Friday just before we got 3 feet of snow, we received a package from our friend Jen at My Brown Newfies.
Inside the priority mail box was two prize packages consisting of 2 coupons for free Frosty Paws dessert treats and a cute little stuffed puppy.
One package was for us to keep and one was to do what we pleased with. Truthfully I could have kept both, but why be greedy?
Especially when I want something from you.
BlogPaws Bound
In May of this year a whole host of awesome Pet Bloggers will be meeting in Tyson Corners, Virginia for the social media event of the year. BlogPaws!
In a moment of folly, I pitched a proposal to BlogPaws for a beginning blogging session titled, “I’ve started a blog, now what?”
Well put your money where your mouth is Jodi Stone, because BlogPaws accepted my proposal!
Yes, yours truly will be hosting a session at this year’s BlogPaws.
As most of you know (mostly because I whine incessantly about it) blogging is a learning experience. And while sometimes it takes me a while to learn things (thank you to all of you who answer those desperate questions of mine) there are so many things I wish I’d known about sooner, like two years ago sooner when I first started this blog.
That is what my session will be about. All the things that took me two years to learn about starting and growing a blog.
I have a list of subjects I wish I’d known about when I first started blogging and I figured if I had a list, you must have one too!
So see, here’s where the give away comes in.
I’d like your thoughts about what you wish YOU’D known about when you first started blogging. And it wouldn’t be fair to pick your brain and not give you something in return, right?
SO Share it with me in the comments and one lucky winner will receive a prize pack with two coupons for a free Frosty Paws dessert for your dog, along with a Frosty Paws dog.
(Note the stuffed toy is NOT FOR DOGS but for human use only.)
Also, I’m only authorized to ship in the US as Frosty Paws isn’t available in other areas.
BUT that doesn’t mean I don’t want my international friends to comment, SO here’s what I’ll do. Give me your comments, one and all and if the entry that wins is outside of the U.S. I will send you something entirely different and pick another entry for the Frosty Paws Prize package.
Don’t write a blog? That’s okay too, I still want your input. Tell me what kinds of topics you want to read about on this blog, or something I’ve written that you like.
No rush, I’ll draw the winning name next Wednesday, so if you can’t think of something right away, you still have time.
This is the Tasty Tuesday Blog Hop, hosted by Sugar the Golden Retriever and Kol’s Notes.
that is SO awesome! congratulations!!! are you freaking out yet? LOL
i think the big things i wish i had known about (and kind of still don’t know about but am winging it), is some of the more legal-ish stuff. how to run a giveaway without getting sued; what the copyright rules are for your blog, posts, photos; how to watermark pix (and what the heck it should say); the etiquette of guest posting & accepting guest posts; how to run product reviews without getting sued. all that fun stuff.
Thanks Lauren, and yes I AM freaking out! LOL
Many of those things I’m still learning too!! As you’ll notice none of my photos are watermarked. 🙁 I honestly just don’t have the time to do everything, this is still a non-paying job. 🙂 I think unless someone takes you under their wing a lot of it is trial and error, but I hope to help people at least in a small way.
Congratulations on your session, Jodi! You are going to have a great time, I am sure of it, and help a lot of people. Such a bummer that BlogPaws always picks the worst time of year for me so were I even to win a chance to attend, I wouldn’t be able to go due to other obligations. Boooo.
I guess what I wish someone had told me how all-consuming blogging was going to be, and how addicting once I got started. I go through major withdrawals when I can’t connect as much as I’d like and it kind of sucks. If only I could be in two places at once! Maybe what I really need to learn is better organization skills.
Thanks Kristine, I do wish you were going!
I will have to add those items to the list, yes it is very addicting! And sometimes it seems like it is all consuming too!
Hey let me know when you get the organizational stuff down, I could use the help.
What a wonderful gift you received. Pity we don’t have that here in South Africa. I’m sure Litchi would love it. How wonderful that you will be hosting a session at Blogpaws. I so wish I was closer so that I could attend. Congratulations.
Oh, there’s so much I wish I had known. First thing I really stumbled with was getting links into posts for award stuff. Also, the first video I tried to post. Would have been great to know how to do that before faffing for days 🙂
Yes, it is a blessing!
You can come here to this conference. 😉
I struggled with technical stuff too, usually I just google it and generally I can figure out what it is I need to do. 🙂
Woof! Woof! That’s great! Mom learned a lot since we started blogging. It’s a process of trial n error (what works and providing your readers an interesting topic to read and comment at the same time). We are happy on our blogging process. She’ll be attending BlogPaws this year. Golden Thanks for joining our Tasty Tuesday hop. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar
Oh that’s exciting Sugar, I can’t wait to meet mom! Maybe she will share some of her tips with me. 🙂
I have already won the Frosty Paws prize package, so if I get picked, throw me back and pick again.
I think when starting out, people need to read a lot of blogs and leave comments. I never realized how important it was to Like and Comment. People can find you there at other blogs and come and check you out, and maybe become followers and friends. Good luck at your talk. Fun!
That’s very nice Genevieve.
There is so much to learn about blogging, liking and commenting is one of the biggest ones, and then it’s trying to get back with everyone who likes and follows you and it can seem overwhelming!
Awesome! Congrats on your BlogPaws engagement. And, since I’m going myself, I can’t wait to meet you in person. 🙂
What do I wish someone had told? Just what the heck I was getting myself into! 😉 Something I still wish someone would tell me is not to panic about trying to stay on top of it all and the difference between ‘pro’ and ‘hobby’ bloggers. To figure out which you really want to be and how to live with what that means for you.
PS – any chance you’ll be bringing the pups to BP?
Thank you Leslie, I can’t wait to meet you!!
Yes, sometimes it feels all consuming and then sometimes I feel like I’m in over my head. I’d like to know how long it takes to be ‘discovered’ and have people like your blog enough to be able to transition from hobby blogger to professional.
As of right now the plan is to have Sampson come down on Saturday. Hubby can’t take the time off work in May, so they will come down Saturday morning and we will drive back together on Sunday. I think it would be too hard to bring both dogs so I will be working on finding someone to stay with Delilah.
So glad they accepted your proposal Jodi! Congrats and have fun at the event! As for what I wish I had known…it would have to be (and still is) how to make enough time – without interfering too much with the rest of my life? That goes not just for blogging, but for reading other great blogs too.
Thanks Donna! Yes, you are voicing the same complaint so many are voicing. I wish I knew the answer.
Dang Jodi, I wish I could be there to hear your seminar…Hope you share your notes afterwards for those who can’t be there…My biggest question is the one I saw most on the Pet Bloggers challenge…time management…how much do you spend on posts? how much on FB, G+, Pinterest, etc? which ones are worth your time? how do you find enough time to read other blogs? it’s all about the time management & I’d love to hear how others do it
I don’t think you’ll need my seminar Beth but I will be sure to figure out a way to share it. I think we all struggle with the time factor, it takes so much to build up your blog and some seem to do it more effortlessly than others. 🙂
So wish we could go to Blog Paws as we know there is so much out there that we don’t even know that we don’t know. I guess we would like to know more about how to get companies to have us try and blog about their products and/or have giveaways with the products.
That’s a great one Emma! Thank you. When I learn how I’ll be sure and let you know!
What an honor for you. Congratulations.
Virginia? Is that some place on the other side of the Sierras? Sadly we don’t venture out that far since I’ve developed an airplane phobia in recent years now that I don’t have to fly for my work.
I still haven’t set up a FB page for my blog although my posts are automatically posted to my personal page. So maybe instructions on setting up a special FB page would be helpful..
Thanks Jan, I’m not real big on flying either!! It will take some nerve and Xanax to get me on that plane!!
My FB page is still not as good as some others. I can try and help you if you’d like.
How exciting and terrifying!! Public speaking is definitely not my strong suit (but I can teach yoga . .doesn’t make sense!!) I’m sure you will do great!
I think new bloggers need to know that it’s okay to be themselves. Don’t try to imitate other bloggers – there are all kinds of readers out there, you’ll find yours if you are authentically you!! Congrats!!
I don’t mind public speaking but I know I couldn’t teach a yoga class!! I wish you were here so you could teach me yoga!
I think you make a good point, but I also think it’s hard sometimes to write for who you are, if that makes any sense. I sometimes feel like my personality doesn’t come through as to who I really am. I think it took me some time to find my voice.
looking forward to meeting you at BlogPaws! don’t enter me in the contest because I won Frosty Paws too!
If I can be of any help, feel free to email me or message me!
I can’t wait to meet you too Caren! So you’re definitely going? YEAH!!!
What’s that saying… be careful what you wish for? LOLOLOL
BlogPaws sounds like it I will be a ton of fun!
When I started my blog I wish I’d known more about the technical stuff, like how to put picture in sidebars or linking to other blogs or to other social media sights.
I think it should be a lot of fun and a lot of information!
Technical stuff, good point! I’ll add to the list. 🙂
You got accepted!!! Woohoo!!!! Congratulations!
I wish I knew that the way to grow my own blog traffic was to comment on other people’s blogs. In fact when I started I had no idea how to discover these other blogs to comment on…lol…green wasn’t I?
Thanks! I’m pretty excited about it. 🙂 I think most of us are green when we start out, I didn’t know that either!
Frosty Paws, huh? Never heard of it, but then South Carolina has never been “front and center” on anything. 🙂
BlogPaws ideas? None right now. Just have a great time!
Last but not least….My eyes keep getting drawn back to the railing on the side of the photo of the human toy. That railing — except for the color — looks the same as the one in my house back in Wantagh. Our railing was more of a black and gold swirl…rather appropriate considering the high school colors were Black & Gold. The railing was a protective one along a “hallway” that stretched from the master bedroom doorway at one end to the large bathroom door at the other end. The railing went down alongside the five steps to the main level of the house, where the livingroom, dining room, and kitchen are. Kinda makes me a little homesick. I loved that house, even though it was way too big for just one human and one small dog. (Sigh)
Sue, some of the grocery stores up here have a little freezer case in the pet aisle, maybe you could check there?
We have a raised ranch and that railing is in the hall and down the stairs. I’m glad it brought you such nice memories. 🙂
Yay! Congratulations! That will be a great talk.
Hmm, when I first started blogging, I had no idea how to get people to read my blog. Now I know that it’s as simple as visiting other people’s blogs! I also had no idea how consuming it would get, in a good way!
Thanks Kirsten, yes I remember the first few months whining about how to get people to read. Who knew it was that simple!
Congratulations! I’m very excited for you and I know you’ll do great at your BlogPaws session.
When I first started blogging I wish I knew how to get more people to visit and comment on my blog. Even today I wouldn’t mind hearing new ideas on how to get people to visit and comment on my blog 🙂
Thanks Colby! I hope I’ll get to meet you at BlogPaws, but I don’t expect to see you in my session, you’re already on top of things! Trust if I figure it out, I’ll happily share the secret. 🙂
I’m just hoping to make my way out to BlogPaws and if so I’d like to be at your session to cheer you on!
Wow well done you, I bet your talk will be amazing!! I wish I could come and see it!
Hmmm there is so much I wish I had known, obviously being a dog I am a natural but still….. it may help people to know about the different platforms available (sorry that’s very boring!) and plug-ins still scare typist!
Thanks Basil, I wish you could be there as well!! Thanks for your input, I’ll be adding to my list and trying to give as much info as possible. Plug-ins are scary!
Congrats on having your proposal accepted – you’re going to have such a fun time there, and present 🙂 impressive 🙂
I think it would have been useful for someone to explain to me right at the beginning why tagging is important. I don’t think I started doing that for a few months!
Thank you Lexy! I expect it will be a fun time!!
I didn’t tag right away either! I’m still not sure I really understand what it even is! LOL although I keep using the same ones. If you have an easy explanation, please share it. 🙂
Congrats on the speaking gig!! It’s looks like it’s going to be a great conference. I can’t wait!