Monday, April 4, 2016

Blogging With Intention - Staying Focused on Your Goals

I have been joining with friends over at Sweet Tea, LLC for a monthly link-up where we share our blogging goals, which keeps us accountable to each other. This month I will be sharing how things went for  March and set a plan for what I want to accomplish during the month of April. 
I have to confess, being a newbie blogger, I find it hard to stay focused at times.  I feel like I need to be doing everything at once, email strategies, social media, opt-ins, being active in Facebook groups daily....it is easy to get overwhelmed...and discouraged.  Sometimes I just have to sit back and tell myself to focus on one thing, such as writing a new post or pinning content on Pinterest.  I have mentioned the importance of using a planner in my other posts; but I will stress it again!  I refer to my planner daily to help keep me on track with a task list.

Here is how I ended up with my goals from last month:
  • I am still trying to figure out email engagement.  I did gain 4 new subscribers, but I still need lots of help in this area.
  • I sent out my first newsletter...finally! (Whoo hoo!)
  • I have been doing well using Buffer to schedule daily Facebook and Twitter posts.
  • I have applied for several sponsored posts/collaborations and am waiting to hear back.  I also got approved for my first sponsored post through one of the blogger networks I belong to.
  • I joined four new blogger Facebook groups and two new Pinterest group boards that I pin to weekly.
  • I purchased RealGirlsRealm.com to use for my blog.
  • I created a Media Kit to use when pitching for sponsored posts.  Its not fancy, just a one page document with my bio and stats, but it is a start!
  • I created a custom look for my blog post title pictures, in order to have a consistent look on Pinterest.
  • I have started using some of the printables from the Building a Framework e-book.  I think the most helpful one has been the Blog Stats Tracker since this allows me to see my growth in real numbers.

With a full time job and soccer season in full swing, I am going to try to keep my momentum going.  Here are the things I will be focusing on this month:
  • Continue working on gaining new email subscribers.
  • Finish reading the eBook by Abby from Just a Girl and her BlogBuilding a Framework: The Ultimate Blogging Handbook (I got sidetracked last month and didn't finish)
  • Continue to tweak my monthly newsletter to make it more appealing for my subscribers.
  • Finish Kirsten's e-course on Google Drive.  I use Drive to store my pictures, but I want to utilize it better and organize my photos more efficiently.
  • Learn about switching to WordPress...eventually
  • Work on my Pinterest strategy and utilize the analytics to see what is working
I hope you will join me with setting your own goals for 2016!  Feel free to link up with me at Sweet Tea, LLC if you are a fellow blogger who needs some encouragement in achieving your goals!

If you missed my other posts, you can read them here:
Goal Check Up
Making Progress
Setting Goals

22 comments:

  1. I can totally relate to this! I have a planner in a three ring notebook that way I can print off the exact types of pages I need. One of them is my daily "to-do" list. It includes things like comment on one new blog, follow one new fellow food blogger on Twitter, pin 10 pins to a Pinterest board etc. but sometimes I just feel so overwhelmed and forget to do it - especially when I have a blog post I'm trying to get done!

    Huge CONGRATS on your first sponsored blog post!! So happy for you and this is just the start to many more to come!

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    1. Erin, that is a great idea! I also have an excel spreadsheet to keep track of my link parties and Pinterest boards. I also get overwhelmed at times and do not meet my daily goals, but I always say Tomorrow is another day :-) Thanks for the Congrats; I am super excited and I am glad you are here!

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  2. Holy cow! I am super impressed with all you've done! I need to switch over my domain name (I've had idodeclaire.com purchased for a while but haven't switched over yet-I'm scared I will mess it up!) and I've been wanting to work on a media kit!

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    1. Thanks so much Laura! If you want to stay on blogspot, and just use the domain name, I can probably help, though it took us a few tries to get the settings right in Dreamhost to make mine work :) But everything works great and my blogspot posts redirect to the .com now!

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  3. My goodness, I am stunned at what you have been able to accomplish this month!! I've had media kit and newsletter on my to-do list for a couple months now, and I've gotten pretty much no where. I'll do all the research, but don't take the time to actually start it up! I also want to create a consistent picture for posts as well. Way to go! Maybe you'll inspire me to get my butt in gear:)

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    1. Thank you for your encouragement! I still feel like I am behind sometimes! I am totally with you on the research (my blogging Pinterest board show that!) With the media kit and newsletter, there will be some tweaking as I go along, but at least they are done and out there for now! I love your blog and can't wait to see what you do next!

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  4. Congrats on sending out your first newsletter! You sure detail out your blogging goals. I'm sure that helps to keep you super focused! Good luck when you decide to transfer to Wordpress. I have a post on my blog that gives a step-by-step. Stop on by if that would be helpful for you!

    Thanks for linking up at With Grit & Grace. :)

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    1. Thank you...it had been on my to-do list for a while because I didn't know what to put in it. It's still a work in progress, but it's out there now and done. I will definitely check out your post...thanks for letting me know about it!

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  5. It can be so hard and overwhelming starting this process! But go you for sticking it out. I am right there with you...well, behind you ;)

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  6. I'm impressed with what you've accomplished in one month! I've been wanting to create a media kit forever! Congrats on your first sponsored post and newsletter!

    Jill
    Doused In Pink

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    1. Thanks Jill...I searched for Media Kits on Google and Pinterest, and mine is very simple at this point, but at least I have something when I am asked. I hope you will check out my newsletter!

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  7. Woo woo, look at you go! You got this. I absolutely LOVE how you are keeping track of your goals. After you have a year or two under your belt you're going to look back and smile at how far you've come :)

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    1. Thank you for visiting and for the encouraging comments! They really mean a lot and I look forward to being able to Look back on these one day!

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  8. Mary, you are rockin' it! I am so impressed. I can't believe I missed your first newsletter; I just subscribed so that I don't miss anything else! :)

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    1. Awwww, thanks so much for the kind words and for subscribing to my newsletter! I hope you enjoy it!

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  9. If I haven't done so, I would love to invite you over at Blogger Spotlight Link and Pin-it Party! It runs every Thursdays, 7pm PST until Tuesdays, 7pm. We pin all the entries and you will be seen on five blogs. Hope to see you there!

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    1. Thank you so much for the invite! I will check it out!

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