Welcome fellow pet bloggers and readers. A big hello from me and Teddy.
1. How long have you been blogging? For anyone stopping by for the first time, please give us a quick description of what your blog is about.
I’ve been blogging about holistic health for several years (and still do on my holistic-mindbody-healing.com website and in bellesprit magazine). For the last year have devoted this site to blogging about rescue and related topics. I changed the blog over as a support site for my book, Rescue Me. Now I am branching out and beginning to writing more about current issues and books related to dog rescue/adoption and animal advocacy.
2. Tell us one thing that you accomplished on your blog during 2014 that made you proud.
Getting the blog set up and running. I am most proud of the page that shows the donations we have made thanks to Rescue Me sales. Perhaps proud isn’t the right word because it is actually very humbling. The two articles I am most proud of dispel myths about certain breeds of dogs and shelter policies that justify killing dogs. Those two posts were near and dear to my heart. They are “Should All Pit Bulls Die?” and “Winograd’s Redemption“.
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?
Write about what’s in your heart and write from your heart. As best you can, have your facts straight and speak the truth, even if it’s controversial. Make it clear what is your opinion and what is fact. And have fun, enjoy the writing because it matters to you.
4. What have you found to be the most successful way to bring traffic to your blog, other than by writing great content?
I recently joined a blog chat group that helps each other by commenting on each other’s posts. I have also found that the above mentioned posts brought in traffic because they are topics people are interested in or feel passionate about.
5. What was your most popular blog post this year? Did it surprise you that it was your most popular?
Should All Pit Bulls Die? was my most popular post to date. I wasn’t surprised about this because there is a group I belong to addressing this situation. I posted about the article and that brought in the readers. What did surprise me was that the article did not elicit more comments and controversy. (Photo of Winnie, Pit Bull Mix adopted and much loved by Letha Hundley)
6. Has your policy on product reviews and/or giveaways changed this year?
I reviewed one book so far. Redemption was a book that I purchased and felt inspired and challenged by. I like that it was an unsolicited review so I didn’t feel any obligation to review or review favorably. I wrote the post because I loved the book and its message. I have not done any product reviews or giveaways yet.
I intend to do more book reviews in the future if the books are related to rescue/dog adoption and animal advocacy. They would have to be of value to readers and further the cause of animals.
7. What goals do you have for your blog in 2015?
I want to write more about animal advocacy and pet rescue and interview people who are active and knowledgeable about these topics. I would like to bring in more traffic and network more with other bloggers who are aligned with my mission.
8. What’s your best piece of advice for other bloggers?
Be an active networker. Share with other bloggers, comment on their sites, be generous with your wisdom, and be open to guest bloggers and guest blogging. The more we help each other, the better we all do. Collaboration is key, not competition.
9. If you could ask the pet blogging community for help with one challenge you’re having with your blog, what would it be?
How to engage readers more and bring in more readers. Even though blogging is a hobby or vocation for me, and not a business, I believe I have an important message to share and would like to share my message with as many people as possible.
Thanks for visiting. Please comment below and let me know you were here. I look forward to hopping over to your blog and doing the same.
Hi Y’all!
Enjoyed your post very much.
Thanks for stoppin’ to vist me.
Y’all come on back,
Hawk aka BrownDog
My pleasure Hawk, you too!
Hi Val! Nice to meet you – and Teddy! He’s so adorable! Love that your blog focuses on rescue, a topic near and dear to my heart! Thanks for stopping by Pooch Smooches. I’d love to be interviewed some time about my book! Thanks for the offer!
Great post!! I love your answers!
Thanks for visiting, Lauren, and thanks for the kudos!
Great post, Val, and thanks for sticking up for the stigmatized breeds. Keep up the great work!
Thank you and you’re welcome. I guess I get it from my mom. She was always saying she sticks up for the underdog. Hmm, just made that connection…
Hi, it’s great to meet you! Love, love, love your advice – right on target! I don’t have any suggestions for getting more readers, other than to keep doing what you’re doing…you write about timely, important topics that people truly want to read about! Wishing you a great year in 2015!
You too, thanks much!
Have you seen the film version of Redemption yet? I live in Ithaca where, as you know, Nathan Winograd turned the Tompkins County SPCA into an open-admission, no-kill shelter. It had a big premiere here but I missed it because I had to work. I’m dying to read a review of it.
Good luck in growing your blog so you can continue to bring attention to the precious lives of all animals.
Hi Pamela, Yes, I was there. I drove down to Ithaca to see it (I’m near Watertown). I’m glad you reminded me, I have a photo with Nathan I planned to put in this article and then forgot. Some of the people in the film were there. I think the companion guide you can pick up at the filming is wonderful. Perhaps it is out now for watching on DVD or live streaming?
Congratulations on getting your blog up and running. I know how much work it takes!
Thanks for stopping by my blog…I think you already have the perfect way figured out to bring in readers. Many bloggers will share your posts via social media too which will help.
I love what you are doing here, and look forward to coming back and reading more.
Thanks much, Jan. I really enjoyed blog hopping yesterday. Got some great ideas and loved seeing what everyone was doing and writing about.
Hi Val! Your blog is wonderful and it looks like you have gotten some great tips from everyone! For me, engagement took time. It took time to gain relationships with my readers and within the community. After that happened it really took of! Best of luck this year!
Thanks for the kudos and your encouraging words.
A blog chat group sounds like a great way to bring in new traffic. I remember participating in a similar group on Yahoo several years ago. The only problem with the group I was participating in was the members weren’t in the same niche. While comments seemed to work for social proof most comments were not well thought out because members of our group weren’t interested in my niche. Now it if were a pet blogging group that would be an entirely different story. Best of luck with your blog in 2015!
You should join us for the BlogPaws Conference in Nashville in May – loved learning more about you here.
Thanks Carol. It looks wonderful. Maybe next year.