Blogging resolutions, goals and actions for 2015 - Deborah Brody Marketing Communications

It’s hard to believe that we are in January. Of 2015. After clearing the haze left from the year-end holidays, and eying the still empty 2015 calendar in front of us, what better time to consider what you want to do with your blog this year.

In order to do something (bigger, better, more, less)—anything—with your blog, you should consider creating your very own 2015 blogging plan, which should include setting blogging resolutions and goals, and then listing a series of actions to get you there.

To me, a resolution is the guiding principle (for example, I want to be a better writer) while goals are a measurable way of achieving results (following the example, publish five articles during the year). Actions are simply the steps you take in order to get there (again, per example, research publications).

So here’s your bare-bones 2015 blogging plan:

Set a blogging resolution for the year (or as some people like to do, a focus word/phrase)
Set a series of goals (make sure they are specific and measurable) to help you achieve your resolution
List the actions you need to take to get there

Blogging resolutions (choose one or write your own)

Blog regularly and consistently
Get better results/generate leads/improve thought leadership
Increase blog readers
Restart a blog
Upgrade/change the focus/redesign the blog
Be more focused on your area of expertise

Blogging goals (Pick and choose which would help you attain your blogging resolution and then add the specifics)

Create a blogging schedule/editorial calendar that includes topics, authors, target amount of posts, keywords, etc.
Write a mission/vision statement for the blog
Set aside brainstorming time each month to generate blog post ideas
Spend more time on each blog post paying attention to grammar, spelling, fact-checking
Create better headlines for each blog post that will result in (more attention, more readers, better sharing)
Implement a blog promotion plan to reach target audience
Include graphics, video and/or audio in most or all blog posts
Write a target number of blog posts per week/month/year
Experiment with a different format (podcast, vlog, live blog)
Determine specific call-to-actions to include with every blog post

Blogging actions (everybody should do most of these)

Update your blogging software, themes and plugins regularly or as needed
Review your current plugins and explore new or different versions (Do you still need all of them? What functionality is missing from your blog?)
Review your sharing capabilities (Any new social networks you want to include? Noticed any good sharing plugins on other blogs?)
Research your “competition”
Set your 2015 Google Analytics goals
Study your Google Analytics ( if you don’t know how—search for a tutorial or class)
If you use IFTTT, review and update your settings
Create graphics “warehouse” (whether server or cloud-based) where you can access and store your own pictures, images, infographics, video, etc.
Research and select an image subscription service
Determine your blog loading speed and if it is slow, find ways to improve it
Make your blog responsive already! Do you see many people without smartphones around?
Update biographies, about us pages, gravatar pictures

This is by no means a complete list. What would you add? What are your blogging resolutions and goals? What specific actions do you take to keep your blog running smoothly?

Happy New Year 2015! Here’s a virtual toast to you achieving great things with your blog this year. If you’ve never had a plan for your blog, make 2015 the year to start!