Setting Blog Goals and Defining Success
I had a really interesting chat with Stacy from Mom Central while at the Mercury Mambo party at SXSW. She basically called me out on what my goals are and where do I see myself in the future (blogging wise). I didn’t have an answer and have done nothing but thought about it since then.
I have all these ideas and visions for myself and my blogs, so many in fact, that I tend to not do any of them because I’m not sure which direction I truly want to go. And when you have more than one blog, it only gets more difficult. 
Whether you have one blog or five, you need to set goals for yourself and define what will make you successful, make you happy.
YOUR VISIONS
Where do you see yourself in 3 years?
You have to decide what your long term goals include. Is that making a full time income just blogging regularly, maybe it’s appearing on the Today Show, or maybe it’s being a ghostwriter and never really receiving recognition, only compensation.
Set your objectives high enough but within reach. And don’t get too specific. Be general and take your time figuring out where you want to be. It’s okay if you don’t have “big” visions. Start with small ones and then think big!
YOUR GOALS
Each goal you set will include objectives to achieve it. For example, if your goal is wanting to be a full time blogger, your objectives will include things like quitting your job, setting up your home office, etc. Take one goal at a time and check off each objective to get it accomplished. Take your time and do it right the first time. The internet and blogging will not be going anywhere.
Don’t be pulled away from your goals. It’s okay to experiment with new things but don’t let it distract you from what you are trying to accomplish with your blog. It’s so easy to get sucked into the current blogging trends and become a follower. Instead, be a leader and stay true to yourself.
DEFINING YOUR SUCCESS
Seeing your visions and accomplishing your goals will lead to your success. You will make mistakes along the way. You’ll probably reevaluate things and possibly change directions. Just remember to be yourself, stay authentic, and work hard. You’ll get there and when you do, you’ll know it and look back realizing that you’ve had one helluva ride!
What are your goals?
To get started, you must have a destination.
Excellent post! It’s good to have blogging goals. It’s so easy to get caught up in the offer of the moment, but maintaining a balance is so much more important. Everything else will fall into place.
Tara @ Deal Seeking Moms last blog post..New Coupons for Hasbro Kids’ Games and LeapFrog Systems and Books
thank you, I think you may have answered one of my REALLY BIG questions!
Linda @Short Pump Preppys last blog post..Born 2 Impress Giveaway and Review
I hope so Linda! :)
@Tara Thanks! I wrote from the heart and what I feel is important to me. Hopefully it means something for someone else as well.
What do you see as realistic benchmarks for a successful blog ( one with traffic that earns advertising income) at 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, etc… It is so hard to measure yourself in this market. I look at google rank, alexa ranking, comments, followers, etc…
Dawn – Partybluprints.coms last blog post..Friday’s Featured Cocktail
Great post! The Mamas and I were just discussing this; we have a page-view goal for end of year.
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@Dawn That really depends on what you consider successful–on where you want to take your blog. For some that means 10,000 subscribers and an income to support their family and for others, that might mean having 10 comments regularly.
I think for a blogger trying to earn income and gain traffic, a realistic benchmark would be 2 years but that’s my own personal opinion. I measure myself by the relationships I have and the trust I’ve established, nothing else.
Thanks :)
Dawn – Partybluprints.coms last blog post..Friday’s Featured Cocktail
Great post! I think a lot of us have done some sort of “soul searching” (of our blogger souls) in the past week, and there has been even talk should we sometimes “go dark” and take a week off and how that would effect on our blogging.
I think it’s important to know your own goals, and celebrate also your own successes. There are always bigger and better everything in life, and instead of comparing ourselves to others, it is more important to focus on our own goals, and take it forward step by step – and then periodically look back and give a pat in your back when you see how far you have become.
I still think that getting to “my goal” isn’t my goal – it’s the journey to get there and enjoying every minute of it.
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super post! Thank you for sharing. I needed to read this today. Very insightful. — Austin Girl
Austin Girls last blog post..DIARY OF A VAMPIRE
I’m not a blogger, but I have enjoyed watching your growth in so many areas over the past year or so. The difference in your self-confidence from the first conference you attended to the last one is amazing. Keep up the great work. :)
Great blog post… this is something I need to work on as I move forward as a new blogger! Thanks, Cowboy’s Wife!
The Football Wifes last blog post..Family Comes to Town
This is something that I needed to read at just this moment. I have an opportunity to do something else instead of blogging but I do need to go over my what I want to really do in my heart of hearts. So far the ride has been good and you know how much I love blogging. Success for me is doing what I enjoy and earning some money too. But I need to look at my goals is a whole new ball game for me. Thanks for the advice.
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Thanks for making me dooooooooo this yesterday. Its 9:00am and I have a list to accomplish. You have straightened this A.D.D. mom out for today at least ;) Resend this post to me in 7 days to keep me on track….k??? LOL
Lori, great post!!! I set my goals pretty low this year so now I just hope for one new person to reach me each day! I guess my main goal is keeping true to my voice and mission to help people save money! I will say, it is hard to not get into numbers as much though.
And, I’m with you on the relationships! I am thankful everyday for some of the relationships I’ve developed thanks to blogging! That is worth more than a pile of cash anyday!!! :-)
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I am with you and Andrea on the relationships. I have met many great people because of this blog and honestly, it’s helped me to come out of my “shell” and be more comfortable around those I don’t know therefore leading to more friendships, etc.
Goals? I need to work on this more. One thing I have learned (kind of like with kids) – don’t compare your blog to the other blogs on the block. Each blog has their own great characteristics and if you compare yours to this one or that one, you might lose focus of what it is that you are doing on your own site that makes it so great in it’s own way.
Thanks for the post!
Great food for thought. I’ve really been thinking about this a lot lately. It has helped me get rid of some of the extra things that I really don’t have time for that aren’t helping me achieve my goals. Thanks!
Musings of a Housewifes last blog post..What I Learned This Week
Thanks, Lori. So needed this!
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[...] your own goals and define your success – there is no one way of doing things, create your own path. And remember to look back and give a [...]
Great tips.
I use http://www.gtdagenda.com to set my goals, and to create a vision board that sends me picture reminders every day about my goals.
Hey, I just wanted to say nice to “meet” you today during the Todaysmoms live chat! That was so chaotic, but pretty cool at the same time! I wish they would have answered more questions though.
I’m off to peruse your site now! :)
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Great post! I’ve been focusing on this very subject for a couple of weeks now. I had goals set for traffic and income…but am still finding my way on my focus. When I started I was one of a few in my niche, but now my blog niche is incredibly crowded. There’s only so many ways to say the same thing before it gets stale. So I’m trying to focus on what makes me unique, and work from those strengths. Yet you’re right, you can’t focus too close, or you might miss something amazing you weren’t expecting!
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[...] 2009 by Marya Why do you blog? For fun or profit? Where do you see yourself in three years? A Cowboy’s Wife talks about setting goals and defining success, one step at a [...]
I’m in the processes of researching blogging so i can start something myself, it’s all so confusing at first. I like that you posted about goals. I will ave to keep those in mind as I tackle all the info out there :)
I’d passion to cia man that too!