Goals and Blogs and Measuring

7 CommentsBlogging, , ,

I’m having a bad week on the blog. My numbers… my numbers are down. Not horribly, not catastrophically, but just a dismal little dip from what I’ve had the past couple of months. And, there’s not a whole lot I can do about it.

In general, my numbers tend to be a little erratic. They jump when someone reads the Science Fiction Experiment, and then… well, they fall. Last month was a really good month. And then, the numbers fell.

I’m looking at graphs, and reminding myself that I have an upward trend, over all. I’m on track to be well ahead of where I was in… June, for instance. Long term, not to bad.

I’m not sure numbers–particularly the kind of numbers I’m thinking of–constitute goals. Sure, they’re measurable, but they aren’t exactly in my control, even if they’re the result of things that are.

SMART Goals are supposed to be: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely.

Right now, my primary goal with blogging is to post something every day, except for Sunday. (or at least average 6 out of 7 days.) I can do that. It is within my control.

I could see “Contact at least (number) of similar blogs per day” as a goal, or “leave comments on (number) of blogs per day” as viable goals. I could also see variety based goals–add a podcast on Tuesday, or a read-along video on Friday as working well.

Does anybody else have ideas for SMART blogging goals?

 

7 Comments

  1. Gloria Hanlon

    Reply

    I wouldn’t worry about your numbers being down right now, it’s August! Web traffic all over the world is dropping as everyone goes on their holidays.
    You’re right to stick to what you can control instead of worrying about the stats. I would suggest going back to your initial objective in starting the blog – for example mine was to meet and engage with people who have similar interests to me, so I count success by the fact that there are people who follow my blog, and comment on it. If all my followers leave, then I’ll get worried!

  2. Gloria Hanlon

    Reply

    By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask – some people’s posts appear in their entirety in the WordPress reader, and for some (like yours) I need to click a link to go and read them. I was wondering if this is something you’ve done deliberately?
    I generally do take the trouble to read yours, but I have to say there are quite a few where I won’t bother clicking out unless the excerpt really grabs my attention, whereas I would likely have read the whole thing if it was available in the reader.

    • Karen

      Reply

      That’s a good question. Yes, it’s something that I’ve done deliberately. The big reason is that I have fiction–and some long fiction–on my website. An RSS feed (like the WP Reader) is convenient, but it also brushes up against permissions–so while it’s good for blogging in general, it’s also something that a writer really has to think about, if they’re posting writing-writing.
      I’m still hoping to sell the Science Fiction experiment, so I’m doing everything I can to keep track of who has copies, and how many people are reading it.

  3. Tirzah

    Reply

    Just so you know, I find your consistent and open blogging to be quite inspirational. I haven’t found myself able to be either of those things on my own blog. Maybe I’m focusing too much on posting “in-brand” stuff… Only getting personal when the personal stuff fits the //vibe// I’m going for.

    In any case, I’m a picky follower and a picky reader once I do follow, and you’re one of two blogs I /always/ read when I see you in my inbox. I’m still trying to pick apart the reasons so I can reproduce that x factor myself.

    • Karen

      Reply

      Thanks for the encouragement! It means a lot, especially coming from you. 🙂 My slant on the brand/vibe stuff is that since I AM the brand, whatever I post is in-brand. I’ve never met anyone online or in real life where ALL of our facets line up, but more often than not, there are enough that do, that I have some common ground. Nobody has to love everything I am, but I think a lot of people do relate to something in the scifi/thriller writing/history/language/computer/painter/artist/dancer/geek-thing that I am. It’ll work itself out.
      Do you mind if I ask what the other blog you always read is? I might not be following it, yet.

      • Tirzah

        Reply

        Well, I’ve just paid money to people to help me sell my book, and I told /them/ that I’d be blogging weekly, so we’ll see what words come of that! I’ll probably have to embrace the “what comes out gets posted” mentality.

        That would be Nothing By The Book–a “mommy blog” more than anything else, but written by a hilarious unschooling mom (who’s actually a writer professionally) and kids I can actually identify with.

        https://nothingbythebook.com/2016/07/27/the-price-of-flow/

        ^Here’s a good one of hers that showcases both her writing about writing and, um, her writing about mothering while deep in a writing streak. X)

        • Karen

          Reply

          Congratulations! That’s a huge step. If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know.
          I’ll check her out. I love people who are really passionate about parenting… even if I know I wouldn’t be.

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