smart goals

As we get set to welcome in a new year, we also must stop and take note of what we are looking to achieve in this coming year. Setting goals is one of the biggest keys to succeeding in any area of life and blogging is no exception.

“He who fails to plan, plans to fail!”

This is one quote that has stuck with me ever since I heard it, and it continually reminds me to stop and take check that I am constantly updating my goals.

There are two type of goals you can set:

  • SMART goals
  • Dumb goals

Here is an example of some dumb goals!

  1. I will make more money than last year from my blog
  2. I will regularly post on my blog
  3. I will make a million dollars online next year
  4. I want to grow the traffic to my blog
  5. I will spend time working on the SEO of my blog

Why are these goals dumb?

Before I can show you why these goals are dumb (if you haven’t worked it out already), I have to show you exactly what makes up a smart goal. As you may have guessed SMART is an acronym that shows you the integral parts of a smart goal.

SMART Goals

S – Specific

M – Measurable

A - Attainable

R – Relevant

T – Time Bound

Lets take a look at each of these essential building blocks individually:

  1. Specific

    To make a goal specific we have to look at the 5 ‘W’s

    Why?

    What?

    Where?

    When?

    Why?

    There is more chance of you being motivated by a goal that is specific as it gives you steps to achieve them not just a pie in the sky statement.

    Lets look at the first of our dumb goals:

    I will make more money than last year from my blog

    A SMART version of this goal would be:

    I will make an extra $100 a month from my blog through direct sales, affiliate promotion and Google Adsense

    Now you have set a specific amount you will make which allows you to track your progress as well as the way you aim to achieve it.

  2. Measurable

    You have to make sure that you can measure your goals to make sure that you have reached them, or just to keep tabs on how you are traveling with them.

    If you cannot measure your goal, you cannot manage your goal

    To determine if your goal is measurable, ask questions such as……How much? How many? How will I know when it is accomplished?

  3. Attainable

    The reason I threw in the following dumb goal:

    I will make a million dollars online next year

    Is because I see a lot of new bloggers make statements like this – maybe not as big, but that is just it. They just pluck a number out of the air that they would like to make but we all know there is no chance that they will make it. Not because they can’t, but because of they way they have set their goal.

    If you can explain how you will make the million dollars they maybe I will give you the benefit of the doubt. If you can make it specific and measurable, then maybeI will think you have a small chance of making it. Just don’t set goals that just pluck a figure out of the air just for the sake of having a goal.

  4. Relevant

    When you are looking at planning your long and short term goals is there a link between the two? Do your goals parallel each other? Make sure each goal is consistent with other goals you have established and fits with your immediate and long-term range plans.

  5. Time Bound

    It is no use having a specific and attainable goals if you do not give yourself a time frame to complete them within.

    I will spend time working on the SEO of my blog

    Looking at this goal it doesn’t really motivate you at all. I would change it to something similar to this:

    I will write 1 keyword targeted articles and comment at least 2 new blogs each day for the next 30 days

    This type of goal is so much easier to attain because each day you can go ‘Ok, I need to write one article and comment at least 2 new blogs each day’ and it gives you something to do to complete your goal. Instead of just an airy statement about spending time on working on your SEO services.

So when you start looking at setting goals for 2008, make the SMART choice and set SMART goals!

Arrows to ecourse

About Thomas Sinfield

Thomas run multiple blogs and is busy testing different strategies and systems to increase profitability and exposure. He is currently working on a new project (yes another blog) that is set to be his most profitable yet.