BlogPaws - The Pet Social Media Resource

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? 

 

Why Twitter Chats and Pawties Important to Pet Bloggers

by: Carol Bryant

Twitter is just one more social media tool full of incessant chatter and 140-character musings that really serve no purpose other than to banter, pass time, and let the world know what flavor gum you are chewing. Right?

Nope! Well, yes in that there are tweets that are random or silly and yours truly has sent out the occasional fun tweet. Pet bloggers know the value of a tweet. Pet microbloggers capitalize the value of a tweet. BlogPaws knows this because we host the #BlogPawsChat twice a month on Tuesdays. If you've ever been to one of our chats or attend a #BlogPaws pawty, you've probably communicated with our Special Projects Manager, Kristin Dewey. Kristin can tell you a thing or two about monetizing and capitalizing on a Twitter #pawty. She's even written about it.

Did you know this Saturday, January 19th, we're having a 4-hour  super fun #BlogPawty on Twitter on January 19th, 2013 from 5-9pm EST! We'll be honoring BlogPaws volunteers and our community - but all are welcome to mingle, vie for prizes, and partake of the open (virtual) bar and hors d'oeuvres. Tips not accepted! Our fabulous pawty staff is donating their pay to animal charities. Here's what to do:

Invitation to All for the Twitter #BlogPawsChat on 12/11/12

You are cordially invited to come to a holiday Twitter chat, bring all your pets, engage with friends and blogger buddies while also learning and networking and winning prizes. When and where?

Come and celebrate during BlogPaws Holiday #BlogPawsChat on December 11th from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm EST. We'll be dressed for the festivities and can't wait to see all the holiday outfits. We'll talk about what kind of gifts we like to buy our pets and give away a few prizes from the BlogPaws Holiday Gift Guide, too! Here are details:

Eight Great Social Media Tips for Pet Bloggers

by: Carol Bryant, BlogPaws' PR Manager

Who loves social media tips for getting things done without having to expend an exuberant amount of time finding those tips?

It’s Monday, I like to start my week off with a bang, and so when I find nuggets of information that would benefit fellow pet bloggers and micro-bloggers, I share.

Need to get savvier to YouTube? Wish you could figure out if LinkedIn was really all that important and why? Or maybe you want to block certain people from chatting with you online on Facebook. Wha-la, here’s the scoop on “The Great Eight” (sites that I found that really give stellar info):

Invitation to All For the Twitter #BlogPawsPALs 11/17/12

It’s time for a Twitter Pawty! On Saturday, November 17, join BlogPaws from 5 pm EST to 8 pm EST for the Pets Add Life and #BlogPawtyPals pawty.

Come with a picture of your BFF (Best Furry Friend)! We'll be giving away more prizes and two $500 pet charity donations.

BlogPaws loves to pawty and we hope to see you at our #BlogPawsPALs event on Saturday night. Woot!

Remember, use hashtag #BlogPawtyPals!!!