Social Media 101 For The Pet Blogger

Guest post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess

Whether you're a long time blogger/social media guru or a newcomer to the pet blogging arena, it's always nice to have a "refresher course" in social media basics. Over time it's easy to forget etiquette, the reasons why you're blogging or are involved in the social media conversation or you may simply be looking for a kickstart or to breathe new life into your social media efforts. 

Here are my social media 101 tips and tricks for the pet blogger: 

• Be a good listener. Social media is a conversation. You start it, listen to what your readers say and then respond. Start the conversation on trending topics in your niche area.
• Offer help and advice. Consider your social media status updates and blog posts as a networking meeting and uncover ways in which you can help those that you “meet.”
• Keep up with the popular pet bloggers. Retweet their updates. Follow what they say. Share their information with your followers.
• Cultivate new friendships. Connecting with pet bloggers and pet lovers online is great, but simply clicking “like” isn’t enough. Be interactive.
• Be proactive. If you meet someone at a conference – like BlogPaws 2013! – make certain you reach out to them. You don’t have to wait for them to connect first.
• Don’t take it personally if you retweet someone but they don’t retweet you back. Not everyone will retweet or share your status updates and you shouldn’t expect them to.
• Use your time wisely. It’s easy to get bogged down in social media (Words With Friends, anyone?). If you have other tasks to get done in your life, and who doesn’t, set a timer for your social media tasks, do what you can within that allotted time then move onto other tasks. Don’t let the time wasting properties of social media dilute your efforts. 

What tips and tricks have you found to make your social media time productive? 

 

Comments

[Janet Roper]

Very informative and helpful - thank you!

[Allen Castro]

When it comes to building an audience and driving traffic, bloggers are turning to social media with record results. Instead of relying on organic search or IRL friends, successful bloggers know they have to develop a following on key social networks as a way to promote their brands and ultimately get more clicks.

[caren gittleman]

genuinely care...people can sense if they are being approached just to pick their brain.
Give back....it is a reciprocal relationship, not one-sided

[Robbi]

Social media needs to be one of the many tools that bloggers use to spread the word and more importantly, connect with their readers/followers.

[Dash Kitten]

TIme management is vital. If time is limited, you check two blogs each day and think about then draft a post.

[volkan]

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