2. Tell us one thing that
you accomplished on your blog during 2014 that made you proud. I am
very proud to have joined with my local shelters to feature their adoptable
dogs. Many are now happily living in
their new forever homes.
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? Since this was my first year, I received help
from some awesome bloggers. I know that
staying true to your own voice is crucial, slow loading photos are a major
post-kill, always visit/comment on other blog sites, and enjoy yourself.
4. What have you found to be the most
successful way to bring traffic to your blog, other than by writing great
content? Sharing on social media is a must. Readers have to be able to find you. People love to feel good and eye-catching
photography is a great way to make your audience smile. Once readers visit your website, it needs to
feel comfortable and make them anxious to visit again. Be nice.
5. What was your most popular blog post
this year? Did it surprise you that it
was your most popular? My most popular post was “Who Let Their Dogs
Out?” It addresses people allowing their
dogs to run loose in neighborhoods. It
did surprise me that it was my most popular post, but I’m glad that it was, since loose dogs are my #1 pet
peeve.
 |
| Bentley's HD 7 Rocket Pack |
7. Has your policy on product reviews
and/or giveaways changed this year? I
have always welcomed writing reviews of products that I believe would interest my
audience. I still feel strongly about
the dog products that I do not accept.
7a. If you do reviews, what do you find works
best, and what doesn’t work at all? We do a number of product reviews. Most of the more popular ones are in the
voices of Bentley and Pierre, because they are funny. Giveaways also help boost review posts. I can only speak for my posts, but the straight-faced
“nothing but the facts” reviews don’t motivate my readers.
8. What’s your best piece of advice for
other bloggers? Love what you’re doing and your readers will feel
it.
9. What goals do you have for your blog in
2015? This year I will continue to learn and
improve my website. One of the ways that
I plan to accomplish this is to attend my second BlogPaws conference. It was a life-changing experience for me last
year.
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 am trying to decide whether to stay with Blogger or switch to WordPress. I am comfortable with Blogger, but it is
quirky at times. However, WordPress seems
extremely daunting. What works best for you?
Thank you for dropping by the bayou today. I hope that you’ve enjoyed today’s challenge
and I hope that you make us a regular stop.
If you are curious about our last year’s challenge, read it here.
We offer special thanks to our host of the Fifth
Annual Pet Blogger Challenge, Go Pet Friendly.
Their site is a must-read for all of us who travel with their
four-legged family. Visit to read these other pet bloggers that have accepted this year's challenge. Just click on the small photo icons below. ↓
Great post - and your blog looks fantastic! It didn't dawn on me until you mentioned it that it's on Blogger. I loved the simplicity of Blogger but switched to WordPress, and it's been a huge learning curve. I continue to struggle with it. Looking at your blog makes me want to switch back!
ReplyDeleteGreat post!! I love your blog!! :D I use blogger right now, too. I've also been thinking about switching!
ReplyDeleteGreat post you question is difficult as I use both Blogger and Wordpress for Speedy's Blog,Blogger I use the most as its so much easier to use ,wordpress I use to link up to Speedy's Blogger Blog as it is very complicated to use and the more you want to do then it starts costing you money,however the wordpress app on cellphones is better than the Blogger app so it swings in roundabouts,xx Rachel
ReplyDeleteGreat post and things we didn't know about you before - thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteWe are so glad you are in the blogging community and can't wait to meet up this year at BlogPaws. We are diehard WP bloggers. Mom started working with it before my blog for a work blog and now even my Gramma uses the free version for her church library blog, so it is real simple. We all get into a habit, and trying new things is never easy, but if you are willing to accept a challenge, make the switch. There are so many bloggers out there to help you out. The community is the best resource around.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Love to read it.
ReplyDeleteCould Bentley be any cuter in his rocket pack outfit? How fun!
ReplyDeleteThat picture of Bentley and the rocket is the best! You have some great pictures :) Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteIt was fun meeting you and your hubs last year, I only wish we could make Blogpaws again. Wordpress is not very daunting. I have no experience with blogger however.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I was in your shoes a few years ago and all I can is I'm glad that I made the switch to WP from Blogger. It was super scary at first but well worth it!
ReplyDeleteThis was great! All your posts are winners to me! I've only worked with the free WP and It works for me, I've not had a problem with it and my challenge is if I stay with the free one or go self hosted.
ReplyDeleteI (Frankie Furter) was just talkin about this stuffs with Dory and her Mama... I have been blogging since Oct. '08. It used to be NORMAL to get 25 to 40 comments on Every Post... I did an Average for one Month and it was 47. Sometimes there would be 60 comments. THAT seems UNBELIEVABLE any more... We think that the OTHER social Media sites (like FaceBark) have taken Some of our furends away.
ReplyDeleteWe TOTALLY agree... COMMENTING to OTHERS is the BEST way to gain and KEEP good furends... THAT and keeping thingys FUN as much as Pawsible.
Blogger has its PROBLEMS (like 87,000 of them) butt we Prefer it to Wordpress... the worst pawt is that Blogger and Wordpress do not Play Well with each other... We once Started to switch over... and then decided that it would be more work than it would be Worthwhile... BOTH are run by Squirrels...
So glad you joined and really enjoyed reading your post! Congrats on getting a year under your belt - that's seriously awesome. I can't wait to see where the ride takes you from here!
ReplyDeleteOh, and that rocket pack photo... too much!
I had the same concerns about moving to self-hosted WP, because I was so comfortable on Blogger. But since moving 2 years ago, I have to say it was a great decision. Yes, there's a slight bit of a learning curve, but there are lots of great resources to answer your questions! If you decide to move and want help, let me know! It's one of the services I offer through my business!
ReplyDeleteI was also toying with changing to WP....hmmmmmmm
ReplyDeleteGreat answers, I do love this challenge and always learn so much!
Thanks for joining the Challenge, and congratulations on your blogiversary! That picture of Bently with the rocket is one of the funniest things I've ever seen, so thank you for sharing that again!
ReplyDeleteI've never used Blogger, so I can't compare the two, but I find WordPress very easy to use. I'd recommend getting some help from a blogging buddy to lay out the design and make the transition, but I think once you're on WP, you'll find it's intuitive and easy to navigate. Good luck - I hope you have a fantastic year!
Hi!!
ReplyDeleteWe love your site and it has been awesome to get to know you over the past few months. It is CRAZY that you have only been blogging for a year! What a huge influence you have had.....a 2015 BlogPaws Ambassador! I know that a lot of people aren't sold on doing reviews, but its an important part of our mission, and we are happy to find someone else who feel similarly. We hope to snag some of your time at BlogPaws this year...I think we would learn a lot!
That was fun to read. We haven't heard about this challenge. We'll check it out!
ReplyDeleteHi Y'all!
ReplyDeleteMy Editor has played with the idea of WordPress, but time restrictions has made any change impossible. As for loose dogs, I'll show you one of them in Monday's post.
Y'all come on by,
Hawk aka BrownDog
I just recently found out that you began blogging a little over a year ago and I was shocked. From the amazing community you have here, and all the great series you have in place I assumed you'd been around for so much longer - it just feels so complete here. I love what you've done, and staying true to yourself and writing what you love does come through. It's so inspiring to see how much you've accomplished - and it's well deserved.
ReplyDeleteIt is always interesting to read our friends posts where we get to know a little more about them. We have always been Wordpress bloggers and have had essentially no problems with it. We don't think you have to be any more tech savvy than you do with Blogger since you have a WYSIWYG editor. It has always seemed very easy to us. Of course we don't have our own url and are not sure if that would make a difference as to how you see it or any problems you might have.
ReplyDeleteWe loved reading your answers. We wondered about the differences between Blogger & Wordpress as well. Glad your FFHT post was your most fun!
ReplyDeleteYour Pals,
Murphy & Stanley
Happy Anniversary! That's a big milestone.
ReplyDeleteI'm not surprised that a post about loose dogs would get a lot of attention. That's not a big issue in my town but I've read all over blogville about places where it's still a big problem.
If I find a dog running loose in my town, chances are someone is driving around looking for him.
As for Blogger or Wordpress, I love Wordpress. But it does require more independent work.
If you're curious about the differences and benefits of both, check out Cindy Lu's Muse. Kim switched from Blogger to WordPress last year. I'm sure she'd be happy to answer your questions.
I've always been self hosted WP so I don't really have anything to compare it to. But when I was deciding how to go about this, that was what was recommended, so I assume that's for good reasons.
ReplyDeleteI love the voices you give your animals, and your photos are so fun. It really shows through how much you love what you're doing!
Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets
Loved reading this. We both started our pet blogs around the same(ish) time, and it has been wonderful to watch your blog take off with flying colors!
ReplyDeleteI gotta say, I would stick to Blogger, but ultimately it is your choice. I have heard a lot of stories where people have switched over to wordpress only to go back to Blogger after finding out how hard it truly was to learn.
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Congrats on the 1 year anniversary! Loose dogs is a huge pet peeve of mine too! As for B. vs. WP, I'm happy with blogger. It sounds like you can do more w/ WP, but I'm not up for the learning curve (or the scariness of the move itself!), and since I just use my blog for fun/connections to other dog lovers (and don't monetize it), I don't really feel like I'm missing out on the extra things you can do w/ WP. I'm perfectly happy to stick with Blogger, but WP might be better for you depending on what you want to do w/ the blog. I'm sure you'd find lots of support/folks to ask if you moved.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on one year of blogging. See you in Nashville this year.
ReplyDeleteAs for blogger or WordPress, I assume you mean self-hosted Wordpress. There wouldn't be any value in changing to the free WordPress. Then you need to weigh the customization and monetization possibilities (it's against terms to advertise using free WordPress, I don't know about Blogger) vs how much you are willing to spend on an annual basis. Initial setup on self-hosted WordPress is probably around $200 with $50 - $100 a year minimum for hosting, etc.
Absolutely a must - "love what you do"! As for switching, I did the deed this past summer, from Blogger to self-hosted WP. It was a bit daunting at first (Blogger makes it really easy, WP is more technical). But I bought a great theme that's an easy-to-use plug-and-play - well worth the money spent. And once you're used to WP -- you'll be so glad you switched!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on one year! That's such a huge accomplishment! And AMEN re: loose dogs. I'm glad it was your most popular to help spread some sense! I was so thrilled to meet you - albeit briefly - at BlogPaws last year. Hope to reconnect in Nashville!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your anniversary!
ReplyDeleteOff-leash dogs is a HUGE issue for me, honestly I can't count the times in my neighborhood.
I've got blogs on WP and Blogspot (I think or is it blogger?, IDK) anyhow, I work mostly in WP and find it easier than the other one, but I think that could partly be because I don't use the other one a lot. No help here. :-)
I am so proud of all you have done and in such a short period of time - that goes to show your talents and tenacity. See you in May at the big BlogPaws Conference.
ReplyDeleteEye-catching photography! That's definitely something I'm going to work on in 2015. I think you're spot on that eye-catching photography will help bloggers gain an audience. I've dabbled with several blogging platforms many years ago including Blogger and WordPress and ultimately went with WordPress. I'm really happy with the decision. Either way good luck with your decision!
ReplyDelete