This is what happens when you blog without a plan and a target – Good posts come up frequently when you see good results. Good results could be heavy traffic, good revenue or lots of reader feedback.
But when times are bad, you loose the inspiration to keep going. The result? Lesser posts, and a dead blog.
Blogging is not always fun, if you have blogged for a month, you know this. But those who push it even after it starts to get boring, finds success. Still, you need something to keep going, and that’s where Targets come in.
I like to share an experience. In 2009, I took part in an SEO competition, I should say, it was one of the best times in my life as a blogger.
I found myself thinking about ways to bring in more Google traffic (since that was the aim of the contest) and in the process I learnt a lot about Search Engine Optimization. I learnt to use many tools SEO’s use. I am pretty sure that if I hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t have done any of it.
It was the simple goal that made me do all of them and gladly, it worked well.
The moral of the story is: Set Targets and Goals and Emulate Them.
A Goal should be definite, achievable and should have a deadline. Something abstract like, “Make a lot of money from Blogging” is not a goal. On the other hand, “Make $500 before July 31st Online” is a better goal. The goal is defined as $500 and it has a dead line as July 31st.
Some easy examples could be:
- Write Two Articles with 1000+ word length this week.
- Get an Alexa Rank of 80k before March end.
- Get 100 new subscribers to your newsletter this month.
Once you set the goal, start working on it. Remember, you are after something and nothing can stop you from getting it.
Why is the deadline important? Haven’t you found that your efficiency goes sky-high when you are late to submit that college assignment or that business report? Same reason. People need deadlines to work.
What’s your immediate Target? Did you make one already?
I am a WordPress product developer and creator of Image Attributes Pro. I am passionate about solving problems and travelling the world.
In order to meet your long term goal (or even annual goals), you need to break down goals into objectives that are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely). In performance management theory, unless you set precise, measurable and time bound objectives, you aren’t going to excel anywhere and meet your goals (short, mid and long term)
‘Make $500 before July 31st Online’ is almost a SMART objective 🙂
In my case, I always complete my short term objectives and fail in the long term ones. So splitting the long term ones into smaller short term goals actually makes sense 🙂
That is some professional advice.
Yeah, look at me there in 5th place.. madworldwii.com
Unlike yourself I had no idea what I was doing.. did some link exchanges, blog commenting, some unique article wizard submissions, very basic blog posts.. maybe 10 total?
The game was such a flop my host went down with that site and I didn’t even bother re-uploading it for the $15/month it was making me. Lol.
I went from a newer site PR0 on like 11-31-2008 to a PR4 by the end of the competition.
Nothing like your traffic success Arun… not hardly.
Thanks for letting me participate Ajith!
Lately my focus has been on creating specific niche targeted sites for evergreen niches… products that will almost always be necessary. IE: Spyware Removal, Debt Consolidation, etc – something that can make me money indefinitely once I obtain page1 rankings and heavy traffic.
I like your theme btw ;->
I was actually starting off during the competition days, spirits were high and luckily I ended up with right blogs and got some really good traffic.
I have been planning to start some niche sites for so long, havent started a single one yet. Should try them soon.
Thanks for the mention of theme, unusual emoticon ;-]
Life without Goal is like IPL matches without Sixers
LOL, Nice one 😉
To start a new niche website in the next 30 days could be your next Target. Break it down even furrher – idea crystallisation wk1, research wk 2, plan your first 3 posts wk 3, choose theme n go live wk 4
Good post! Quote: Success by inch is a cinch. By yard is hard.
Nice quote there, Thank you 🙂