BlogPaws - The Pet Social Media Resource

The Pet Bloggers 'Rule' of Ten

Guest post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess

I know, I know, there are rules and then there are rules that are meant to be broken and then there's pet blogging! But for every blogger out there, chances are you don't want to be writing in a void and these rules might just help up the amount of eyes that see your posts.

While there are truly no hard and fast rules you need to follow with your blogging other than to be engaging, enlightening and to use proper grammar (!) here are ten "rules" I do try to keep in mind when formulating my posts: 

Ten Ways to Help Your Blog Stand Out in a Popular Niche

by: Kimberly Gauthier

When I launched Keep the Tail Wagging, a local marketing expert took the time to ask Google how many pet blogs were active and came back with a crazy number.  I don’t remember what it was, but it was huge.  I realized that I’m a minnow swimming in an ocean full of pet bloggers.

Just keep swimming.  Just keep swimming.

A year later, Keep the Tail Wagging had over 14,000 followers on Facebook and Twitter.  I was emailing regularly with PR professionals from major pet brands and coming home to fun packages for our dogs.  I even had the courage to submit a proposal to be a speaker at BlogPaws 2013.

How did I get my blog to stand out in a popular niche?  I just kept swimming.

Not everyone is interested in blog notoriety or making money.  But I think pet bloggers have a bigger responsibility to consider.  We have a powerful voice and a dedicated audience of animal lovers we can influence on a daily basis.  This makes us very valuable to pet brands, rescue groups, and even the reputable breeders out there.  The impact we can have on animal health and wellness is tremendous and that should inspire us to do more to stand out.

That being said, here are 10 ways to help your blog stand out in a popular niche like pet blogging.

Seven Tips To Running A Legal Giveaway or Blog Contest

by: Carol Bryant, BlogPaws' PR Manager

One of the many methods pet bloggers (bloggers, in general, frankly) employ to engage fans, draw traffic, and work with pet product and service companies is to host a giveaway or contest. It seems easy enough: You set rules, you post the contest, and you watch as entries roll in. 

There are, however, some hardfast rules and legalities pet bloggers need to know before posting any sort of product or prize contest or giveaway. Here are seven must-do's every pet blogger should know:

Jumpstart Your 2013 Pet Blogging Business

Guest post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess

What's all the barking, meowing, and cackling about? It's about social media and the need for you to jump right into the fray and get your voice heard! The New Year is still young. What are you waiting for?! 

Here are my top ten tips to get you started:

• Buddy up. Do you have a pet blogging friend that you admire? Ask him or her for their best practices and tips. Learn from the best in your social circle! 
• Build your pack by connecting with fellow pet lovers and friends and colleagues. Are you particular to a certain breed? Like or follow a page about that breed. Sign up for Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, the BlogPaws Community. Get involved! 

Top Ten Ways To Nurture Your Pet Blog In 2013

Guest post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess

As the year comes quickly to a close, I usually take some time to see what I did that worked in the current year and what I can do to either make changes or make what worked even better. Here are my top ten tips for nurturing your pet blog, gaining followers and finding raving fans:

1. Write, write, write. In blogging, less is not more. You should publish frequently. If you simply don't have the time to publish frequenly, make an effort to publish consistently. Pick a day of the week and let your readers know that you will be posting every Wednesday, for example.