2017 blog goals – the half year review

2017 blog goals – the half year review

At the beginning of the year I set myself some blogging goals. I did the same last year and they really helped me focus on what I wanted to achieve over the following 12months with my blog and served as good motivation whenever I felt like I was loosing my love of blogging. We are now 6 months on from January 1st 2017 and I thought I would take the half way point in the year to reflect on this year’s goals and see how I’m getting on.

My 2017 blogging goals – the half year review.

Grow social media following – I am aiming to reach 6k twitter followers and 5k Instagram followers before the year is out. Currently I have just over 4100 on Twitter so I think gaining another 2k over the next 6months is definitely possible with a bit of hard work. 5k Instagram is looking like a bit of a pipe dream if I’m honest. I have about 1500 followers on Instagram at the moment and no matter how much effort I put into it, my account is still only growing at a glacial pace. Any tips welcome and if you’re not already following me, here’s a link to my Twitter and Instagram accounts, in case you fancy it.

Buy a new theme– Done! I used some many I got from a sponsored post a few months a go and invested it straight back into my blog. I am using the Venture WordPress theme and I love it.

Start a Facebook page – Still working on this one. By that I mean I haven’t even tried setting one up yet, with Twitter and Instagram already taking up so much of my time I’m not sure if I have it in me to be able to give my all to a Facebook account too.

Start a guest post series – Check! Last month I started a guest post series where I had my blog over to a new blogger every Wednesday so they can showcase so of their own content on Naptime Natter. The series is going really well and I am really enjoying finding new bloggers and helping to get their voices out there. If your blog is less than 12months old I would love for you to get involved with The Newbie Takeover, you can find all details here.

Work with more brands – I really enjoy working with brands, be it through product reviews or sponsored posts. While I have worked some amazing brands this year including Lansinoh and Lean Mums, I am still not earning a reliable income from my blog. This is the long term goal but I don’t mind slowly working my way up. I am lucky enough to be in a situation where it’s not essential for me to be contributing cash to the family pot so even though I’d love to make decent money from my blog, I don’t mind that for now my earnings are a bit sporadic.

Be more social on social media – I am definitely chatting to other bloggers more than I was at the start of the year. I am more vocal on Twitter now and I am commenting lots of Instagram and trying to get to know my fellow bloggers more that way too. I actually met up with another local blogger not that long a go, she was lovely and the experience has spurred me on to try and make more friendships online.

Create a child free space for blogging – At the end of 2016 I wrote about creating my perfect blogging corner in my attic. After assessing the situation upstairs and realising it would take me about a year to sort out the mess, I have instead updated my original blogging space in the living room. So, it’s not exactly child free but I’m trying to spend less time blogging while the kids are awake anyway, but it is a lot better than the corner table and dining room chair it used to be. I now have myself a proper desk and office chair and have dedicated the space as MINE, no toys or children’s books allowed. I love having a proper work space and I feel like I am able to focus more and get a lot more work done while sat at a desk.

Wow! I’m feeling pretty pleased with myself right about now, we are just over half way through the year and I’ve managed to smash my way through most of my goals. Just need to figure out Facebook and grow my other social media accounts and I’ll be laughing come January 1st. I thought before I go I’d write down some more achievements from this year so far, to help keep these good blogging vibes and motivation flowing.

1. I have been featured on Mumsnet bloggers homepage twice, first with this post about Leo’s worry of growing up and then this very personal post about post natal depression.

2. I have written honestly and openly about my struggles with my mental health since giving birth to Alex last October. These posts were very difficult to write and even harder to publish but it has really helped in my healing process and I hope my words have been of comfort to other mums who are suffering.

3. I have started a linky! I never really envisaged a linky as part of my blogging life but I absolutely love hosting #BlogCrush with my lovely friend Lucy (Lucy at Home) and have got to know so many lovely bloggers that I had never heard of before.

4. I have been a featured blogger on almost every linky I join in with, this really means a lot as there are so many amazing bloggers out there and to be picked as someone’s favourite, especially from link ups that have 50+ bloggers joining in, really means a lot (see bottom of this post for links to all my favourite linkys and I’d love for you to join Lucy and I for #BlogCrush every Friday if you don’t already.

5. My confidence has grown – this year I have been up and down a bit with my blog, the strain of having 2 kids and trying to write regularly has taken its toll at times, but overall I can 100% say my confidence as a blogger has grown. I don’t check my stats as often as I used to, I’m instead focusing on writing quality content and it seems to be paying off. I’m writing what I want to write about and if I get good page views then that’s just a bonus.

I am excited to see how my blogs grows and develops over the next 6 months and I wonder what goals I will be setting myself in January 2018.

Do you blog? Have you set yourself any blog goals for the year, how are you getting on? I would love for you to share your proudest blogging achievement from the year so far in the comments. If you are a regular reader, thanks for being loyal and for reading my ramblings every week.

 

You can find this post linked to some of these amazing blog link ups –

Maternity Mondays | Marvellous Mondays | Posts from the Heart | #MG | Big Pink Link | Twinkly Tuesday | Dream Team | Tried and Tested | Blogger Club UK | Best and Worst | Family Fun | Cool Mum Club | A Blogging Good Time | The List Linky | PoCoLo |For the Love of Blog | KCACOLS  …and of course #BlogCrush, the linky I co host every Friday.

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@naptimenatter

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22 Comments

  1. July 2, 2017 / 5:47 pm

    Wow you’re doing brilliantly with your goals! I’ve never been very good at setting goals but I bet it really helps spur you on when you can tick them off!

    With Instagram, I read a post suggesting you should follow people and then Like 5 of their photos to encourage them to follow you back – it seems to work write well but it’s a bit time-consuming.

    Big fan of your lovely blog, as you know, and your posts about postnatal mental health have been fab!
    Lucy At Home recently posted…Blogcrush Week 20 – 30 June 2017My Profile

  2. July 3, 2017 / 10:45 am

    Great post-you can achieve anything you set out to-Go for it!

    #PostsFromTheHeart

  3. July 3, 2017 / 1:39 pm

    Well done to focusing on your blog goals. You are doing fab. My blog is only six months old and my goal for the next month is to go self hosted and get my own domain so I can get more creative with my theme and layout. Yours is great so I might look into venture #postsfromtheheart

  4. July 3, 2017 / 2:22 pm

    I am thinking of resetting my blog goals come sept when the kids are all in school. For the first time in ten years I will have mornings to myself!

    #bigpinklink

  5. July 4, 2017 / 11:36 am

    It’s good to have meaningful goals, I find it really helps me to sort the real wants from the fluff, so I’m not wasting time with things that don’t really make me happy. Good luck with all your work and passions! #DreamTeam

  6. July 4, 2017 / 12:12 pm

    It’s great to have goals, and it sounds like you’re well on your way to achieving them. I don’t have any specific goals set, but being more social on social media is definitely something I’m striving for. It takes so much time to do it properly! #DreamTeam
    The Squirmy Popple recently posted…Thank God my kid has a friendMy Profile

  7. July 5, 2017 / 8:13 am

    It’s great to sit down and actually make goals for the future! Something I always say I’m going to do, but never actually get around to doing! I’m with you on Instagram-it seems impossible to grow?! I took a break from it, and fell out of love with it in that time! I hardly post anymore because I almost feel over it! We are just converting a room into an office, so I’m looking forward to having my own dedicated writing space too!
    You’re doing really well with your blog, I’ll look forward to seeing you reach your goals over the next few months!
    #bigpinklink

  8. July 5, 2017 / 8:34 am

    I can’t make yearly goals, I feel awful if I don’t meet them. I do set weekly ones because those feel less pressure if I don’t complete them all. #fortheloveofBLOG
    Heather Keet recently posted…Poll Tuesday week 17…My Profile

  9. July 5, 2017 / 1:47 pm

    Congratulations! It sounds like you’re doing great. My blog goals are basically write the post, take a reasonable photo for the post and share the post. Do it again! I’m just lazy 🙂
    Tubbs recently posted…Doing Small Things With Great KindnessMy Profile

  10. July 6, 2017 / 1:05 pm

    Ahh congrats Wendy! It sounds like you’re doing really well with your blog and you’ve achieved so much when there’s still half the year to go! I’m not making any money from my blog and not sure I ever will. For me, it’s just a way of keeping my hand in to do some more writing! Good luck with the rest of your goals. #BigPinkLink xx
    Cheryl @ Tea or Wine recently posted…For Eva on Your Fourth BirthdayMy Profile

  11. July 7, 2017 / 2:29 am

    Congrats on how far you’ve come. I still have a hard time growing my followings across most platforms. Twitter seems the easiest to grow but the hardest (for me anyway) to actually get any real interaction from. Good luck going forward! #bestandworst
    Jeremy@ThirstyDaddy recently posted…Home AloneMy Profile

  12. July 7, 2017 / 10:07 pm

    Ahh how lovely to review your goals! I am the same with insta, it is the hardest social platform to grow for sure. Good luck with the rest of the year for your goals! Thanks for linking up to this weeks #bestandworst
    Helen Gandy recently posted…Bluestone Wales Review *Part 1*My Profile

  13. July 9, 2017 / 2:25 pm

    Well done on your half year goals, you’ve already accomplished so much. I set some goals, both lifestyle and blogging goals. But to be honest, instead I’ve taken a detour and started a NEW blog as well as Bringing up Georgia. But that’s life isn’t it? Setting goals and changing them depending on the direction you want to go in. Thanks for linking up to #forhteloveofBLOG
    Kelly recently posted…For the love of blog week 7My Profile

  14. July 9, 2017 / 10:05 pm

    You’re doing brilliantly with your goals. What an amazing year. I know so many people who struggle with Instagram. It’s very annoying. I hope the next 6 months go really well too. Hugs Lucy xxxx #PostsFromTheHeart
    Mrs H recently posted…In the Night Garden Live – a reviewMy Profile

  15. July 10, 2017 / 8:29 am

    This is a great post, and has got me thinking that maybe I should consider some goals of my own. Well done in achieving so much already, I bet you’ll smash the rest of the year!
    #PostsFromTheHeart
    Sadie recently posted…taking a bit of a blogging break…My Profile

  16. July 15, 2017 / 5:56 pm

    Honestly Wendy, you’re way ahead of the game in goals and wow, I kind of feel tired just reading this, I have slacked off on my blog this summer, but you’ve inspired me to pick myself up, dust off my blogging skirt and get back to work. Best of luck with your goals, can’t wait to see where you go because I know you’ll keeping going.
    Dropped by from #Blogcrush and honestly, I don’t participate as much as I’d like because I’m not good at commenting (especially mandatory).
    Hope this weekend treats you kindly and hope you’re enjoying your summer.

  17. July 19, 2017 / 7:31 pm

    I like the idea of checking your blog goals half way, keeps you motivated and seeing where you need to move forward. X #bestandworst