This dog-blogger is challenged. By my blog. (More on this in a moment.) And, in a good way, by the “Pet Blogger Challenge” initiated by pet-blogging pals Edie Jarolim of Will My Dog Hate Me? and Amy Burkert of Go Pet-Friendly.
Let’s cut to the chase.
1. When did you begin your blog?
Boulder Dog was birthed in April of 2009, right about the time quite a few other dog blogs launched. I find that very curious. Maybe the secret is buried in the astrological birth charts of our blogs.
2. What was your original purpose for starting a blog?
I don’t remember. No wait, I do! It began with Twitter. I was taking a social media class and one of our assignments was to set up a Twitter account. I didn’t know Twitter from a box of milk bones. But, somehow I (@boulderdog1) quickly got drawn into the doggie vortex on Twitter. I found fabulous Tweeps to follow, many of whom had blogs. So, in order to have a stronger presence on Twitter I realized I needed a blog.
Fortunately, the next assignment for the class was to write a short bio for a social media site or blog. I didn’t have a blog yet but thought a bio seemed like a good place to start. On an impulse I volunteered to read mine out loud to the class. People applauded. I was stunned. Talk about a jackpot of positive reinforcement! That bio became the About page for this blog.
3. Is your current purpose the same?
No. At first my purpose was just to “show up” with stories about Sadie and hopefully write something that got re-Tweeted.
Now? I’m not sure what my purpose is. I still write about Sadie, and I love when my posts are re-Tweeted, but I haven’t settled on what feels like a niche. My point of view. Who am I in the doggie-blog-o-sphere? Where does Boulder Dog fit? Does it even matter?
One thing I know for sure is that I want a focused, descriptive tag line, not like the one I have now: “For the love of dogs and their people.” What the hell does that mean?
4. Do you blog on a schedule or as the spirit moves you?
In the beginning, when I didn’t know any better, I blogged only when the spirit moved me. And, I was fine with that. Then I learned you’re supposed to post every day! I’ve never been able to do that and I’ve never felt okay about it.
For the last few months I’ve been in a tug-of-war with blogging. I’m in a counter-dependent relationship with it. I’m rebelling. I’m feeling “bullied by the blog” as Amy, and then Edie, wrote about here and here.
My blog and I need relationship counseling.
That said, there’s nothing like finishing a blog post and pushing the “publish” button, seeing it go up on Facebook and Twitter, and receiving comments from my friends and other readers. I love that!
5. Are you generating income from your blog?
No. Money, like sex, seems to complicate everything.
Would I like to earn money from my blog? Yes. Have I figured out how to do it without compromising my values? No. Are there ways to earn money from my blog with integrity, and that would offer my readers great products and value? Probably. I just don’t know what they are.
6. What do you like most about blogging in general and your blog in particular (bragging is good!)?
I love blogging when I’m on a roll. When the words flow. When I have a message, a point to make, a story to tell. I love blogging when I feel moved to write. When I can’t “not” write. When I feel swept away. When metaphors fully formed dive from my mind into the page. When words play—like “alpha dogma” (Alpha Dogma: Good-bye to All That), “dumbinance” (Bonfire of the Insanities: Dumbinance Strikes Again), “alpha-anxiety” (Do You Suffer from Alpha Anxiety?), and “Blago” (Please Don’t Blago My Dog!), to name some of my favorites.
I love my blogging community. That’s you! All the terrific people I’ve met and friends I’ve made through blogging and Tweeting and playing on Facebook…well, I feel very fortunate about that.
7. What do you like least?
The grind. Feeding the beast. Feeling bullied by the blog.
8. How do you see your blog changing or growing in 2011?
I’d like to find a writing rhythm I’m comfortable with, learn to edit my own videos, find a way to generate income from my blog, come up with a new tag line, invite people to write guest posts, and write guest posts. There. That should take care of the rest of January. After that, I’m not sure.
****************
Oh yes, the grind. Do not like. It’s a monster!
Tag lines are so challenging that I eschew mine. Might I buy one from you? 🙂
Your blog name, Life with Dogs, says it all! No tag line needed.:-)
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Rod Burkert and karen friesecke. karen friesecke said: RT @ThisOneWildLife: Checking out: Pet Blogger-Challenged http://bit.ly/e2jJzh […]
I’ve really enjoyed your articles and the word play is lots of fun. I just figured out a new one when I saw your blog listed as “Bolder Dog” on the link over at Edie’s site.
No, I’m not trying to point out a typo. I really just thought this morning how clever it is that your blog is named “Boulder Dog” and it features lots of articles about Sadie becoming a “Bolder Dog.” Fantastic!
Oh dear. That was a typo. Funny, though. When I was checking out domains for my blog I wanted Bolder Dog, but it was taken 🙁
[…] Bolder Dog: Pet Blogger-Challenged […]
Really enjoyed reading your answers… I am totally with you with regard to finding your niche. I don’t think I know mine yet either. 🙂
Thank you for stopping by. I’m on my way over….
I really enjoy your point of view. Your knowledge has been very useful and the way you express things, while entertaining, has forced me to think. Even if it doesn’t feel that way to you, I think you make writing look easy.
Taglines are hard. It’s tough to write one that encapsulates everything while still sounding clever/pithy. Mine will forever be a work in progress.
Thank you for your kind words. The tag line things is about SEO. Maddening!
Deborah – you crack me up! You and your blog need relationship counseling – ha!! LOVED this post. Perhaps next we’ll need a pet blogger support group – I’ll be the first member.
LOL! A blogger support group—or “Twelve Step Program”! But, you know. The blogger support group might not be a bad idea as in a Yahoo group for pet bloggers. We could share resources and generally keep the conversation you and Edie started going on a low key basis.
BTW-Is it possible to get the linky code? I haven’t been able to find it.
I enjoyed reading more about your blog. I agree with you on the great feeling of hitting publish! Unless you didn’t mean to hit publish (which I’ve done) and instead throw a silent tantrum 🙂
Yep. I’ve been there. Except my tantrums aren’t so silent.
Posting every day is a daunting task isn’t it? I’m envious of your retweets. I still haven’t found anything anyone cares enough about to do that. Onward and upward!
Yes, daily posting is beyond me.
[…] Bolder Dog: Pet Blogger-Challenged […]
You have such a great writing style. Reading one of your blogs is like a good book, you can’t stop reading until you are finished. And I was thinking you just did it in the blink of an eye. Writing is hard work, proven once again.
btw. “My blog and me need relationship counseling” made me laugh, hilarious!
Oh, thank you. You’re so kind. I’m hopping over to your blog for a visit soon. Looking forward to reading your answers.:-)
Hi, I’ve visited a couple times before and jumped over here from the fun Pet Blogger Challenge. I love your answers. I think our blogs are continuously evolving. Best of luck with the new tag line, I can’t wait to read what you come up with!
Hi Peggy. Thank you for stopping by and wishing me luck. And, yes, perhaps best to think of our blogs as “living” and therefore ever changing.
Thanks for taking part, Deborah! I can’t resist this response — so I won’t: I’ve learned how to do without sex for long periods of time. Money, not so much.
I give Pamela the queen of puns title. I didn’t relate Boulder/Bolder — maybe it was a subconscious typo.
LOL! So true what you say about the relative value of sex and money! I was up too late and ‘Bolder’ was a typo.
BTW-Is there linky code we can insert into our blogs so the list of blogs shows up at the bottom of all those participating? If so, I don’t know where to find it.
Deborah – you have such style and smoothness to your writing already I’m surprised you said you’re in search of a writing rhythm. Your clear messages mixed with humor are something I am forever working on.
Keep it up my friend…and please come back and guest post again!
Thank you Sharon, very much. Actually what I meant by rhythm, I should have been more precise, is a weekly posting groove. I’d like to come up with a schedule that I can stick to without driving myself nuts. And, thank you for the invite to write a guest post. I’ll be in touch a about that. 🙂
I loved reading your post and you pointed out something I’d just noticed this morning: the number of pet blogs that launched during the same time period! Great minds think alike…
Thank you! And, isn’t that strange? I wonder what was going on in the spring of 2009……..
Great, thoughtful answers! I am so with you on the stress about maintaining a posting schedule… and I’m definitely with you on learning how to monetize with integrity. I’m so, so glad you used the word integrity! I think I might have to borrow it when I set my 2011 goals! 🙂
Thank you—-“integrity”–it’s all yours.
Thanks for taking the challenge! It’s nice to see so many of us seem to face similar challenges…makes it feel less “personal”, as it were. Glad I wandered over here, as this is the first time I’ve seen your blog. I’ll be back 🙂
Welcome, Vicky. Thanks so much for stopping by.
You’ve got some really great goals for your blog. We have made peace with our blogging schedule as long as we blog 3 or 4 times a week. We find it’s better than trying to force a post that probably won’t be something that we feel proud of.
Nubbin wiggles,
Oskar
Thank you for the encouragement and for stopping by!
Found your article from the Blogger challenge and really enjoy reading about you and your dogs… sigh, I’m not going to get any “real” work done today, am I? Having too much fun reading about “dogs and the people they love”… see, I know what you mean! 🙂
Thank you for stopping by, and I know what you mean. Sadie and I are out of here and I’m not taking my lap top with me! I’ll be back later this afternoon.
As a Chicago resident, I’m still snickering about “Don’t Blago My Dog” 🙂
Enjoyed reading your answers to the Challenge, and glad to see so many of us are facing similar issues of finding our purpose and a schedule that works for us.
Thank you for visiting. I’m glad you enjoyed the Blago post… more that many I would imagine 🙂
Haven’t gotten to this project yet, but it was fun reading your experience! I too love writing with purpose and fervor – it’s the most fun! But to post day after day with little purpose other than to “be there”, or navel gaze – how does that have value for readers? The “post every day” thing for rank and traffic is part of the whirlwind. Yes, it works. But unless this comes easily, there’s a major price to be paid. When you’re actually doing 5-7 per week, you can’t forget FB, Twitter, Squidoo and other social media that expands audience. Then there’s guest posting. So unless this is our full time job, I think we have to choose what’s important and fulfilling and discard what isn’t. But that’s just me;)
Thank you! I really needed to hear this from a terrific blogger like yourself. I don’t blog full time and I need to sleep! LOL. I agree, just cranking out content that is mediocre (which is all I think I could do if I posted everyday). Thanks again 🙂
Deborah, you are a total hoot. I just love you and your blog! (Is that too fresh? I’m a happy and faithfully married woman, in case you wondered.)
I must admit, I’m exhausted by your January plan. Exhaustion. That’s about the only thing I’d like to tackle with my blogging and that’s going to take at least a year, certainly not just a couple of weeks – you wonderfully ambitious woman, you.
Thanks, Kim. I’m only joking about January. I agree with you. That will take a year at least!
Deborah – I laughed when you said there seems to be a lot of blogs that started in 2009 – very true! Mine was one of them! I also thought it was interesting to read that you started in April 2009. I always thought you had started long ago because your blog was so professional and so good! Obviously, you were meant to blog. 🙂
I can totally relate to that “swept away” feeling too. I love it when the words just flow right out of me and onto the screen. I swear I get a high from that (and from other’s comments).
I enjoyed reading about how you got your start!
Thank you so much. I love positive reinforcement. LOL. Like you, I get high also when the writing skips along.
re: “No. Money, like sex, seems to complicate everything.”
LOL Some things are good complicated! 😉
We started around the same time!
“Feeding the beast”- I like that line, it’s a good way to put it.
re: Jana- bwahahahaha! 🙂
The stars must have been aligned…. Thank you for stopping by. I love your blog and the work you do for dogs.
[…] Pet Bloggers Challenge was initiated by two members of the pet blogging community, Edie Jarolim of Will My Dog Hate Me? and Amy Burkert of GoPetFriendly. I thought it would be a nice opportunity for some of you to […]
I really liked reading all of your answers and getting to know one of my fellow doggie bloggers! Fun!
Thanks so much for stopping by 😉
Hey Deborah – So nice to get to know you a little better through this post! Hope all is well up your way. I’ve been offline more than I’ve been on, but now trying to catch up when I can. I look forward to seeing great things happen for you in 2011!
Thanks so much for visiting. Wishing you all things great in 2011!
Sometimes I wouldn’t mind some complication in my life.
Well, yes…..
Deborah – you gave yourself the tag line you’re looking for —
“For the love of dogs and their people” – what the hell does that mean? 🙂
Your blog is fantastic, writing entertaining…go for once a day!!
LOL! Thank you for a great laugh! Maybe you’re right–about the tag line—once a day, ummmmm, not so much.
Thank you for your kind words about my blog. Positive reinforcement is well, very rewarding.
Hi, here I am, coming from the long challenge list.
I read your About page and I can truly see why they applauded you. I admire your perspective on the relationship you have with your dog.
I think I will drop by again to read more of your posts.
Take care!
Thanks so much for dropping by and for your kind words.
As always, your blog is a joy to read…bringing a smile to my face! Thanks again Deborah!
Hey Erica
Thanks so much. I’m setting this evening aside to hop through all the great blogs. I’ll see you later at your place 🙂
I’m happy to have met your blog through the Pet Blogger Challenge! Enjoyed reading your Q&A and love that you were on twitter before you were blogging! Looking forward to reading your blog this year!
-Chandra at Daley’s Dog Years
Thank you for stopping by!
hello, i’m so glad i finally made it here. i never realised how much work [and fun] it is to be on one of these linkylinkbloghop things.
i had a good laugh reading your post. i don’t know if that was your intention :p it sounds like you were an accidental blogger. [thank goodness for us readers!] i love the part where you’re questioning your tag line. too funny.
i might as well take this opportunity to thank you. some months back when georgia became a “fearful” 2 year old. i found some of your posts most helpful. she has since gotten over that angst [I think]. we couldn’t have done it without helpful posts from bloggers like yourself. in short, i know where YOU sit in the doggie blogosphere, even if you don’t.
have a great day ms flick 🙂
Thank you so much for stopping by and for you kind words. I happy for your and Georgia…..how wonderful it is when fears are overcome!