Monday, October 7, 2013

Pawsitively Pets' One Year Blogiversary Week!

This week marks the one year blogiversary for Pawsitively Pets. The exact date is October 10th, which is this Thursday so be sure to stop by that day. In fact, you may as well just stop by all week because there will be lots of cool stuff going on!

First of all, I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone that reads, follows, shares, and helps me with this blog. Without any of you, Pawsitively Pets would be no where and I'm not sure if I'd be here at my one year Blogiversary today. So anyways, thank you! I cherish your friendship and you're all wonderful!

Pawsitively Pets Blogiversary

I wanted to take a look at where I started and the goals I laid out for myself with this blog to see what I've accomplished. Looking back at my very first blog post, which had no comments, I think I've done pretty well and could have never imagined that I've come this far with my blog.

On my first blog post, I introduced myself and my pets and stated my mission for the blog.

"I plan to inform my readers of pet health, care, and behavior of all breeds and species."

I think I've done that pretty well. After finding other pet blogs and learning from them, I began to set new goals for myself. (If you aren't a blogger, I'm not sure if this will interest you - sorry!)
  • I wanted to establish a readership of loyal followers that value my advice. I'm very glad that I've accomplished this goal and I hope that you find my information valuable here. I also hope to keep it growing!
  • I wanted a "job". Blogging helped save me from depression. After working my butt off as a vet tech for 5 years, becoming a stay at home mom was a hard adjustment for me. On top of that, I wasn't communicating with other adults like I used to. The friends I've made since I began blogging have been a blessing. To this day, blogging occupies my time and keeps me happily busy with something to do. 
  • I wanted to tackle social media and gain a presence there. I'm happy with where I'm at on social media, and you can find me just about anywhere. I'm active on almost every social media network. 
  • I wanted to get good at blog design and photography. There's something about the way a blog looks and I just love messing around with design. I've got a long way to go with it, but maybe one day I'll get there. 
  • I wanted to have giveaways for my readers. I have had plenty of giveaways and am always thrilled every time I pick a new winner. I wish I could have more giveaways for my overseas friends, but this is always up to the company. :( 
  • I wanted to attempt to monetize my blog. This part is slow-going, but I'm pleased with where I'm at. Google Ads has proven to be not the greatest form of monetization for me. I haven't even made enough to cash out this year, but maybe in a few months at this rate. Affiliate marketing is also a pretty big failure for me as well at this point. I am thankful for programs like the BlogPaws Pet Blogger Network. This program has been my biggest success with monetizing my blog. 
  • I wanted to have guest contributors on my blog. I'm struggling with this a bit. What I really want is for some super awesome pet bloggers to come and post guest blogs here. I get guest bloggers, but sometimes they aren't always exactly what I'm looking for. And most of the time, they don't even stop to leave a comment on their own guest blog post or share it, which is turning out to be a pet peeve of mine. This is something I'm currently working on to bring you more quality guest posts. Which by the way, I'd love to have any of my blogging friends be a guest here. 

I know that I now have many more goals than this, but these were the foundation goals. I have learned A LOT this year. I had no prior experience or training in blogging or writing. Although, writing has been a love of mine since before I was in Kindergarten. I couldn't have accomplished what I have this year without the inspiration of other pet bloggers. 

Now, enough with all the mushy stuff and on with the more fun stuff! To celebrate Pawsitively Pets' Blogiversary, we will be having a giveaway tomorrow AND on Thursday, which is our actual Blogiversary date. 

Thursday's giveaway will be open to every type of pet, anywhere in the world so I am very excited about it. So I'll end this post with that and hope you'll stop by again soon! 

Also, if you could take a moment to fill out this survey I would really appreciate it! The survey is 7 questions long and just asks some basic things. Your answers are anonymous, so please be honest. I am hoping to gain some feedback by doing this. Thank you! 

67 comments:

  1. Congratulations Ann! I'm so happy to hear that blogging has helped with your depression. It really seems to help people during transitional phases in their lives and that's so interesting. That's where it has really helped me too. I made several MAJOR life transitions and blogging was there for me. So glad to get to know you through your blog and am looking forward to getting to know you even better!

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    1. Thank you Mahogany! That is pretty interesting, and it does seem to be a nice cure for depression. I think it gives you someone to talk to, even if you don't know the people in real life. I loved my work as a vet tech, so it was really hard to change over. Especially because I worked full time until about 5 days before I was induced to have my daughter.

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  2. Happy Anniversary Ann and loads more to come. We love your blog and you teach us so much :) Have a super day xxooxxx

    Mollie and Alfie

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    1. Thank you Mollie :) Cheers to more blogiversaries! :)

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  3. Congratulations Ann!! Wow I can't believe this is your first year, and you are going so well :D! You totally deserve a pat on the back for all the hard work you do!

    The thing I love alot about your blog is that you communicate, and respond to everyone! You are really active in the blogging world, and it makes you stand out!

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    1. Thank you Francesca! It's interesting to see what others have to say - I appreciate it :)

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  4. Congratulations on your blogaversary! We haven't known you long but we love your blog for so many reasons. It's fun, informative, sensitive, beautifully designed - what more could anyone ask for? Oh yeah...friendship.....we feel like we have that too as you're following Sammy's blog as well. Here's to many more - may this be a WONDERFUL week-long celebration!

    Pam (and Sam)

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    1. Thank you Pam and Sam! Friendship is a wonderful thing that I never could have imagined would come with blogging. I love it!

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  5. Happy Blogiversary! I love all your goals. Goes to show that writing out your goals really helps you to accomplish them (I need to be better with this). The kids look so cute in their party hats!

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    1. Thanks Lori! I too need to get better at this myself. But going in to my second year and looking back at some old blog posts, I have an idea for some new goals.

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  6. Congrats! We enjoy your blog and wish you another great year! Lee and Phod

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  7. Oh My! we have the same blogversary. It seems that you been blogging for years as you accomplished so much. Golden Congrats. Golden Glad to be bloggie friends. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

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    1. Thank you Sugar :) People keep telling me that, so I must be on the right track! I am glad to have "met" you while blogging as well.

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  8. Congrats on your one year blogiversary! I, too, am new to all of this and you have been wonderful support! Keep up the great work and can't wait to see your post in the future!!! :)

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    1. I love supporting new bloggers! I am glad to have "met" you Spencer!

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  9. Congrats on your blogoversary! Here's to many more years of blogging!!

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  10. Congratulations and Happy Anniversary! Your blog is one of my personal favorites :-)

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  11. Happy Almost Blogoversary! We think you are rockin' the blogosphere!

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  12. Great job Ann, you have done very well in your first year, Keep up the good work!!

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  13. Congratulations !! I do love to read your blog and always stop by when i can.

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    1. Thank you Thibaud! I am glad you enjoy reading it!

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  14. Congrats on your bloggyversary!!
    I hope Shiner and Niblett will be attending mine and Mollie's halloween ball for extra celebrations :-)

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    1. Of course Misaki! I've got to get some pictures uploaded for it.

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  15. Happy Blogoversary! I#m so glad to know you!

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  16. Happy (sort of early) Blogiversary!
    Ann, your blog is spectacular. You have accomplished a LOT in a year, in so many different ways.
    I think Pawsitively Pets will only get more successful, but I think the success you have achieved already is very impressive. Your blog is educational and informative, but it is also from the heart. It is also very visually appealing, and that always helps! Like others have said, you are very engaging with your readers and stay very active in social media, which is hugely important these days. That is my biggest weakness, and probably always will be. I can tell that you also have a knack for understanding monetizing a blog, even if you haven't seen the success you'd like to see with that part of it yet. It's slow-going for everyone... not just pet bloggers, but all bloggers that are trying to eek out an additional (or primary) income with their blogs. I think you are huge inspiration to anyone just starting out... like, "Hey... look what I've done in a year." It's clear that you stay focused and dedicated, even though you have a family to manage. I really don't know how bloggers with kids ever get anything done :). But you work things out, and even incorporate your sweet non-furry children into the blog sometimes.
    Great job overall and I know that it will only continue to get better! Congrats again!

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    1. Thank you Pam! I appreciate all of the feedback! I find it easy to mess around on social media with the kids around. But nearly impossible to sit down and write a blog post. I can't write much with them around because I will need to get up every 5 minutes lol. I mostly accomplish all my writing late at night when the baby is finally asleep.

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  17. Congratulations Ann! I wouldn't change a thing. I think Pawsitively Pets is a fabulous blog! I look forward to reading more over the next year :)

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    1. Thanks so much Bren! You have been quite a blogging inspiration for me!

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  18. Congrats your big milestone and the best is yet to be!

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  19. Yay, congrats on your one year! Such a great blog and we are glad to know you.

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  20. Happy Blogoversary. We've enjoyed knowing you and will look forward to another year with you.

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  21. A very Happy Blogoversary to you. You have done a great job and built up your blog very nicely. Lots of good info and the blogging friends that you make are so worth while. Take care.

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  22. Ann, I think you have done amazingly well in only one year!! You are obviously very focussed! Congrats and happy blogoversary! x

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  23. Woot! and you have done it all. This is one of the best pet blogs!

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  24. Happy Blogoversary! Hopefully we're all going to get MANY more years of information from you.

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  25. Ann you've come so far in only one year...You've met so many of your goals and that's great...And the blog is looking better all the time...Congratulation on what you've accomplished and i wish you many more years of happy and successful blogging

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  26. Ann you amaze me every day. I started by blog a year ago last month, and it was Dolly's 3yr gotcha day and I did NOTHING about it in my blog!! I have been shamed!! We have many of the same similar goals it is nice to see. I know we talked about guest blogging, I wouldn't be one on those bad ones you mentioned though. I would love to have you guest blog for me, maybe on what you learned as a vet tech? Because I am no good with the vet stuff! Congratulations! Sandra and Dolly

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    1. Thanks guys! I think I forgot to post on Shiner's Gotcha Day lol... I still have guest blogging for you on my to do list and you can always come and write something for me too! I'll think of a good topic and get it out for you. Writing is my biggest challenge with blogging, because I don't like to do it when my kids are up and about. Otherwise I'd be up every 5 minutes and lose my focus!

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  27. happee annie fursary guys....

    shiner...ewe haz all reddy been into de drink sell a bray shunz huh !!!

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  28. Congrats on the blog and way to go - so glad to see you are having an anniversary! Have we met at BlogPaws - you should be at the next conference!

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    1. Thank you Carol! Sadly, I have not yet been to a BlogPaws conference but I really want to go! I'd like to make it happen but I think it's easier said than done for me.

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  29. Congratulations on your blogiversary. Pawsitively Pets is a great blog, and I love to read it.

    Bruny Hudson

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  30. Congrats on your blogiversary. Wonderful blog.
    Sue B

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  31. Concats on one superb year and Happy One Year Blogiversary Week!
    Just answered the survey =^.^=
    Purrs

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  32. Congratulations, Ann! You've done an amazing job in such a short period of time :-)

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  33. Congrats on your big occasion! So happy to see all that you've accomplished in only a year! Keep up the great work! <3

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  34. HAPPY HAPPY BLOGOVERSARY and here is to many, many more to come!!! I am proud to have been one of your FIRST readers! Yep! You know that I was! I do have a question, how do you have time for your kids with all that you do?
    xoxo

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    1. Thanks Caren! Yes, you were one of my very first blogging friends and also one of my first inspirations! Thank you so much :) I try to write while they are sleeping. I can do social media stuff if they are awake. And my oldest daughter is a pretty good product review helper hehe.

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  35. Happy blogoversary! I enjoy this blog a lot. :)

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  36. Happy Blogoversary! I've been around 4 years and you seem to have accomplished more. I'd love to have giveaways but can't seem to even attract Chewy. Also, I'm disappointed with the Blogpaws Network. I was told at the conference that I'd be making way more than I am. I can't even pay for my own stinky goodness. Anyway. Concats. You've done good cos I like coming here.

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    1. CK - your blog was one of my very first inspirations. There were a handful that I just absolutely loved for a number of different reasons and yours was one of them! I'm gonna be re-thinking some of these reviews/giveaways more often now. As you said in your recent post about Friskies "Frankly - they ain't payin' me!"

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  37. Happy Blogiversary, Ann and we hope on many more to come. Extra Pawkisses :)

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  38. Congrats! It's a brilliant achievement. It's so nice hearing about how blogging can positively effect your life. Here's to plenty more blog anniversaries! x

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  39. Congratulations! You've achieved so much, and it's so true about the wonderful effect it has on your life.

    Whee hope to see many more blogoversaries with you!

    Nacho, Noah, Buddy & Basil
    xxxx

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  40. Congratulations, Ann, on your first year!! I'd say you are doing great, and have come a long way in achieving your goals. I think there will always be something to work on, or something we want to change as we go on. That's probably a good thing, I think it will keep it from getting boring.
    I agree, Google Ads are not that great, but BlogPaws provides some great opportunities, which I think you do very well at taking advantage of.

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    1. Thank you Jan! Sometimes I worry about it getting boring, but so far it hasn't been boring to me at all :)

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    2. I know, and after a year I thought I might run out of things to write about. But it's just the opposite....I constantly have a long list going of topics and ideas, and I don't have the time to do them all!

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  41. Hi,
    Happy blogoversity! Thanks for stopping by my blog. Nice to meet you.

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  42. Happy Blogiversary! We love Pawsitively Pets! Here's to many more years of blogging :)

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  43. Happy Blogaversary Ann,and here's to many more,xx Rachel and Speedy

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  44. Happy Blogaversary and boo hoo if you were not here...your doing a great job. I especially like that you have a love of all animals, so that makes your blog more diverse in the topics. Keep on typing..

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