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!

1.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! 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…

2.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,

3.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.

4.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…)

5.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:

1.To start a blog, simply START! Start writing and taking pictures. Start a WordPress account. Just start!

2.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!