Have you ever thought about starting a pet blog?
Have you seen pet stars take Instagram and blogging by storm and thought…. why not my pet?
Well, why not?? I’ve compiled some of the most frequently asked questions I’ve received about starting a pet blog to inspire you and motivate you to take that first step!
Top 5 FAQs: How to Start a Pet Blog!
- How do I start a blog?
This is – by far – the most common question I get. In fact, I had an email at the end of last week from a gentleman who said, “I have a lot of topics I could write about my dogs, but I don’t know where to start.” I feel ya’! This is going to sound crazy, but here’s how you start a blog: You create an account on the platform of your choosing (see Q2), and then… start writing! Or uploading pictures! Or video! If you feel inspired to start a blog, then all you need to do is START! Open that account today (and tell us in the comments when you do!) and publish your first post. I think the “how do I start” paralysis maybe comes from fear of the unknown, not knowing all the technical details, or being afraid of putting yourself out there. Those things come with time and hands-on experience. Letting those slow down your start just keeps you from getting your blog up and running. Seriously. All you have to do to start is create that account! Go! Do it! We’ll wait… - What platform should I use?
Okay, okay. But on which platform should I create my account? There are two platforms that hold the lion’s share of blogs: Blogger and WordPress. Both have free options. If you want to dip your toes in the blogging waters, definitely go with a free version of one or the other. You can always upgrade to a paid account later. Or, if you know you’re a-million-percent committed to your blog, then my personal opinion is go with a self-hosted WordPress account. If you’re interested in WordPress – free or paid – here’s the signup form. Now, go sign up! If you go with self-hosted, you need a host. I’m an affiliate for my host because I truly believe they’re the best eco-friendly option, so here’s that link: GreenGeeks. It’s an eco-friendly host with great customer service, imo. - What should I write about?
If you’re feeling inspired to start a pet blog, I’m assuming you either have pets or are involved somehow in animal welfare. Write about that! With my writing students at the community college, many of them let their fear of the blank screen and blinking cursor keep them from getting started. I totally get that. But you can overcome by putting up your first post: Introduce yourself to all of us (your readers!) and tell us about your pets. Post two can be a story that inspired you to start the pet blog. Then you’re off and running! Stories about your pets, things you see in the news, photo posts, and so on… I encourage you to start a notebook, too. Yep, an actual pen-and-paper notebook! Start jotting down ideas for future posts as they come to you. You’ll be amazed at how much inspiration you find out in the world! One final note: I believe in goal setting. To keep yourself motivated when you first start, set micro-goals. For instance, “I will post once a week for six months.” You might not be getting many comments or shares in the beginning (I think for about a year, my hubs and MIL were the only two commenters I had!) so those little goals will keep propelling you forward. - How do I promote my pet blog?
So, once you start your blog and you’re pouring your heart out onto the interwebs, you’re going to want readers! The best way to promote your blog – this is going to sound counter-intuitive, but stick with me – is to read other people’s blogs and post thoughtful comments. Engage in discussions on Facebook, in comment threads, and on Instagram. Blatant self-promotion just isn’t the way of the internet. Meaningful discussion is. People will seek out your blog because they’re blown away by your insightful conversation. That being said, I do suggest setting up a Facebook page and Instagram account (at the minimum… you could also go with Pinterest, X, BlueSky, and so on… but start small because it’s all a lot to manage) and post links to your recent blog posts on those accounts. Consider guest posting for other more established blogs. I give that suggestion with this very strong caveat: Before you pitch a guest post to anyone, please (PLEASE) read their guidelines carefully. Pitching a blogger who says in her About page that she doesn’t accept guest posts will annoy her and waste your time. Pitching a blogger a story about dog training when she only writes about cat fashion, same thing. Guest posting is great… if you do it well. Read guidelines then pitch appropriately! (And, obvi, spell check and all that…) - What are some resources for learning about SEO/social media/widgets/etc.?
Once you’re up and running, you’ll probably start to notice nifty little features on other people’s blogs. Or someone will mention SEO on X, and you’ll scratch your head. There are tons of bells and whistles behind the scenes of blogging. Join a community group on Facebook, attend a conference, type “blogging tips” into the Pinterest search bar, or – here’s a crazy concept – check out books on blogging and internet marketing from the library! Don’t try to do it all at once, though. Pick a single topic and focus on that. Say you want to learn about SEO. Utilize each of those resources until you feel like you have a grasp on SEO, then move onto subscription widgets or X promotion or whatever you’re most curious about. Building a blog is like building a house; stack one brick at a time!
TL;DR? Here’s how to start a pet blog in two simple steps:
- To start a blog, simply START! Start writing and taking pictures. Start a WordPress account. Just start!
- Set mini-goals for yourself throughout the process, like “I will write two posts per month,” or “I will start an Instagram account.” It can be lonely until you start getting comments, so find a way to keep yourself motivated!
Read more about pet blogging:
- Pet Blogging 101: What I Wish I Knew Before I Started My Pet Blog
- Pet blogging 101, part 2: Some Realities That Make This Niche Extra Challenging
- Kindness, Pet Parenting, and the Perils of Pet Blogging
Starting a pet blog? Leave the URL in the comments so we can all become avid readers! A blogging pro? What did I miss? Share your tips in the comments!
And let’s get in touch on Instagram where I chronicle all the highs and lows of writing about pets!
It’s like the answer to people who ask how to become a writer? You write. A lot.
Yes, yes, yes!! With my English comp students, they all come in and say, “I hate this class. I’m not a writer.” And I always say, “You’re not a writer YET. But once you start writing, you are!” They think there’s some magical writer gene. It’s the same thing with blogging. You practice, practice, practice!
Yes, good advice. I would just add that blogging is always a work in progress. I am always updating little things on my site. I am always re-thinking my site’s focus. I am always trying to improve my writing style and photos, etc.
When you first start out, you’ll want everything to be perfect, but the truth is it will never be perfect and that’s OK.
That is SUCH a good point, Lindsay! (It applies to so much of life, huh?) Striving for perfection seems to stop a lot of people in their tracks. The great thing about blogging is that you can always tweak and make changes as you go. As long as you actually GO!
I did so many things wrong in the beginning (not that I’m doing it all right now) but I felt like it took a long time to “find my stride” and figure out what my focus was. Clearly I wanted to write about my dogs and cats, but I had to delve deeper and figure out why anyone would want to read about them. Things evolved and I feel like I’m finding my way. It just takes time and patience.
I am glad I am not alone! I feel exaclty the same way! The difference is that I have just started so I might be still looking for my stride. I also have my moments, thinking why would anyone read my blog. I guess in the end, we all just want to share and connect and, who knows, make some new friends. And of course, to be appreciated for our work (writing). But whatever the reason, I believe that writing a blog should bring a certain amount of self-satisfaction despite the numbers of readers.
This: ” I believe that writing a blog should bring a certain amount of self-satisfaction despite the numbers of readers.” AMEN! Thank you so much for making that point!
Thank you for posting such a nice entry. It just made me stop and think about WHY I want to start a blog. 🙂
I’m with you! I’m still finding my way. Time and patience are perfect pieces of wisdom!!
Nice post. Something else to keep in mind is that it takes time! Do not expect people to just find you right away!
Exactly! It’s hard to click “publish” over and over if you’re feeling down that you haven’t been found by tons of people… yet. The important thing is to keep clicking publish!
I like your final tip the best: “To start a blog, simply START!”
I’m a frequent victim of analysis paralysis and I often spend too much time analyzing, studying, reading, etc and not doing.
Get that blog up and running and write your first post! Hello World!
I don’t think you’re alone in analysis paralysis, Colby! I face that frequently. The trick, though, is to get going despite being afraid. I recently heard someone say, “Do it scared.” That really resonated with me!
Hi! Thank you for the tips! I started a pet blog this summer. I don’t have many readers yet, but I’m having a great time posting about my dog Maple, her dog park and daycare friends, and her feline siblings, Monster and Minga. I hope you check out what I have so far! Any insight or advice would be greatly appreciated! I have a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/mapleandherfriends) and an Instagram account (@mapleandfriends) associated with the blog to help promote it. http://www.mapleandherfriends.blogspot.com
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the process!! That’s what it’s all about, right? I’m sorry I’m a couple days behind here – I just followed your Facebook and Instagram accounts. And, holy moly! Your tbt post of baby Maple?! Swoon! What a cutie!! It looks like you’re doing a phenomenal job. I’d love to see an About page with info about all the animals that are Maple’s friends – and you, too! I think readers like to know who the writer is. (Unless I just missed it…) Will be adding you to my feed reader!
Thank you Maggie!! I will work on an About page. That is a great suggestion. Thanks for taking the time to check out Maple’s blog and to respond! I’m also a sucker for that puppy belly! 🙂
First thing I always ask people if they want to start a blog is “Why, and what do you want to accomplish?” Figure this out.
Some people default to thinking that starting a blog is right for what the type of site they want to build but often it is not. There are a lot of different options people can consider like a directory site, forum, info wiki, specific tool, etc. A blog could be one component of a site along with different services too. People tend to think linearly when starting a site and it doesn’t need to be that way.
I always recommend self hosting but that can be confusing. Blogger is a nice option IMO since it’s free, easy to use, and you can use your own domain at many different registrars with the service. It was the first blogging service. WordPress rocks though and it’s what you should use if you self host.
If you are going to do this long term, understand that social media rarely drives a lot of traffic. The reality is that 80%-90% of traffic still comes from search engines, well Google, even for large sites. Learn SEO early and watch Matt Cutt’s videos. Also focus on an email list from the get go.
Really great point about learning about search traffic! That is an area where I still really struggle, I guess because I do get traffic from social? I know I need to put the time into better search practices. I’m glad you made that point!
But this: “People tend to think linearly when starting a site and it doesn’t need to be that way.” SUCH an excellent point! Thank you for taking the time to share your expertise!
Everyone struggles with SEO. It’s a constant annoyance of change on Google’s part. 🙂
Often times the most successful sites on the web have many components. I’m sure you could start a private community on here Maggie and it would be popular. It’s just a lot of work.
One point I didn’t mention was just write, a LOT at first. If you think your first articles will be as good as Mark Twain… they won’t be.
Great tips! My wife and i recently started a small business and a blog to accompany. Its been a lonely road so far but we are just getting started. So nice to hear your encouraging words and it gives newbies some much need reassurance and motivation. My advice for anyone considering starting a blog of any kind… DO IT!! And dive in head first, its such a great way to teach yourself and others things you never imagined knowing. I have already learned so much about web marketing and SEO and never would have otherwise. Get in the game and Network, Network, Network!!! Thanks again. Check out our blog and some of our awesome products at http://www.TandEshop.com
Woof!
YES! Dive in! I love that you bring up it’s a bit lonely in the beginning. You’re so right on. You keep clicking “publish” but don’t know if anyone’s out there reading. But, as you said, getting into the game and networking will serve you well! Now, I’m off to go check out your shop and blog! 🙂
Great tips to start a blog. One thing that I noticed here is to start a self hosted blog that is very favourable and get maximum benefit in feature.
Thanks for sharing these tips 🙂
I’ve started blogging about my foray into dog “fatherhood” at dextersdogdays.com and am now looking to move away from wordpress.com to a private hosting. The limitations on WP hosting are starting to become apparent. Just a thought: for people starting it might be easier to start with a cheap paid host rather than move from one host to another. Happy blogging!
I have just started a dog blog and found your post, which I found very informative. I have bookmarked this page and will be returning often. Thanks again for your tips and wish me luck at http://www.cattledogkids.com/
Congrats! Can’t wait to check it out!!
I have been waffling as to whether to start a blog about my rescue puppy/dog for a while. All of my friends on Facebook enjoy my tales about her, so, after reading your comment about just START, I decided to do just that. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Reading the above, I agree totally. I got my paws wet in the interweb about 1 week ago. Cmon in, the water is fine!
Like any pup, i didn’t know I could swim, in fact I still have no idea what im doing but what the hell! http://www.dog-almighty.com
I have just started a dog blog and have yet to find my groove and feet. What strikes me as odd is that I have 30 people who have signed up for updates to it, but I have yet to get a comment. I try to post on other blogs, but I struggle to find ones that are purely about dogs. Sometimes I even struggle with adding something meaningful to the conversation. My blog is www evewebster.wordpress.com
Hello!
Thank you for your article! I wanted to start a blog for a while now, but I’m a little bit scared..
English isn’t my mother tongue, so I was wondering: do I write in my blog in Dutch (mother tongue) or in English..
I don’t think I’ll reach a lot of readers when I write in Dutch.. But when I write in English, there will be an occasional grammar mistake.. Anyone tips or advice?
Lots of love!
Hi I read your blogs quite often and I love your dogs they are beautiful.
I recently started a blog of my own and would love for you to check it out!
It’s also about our dogs and of course our 2 cats.
coldnosewarmheartblog.wordpress.com
Great article as I have just set up a dog blog about my English Bulldog Nugget. Stop by and have a look.
thank you for the article, it is very helpful.
I am starting my own blog about traveling with your dogs and since you offered to let me post the url:
http://powerofpaws.blogspot.com/
Love to hear from anyone and love to support other bloggers!
Thank-you for such a motivating article! I just started my blog…after 18 years running a boarding kennel, I have some stories to tell! My goal is to do a mix of informative article and stories, with the blog being fun and entertaining to read.
The url is:
http://petcottages.com/index.php/the-dog-blog/
Thank you for this blog post ! I’m currently in the setting up process and getting ready to publish mthe first few posts. This is what I needed to break my fear of striking out and just going for it. I really enjoy every part of your blog. Thank you for everything you do and write about ! I hope to learn more from you and watch you grow
Thank you so much for this post! I started my blog a few weeks ago and this helped me get much-needed motivation to just keep at it. My blog is centered around the merits of positive reinforcement and animal rescue, and I use stories about my own rescue pets (especially my dog and the various challenges we have faced) in order to help people in similar situations. I also work as a dog trainer, which helps me provide professional insight.
If you’re interested in checking it out, the url is: https://simply-pawsitive.com/
Thank you again!
Love it!! Yes, i agree we have to stay authentic and doggie comes first!! These blogs create such a great community and I am so grateful to have found them!
My family and I just got a new pup so I am excited to document his journey!! Thank you for sharing these lovely tips xox
I just started my blog. This one has helped me. I appreciate the content.
As a pet lover, I’ve always wanted to start a blog about my furry friends. This article has given me the confidence and guidance I needed. Can’t wait to begin!
This article is a treasure trove for aspiring pet bloggers like me! The step-by-step guide and tips provided make it seem much less daunting.
Starting a pet blog sounds fun and rewarding! Great tips for beginners, especially on goal setting and promotion.
Thanks for sharing the wonderful article.