Annual Pet Blogger Challenge

Today is the 5th Annual Pet Blogger Challenge, hosted by the people over at Go Pet Friendly blog. Eighty-two bloggers participated last year. We weren't one of them, so we made sure we penciled it on our calendar for 2015!

Here are the questions all participants have been asked to respond to this year:

1. How long have you been blogging?

We began blogging in 2010, when Ryker was still around. He's the original Tonk that A Tonk's Tail was named after.

You can read his rescue story in a new anthology book to be released just two weeks from now. The book is called Rescued, and a portion of the book's proceeds go to 12 different rescues across the globe!

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

We shared with you on New Year's Day a look back at the adoptable cats we featured in 2014, and we hope that the 78 cats that found their homes might have been helped a tiny bit by social media spreading the word! We're also grateful for the sponsorship opportunities that came our way last year, because it enabled us to donate a lot more financially to some very needy shelters.


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?

Be genuine. Be real. Be sincere. Share your heart and the things you are passionate about.
(Oh, and people really like it when a post isn't overly long  ;-)

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

Consistency, a presence on other social channels, and - most important - interaction with our friends and readers, both here and on other blogs.

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

 The post with the most views was a feature on an adoptable cat at Allie's Alma Mater: Bobbi Jo.

Although we're gratified that she received such attention, we suspect it may have more to do with a google search on her name than interest in adopting her (even though she is a stunning marmalade girl!).
 


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

I think I'd have to choose our new PeeMail series. The cats email me every time I travel. I'm getting such a kick out of this!

There's just something about that one photo of Faraday getting his mad on that makes me giggle every time I see it!

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?

Our Allie is one of the
reasons we blog.

No, back in 2013, I decided if I was going to expend the time and effort to stage and style photography, and then write reviews that actually researched beyond what the company provided...I would be paid to do it.

I do worry, though, that our niche is so small and specific that companies don't value our worth. If they are looking for CPM, they simply won't find it.

Our readership is too small compared to those of lifestyle, fashion and food bloggers. If they're looking for a quality, targeted audience however? BINGO. They're found the way to reach them: pet bloggers!

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

This is the film director speaking: be as organized and consistent as you can.
This is the personal side speaking: do it only as much or as often as you wish - and only so long as it brings you pleasure.

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

Our sweet Maxwell is a heartthrob, don't you think?

To try to maintain the quality of the content yet find a way to better manage the work/life balance.

I've been working on the blog nonstop over the holidays and that much concentrated work isn't tons of fun.

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'm still shying away from the elephant in the middle of the room: WORDPRESS. To migrate or not? EEK!
;-)


Be sure to check out the other blog writers participating in today's challenge at Go Pet Friendly's page here. Thanks for reading our responses to the Challenge!