5 Things I Learned from BlogPaws That Improved my Blog | Lola The Rescued Cat
Tuesday, February 21, 2017

5 Things I Learned from BlogPaws That Improved my Blog

I had never considered starting a blog until I published a book, which needed an “official website” to go along with it. And believe me when I tell you it was a lot harder than I thought! Initially, I intended my blog to be a continuation of Lola’s diary, chronicling her and Lexy’s daily activities, and after seeing what other people were doing with their blogs I wanted to take mine to a different level. But my blog wasn’t getting much attention and I didn’t know how to improve that until I joined BlogPaws®. 



BlogPaws

This post is sponsored by the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about how BlogPaws helps educate and inspire pet influencers but Lola The Rescued Cat only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. BlogPaws is not responsible for the content of this article.

The more I got involved with the BlogPaws community, the more I realized a successful blog is more than just posting a photo with a story to go with it.  My cats are cute;


blogpaws influencer network|blogpaws

blogpaws influencer network|blogpaws


- but that wasn’t enough to draw traffic to my blog. 


Five Things I Learned from BlogPaws that Improved My Blog


  • The importance of SEO. When I first heard SEO mentioned, my response was “huh?” I’ve since been working on using better keywords, headers, lists and bullet points; which I’ve found make the post “easier on the eye.” 
  • Optimizing images. I had no idea that Google relies on Alt Text.  I didn’t even know what Alt Text was! I was also keeping the original image name, such as IMG30045 instead of making it relevant to my post. 
  • It’s all in the numbers. Analytics? Page views? Engagement? I had no clue this was important. Now that I’ve learned more about this I’ve found that my most popular posts are not the ones I thought would draw the most attention. 
  • Promote, promote, promote! To quote Carol Bryant  I was a “one and done".  I wrote a post and moved on to the next, not realizing the power of social media. I also was unaware there were apps and websites that allowed me to pre-schedule posts! 
  • Write evergreen content. This is the piece of advice that I feel made people notice my blog more. This type of content not only broadened my audience but inspired me to take my blog in a different direction. 

BlogPaws has also educated me on how to write a quality blog post, what brands look for, social media tips and tricks, the importance of a good “About Me” page, and has also provided numerous resources. I'm not perfect in all of these points, but I try my best to remember a lot of it when I'm writing a post. 


BlogPaws = Friendships 


If someone were to ask me what my favorite thing about BlogPaws is, my answer would be the friendships I have formed. Thanks to BlogPaws, I was introduced to a wonderful group of like-minded people. I was very nervous going to my first conference in Nashville in 2015, but when I arrived I was so appreciative (and delighted) to be welcomed by the cat community with open arms. 

blogpaws influencer network|blogpaws
Photo credit: Paula Gregg from Sweet Purrfections. 

I was never alone, and I never felt like an outsider. 


Over the next year my relationships with the other cat bloggers strengthened, and in 2016 in Phoenix it was like seeing old friends. I was happy to welcome first-time attendees or new bloggers to the conference and enjoyed making them feel welcome. 


blogpaws
Emily of "Kitty Cat Chronicles" and me at the Lucy Pet Products booth.

In a sense, bloggers are competitors with one another. However, within our community we are supportive and helpful, sharing information and resources. We also bounce ideas off one another, looking for – and appreciating – input and feedback. 

The support doesn’t end with the “business”. There is ample encouragement and genuine caring for personal triumphs, difficulties, losses, illnesses and anything else that happens in our lives. A bad day can be turned around by a visit to our group. 

Over the past year, I’ve been participating in BlogPaws boosts and Twitter chats as much as I can, which has allowed me to form relationships with other pet bloggers as well. I’m looking forward to Myrtle Beach in May to meet them in person. 

There is so much more to BlogPaws than the technical piece. There is camaraderie with other pet lovers that many of us don’t find in our day to day lives. It's a nice escape at the end of a hectic day.

Are you a member of the BlogPaws community? What have you learned that has improved your blog?
Dawn



This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of BlogPaws. The opinions and text are all mine.

Would you like to comment?

  1. My human loves the camaraderie that BlogPaws offers! And I do too! I've been to two BlogPaws conferences so far (my human has been to a bunch more from before I was born), and I really enjoy meeting everyone. My human reads their blog all the time, looking for new tips on social media and blog traffic.

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  2. L & L....we noe yur mom total N joyz goin two blogpaws N we total lee N joy de partee ewe both host while herz a way :) !!! ♥♥♥

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  3. Fabulous post!! I have been to 3 BlogPaws Conferences and loved them (only can't go now due to finances). I found BlogPaws in 2009 when they (and I ) first started. I ran the conference newbies group for 4 years......I learned a ton with BlogPaws (and still do), even if one can't attend the conference the site is a "must go to", even if it is just a few times per week. BlogPaws knows I am not a fan of twitter chats (with anyone, not just them lol, it's not my style.......but I understand that most love them). Great post! catchatwithcarenandcody

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  4. I was very fortunate to be told about BlogPaws right when I first started my blog. I definitely have learned a lot from them and fellow bloggers like you! Was very happy to meet you last year in Phoenix.

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  5. I totally can relate to this. I was so clueless until I discovered BlogPaws! The conferences are the Best. Great networking with other pet bloggers and brands helped me for such wonderful relationships. We all learn from & support each other. There is so much learning that takes place at the conferences, each year I come away with so much that I can immediately apply to improve my blog.
    Love & Biscuits,
    Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them

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  6. The pet blogging community is the best, and the part BlogPaws plays is undeniable. This was a great post and promotion for BP. Looking forward to seeing you in May, Dawn. XOCK, Lily Olivia Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo and Cooper Murphy

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  7. Great post. I am glad to be part of such a wonderful group of people.

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  8. We enjoyed your post and the BlogPaws Conference is great, but we haven't been in a while.

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  9. Great post ! Even if we don't want to make money with our blog, we learned and still learn a lot with BlogPaws. Too bad we cannot attend a conference because it's too expensive for us from Switzerland. Purrs

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  10. The mom has learned a lot of the same things you did...and she's still learning. She loves the camaraderie that exists in the BlogPaws community.

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  11. Yep, all this rings true! I have learned so much from both conferences I attended. Though I know I still have tons more to learn!

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  12. Despite all my anxiety about going, I have to admit last year's conference was incredible. Not so much for the workshops ... but because of the people I met ... the support I felt ... for someone like me who's always felt on the outside looking in, that experience was priceless :)

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  13. We luvved meetin' you awnty Dawn and hope dat we can see you again. We've learned many things from bloggin' and count da furiends we've made as da biggest blessings. Big hugs

    Luv ya'

    Dezi and Raena

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  14. Great post! There's always so much to learn. I hope to get to a conference one year.

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  15. Excellent post!! I found this community a little more than a year ago, but never took advantage of all the wonderful support and information it offered. A few months ago I decided I was an idiot for letting something this valuable pass me by. Because of where I live I can't participate in the Twitter chats or attend a conference, but I do what I can to be involved.

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  16. I have learned a lot about blogging, but still have so much to learn! I am planning on going to the BlogPaws conference this spring. I'm excited and nervous too.

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  17. What a great post. We would be lost without the BlogPaws community. Hoping to get to the conference one of these years!

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  18. I was an "one and done" too. Now I spend more time on promotion than writing!

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  19. BlogPaws is great for bloggers who are starting out and there is a wealth of information to be shared. The friendships made at conferences are the biggest highlight for me - it's all down to the bloggers who attend.

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  20. Such a good summary of what you have learned and gained. My case was similar. I started the website to promote the TV Series and Channel. I had planned to have mainly videos and photos and I was partnered with someone who claimed expertise (technical, writing and social/promotion). Well she and her brother ran off with $ and left me "holding the blog" knowing nothing about SEO, alt text, Wordpress, etc Quite the learning curve and BlogPaws has been an amazing group to be part of.

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  21. BlogPaws has been very influential for me. I found BlogPaws within a month or so of when I began my blog. It has been just what I've needed to learn and grow in the art and business of blogging. I'm so excited to be a speaker at the conference this year! I feel like I'm being able to give back in the way that so many others at BlogPaws have given to me. It is a great place for friendship, learning, and growing.

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  22. Great post and am still learning so much. Thank you

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  23. A brilliant and inspiring post Dawn, Lola and Lexy!!

    Isn't Lola simply heart-meltingly gorgeous in her picture. I had better share your post with some of my buddies - LOTS of useful stuff here!!

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  24. The friendships are definitely the best part! So glad to have met you and roomed with you at BP last year! Looking forward to seeing you again this year. And yes... I need to do more with optimizing images too!!!

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  25. Awesome! I am so happy to meet you through Blogpaws and so look forward to MB 2017! Great post and so true. I too was a one and done.

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  26. All great things to keep in mind when blogging! Blogpaws has so many resources!

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  27. I'm so happy I was able to meet you in Nashville! I look forward to seeing you in Myrtle Beach this year.

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  28. These are all great tips! Blogpaws has helped my blog along so much as well!

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  29. Squee did I just see my name with "To quote Carol Bryant I was a “one and done". I wrote a post and moved on to the next, not realizing the power of social media. I also was unaware there were apps and websites that allowed me to pre-schedule posts! "

    That means more to me than you can ever know. I want to empower others to be the best version of themselves that they can be. You are such a force and I am so glad to know you and watch you shine!

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    1. Thanks, Carol! I've learned so much from you and the BlogPaws team. See you in Myrtle Beach!

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  30. I'm so pleased you learnt all this - in our busy lives we can assume everyone's 'got this'... So I'm even more pleased to see that now not only do you 'got this', but it's help you find a new direction and you & Lola are blossoming!! WoohooMeow!
    Annette, Isagold, Bettyblue, Finndawg & WallasEKatt

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