I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday! I am currently off from school and trying to enjoy this winter weather in New Jersey. What did you guys do for your holidays? Any crazy blogging parties? I would love to hear about it in the comments section!
As we all know, the year 2009 is coming to a close in a few hours for a lot of us. There is always some mixed emotions when it comes to the dawn of a new year, but I know I am excited for 2010 and everything I am going to do during that year.
Both on and offline, we are all busy. School, work, family, friends all take up a lot of time, and to many of us, blogging is just something we do to take our minds off of all that and maybe even make some money from it one day. Now I started my blog at the end of 2008 and have been writing on it for a year. I can’t help but wonder where the year 2009 has left my blog standing.
New Years is the time for reflection
Besides partying, New Years is a time where we all take a few moments to reflect on the previous year and all of the things that we may have or may have not accomplished. We do this because we are always looking to improve ourselves and try to learn about the people we are.
I have met many new people through this blog who have just started their blogs in 2009. Luckily, most of those people are still blogging today on their now, almost one year old blogs. As someone who has been blogging for over a year now (Blogussion turned one!), I know I have a lot to reflect on regarding my workflow and how well this blog performed in 2009. Even if you started your blog in November, sit down and reflect on what you have done so far. It’s the new year; it’s a time for change.
I have compiled a list of questions you can ask yourself to really help you get a good idea of where your blog has gone this last year. Feel free to share any of your answers in the comments section below.
- Is my traffic the best it could be for my level of blogging and size of my community?
- What do I wish I could have accomplished in 2009?
- What are some things I have learned to do when it comes to writing content? Not to do?
- Is my content the best it can be?
- Are my priorities straight for what I need to accomplish?
- Did I make more promises on my blog than I could keep?
- Are my older articles still being read?
- How much attention has been given to search engine optimization?
- Do I “act now” or later on my idea?
- Am I harming my blog in any way?
- Do I understand the concept of “giving more than I get back?”
- Am I making money blogging the right way?
- How well am I connecting with my readers?
- Am I trying anything new to improve my writing style?
- Am I a productive blogger?
But don’t stop there! Go through your blog, and just ask questions about everything you have done so far. Breakdown every aspect of your blog. From the plugins you use to your blogging frequency — ask yourself why you do everything and you will uncover some pretty meaningful things about your blog.
New Years Resolutions
If you follow the tradition, you probably sit down and make a list of ways you want to improve yourself for the new years. I set goals for myself at the beginning of the new year, and I try to write them so they get me motivated every time I look at them.
I make a whole bunch of them though — blogging goals, freelancing goals, school goals and just anything I want to do in the upcoming year. But like I said, it’s all about making them memorable.
We all want to achieve these goals we set for ourselves in the beginning of each year, but I can almost guarantee that not everything we set for ourselves we achieve. I know there are some things I wish I could have done in 2009 but can’t now.
Here are a few quick tips for setting up your resolutions to where you might actually get things done!
- Write them down
Simple, right? I would advise not to put your goals on your computer since they will be a lot less noticeable to you than they would be on a piece of paper hanging above your computer or something like that. - Be broad
- The little things count too
There’s a lot of time in a single year, so why not make your goals a little broad? Put yourself to the test and see how well you can achieve a long-term goal. Usually long-term goals are the most beneficial to accomplish anyhow.
Mix it up a little, create long and short-term goals for yourself over the year. Like I said, 365 days is a lot of days. Keep yourself motivated to achieve those long-term goals by succeeding at your shorter term plans. Sense of accomplishment has to be the best motivator I can think of.
The important thing about any resolution is to be realistic. Don’t say you want to build a multi-million dollar empire by the end of 2010. Chances are, it won’t happen. Plus, when you fail, you will have a feeling of failure rather than of accomplishment.
What’s in store for you in the new year?
I really want to hear about the plans you have for your blog. Share the answers to the 15 questions I asked above, tell me about the goals for your blog in 2010. I can tell you now that Blogussion is going to rock in 2010. Now tell me the same about your blog!
Happy 2010 everyone, let’s make it a great year!
49 Discussions
2009 has been an incredible year for me and my business. Seen great growth both personally and business wise. I disagree with broad goals though. Big goals yes, but I think they should be specific big goals. In my experience, broad goals tend to be accomplished less often due to the uncertainty involved with being broad.
Brendan Wenzel´s last blog ..Use Other People’s Traffic to Build a List
2009 really got me started in this whole blogging thing, so I’m with you man, it was a great year!
But why not want to think big? Sometimes I think a little unrealistically to get motivated. I know that nothing will be immediate, but the thought of achieving that goal one day makes it all worth it to me.
Alex´s last blog ..The Unstrapp’d List of 30 Young Entrepreneurs of 2009
One thing I really loved about the 4 hour work week is that Tim Ferris takes you through an exercise where you write out your dreams. And they are usually pretty big! Awesome part of that book.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with having big goals.
For example, my wife and I want to move to Alaska from Utah. Although this is a HUGE goal, there are many sub-goals and steps before that. We are realistic about those steps, the hardwork it’ll take, and so on.
It’s also nice to have something at the end of the tunnel. This always keeps me motivated.
Best of luck this year, Brendan!
Chris Palmer´s last blog ..A New Year for AOA
2009 has been a great year for me in terms of learning. For the coming year, I plan to put those things which I had learned into action.
Planning big sometimes makes me lose sight of smaller goals. Yes there is no harm in planning. At times my big goals just seem like dreams so it does tend to be followed up less.
Lets all hope that 2010 is a happy one for all of us!
Need ideas for blogs and stop writers’ block?
Good questions to ponder about the current situation about anyones blog.
Great point that 365 is a LONG time, something I was thinking about and tweeted the other day. I’m still taking my blog and it’s goals one month at a time in terms of setting goals. Sure I’ll set a few goals for the year (my biggest personal goal is to make a living online, not necessarily through just through blogging) but I think ultimately you can only take it small steps at a time to reach those big goals at the end.
2010 is going to be a very different year for me personally. Last year I was working for ‘the man’ dedicating 13 hours a day to my 9-5 job (including transport). 2010 I will be working for myself, no solid income as of yet but all the time in the world. What a ride it will be!
Good luck to everyone
Sarge | BeginnerBlogger.com
9-5 jobs are no fun, I know from experience too my friend. But, I think the work I have done in 2009 will set me up for starting a business that could earn me some decent money. But hey, only time will tell, and I have 365 days to find out before 2011.
Alex´s last blog ..The Unstrapp’d List of 30 Young Entrepreneurs of 2009
My 2010 sounds like what your 2009 was like. I’m going to be getting all the experience I can get in the industry of online marketing, social media, blogging etc which is where my passion lies and feel I will be doing for a very very long time!
Get that experience and apply it which will hopefully set me up for financial and lifestyle success
Sarge | BeginnerBlogger.com´s last blog ..Christmas Prize Winner is….
Sarge. Just curious, what’s your end game other than ‘financial success’? What’s your end purpose and goal? What would you like to have been known for doing?
Just curious to hear this from other entrepreneurs. Thanks!
Chris Palmer´s last blog ..A New Year for AOA
Chris – I’d love to be known for my blogging, social media, online marketing and blog design by the end of 2010. These are my key interests and I can see myself in those areas for a very very long time. I was working in the online marketing team as a web designer for a large company before making the decision for leave full time work completely. That got me a taste of what I wanted to do and now I’m doing it!
Even if I don’t make financial success on my own in those areas I would love to work for others in those areas if need be.
Sarge | BeginnerBlogger.com´s last blog ..Beginner Blogger Stats and Goals – Dec 09-Jan 10
Also, just wanted to let you know you’ll work harder by yourself than you would at a ninetwofive. Difference is, your work actually has a purpose. You may have heard this quote before… “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life”.
Chris Palmer´s last blog ..A New Year for AOA
Hear hear. That’s probably the number 1 reason I left. I loved working my full time job, the people were awesome I just didn’t really have that burning passion I do for their product than what I have with working on my own projects. Which I simply didn’t have the time or energy to work on while dedicating 13 hours a day to working for someone else.
Sarge | BeginnerBlogger.com´s last blog ..Beginner Blogger Stats and Goals – Dec 09-Jan 10
That’s what I was thinking … I mean you don’t have to hate your 9 to 5 job if you have a passion for it. After all, you will enjoy doing something only if you love it. Making money online is the same, if you are passionate about something, then you can really spend time on it and not feel its work.
Good luck to you, Sarge!
For Bloggers Who want to Stop Writers’ Block
Happy New Year Alex,in 2010 I will give more times on blogging, twitter and facebook. I mean my major focus will be draw revenue from blog, twitter and facebook.
I am expecting 2 times more revenue from this site, what I’ve got in 2009.
I hope the time you spend on Facebook and Twitter goes towards marketing, and not so much fooling around. :p Only joking of course.
I would maybe like to start earning money more passively in 2010, but I’m not really setting out to do something like selling ads so I don’t know how well that will work!
Alex´s last blog ..The Unstrapp’d List of 30 Young Entrepreneurs of 2009
Hey Chris.
Best of luck this next year. Remember that it’s very easy to be optimistic. Be real, keep your expectations real, and just BE real. If there’s anything I have learned about blogging, it’s that it is personal. It puts a real face on a company.
By living these principles, I’ve seen a 500% increase in my Facebook followers over the last 3 weeks, in addition to the heightened blog participation.
Good luck!
Chris Palmer´s last blog ..A New Year for AOA
2010 will hopefully be a big year for me. Not only am I looking to expand my revenue, but I’m also focusing on helping people out more than ever this coming year, and the core of that will through a community that I’m going to be running. I’m sure it will be great.
Happy New Year!
Static | ahnternet´s last blog ..2010 Goals For BloggersBB
It sounds like you have quite a plan! Good luck with it, it will be quite a ride no doubt.
Alex´s last blog ..The Unstrapp’d List of 30 Young Entrepreneurs of 2009
Heya Alex!
I’ve been so out of touch with everyone here. Shooting for movie is how I am enjoying as winter vacations and it’s keeping me away from internet a lot. Thanks for sharing great tips on New Year Resolution and blogging reflection for year.
There is great love here for us. All is well.
Hey, at least for the time you have been away you have been doing something cool! Tell me about the movie.
Alex´s last blog ..The Unstrapp’d List of 30 Young Entrepreneurs of 2009
Sure! Will send ya a mail soon
King Sidharth´s last blog ..Chanting for Beginners
Happy new year brother.
Dinesh´s last blog ..Evernote reached 2 Million Users
Same goes to you my man, any big plans for the blog?
Alex´s last blog ..The Unstrapp’d List of 30 Young Entrepreneurs of 2009
Yeah, i have just started my blog and i am thinking of taking to the next level and i would also like to come close of other bloggers to create a sort of community.
Dinesh´s last blog ..Hain Baaton Mein Dum? – Hindi Eassy Writing Contest Organised By Google
Hey, there…Happy New Year…! Well it has been 3 months since i started my blog..And your articles have helped me a lot. I have learned many things from you..! And I must say you are very creative. I love both of your blogs.! Well keep up the good work..! Thanks for all your articles which helped me a lot..!
Shubham´s last blog ..Nexus One- Google’s New Android Phone
That’s great to hear! It’s cool how you have implemented some of the stuff I taught over at Asnio onto your blog. I really want to get that blog going again, now there’s a goal for me in 2010!
Alex´s last blog ..The Unstrapp’d List of 30 Young Entrepreneurs of 2009
Yes setting goals are really easy task to do but implementing them really need great determination and continue effort as well.
I note down my all goals and acccording to category I divide them like for blogging in blogging head, for money in finance head, for children in family head. After that I fix them in months or weeks and in this way achieving them or reaching near to them is really easy.
ZK @ Web Marketing Blog´s last blog ..Beyond Blogging : 15 successful bloggers teach you to blog in the New Year
Damn, it sounds like you really are organized when it comes to setting your goals! But that’s not a bad thing! How does that system work out for you?
Alex´s last blog ..The Unstrapp’d List of 30 Young Entrepreneurs of 2009
2009 is definitely over and I’ve got some really good ideas for 2010! I plan on making at least 6 figures this coming year, and I’m going to work as hard as it takes to make it happen. Very inspirational post, thanks for it!
Blogger Den´s last blog ..How To Make Google Local Business Center Work For You
6 figures? Quite the goal. But of course, I wish you the best of luck with anything you do on your blog.
Alex´s last blog ..The Unstrapp’d List of 30 Young Entrepreneurs of 2009
@Everyone of us converging on Blogussion- Happy New Year
!
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@Static, I’m sure BloggerBB will be a success.
2010 will see me working on my current blog and a second one which is scheduled to go live in February. This year will also see me going places with my offline work. Happy New Year Alex and thanks for the tips and links
You too Kwame, doing any partying to celebrate the new year?
Can’t wait to see the new blog! Any hints at what you’ll be blogging about?
Alex´s last blog ..The Unstrapp’d List of 30 Young Entrepreneurs of 2009
Alex,
I wish you and everyone else with Blogussion the best for 2010. It will sure be a very interesting year with many bloggers including myself striving for big goals, but ones that are surely achievable. As you know I have recently start the blog, UtterMag, but my first blog (LifeNotion) is the one I will focus on.
I have chosen to focus on LifeNotion, because it has lots of potential and there is really no other blog like it. So, in 2010 you are going to see more daily content and an ebook. Things are off to a good start with a writing contest that I hope to see what other people’s lifestyle tips are.
Keeping my 2010 goals in the back of my head is going to be needed while I stay busy with LifeNotion and being a very active student.
Best Regards.
Derek Jensen´s last blog ..Share Your Lifestyle Tip. Win a Flip Video.
Happy New To Everyone here, 2009 was a great year, achieved lots of my goals i hope 2010 will be better and more of achievements to come.
Having fun around see you guys again…
Link Exchange Forum´s last blog ..Happy New Year to you all
2009 was a great year. But I’m ready to move on. It’s time to take the knowledge I’ve learned and take it to the next level.
One thing that I’ve been thinking about in line with new year resolutions is this: Why not make EVERY day a fresh start to a new path? Why wait until the end of the year to reflect on what’s gone on and what we can improve?
As entrepreneurs, the best thing we can learn to do is reset when needed, reflect when necessary, and surge ahead when it’s most important.
If many people waited until the end of this year to say, ‘We’re in an economical recession and this is the perfect time to grow my business!’, then they missed out on HUGE opportunities.
Although I did write my own New Year Resolution blog, I also investigated the fact within my own mind as to why it is I have to measure goals based on the end of the year.
Just food for thought.
I think that all the time Chris – people keep waiting for the new year to start so they can start ‘fresh’ but they don’t realise that time is ticking away every single second of the day. They’re wasting time!
Why wait until the new year just because of the date?
Sarge | BeginnerBlogger.com´s last blog ..Beginner Blogger Stats and Goals – Dec 09-Jan 10
Amen. The time is now. Let’s put 2009 and yesterday behind us and move on for TODAY.
Chris Palmer´s last blog ..A New Year for AOA
Hey Alex! So… Blogussion fell a little short of my top 10,000 prediction. No big deal. I was a little too excited when I made that prediction.
Nonetheless, you and Seth have done an incredible job. I remember routinely being the top 2 or 3 commentators and now I can rarely crack the top 20.
As I’ve told you numerous times, this site has been a huge inspiration to me. Here are my goals for 2010:
1. To have an Alexa ranking in the top 40,000. (from 627,694)
2. To sell a total of 3,000 books. (from 31)
3. To have a post with over 100 comments. (from 32)
Thanks for all you’ve taught me. By the way, I published my new Thesis site today. If you get a chance, you should let me know what you think.
Hey Alex,
I lost touch with the blog community! Don’t know if you still remember me
My resolutions are to always keep learning and stay in touch with other bloggers!
At one point, I thought I knew everything about making money online, but man was I wrong! I think people will never know TOO much.
Keep in touch!
Regards,
Kai
Since readers seldom dig out old blog posts to read, it is better that we rewrite and add new perspectives to older blog posts.
scheng1´s last blog ..Baby and Fresh Air
Instead of rewriting older posts, why not keep a link rotating somewhere so that newcomers can see the topic and would click on what interests them.
There are tons of useful posts that are just lost in the jungle of articles. Very few would go through the archives. So it would help to have article titles in rotation.
Just a thought.
For Bloggers Who want to Stop Writers’ Block
You certainly have interlinking down to a science.
Happy New Year my friend!
Dennis Edell´s last blog ..PLEASE COMMENT – Have You EVER Used The Added Feature Of My Subscribe To Comments Plugin??
Hi Alex,
I started my blog in mid-2009 and it has gone from strength to strength. I had neglected it a little towards the end of the year due to other business commitments but 2010 is where I and indeed my blog, will make its mark online!
I intend to put lots of great content on there and also get into guest posting on other blogs in a big way too, so I will be in touch about that in the near future
All of my goals are written down in my latest blog post (link below) so if you have a few minutes spare, take a look and let me know what you think!
David
David Walker´s last blog ..New Year’s Resolutions 2010
Getting more traffic is my every year goal.
Jayce´s last blog ..How to hack Facebook account profile
2009 was a great year for me, I achieved loads of things I wanted to do and met many people who I think will be friends for life. But in 2010 I’m looking forward to getting involved more with blogging!
Jane @ Mobile Phones with Free TV´s last blog ..Mobile Phone Free TV
Wish you all the best Alex!
Tinh@eblogtip.com´s last blog ..SWF Quicker 4.7 for FREE Download Worth $90
2009 has been a great year for me in terms of learning and some other thinks…..and for those who are sports loving person and looking for some excitement. this year Super Bowl XLIV will take place in Miami, Florida for a record 10th time on Feb. 7th 2010.Super Bowl is always an amazing experience for me and 2010 in Miami will be no different so reserve your Superbowl tickets, it is going to be great….have fun………….
I hope I can win some Superbowl tickets!
Kai´s last blog ..Advanced Link Building With Blog Comments
Best of luck on all your goals!
Like most people, my new years resolution is to be healthier and happier over the course of 2010