{"id":13685,"date":"2013-03-22T08:00:21","date_gmt":"2013-03-22T12:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.shareaholic.com\/?p=13685"},"modified":"2014-05-13T11:02:10","modified_gmt":"2014-05-13T15:02:10","slug":"how-to-set-blogging-goals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shareaholic.com\/blog\/how-to-set-blogging-goals\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Set Blogging Goals You Can Actually Achieve"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo Credit: zen!<\/a> via Compfight<\/a> cc<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Though everyone may blog differently (whether it be topics, niches, formats, communities) we all need one thing to become a successful blogger: solid blogging goals. Blogging willy-nilly is like going on a road trip without a destination or map to help you get there\u2014ultimately, you\u2019ll just end up wasting your time driving around lost. While you can still find your way to someplace<\/em> by aimlessly driving or blogging, you may not always end up where you wanted to end up, and it can take you much longer to get to your final destination.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re a newbie blogger or a longtime pro, you need to form goals for your blog. And not just any goals\u2014you want to have realistic yet aggressive goals that give you reality check whenever you\u2019re trying to do something on your blog. Should you be spending more time on Pinterest? How about writing longer-form posts? Look back at your goals\u2014if the new activity won\u2019t help you accomplish them, don\u2019t do it.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, having solid blogging goals will help you be more productive and successful by helping you figure out what to spend time on. To determine your own blogging goals, follow these five steps:<\/p>\n

1. Analyze what\u2019s worked<\/h3>\n

We\u2019ve said this many times before<\/a>, but it\u2019s so important I\u2019ll repeat it again: always always<\/em> look at your metrics before jumping head first into something new on your blog\u2014whether you\u2019re doing something strategic like establishing new goals or tactical like jumping on another social network. While you may feel that your intuition may suffice, often metrics can prove your intuition wrong.<\/p>\n

When setting goals, looking at your metrics first is crucial. For example, if you\u2019re thinking of setting a goal around increasing comments on your blog<\/a>, you want to first look and see how many comments you are already getting. This will help you establish a benchmark to measure your success down the road.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not measuring the success of your content yet, get on it! Not all measurement tools are as complex as Google Analytics\u2014we offer a simple, one-sheet dashboard for Shareaholic publishers called Shareaholic Analytics<\/a>. Once you have your measurement platform of choice up and working, we\u2019ll even walk you through understanding the most important metrics on your blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2. Figure out where you want to be<\/h3>\n

Though you should base your goals off of your metrics, it should not be the only thing you use to make your blogging goals. <\/i>In order to grow as a blogger, you can\u2019t just rely on doing exactly what\u2019s worked for you before\u2014use data to help make your decisions, but don\u2019t be afraid of taking educated<\/em> chances to grow your blog.<\/p>\n

After you look at your metrics, think about what you ultimately want to accomplish on your blog. Are you trying to establish a business? Are you trying to write a book? Are trying to become an ambassador for a brand?<\/p>\n

Once you have a general sense of what you want out of your blog, go find people who have successfully accomplished those goals already. See what they are doing and even send them an email to get into the nitty-gritty. Not only will you learn more about how to get to your final goal, but you\u2019ll also start to expand your blogger network<\/a>. Use their experiences to establish a long-term vision for your blog.<\/p>\n

3. Connect the dots with SMART goals<\/h3>\n

So now you have your starting point and your end point\u2026but how do you get from point A to point B? It\u2019s simple: use SMART goals. No, this doesn\u2019t mean intelligent goals. SMART goals are:<\/p>\n