UPDATED 12/27/19 with 2019 Results:
Raise your hand if you love setting goals? I hate to admit that I kinda geek out about it – I’m really a pro at setting good ones too. My issues tend to be around completion. Seems like I run out of steam or time before the year ends. Through the years I’ve probably tried just about every method of goal setting – and I’ve learned plenty from all of them. I’ve discovered that I’m most successful when I don’t set too many goals and when the goals I set are very concrete. I need to know exactly what completing a goal looks like.
To hold myself accountable – and give me a place to come back each month and review my progress, I thought I’d share my 2019 travel blogging goals right here on my site:
- Publish at least one new post every week. Wouldn’t be much of a blog without new content, right? DONE! I didn’t miss a single week in 2019 – this was a first for me!!!
- Take at least one trip a month. A weekend trip totally counts as although I do have a lot of vacation time, it isn’t enough for a week every month! Plus school, sports, the dog, etc. Close – I missed November and December. I discovered that it is much harder to travel in the winter and holiday months. Truth be told, I did go to Austin both months, so technically I did travel, but it was for work and I didn’t blog about it, so I’m not counting those trips.
- Publish at least one article each month somewhere other than my blog. I really want to expand my experience and reach, so finding new outlets is important. Close – I published a guest post on Traveling Tonya four months, on Indy Mompreneurs four months, a post on The Yums, and a post on Travel Post Monthly. So 10 of the 12 months.
- At least one sponsored post each month. This is fairly new to me. I did a few sponsored posts in November and December of 2018 and really enjoyed the experience (and the income!). I only did one in 2019, so big fail here …
- Attend a blogging and/or travel writing event. I’ve never attended an event before even though I’ve been blogging for years and I think this would be a positive experience and a big help in growing my business as well as networking. Another fail. I did attend a few media events but nothing really geared towards learning.
- Double my social media and newsletter following. Of course, I’d love to see even more growth, but this is a start. So – if you aren’t following me now, please help me out! I doubled my social media following but not my email list. So a partial win and a partial fail.
And that’s it! I think that’s plenty and I’m sure I’ll flesh them out a bit more in the coming weeks, but if I can accomplish these six goals for my travel blog I’ll be happy with my accomplishments in 2019.
Do you create goals for yourself each year? What are some of yours? I’d love to hear about them in the comments so we can cheer each other on!
I’d love your help with the last goal! Sign up for my bi-monthly newsletter – you’ll get a free copy of Everyday Adventure Essentials, some unique material, and a sneak peek of what the upcoming weeks will contain.
Pin for inspiration: 
Love your goals! I’ve never been to a blogging event either. It would be great to attend one this year! My goals for 2019 is grow my blog audience, earn at least $1,000 a month, and land a sponsored trip.
Great goals!!!
Love these goals!
These are all great goals! I’m really trying to branch out on my local day trips. January can be so depressing that I want to liven it up a bit!
My goals are pretty similar. I believe you will reach them all!!
These are great goals Pam! I have no doubt that you will do your best to achieve each one of them. You go girl!
I just started my blog in November, I can relate to your goals. My biggest goal is to land my first sponsored post! Any suggestions?
Awesome goals! You have inspired me to set goals as well. I am coming up on a year since I launched my site and I need goals. Hope you don’t mind if I use some of yours?
Great goals! I have many of the same ones on my list.
Great goals! We like to write out our goals and make plans to achieve those goals.
I think goal setting is huge. I should sit down and come up with blog goals. I’m a teacher, so over Christmas break I had the goal of finishing the last book in my trilogy. Not there yet 🙁
Keep reading! Christmas break is awesome but it really throws you off schedule (me at least).
I love this!!!! I love that you clearly write out your goals, and are sharing them! I can totally relate with running out of steam before reaching your goal. Good luck with reaching your goals, you got this!
Thanks! I’m hoping that sharing them will keep me honest.
Your blogging goals are actually very similar to mine! I know we will both reach them this year!
Yes! Sending encouragement your way.
Great list of goals! My first goal is to put out my first newsletter, and would love to do a blogging conference. Currently planning on places to go for blog content.
Great goals!