Goals | Update 7 - July 2016 Goals Update
Sunday, August 06, 2017
If you’ve been following me since the start of the year you will already know that I’ve set myself goals rather than resolutions this year.
As the months go on I’m going to be amending and tweaking things as they still don’t feel perfect but I’ve split my goals into 4 areas Blog, YouTube, Social Media, and Life. I’m also having one blog or social media focus point each month.
I don't feel like I've been keeping up with these posts which fit in with one of the goals. I guess it's another thing to work on.
I'm going to work through my list of categories and update how I'm doing or feeling about them.
I feel that I'm focused more on social media rather than my blog or YouTube channel and it might be time to switch things up a bit for the second half of the year. It's AUGUST! How did that happen?
Blog
Consistency – I'm going to say this is a little bit of a fail. I did manage to blog 6 times. Since I've been on holiday I've not really had little motivation and I have all the ideas but I haven't spent the time to write posts or take pictures.
In August I want to set time aside to plan the posts and spend time over each weekend taking pictures.
Engagement – I haven't been engaging with blog followers. I've had comments but I haven't read all of them yet or replied to any. How can I expect people to read and comment if I don't reply? I have plans to spend one day a week where I sit down and reply to comments.
Readership – I don't know if this is worded correctly anymore. I've checked my analytics and this month I've had more visitors than the last few months and while it will be nothing compared to some blogs. I bet my monthly figures are less than some peoples daily visitor counts. I'm happy and I don't feel like I need to do anything different on this one.
YouTube
Replying to Comments – Nope, Nope and Nope again. I haven't really put out much content this month. Again since holiday, I haven't had any motivation. I did film a lot on holiday and all this content went out but while I did film a few videos I haven't edited any or put anything else up.
Build my audience – I hit a mini milestone as mentioned above, I don't get all that many views but this is something I want to work on and as I've said above in the blog section the2nd half of the year needs to be spent on content creation rather than social media stats
Reduction in posting – Nailed this one. Not exactly as planned but I'm 100% posted less!!!
Social Media
Growth –
My social media stats for July are:
| YouTube | 300 | 60.00% |
| Google+ | 426 | 85.20% |
| Bloglovin | 613 | 81.73% |
| 1199 | 79.93% | |
| 735 | 98.00% | |
| IG SW | 1158 | 77.20% |
| 2023 | 89.91% | |
| 3523 | 93.95% |
I'm really happy with these as while I have tried to focus on these, I've also felt like I haven't worked all that hard. What also pleases me is that I've hit some mini interim targets.
I finally got to 300 on YouTube. I actually hit this twice as I reached it and within about 5 mins it was back to 297.
My main Instagram reached 2000! I find it really hard to get to round numbers on Instagram, as soon as I get close people unfollow. I've been told IG has a weekend clear out of spam but even so it's been a toil! I did work at building my followers and it seemed to fly past 2000 into the 2030's but it's dropped again. I haven't posted as much in the last few days so I'm happy to stand the loss.
Twitter which to be honest I tend to leave alone reached 3500. I did a little bit of work to hit this but in general, I leave it alone. People seem to find and follow me. I'm guessing there is a lot of spam accounts in that number but I'm not knocking it!
One thing I have noticed is more and more blogger opportunities only seem to be open to people with a 10k social media following. I can never work out if this is 10k total on Instagram and Twitter or combined and I guess it probably varies depending on the PR. but across all of these social media, I've almost got 10k. I know that won't count but it's another nice little mini target
Google Plus
Other than sharing my posts there I haven't done anything with it. Not a lot else I can say
Life
See my friends more – I don't think I've seen my friends this month. So I need to work on that. To be fair I've been ill a lot of the month. I went on Holiday (have I mentioned my holiday at all?) in June with an ear infection and I'm still not right
Go back to the gym – I did manage to do this. I went twice and did a Zumba class each time. Then I got ill again so I'm planning another try at this in August.
New Job – Still haven't done anything about this. A few months ago I updated my CV but that's is as far as I've got
Read more – Yes I've been reading. I've read about 3 books in July. Mainly chick lit and I've bought a few books. I'm currently reading Hidden Figures and I'm enjoying it and want to see the film. One of the other books I've read is On the Other Side by Carrie Hope Fletcher and I really didn't enjoy it. It was a little strange and I really don't know what I make of it.
Start a 2nd blog – This needs updating as technically I started this December 2016. It's about Slimming World and I don't want to promote it here but if you want the link, tweet me or follow my SW Instagram account seeingspots_sw and you can keep up to date. I rejoined SW 5 weeks ago and I have been updating that blog. I'm trying to do a weekly post after I've been to class.
Next month's Social Media focus
I'm not sure if I want to concentrate on the big number and get them to 100% or focus on the low numbers. As I've said a few times from now till the end of the year is content creation.
Blog / YouTube Schedule
I'm going to aim for one or two posts a week on each platform.
Social Media Goals
40 comments
Looks like you've had a great month! I always plan on making little goal posts like this, whether blog related or not, but never stick to them and fed up of feeling guilty because of them! Good on you for sticking with it and keeping up with the goals you set!
ReplyDeleteMaj xoxo
www.thatsallmajwrote.wordpress.com
Go for it. This is the first year I've managed to stick with anything goal related.
DeleteYou may think that you haven't made that much progress on your goals Steph, but you've been both ill and on holiday (I don't think I knew you went on holiday... joke :-P), so have still achieved a fair bit, well done! x
ReplyDeleteI think I need to set my laptop from banning the work Holiday I feel like I type it so often!!!
DeleteI agree that often it's the photos that stop us writing the posts we want to write x
ReplyDeleteGlad I'm not the only one. I really should be taking photos right now!
DeleteI think its so important to set yourself goals. x
ReplyDeleteIt's really worked for me so far this year x
DeleteSounds like you've had a great month. Setting goals is a great way to see how far you have come!
ReplyDeleteI've really enjoyed tracking my progress this year. It has been quite motivating over all
DeleteWhat's the name or link to your second blog?
ReplyDeleteIf you go over to my 2nd Instaram the link is in the description https://www.instagram.com/seeingspots_sw/
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ReplyDeleteg goals is such a good way to stay focused on the things at hand , I also need to practice what I preach. The intentions always there but something creeps up. Your doing great Hun :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, i felt like things have got in the way this year but keeping an eye on my goals has helped to keep me focused
DeleteI love that you set yourself monthly goals this is something i need to try and do.
ReplyDeleteIt's well worth doing, why not try for the 2nd half of the year
DeleteWhat a great idea to set goals to
ReplyDeleteHelps achieve and be accountable. Great figures keep going
It really has helped to keep me focused and accountable. I like seeing how i've progressed x
DeleteGoals certainly help in life. It sounds like you have lots you want to achieve but it sounds like you can't do everything at once. No one truly realises how much effort goes in to blogging. I wish my Pinterest stats were similar to my other main social media stats. Keep up the good work :)
ReplyDeleteI find pinterest odd and the one that fluctuates the most. My facebook page is the one I find hardest to grow as I just don't know what to do with it x
DeleteSounds like you are on target. This has given me motivation to set targets for myself!
ReplyDeleteDo it, I've just had a quick look back and I'm well over half way on everything so I need to remember there is plenty of time left this year as As i've said I want to focus more on content now and hopefully the social media growth will look after itself
DeleteHey, you've achieved SO much more than you think you have! You should be so proud of yourself. Well done :)
ReplyDeleteLouise x
Thank you and you're right. I have looked back and what i've done so far is good. I need to remember there is plenty of 2017 left x
DeleteCongrats on reaching 2000 on Instagram! I find for me, it's the hardest platform to grow.
ReplyDeleteI find IG to be static for months, then it has big drops then periods of huge growth only to repeat the cycle again. I'm ecstatic with my 2000. I didn't think I would ever get there x
DeleteWell done on your social media growth they are great figures. Good luck running two blogs, I know I couldn't do it x
ReplyDeleteMy 2nd blog isn't one that I will be publicly sharing or promoting. It's more of a diary so while this blog is a hobby the other one is a hobby from my hobby!!!
DeleteLooks like you've had a great month, I'm not very good at setting myself goals so I just try to set myself little ones everyday
ReplyDeleteIf you know your limits and what works for you. I feel I have a lot of goals but I don't focus on all of them all at once. I update all of them each month but some take care of themselves (twitter) x
DeleteIt isn't always easy to be consistent with posts. I hope you have more time to respond to bog and YouTube comments soon.
ReplyDeleteI always feel so bad when I don't reply and I'm working backwards to try and get back to everyone. Luckily I don't get that many comments!!
DeleteIt's great that you have clearly defined goals and success criteria. I hate it when followers/subscribers goes well and then dips, so frustrating!
ReplyDeleteI find it worse when you notice. I tend to only check stats at month end but when i'm close to goal I do check a lot and i knew once i saw that 300 it would dip but for it to happen so quickly made me a little sad x
Deletei love the idea of setting myself goals and then being able to look back and see if and what i have achieved. x
ReplyDeleteIt has worked well for me this year. I made sure they were realistic and I try not to obsess over them. x
DeleteGood you have clear set goals you want to hit. Good luck with them all.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I have enjoyed tracking them and I know things are all going in the right direction x
DeleteI really need to start setting myself some goals to work towards.... Good luck with yours :D
ReplyDeleteI love reading all your comments, so make sure you leave me one x