Journalists encouraged to enter Australian Pet Blogger Awards

A new important category has been added to the Australian Pet Blogger Awards - Best Pet Article written by a Journalist Award.

This is an important category as journalist articles have so much influence on educating the general public about pets.

Australia has some wonderful journalists and we encourage them to enter their article which have been published in the 12 months prior the entry closing date of 15 November 2013.

The articles do not have to be completely about a pet, they can be pet related.

We now have 20 categories and here they are:
- Best Dog Blog

- Best Cat Blog 
- Best Other Pet 
- Best Designed Blog   
- Best Rescue/Cause
- Blog Best Actual
- Pet Blog (written by a pet)
- Best Pet Company Blog
- Best Veterinarian Blog 
- Best Behaviourist/Training Blog
- Best Pet Travel Blog
- Best international Blog
- Best Pet or pet related advertisement print
- Best Pet or pet related advertisement radio/television
- Best Pet or pet related advertisement digital
- Best Pet App
- Best Twitter
- Best Facebook Page
- Best Pet Website 
- Best Journalist Pet Article 
 

Plus Dogs Life Magazine Readers Choice Award.

Fantastic Feedback on the first Australian Pet Blogger Awards

It's so exciting to be constantly receiving such positive feedback on the Pet Blogger Awards.  We thought that we were on a winner and that it would be a major high profile event, but it's really great to get this feedback.

Entries are open until 15 November but we've received over 130 entries already and all across various categories - blog entries, pet websites, pet apps, pet ads - radio, television and print.  

We've had entries from dog trainers, pet accessory companies, vets including a fish vet, pet welfare organisations, advertising agencies, pet companies small and large, a pig, a Yorkshire Terrier, creatives, production companies, and more!  

And we've had entries from all over Australia as well as overseas. 

Here's some of the feedback:
 

"I feel so proud and honored to be part of the very first Australian Pet Blogger Awards! It's so exciting because it's the very first opportunity for Aussie pet bloggers to get together and celebrate our love and passion for animals as nothing like it currently exists on this scale."    Katie Preston Toepfer Writer/Author Wedding Dogs

 

“Recognition for bloggers, social media writers and campaigners! Wonderful and well overdue!” Anny Slater The Good Dog! International Film Festival

"The Australian Pet Blogger Awards 2013 are an invaluable addition to the Australian pet industry. The awards are recognising the contribution of start ups, SME's, non for profit and corporate organisations. 

In Australia for every 100 people we have an average of 16 dogs and this is a number that is growing. The awards are the first industry event to recognise the contribution of a sector that is experiencing exponential growth. 

Innovative businesses such as Dogtired are connecting with a large cross section of Australian's that have an unbreakable bond with their pets and are supporting animal welfare at the same time. Dogtired is thrilled to be able to connect with the industry through these inaugural awards."  Megan Travers, Dogtired

 

20 Categories in the Australian Pet Blogger Awards

At Four Paws PR, Australia's only Pet PR agency, we don't do small, only big.  Hence there are 20 categories in the Australian Pet Blogger Awards.

And it's open to bloggers, web designers, advertising agencies and creatives, veterinarians, pet companies and app developers.  

The Awards are the annual pet industry, pet owners, and media major industry event.  And they also serve to acknowledge the important work of Australia's pet welfare organisations.

20 Pet welfare groups will receive products and services from pet companies and one will be named Australian Pet Welfare Organisation of the Year, the first Awards of its type.  They will receive funds raised from the Awards; a full page colour advertisement in Dogs Life Magazine and a profile in Dogs Life.

Dogs Life Magazine is the Awards partner and we are so excited to be working with them and value their support and enthusiasm for the Awards.

The 20 categories are:

Categories

·       Best Dog Blog

·       Best Cat Blog

·       Best Other Pet

·       Best Designed Blog

·       Dogs Life Magazine Readers Choice Awards

·       Funniest Blog or Blogger

·       Best Rescue/Cause Blog

·       Best Actual Pet Blog

·       Best Pet Company Blog

·       Best Veterinarian Blog

·       Best Behaviourist/Training Blog

·       Best Pet Travel Blog

·       Best international Blog

·       Best Pet or pet related advertisement print

·       Best Pet or pet related advertisement radio/television

·       Best Pet or pet related advertisement digital

·       Best Pet App

·       Best Twitter Design

·       Best Facebook Page

·       Best Pet Website

Entries close 15 November and entry can be downloaded at http://fourpawspr.com/2013-pet-blogger-awards.html

 

Great Ads Featuring Pets

The US Superbowls ads in 2012 were dominated by dogs.

A panel of USA Today consumers selected the Doritos’ Man’s Best Friend ad as its overall favorite. Made by a contest entrant for only $20, a dog dad catches his Great Dane burying a collar.

The other great pet ads were the Skechers French Bulldog racing Greyhounds ad and the Volkswagen ad with a fat dog chasing a VW Beetle.

But it's not all dogs check out this great ad for Volkswagen featuring a very chatty parrot.

Exciting to see what entries the Australian ad agencies enter in the Pet Blogger Awards!

New Advertising Categories added to Australian Pet Blogger Awards

The Australian Pet Blogger Awards are even bigger with advertising agencies now invited to enter the Awards.

Ad agencies can now enter three categories:

• Best Pet or Pet Related print advertisment
• Best Pet or Pet Related radio or television advertisement
• Best Pet or Pet Related Digital advertisement

This is an excellent opportunity for creatives and advertising agencies to be acknowledged and rewarded by the Australian pet industry which has an annual revenue of over $8 billion per annum.

Attitudes towards pet ownership has changed dramatically with nine out of ten pet owners considering their pets family and treating them as such. 
Nine of our ten pet owners consider their pets a member of the family and in the US 16 percent of car purchasers buy a car with the dog in mind.

With over 63% of Australian homes owning at least one pet, brands can’t ignore this major market. If advertising agencies don’t accommodate pet owners in their advertising and product development then they will miss valuable opportunities.

The automotive industry is ahead of most others and it should be considering that 16 percent of Americans buy cars with their dog in mind and the data is very similar in Australia.

Marketers have to get out of the mindset of how they may view pets. Owners have a completely different attitude and marketers have to get into the pet owners mind to be able to reach them effectively.

So Australian ad agencies - you have until 15 November to get your entries in.     Entries can be downloaded at http://fourpawspr.com/2013-pet-blogger-awards.html

Entries are open for the 2013 Australian Pet Blogger Awards

Have you entered the 2013 Australian Pet Blogger Awards yet?  If not just go to http://fourpawspr.com/2013-pet-blogger-awards.html and download the entry form.  

Entries close on 15 November 2013.  

Categories are:

- Best Dog Blog 
- Best Cat Blog 
- Best Other Pet 
- Dogs Life Magazine Readers Choice Award
- Best Designed Blog 
- Funniest Blog
- Best International Blog
- Best Rescue/Cause/Pet Welfare Blog 
- Best Actual Pet Blog 
- Best Pet Company Blog
- Best Veterinarian Blog
- Best Behaviourist/Training Blog
- Best Pet Travel Blog

- Best International Blog 

We will also be awarding: 
- Best Pet Website - Best Pet App 
- Best Twitter Design 
- Best Pet Facebook Page 

Don't miss out on the chance to be acknowledged and rewarded and the opportunity to attend the 

presentation luncheon on Friday 29th November in Sydney hosted by dog lover Kerri-Anne Kennerley.

Finalists will be announced on Friday 22nd November and invited to attend the Awards.

For queries please email petbloggerawards@fourpawspr.com

Good luck! 

Why PR works for the Pet Industry

Despite the world financial crisis the Australian pet industry has grown and it's one of the few industries to do so.
 
The household pet products and services sector plays a major role in the Australian economy, ranking 117 out of 498 industry sectors.  

It generated revenue of $8 billion in 2011/12, well ahead of wine manufacturing and not far behind copper ore mining (CommSec).

And it is set to continue growing as is the Australian level of pet ownership which has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world with 63 per cent of households being home to 25 million pets.

Dogs were the most common pets with 39 per cent of households owning a canine following by 29 per cent owning a cat.

Almost half would like to either get a pet or get another pet with 14.9 per cent planning to add an animal to their family in 2013.

Pet owners are constantly looking for different ways to improve their pet’s quality of life with food, treats, toys, services; the list goes on and on.  And new and different companies are continually springing up to meet those needs.   

Veterinary fees is a $2.5 billion annual market which is forecast to increase to $2.94 billion by 2017.

The pet related services category  has more than doubled in the past decade. From mobile grooming services to high-end salons, luxury pet hotels and specialised day care centers, the array of pet services seems endless.

If you’re in the pet industry, you’re well positioned to market enhance and grow your business.  PR and media relations are ready-made marketing approaches for the pet industry.  

Public relations is all about effective story telling, and the media (and the public) love pet stories.  Whether the story is about a new line of pet furniture, a new exclusive pampering service, or a new veterinary procedure, there are stories that will interest the media and the public.  

In turn those stories can help grow your business, build your brand and establish you as an expert in the world of pets and pet care.

The media loves human interest stories and there are no better human interest stories than those that include pets.  YouTube is a prime example of our pet obsession; the site is filled with clips of pets being cute, funny, silly and different.   

People love their pets and if the media reach those consumers and let them know about your new product and service, it is going to pay off in a big way.  

Unlike advertising or other forms of marketing media relations not only builds your reputation in the field it also builds your business.

Once you decide to launch a PR campaign for your business, study the media outlets that reach your target market.  

Now develop a number of different stories to pitch to a variety of different media outlets.  

Each media source has needs and interests that are specific to it.  The primary secret to a successful campaign is to focus on what the various media outlets need, and pitch each outlet accordingly.  

For example, pet trade publications will be interested in a business angle, whereas your local media will respond to a pitch with a local slant and a national TV show is going to be more willing to run with a story that has a strong visual component.  
 


So if you’re in the pet industry, utilize your strengths.  Your pet business, service, or product is the ideal candidate for a successful media relations campaign.  

Then combine your traditional media campaign with a social media campaign and watch your business soar.