5TH ANNUAL PET BLOGGER CHALLENGE

Lady here:
I'm participating in the 5th Annual Pet Blogger Challenge. Click on the link for more information and join in! It's open to anyone.

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

My first post was January 3, 2005 about Marley's first Christmas with me. We were living in China. I had been writing "Marley Stories" for kids in the US. I have many teacher friends, and Sunday School teacher friends whose students loved hearing about Marley's adventures. The kids wanted to see pictures and know more about life in China. My friends suggested I write a blog. It was a way of sharing about the culture and my life without advertising who I was or where I was. I didn't need any more marriage proposals or requests to sponsor someone to study in the US. This gave me anonymity, and it was fun. Marley's World is about life in Asia through the perspective of a well-educated Chinese dachshund now living in India with an American vegetarian mom. Our audience has grown to include other pet bloggers whom I didn't know existed.

2. Tell us one thing that you accomplished on your blog during 2014 that made you proud. 

I guess it is a poor reflection that I can't think of anything. 

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

It's best to be consistent. If you go long periods of time without posting, you lose your readership. I travel a great deal, especially in the summer. It's been difficult to write when Marley was not with me. I didn't want to change what I am writing about, and make it my travel log. I want it about Marley's perspective. I learned that a little encouragement goes a long way.

4. What have you found to be the most successful way to bring traffic to your blog, other than by writing great content? 

I'm not sure I have succeeded in this area. I need to read what other bloggers write.

5. What was your most popular blog post this year?  

Did it surprise you that it was your most popular? LADY'S BIRTHDAY Coincidentally, today, January 10th is my birthday. I was surprised. I posted a lot of photos of old Delhi, local food, the beautiful place I was taken for my birthday, and of course Marley. Next were the bogs on Marley's weight challenges, Mota Bacha, or Fat Baby.

6. What was your favorite blog post to write this year? 

I think Home From Summer Camp. I knew our readers would be happy that Marley and I were back together after two months apart, and I couldn't wait to share it. I love that pet bloggers can relate to such a separation whereas non pet families may not.

7. Has your policy on product reviews and/or giveaways changed this year? 

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

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

No, I have not done reviews. Living in India precludes participation in most product review opportunities. Mail is not reliable. I could review other things I guess, but that's not the purpose of my blog. Where else can you get a glimpse of what it is like to have a dog in India?

8. What’s your best piece of advice for other bloggers?

Write what you know and share what you want to share. I'd love to have a larger following but that's not why I write. 

9. What goals do you have for your blog in 2015?

I'd like to be more consistent, and take better photos, write more songs and poems, and update the look of the blog. Those were popular posts in earlier years. I think the photos from China were much better. Marley could go anywhere with me in China, so we had great opportunities. I didn't travel much and most of the time I could take Marley.

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

I don't know how to do Photoshop and I don't know if I need it. I want to make the blog look better, but not sure what to do. What would you like to read about from Asia? 

Thank you for getting this far! Please come often to Marley's World and leave us a comment.