We’re interrupting our common content material for a peek behind the inexperienced curtain in our pet blogger journey. I’ve been pet running a blog for 11 years, and wow what a journey it has been.
Yearly, a bunch of pet bloggers get collectively and reply the identical set of questions. For those who’re interested in what I do right here at Fidose of Actuality or need to begin your individual weblog, keep tuned as a result of there’s quite a bit to share.
This pet blogger journey is being hosted by my pet running a blog pal, Colby Morita of Pet in Coaching this yr as soon as once more. As you all know, 2020 was not a simple yr some of the difficult years in American historical past. I confronted it head-on, however like everybody, there have been a number of bumps alongside the way in which. Thankfully, with a Cocker Spaniel by my facet, every little thing is a lot extra manageable.
Our Pet Blogger Journey 2021
1. When did you start your weblog and what do you at the moment write about?
My pet running a blog journey started in 2009, the place I nudged the homeowners of a fledgling canine journal that they wanted a weblog. I helped create it they usually wound up successful awards for it.
In 2009, I took a take a look at the varied canine blogs and realized there wasn’t one devoted particularly to reality-based canine well being and wellness subjects. Like every little thing in my life, I jumped in toes first and created a canine weblog, Fidose of Actuality.
I’ve since hyper-niched all the way down to a weblog about wholesome dwelling for Cocker Spaniels and their canine pals. Need to learn extra about my background, this weblog, and my love of Cocker Spaniels?
Click on right here: === > All About Fidose of Reality
2. Identify one factor about your weblog, or one running a blog aim that you simply achieved throughout 2020 that made you most proud.
Fidose of Actuality gained the Canine Writers Affiliation of America weblog or web site of the yr. The night time was February 9, 2020 and the pandemic was simply beginning to get some buzz. In a roomful of over 120 folks at an in-person occasion a number of miles from New York Metropolis, my title was stated aloud because the winner of the DWAA’s best blog or website of the year.
I’m accustomed to giving issues away (we’re pet bloggers, in any case, it’s what we do), so I used to be shocked when my title and weblog have been stated aloud. My canine was by my facet, my spouse was with me, and my pal Anne Serling (The Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling’s daughter) was on the desk with me. Right here’s my response, which I thank my bestie, Christine Aiello, for snapping as a result of I used to be clearly caught off guard:
I additionally gained obtained gained a Maxwell medallion and a few money grants for:
Greatest Article or Weblog – Behavioral Coaching for my publish, 8 Easy Fixes for a Fear-Free Veterinary Visit for Dogs
Worry Free Canine Enrichment Award for my publish, 8 Easy Fixes for a Fear-Free Veterinary Visit for Dogs
Bonus Proud Second: I additionally self-published the DogMinder. I went searching for a well being and wellness journal for my canine’s medical stuff since I stuffed up my outdated one (Cocker well being, what can I say). And I spotted the journal I needed to purchase doesn’t exist. So I created it. It’s been promoting comparatively effectively, and I put loads of analysis, coronary heart, and soul into it. It’s a low-content journal however the suggestions has been superior.
DogMinder is a canine well being and wellness medical journal designed to maintain a everlasting document of your canine’s:
- Veterinary Visits
- Every day Observations
- Medicines & Dietary supplements
- Likes & Dislikes
- Meals & Treats
- Reactions To Vaccines
- Emergency Contacts
- And So A lot Extra!
Seize a copy of the DogMinder for below $10 bucks on Amazon.
P.S. I came upon in December of 2020 that the pet running a blog e book I co-authored with Maggie Marton, Pet Blogging for Love & Money, is up for E-book of the 12 months from the Canine Writers Affiliation of America. I’ll discover out subsequent month if we gained! What an honor!
3. Which of your 2020 posts was hottest along with your viewers? Why do you assume it does so effectively?
One of many some ways canine mother and father discover my weblog is when their canine is identified with IMT, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia. My Cocker Spaniel, Dexter, almost misplaced his life to this immune system illness a number of years in the past.
I blogged our journey in actual time, included a video, and I adopted up with a publish a yr in a while his progress. My canine survived, however sadly many don’t. I can not start to depend the variety of canine mothers and canine dads who’ve written to me to thank me for my well-detailed publish. They print it, present it to their vet, take it to the internist, and it opens a dialog for therapy and administration of this horrid illness that mainly shuts down the canine’s platelets. So a bruise or a slight bump or reduce can kill a canine if this isn’t handled stat.
Learn my publish and follow-up right here:
Help for Dogs Fighting IMT: Immune Mediated Thrombycytopenia
Journey of a Dog with IMT: One Year Later
From a visitors perspective, which means what Google says is my hottest publish of 2020, 101 Best Dog Tattoo Ideas as a result of everybody loves their canine and since many canine mother and father (current firm included) need a canine tattoo. I’ve 5 tattoos thus far, three are dog-themed, however I digress.
4. What was the largest running a blog problem you confronted in 2020, and the way did you sort out it?
My pandemic fears getting in the way in which of my success and the entire highs and lows of visitors to the weblog. I tackled it by speaking to my spouse and getting by means of all of the uncertainties of the pandemic collectively.
I made a plan with possible, doable, small steps. I significantly had no concept what was occurring or what would occur, like the remainder of the world. Some days I nonetheless really feel like that, as whoever would have imagined the Capitol would face an rebellion to kick off 2021? I cling to hope and am grateful for brand new management.
5. Inform us one factor you discovered in 2020 that may assist us all grow to be higher bloggers.
I discovered extra about website positioning and actually took a deep dive into it greater than ever. website positioning is necessary…essential…however so is staying true to your readers.
I additionally discovered to comply with my area of interest. As a Cocker Spaniel well being and wellness blogger, I booked a street journey with my household to attend ASC (American Spaniel Membership) Nationals to go head to head with Cocker breeders, homeowners, handlers, and so forth., in Missouri in the summertime of 2020. However then, the pandemic and life paused.
I nonetheless continued on my path and arrange an inventory of weblog posts I deliberate to write down with a Cocker Spaniel focus. I gathered sources, made a Google Sheet, and now I’ve a number of hundred references from vets to Cocker consultants on it. I’m working by means of my checklist.
Be keen to pivot and never throw each single egg into one basket. I knew this, I educate this, and 2020 is the yr I actually utilized it. Rising my website positioning data and pivoting have served me effectively.
Ohhhh p.s. I additionally discovered not every little thing is about key phrase analysis instruments. Simply sayin’. Essential? Sure. Write in your reader, not a robotic.
6. What are your high running a blog targets for 2021?
My phrase for 2021 is simplicity.
Purpose 1: To finish the Earnings Faculty Final Content material Warrior Problem. I gained’t be the primary place winner, however I like the challenges and plan to finish all of it. I made it by means of to spherical 4 after the preliminary cuts, and irrespective of after I get reduce, I’m doing the problem to develop and be taught.
Purpose 2: To extend my weblog’s visitors by at the least 30 p.c by updating older posts and writing new, extra laser-focused Cocker Spaniel and another content material.
Purpose 3: New server and new theme with a brand new webmaster. I just lately converted to a brand new server, employed a brand new webmaster, and I’m booked for my new quicker and extra user-friendly theme, which must be in place hopefully by March on the newest.
7. In an ideal world, the place do you see your self and your weblog one yr from now?
Alive and wholesome and celebrating my twenty eighth yr of marriage to my spouse with our Cocker celebrating his thirteenth birthday. Nothing is extra necessary than household and our pals who’re like household. I would like us to have the ability to street journey, not be afraid a grocery retailer expertise is like going right into a warfare zone, and with the ability to see our pals and their canine. We’re homebodies however we love dog-friendly journey and miss it a lot.
In an ideal world, my different enterprise (associated to writing) can be launched, and that’s not a fantasy or a dream, however what I’m working towards this yr. It must be up and working by early summer time on the very newest.
In an ideal world, my weblog’s visitors and earnings has elevated, I’ve the manuscript to my first canine fiction e book full, and I’ve grown my mailing checklist.
8. For those who had $1,000 to spend in your weblog how would you spend it?
I by no means let myself get money strapped, so I’ve spent this type of cash on my weblog for a brand new host, new theme, new webmaster, and a few lessons. I’d love to have the ability to rent somebody part-time to do some process work for me, and that’s one thing I plan to do that yr.
9. What’s one ability you’d wish to be taught or enhance in 2021?
Electronic mail checklist development and extra video abilities. I like talking in entrance of a digital camera and by no means really feel afraid or nervous. I simply want some primary video manufacturing abilities. Darlene and I’ve invested in some lighting and are changing our visitor bed room right into a second dwelling workplace for filming and video manufacturing.
10. For those who may ask the running a blog neighborhood for assist with one problem you’re having along with your weblog, what wouldn’t it be?
- For those who’ve had success with promoting many copies a self-published e book, what recommendation would you be keen to move on?
2. Fill within the clean: My greatest website positioning tip is: ________.
Summing Up My Pet Blogger 2020 Journey
Working distant is international for a lot of, however that’s my lifestyle. I do higher in isolation, I’m extra productive, and I’m by no means alone, as my spouse and canine are with me. I’ve been a distant employee since 2001, so I assume that makes me a visionary 😉
That stated, I at all times say working from dwelling doesn’t imply by no means leaving your house and the pandemic has put a damper on that. So I’ve discovered to pivot, make investments time with my household, make investments time in issues I like, and understand that I should be extra of a human being and fewer of a human doing.
Fidose of Actuality is for retains and I’m on this journey for the lengthy haul. Writing is in my soul, and I may also help many whereas making a dwelling, by means of this weblog. Thanks for taking the journey with me all these years.
Study extra about different pet bloggers on this journey with me by visiting the Puppy in Training blog post and scroll all the way down to the underside to see all of the hyperlinks.
Right here’s to the subsequent 11 years and pet running a blog success for all!
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