Pet Blogger Challange 2014 - My first time!

Hello all! Wesley's mom, Amanda, here about to take over his blog for a little bit. Why? Because zipping around the blogs today I discovered that today there's a survey of sorts going around and I wanted to participate in it! It's the Pet Blogger challange, being hosted by Will My Dog Hate Me and Go Pet Friendly.

Actually, that's a lie...I didn't discover it today...I rediscovered it today. I actually saw mention of it a few weeks ago and made a mental note to participate, I even copied all the questions and make an icon on my computer desktop labeled 'JAN 10 - DO THIS ON BLOG'.

Did that help at all? Nope. I completely forgot until my blog wanderings. Whoops.

The moral is that I'm a completely forgetful, swiss-cheese for brain human female participating in this challenge today so read on down below the link-image to see my responses to the questions asked!

 1. How long have you been blogging? Please tell us why you started blogging, and, for anyone stopping by for the first time, give us a quick description of what your blog is about.

                  I have been blogging for 3 months exactly as of January 3rd. Wow! That time went by quick...I feel like I just made that first post a week ago! My reasons for starting the blog aren't complicated. I had just recently gotten my puppy, Wesley. In researching about training and foods and all other sorts of fun and needed dog things, I continued to run across these amazingly fun, informative blogs. The more I browsed through them, following sidebar links and blog hops, the more I began to consider attempting one of my own. I'm not quite knowledgable enough to offer advice or training tips, but it would be fun to share my minature poodle with other people and at the same time keep a diary of sorts to look back on later. So while my blog can't be considered very full of useful information or training tips (something once I've gained more knowledge on both and am comfortable with sharing it that might change someday!) I do hope that people are at least finding it fun to read through. 

2. Name one thing about your blog, or one blogging goal that you accomplished during 2013, that made you most proud.

                Starting it, and keeping up with it! I am notorious for begining something and then quickly growing bored with it - honestly this isn't the first blog I've tryed to keep! This is just the first successful one. 

3. When you look at the post you wrote for last year’s Pet Blogger Challenge, or just think back over the past year, what about blogging has changed the most for you?

                 Whoops! This doesn't apply to me...Poodle At Play didn't exist last year!

4. What lessons have you learned this year – from other blogs, or through your own experience – that could help us all with our own sites?

                  With my blog still being in it's newborn puppy stage, I'm still learning things every day. One thing that does stick out is socialize, socialize, socialize! Use those blog hops, comment on your fellow bloggers posts! I spent a lot of time just hoping from blog to blog reading about everyone else's going-ons and absorbing the knowledge offered. Sometimes another person's blog topic can spark a wonderful idea of my own. The more I read and browse the more I grow and learn.

5. If you could ask the pet blogging community for help with one challenge you’re having with your blog, what would it be?

                   Actually, as of right now I'm pretty good! I'm still fumbling through some things blog, but overall I've discovered the answers to any questions I have with some research - and more fumbling around! If I do come across something that I can't properly solve, you can bet your favorite bone I'll be asking! 

6. What have you found to be the best ways to bring more traffic to your blog, other than by writing great content?

                    Going back to question number four above - socialize! Comment! Be a neighbor to your fellow bloggers! If you show yourself to be a friendly, amiable blogger chances are soon you'll find you have people who are very willing to be that right back at you.

7. How much time to do you spend publicizing your blog, and do you think you should spend more or less in the coming year?

                     If by publicize, you mean running through the internet shouting 'READ MY BLOG!' I spend none. Again, any of my publicizing goes back to socializing and commenting on other people's things. :)

                      

8. How do you gauge whether or not what you’re writing is appealing to your audience?

                     Mainly by comments left. I haven't gotten a real understanding of stat counters yet or else I might include amount of traffic coming in.

9. How do you know when it’s time to let go of a feature or theme that you’ve been writing about for a while?

                      I haven't really run into this problem just yet, as I haven't really had any themes or features - I've just been writing about day to day things and going-ons.

10. When you’re visiting other blogs, what inspires you to comment on a post rather than just reading and moving on?

                      I try to comment when I can, even if it's just something like a 'hello! I was here visiting!' Of course a question posed somewhere within the blog is mighty helpful some days!

11. Do you do product reviews and/or giveaways?

                      Yes, but not many so far - I've only done two reviews and one giveaway. In 2014 I'm hoping to be able to do more of both. I think they are quite fun. 

12. If so, what do you find works best, and what doesn’t work at all?

                       Since I've done so very few, I don't have a real good answer for this. Come back next year when I've more experience and I'll give a better answer then! 

13. If not, is this something you’d like to do more of? What hurdle is getting in your way?

                        Of course I want to do more of it! The only real problem for me with it is funds. A non-funded review would cost both the price of the product and the shipping of it...and while that's not a really super expensive thing...it's still money that I need to be able to put elsewhere. Gas, for instance. Ew.

14. When writer’s block strikes and you’re feeling dog-tired, how do you recharge?

                          For writer's block I just let it go...maybe I call that a 'flashback' day and offer up a not-before posted picture of Wesley when he was all fluffy and small. To recharge...what's better then a nap? Except for maybe coffee. 

15. Have you ever taken a break from your blog? How did that go?

                        As of yet, no really. There has been a few times where due to personal life things and just not having time I haven't been able to update, but it was never a decision to break. More like life just went 'Nope! Not today!'

16. Have you ever thought about quitting your blog altogether? What makes you stay?

                        Nope, not at all. I am just loving being able to share my dog with other people, and to also create a diary of sorts to be able to look back on later. 

17. What goals do you have for your blog in 2014?

                      I have no real concrete ones - just to continue on with it and hope that people continue to come by and enjoy it!

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