I once heard someone say,
If you don’t know where you are going, any train will get you there.
For many of us, blogging started as a hobby and over time turned into a part-time or even full time business. The problem is that many of us still blog as if it were a hobby. Everyone knows that Apple or Google would not be the successful companies they are today without setting goals each year.
Creating clear goals for your website is an important part of savvy blogging. There might be a few people who luck into a highly successful website, but most of the top bloggers set goals and work hard to achieve them every year.
When making your goals, consider the SMART acronym.
- Specific – How will you know when you have achieved your goal?
- Measurable – How will you measure your goals?
- Achievable – Are your goals reasonable and achievable? Setting goals “too high” only leads to frustration and sometimes failure.
- Realistic – Is it realistic that I will achieve this goal by the end of the year?
- Time Framed basis? – Will you goals be for the entire year, or will they written be on a monthly, quarterly or biannual.
Perhaps your goals will include a plan or action statement for each goal. Perhaps you plan to write goals for the first part of the year, and then write new ones for the second half of the year. Write them to best suit yourself, your blog and your mission.
On Monday, we will post a Mr. Linky for you all to link up your savvy blogging goals for this next year! Post your goals on your blog and leave the direct link back to you post. If you don’t have a blog, and wish to start a blog, leave your ideas and plans in the comments. Check back often so you can read the goals and plans for others around the blogosphere!
Let’s encourage and inspire one another in the new year!!!
Image by Architect234
{ 5 trackbacks }
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Great idea! I took time to think out and write out my goals for 2009, and I was able to meet them all. I’m excited to start 2010 and see what others are doing to challenge themselves and grow as bloggers.
[Reply]
Really like the idea. I have a couple of blogs so I need to be a bit realistic about how much I will do for each one. Hopefully you will remind us when you have posted Mr. Linky?
Lori
[Reply]
I love this idea! I’m going to think about my goals this weekend and get my post up on Monday. woohoo!
[Reply]
I’m looking forward to reading other people’s goals so I can figure out what to do for my own! I never realized that my blog was going to take off the way it has, so I have to have a game plan. Thanks for this site!
[Reply]
Great idea! I’ll look for your Twitter reminder in case I accidentally forget on Monday. I have goals, but need guidance on how to get there! That’s where #savvyblogging comes in!
Tamara
http://www.theunexperiencedmom.com
[Reply]
Thanks so much for the guidelines for blogging goals! I have been working on my personal goals these last couple of days and blogging was one of them but was unsure how to think for them. These will give me lots of direction and I am looking forward to being inspired by others!
[Reply]
Very good idea! I definitely started out as a hobby-blogger, and have noticed that at this point I must plan and schedule or I die. It really is more like a job than a hobby now, but luckily I still love to do it. I’m going to have to start thinking of my goals for the year.
[Reply]
This is great! My husband has 24 duty over New Year’s Eve and I will be working on my blog goals. I just started a couple of days and my mind is racing! It will be great to sit down and write out my goals and visions for my blog. What a great way to start the New Year!
[Reply]
I had written out some goals here:
http://www.beautifulcalling.ca/2009/12/tut-being-intentional-2010-goals-link.html
bt had left my blog off. I’m not sure what kind of expecations and goals for it are reasonable and attainable. I just discovered this site yesterday when I read about it on Toni’s site. Looking forward to reading more!
[Reply]
I will be following the blog as well. I currently do not have a blog, but it is something I am contemplating for 2010. (I would love to come up with a way to stay at home with the kids & help out the family financially) I have been so inspired by the blogs I do follow & I’m in awe of when the mommies find the time to blog that is my biggest concern ….that I won’t have the time.
[Reply]
I have been thinking a lot about my goals for this year regarding my website. I want to see it grow and prosper. My blog started out as just a hobby – but I have quickly learned that if you put the proper amount of time and work into it – you can be very successful! I know one goal I am looking forward to is sticking to a posting schedule. The last two weeks have been crazy and I found that with my increased unpredictability my numbers decreased. I feel like when readers know what to expect, they’ll know when to check in and will continue to do so! I am looking forward to finishing up my goals and posting when Mr. Linky is up! And btw- this blog site and the ideas behind it are a GREAT idea!
[Reply]
This is just what I’m looking for! My blog is languishing due to lack of a plan. Therefore, my first goal is to, by tomorrow night, write a post containing my goals for 2010.
[Reply]
I also started as a “hobby blogger” and I guess that I still am. But I am trying to blog daily and that means I just have to set goals. This will be a good thing for me to work on for Monday. I am not so good at setting goals I have to tell you.
[Reply]
I am SO on board with this! You are all awesome women and this is a FANTASTIC idea! Can’t wait to watch it grow!
[Reply]
I’m still a hobby-blogger, but I would LOVE to eventually be more than that. I’m hoping that making blog goals might help bring me closer this year. I’m looking forward to reading this blog throughout the upcoming months!
[Reply]
I actually want to start to a blog but have no idea where to start. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Stephanie
[Reply]
I have a couple of blogs, but no real plans for them. I am looking forward to getting some guidance. I love blogging, and would love to be grow my readership. That is my first goal.
[Reply]
I would like to add traffic to my blog so I will follow THIS blog for sure. I have so much to learn and I am excited to get some tips from y’all!
Susanna
[Reply]
Stephanie,
I’m still a newbie blogger but http://www.blogger.com is super easy to start a blog on – takes but a few minutes and is pretty easy to navigate. After the initial set up, there are tons of free templates on line if you want to get fancy
Hope that helps!
[Reply]
This sounds just what I need to do. I’ll get on with thinking about my goals and getting them written down.
[Reply]