“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it, you’ll land among the stars.”
~ Les Brown~
I had no idea what I was getting into 17 months ago when starting this blog. No idea.
Although I still feel like a fish out of water at times, I have to admit that there is great potential in blogging, and in order to reap the full benefits I need to buckle down, set some parameters, and shoot for the moon!
- Develop and stick to a “computer hours” schedule. I’m a mom first. If this blog makes my job as mom and homemaker suffer at all, it’s not worth it. Period.
- Brainstorm and write more offline. My most creative moments seem to be when I’m in the bath tub or cooking something, or in the middle of a parenting moment. When I run to my computer to type in my thoughts before I lose them, I tend to get distracted and a “quick 3 minute jot down” turns into 20 minutes or more. If I stay offline I stay focused. Back to pencil and paper!
- Quadruple my subscribers. I did it last year, so I can do it again this year, right?!
- Use social media (Facebook and Twitter) as a limited blog development tool and not let it suck away my day. I’ll probably have to put a timer on it. Hey, it works for my kids!
- Develop my own BlogFrog community and participate (on a limited basis!) in other communities. There is strength in numbers, and we can learn so much from each other!
- Attempt vlogging (video blogging) as another way to connect with my readers.
- Learn more about my readers and what you want so I can then focus my writing on what you want to hear about! My plan is to develop a reader survey in the next couple of weeks. Be on the lookout!
- Outline and write two new series this year. Writing Mommy, Come Home was so beneficial to me last year. I’m currently mulling a couple of new series ideas and can’t wait to get started writing them!
- ** Edited – forgot to add an important one!** Support the blogging community by regularly stumbling excellent posts and linking to other bloggers.
What do you think? Is there anything you’d like me to focus on in the new year?
SO looking forward meeting you at SavvyBlogging this year!!!
Me, too! It’ll be a blast… I just hope I recognize everyone in real life.
I loved your Mommy Come Home series and truly enjoy Finer Things Friday…can’t wait to see what else you have up your blogging sleeve =)
All wonderful goals! Yes, yes, yes!
I can’t wait to keep up with all you have going on this year
You know i understand. The only difference with you and I is that I run a business in addition to 2 blogs so I spend way too much time online and yes I waste time at the time suckers – twitter and facebook, I want to connect and communicate but I know there is a point where I am just wasting time.
Let’s hold each other accountable.
Blessings to you in this new year!
It has been awesome watching your blog grow and grow this past year. You do a great job. Can’t wait to see what it next. You sure do inspire me!
Thanks, Lisa. The FRIENDS I’ve made have most certainly been the most awesome benefit!
Those are wonderful goals! Good luck!
Wow 17 months? I thought you’d been doing this forever and I only just found you. I want to save money and time in 2010 by cooking meals more efficiently–whether that means cooking multiple freezer meals at once or some other idea—I am hungry for some ideas.
Those are GREAT goals! I can’t wait to see what you have in stor this year!!!
As a fellow momma blogger, I appreciate your don’t-get-in-the-way-of-family goals. It’s always a struggle to balance things out.
Good stuff.
Hi. (first visit to your site, and I LOVE what I see!) Thanks for sharing your goals. I also began blogging without a thought of what it could be (beyond a hobby). Now, I aim to use it more wisely and with more purpose.
I look forward to hearing about how you achieve your goals
Thanks again!
Kim