Jan
2013
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
Kenzo
January 10, 2013 at 2:11 am (160 days ago)Great tip to try write as much as possible on one day and just come back and edit some later. I will give that a try as well.
SEO can be a science! What I always do is choose 2 or 3 keywords that reflect the message of the post AND could be terms people search on. Then I make sure these terms go in the URL, the post title, and repeat them a couple of times in the first paragraph. It is easy, and that has the SEO covered for 80%. I am too lazy to invest a whole lot more time in the last 20%
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 9:24 am (159 days ago)Thanks for the great tips on SEO! I will give those a try, sounds like something I can comprehend!
Misaki
January 10, 2013 at 6:44 am (160 days ago)So interesting to read other blogger’s habits!
I get lots of spam about improving the whole SEO thing but it goes way over my head!
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 9:25 am (159 days ago)It’s so much fun to read how other bloggers do their blogging and I learn so much!
Clowie
January 10, 2013 at 7:18 am (160 days ago)Your plans for this year sound interesting!
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 9:25 am (159 days ago)Thank you! I hope they will be interesting!
Eva or sometimes Priscilla
January 10, 2013 at 7:47 am (160 days ago)I always enjoy reading your blog and I love the pictures of the two big dogs, the tiny Gibby and your two lovely children.
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 9:26 am (159 days ago)Thank you so much for the kind words. It means a lot to know that others feel this way:)
2 brown dawgs
January 10, 2013 at 8:05 am (160 days ago)Great answers. I am really looking forward to your health posts. There are weeks I am able to write all my posts at once, but most weeks it is just not possible for me. I think it is more productive to write them at once though. Good luck to you on that goal.
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 9:27 am (159 days ago)I hear you! For me, it usually depends on who is at home when I decide to sit and down. If the kids are home I usually don’t get very much accomplished:)
Maggie
January 10, 2013 at 9:18 am (160 days ago)I think that’s great advice about writing more when the mood strikes. Looking forward to your pet health posts, the more I learn the more I grow, and that puts a wag in the tail. Looking forward to connecting this year!
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 9:28 am (159 days ago)Thank you! I have learned so much from other bloggers. I feel like it is a constant learning curve here! Best of luck to you!
caren gittleman
January 10, 2013 at 10:08 am (160 days ago)I absolutely LOVE your blog and think you could accomplish even more should you wish to!
About SEO…check out the BlogPaws archives…there are blog posts about that. I don’t write using SEO but i need to.
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 9:29 am (159 days ago)Thank you Caren! You have always been one of my motivators! I have read the BlogPaws post on SEO in the past but maybe I need to revisit them!
Kimberly, The Fur Mom
January 10, 2013 at 10:19 am (160 days ago)Hi Jen – first, it’s so fun to learn I’m not so unique after all when it comes to my blogging schedule. Second, if you’d like help with SEO, check out my blogging resources page on my site for a book called SEO Made Easy. This eBook is easy to follow and uncomplicates SEO. I used this book to help me launch Keep the Tail Wagging and credit it with the success I had in 2012.
Best of luck!!! Hugs to the pups.
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 9:30 am (159 days ago)Hi Kimberly! Isn’t it nice to know that some of us think alike when it comes to blogging things?
Thank you for SEO tips! I will be sure to check out your resource page! Yay!
Roxy the traveling dog
January 10, 2013 at 10:43 am (160 days ago)Excellent. My biggest help for SEO has been a plug in called Word Press SEO. But then you said you want to move again. Where do you want to move to? I like the look of your blog.
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 2:48 pm (159 days ago)Thank you! I have that plugin, and I think I have another one too I just need to use it the way it was intended to be used instead of letting it just sit there!
I want to move over to Genesis. I’ll keep the same host just switch frameworks.
Emma
January 10, 2013 at 11:30 am (160 days ago)That issue about readers expecting posts is one we always have on our minds, so we try to post on the same day or a day before or after but it is a hard one since we only want to post 2-3 times a week.
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 2:49 pm (159 days ago)It is hard. I often vary between 4 and 7 posts a week but I would really like to have that a fixed number. I guess sometimes there are weeks that I have more to say than others.
Emma
January 10, 2013 at 11:35 am (160 days ago)I forgot, my squirrel Fred came by and distracted me! For SEO my mom has a private class with someone that works in the field. She learned a lot but still feels she is a novice. The one thing she has done, not on my blog because I have a free one, but on other ones she works on is to install the WordPress SEO plug in by Yoast. It puts a form on the bottom of every post and page for you to fill in and it tells you how you are doing with SEO for that particular page or post. It is free or you can donate to download it if you feel like donating. It is great for beginners.
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 2:50 pm (159 days ago)I’m pretty sure I have that one and another SEO. I think I need to figure out if each post I write needs to go into that or not.
Thanks for the information!
Peggy Frezon
January 10, 2013 at 11:36 am (160 days ago)I feel like Sherman and Leroy are pals who might live right around the corner. I love visiting you, but haven’t stopped by as much as I’d like lately. I’m going to change that!
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 2:52 pm (159 days ago)Hi Peggy! Thank you for the kinds words! It’s been a busy time of the year for all of us I think, so I totally understand! Feel free to stop by any time you can and we will do the same because we love Kelly and Brooks!
Tori
January 10, 2013 at 12:23 pm (160 days ago)I have seen a lot of people switched to WordPress…it seems a lot more difficult to navigate for me so I am using my personal website to learn the ropes. I am excited to see your new web layout, and of course learn about pet health from you!
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 2:53 pm (159 days ago)At first it is intimidating but I got use to it in less than a week. I admit that I was scared to move but now I am so glad I did:)
Thank you for the kind words!
jan
January 10, 2013 at 1:47 pm (160 days ago)I have learned so much about living with big dogs from your adventures with Sherman and Leroy. The main thing is that I would rather read about them than live them.
but I’m sure you feel the same about my little rug rats.
I know you will continue to see the humor in living with Newfies during the coming year and sharing it with us.
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 2:55 pm (159 days ago)Thanks Jan! Living with this big guys certainly does come with challenges but they are so worth it to me!
I hope I can continue to see the humor this year, Sherman and Leroy make it pretty easy!
Vicki Cook
January 10, 2013 at 2:55 pm (160 days ago)I always learn more about the person behind the blog when I read through the PB Challenge posts. I think that my favorite part, although the tips are handy too! I don’t write in batches, but I do try to write on a daily basis. For me, posting regularly keeps me in the habit of posting. I’m curious to know why you’re moving from WordPress and where you are planning to move to. Like Caren, I don’t write using SEO, but I probably should. Good luck with your goals in 2013!
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 2:57 pm (159 days ago)I know! I love reading through everyone’s PBC posts! I wish I could write daily, but I just can’t find the time sometimes.
I’ll still be here on WP, just switching frameworks. I’m looking into Genesis. I’m looking for a theme that can offer me more than the basics.
Georgia Little Pea
January 10, 2013 at 3:25 pm (160 days ago)Oh my, your boys are BIG! I’ve seen your name often in blogs I visit, but I think this might be the first time I’m here. I’m in awe that you just switched to WP (something I dream of but will never do because I’m chicken) and are already thinking of new looks. And I wonder if I’m the only one who doesn’t know what a SEO is! Hooroo!
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 10:53 pm (159 days ago)Hello and welcome! Thanks for stopping by and yes the boys are BIG:) The thought of switching to WP was really scary before I did it but to be honest it really wasn’t all that bad. I think I was scared because I didn’t know what was all involved in switching. If I can do it anyone can!
Nichole
January 10, 2013 at 4:34 pm (160 days ago)Great post! I am chuckling alot over the “unless my dog ate the product I was to review” comment… how about “unless my dog hid the product I was supposed to review?” (true story in this house!). ha ha!
So what are your thoughts on moving from Blogger (which I use) to Word Press and now wanting to move again? Reasons?
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 10:55 pm (159 days ago)And I forget to mention that the product that was eaten was not an edible product!
Moving was easy, it was the thought of doing it that was the scary thing and the fact that I had no idea what I was doing. I like it over here.
Sarah
January 10, 2013 at 4:45 pm (160 days ago)Can’t wait to see what kind of new layout you’ll bring for 2013! I’ve read that a few people try to spend one day to get most of their writing for the week done – it seems like a good plan. Though full posts would be hard, rough drafts, like you’ve suggested, would be more manageable. Sorry I can’t give you any insight onto SEO – it’s weird calculus type math to me, too.
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 10:58 pm (159 days ago)Hi Sarah!
Yes, rough drafts do make it easier for me. I don’t write the post all the way through but I do do write down what is going on in my head and then go back and adjust as needed. For me, it makes for a better post and I can totally tell the difference. Posts that I write a few hours before I publish it seem rushed and dry, but that is just me.
SEO=total calculus!
Brenda
January 10, 2013 at 7:24 pm (160 days ago)Hey gf! Wait! You wanna move to what now? I think we all have issues with finding time and what not. Heck, I feel like a total slacker compared to some but you know you can only do so much, right? I don’t get into the whole SEO thing. I believe in sharing and sharing and sharing. The more bloggers who share you posts, the more traffic you’ll get.
BTW, I contacted the girl that did your graphic and she’s going to do one for me! I totally love yours and your new theme! Rock on gf!
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 11:16 pm (159 days ago)Hi Brenda! I think you are right that most of struggle to find the time to do blog and all that is involved with it. Sometimes I feel like a total slacker!
I just want to move to Genesis, a different framework and theme. I’m never happy:))
Can’t wait to see your design!
Jet
January 10, 2013 at 9:36 pm (160 days ago)Hey Leroy, Hey Sherman, Jet here. Hi Miss Jen.
You were one of the first blogs we consistently visited. We enjoy all of your posts and support any direction you wish to go. How you juggle parenthood, job, spouse and life stupefies Mom! Way to go…
And… while Mom is confessing… she has this incredible wish to bury her face in the boys soft fur! Ok, she’s said it.
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 11:17 pm (159 days ago)Hi Jet!
Thank you for the kind words and your support, that means so much to me!
Tell your Mom she can bury her face the boys fur anytime! It’s a great thing!
Karen Friesecke
January 10, 2013 at 9:41 pm (160 days ago)SEO is seriously overrated. Leo pretty much has it down pat, so you can avoid the $100 that you’ll get dinged to take a course. I like the new logo and I’m interested to see the “new look” when you decide to unveil it.
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 11:19 pm (159 days ago)Thanks for the insight Karen and for the money saving advice!
Glad you like the logo, I’m getting use to it:) I have no idea when the new look will happen, I guess one day I’ll just change it when the spirit moves me!
KB
January 10, 2013 at 10:27 pm (160 days ago)Thanks for the inside peek. I can’t wait to hear about what product your dogs ate
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 11:19 pm (159 days ago)LOL. It was a product that was not meant for dogs to consume, but Leroy is fine:)
Colby
January 11, 2013 at 2:49 am (159 days ago)I love seeing pics and hearing about the adventures of Leroy and Sherman. Just like others I’m interested to hear about what platform you plan on moving to and why.
If you have any questions about SEO please feel free to send me an email. However, over the past year a lot has changed in SEO so what you heard yesterday may not be the same as today or tomorrow. I don’t use the Yoast SEO plugin, but I have heard that it is the best. I’m currently using All In One SEO.
Best of luck with your goals in 2013!
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 11:22 pm (159 days ago)Thanks Colby! Sherman and Leroy certainly do provide me with adventures! I think my life would be pretty dull without them!
I’m thinking of moving to Genesis. I’ve heard great things about them and they have a theme that I think will be perfect for us!
Thank you for the SEO support! I honestly have to check and see which plugin I’m using. They all seem to run together and I think I’ve switched a few times which I’m sure isn’t good:(
Colby
January 12, 2013 at 4:36 pm (158 days ago)Hi Jen,
I’m using Genesis on my blog right now. There are some built in SEO options so you might want to wait till after you install the theme before you choose an SEO plugin.
Good luck!
Colby
Elizabeth
January 11, 2013 at 2:49 am (159 days ago)I don’t quite get SEO either. When you figure it out please let us know! I would love to know where you are planning on moving your site too, this kind of stuff always interests me!
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 11:23 pm (159 days ago)Ha-ha! I will be sure to let you know if I figure it out!
I’m thinking of moving to Genesis, I have heard a lot of great things about their platforms and I like the look of their themes.
Coralee
January 11, 2013 at 9:51 am (159 days ago)I love your blog (only partly because my very first dog was a Newfoundland!). I’m glad to run into it again on the Challenge!
I’ve gotten some great ideas from your comments! Thanks for that, and best of luck!
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 11:24 pm (159 days ago)Your kidding! I always love meeting fellow Newfie owners!
Thanks for stopping by today and for the luck, we need it!
Pup Fan
January 11, 2013 at 11:31 am (159 days ago)Writing posts in advance is one of my goals for this year too. I used to be so much better about that but have definitely fallen off the wagon.
I wish I could help on the SEO goal… I’m pretty hopeless in that department too.
Love your blog and really cannot wait to see what you come up with in 2013.
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 11:25 pm (159 days ago)I’ve fallen off the wagon too! For me, it just seems like getting some rough drafts together before the week starts leaves a lot of time to do other things!
Thanks for the kind words and best of luck to you too!
Kristine
January 11, 2013 at 2:21 pm (159 days ago)Love the idea of a desk calendar to keep organized. I think that’s where I’ve been getting a bit off the map. I just keep all my information and deadlines stored in my head. While it hasn’t caused me too many issues and I haven’t forgotten a single one, I do think maybe if I had it laid out visually in front of me it would help me plan, as opposed to throwing things together at the last second.
I am zero help with SEO, unfortunately. But I have been told it’s over-rated. I do use the Yoast plug-in but I don’t think I even use it prooperly. I certainly haven’t noticed a difference anyway.
Where are you going to move next? I’m curious as I have been contemplating making a change to a different host and would love to know what experiences others have had with their platforms. WP has been great but there are limitations. I’d love to experiment with something else.
Good luck on getting it all done!
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 11:29 pm (159 days ago)I got the desk calendar idea from Caren over at Dakotas Den! I love it! I use to have a notebook but that just gets pushed off to the side. The desk calendar is much better. In the beginning I was even color coding it but that didn’t last long!
Thinking of moving over to the Genesis framework, I’ve heard really good things about them and I like their themes qwhich seem to have more to offer than WP themes. I’ll still be on the same host which is HostGator, have never had a problem with them.
Amy@GoPetFriendly
January 11, 2013 at 4:31 pm (159 days ago)I love your comment about the exclamation points – I’ve actually been editing my comments and adjusting my punctuation because I was afraid I was overusing them! LOL! Who can blame us … this is exciting stuff!
I also love that one of your criteria for posting involves personal embarrassment. You’re a “give ’til it hurts” kind of girl to share your most embarrassing moments with us – that why I love your blog! I’m so excited to see where 2013 takes you. I know Leroy and Sherman are both having some health related issues, so we’ll be closely following their progress, but I’m also excited to see you new design … and, of course, I’m hoping for more photos of Gibby. <3 Thanks for participating in the challenge and a great 2013 to you!
Jen
January 11, 2013 at 11:33 pm (159 days ago)Thanks Amy! I was so excited to write this post and know that I’ve seen some of the other posts I want to change mine! lol! I feel like I left a lot out! Oh well, there’s always next year!
Hey if others can find humor in mt humility then that is good, right?
Thank you for all the kind words, I’ve decided just to wrap Sherman and Leroy in bubble wrap and make Gibby the star of the blog! Lol! Just kidding, but I do have to have more posts with Gibby!
Thanks again for hosting the PBC! It’s an awesome event!
Tegan
January 12, 2013 at 5:18 pm (158 days ago)Hi! Nice to virtually meet you. It seems that a few people moved blogging platforms to WordPress during the year. Why are you thinking of changing again? On WordPress, you may be interested to know that there is a SEO plugin (or several). How you use them, I don’t know, but I have them activated on my blog, so at least I made an effort!
Jen
January 15, 2013 at 9:39 am (155 days ago)Hi Tegan! It’s nice to meet you also!
I am thinking of changing again to get a better theme that fits our needs and Studiopress has a few of them that I think would work great!
Thanks for the info on SEO, I do have a few of those WP SEO plugins, I just need to learn how to use them!
Pamela | Something Wagging This Way Comes
January 12, 2013 at 8:22 pm (158 days ago)You’ve set a big goal by changing your framework. I’m redesigning Hands on Home Buyer using the Prose child theme on the Genesis framework. (Something Wagging is next.) Supposedly it’s the easiest and most flexible theme for non-developers. Of course, that’s in the opinion of web developers. I find they woefully underestimate its difficulty.
When you start going insane, let’s share a virtual glass of wine and share our sorrows.
Jen
January 15, 2013 at 9:41 am (155 days ago)Lol, gee thanks Pamela. You make it sound so fun and easy:) I’m sure it is going to be a challenge which is why I have decided to wait until I am emotionally and mentally stable to take on such a task, whenever that may be:)
melF
January 12, 2013 at 8:48 pm (158 days ago)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
January 15, 2013 at 9:43 am (155 days ago)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:)
lauren
January 13, 2013 at 11:10 am (157 days ago)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
January 15, 2013 at 9:49 am (155 days ago)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.
Jodi
January 13, 2013 at 11:15 am (157 days ago)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
January 15, 2013 at 9:51 am (155 days ago)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:)
The Preventive Vet
January 14, 2013 at 5:14 pm (156 days ago)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
January 15, 2013 at 10:00 am (155 days ago)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!
Dogs N Pawz
January 14, 2013 at 5:56 pm (156 days ago)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
January 15, 2013 at 10:00 am (155 days ago)Desk calendars are so much fun! at least for me:)
Thank you for the kind words about the blog and the Newfs!