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Pet Bloggers Challenge 2013!

Today we are participating in the Third Annual Pet Bloggers Challenge hosted by Amy at Go Pet Friendly! Thank you Amy for hosting this fabulous challenge once again!

For those of you who are not familair with the Pet Bloggers Challenge it’s a way us pet bloggers to “take time to get to know each other a bit better, share tips for making our blogs better, and generally commiserate, inspire, and support each other. It’s an opportunity to celebrate what we’ve accomplished over the last year, recognize how we’ve changed and grown, and lay out our vision for the year ahead.”

Since this is my third time participating in the Challenge we will be answering the “Repeat Offenders” questions!

First, let me say that I apologize for using exclamations points but that is just how excited I am to be doing this again, so deal with it!

Now let’s get this challenge started!

1. How long have you been blogging and provide a link to your post from last year’s Pet Blogger Challenge so we can refresh our memories.

I have been blogging for almost 3 years now. Wow! I can’t believe it’s been that long! My first post was April 1, 2010. Please don’t read it.

I did participate in last years Pet Blogger Challenge and you can refresh your memory here.

2. What do you consider the most important goals you set out in last year’s post?

I only had one goal last year and that was to switch from Blogger to WordPress.

3. Have you made progress toward those goals, or have your goals changed over the past year?

Well I’m here on WordPress so YAY!  but now I want to move again! Geesh!  I also stated that I hoped for many adventures in 2012, of which I don’t think we had many but that’s o.k. because we were just relaxing for 2013! You know what I’m talking about!

4. How often do you post?

4-7 times a week. Usually never less than 4 unless I’m sick and up to 7 depending how chatty I am that week or how often I was able to get out and take pictures. I wish I could be more specific, but hey, life is just unpredictable around here and I’m tired of trying to figure it out!

5. Has your opinion of blogging on a schedule or as the spirit moves you changed?

Blogging on schedule is important to me but sometimes I am just limited on time and can’t get to the blog as much as I would like. I have come to except that fact. See, I’m growing up.

If you publish on a schedule, why? How strict are you about your publishing deadlines? What do you do for inspiration when it feels like you’ve covered every topic?

I am strict on deadlines. If a deadline is given to me than it will be done by that date, unless of course my dog ate the product that was suppose to be reviewed by a specific date. True story. I just haven’t told you about yet because I’m waiting for the replacement product.

For inspiration I visit other blogs, not just pet blogs but blogs of other subjects too.  I also go and spend time with my boys. They have a way of inspiring me like no others!

If you don’t publish on a schedule, why? How do you think your decision affects your audience? How do you know when a topic is “post-worthy?”

If I am off on my schedule it does bother me because I think that some people come to expect a post on certain days and I don’t want to let anyone down.

I know a topic is “post worthy” if it is important to me because I’ve come to learn that what is important to me is also important to most of my readers, which is one of the many reasons why I love blogging. Also, if it involves anything that has caused me great embarrassment, I feel the need to share so I can brighten someone’s day:)

6. How much time do you spend writing your blog per week? How much time visiting other blogs? Share your  tips for staying on top of it all.

It really depends on what kind of posts I have planned for the week. Product review posts take a lot of time which is why I try and only have one product review a week, if at all. This year I am planning on doing less product reviews and more pet health related posts.  Pet health posts take a lot of time too since there is a lot of research that goes into each posts. I would have to take a guess and say 6-12 hours, but it really depends.  I’ve added a desk calendar to my routine which helps me keep things organized and if I have an idea for a post I can write it down on a certain day. Sometimes the posts gets moved around but the ideas are still there.

I spend about 6 hours a week visiting other blogs.  It’s hard to stay on top of it all and this year I really have to get it in order so that I can be more productive. Last year I started off the year trying to pre-write my posts on Sunday but that  only happened for a few months and then summer hit and Sundays were spent at the ballpark. I would really like to try that again this year. Get a majority of my posts written in one day or at least a few rough drafts done. This way I can go back and edit as needed  throughout the week and I can have more time to read other blogs and work on other social media platforms.

7. How do you measure the success of a post and of your blog in general (comments, shares, traffic)?

Do you look strictly at the numbers, or do you have a way of assessing the quality of those interactions?

Good question. I think I measure the success of a post by reader interaction. If people read my blog regularly but often don’t leave a comment and I write a post that gets them to make that very first comment then I feel that is a successful post. Of course I look at traffic to, but a great post will continue to get hits and comments for a long time after it has been published.

8. If you could ask the pet blogging community for help with one issue you’re having with your blog, what would it be?

I continue to struggle with SEO and I feel that this may be something that I need someone to hold my hand with or take a course on. It’s kind of like me and math, it just doesn’t click.

9. What goals do you have for your blog in 2013?

I am super excited about this year. For once I feel that I know what I want to do with this blog and where I would like it to go. It’s a good feeling to feel good about what you’re doing! In 2013 I’d like focus a bit more on pet health but still share many more of my ramblings. At one time I didn’t think it was possible to do both but I’m pretty sure I can make it work. I’m also really excited to switch themes and frameworks this year, although I don’t when that will happen. We’ll just say sometime in 2013, expect a new look.

Regardless of what we accomplish this year and what we don’t this community is one that I am so glad to be apart of and hope to be around to take many more Pet Bloggers Challenges!

That wraps up another year of the Pet Bloggers Challenge! Thank you so much to Amy from Go Pet Friendly for hosting this wonderful Challenge! It’s one of our favorite Challenges as a blogger!

XOXO,

Jen, The Pet Blogger

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Dogs N Pawz

Monday 14th of January 2013

I just bought a desk calendar yesterday and am going to put it to good use:)

I love your blog and love reading about Leroy and Sherman. They are such awesome dogs...I want a Newfie!!!!

Jen

Tuesday 15th of January 2013

Desk calendars are so much fun! at least for me:)

Thank you for the kind words about the blog and the Newfs!

The Preventive Vet

Monday 14th of January 2013

Congratulations on the move to WordPress, good luck on the next move :-)

As for SEO - in my (albeit limited) understanding of it, SEO is very much a moving target. What others have told me is to work first to ensure that the content and writing is there, and then try to make use of keywords and such. I think traffic begets traffic, as does social media stuff (at least Google + - which I just saw and followed you on).

Best of luck with 2013 and your refocusing on pet health issues - a cause very close to my heart :-)

Best, Jason

Jen

Tuesday 15th of January 2013

Thank you Jason! The thought of moving was pretty scary, but the actual moving proved to be no big deal!

Thank you for your insight on SEO, it is greatly appreciated. I have to agree about the social media stuff.

Best of luck to you also this year!

Jodi

Sunday 13th of January 2013

First, I love your enthusiasm, please bottle some up and send it my way. :-)

Second, ditto what Lauren says, I'd like to know the answers to that question myself.

Next, SEO, I need to learn this. I actually googled it and found a video and then I didn't have the time to watch it (I was at work) so I have to look at up. All this time I've been using tags thinking I was optimizing my SEO when in fact, I wasn't doing shit.

Maybe blogpaws will have a class on SEO, that would be ideal.

I look forward to watching you meet your goals Jen and hopefully I can help you in some small way.

Jen

Tuesday 15th of January 2013

Thanks Jodi!

Ok, so look above at the comment I left to Lauren, that kind of explains why I want to move again. It's the only way I can explain it.

I would love it if BlogPaws had a class on SEO! Will you be my partner?lol:)

lauren

Sunday 13th of January 2013

hmm... switching to another blogging platform again. so you've been on blogger and on wp and didn't really like either? i'm extremely curious as to why you are looking to leave wp, because i have been considering moving my blogger blog here but can't figure out if it's worth the trouble. willing to share your thoughts on that one?

btw, i 1000% feel you on this: life is just unpredictable around here and I’m tired of trying to figure it out!

Jen

Tuesday 15th of January 2013

Hi Lauren!

I like WP and I'll still be on it when I change frameworks. The best way to describe it is that WP is the engine of the car and Genesis is the frame and body. Genesis is a powerful WP theme that offers better design, SEO, and security than basic/free WP themes.

I think moving from blogger to WP is well worth it, but that's just me.

melF

Saturday 12th of January 2013

I always love your posts Jen and this is no different. Your exclamations made me smile (were we sisters in another life??) and your challenge NOT to read your first post made me want to go read it (of course!). It was a great first post! Introduce yourself and your dogs. What's a better beginning than that?

I will be very interested in your pet health issues, especially since you have so much experience in this area. Let's hope that most of them do NOT have anything to do with personal (meaning your own) dog experiences. Sherman - I'm talking about you okay?

I look forward to where you take the blog in 2013. I'll always be a loyal fan. I just happen to think you're funny and awesome. :)

Jen

Tuesday 15th of January 2013

Aw! Thanks Mel! I think that there is a very good chance that we were sisters in another life:)

I'm excited to talk about pet health issues this year, although I am quickly learning that in my current situation with Sherman a little bit of knowledge can be dangerous:(

Thank you so much for the very kind words and for being such a great rapporteur and reader:) It makes me blush:)

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