1. How long have you been blogging? Please tell us why you started blogging, and, for anyone stopping by for the first time, give us a quick description of what your blog is about.

Hi, my name is Barbara Denzer and I started writing the Kidoodlepets.com/blog in March of 2009 to support the website which focuses on Connecting Kids and Pets. Kidoodlepets is a made-up word from “kids and pets having oodles of fun.” The website includes my three children’s books about pets (cook book, joke book and Petiquette book – what pets want kids to know about them) and lots of interesting stuff about pets. It’s really for Mom’s to share with their kids.

Because I believe kids need pets, the blog tells about our family’s pets and highlights what fun and joy they bring to our lives. On our Facebook.com/kidoodlepets page we do fun things like currently listing the Top 5 “Rose Parade DOG Floats.”

2. Name one thing about your blog, or one blogging goal that you accomplished during 2013 that made you most proud.

I finished making a list of 101 Reasons Kids Should Have A Pet! However I’m not quite finished annotating the studies that support each statement.

3. When you look at the post you wrote for last year’s Pet Blogger Challenge, or just think back over the past year, what about blogging has changed the most for you?

This is the first year I’ve participated in the Pet Blogger Challenge! I find that I’m always frustrated that there’s not enough time for what I want or need to do on the blog.

4. What lessons have you learned this year – from other blogs, or through your own experience – that could help us all with our own sites?

I notice that when I have a problem I look for a blogger that writes about the topic I need, but it’s mostly tech problems.  Maybe I should concentrate on problems that families have with their pets? Or have lists of frequently asked questions? But I think that there are plenty of bloggers, especially expert vets or dog trainers, that do that and I just want to concentrate on connecting kids and pets and encouraging families to adopt a pet.

If you could ask the pet blogging community for help with one challenge you’re having with your blog, what would it be?

I haven’t spent time promoting because I’m always working on creating content. I need to increase readership. What your best tip you have for promoting readership?

5. What have you found to be the best ways to bring more traffic to your blog, other than by writing great content?

I haven’t found a way yet but I would like to test sharing blog posts or guest blogging with other pet bloggers. Issuing press releases is on my list too.

6. How much time to do you spend publicizing your blog, and do you think you should spend more or less in the coming year?

I spend very little time promoting or publicizing/ I absolutely need to more this year. I’m not even listed in a lot of directories. I plan to do more press releases and test some more advertising.

7. How do you gauge whether or not what you’re writing is appealing to your audience?

Feed back from readers is best.

How do you know when it’s time to let go of a feature or theme that you’ve been writing about for a while?

I don’t stick with one specific topic but I do keep content focused on kids and pets. No one on the web seems to have much time to focus on one thing for very long.

8. When you’re visiting other blogs, what inspires you to comment on a post rather than just reading and moving on?

Usually I comment if it’s amusing or touching, something I’ve also experienced too or I just want to say I enjoyed it.

9. Do you do product reviews and/or giveaways?

I don’t do formal reviews but do mention products I like and think kids, moms or families would like for their pets. That might be movies, books or toys and supplies for pets.

I don’t do giveaways because I’m postally challenged – it’s too stressful to have to find packaging and pack and ship stuff promptly!

Is it worth it?

At work on Facebook we randomly send free samples of our products to encourage people who make comments, but haven’t seen any real benefit from it. It doesn’t appear that the recipients tell friends to visit our pages to win things

If so, what do you find works best, and what doesn’t work at all?

I’ve tried asking questions without much response. It’s consumer Moms that I want to reach so I follow their blogs, FB and TW and some follow back.

If not, is this something you’d like to do more of? What hurdle is getting in your way?

Yes I definitely need to do more. Time is the biggest hurdle.

10. When writer’s block strikes and you’re feeling dog-tired, how do you recharge?

A couple things get my ideas flowing. I grab a pet magazine – or even a current supermarket magazine and look for anything about pets. I also spend some time on Pinterest looking at anything I’m interested in even if it’s not about kids and pets.

11. Have you ever taken a break from your blog? How did that go?

Yes, for a couple weeks once. Some times you need a break then you return with purpose.

12. Have you ever thought about quitting your blog altogether? What makes you stay?

No. I really feel every child should have a pet even if it’s sharing one with a relative or the house next door. If they can’t have a pet, there are lots of ways we can help them learn to love a pet. I have other blogs in various states of ennui but this one is important to me.

12. What goals do you have for your blog in 2014?

I did make a goal to finish documenting the studies behind the 101 Reasons Kids Need Pets – but what I really have to work on is getting 5-10 more finished every week. If I don’t concentrate on the process I never reach the goal.

I also want to create a plan to promote the blog this year and I want to visit and read all of the Go Pet Friendly blogs and see if some of us can’t exchange guest blog posts this year!