Go Pet Friendly is a fantastic website, featuring all things related to traveling with your dog and more.
It has been a few times I have taken this challenge, and it is always fun to go through the questions and learn about fellow pet bloggers. So let's get to it.
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| Jasmine is the force and inspiration behind my blogging and writing. Since her passing, this is now her legacy. |
1. For those who may be visiting your blog for the first time, how long have you been blogging and what is your main topic?
I don't know how many times I've answered this question, but every time I do, I have to go and look it up. Here it is--I started in 2010. Closing in on an anniversary! My main topic has been the same all along - owner to owner dog health advocacy topics. Sharing our journey and challenges so others don't have to learn the hard way like we did.
2. What was your proudest blogging moment of 2017?
Two things. Firstly, I don't do pride; it might be the way I was raised. If I did good, it was expected. No accolades. My life's goal never was to achieve something to be proud of but rather to avoid things I'd have to be embarrassed by. Though that bit did not always work out as planned. Secondly, I confess I did have something as close to being proud of achievement in the past year as I'm gonna get, but it's not directly related to the blog. It was finishing, publishing, and, can you believe it, getting recognition for my book, Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog. So, wow, I'm still trying to get over that.
3. Which of your blog posts was your favorite this year and why?
Aren't you suppose to love all your children equally? Ha! My favorite, since I have to pick, isn't a post but a series. Because I write about dog health issues, I was asked several times to write something more generic about improving dogs' well-being and health. I put together a series on dog longevity topics. That would be my favorite. The latest post is here and at the end are links to all the other articles in the series.
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| Cookie, Jasmine's heiress, walks in Jasmine's shoes in every way, good and bad. That includes health issues. |
4. In terms of your blog, how do you measure success?
Typically, blog success is measured by the number of visitors. I measure it by the number of dogs I find out were helped by some of the articles.
5. In what ways has your blog changed during 2017?
It hasn't, really. It hasn't changed much since the beginning. I might experiment with different ways of presenting the information, such as the series mentioned above, or different columns, but those are all really just the logistics. The goal and the message have been the same.
6. What was the biggest blogging challenge you overcame in 2017, and what did you learn that could help other bloggers?
Same as every year, my biggest blogging challenge is time. I have not, nor I plan to monetize my blog, so I can only devote my free time to it. And there hasn't been much of that. Why I haven't monetized my blog? I don't want to write posts around a product pitch. I want to write what I feel I need to write. I am not a salesperson by any stretch of imagination. I'm having a hard enough time plugging in promotion for my own book.
7. When things get hard, what keeps you blogging?
The mission. It's the mission that drives me.
8. Looking forward to 2018, what are you hoping to accomplish on your blog?
Nothing different from any other year, just keeping on with the mission.
9. In addition to what you’d like to accomplish, is here one specific skill you’d like to improve or master this year?
Blog-related skills? Yeah, I should improve my SEO skills. Maybe one day. Or maybe one day I'll just be able to hire somebody for that. Wouldn't that be nice?
10. My question for the pet blogging community?
How about a request instead? Does anybody want to share their dog health challenges story on my blog? Or we could do a blog hop.
I always look for real-life stories. People learn so much more from an actual story than from any presentation. Would you guys want to work with me on a series such as, for example, Symptom(s) I Wish I Noticed in My Dog? Imagine how many people we might be able to help that way.