2019 Pet Blogger Challenge

Today we're excited to be participating in the 2019 Pet Blogger Challenge hosted by GoPetFriendly.com. It's a great way to join fellow bloggers in reflecting on the past year while making plans for the one to come.

For those who may be visiting your blog for the first time, how long have you been blogging and what is your main topic?

I started blogging in August 2011. Mochas, Mysteries and Meows is the purr-fect destination for everyone who embraces a cozy, cat-centric lifestyle: curling up on the couch with a warm beverage, a great book, and a cat...or 3. It's primary focus is to chronicle my cat lady life with Mudpie alongside reviews of products for both cats and cat moms and sharing the knowledge I've accumulated in three decades of life with cats.

What was your proudest blogging moment of 2018?

I actually have 3 really proud moments to share. First, I won 5 Certificates of Excellence in the Cat Writers' Association Communications Contest. Two came in the Short Story and Column categories which I never thought I would have a shot at.

I also fulfilled my goal of this blog leading to freelance writing projects as I started writing two articles per month for the Canidae pet food blog.

Not directly related to the blog, but I also had two poems published in a book called The Whole Kitten Cat Boodle. (How cool is it to see your name on the cover of a book?!?!?!)

What was the biggest blogging challenge you faced in 2018, and how did/will you tackle it?

I'm embarrassed to say that in 2018 I lost my reading mojo. I don't know if I've been reading too much of the same thing for too long or what, but for much of the year continuing through today I'm not getting the enjoyment out of my reading time that I used to and have had to put it on the back burner. I don't really know what the solution is but to give it some time and hope it passes. I've always loved reading so much, I don't want to force myself into now and end up never wanting to go back.

Which of your 2018 blog posts was your favorite and why? (Please include a link.)

Our Purrfect 10 series as a whole was my favorite, especially the ones on Morris the 9Lives cat, Edgar Allan Poe's tortie Cattarina, and fascinating facts about white cats. I have so much fun researching these posts!

Which of your 2018 posts was most popular with your audience? Why do you think it does so well?

Our Tuft + Paw giveaway was tremendously popular, likely because our readers love to pampurr their fur babies with the kinds of goodies that only a company like Tuft + Paw can provide.

Did you implement a new series, feature, or practice on your blog in 2018 that you’re enjoying?

This spring I started participating in a blog hop that reflects another passion of mine that coincidentally also begins with an "M" - Melissa's mochas, mysteries, meows, and now music! The Mewsic Moves Me blog hop takes place each Monday and typically has a theme that you're supposed to choose songs around. The country music I grew up with in the 70s and 80s has always remained close to my heart, and joining this hop has reignited that spark. Regular readers know these posts typically end up revolving around Conway Twitty in some way, who I adore beyond words. (Some might argue beyond reason...LOL)

As the social media landscape changes, how are you promoting your blog posts and connecting with new readers?

I've done a terrible job at keeping up with the changes. I post to Facebook daily, sometimes Instagram, and that's about it. I also regularly join blog hops. My strategy is definitely something I need to work on.

Looking forward to 2019, if you accomplish only one thing through your blog, what do you hope it is?

I want to find new ways to grow our audience. I feel like there are so many pet blogs out there now that it's easy to get lost in the shuffle. Finding new ways to "stand out" is important to succeeding long term.

What steps are you planning to take to ensure you reach your goal?

No ideas at this time...but I'm taking suggestions!

Now it’s your turn! How can we help? Is there an area where you could use some advice, or an aspect of your blog that you’d like input on? Share it here, and we’ll answer you in comments!

I would love to ask our readers what they want to see more of on the blog. Do you have a favorite feature? A topic you would like us to cover? Please let us know!!!