Hello 2017! I am SO glad that you’re here and I know a ton of my readers are glad you’re here, as well.
Last year, I decided that I wasn’t going to set goals for the overall year and that instead, I would focus on month-to-month goals. While this goal strategy worked great for me, I still think I could have been more efficient in some areas of grabbing ahold of and pursuing my potential. After much thought, it just made sense that it would be best for me to set some long-term goals for my blog and personal life for the new year to act as a guiding line for my short-term goals on a month-to-month basis.
LONG-TERM BLOG GOALS FOR 2017:
Continue To Monetize My Blog // Coffee With Summer has been around for 2 1/2 years now and I am so glad that I made the decision to start monetizing my blog. I put full-time hours or more a week into my blog. Blogging isn’t just writing content, it’s brainstorming, taking photos, editing, networking, and a ton more than most people realize. My long-term goal for monetizing my blog? To make a full-time salary off of my blog. While this goal may take more than a year to hit, I believe in myself to make it happen.
- One of the greatest way I want to work on monetizing CWS in 2017 is breaking away from influencer networks. While influencer networks have been huge for me in getting myself out there for sponsored work, these networks do not pay anywhere close to my current going and growing rates are. I am stretching myself in the area of pitching directly to brands myself, as this is where I will start to really be paid my worth as an online influencer.
Launch An E-Course // Friends, it’s an absolute dream of mine to break out of my shell and offer online courses for blogging and social media growth. While I may seem outgoing online, I am actually a super introvert and can be quite reserved at times. In wanting to launch an e-course, I really need to step up and own my voice! I’ll have to get comfortable in front of the camera and in hearing my voice. I know I can do it, I just have to be bold and believe in myself.
Create A Consistent Newsletter // It is official, my friends! I am starting to send out newsletters every other week. What will these email newsletters contain? Tons of awesomeness! From behind-the-scenes to exclusive deals only my CWS insiders will receive, you’ll want to make sure you’re on this mailing list. Subscribe to my newsletter here!
Find A Balance Between My Main Topics // Last year was all about zoning in and really finding where my voice is needed most online. While CWS is still a lifestyle blog, I am focusing on these four topics the most: self-care, blogging and social media, style, and intentional lifestyle. I want to make sure that I maintain a balance when it comes to posting equally about all topics, so it’s always clear what my main focuses with CWS are.
Grow In Photography // I am so thankful to be able to have access to great equipment for my blog, as my husband is hugely involved in all things digital media. I love dabbling in photography, but I want to get myself to the point of being more than just a dabbler. While I take a good majority of my stock photos at the moment, others I purchase. I want to get to the point where I take all of my stock photos. I also want to get some more lights for indoor photography, as it’s always a battle getting good natural light where I currently live.
Grow My Social Media Channels // Social media is one of the greatest ways that my blog grows and that I grow as an online influencer. Below is where I want to get my numbers by December 31st, 2017!
- Instagram – Currently: 6,730 Goal: 20,000
- This is a HUGE goal. I am being so bold in making this my goal, but I want to make it happen. Wish me luck, haha!!
- Twitter – Currently: 2,530 Goal: 5,000
- I would be greatly happy if I could double my following on Twitter. Twitter is one of my favorite tools for blogging, whether it’s popular for all bloggers or not.
- Pinterest – Currently: 3,200 Goal: 10,000
- Again, another really big goal. Pinterest is probably the best social media tool for bloggers, so I really need to tap into figuring out how to grow this platform.
- Facebook – Currently: 1,760 Goal: 3,000
- Facebook is one of my least favorite tools for growing my blog, but it is necessary to put time into it. I’d be happy with getting to 3k likes.
Follow along with me! >> Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Snapchat
PERSONAL GOALS FOR 2017:
Get Fit & Stay Fit // I feel like I keep talking about how I want to exercise and eat right, but I never actually get there. Life gets busy and complicated, but I shouldn’t let those facts be excuses for my health anymore. I want to get fit and stay fit this year and every year following, but this takes time and discipline. Let’s get real for a moment here…My main reasons for wanting to get super healthy and fit are 1. to feel great about myself and to actually be healthy and 2. to get in great shape before being a mama (hopefully sometime in the near future, haha.)
Go On A Vacation // My husband and I kind of have somewhat opposite work schedules. With him working for a church, it’s hard to take weekend trips anywhere as we always have to be at the church on Sundays. One of our goals this year is to go on a vacation. It doesn’t have to be some huge, expensive, all-inclusive vacation, but more realistically, a blissful break from our lives. We want to be intentional in making vacations a priority over time, as breaks are needed.
Find A New Hobby // Blogging used to be my hobby, but now it’s one of my professions. I am a firm believer in always having a positive outlet to turn to whenever you need it, and right now, I’m in search of a new hobby. While I love dancing and it’s always going to be a huge part of my life and heart, I need something else to turn to. Perhaps some other art form or maybe even hiking. We’ll see!
Read Some Books // If you’ve been around for awhile, you probably know that I’m not a huge book reader. But, I want to be. I love the idea of reading books, but it takes a lot for me to get to picking one up and reading through the entire thing. I can count on one hand the amount of books I have read for enjoyment my entire life, haha. I want that to change! I’m really interested in picking up some books about Christian life, theology, mental health, and intentional living. If you have suggestions in those genres, I’d love to hear them.
Own My Word Of The Year // I let the secret out about my words of the year before I said I would. I was just way too excited about it! My word of the year or 2017 is: BOLD. Why bold? There are so many different reasons, reasons that I don’t even know of yet. I had the world bold stuck in my head the last few weeks of 2016 and knew that it had to be my word for 2017. I want to be bold in taking the steps necessary to make my blogging dreams a reality. I need to be bold in my journey of overcoming anxiety and depression. I have to be bold in growing my marriage and friendships. I want to be bold in getting myself out there.
What are some of your long-term goals for the new year? Do you have a ton of short-term goals you want to accomplish? What would you say your #1 goal for the entire year would be? What are some ways you plan on achieving that goal?
Happy New Year!!
