Goals for December
3 December, 2007 - Misc - 11 Comments
Boy, am I late to the party! Almost a week ago Sara asked me if I had set my goals for December, and I’m only now getting around to doing so.
Before talking about December, I want to talk about November. Here are the goals I set out for last month.
- Social Networking - Write more pillar content to pull in social networking traffic
- New Blog Design - Work on and launch my new blog design
- Increase RSS Subscribers - I set a goal to reach 50 subscribers
- Competition - Launch a competition for my readers
- Offline Networking - Contact UK bloggers to discuss a get together similar in style to John Chow’s Dot Com Pho
Surprisingly, I only met two of those goals. That wasn’t due to lack of effort. Naturally, as time goes by, we see changes in circumstances and that is what caused me to miss out on completing all five goals.
The goals I did meet were the social networking and RSS subscriber goals. I wrote more pillar content, including my 6 Google Analytics Secrets. This brought in an appreciative amount of social networking traffic. About three weeks in to the month, I also hit my target of 50 RSS subscribers with a peak of 55.
The three goals I didn’t meet were the new blog design, the competition and offline networking.
I would have made the new blog design goal if the first design I presented to my readers went with a positive note. However, it seems it wasn’t taken too well (after great feedback from you, I realised it really wasn’t the right design for the blog). Because of this unexpected delay, I had to go back to the drawing board.
I purposely didn’t launch the competition. I want this to be a part of the marketing strategy for the blog once the new design is launched.
Again, I purposefully held off from taking the first steps in my offline networking. Some of the bloggers who I intended to approach have been away with illness and other personal issues, or they have been on vacation. Once things are a little calmer in the blogosphere I’ll revisit this goal. This will probably be in the new year.
I Apologise
This brings me on to my next point. I want to apologise for the lack of pillar content over the final week of November. Looking back through my posts I see that much of what I wrote is talking about this blog, such as the new design or meeting my RSS goal, as opposed to giving you tips, advice and tools. I do apologise for that. I’m not going to try and create an excuse for it (you’ll see from my next post that I’m no longer ‘doing’ excuses). All I’ll say is I’m sorry, and I’m now going to make a conscientious effort to put our pillar content, or at the very least content that you can take advice and learn from.
December Goals
So now I come on to my December goals. Here they are, in no particular order of importance.
- RSS Subscribers - I want to increase my readership to 65. In terms of percentages, that’s a much more conservative goal than I should probably be setting, but I think it’s realistic. I have to remember we have 7-10 days of almost zero activity within the blogosphere when Christmas and New Year arrive. In November, at it’s peak, my subscribers increased by 22 (a 66% increase from the 33 subscribers I already had). If I were to try to continue that 66% increase in December, I should be aiming for a goal of around 85 subscribers. But like I said, I’m taking in to account the lack of activity at the end of the month, and the general wind-down mentality of December.
- Write Three Key Pillar Posts - I want to write three key posts that are of the quality of my StumbleUpon Analysis and Analytics Secrets posts.
- WordPress Plugin - I’ve never developed a WordPress plugin, but there’s one that I’m itching to use but it doesn’t seem to exist. I’ll be looking in to the development of plugins and I’m sure I’ll soon figure out if I can create it myself.
- Be Prepared for Christmas - I want to make sure I have a post already written and scheduled for each day of the festive period so I don’t have to spend my holiday sneaking away from the celebrations.
No Blog Design
You’ll notice I haven’t included the new blog design in my goals. I’m going to hold off until January before I launch it. The new design isn’t just a new face. It’s a brand new marketing campaign with new tools and link bait material. I want to make sure I launch at a time when people are winding up in the blogosphere, as opposed to winding down. Of course, that’s not to say my readers won’t enjoy the occasional sneak preview. 
So those are my goals. Again, there are a lot. Maybe even too much for this slow December month, but that’s fine. I would rather have too many goals, as opposed to not enough. What are your goals for December? Have you accounted for the slow December month?
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Posted on 3 December, 2007 by Jamie Harrop
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I have 1 offline goal and 2 online goal.
Offline goal is pretty simple I just want to relax and enjoy the holidays when they arrive. Time to recharge my batteries.
Online goal #1 is to experiment with affiliate marketing, I have 3 new sites that I am going to give it a try with. Will I be able to retire in the new year, no but will it be interesting and a great learning experience yes.
Online goal #2 is to help Denise get her new wedding blog off the ground, she’s excite as this is her first site.
I hope it all goes smoothly.
It sounds like you have an exciting month ahead of you, Nick.
Please let me know when Denise’s blog is up.
Oh yeah lots of excitement and lots of work.
Her blog is up, just starting the promotion of it http://www.hecticbride.com.
That’s a lovely site… for a women.
The logo is pretty cool, actually. 
Well, welcome Denise to the wonderful world of the blogosphere. She’ll be addicted soon enough, I’m sure.
I like the logo especially.
Over December I intend to enjoy the break as much as possible… my birthday and Christmas to look forward to.
What the pink isn’t manly enough for you? lol
I’ll pass on the well wishes.
[...] set any goals for yourself in December, please leave a comment or link to your list. I know Jamie already beat me to it, way to [...]
Jamie,
Glad to see you weigh in. =) I think setting too many goals is probably better than setting too few. As long as you aren’t one of those people who beats himself up if he doesn’t cross everything off the list. =)
I like to overplan so I have a lot to choose from.
Also, I think 65 isn’t too low for a month when a lot of people will be spending more time offline than online. As you said, it should be a pretty slow month for all of us.
Sara
Hey Sara,
I just saw Karin’s comment below and noticed I hadn’t responded to your comment. Doh! I wasn’t ignoring you. I just got complacent. :blush:
Nope, I won’t be beating myself up. A goal can easily be moved to the next month, or can be adjusted.
Hi Jamie
(Yes, I know, commenting on an almost month old post? ;-))
Re your November (oh, even further back in time) on offline networking - get-together of UK bloggers, I have some ideas myself (now USA is starting to talk about SobCon08 and I might miss it again this year). How about ‘teaming’ up and see where we end up?
Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)
Afternoon Karin.
I couldn’t possibly say no to an offer like that. To be honest, my current ideas stop at “some form of get-together”. Whether it’s an informal meet at a pub, garden or cafe, or a full on SobCon08-UK style event, I’m completely open. I would love to hear your ideas, and maybe we can go from there. You have my email address. Would you like to email me your thoughts? I’m sure teaming up will make this so much easier.