The Pet Blogger Challenge, 2015 Edition

It’s that time of year. Time to look back at what we’ve done and decide where we’re planning to go. Or, in my case, it’s more like jogging on the spot… or standing still… or maybe going backwards. (And thanks to Amy Burkert of GoPetFriendly.com for sponsoring this event.)

1. How long have you been blogging? And, for anyone stopping by for the first time, please give us a quick description of what your blog is about.

It’ all about me! ME ME ME!

 

Dumb dog doesn’t notice the gradual shift in content… SNORT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have been blogging since June 2010. Wow. Mostly about the dog. But the cats are creeping in…

2. Tell us one thing that you accomplished on your blog during 2014 that made you proud.

My April post pissed off Jodi Stone of Heart Like a Dog. 🙂 And my sister sent me an email telling me how much she loved my May post.

3. What lessons have you learned this year – from other blogs, or through your own experience – that could help us all with our own blogs?

I’m hearing this more and more from other bloggers. As Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield famously said, “If it’s not fun, why do it?” When it becomes merely labour, and not a labour of love, it’s time to re-think.

4. What have you found to be the most successful way to bring traffic to your blog, other than by writing great content?

I have no clue.  The number of subscribers doubled (from 3½ to 7), but I have no proof anyone’s reading the blog because page views are way down and comments have dried up completely. (Mind you, I’ve been absent from even my very favourite blogs, so I can’t complain about that.) My posts are automatically tweeted, but I have exactly 50 followers (honest) on Twitter, so that can’t be it. I suspect my friends are re-tweeting my posts (though I wouldn’t know because I haven’t logged on to Twitter in a hundred years). Sometimes I get referrals from CommentLuv, so commenting on other blogs does help. But none of this is a thought-out strategy, so, uh… yeah. No idea.

5. What was your most popular blog post this year? Did it surprise you that it was your most popular?

The most viewed post in 2014 was “Learning Helplessness,” but the one that garnered the most comments was last year’s Pet Blogger Challenge. 🙂  “Learning Helplessness” took me a long time to write. I revised it, agonized, and resigned myself to hearing “tl/dr” (too long, didn’t read) from everyone. That might even have been the case; “most viewed” does not necessarily mean most read. And it was anti-shock-collar; given my readership, I was preaching to the choir.

6. What was your favorite blog post to write this year?

My favourite post was “A Visit,” the one my sister like back in May. It’s highly personal and a shout-out to all the people I love best.

7. Has your policy on product reviews and/or giveaways changed this year?  If you do reviews, what do you find works best, and what doesn’t work at all? If you don’t do reviews, is this something you’d like to do more of? What hurdle is getting in your way?

Don’t do reviews. At one time I may have wanted to– now it seems more trouble than it’s worth.

8. What’s your best piece of advice for other bloggers?

Get to know your fellow bloggers– you won’t be sorry.

9. What goals do you have for your blog in 2015?

I wonder what’s coming next.

None, really. Last year I jokingly said two posts per month, and that didn’t happen. So my goal  remains the same– trying not to give up.

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

I could use a professional photographer… Also, you can all vote this entry “Most Useless Pet Blogger Challenge Post EVER.” I have to have some claim to fame.

This is a blog hop! Hop on here!