Five Timely Tips For Your Pet Blogging

Guest post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess

It’s easy to lose focus when you’re trying to squeeze your pet blogging time into your regular daily activities. If you want to make your blogging a priority though you need to take the endeavor seriously; think of yourself as an entrepreneur and take charge of your pet blogging time as you would every other task.

There are five tips to keep yourself online and on track with your pet blogging:

1. What do you need to accomplish to reach your goals and how much time do you think it will take? Do you need to blog three times a week to feel you’re making progress or will a post once a week suffice? How much time do you spend online on activities other than blogging? No judgment. We understand it’s easy to get lost in Google searches, lose track of time and never get that blog written. Focus is the name of the game.
2. Set a timer to keep yourself on track. If you know you can write a blog post in 30 or 60 minutes, set the timer for that length of time and concentrate on that post. Turn off your email notifications and resist the urge to surf the net.
3. Choose a specific time of day to do your blogging. If you have an hour in the morning before work or before the family wakes up, make that your blogging time. If you’re more alert and efficient at the end of the day, choose that as your blogging time. Pencil it into your date book and let your family know this is an obligation you have to yourself.
4. Have a goal to strive for. If you have a specific, written goal it’s easier to keep up with your blogging. Do you want to snag sponsors for an upcoming conference through your blogging efforts? Are you hoping to network with other like minded pet lovers? Do you want to grow your pet blog’s reach so much that you can quit your day job and concentrate solely on that career path? Whatever your goal, if it’s written down it will hold you accountable and will also help you see that you’re making progress. If you find you’re not making progress you may need to reevaluate the goal and revamp it.
5. Share the love. In addition to doing your own blogging, it is important to visit other blogs and leave comments. Blogging is all about building connections and there is no better way to do this than to comment on someone’s blog. Don’t forget that when you’re done blogging, you will want to spread the word through social media. Let your Facebook and Twitter connections know you have a new post live.  

The time you spend online will take you away from other items in your daily life but if networking and launching your pet blogging career – whether full time, part time or simply for fun – is your goal, you need to diligently pursue it. Prioritize and take charge of your day. 

 

Comments

[Carol Bryant]

Great ideas... writing it down always helps me. I like to have a "task list" ahead to keep me on track. Sort of my road map for the day!

[BJ Bangs]

Good suggestions. Writing things down help keep you focused. It always helps to have a few things ahead so that when life's crises get in the way, there's something to quickly post. One of my problems is finding the time to keep social and visit other blogs and SM. A certain amount of time should be allocated for that, as well.

[Peggy/DogBreedz.net]

I took a blog break due to health reasons, but am finally back! I think what is really going to work for me is I've discovered I can schedule a post to go live at a later time (yes, basic info to those who blog, but it was an eye opener to me!). So, every morning I can write the next day's post before I start in on my other slated projects and to-dos. So much less stressful than writing a post that "should" have been up an hour or two before! I also have a "suggested topic goal" for each day written down to keep me on track and evened out - some days are educational in general, others are sneak peeks from last week's photo shoots, some will be product reviews/giveaways, and some Meet the Breeds as a few examples. And I have to take weekends off, when I am most busy on photo shoots!

[Carol Bryant]

Hey Peggy - good to see you here! Great idea, too, on the writing it and scheduling it.

[Robbi]

I love these comments and yes, I always schedule my posts. There are some mornings I just get a burst of inspiration and check items off my editorial calendar and blog for several days at a time!

[DEM_Pets]

Great information here. I'm sure it will help me a lot!

[Paigestorz]

This is wonderful, wonderful advice! Thank you for the boost of confidence!

[Paula Joseph-Johnson]

Thank you for these tips as I try to make my blog more:
-consistent
-professional
-interesting
-timely.

I'm finding it a challenge with two jobs, three dogs, two (nearly grown) children and innumerable rescue commitments. So your help is extra-appreciated!

pj