There’s something truly exciting about the start of a New Year. Embarking on territory not yet traveled gives us a sense of hope of great things to come. It’s also the anticipation of wondering what the year ahead will bring which translates into a tremendous amount of new found energy.
It’s also a time to take a step back and think about our own goals and aspirations – and then develop a plan to meet those goals and watch them come to fruition.
Last year at this time I wrote about Blogging with a Purpose. I mainly discussed the idea of what I really wanted out of this blog. Today, I am once again thinking about the purpose of this blog and thinking even more deeply about where I want it to go. I perform a “blog assessment” that I think should be done periodically to help keep your vision strong and your goals in check.
Ask yourself some of these important questions to gain a strong perspective about your own blog and blogging goals:
Take Stock of What You Already Do Well: What kind of writing style comes natural to you? How would you define your writer’s voice and what style do you think worked most effectively this year? What are the posts that seem to resonate with readers the most? Which posts did you enjoy writing that received some great feedback – perhaps extra tweets on Twitter or a great dialogue that began in the comments?
Really think about what your readers love about your blog and why they continue to visit. Focus on the elements of your blog that worked well and continue to capitalize on this.
Evaluate the #Woohoo and #Lame Factors of Your Blog: Do you love your blogging platform? Does your current blog design truly reflect your brand and the way you want to be perceived? Do you have a “clean” blog or do you need to remove some of the clutter? Is your blog easy to navigate and do you make commenting easy for readers? Do you encourage continued interaction with your readers? What do you want readers to know by the end of each post and what are your plans to engage readers again and again?
Really think about what gives readers that #woohoo factor for your blog and continue to maximize this. Then, inspect some of the more #lame aspects and do some necessary tweaking that fits your time and budget.
Identify Your Influencers: What is most important to you in the blogosphere – making connections? Networking? Rolling out compelling content? Working with brands? Really think about what makes you tick in this bloggy space and make it work for you. I’ve always said you have to know who you are and what you stand for, so always BE YOURSELF and above all, own your content. YOU and only YOU can define this space so be sure you are confident about each and every piece you write before you hit publish.
Really think about what you want out of your blog and then go for it! If you want to network, join some media groups and invest the time connecting. If you want to work with brands, put yourself out there and begin forming relationships with some PR folks. If you want to continuously write compelling content, research current trends and learn more about the topics you are passionate about. Continue to connect with bloggers that inspire you and then write, write, and write some more.
At the end of the day, maintain your blog because it makes you happy and don’t compare yourself to anyone else in the process. There is only one YOU so make it count! I hope this strategy was helpful and I hope to see each of you reach some of your bloggy goals this year!!
I would love to hear if you assess your own blog from time to time. What works for you and do you plan on integrating some of these ideas in 2011?
Funny, I just started a draft post today taking stock in what direction I was going…and trying to delineate my mission, my goal! I have also started getting ansy for a new theme– dangerous
I think it’s most important to ALWAYS be true to oneself when blogging. Whatever it is you write about has to be from the heart, a core part of your being, even if it’s just idle chatter – ya know? Thanks for the reminder! I haven’t blogged yet in 2011 as I’m just not sure what I feel like saying yet!
I must admit, a cluttered blog makes me hit the back button very quickly. If you have more advertising than blog, I tend to not even read it..no matter how great a writer or how interesting your blog may be.
Love all your tips!!
Great post, I have this bookmarked to come back to. I really want to figure out the right direction for my blog too. Thanks for the tips! Happy New Year! xo
Thanks Ashley!! Happy New Year!!
Great points! I need to come back and read this tomorrow when I start taking stock and reassessing!
I’ve been thinking about this, with the new year upon us. I think I keep mine pretty clean of clutter, but I need to add a few things (like a Most Popular Posts section) and probably need to post consistently. But if I don’t feel it? I won’t post.
So this is quite a timely bit of information for me, as I head into the new year signed up for BlogHer 2011 and thinking of a move to WP!
Sherri,
And that’s partly why this is the best time of year to think about all of those things…and it doesn’t mean you have to make every change at once, but if you recognize what you already have and decide where you want to go, I think it helps to keep things in perspective – which will get you to reach some of those goals. Thanks for your comment.
LOVE this Mama!! I can’t wait to clean some house! I am thinking of doing monthly wine recs on my sidebar? What do you think?
I love that idea because that totally fits YOU! Do it!!
This is so helpful, thank you! You always have great advice. I started on a whim and didn’t think much, or at all, about design. I am now working with a blog designer to make my site more user friendly and hopefully better looking! I’m looking forward to using these points to help me continue to grow, because I really just love the writing and connecting with readers!
This is a great message Heather and very important. I have been “soul searching” and trying to figure out which direction to take my blog. I think it is so important to stay true to yourself and find your own voice…at times I still thinking I’m searching for that
Timely stuff, T-Mom!
Been thinking about content a lot over the past several days, particularly as I set up the Editorial Calendar over at WordPress. While I think I’ll consider a profession design upgrade this year, and rethink what’s visible on the individual page, what I have been wrestling with is content, but specifically: how do those of you out there who have “no-holds-barred” content manage that in your day to day life? Do you get flak from the husband or mother in law or boss or teenager when they read about your sex life/your observations about insane relatives / the BS at your job ?
I have some really great ideas for posts, but I feel like I shouldn’t even consider them because small riots or fires will break out in my personal life.
But really, if the blog is MINE, shouldn’t I claim it as such and damn the torpedoes? Hmmm, wish I were braver….
2011: Finding my voice that doesn’t get muffled behind my own hand!!
You make an excellent point Alyson and in my mind, you can only write THAT kind of ‘uncensored’ conent as an anonymous blogger. When your name is attached to a blog that people directly in your life read, I think it blurs the lines and you have to be comfortable with what you publish.
I have found you can still be really open and authentic without airing ALL the dirty laundry – you know what I mean? 😉
What fantastic advice I am in the middle of re-designing and really taking my time!
Happy New Year!
Love this! I’m going to be doing some major evaluation of my blog in the next few weeks.
I feel like I need to make some changes. Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks for the great post to start off the new year. I am very new to blogging and had NO idea what I did or did not want on my blog – now that I’ve had the opportunity to visit some fabulous blogs I LOVE (and I will try not to compare or be intimidated, but that’s easier said than donen) I plan to make some changes. My number one issue is that I want to be able to reply to specific comments directly below the comment – I reply to all of my comments, but the replies sometimes end up out of order…
Okay. So I rambled. Just excited, I guess. Sorry!
I think every new blogger starts out feeling that way and the longer you blog and interact with your readers, I think you’ll notice your own “voice” will naturally reveal itself.
Thanks for the great post Heather.
I actually had to take a month-long break to step back and revamp my blog, and I came to some surprising conclusions!
I dumped my ads. Blog buttons. Stat counters. I just embraced the fact that my blog is about humor and writing–not monetizing or ranking–and I’m happier without them. Much, much happier.
Happy New Year!
What a great post, helpful and timely as always. I’m currently working with my husband on a new design on WordPress. I hope to launch a new weekly or bi-weekly cooking series once the WordPress blog goes live. And I’m always trying to find new ways to reach people – in fact, I’ll be writing for another website soon. I’m definitely mixing things up and stepping out of my comfort zone!
This was one of my favorite posts on blogging that you have written. I tend to evaluate my blog pretty regularly, especially around the New Year. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for Theta Mom in the coming year!
Hola Chica! I wanted to wish you a Happy New Year and I hope you had a fantastic Christmas! Miss all my bloggy friends… this full time job is killin me :)….. working long hours.
I wanted to say hey and I wish you well.
Grissell
Thanks for the tips!
I’m currently trying to decide if to give my blog a face life. And if I do so, how much? Complete overhaul, nip and tuck, or botox? It’s a tought decision, but this gave me some good starter points.
Great advice, as always! As with any goals, I have to WRITE THEM DOWN, so that will be my next step. As I’m evaluating where I want my blog, my family and my LIFE to go in the next year, I’m going use your tips here as a launching point. How can we hope to reach our goals, if we never take the time to stop and determine what our goals actually ARE?
Thanks again for another thought provoking post! Now, time for setting some goals for 2011!
Great post Heather, you are always so helpful! Since my blog is in its infancy I think I’m still trying to define it and still trying to find my voice. There are so many things I want to do and so many topics I want to discuss! I think I will take some time to really map out what I want my blog to encompass and how I want it to look.
As always, sound and sage advice Heather. Thank you for sharing your insights with all of us who can benefit from your knowledge! I hope you have an amazing 2011!
I love this!!!! These are really great tips for bloggers going into the new year. I have been really thinking about where I want my blog to go/how I want it to grow this year. These tips have helped me even more. I really like the idea about focusing on what I do well and on my #woohoo moments! Also, it’s so easy to compare one blog to the next, but you are absolutely right — there IS only one you, and no one can change that. Great post!
Exactly! Really maximize what you do well and form your goals around how you want to to improve!
I’m in a similar spot… I’d just started last year, so there wasn’t much to asses, but now with a year under my belt, it’s good to take a hard look at things I like the “homegrown charm” of my layout, but it’s getting cluttered… I think I could use a redesign.
I also love blogging, but when I started, I wasn’t working… now, it takes so much time.. plus, I did my budget last week.. we teachers in the south… livable wage??? BWAHAHAHA so I’m thinking maybe I should break into advertising and reviewing to see if I can make some money for my time… Just thinking at this point!
I think alot… I rarely act on it
Great tips! I just removed and cleaned house on my blog yesterday.
2011 is the year I put on my big girl panties and move to wordpress!
Smart girl
You would think with all of us rumbling on about WordPress that Blogger would be a little, just a little inclined to shake things up and help us Mama’s out?
Great post Heather, aaahhh, the changes I need to make, I should list them one by one, then we would sit at the computer side by side and fix my world …
side by side right? Come on down and get some sun – I would unchain you from my computer a little I promise (and my hub is the world’s best cook evah!)
This is the perfect time of year to reevaluate! I have been focusing on content and not so much with making changes to format or my graphics. I need to change that in the next few weeks and get back on track.
Thanks for this post. Mama, you are a blog genius. I’ve decided to be myself and even if I don’t get many comments as I wish I could what I write reflect who I am and what I want to achieve from my blog, to prepare myself emotionally and physically for the journey called motherhood, and I hope my blog can inspire others on the way.
I need some tips about networking.
The best advice I have in terms of networking is really invest some time on Twitter. Of course you can share links to recent posts and promote your blog that way, but the real networking that goes on will be found through the conversations you begin with others and the relationships that are built with peeps who have many of the same interests as you (ie: blogging). So get out there and start tweeting mama!! 😉
Thanks Mama, I am crap in the twittering idea, but this year I will give my best shot this month and the coming months.
I love this post! I am in the midst of doing this very thing. I have only been at blogging for a year now, and I know I need to take a look at it every year and evaluate where I have been and where I am headed. I love what you said about not comparing. That is a hard one, and an easy trap to fall into.
Thanks!
Denise
Thanks so much for the feedback! Glad it was helpful to you!
This is great! I’m booking marking to reread in six months!
I am definitely planning to make some changes/improvements. I’m finally going to get around to getting a professional blog header made – very excited about that.
And there is an idea that I have that is similar to something I’ve seen other bloggers do – the 50 goals in 365 days type thing. Only my idea is linked to my passion for touting the good old Garden State. Stay tuned! 😉
SaucyB’s last blog…Make Me Laugh Monday
http://bit.ly/fiUKEp
This is a smart and helpful list, Heather – as always! I’m taking stock of my blog this month and trying to set some goals. Sometimes I deal with some of the same issues as Alyson at Common Sense, Dancing. I’m reticent to air dirty family laundry on my blog and yet I’m loath to lose out on what could be great posts! I’d like to organize my time better this year so that I have more time to network in effective places and grow my blog.
Great tips dear! It’s always good to re-evaluate since maintaining a blog is time consuming.
Mine has always been a personal platform to keep me inspired and excited about life when mommyhood tries to knock me down! It’s been a real blessing. I’ve met so many fantastic people…like you! Only thing is that I have to scale back this year to focus on money-making ventures. That’s the reality of life outside the blogosphere!
i probably don’t assess as often as i should. probably only when i’m trying to start something new. it’s weird b/c what usually gets the most comments or visits is what i least expect. i have some new ideas for the new year, but i’m not sure what my readers will think of it. it’s only 1 post a month, so we’ll see.
Great advice as always, Theta Mom. I spent so much time over my winter break from school evaluating what I wanted my blog to be in the new year. I think taking a step back and looking at your blog from an outsider’s perspective is so helpful and helps you improve.
As a new blogger, my focus right now is all about writing great content!
I am definitely going to try and reconnect with my readers and blog in 2011! So far, I’m off to a crappy start, but hopefully I will get back into a routine soon!
Great points, I have been trying to reevaluate where I am at and where I am headed and have found I am overanalyzing my blog the way I overanalyze myself before I walk out the door. It is tough to be your own critic, not to mention the fact that blog decisions usually have to be made on your own and I am terrible at that.
I am alwasys assessing and always updating. Somtimes I should spend more time actually blogging. The content is the most important part and staying true to yourself and what you want is so key! I think it can help to find a partner to help keep you on track and so I’m looking for one in the new year. Any takers?
Great post Heather!
Brittany, I’d be interested in partnering with you. Although I just visited your blog, and I need waaay more assistance and advice than you do! Your site is gorgeous and the content appears to be high quality.
I LOVE when connections like this are made!! You ladies rock!!
xoxo
This was a great reality check post for me! Thanks! It is a great time of year to step back & re-evaluate things.
I feel like I’ve hit my stride a bit in where I want to be right now. Which, in itself, is a lot of work.
Or at least for me, being comfortable where I’m at means striving to continue doing what I like, well. Being comfortable is not the same as being complacent.
So I’m ok with where the blog itself is at. And I have to be sure not to let complacency sneak up on me.
Happy New Year, Heather. This post is spot on, as always. I think it’s essential to take a step back and reevaluate – as Diana Ross sang, do you know where you’re going to? Do you like the things that life (blogging!) is showing you?
Those are lyrics to live by, and since I’ve already taken a pretty big leap into 2011 (brand new look!), I’m ready to go for gold. Plus with my birthday and blogoversary coming up soon, it’s an excellent time to refocus. But I’ve got so many ideas that excite me, it’s the focusing part that’s the trouble!
Great post! I haven’t been able to keep up with reading blogs the last couple of months and I the goals I had set when I first joined ThetaMom fell by the wayside a bit. I am thankful for the new year and the opportunity to dust off those goals, adjust them and set new ones. Glad to be back here!
That’s awesome!! And how is it possible I was not following you on Twitter?? Recently fixed that!
xo
Thanks Theta Mom for the great advice. I’m going to print this out and really take some time to reread.
Happy New Year!
Wow– this is fantastic and timely information! I actually have two blogs (one more personal/writing and one design/decor) and have been thinking that it was time to refine them both. I’m considering a blog designer for one or both of them, but also just found about a DIY called Scrapblog. Thoughts?
Thanks Heidi! I worked with Lauren at Restored 316 Designs who I will be working with again as I relaunch Theta Mom this week. I would figure out how much you are willing to spend and do some homework by asking other bloggers their experience with various designers and then find the right fit for you.
The New Year has made me assess myself and my blog….which is what led me to find your blog and other mom blogs. Im the mother of 5 and spent my days blogging about decorating (which I love) but omitting my daily activities which including nursing a newborn, changing diapers, crazy hormones. So I think your idea is great and glad to have found you. Let’s make it a great year!
Fantastic! Thanks so much for visiting!!
You really have a wonderful blog….keep doing what you’re doing!
Thanks – I am in a remake mode myself and found this very helpful –