Sunday, January 6, 2013

Pet Blog Challenge 2013

Last year was the first year we participated in this challenge hosted by Go Pet Friendly and Will My Dog Hate Me  and participating in this challenge this year will  help us focus on where Enlightened Ferret is headed this year.

I couldn’t find if they were doing the challenge this year so I’ve used the questions from last year’s challenge and updated my answers for this year. Here is the link to last year’s post. Pet Blog Challenge 2012

1. When did you begin your blog?

June of 2009

2. What was your original purpose for starting a blog?

To help others understand ferrets and help new or prospective owners understand what having a ferret entailed.

3. Is your current purpose the same? Yes, it is still the main focus along with other aspects of being a ferret owner in a populace of mostly dog and cat owners.

If so, how do you feel you’ve met your goals?

Until last year, I hadn’t really set any goals for Enlightened Ferret. But thanks to doing, this challenge last year I feel that I have met most of my goals for Enlightened Ferret and it has opened the door for other opportunities to help promote Enlightened Ferret.

4. Do you blog on a schedule or as the spirit moves you?

Blogging on a set schedule is hard and sometimes life does get in the way of doing so. But having a few guest posts helps relieve the stress of blogging every time.

If the former, how often — and what techniques do you use to stick to it?

I am trying to use an editorial calendar more so that I have specific posts written for Mondays and Fridays to help eliminate the stress of worrying what to write about. Wednesdays are still reserved for Wordless posts. Last year I tried to have Featured ferrets on Tuesdays and Thursdays but found those to be over whelming and depressing as many of those same ferrets are still looking for forever homes.

5. Are you generating income from your blog?

I have earned some revenue from Enlightened Ferret this last year but not a steady income.

If not currently, do you hope to in the future — and how?

I still have mixed emotions on this. While I do want to have an income from Enlightened Ferret that will allow me to do the things I want to. I don’t want to have ads that are unrelated to Enlightened Ferret’s mission.

6. What do you like most about blogging in general and your blog in particular (bragging is good!)?

I enjoy doing the research for each post I do and hearing from people that have found Enlightened Ferret either by accident or followed a link back from twitter, Facebook, or Linked In.

7. What do you like least?

Self promotion. I am normally very shy and it is really hard to come out of my shell and let other see the passion I have for ferrets.

8. How do you see your blog changing/growing in 2013?

I would love to see Enlightened Ferret gain 400 new followers by the end of 2013 and drawing the attention of companies that cater more to the dog and cat owners and showing them another avenue they might look at for revenue. I also plan on replying to more of the comments than I have been.

I also hope to move Enlightened Ferret from Blogger to its own webpage in 2013.

Hope you will all participate in this challenge this year and see how you do in the coming year.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

5 comments:

Colby said...

Great job! Amy over at Go Pet Friendly did post some new questions for veterans of the Pet Blogger Challenge. Here's the link: http://gopetfriendlyblog.com/third-annual-pet-blogger-challenge-jan-10th/. By the way, I think she's setting up the Linky on January 10th.

It's interesting to read about everyone's past year. It sounds like you've learned a lot. Hopefully you'll get some of those pet companies to pay more attention to you and the Enlightened Ferret.

Good luck in the new year!

Jo said...

Cool I looked last night but must have missed it. Thanks for the link. What is even funnier is that we both live in PA and have the same first name. *Chitters*

Have a Chittering Good Day.

MizzBassie said...

Thanks for posting this. It's interesting to see how others deal with the challenge of blogging regularly. I love learning about ferrets. Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrs.

Jo said...

Glad you liked the post I'll be doing the right post on the tenth. I am glad you like learning about ferrets.

*Chitters*

Unknown said...

ilgazpet very good