2017 Pet Blogger Challenge | Lola The Rescued Cat
Monday, January 9, 2017

2017 Pet Blogger Challenge

I’ve been a little out of the blogging loop lately and was unaware of the GoPetFriendly.com’s 2017 Blogger Challenge. On Friday I read Melissa’s post on Mocha’s Mysteries and Meows which inspired me to participate and share my answers with you. My goal for 2017 is to challenge myself as a writer and a blogger and move out of my comfort zone.  I've never participated in a challenge before, but here goes! 




1.  When did you start your blog and, for anyone who is just seeing it for first time, please provide a description of your site. Would you say your blog focuses more on sharing stories with your readers, or providing a resource for your audience?

I started my blog around May of 2014. I was very new to all of this, and was on a platform that I didn’t understand, so I didn’t do much with it. In December of 2014 I decided to move over to Blogger and that's when I started blogging. 

I originally started my blog as the official website for my book but as time went on it began to take on a life of its own. Lola The Rescued Cat is a humorous blog written (mostly) from the perspective of my cats, Lola and Lexy. I am passionate about rescue and animal welfare and like to promote this as well as responsible pet ownership. I do this by sharing information on health, safety, and animal welfare. I want cats to be able to live happy and healthy lives with their owners and stay out of the shelters and off the streets. My blog focuses both on sharing stories and providing resources. I’m planning on sharing more stories about the day to day antics of Lola and Lexy in the coming year. 

2. What was your proudest blogging moment of 2016?

Being accepted for my first paid blogger’s campaign was definitely a proud moment.  For me that meant that my blog was getting attention, and also that my writing was improving and was on a level that made brands want to work with me.  

3.  Which of your blog posts was your favorite this year and why? (Please include a link.)
Choosing one is hard, but one that is on the favorite list is one I wrote about Tabby’s Place for Blog the Change for Animals. Tabby’s Place is one of my favorite rescues and I always enjoy writing about them to bring attention to what they do. 


tabby's place|animal shelters|cat sanctuary




Another favorite is a Wordless Wednesday post because I adore this photo of Lexy! 




4. Year after year, one goal that we all seem to share is that we want to reach more people. What one tool did you use or action did you take this year that had the most impact on increasing traffic to your blog?


I started participating in blog boosts in the BlogPaws Boost and News Group, and another blogging group. Not only did this bring me more traffic, but I was able to form relationships with bloggers I hadn’t known before. I also started scheduling social shares more frequently which helped as well. For the first time I used an editorial calendar which proved to be helpful. 

5. Which of your blog posts got the most traffic this year? (Please include a link.) Have you noticed any themes across your most popular posts?

My most popular post was my Addiction Pet Food Review and Giveaway.


addiction pet food|black and white cat eating|pet food reviews

Three of my top five posts were giveaways. 

6. What blog do you find most inspirational and how has it influenced your blog? (Please include a link.

I can’t possibly choose one blog. I’m inspired by all blogs I read, and I admire the creativity and amount of effort bloggers put into their work. I’m always learning and getting new ideas from others. The pet blogosphere is pretty pawesome. 

7.  What is one thing your readers don’t know about you or your pets that would surprise them?

When I adopted Lexy I never took her out of her cage at the adoption event. I never picked her up or held her. I didn’t need to… it was love at first sight and I knew we were meant to be together. 

Lola is my shadow. She is always near me, usually sitting on me and relentlessly trying to lick my face. She follows me around the house, meowing, until I finally pick her up.  When I put her down she resumes meowing until I pick her up another time. She also sleeps on top of me. 

8.  What is something you’ve learned this year that could help other bloggers?

Don’t compare yourself to others and don’t let others' accomplishments make you feel inadequate. It’s very easy to do, and can lead you to quickly get discouraged and cut down on your blogging. Just stay true to yourself and your own vision, and write from the heart. 

9. What would you like to accomplish on your blog in 2017?

Of course, we all want “the numbers". I’d like to increase my traffic and broaden my audience; I’d like to think of a second book to write; I want to be more consistent in posting; and I would like to gain the confidence to try freelance writing. I also want to get “back to basics” and share more every day stories about Lola and Lexy, since the original premise for my blog was to be Lola’s diary. 

10.  Now it’s your turn! You have the attention of the pet blogging community – is there a question you’d like answered, or an aspect of your blog that you’d like input on?

I’d like to know what makes you come back on a regular basis to read my blog. Is there anything you’d like to see more of? 

I also want to thank everyone who visits for your support and your friendship. When I wrote my first post I had no idea Lola The Rescued Cat would grow to where it is now, and that I would meet so many amazing people I’m glad to call my friends. 
Dawn

Would you like to comment?

  1. I loved reading your answers - I think giveaways tend to draw the most traffic usually!

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  2. Hi Lola...you are looking might lovable there!

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  3. L & L....we wood lovez ta see yur mom ritez book deux .... & we N joy stoppin bye all R palz blogz... when we can... ta get sum scoop..... N we due knot meen litterz ~~ :)

    even tho we haz yur book, we N joy reedin de rezcue storeez ~~ ♥♥♥♥♥

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  4. Nice to learn more about you. I love your blog as it is, but I am all for more stories about Lola and Lexy :)

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  5. I loved learning more about you and your blog. For some reason, I thought you've been blogging a lot longer than you have. I'd love to learn more about Lola's and Lexy's quirks (like that Lola follows you and wants to be picked up). Of course, my never ending wonder that a formerly homeless kitten became such a Momma's boy, is the whole reason I started blogging to begin with. It such a joy to watch our kitties come into their own and just worry about being cats :)

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  6. We enjoyed reading your responses. The mom always forgets about this challenge. One year she will participate.

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  7. We adore your kitties and your blog too and you pull it all together with class!

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  8. I love that picture of Lexy too! I learned about Tabby's Rescue from you. I really want to visit there.

    I enjoy all your posts, but my favorites are probably the day to day antics and also the rescue stories. I also enjoyed reading your responses to these questions.

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  9. I adore that picture of Lexy! I love reading your blog and know that we share a commitment to rescue and adoption especially for the special ones! I think your photography is wonderful and Lexy and Lola are both very expressive.

    Thanks so much for your kind words about Ruby and our blog! They mean the world to me. I feel so grateful that as a dog blogger I have also been welcomed and formed friendships with cat bloggers.

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    1. Thanks so much! Your photography is excellent, so I really appreciate that compliment.

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  10. I really liked reading that post! It's nice to get to know you better from your answers. Thanks for sharing:)
    Kate

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  11. Welcome to the Challenge, Dawn, and thank you for joining us! It's so nice to get to know you and meet Lola and Lexy. Your plans for 2107 are exciting, and I wish you the best of luck. I can't wait to see where this year takes you!

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  12. Congratulations on getting accepted for your first paid blogger campaign! Write a second book! That's awesome. I've thought about putting together an ebook, but I've never been up to the task. However, this year is a little different because I need to put together a puppy guide for a group of service dog puppy raisers. Good luck with your second book and all the best in 2017!

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  13. I'm glad that you decided to join the blogosphere. :) It has been great getting to know you. Congratulations on your first ever paid campaign! I can definitely see you getting more of those in the future, if you want them. I can't wait to see the new book that you have in mind! Make sure to add a few blog posts about it while it is in the writing phase. I love when Amy Shojai does that. Someday I would love to put out a book too, but I'm still a little nervous to do it, so I'm watching pros like you do it. I really enjoy your posts about animal rescue. Those tie in so well with your books and there is true passion behind them. It is fun when the cats help tell the stories too.

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  14. I enjoyed your answers and didn't tell you, Lola. I love your answer in the number 8 question. I never have compared Katie's stye to anyone else. Hers is as unique as she can be. I love how she goes off on tangents and doesn't usually follow the norm when she meows. She knows I love her, that's good enough for her... and if her meowing falls flat as a fritter, she's OK with that. She always hopes though that her next one will be more interesting.

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  15. That was brilliant, we loved reading it and have to say thank mew so much fur sharing!

    Sweetest purrs

    Basil & Co xox

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  16. This was a great interview! We learned a few new things! <3

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  17. Thanks for sharing the story of your blog with us. I have one cat (I write about dogs) and he's pretty aloof at times and he's annoyingly lovey dovey at times (and I love it). What I love about cats is that they can have such varied personalities and after nearly 10 years, I'm just getting to know Cosmo's. Jaffrey, my other cat, passed on in 2015.

    I loved your advice about not comparing yourself to others. I do this far too often and it's very discouraging. Every time I've been tempted to quit blogging, it's because I fell down that rabbit hole of insecurity. Thanks for the reminder.

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  18. Tabby's Place looks awesome. Just like your blog! You know, being awesome. I'm so glad I got to meet you last year at the conference. I think you should just keep doing what you're doing! Looking forward to seeing what's in store for 2017.

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  19. I enjoyed reading your answers! Congrats on your successes to date and wishing you many more in 2017. I love that photo of Lexy too!

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  20. It's interesting to hear what motivates others to start their blog. Hopefully your story will inspire others.

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Thank you for your comment! We love meowing with you!