Hi Y’all!
It’s that time again! Time to look back…and think…and refocus…and look ahead…and look where we’re going…and make some plans…or not…
This blog hop is hosted by Go Pet Friendly and Will My Dog Hate Me.
This year, as last year, the Challenge falls on Follow Up Friday…a perfect day for it, don’t you agree?
Here are the questions and my answers for Pet Blogger Challenge 2014:
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.
In 2009 I answered the question this way: 1. When did my blog begin? It actually began as a Journal that is still there. That blog started in October 2008. The BlogSpot blog started in May 2009. Please note, the original Journal is no longer active.
What was my original purpose for starting my blog? My purpose was to record moments in time, so I could remember them better later. Today, it is more of a photo diary. It’s supposed to be fun, and it is, for me…and hopefully people with retrievers as family pets will get some ideas of how to keep them happy and fulfilled.
2. Name one thing about your blog, or one blogging goal that you accomplished during 2013, that made you most proud.
Hmmm…this one takes some thought…I guess that I’m most proud that I have continued to dedicate one day each week to Rescue dogs in need. I’ve switched the day I feature them to Tuesday so I can participate in Tuesday’s Tales…a blog hop to promote shelter pets.
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?
(Click here for last years Challenge post) I’ve continued to use more photos and fewer words to express myself. After all, I’m a dog, I’m better at understanding body language than Human words.
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?
What I’ve learned, and I’m not certain that it was from just this past year, is that regular posts are important and blog hops help me to focus…hops like Sepia Saturday and Black and White Sunday give me, not just a focus, but it gives me time off. Mischief Monday is self explanatory, though sometimes I’m just too well behaved and too busy to get into mischief.
Wordless Wednesday gives me a midweek break. This n That Thursday lets me just write about whatever strikes my fancy. Finally, Follow Up Friday lets me answer your questions and Fitness Friday lets me show off!
If you could ask the pet blogging community for help with one challenge you’re having with your blog, what would it be?
I enjoy y’all and your comments. Suggestions are always welcome.
My Human is havin’ a challenge decidin’ what to use for photo editing and what’s best for batch watermarking…different programs or to just go with Photoshop.
5. What have you found to be the best ways to bring more traffic to your blog, other than by writing great content?
I keep my blog for fun and to entertain; after all, this is my diary and my moments I’m sharing. I leave the rest to my Human.
6. How much time do you spend publicizing your blog, and do you think you should spend more or less in the coming year?
I don’t worry about things like that…that’s a Human worry, not mine.
7. How do you gauge whether or not what you’re writing is appealing to your audience?
Except for my adoption posts, my blog is my diary…If I have lots of visitors and comments, I guess the post was interesting to the readers.
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?
The only theme I’ve covered for a long time is pet adoption. I don’t think that gets old. Since I’m basically keeping a diary…well…it’s for me and my extended family so…
8. When you’re visiting other blogs, what inspires you to comment on a post rather than just reading and moving on?
The amount of time I’m able to use the computer is extremely limited ‘cause my Human uses it for work. I rarely watch a video because of time restraints. They take too long to load. If I run into one of those “prove you’re not a robot” thingies and don’t get it on the first try, I move on to the next blog. If time is of the essence, I just skip commenting.
My Human reads some of the posts on her cell phone when she has to wait for an appointment. She rarely comments when she does that.
9. Do you do product reviews and/or giveaways?
I don’t do giveaways and only once did a product a review.
Not having experience, I was pleased when a number of my pawed readers were anxious to get the toy for themselves.
If not, is this something you’d like to do more of? What hurdle is getting in your way?
This blog is my personal diary, so unless it is something I use or like…
I’d do another product review if it was for a company I know well and already use their products. The fact that I never know when business is going to make my Humans pick up and travel makes it difficult to arrange to receive products.
10. When writer’s block strikes and you’re feeling dog-tired, how do you recharge?
Since I write about my own life, writers block hasn’t been a problem.
11. Have you ever taken a break from your blog? How did that go?
After sporadic posts during the first three years, I started posting daily and have never taken a break.
You know, life happens, every moment of everyday. Can you imagine how much life I’d miss remembering if I took a break? Or would I? hmmm.
Have you ever thought about quitting your blog altogether? What makes you stay?
I’ve never really considered quitting, although I have thought about how much I’d miss everyone if I did. I love all my Blogville friends.
12. What goals do you have for your blog in 2014?
Just to continue enjoying my life and sharing the fun with y’all.
I’ll try to answer questions from this past week during the coming week.
Y’all come back now!
Honestly, Hawk, we would miss you a LOT if you didn't blog...we really love hearing about your life and looking at your beautiful pictures!! Thank you for sharing your life with us!
ReplyDeletexo Chloe and LadyBug
Your photos are always so great! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHawk, I love visiting you here in Blogville! Your photos are always pawesome and you are always up to something fun! You keep doing what you're doing, buddy!
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday,
Oz
I love blogs with lots of good photos and you definitely deliver!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the commenting forms and not-a-robot tests. The worst is if you get it wrong and then it deletes your comment - so much rage! My goal is to be more dilignet and patient with comments, though, so we'll see how that's tempered.
I loved reading your challenge, your photos are beautiful. We are sincerely regretting not doing ours in Dolly's voice, like the blog, and using more photos! It was our first afterall. Hope to see you on This n that Thursdays! Love Dolly
ReplyDeleteI could have swore I commented on your post already today, but a doubled back and I don't it, so I must have read and forgot to comment!
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I always love your blog you have great pictures and always lots of them!
It was great getting to know more about your blogging world!
((Husky hugz))
"Love is being owned by a husky"
I love that you can say, "It's supposed to be fun, and it is for me" - that's just the way we like it. :) Best of luck maintaining enthusiasm and FUN in 2014.
ReplyDeleteSo many wonderful pictures. And, of course, as a dog, you know how to have fun blogging without stressing out too much.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I feel in love with the picture of you with your mouth open in an "o" as if you were getting ready to say something.
We like your attitude toward blogging. Very relaxed and fun!
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing better than reading a diary of a great dog like you! I also like how you always say "Y'all come back now" it makes me feel welcome!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great outlook on life and glad your keeping a diary! You do a excellent job at it and I love reading it. Have a great 2014.
ReplyDeleteIt's always fun to stop by and see your photos. This is a very good journal and sometimes I wish my blog were more like that. I loved your statement, "I’m just too well behaved and too busy to get into mischief." :)
ReplyDeleteI do most of my blog reading from my cell phone in bed at night, which makes commenting very difficult, so I understand your human's challenge with it. These days we rarely comment anymore, not because we're not reading, but because Mama is a butterfingers.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog, and I love your photos, so you certainly don't need to change a thing. I think it's great you do the adoption posts once a week too...I need to get on a better schedule with that. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteJan, Wag 'n Woof Pets
I enjoyed reading your Q&A Hawk. I also really liked the pictures of you with the orange bumper. :)
ReplyDelete