This week’s Friday Five theme with the DC Trifecta is Goals. Since I shared my big 2015 fitness goal, to run 15 races in 2015, yesterday, I thought I’d focus today’s post on my blogging goals for the new year.
My blog grew more than I ever imagined it would in 2014. From Dancing to Running grew from just under 6,000 page views in 2013 to around 37,500 page views in 2014. The number of blog posts that I wrote in 2014 more than doubled from the number that I wrote in 2013 (from 104 to 244 posts).
Its incredible to think about just how much growth my blog experienced, and that I also experienced as a blogger last year. Some of the highlights included:
Starting to blog five days a week
Hosting my first giveaways
Having my first blog post go viral
Becoming a FitFluential Ambassador
While I’m sure that additional growth in 2015 is inevitable, I do have a number of blogging goals for myself.
1. Be better after drafting posts ahead of time, especially utilizing time over the weekend.
2. Continue to use my Google Calendar to help keep myself organized. With the number of product reviews that I’m committing to on the rise, this will be extremely important in order to ensure that I meet writing deadlines.
3. Not to be too hard on myself if life gets in the way and I can’t write my planned post. I was better about this towards the end of 2014, but for much of the year I tended to feel really guilty if I couldn’t complete my post for the next day.
4. To remain true to myself. While its easy to get caught up in the excitement of the blogging world, its extremely important that I only write about topics and products that I truly care about or think could be beneficial to me. I did, after all, start this blog as a way to chronicle my personal running journey, not a journey that others expect that I’ll take.
5. To become self hosted. I know that in order to continue to grow my blog that I’ll eventually need to become self hosted. At this moment, I don’t have the time to devote to moving to a self hosted platform, but I want to make this a priority before the end of 2015.
QOTD: What are your blogging goals for 2015?
As always, thank you to the DC Trifecta Bloggers (Courtney from Eat Pray Run DC, Mar from Mar on the Run, and Cynthia from You Signed Up For What?!) for hosting the weekly Friday Five Link Up. Be sure to check out their posts as well!
Courtney convinced me to go self hosted and I’ve got to be honest, it didn’t even take that long! All are great goals. I have a few of the same ones including prewriting posts and staying true to myself.It is definitely easy to get caught up in the little blogging world. All achievable goals here if you ask me!
Thanks Sue! For some reason, self hosting just completely intimidates me!
chiming in here to say that 1) yay sue! i know i gave you grief about it, but i hope you’re glad you went self hosted. 2) you can do it kathryn. if you have about 2 free hours – that’s about all it’ll take to get started (it’s the playing around fun stuff that sucks you in :)).
Great goals! I, too, want to be better about drafting posts ahead of time so that I will definitely get them published. I also want to switch blogging platforms, potentially to self hosting.
I’m hoping to get a little ahead on my blog writing this weekend. Have to start the year off right!
Great minds think alike (my post today is on redesign hehe). Towards the end of the year I got better at planning posts. Staying true to myself is a great goal. I know I am turned off when blog content turns to more reviews/sponsor vs. original posts about what he/she use to write about. I hope to avoid that!
That’s why I try to only commit to product reviews that I feel that I can truly connect with.
I’m thinking through some blogging changes too, but my focus is on blogging less (3-4 days a week) which should be easy but isn’t!
It definitely seems easier said than done when there’s so much you want to share!
I’m hoping to keep my little corner of the internet as funny and entertaining as I can. while still keeping it my platform for my weekly brain vomits :). I don’t want it to become like a “job” and feel committed to it every weekday, but I do like getting feedback for what I write. As far as reviews, giveaways, etc., I’ll leave that to the prople who know what they’re doing. I don’t even know what self-hosted means, lol! And I’m totally okay with it! Happy New Year my friend! 🙂
I can always count on you for my daily dose of laughter! 🙂
Congratulations on the growth of your blog! It’s always exciting to see what more can happen in the year ahead!
Absolutely!
Great goals! I’m also going to try and be better about drafting and scheduling posts in advance. I’d also like to do a redesign of my blog at some point this year.
Good luck!
As a relatively new blogger, I’m thrilled when anyone takes the time to read and especially comment. Congrats on your blogging success. Here’s to wonderful 2015.!
I’m always honored to know that others have taken the time to read what I have to say.
Congrats on the growth of your blog. I completely concur on the staying true to yourself sentiment.
I figured you would. 🙂
Gurl…. I need to get my act together too. Writing post beforehand is so important now that I’m juggling two kiddos. I need to commit myself more diligently to a time slot and get things done when I set out to do it, instead of just doing it when I “have the time.” It’s all about planning these days.
Planning is definitely key.
I always try to write my posts ahead of time and schedule them. It makes it so much easier. But yes sometimes life gets in the way and I don’t get a post done. I used to feel guilty about it too but then told myself it’s my blog and my family comes first. What an amazing year of growth for your blog girl! 🙂
Since its our blog, we write the rules on when we do and don’t post. 🙂
What a great year for your blog! Congrats!
I think you could totally go self hosted without too much trouble. I was able to figure it out, and I am definitely still a blogging newbie. 😉
My MAIN goal right now would be consistency… Something I really need to work on.
Happy New Year!
It took me about a year to figure out how to be consistent with my posting, but in time, you’ll figure it out.
Every year I try to read more blogs and comment there too. My goal last year was to change the name but it took me a little while to do it. I was nervous to make the change but felt so good when I made it.
Change is always so hard!
Blogging on a schedule is so smart!
Absolutely!
i know i comment above, but just wanted to say congrats on all your growth! that’s amazing 🙂
Thanks Courtney!
I need to start prewriting posts and using my Google calendar again – I was devoted to the calendar to keep myself organized until late in 2014 when things got crazy. And that’s when I needed it the most!
Fall and winter are always so busy!
Great goals! As I begin to blog again I want to stay more organized, it definitely helps. I love reading your blog and can’t wait to see where it grows in 2015 🙂
Karen @karenlovestorun
Thanks Karen!
Great goals for 2015! I’m slowly on my way to becoming self-hosted, as well. I’m a little nervous!!
Me too!
#4: TOTALLY agree. When I started my blog I never expected anyone else to read it and I always try to remember that. Having people read it is just an awesome bonus. Staying true to yourself is SO important.
I never expected anybody to read it either. And its amazing how this little world of blogging has brought so many strangers, but like minded people, together.
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