Wednesday, January 9, 2013

The Real Pet blog challenge: Repeat Offenders

 

Thanks to a comment left on my Monday post I was directed to the right link for the Pet Blog Challenge and was able to get the correct questions to answer.

While this is only my second year doing the challenge I have found that doing both posts I’ve percolated my goals down into something very obtainable. So onward to the post

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’ve been blogging since 2009 and here is last years post.

2. What do you consider the most important goals you set out in last year’s post?

Acquiring more followers and doing interviews with people about ferrets

3. Have you made progress toward those goals, or have your goals changed over the past year?

Yes, I have made some progress with getting more followers but not the full hundred I wanted. As for the interviews, I got them but it wasn’t me doing the interviewing it was the other way around. A completely new adventure for me.

4. How often do you post?

I try for three times a week but it seems that towards the end of the year I slow down to only a few posts a month.

5. Has your opinion of blogging on a schedule or as the spirit moves you changed? I think that my opinion is basically the same but how I go about it is changing as I learn more about myself and where I want to take Enlightened Ferret.

If you publish on a schedule why? I find that having a schedule lessens the amount of stress I am under but it also makes me feel boxed in at the same time.

How strict are you about your publishing deadlines? I allow for a little give way but find that if I miss a deadline I feel like I’ve let myself down.

What do you do for inspiration when it feels like you’ve covered every topic? I ask people what they would like to know on some of the social media sites and sometimes I revisit past posts and rewrite them.

If you don’t publish on a schedule, why?

How do you think your decision affects your audience? I am not sure how it affects my readers.

How do you know when a topic is “post-worthy?” Most of the time “post-worthy” topics are the ones I feel new ferret owners need to know or strikes a chord within me.

6. How much time do you spend writing your blog per week? Depends on the topic and how much research I need to do on the topic. Can range anywhere from twenty minutes to three days or more.

How much time visiting other blogs? This is where I feel like I need to improve as I don’t spend a lot of time reading other blogs.

Share your tips for staying on top of it all. Having an editorial calendar with a keyword listed for the day helps along with keeping a list of what “special” day/month might be happening and making a list of topics that are related to that event and ferrets.

7. How do you measure the success of a post and of your blog in general (comments, shares, traffic)? I have Google ad sense and it shows me the number of page views as I don’t often get many comments. The other thing is when I met people and they tell me about a blog post they’ve read and it just happens to be my blog.

Do you look strictly at the numbers, or do you have a way of assessing the quality of those interactions? I think I for the most part still in the mindset that I am blogging just to get the information out there and to educate people. Therefore, the numbers while nice don’t have a huge impact on me.

8. If you could ask the pet blogging community for help with one issue you’re having with your blog, what would it be? Getting more feedback.

9. What goals do you have for your blog in 2013?

To have 400 followers by the end of the year.

To open communication with companies that mostly with dogs and cats and show them another animal that might benefit from the products/services they offer.

To earn an income that would take care of my ferrets comfortably.

To move Enlightened Ferret from blogger to my own hosted site.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

28 comments:

Unknown said...

I think it's a little more difficult writing a non-cat/dog blog. The audience is smaller, and you have fewer fellow bloggers in your niche. Although Bunny's Blog is not specifically about rabbits, I do occasionally write about them. In the past, I've noticed that the rabbit-related posts tend to get less hits than the cat/dog-related posts. But this year I noticed that two of my Top 10 posts were about rabbits, so that made me pretty happy! Wishing you continued growth in the New Year.

Colby said...

I'm glad to see you found the new questions. I actually feel like posting on a schedule makes blogging more stressful. However, when I don't blog on a schedule I end up getting far less work done.

Good luck with your goals in 2013!

georgia little pea said...

Hello there. This is so interesting. I don't believe I've ever met a ferret blogger, so you're definitely niche marketing! I imagine reading dog/catblogs, which make up most of the petblog community, might be quite boring for you. Good luck with your 2013 goals :)

Unknown said...

I am always pleased when I'm at your blog, I learn about Ferrets which have always fascinated me but knew little about. I find it refreshing and look forward to learning more in 2013. I like your writing style.
Trina

Tegan said...

I think you're in a difficult spot being a ferret blog - but you must be doing well for yourself if you're setting a goal of 400 subscribers! How many do you have at the moment, and how do you measure them?

Jodi said...

I'm loving reading all of the different goals my fellow pet bloggers have. I think we all bring something new and unique to blogging and can all learn so much from each other.

Best of luck as you charge forward into 2013.

Jan said...

Ferrets are illegal to own as pets in California, but we get quite a few turned in to the wildlife sanctuaries. They seem to be very affectionate. Thanks for reminding me to do a post on them in the future.

Jo said...

Yes I know they are illegal to own as pets in California because of an outdated and full of misinformation law. Which deems ferrets as a wild animal which they are not as they have been domesticated for over 3000yrs.

Jo said...

I may have set myself a really high goal as I only have 93 followers at the moment most of which are cat and dog owners.

Jo said...

actually I find that reading cat and dog blogs give me ideas for posts as many don't realize that ferrets face many of the same issues as cat/dog owners.

Jo said...

you are right it is a little more difficult to write good posts that relate only to ferret owners or those wishing to get a ferret but I don't see me writing about other pets unless it is somehow related to ferrets.

thanks for stopping by.

Jo said...

I kind of feel the same way but am going to give having a schedule a try to see if I can have more posts for the year.

Thanks for stopping by.

Jo said...

Thank you glad you are finding it interesting.

Jo said...

Thanks

Amy said...

Thanks so much for participating in the Challenge - I'm glad someone forwarded the link on to you. I don't usually get a lot of comments on my blog either, but just because people aren't commenting doesn't mean they don't find it interesting. Different commenting systems have been show to encourage/discourage people from leaving their thoughts and asking a question a the end of your posts encourages comments. That sometimes works for me. You have some great goals for 2013! Here's to your success!

lifewithbeagle said...

I think the Ferret blogs, and ferrets, are so interesting. I hope you have good luck with reaching your goals, particularly getting more companies to work with you.

Christie from lifewithbeagle.com

Jo said...

Thanks for stopping by. I've tried the asking a question at the end of a post and other ideas but have found that those read don't often leave comments but will say something on twitter to me. So I know I am getting the information out there.

Hope to see you at Blog Paws.

Have a Chittering Good Day.

Jo said...

Thanks for stopping by.

Have a Chittering Good Day

Greyhounds Aren't Grey said...

Greetings! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts with us both here and on our page. Love ferrets!

Jo said...

you are very welcome and thanks for stopping by.

Have a Chittering Good Day

Karen Friesecke said...

Hello Jo!
This is my first visit to your blog! It's pretty easy to move a blog to self hosting. Blogger should have an import/export app and most web hosts already have Blogger or Wordpress pre-installed. If you check out Siteground, they will move all your files for free if you sign up for a year of hosting. I use them and was extremely satisfied!

BTW. I DID NOT know that owning a ferret in CA is illegal :0

Jo said...

I found a website that does all of the heavy lifting I just have to get it to where I want it before I move my blog over.

Yep Ferrets have been illegal to own in CA since 1938 as they are classified as wildlife and you have to have a special permit.

Have a Chittering Good Day

AJ of PupLove said...

I used to own a ferret when I was younger, and loved it - they're so much fun! Good luck with your goals in 2013!

Jo said...

Thanks for Stopping by.

Have a Chittering Good Day.

Dogs N Pawz said...

This is my first time to visit your blog! I haven't ever visited a ferret blog. How cool! I am hoping to increase my followers too but haven't quite figured out how to do that! I picked up some good ideas from your post. Thanks for sharing.

Jo said...

Glad you have enjoyed the post and I hope you will come back soon.

Have a Chittering Good Day,
Jo

MizzBassie said...

Hi Jo! *waves paw* My blog is self-hosting and although there were a few hiccups setting it up (which my web-hosting company was very helpful with, now it's a snap and I love Wordpress. I'll be happy to help if you have any questions. Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrs.

dog groomer new york said...

Very insightful - thanks.