Thursday, January 9, 2014

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.

My 27 month old blog is all about my bicontinental adventures in the Swiss Alps and the American West. I'm a rescue miniature dachshund, and my parents gave me a new leash on life. (I don't like to call it a new lease on life because leases have a pre-determined duration, but my parents are mine fur-ever!)


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

The sweetness of the comments that my fur-friends leave on my blog.

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?

Steven Spielberg called us to negotiate the movie rights for a remake of Jaws based on my blog!



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?

Going viral is random. My one post that went relatively viral (over 1000 hits in a day) featured a picture of a dachshund sticker on a tourist train in Lugano, Switzerland. Dachshund Daddy had taken that picture as he was stuck riding his bike at granny speed behind the train. My godson Bouncing Bertie, who writes an incredible blog, hit the Zeitgeist with a picture of US flags on dog poop. Could it possibly get any more random than dachshund bumper stickers and US flags on dog poop?



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

Finding a sponsor, even if it doesn't pay much. Money is like pee in the ocean... no matter how small the quantity, it adds up.

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

Make your blog look like any Italian city. You'll definitely see lots of traffic!

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

I publicize my blog 24/7, especially when I'm napping.



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

I have a remote wagometer that I use to measure how much wagging is happening at each IP address and at each IPoo address.


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 use my remote wagometer for that, too.

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

I leave a comment if and only if my remote wagometer indicates that the author of the post in question was wagging while she or he was blogging.



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

Yes! I would like to do more giveaways to promote my Zazzle products and show my fur-friends how wotten waven they are. ("They" refers to both my fur-friends and the products; don't you love the subtle ambiguities of the English language?)

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

For product reviews, always speak the truth. For giveaways, keep things as simple as possible.

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

I burrow, go for a hike, and wag. Not necessarily in that order.



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

Never a real break, only mini-breaks, as it befits a miniature dachshund. I do take comfort breaks as well. And naps.

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

No, not really. It's so much fun!

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

I would like to draw more attention to Tootsie's Shoppe, my quirky Zazzle store. I use it to showcase all my doggy products, which I'm having so much fun designing. There's always new stuff, like this very rare painting featuring my great-great-...-grandmother Bettina.


14 comments:

  1. Sounds like your blog is all fun Tootsie. I have been learning to get back to having fun (instead of being all business) with my blog these last 6 months. I have kind of had to not take it so seriously to accommodate graduate school.

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  2. Dear Godmother Tootsie,
    Gail and I love your blog, and mostly 'cos it feels like it too has been written with a wag in the tail! We felt all bashful at being mentioned in such a nice way in this wonderful post. Oh and we also love the bi-continental aspect, and all those photos of hikes in the mountains. Oh I could go on and on actually, about things we love.
    Best of love with the Pet Blogger Challenge.
    Toodle pip!
    Bertie.
    PS Regarding your comment on Bertie's post featuring the England World Cup winning football team I refer you to an early post on Bertie's blog (one actually written in my voice!) http://bouncingbertie.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/england-football-and-childhood-memory_12.html

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    1. PPS The post which has received most hits to date on Bertue' blog is titled 'The Higgs Boson diet plan' We think its popularity has something to do with having the words 'Higgs boson' and 'diet' in the title. Either that, or the particle physics community are all secretly wire haired fox terrier fans!

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  3. Your wagometer sounds very useful! Wish I had one, Tootsie.

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  4. I would like a remake of Jaws, hope Mr. Spielberg can do it this year (that would solve the pee in the ocean thingy too). The Madonna with Dachshound is just great, what a fabulous idea - BRAVO!

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  5. Adorable post! Thanks so much for sharing! I hope you find a sponsor in 2014 - every little bit helps, right? Have you thought about affiliate marketing?

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  6. Like "pee in the ocean" and "an Italian city" - lol! Favourite similes of the day, hands down.
    It's funny what kind of random stuff can go viral - I had a post do that once - 900 hits in one day and then quiet right after like it never happened (was likely due to an image I had used). Too bad those things are mostly fleeting, eh?

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  7. If your wag--o-meter isn't off the charts, it's time to change the batteries. I love your sense of humor, and your love of naps.

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  8. I have been following your blog for some time and somehow missed your wicked sense of humor! Of course we are jealous of your bicontinental life too! We are going to check out your shop, if there is one! Love Dolly

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  9. There's a whole lot of wagging going on here :-) Now, Jeffie, Rudy and Rosie need to give some thought to how to change our blog to look like an Italian city!

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  10. You are so funny! If you figure out how to find a sponsor, I hope you share!

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  11. I love the drawing with your grandmother. Are you coming to BlogPaws in May? Hope to chat there!

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  12. It sounds like you definitely lead an interesting life! I have no doubt you will be able to accomplish your goals with your new shop as you are one hard-working little doggy!

    That photo is pretty hilarious. Even though I am not lucky enough to live with a dachshund, I can appreciate the genius! And, of course, it's all about the poop, this seems to be a common theme every where in the Petosphere.

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  13. I couldn't stop laughing at number 5 that is so funny!!! LOL!!!

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