a great value and your investment will quickly pay for itself.
Hey Michael,
You beat me to it and posted your review first. It’s interesting how you approached it. I found it to be a reasonably balanced look at the product. I decided to do an in depth 10 post review of it though. That way people will have a pretty good idea if it’s for them or not. Most one page reviews are too short and too general, even if they try to be honest and balanced, for people to be able to decide if the product or course is really what they want and need.
My review, the first part of it, should be up sometime this evening.
Cheers,
Vance.
I think it’s a delicate balance and it depends on the reader. Some people want something a little more succinct, whereas other people want to dive into something that’s must more in-depth. I think if someone set up a blog that documents their progress of following the product, that could be very informative for some readers.
You are right about that. I won’t provide a progress report but my view of the different parts of the course and what’s good but also not so good about it. I think being less advanced than John and closer to those who are still learning gives me an angle or point of view closer to those who are considering taking the course.
By the way, on a different subject:
I have noticed that since the latest WP update the blogroll links now open in the same window in spite of being set to open in a new one.
Check it out. I think it’s the case on your blog too.
On my other site where I didn’t update WP they function properly.
It’s been a while since the latest WP update so I’m surprised nobody has caught it and fixed it yet.
Cheers,
Vance.
It seems inconsistent for me. Some links open in the same window, whereas others open in a new one. Weird. It doesn’t really bother me either way though.
As someone who regularly looks for reviews of things, I’d say my favourite is when they have both. I’ll usually want a quick one page (or even just a few paragraphs) review to start off with, before being able to go in-depth one if the first gets my interest.