Live, Learn, Move On: A Lesson for the Critter Blogosphere, and Those Wishing to Network With Us

Well, it seemed like a brilliant idea at the time I was approached to do it.

When I was contacted last month by a Publicity Person, for the Chicken Soup Pet Food Brand, to hold a contest I thought it would be a Win/Win for both of us, though probably more for me since they were the big, popular company, and I, well... ;-D

Teaming Up With Chicken Soup Brand Cat Food for Summer Travel Stories Contest

Soup's On! Announcing Summer Travel Stories, and Tips Contest Winner

The contest was held, and we had only 2 contestants, and few visitors to either post.

Before I go any further I want to make it clear that the Publicity Person treated me, the whole time, with the utmost respect, and seriousness, and I thank that person.

That one I ain't annoyed with. ;-D

But, there is a reason that my "Mr. Cute But Serious" Picture is in the post, and why my Motto is "You Giva Me No Trouble - I Giva You No Smack!"

Let what I am about to share give you something to think about, and be a reminder why the BlogPaws Website, and Conventions, are so important in the education of both Critter Bloggers, and those who wish to connect with us.

On Tuesday I posted an essay that was turned down for a guest spot on Chicken Soups struggling attempt at creating a blog.

Tortie Tuesday 2: Step Out of Your Comfort Zone, Expand Your Creative Horizons

What follows is a series of correspondence that speaks for itself...

9/3 - Hi Nikita,

Hope all is well. Do you have big plans ahead for the long weekend? I was wondering if you would be interested in writing a guest post that will be featured on the Chicken Soup site?

The topic choice is open to you, and if you would like, I could send over a few guidelines to help out.

If you would like to participate, I can send the post over to Chicken Soup to look at right away once I receive it, and then can send the link to you when the post is live. Please let me know what you think and if you have any questions at all.

MY REPLY: Oh, wow! Daddy almost slipped, and fell in the shower when I told him about your offer!

It's my fault because I never ever bother him when he's in there, but I was just too excited! ;-D

Yes, Daddy, & I, would be very interested! Send over the guidelines!

It may take all weekend for me to write the story, but it's doable (I host the Bad Kitty Cats Festival of Chaos on Sunday evening, but other than that....)

9/3 - Nikita,

The Bad Kitty Cats Festival sounds like a lot of fun, what does that entail? I left early from the office today and won't be back in till Tuesday to send the guidelines, but feel free to send over a post whenever and I will make sure they fit within. The basic gist is that the post be original and be about 300-500 words. Did you have a post idea in mind? I look forward to reading your post.

MY REPLY: It's a once a month thing - Planning 2 B Bad this Month?: Confess Your Sins to Bad Kitty #119 NEXT Month!

I have an idea, and will double check previous guest contributions so I don't repeat, but I think it is sufficiently different. ;-D

And I'm reasonaly sure I can do it in 500 words, or less. ;-D

I'm a different sort of Critter blogger, and I like to encourage other critter bloggers, or other bloggers who may never blog about their critters, to step out of their comfort zone, and try something different because it will show people looking for animal stuff online that there is much more than silly videos, and LOL! Photoshopping. ;-D

9/3 - Sounds different and fun. I'm looking forward to reading it and your idea. I know they are looking for a post on a topic that you enjoy writing about.

On the evening of the next day, the 4th, I sent in my post with this intro:

My topic is about encouraging Critter Bloggers to expand their creative horizons in a medium that is bringing new attention to itself every day.

It comes in at 499 words! ;-D

I'll let you guys insert the URLS since whoever does the blog would know how to do so....

Guest Blog entry from Nikita Cat - Meowsings of an Opinionated Pussycat ( http://www.opinionatedpussycat.com )

On Tuesday, while I did not receive the promised "Guidelines", or any thoughts on the piece I submitted...my letters announcing the contest winner, and sending them the persons contact info, and address, were acknowlwedged.

Then silence...

On the 14th I sent the person the following letter:

456am - Dear (Persons name):

I sent you my Guest Post Submission on Sept. 4.

I have not heard from you an acknowledgement of receipt, or any comment on it one way or another, so am wondering if you received it at all, what you thought of it, passed it along to those who handle the blogging, or tossed it in the Litter Box, or what they planned on doing about, or think about, the piece., including if THEY tossed it in the Litter Box.

A little later in the morning I got a reply:

Hi Nikita,

I apologize for the delay in response. I did receive it and had sent it over to Chicken Soup for review. I am still awaiting word from them if it has been accepted and a potential posting date. I am going to follow up with Chicken Soup to hear their thoughts and as soon as I hear one way or another I will let you know.

A little while after that I got another reply:

Nikita,

I just heard back from Chicken Soup and they feel the post is a nice commentary on blogging, but until they get the blog a little more established, they would like to keep the content about animals themselves, or more geared toward the monthly theme. If you are interested in writing another post, I would be glad to send it over as I know they will be happy to take a look at it.

Please let me know what you think.

He asked for it, so he got it a short time later, as this message crossed paths with the following which was in reponse to his first message. ;-D

Dear (Persons name),

Thanks for responding so quickly....

I see....

I HAVE been seriously wondering, since first encountering them, just WHAT plans Chicken Soup really had for its Blog, Twitter, and Facebook Accounts, or if whoever was running them knew what they were doing, or cared seriously about the effort needed to make them work for Chicken Soup, and those who they asked to do contests, and contribute essays, and other things.

The Last Blog Post was August 16, on their very simple "Blog", and the very few posts, since the site began, seem to be just "Guest Posts".

The Last Facebook Wall Entry was August 20th, the entries on the Links section, are even older, and there has been nothing much else going on there since the site began.

There has been only one Tweet (Yesterday, I believe), since August 24, and most of the few Tweets have been Retweets it appears, from the start, earlier in the year.

NOWHERE on any of these Networking sites, or the blog (Another form of "Networking"), at any time, was there mention that I, or Jans' Funny Farm, were going to hold, or were holding, a contest, or that we had chosen our winners.

I may be just a Cat, and Daddy merely Human, and we both may be serious Newbies when it comes to dealing with Advertisers, Companies, Organizations, and others, who want to engage those of us in The Blogosphere, in some fashion that has possibilities beneficial to us both (Though it's obvious, even to us, just by reading my stats, linked in my sidebar, that anybody who engages me in this way MUST realize that they bring more to ME, than I them, by way of attention/audience.), but even we have to wonder what's behind all this limited effort to reach out.

The sooner I know Chicken Soups plans, the better, because I would very much prefer, at this point, to post my essay on MY Blog where I KNOW it will be read by a few readers, and I know of other fellow Critter Bloggers, who will, or may be willing, to spread the word about it to their own readers.

When I saw his 2nd message I sent this:

Dear (Persons name)...

RE: "Please let me know what you think."

I think I just did, um, hee, hee. ;-D

Our e-mails may have crossed paths, in the either, and mine may even have, um, "hissed" at yours in passing. ;-D

As for Chicken Soups response...

I stand by what I wrote a few minutes ago, and by what I think about their very limited efforts so far.

How long have they been doing all these things?

This is all they have to show for it? With their resources, and knowledge of Cats, and Dogs, and issues related to them?

I am very proud of what I have accomplished in 8 years of blogging, more so since I went to my own blog last January, even with my, and Daddy's, limited time, resources, and connections, and audience, but we both know we have much to learn, and that there is more we can do to reach out, and build an audience.

Critter Blogging IS all about the Animals, whether the blog is "written" by the Critter in question, as in my case, or a human.

The intent of my essay is to contribute to a theme being expertly developed, for a year now, by those behind BlogPaws...that there are many ways for Critter Bloggers to share their knowledge, skills, photos, videos, businesses, stories, and opinions, about their animals, and animal related issues, and to not be afraid to experiment, and take risks, if you have the time, skills, and resources to try something new.

I have nothing further I wish to contribute to Chicken Soup, and will be posting my essay on my blog, this evening.

I sincerely thank YOU for your friendly communications, and interest in my efforts, and I hope the winners of the contests, Jan & I held in good faith, will receive the prizes promised them.

It TRULY was fun to hold the contest, even if the number of contestants was so few.

That afternoon the person replied:

Nikita,

I appreciate all the feedback you have supplied and understand where you are coming from.

The social media platforms are relatively new for Chicken Soup and they are always looking for ways to improve things moving forward as well as how to interact with the pet blogging community.

I will certainly forward your suggestions to them to look at.

It’s been an absolute pleasure working with you and hope we are able to work again together in the future.

As far as the readers receiving their prizes go, both sets of winners will be receiving their “goody bags.”

There has been an issue this week with the online mailing system, but it will be back up in a day or so and then both readers package will be sent out.

I personally take it to be mailed out to make sure things are good to go. If you would like, I can even send you the confirmation # to send to the reader.

That night I sent the following:

Dear (Persons name),

The fact that so little effort seems to have been put into those sites has me wondering about their plans for the future, and their understanding that they didn't help their cause by not publicizing the efforts of 2 sites (Hope there were not more in the past, or currently.) they encouraged to work with them.

I appreciate your assurance that the winners will get their prize, as my own reputation is at stake here, as well, if they do not.

There is no need to send the confirmation # to me...it rightfully should be sent to the winners so they can keep track of the delivery, if you still have their e-mail.

I sincerely wish you, and Chicken Soup, the best in your future efforts.

-------------------

There has been no follow-up to my last letter, as of this writing.

To be fair to Chicken Soup...there IS a Contest Page on their website that linked to all the August Contests, but I got no traffic from that page that I am aware of until 1 visitor today. ;-D

That same page has NOTHING about any September Contests, and neither does the blog.

The News and Events Page has no links to the stories they mention.

The Twitter has had no Tweet since the 14th.

The Facebook is still not updated.

I'll have to accept that there WAS an issue with their e-mail system for a whole week, but that just makes for more questions on top of all the others.

There are many reasons for Critter Bloggers, and those who wish to deal with us, to check out the BlogPaws website, and why Daddy, and I regret so much not being able to go to the Denver Convention...

My experience with Chicken Soup is just one example.

I assumed this new effort on their part to reach out, and Network, with the Critter Blogging Community, though slow to get underway, was a serious, and organized, effort with specific goals in mind, and that the people behind the scenes would have some knowledge of the Community they are reaching out to.

Now I am not so sure.

There is so damn much for all of us to learn from what can be found on the BlogPaws site, and at the Conventions, as our niche of The Blogosphere continues to evolve, and grow.

I finally will be able to do follow-ups to my June post about BlogPaws which, among other things, strongly recommends a 3 parts series of posts, and one on Tweeting as well, on their Blog:

Blog Paws Series on Attracting Readers, and Comments, and Reaching Out, a Must Read!

I also plan to do some posts about their reporting on the Denver Convention, and related blog posts.