We’re Hiring a Dog Blogger
Our fabulous blogger and dear friend Joy Ward will no longer be writing the For the Love of Dog Blog after this month. Staying on top of dog news is a big job, and Joy needs time to focus on her second novel. We wish her all the best!
If you or anyone you know is interested in blogging for Dogster, please contact us at jobs [at] dogster [dot] com.
Here is the job description:
Dog Blogger
Dogster.com—the most vibrant, passion-centric, pet-centered community on the web—announces an opening for an exceptional blogger to join our team. This is a contract position providing a fantastic opportunity to work as part of a highly creative, thriving information and social networking site.
Summary:
- Take over Dogster’s popular For the Love of Dog Blog. Cover a wide range of topics relevant to dog lovers: daily real-world news and events, food recalls, adoption and rescue, puppy mills, entertainment, celebrities, etc., as well as the latest happenings on Dogster.
- Write an average of two to three posts per weekday, or 10-15 posts per week, for a minimum of 50 posts per month. Posts should be optimized for search engines and include images. They will be published by the blogger using WordPress blog tools.
- Encourage reader comments and participation.
- Be active inside and outside the Dogster community so as to promote the blog, stay plugged in and be widely known.
- Understand Dogster’s content, copy style and company goals and incorporate these into the blog.
Other Key Responsibilities:
- Experiment with new ideas and content to maximize traffic and reader engagement.
- Assess new standards and trends, and formulate plans for enhancing the blogging strategy.
- Use the latest syndication and blogging tools.
- Ensure images are of good quality.
- Ensure all links are up to date.
- Report bugs and problems.
- Respond promptly to blog comments and email.
- Maintain a BlogRoll of pet sites.
- Stay on top of metrics of traffic statistics, reports and blog comments.
- Act as liaison between blog readers and Dogster.
- Find and/or oversee occasional guest bloggers.
Minimum Job Requirements:
Must possess engaging "conversational" writing skills. Must have prior blogging experience and provide writing samples. Must be computer and Internet/search engine savvy.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Writing
- Ability to create, compose and edit engaging blog posts.
- Strong proofreading and self-editing skills.
- Ability to write in a conversational style that is harmonious with the Dogster tone and voice.
Social Networking
- Ability to seek out and develop relationships with “blogosphere colleagues”—other sites and blogs—for link exchanges and cross-promotion.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
- Professional but friendly posture with blogsphere colleagues and throughout the Internet.
- Ambassador and liaison for Dogster with the Internet community.
Technical
- Solid understanding of all sections related to the anatomy of a blog.
- Ability to utilize reporting tools for analysis of traffic, referral links and reader demographics.
- Knowledge and understanding of current editing and authoring tools, WordPress in particular, and related blog technologies.
- Ability to utilize word processing, blogging and internet software.
- Solid foundation in search engine optimization (SEO) for blog pages.
And of Course…
- An understanding of the deep bond between pets and humans.
To Apply:
Email your resume and cover letter to us and include "Blogger" in the subject of your email. To be considered for the position, please send a writing sample as well: two blog posts, 100-150 words each, written in the Dog Blog style and tone, along with a short explanation of why you're right for the job. Original samples are preferred over links to previously published posts.
This is an offsite contract position. Compensation is based on level of experience and blog traffic.
Hi!
I just saw this job posting and wondered if you were still in search of a writer.
My blog, though not dog centric per se, has included some dog related postings from time to time. I have also sold many dog essays of a humorous nature to our local newspaper group.
I am a freelance writer in Connecticut with three boys and a 10-month-old Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
I see Dogsters Love of Dogs blog is quite newsworthy and also entertaining. I imagine that the mix of news and fun would be the tone you are looking for and I would be comfortable with that format.
Although I have not used Wordpress, I do have experience posting on Typepad and am confident I could learn a new format in short order.
Is there a newsfeed subscription service you use or does the blogger gather all the newspegs? Just curious.
Sample posts:
Canine IQ Quiz
Just in case you were not quite ready to buckle down and get to work, here is a quick Dog I.Q. Quiz for you.
The eight questions are multiple choice and combine to calculate you pet’s aptitude (all in good fun - no need for canine tutoring should your pooch come up a little short, as did my sweet Gus.)
http://www.petinsurance.com/healthzone
Takes a Little Longer, But Worth It To See Your Dog Dance A Jig
Dr. Harvey’s Canine Health Formula dog food is a pre-measured mix of grains and veggies that you cook up fresh with your choice of protein. I use ground chicken. The whole process takes about twenty minutes, but seriously, my dog is prancing around the kitchen upon smelling the tantalizing stew.
The directions indicate measurements for puppies, adults and seniors, although I find the recipe quantities a little small so I triple the ingredients to prepare enough to last two or three days. (I would include my expanded recipe here)
Dr. Harveys makes pet food, treats and supplements and is available by mail order and in select pet stores http://www.drharveys.com
Thanks for looking!! Julie Bliss
I just joined this site. I am a Maltese, my name is Muffin. It seems pretty cool and I hope to make friends in my area for puppy walks and fun in the park,
[...] you or someone you know is interested in becoming our next blogger, you can review our blogger job posting. While we’re on the lookout for a passionate, dog-lovin’ blogger, we’ll be [...]
Hi there. I own and write for three dog-centric blogs, and I was wondering if you guys are open for guest blogging. I would love to apply for the position of dog blogger, but unfortunately, the majority of the information sources I have are about our local dogs here in Manila. Will you guys have guest blogger spots?
Thanks!
[...] here’s what it takes to be the next Dogster blogger. Big shoes to fill, but I’m confident they’ll find [...]
I say that my daddy Bob should be the new blogger. He might have some problems with filling Joy’s shoes though as Bob has always had a hard time with high heels - however, he can try! Check him out. Pita and Jake (bob’s partner & Pita’s guardian)
I would hope that Dogster will be diligent, and not hire a lobbyist from the for-profit dog breeding industry that pretends to be a “writer,” like the crowd at Pet Connection and Dog Writers of America.
These shill groups for the breeding industry give journalism a bad name.
And their activities with Pet Pac (the puppy mill lobbyists) are downright appalling.