ProBlogger Blog Wise Review: Secrets of Productive Bloggers

Yesterday, Darren Rowse released his latest eBook. After receiving about the third email telling me to buy it with no further info than what the sales page has to offer, I decided to take one for the team. I was 100% sure it was a really good resource, but I wanted to see for myself. Here is your Blog Wise review.

Blog Wise is focused around a couple of our biggest complaints as bloggers – Time and Productivity. This is a collection of interviews with nine of the most well-known bloggers around right now. In those interviews they share how they have made their blogs the successes they are today by doing more with less.

Things I Loved:

These are great interviews with *real* people. They are talking about their personal connections with their blogs, what causes them the most stress, their biggest fears as bloggers, juggling online businesses, social media, relationships, kids, travel. Those are things every blogger can relate to.

At the end of each interview there are takeaways, such as the blogger’s favorite tools, tips and key talking points from the interview.

There are interviews where I found myself shaking my head in agreement thinking, “I do that.” There are sections where light bulbs went off, “That’s genius!” There were some things I thought, “That just wouldn’t work for me.” And, that’s okay. As some of the interviewees mention, you have to find your own road. No one but you knows where you want to go. Inevitably, you are responsible for finding the way there.

There is a bonus included with Blog Wise named Problem Solver. This is another 23 pages of actionable tips and advice for breaking through common blog busters; motivation, inspiration, focus, time, writer’s block and more.

Things to Know:

There is “team” talk in some parts of this book. Many of us aren’t to the point of having a team of paid blog helpers. However, these mentions aren’t the primary focus of the book. There are far more personal experiences and recommendations than simply outsourcing.

Most of these bloggers state in their interviews that they have worked harder on their blogs than they ever have on anything else. Look at these names. Do you think their blogs started out as they are today?

1. Darren Rowse: owner of Digital Photography School and ProBlogger
2. Amy Porterfield: author, prolific on Social media, contributor to numerous blogs, speaker, Mom and much more.
3. Brian Clark: Founder of CopyBlogger Media which includes CopyBlogger the blog, StudioPress Themes, Premise, Scribe and more.
4. Abby Larson: Founder of Style Me Pretty – a network of 12 sites
5. Matt Kepnes: Founder of Nomadic Matt’s Travel Site
6. Heather Armstrong: Founder of Dooce, author of numerous books
7. Jeff Goins: blogging at Goins Writer, writing a book, husband and…. he works a full-time job
8. Gretchen Rubin: Founder of the Happiness Project blog, author of 4 books, wife and mother of 2 daughters.
9. Leo Babauta: Founder of Zen Habits and numerous other projects, author, minimalist and father of 6 kids.

Why is this in the “Things to Know” section? Because this eBook is not a magic pill that you are going to buy and your blog will instantly transform into everything you have ever imagined. Blogging is hard work. If you aren’t willing to put in the work, this eBook is not for you.

Blog Wise is a resource for finding the inspiration and motivation to get, or keep, you going. The eBook ends with nine productivity steps, but the bulk is not a step-by-step action plan like 31 Days to Build a Better Blog. It is an opportunity to take a peek into many successful bloggers’ daily lives and pull out those methods that will work for you.

Big Takeaways for Me

Be conscious of how you are spending your time and how it makes you feel.

Busyness and productivity are two entirely different things.

Sometimes things are going to go all wrong. It happens. Sit down and work through it.

I think many of us find excuses for being unproductive. “Life is chaotic. I have so many more responsibilities working from home. Not one day goes as planned around here…so subpar is just going to have to be good enough.” Excuses build bridges to nowhere.

Blog Wise is currently 25% off for a limited time. You can purchase and download it right now for only $14.99. Get it. Read it. Come back here and tell me the number one thing or blogger you could relate to.