Blog Goals 2012 ~ How Did I Do?

Previously on Decor Adventures…

Doesn’t that sound like the beginning of a dramatic sitcom? Like Downton Abbey, love it!

You gave me a grade on my achievements on my home goals of 2012. So today we’ll review the goals I made for blogging. I don’t often make goals for life per say, but apparently when you do, you accomplish about 90% of them or something. Have you heard that?

So blog goals. I had 6 goals and some miscellaneous items. I think I did pretty good.

Make Friends

This was my top goal and I’m really happy to say I did so. My trip to Haven was a big part of it. But I’ve also taken some time to be supportive of other bloggers and generally reach out. The blog community is a really generous one to be a part of, and I hope I can continue to meet you and do some fun things together.

P.S. I got my ticket for Haven this year, did you?

Plan It Out

Planning when you blog is almost a must. I have a loooong spreadsheet where I list all of my post ideas, links I’ll use, and time of the year when I’ll write the post on a Google Doc. This has helped me a bunch, especially when I don’t have any idea what I’ll write about on any given week.

Here is a sneak peek of what’s to come. I painted the fireplace in my office and put up a gallery wall, who knew!

This year I also started a calendar for posting. I plan to post 3 times a week. Get ready!

Pretty Photos

We know that photos can make a blog. Well, who doesn’t want to look at pretty pictures? We were lucky enough to get a Canon DLSR late 2011, so my photos went from this,

to this

With some paint and furniture an paint thrown in there of course. I love the camera and am practicing with it often.

Next up, Connect, Connect, Connect

This goal was about meeting, greeting and having fun. I think I did a little bit of it, but I’d like to do a lot more. Namely:

Host a giveaway – I’ve actually never done this
Participate in hosting a blog link up  – With other bloggers. You want in?
Advertise more – I’ve done a few product reviews, but I definitely want to partner with the right brands and expand my horizons that way. 

Help You Out

One thing I need to definitely pay more attention to is making my posts useful for you readers. I know that’s what people look for and doing ‘How To’ posts and tutorials are so much fun, so I will be planning on more of those in 2013. I want to make things fun and interesting, count me in on that.

Lastly, Identify Success

This was kind of a reflective goal. A way for me to think about my motivations for blogging and realize how I can get better at it. Blogging is my outlet from my professional job and my graduate studies and I think beginning with the end in mind can serve me well.

Do I need to think more about it? Absolutely. Will it help me in 2013? I think so.

My miscellaneous items included getting a professional picture – check; getting business cards – check, check; and switching to Word Press was a question on that item. While I didn’t get that far, I’m definitely planning on it ASAP.  Advice is welcome.

Did you make blog goals?  How did you do?