As I wrote in my review of my 2009 blogging goals, it’s important to have goals, even if you don’t achieve them. I didn’t achieve any of my 2009 goals, but the progress I made on them because they were set is important as well.
Without setting them, it’s probable progress would not have been made in any of those areas. It certainly wouldn’t have been as much.
So what am I looking to achieve in 2010, and why am I telling you?
Let’s start with the latter question. I’m telling you because I want you to be a part of this. After all, without you, this is just me typing. But with you, it becomes a conversation. You are an important part of this blog.
Also, one of the reasons I wasn’t successful in my 2009 goals was because they weren’t visible to me. I want them out there so I can be held accountable for them and I can see them.
Before I start listing the goals, I wanted to share something about goal setting I learned from Chris Brogan’s blog. I talked about this on the year end edition of Bloglines. Brogan writes:
Let’s agree to make SMART goals: Simple, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely goals that you work towards to achieve your own success. Let’s put those goals out there and then work on them every week.
When I sat down and wrote these out, it was with that in mind. So, what is it I want to accomplish this year?
Goal #1: 3,000 RSS Subscribers
As of this writing, All American Blogger has 1248 subscribers. In order to achieve this goal, I have to encourage another 1752 people to add AAB to their RSS reader or their e-mail. That comes out to 4.8 subscribers a day.
One thing about achieving this goal is providing quality content. Several of my other goals revolve around this. By working toward those goals, I am also helping to achieve this one.
I’m also going to try to cross post writing on other blogs, with a simple redirection back here encouraging people to subscribe. I do that already on Right Wing News, but I’m thinking of branching out. That is, if the other blogs will have me.
If you want to help, the first thing you can do, if you haven’t yet, is simply subscribe. You can also help me by encouraging people you know to read and subscribe. If they don’t understand RSS, direct them to this page, which explains everything.
Goal #2: Average 2,000 Unique Visitors Per Day
This is a goal from last year. While the year started off well, it really went downhill, and I can tell you why.
Here’s a look at my visits last year, according to Google Analytics:
That peak in February was on the 12th. I had 10,111 visitors that day. Google tells me one article that day brought in the bulk of them, and I wrote about six words of that article.
StumbleUpon flooded the site because the post was a hot topic. From March to July, the analytics show nothing. I really don’t know what happened then, but the site wasn’t sharing with Google.
The peaks in July show 2,719 and 3,121 visits, respectively.
Towards the last part of the year, I wasn’t creating any content for the blog that was link worthy. I was creating content, but it was generally a link post with a short blurb and a bit of commentary. Not stuff that brings in a lot of traffic generally. That really hurt the numbers.
This again comes down to creating content that people want and are motivated to share. StumbleUpon sends me a majority of my traffic. Unless someone finds something worthy of a “thumbs up,” it won’t be passed on.
Goal #3: 5,000 Newsletter Subscribers
The blog had a newsletter at one time, but lack of attention on my part led to its demise. This time, I plan on being a better steward.
As of this writing, I have a few ideas on how to make the newsletter a success, but nothing concrete. When I have a plan, we will launch it.
Goal #4: Create a Thriving Forum
I talked with Andrew about this recently and we both decided that it’s something that can be put off for a while. A thriving forum would be nice, but it isn’t something I have time to create and nurture.
If there were someone out there who thought they could take on the responsibility of running one, I would be willing to talk with you about it, but as for now, the forum is on the back burner.
Goal #5: Publish an E-book
Another goal from last year. I have a pile of research on the topic and all I need to do is get started. Last year, I thought about starting several times. Never did.
This year I plan of being done by June.
Goal #6: Write 52 High Quality Original Articles
This is really the linchpin of the entire list. So many goals depend on this goal.
The problem I see in completing this one is having a full time job plus a wife and five children. Since hopefully neither one of those is going to change, unless it’s for the better, I’m going to have to manage my time better. iCal on the Macbook is going to become a bigger part of my day, as is practicing the skills taught in Getting Things Done.
The plan is to actually set aside time to write, rather than trying to fit it in when I find a few minutes. This has led me to write shorter posts, with little time for longer, detailed articles.
Goal #7: Become a Paid Columnist Again
Getting writing gigs is tough these days. In order for me to get another paid column, I am going to have to perform here first. By focusing on quality articles here, hopefully it will lead to getting paid for quality articles somewhere else.
Goal #8: Win the 2010 Weblog Award in My Category
First I have to be nominated. And to do that, I have to be worthy.
Focusing on quality content will make this more likely.
Goal #9: Produce a VLog Every Week
I did a few Vlogs last year, but never found the consistency in production I was wanting. The plan is to block aside time during the week to create these videos and then release them every Wednesday.
Goal #10: Produce a Bloglines Every Week
Last year I started with a Bloglines every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. That was a bit too much, so I scaled it back to once a week. Then I found it easy to simply replay an interview from earlier in the year. I did that often, which really cheated the listener.
This year, I already have three done, so most of January is already in the can. By scheduling things ahead of time, I should be able to keep ahead of the game and give you a new interview each week.
Goal #11: Produce an “All American Radio” Every Week
My first show on RFC Radio was All American Radio, sort of an audio version of the blog. I didn’t keep up with it every week, hard to believe, and let it go into the ash heap of history.
I’m bringing it back, but not on RFC Radio. Not right away, anyway. I want to get a rhythm down where I am able to kick these out regularly before I commit to a dedicated time slot. That way, I know I will not let down anyone associated with the station.
Therefore, I’ll be doing it as a podcast. When I get it set up, I’ll post something on it here.
Goal #12: Land 12 “Big” Interviews
At one time, I had it set up to interview Ted Nugent.
No lie.
It fell through. This year, I want to nail it down and get it down. I’d also like to talk with John Stossel.
In my interview with John Hawkins, we talked about getting big interviews. He said the secret was, “Ask.”
Let’s test that system out this year. One a month.
Goal #13: Increase Reader Engagement in Comments
I plan on being present in the comment section more. I figure if you take the time to write, I can at least take the time to acknowledge your comment.
Goal #14: Publish At Least 5 Blog Posts Daily, 350 – 500 Words Each
Let me show you something neat from Google Reader.
According to the stats there, Jim Hoft at Gateway Pundit averages almost 75 posts a week. That’s 11 a day. I don’t know how he does it, but he’s knocking them out right and left.
However, one thing about his posts is there is not a lot of commentary from him. I’d like to differentiate from him in putting more commentary into fewer posts. While I don’t have time to churn out 11 posts a day, perhaps five longers posts, combined with a longer weekly article style post will help take the blog to the next level.
Goal #15: Reach 1,000 Facebook Fans
With over 5,000 newsletter subscribers and 3,000 RSS subscribers, I should at least be able to garner 1,000 fans out of that. The challenge will be getting Jimmie Bise, Jr of The Sundries Shack to finally join Facebook.
Maybe that should be goal #16. Nah. I think I have enough on my plate in 2010.
There are several ways you can help me accomplish these goals. If you like an article, share it. Join StumbleUpon and give a post you like a thumbs up. Or share it on any of the social networking sites you are a part of. Between the Facebook, Twitter and Sociofluid widgets on each post, I should have most of the big ones covered.
Of course, you can also share posts on forums like Free Republic.
And there’s always e-mail.
Finally, just send me an e-mail saying you like something or just encouraging me. Knowing that someone actually reads this thing motivates me to do a better job.
