Every week over at my favorite blog community, Blog Engage, they run a feature called word of the week (I think that is what it’s called). Last time that I participated, I wrote a an article about how to promote your blog and the response was very positive. This week the word is “Blogging Goals” and as we start a new year, I can’t think of a better topic. As a business owner, and a HR professional, I am well versed on the topic of goal setting and how it can positively impact an organization and the same is true for your blog.
When it comes to setting goals for your blog, remember to be SMART. I don’t mean smart as in intelligence (although that is a good idea), I am referring to an acronym:
S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Attainable
R = Realistic
T = Timely
Another good idea is to actually write your goals down, so that is what I will do right now and share them with you all.
Specific- Blogging Goals should be specific and clear. What are you going to do and how are you going to do it. I have three specific blogging goals for 2010.
- Reach the $1,ooo mark per month in profit.
- Add 1000 new rss subscribers
- Start 1 more blog
Measurable – How will you know if you reached your goals if you can measure it? By selecting specific numbers to reach I will know if I hit the mark.
Attainable- It is important to make sure that your goals are actually achievable. I will be breaking these goals into smaller chuncks, for example, 50 new subscribers in January. I already have 11, so I am on my way 
Realistic – I would love to be a six figure blogger, but I understand that this will not happen in 2010, now after 2010 is a different story. I think this is one of the most important points because if your goals are not realistic you will get discouraged and stop trying.
Timely- By putting a time frame on your goals you will have a clear target to work towards. That is why the begging of the year is such a good time to talk about blogging goals for the year ahead.
What do you think, are these SMART blogging goals that I have set? Please drop a comment and let me know what your goals are.
Oh, I almost forgot, please help me achieve my goals and subscribe to my rss feed.
I listened to this great podcast on Goal Setting from a guy called Bevan James Eyles. He seems to be a top fitness professional. This was a different take on goal setting and it opened my eyes on how to be more successful in doing it. You can get it here: http://www.bevanjameseyles.com…/
Sarah
Hi Dan and great site. as president of success Studios (developer of GoalPro software) I wanted to say great job setting SMART goals for your blogging efforts. The simple exercise of setting goals is simply to put a target on your wall, giving you direction. For every decision you are faced with your target will allow you to decide if your decision will move you towards or away from your desired outcome.
S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Attainable
R = Realistic
T = Timely
nice list, I take away realistic so I can do even better why but a obtainable level on something
.-= Fairy tail episode 29´s last blog ..Fairy Tail episode 29 =-.
Dan this was awesome! I just left a comment on Allison’s blog saying she had one of the most intelligent and interesting posts and then I get he and red this. I loved how you sued the word smart in your article.
I think that was very innovative and unique! nice stuff. I’m trying to think what one I woudl say is the most important but they are all so important when it comes to setting goals.
Great article Dan!
.-= bbrian017´s last blog ..The first time I know what’s the meaning of Spamming – interesting story! =-.
I love your goals for 2010 and they are indeed SMART
I would love to set them (and get them) as my goals too, though I’m NOT entirely sure if I would go for starting another blog any soon!
All the best with your SMART goals buddy
.-= TechChunks´s last blog ..The Great Firewall Strikes Again! After IMDb now China Blocks Wired.com =-.
Realistic definately is a major point in setting your goals, but on the other hand, keep them high enough too!
.-= Bjorn | iCan’t Internet´s last blog ..Setting your goals, on short term =-.
Specific is a good one. It helps to be able to measure you success in accomplishing your goals.
The point “Realistic” is very true! I listened the radio last week and the DJ discussed about what everyone’s wish, most of the wishes are “Want to be rich in 2010!”, but how much to be considered Rich? $100k, $1mil or $10mil? So I learned that we have to set a goal, and the goal must be achievable and realistic, and to be more specific.
You have really good points here. 2010 is a good year, 50 subscribers in Jan is achievable, wish you luck Dan!
Cheers,
Lee
Great post as always, setting and writing down goals is really crucial to online success.
Just a heads up: Your retweet function is not working, tried it on several posts and it takes you to the application, but then when submit button is hit to tweet the post, it says there is an error, post not available or moved.
.-= JR ´s last blog ..Crucial Making Money Online, Internet Marketing and Affiliate Marketing Lessons Learned in 2009 =-.
Setting Goals for you site and for monetizing it over time is very important. Thanks for your article.
You gotta love those acronyms. Thanks for sharing. It’s always helpful to reflect on your site’s goals and so on, which helps to keep ya on track and focused. If I’m honest, I certainly haven’t lived up to my site’s goals and aims. Thank again for sharing! Cheers!
-Mig
.-= Miguel Wickert´s last blog ..Free Online To-do App =-.
ooooo sneaky! But I’ll be here.
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..Updates – Latest $10 Domain Winner, Latest Move News, and more. =-.
Formulating SMART goals and writing them down is definitely key to success. I’m also looking forward to the “how” post!
.-= Holly Jahangiri´s last blog ..7 Blogging Goals for 2010 =-.
@ dennis – saving the how for another post!
.-= Tycoon Blogger @promote your blog´s last blog ..Top Blog Traffic Sources for 2009 on Tycoon Blogger =-.
Every new years day I usually made a post about setting SMART goals. Totally forgot this year, so good thing you did!
.-= Tom – StandOutBlogger´s last blog ..TheNetFool.com’s Blogger Stimulus Package! =-.
You never mentioned your HOW.
An excellent set Dan, really; all realistic and obtainable with a little work.
I’m working on my set and will release it soon.
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..Updates – Latest $10 Domain Winner, Latest Move News, and more. =-.
I hadn’t really thought of setting my blogging goals yet, so I think I may have to go off and think about them, I would certainly like my blog to get a lot more popular
.-= Karen @ Blazing Minds´s last blog ..Why I Decided to do a Photo A Day =-.
I think dedication and commitment is more important than anything else. It does not matter, how many goals you set up, if you are not committed to your goals you will not achieve any things.
I set my goals for 2010 which some will be attainable and others not. I still set high ones as to see if I really work hard, if I could attain them. If not then they automatically get moved to 2011.
Good luck to your 2010 goals, I’m sure with your site and experience, that it will be reached.
.-= George Serradinho´s last blog ..December 2009 Flashback Report =-.
Ahh.. I remember the days we used to be “forced” to do SMART goal setting! Now that I think back on it, I regret not taking it more seriously. It truly is a fun acronym that can really help you setup some excellent goals. Good luck on achieving those!
.-= Static | ahnternet´s last blog ..5 Tips to Quickly Writing A Quality Post Part I =-.
I’ve always thought the SMART acronym was pretty clever. There’s a great image for a post about it in istockphoto, btw.
.-= Alison Moore Smith@Start Blogging´s last blog ..Blogging: How to Make Money =-.
Measurable is really important. All result and evaluation will be base on it.
.-= Dana @ Blogging Update´s last blog ..Adding Social Networking Links to Blog =-.
The explanation of Smart word is quite appropriate. I like this thing that with starting of new year there should be some new goals and target for our blog.
Specific is a good one. It helps to be able to measure you success in accomplishing your goals.
.-= Keith´s last blog ..Are You Getting Things Done? =-.
Those are tremendous goals my friend. $1000 per month income, I remember I set that I wanted to make $500 in a single month by December 2009 (back in Sept 08) when I started blogging. I did reach $500 for a single month in September, but never reached it again since.
Believe it or not Damien Riley one of my blog mentors who helped me first start out, had a blogging methodology about only goals you can directly do. I follow that methodology more, I can’t “make RSS subscribers” so I can’t set it as a goal. I instead focus on things like “leave 20 comments on dofollow blogs, write 20 articles this month)
Though income we can directly affect because we can seek out paid opps and advertisers to purchase, that is always a tricky one. I really enjoy your blog and you have grown so fast and so rapidly.
.-= Dragon Blogger@Dragon Blogger Technology´s last blog ..DragonBlogger.com Earnings for December 2009 =-.
I like your post. I have heard of the SMART acronym, but thought to apply it to my goal I have set for my blog.
.-= Apple Tablet´s last blog ..iPhone Converter, Now Easier To Convert Video Clips For iPhone. =-.
They use SMART in a lot of UK adult education courses… because it is so effective. A great post.
I totally agree with writing things down as it helps to put it out there and give you a start in the visualisation process.
Regards,
Karl
.-= Karl Foxley´s last blog ..My Number 1 Tip For Achieving Your Blogging Goals =-.
This is actually pretty smart.
Easy to remember and made an impact. I hope you manage to plan ahead and reach the 6 figure income someday. Keep the energetic spirit going!
@wchingya
Social/Blogging Tracker
.-= Ching Ya´s last blog ..How To Autopost from Multiple Blogs To Your Facebook Fan Page =-.