Update #1: Setting Goals
So here we are. 16 blogs in and I haven't given up on writing yet! I will admit, I have missed a couple of days of blogging because I got tied up, and honestly, I am really upset about those missed days. For the most part I have been fairly consistent about when I am posting, but that's another goal I can do better. Which leads into today's blog. Blog Update #1.
I want to use this as not only another post, but as something that keeps me honest. Once this is published it's out there. Sure I could take it down and get rid of it, but people would know. Whatever I say here, and whatever goals I am about to set, people will know. People are going to help keep me accountable. It may be only 5 people that actually tell me I better not mess up, but those 5 people are enough to help.
For those of you that don't know, I had been wanting to start this blog for years, but I was always afraid to. I was worried what people would say, I was worried how I would be perceived. Like anyone else that starts a new adventure, I was worried I would fail. I was straight up afraid it was gonna suck. Plain and simple. And then, all of a sudden, I had a reason. Albeit a reason that is very hypocritical of me to make a reason, it gave me a reason. School.
"Oh my goodness Jake see school is amazing and helps you do things and blah blah blah." No. Wrong. My stance on education still stands.
Now in being 100% honest, I started this blog because it was a requirement for a class that I am currently in. A class that I actually fairly enjoy the content of. (could I have learned it on my own though.. yes. yes I could have) But that simple act of having to start this, gave me the jump start. Since then I have loved every minute of it. Every word, sentence, paragraph, and post have been a great experience, and something that I want more of. I have also gained a little bit more of a following to what I say. Now... that may be 1 or 2 people who actually follow everything I write, but who cares. Those two people are my favorite followers now! But it's nice because I love to see engagement. I love to see comments and shares. I love to see people ask me questions. Likes and favorites are over-rated. But if somebody clicks on my post and actually reads it, and then feels good enough about my content to share it, then that's golden.
That's why I always base my "success" (more on that here) off of engagement. Are like and favorites a part of that? Yah sure. Are they are part that matters? Nope. Shares, time spent, re-tweets, comments, questions, that's the stuff that matters to me. Somebody can like it and NOT read it, congrats to you. You are basically just pretending to care. Somebody can like it and read it. Getting better. But if somebody doesn't press the like button, and they read it, share it with their friends, and give comments... that's the best.
Take a look at this image. This is a screenshot from March 30th, 2016 at 11:27 a.m. This is the most successful post I have ever put onto any social media. Over 2,500 views, over 40 shares, over 80 likes, and just under 30 comments. And those comments DO NOT include my replies. So to put it into a real post perspective, the things on there that mean the most to me are those shares. The fact that 43 people (almost 30% of my number of friends on Facebook) decided it was good enough to share, is unreal. I even got a share from Kyler McCormick, who is a really talented videographer that I follow on just about all social media channels. That share alone made my week. So that's what I am saying. That's what I really really treasure. Those 83 likes mean a hell of a lot to me. Because to other people that's what matters, it makes it worth something. Somebody sees that many likes on a normal profile and that is perceived as being something that matters. But those shares, and those comments, those are unbelievable.
That all being said, let's set some goals. Let's say... 5? Sound good? "Yes Jake, sounds great." Aw thanks everyone.
1.) Consistency
This is arguably my biggest problem. I really wanted my blogs to come out on the same days at the same times every week. That's been really close to accomplishing but at the same time, it isn't perfect. Ideally I would like each blog to come out around 6:00p.m. on Tuesday and Friday nights. There has been a lot of research and bleh work done to figure out what times are the best for posting, so those are the times I would like them to come out. This is a goal that I am working on and is slowly getting better. Right now, it's improving and I have strategies in place. One being that I am starting to write my blogs ahead of time, and have them scheduled to release at the right times!
2.) Quantity
Along with consistency, I really want to up the game a little bit. I would love to guarantee that there be at least two blogs weekly on the days specified above, at those times. But, at the same time, as I post more and more, I have a feeling of wanting to keep writing. So there may be another blog every week. There will be no schedule for these, and I might not even spread them on social... I'm not sure yet. I do know that chances are there will start to be some additional blogs going as long as I can still consistently fulfill the requirement of the main two blogs.
3.) Quality
This one is pretty simple. I really want to start making some of my blogs more factual and research based. Not all of them, but a couple of them every now and then. Something like the #RuleYourself blog is a decent example. That blog went into much more real world detail. It had lots of my opinion in it, but it also had lots of content that wasn't from me. So you can except lots more along those lines. Maybe something that is released or that happens, and I just want to talk about it and then give my opinion.
4.) Engagement
My #1 goal. To get more people to read, share, and comment. Not only on social, but also to find a way to attract new people to my blog that might not be connected with me on social. So if you are reading this, feel free to share! Let's grow this audience, I definitely can't do it myself. Any help is appreciated.
5.) Growth
This goes hand in hand with engagement, and takes it another step. I am working on some ideas and some processes, but long story short, I hope that this really grows into something relatively big. I by no means have a need to monetize this blog, but if a company would like to work with me and send me some products or something for me to write about... I wouldn't mind. :D
In the end, this is really for fun. I love to write these posts, and I have no reason to stop. I hope I can work on these goals because it will help me overall. I am not exactly the world's most focused person, so having actual goals and deadlines and times is something that can only benefit me and help me grow as a person.
If there is anything you would like to see me write about, let me know! Typically this blog is focused on creative markets, marketing, and motivation. So if anything can remotely fit into that category, feel free to send it my way!
Till Next Time,
