It’s time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the future. This is the Pet Bloggers Journey 2021, hosted by Puppy In Training.
When did you begin your blog and what do you currently write about on your blog?
I started Love Newfoundlands back in 2017. I had watched a webinar type thing on some guy that was filthy rich off of selling breed specific shirts. There wasn’t something like it for Newfoundlands that I had been able to find, so I started this site. At the time it was solely a shirt shop with few posts that were more of news type posts and nothing super informative about the breed. I was also writing it under a fake name because I didn’t want people to know it was me.
In time, my passion for it fizzled out and I left it to sit, thinking someday I would do something with it.
August 2020, I decided to turn it into a blog blog. My travel blog has all but fallen to the side, as travel is not a huge part of my life anymore. I still loved the writing and the blogging part though. I know A TON about dogs and Newfs in particular. And the dog posts always did well on Chasing Departures, so I figured why not.
Currently I write about all kinds of dog topics. I always spin it with Newfoundlands and large breed dogs in mind though.
Name one thing about your blog, or one blogging goal that you accomplished during 2020, that made you most proud.
The biggest accomplishment was starting the shop portion of my site. Going back to the site’s roots and selling shirts because I still want to create items for people to share their love and passion for the breed. Newfoundland items still aren’t very common. But the best part of opening my shop was actually selling items! I’ve opened online shops before, but have never actually sold anything before. So actually selling things was HUGE for me!
Which of your 2020 posts was most popular with your audience? Why do you think it does so well?
My most popular post of 2020 was How to Come up with an AKC Registered Name for your Dog.
I think it did so well because a lot of people just entering the purebred dog world don’t really understand the naming conventions for AKC. Or maybe they just wanted to see what I said about it 🤷♀️
What was the biggest blogging challenge you faced in 2020, and how did you tackle it?
I’m not sure that I faced a major one in 2020 as I was just starting Love Newfoundlands and was backing off on Chasing Departures.
Tell us one thing you learned in 2020 that can help us all become better bloggers.
I’d say the one blogging thing I learned this year is to not be afraid of switching topics and changing up what you write about. I had been a travel blogger for YEARS. Travel was my thing. But then Olaf came into my life and in the weird year that 2020 was, dogs quickly became my thing again. So I started the blog and here I am now!
What are your top three goals for 2021?
Grow my audience.
Right now I have a pretty small audience. I would love to grow it to a point where brands are reaching out and wanting to partner with me.
Build an email list.
An email list is key when running a blog. Social media sites rise and fall like empires. They can also deplatform you and purge your following for any reason. So you are never really in control of your followers. If you have a substantial email list, sure, you’ll lose a few people, but you won’t lose them all and have to start from scratch!
Monetize.
Contrary to popular belief, blogging costs money. So I would like to be able to make enough money that this is a self sustaining venture.
In the perfect world, where do you see yourself and your blog 1 year from now?
In a perfect world, I see myself quitting my job and living solely off my blog.
If you had a $1,000 to spend on your blog how would you spend it?
I would spend it on a virtual assistant. I need help with things. Especially the things I don’t like doing.. like spending time on social media and scheduling social posts.
What is one skill you’d like to learn or improve in 2021?
I would love to learn how to do website coding better. I can do very basic things at the moment.
If you could ask the pet blogging community for help with one challenge you’re having with your blog, what would it be?
I’m not sure I have one thing that I would want to ask them for help with at the moment. Ask me again in a year 😅
Wow, such a great journey! I love your website! I was actually very inspired when you said not be afraid to switch topics! I absolutely love gardening and had a farm for many years. I have compiled so many photo’s and you may have just motivated me to do both. 🙂 I am definitely going to bookmark your garden veggies that are harmful to your dog! Such a great post! (hope you don’t mind if I refer to your post in the future and share it with others!) I also think you have a great niche with Newfoundlanders, they are definitely a XXX large breed. We have a dog that is 160lbs and it is so hard to find bedding and things for even XXlarger dogs! You do have a great niche for dogs that are very large. I can’t wait to see what the new year brings and a question if you have one 🙂 Love the website and I wish you health, safety, and prosperity this coming year!
Thank you so much! 🥰
It is hard to find things for larger dogs especially breed specific things. So that’s what I’m hoping to do!
And absolutely on the garden veggies! With the world turning the way it is and more people starting gardens and whatnot, its hugely important to know that stuff! I’ll probably add to it this year too 🙂
Wishing you a wonderful new year as well!
Thank you for joining the Pet Blogger Journey. I’ve never tried selling shirts or opening a shop. Maybe it’s something I should try this year. I do want to have some apparel for myself so maybe it’s a good time. I’d love to read your post about naming an AKC registered dog. Can you please share the link? I’m glad you shared your answers to this years PBJ questions. I hope you have a great 2021!
I still haven’t done so well on the shirts 😅 But I did really well with calendars! So that might be something you want to look into for next year!
Apologies! I thought I had linked it in the post, here it is – https://lovenewfoundlands.com/how-to-come-up-with-an-akc-registered-name-for-your-dog/
Thank you and hope you have a wonderful 2021 as well!
Congratulations both on making the switch to your pet blog and also on making sales in your shop! Reading through your journey felt incredibly familiar in many ways. I have another blog that I started with that focuses on Alternative Lifestyle & Outdoor Travel. While I still have it running, I did realize that I was loving writing about dogs more and more as time went on (plus, those were the ‘off-topic’ posts on my blog and yet some of the best performings), so I branched out and started the pet blog. I do still have my other blog and continue to run with it, but there’s something about Shed Happens that just feels ‘right’ lol
Your blog already looks great and coming into a new site as a blogger with prior experience, I’m sure that it’s going to grow quickly. I can’t wait to see what 2021 brings!
Thank you very much!! I’ll have to search out your travel blog too 🙂 But I definitely agree with the dog blog just feeling “right” haha
Have a wonderful 2021 🙂
Hi Niki,
Congratulations on your online shop and newest venture. I think you chose a great niche. I can’t think of anyone that can look at a New Foundland and not fall for them. Even if you don’t want a big dog their happy faces melts your heart. I personally love them but don’t have a house big enough for one to live in.
I followed you on Instagram. Just love that puppy tummy picture.
Wishing you the best for this coming year.
Bonnie
Hi Bonnie!
Thank you! Newfs have been with me basically my whole life and I can’t imagine them not being apart of my life. And like you said, they melt your heart <3 I had to share about them on the internet.
Thanks for the follow too!
Wishing you a wonderful 2021 🙂
Congrats on all your success and I love your pics. What a fabulous and fur-bulous breed the Newfs are. I look forward to following along with your blog. I’ve been at this about 11 years and always love getting to know dog bloggers. I will be following along and wish you all the best.
Thank you very much 🙂 🙂 I’m very much looking forward to getting to know people in the dog blogging community and learning from everyone!
Gorgeous dog!!! Congratulations on surviving another blogging year and I wish you all the best this year! I hear ya on the virtual assistant. I so need one but I have no idea what they’d do for me because I have a good system, I just lack the time. I really need to work on this.
Have a great 2021!!!
Thank you!! Yeah, more time is what I really need, but since we can’t extend the days a VA seems like the next best option! I hope you are able to find some more time in 2021! 🙂