Goals. Most of us have them. Many of us have no clue how to achieve them.
I’m a blogger. More specifically I’m a mother, wife, freelance writer & photographer, blogger and mini-zoo keeper, among other things. I haven’t had a “real” job in many years. For 7+ years I had my own home business making party favors and business promotional products. I was very passionate about what I did and loved my business. As with anything else it served it’s purpose for me at that point in my life and I eventually lost interest in it and closed down.
When I still have my home business several people suggested to me that I start a blog and write about my business to help attract more customers and to retain the customers that I already had. The problem is that writing about my business was boring. REALLY boring. I found that I preferred to write about whatever was on my mind, from the box of Gingerbread cookies that I purchased to the day we found six ticks on our puppy. Blogging about life in general was more interesting then writing about my business.
I started blogging for the fun of it. It was an outlet for me. I love to write and it seemed like the perfect thing to do. I knew of other blogs and read a few. I just thought they were people like me who just wanted to write. I didn’t know that blogging could lead to profits, trips, speaking engagements and popularity.
I started blogging in 2008. It wasn’t really until 2010 when I really got into blogging and trying to figure out how to make money for my family through blogging. That has been a goal of mine for a couple of years now. I don’t expect to give Bill Gates a run for his money, and I doubt I would make $50,000 a year as a blogger (although some bloggers make that much and double that amount each year!). In a perfect world I would love to make $500+ a month (or more!) through my blog. I haven’t been able to accomplish that yet, but I keep trying.
I would love to be invited on more trips. I hear about bloggers who get invited on the most amazing trips all the time. It seems like the same bloggers too. I have been invited on my fair share of trips (Hollywood, Italy, Canada, San Francisco, Cancun, Cabo, North Carolina…). Sadly I don’t get to go on most of them because I cannot drive to our nearest airport and I have no one who can drive me to/from the airport so I have to rely on car service. At $250+ a trip ($125+ each way) I have to save every penny I can and pick and choose which ones to go on. Having a family also dictates what trips I can go on. I don’t want to be away from them too long. I know some bloggers can go away several times a month for days at a time. I can’t do that. I enjoy being around my family and miss them terribly when I’m not with them. If I was able to make more money with my blog I could go on more trips.
Some bloggers get to take their entire family on trips. That is one of my ultimate goals. My family has not been on a “real” vacation in 10 years. We went to Disney World compliments of my mother who paid for almost everything. We just had to pay for park tickets and food. She paid for transportation, car rental, airplane tickets and the house we rented.
When I read about bloggers who get to take their spouse and children to wonderful places it makes me feel very sad that I can’t do the same for my family. The only vacation we ever go on are local day trips to the beach or the state park. My kids are getting older and I want to be able to enjoy as much time with them as I can and make as many memories as possible. A real vacation with my family would truly be a dream come true. Of course this could all come back to making money from my blog.
There are thousands (millions?) of bloggers out there. I’m grouped in with the “mom blogger” group. There is nothing wrong with that (I’m a mom and I blog) but there are so many mom bloggers that it’s next to impossible to stand out from the crowd. I’m NOT saying I want to be “Queen of the Mommy Bloggers” – no way! I just want to be known. I want people to say “Oh yeah, She Scribes. I know that blog” (something along those lines). I want to be recognizable. I want people to know who I am.
There are some bloggers that I am very envious of. They always seem to get the best opportunities, speaking arrangements, sponsorships to attend conferences, awesome ambassador programs and more. I don’t know if it’s more so “who you know” or “what you know” to afford you such amazing opportunities. What ever it is I want in on that action too.
I wanted to attend BlogHer this year and two years ago when they were both held in New York City. I live 27 miles NW of the city so airfare is not needed. I would need to cover the ticket, hotel and any other expenses. Sadly I can’t afford these things. I can’t take away from my family’s budget to attend BlogHer or other conferences. I see that some bloggers get to go to BlogHer totally free because a company sponsors them. I don’t know how people get so lucky. Just once I’d love to attend BlogHer but I know I never will because I can’t afford it and I don’t have the connections or know-how to get sponsored.
Aside from $$$ (or lack there of) another big problem I have is that I’m VERY shy. When I am able to attend events I don’t talk to anyone and tend to stick to myself. I’m the one hiding in the corner of the room. It’s not that I don’t want to talk to people, it’s just that I’m VERY shy and I have zero confidence and self esteem. I have also found that at many events most bloggers know other bloggers and they tend to stay together and don’t really allow anyone else into their clique.
Being shy might make me seem snobbish. I’m NOT!!!! I’m just the opposite.
I know at many events bloggers make connections with other bloggers and PR people. Those connections often translate into opportunities. It’s those connections that I really want to be able to make. It’s so hard to do when I am painfully (and ridiculously!) shy.
I’d like to think I’m a good blogger. I’m nice, personable and dedicated to my blog and being the best that I can be. I pride myself on honest reviews. I also work on my blog almost 7 days a week. I know I do get behind sometimes, and I apologize for that. As a mom “life” sometimes gets in the way and knocks you off track. I know that sometimes I get behind in my postings but I always do my very best to get caught up, even if it means writing 5+ posts a day. I’m certainly NOT a blogger who takes review products and doesn’t review them. Not me! I always review products that are sent to me.
I’m sorry to ramble so much. I guess in a nutshell my blogging goals are…
– Make $$$ for my family and so I can afford to go on more trips.
– Find opportunities that will allow my family to have some fun and go on great trips like other bloggers do with their families.
– Make more connections (PR and other bloggers)
– Find a way to stand out of the crowd, even a little bit, so people will notice me for opportunities and ambassador programs.
– Get sponsored so I can attend BlogHer (or other conference) at least once in my life.
Other bloggers you know are going to be writing similar posts. If you want to check them out, or write your own blog goal post, visit Mom Dot and either check out the links or link up to your post.
http://www.momdot.com/blog-goals-lets-talk-about-them.
Do you have a blog? If so, what are your blogging goals? If you are not a blogger what other goals do you have? I always love to hear from my readers.
Kimberly
Theresa @ Faith and Family Reviews says
Thanks for sharing your blogging goals. There’s lots of talk on the forum about how to get sponsorships for conferences, but I recently came across this article:
http://blogconferencenewbie.com/prepping/getting-sponsored/sponsorship-how-do-i-get-sponsor/
Many of your goals are very attainable. I have been making $500 with my blog for over a year. More now that I am a part of Social Fabric and am getting more Mom Central opps. Sponsored posts, The Motherhood and other paid opps have helped me achieve that initial goal. I make a little off of an affiliate link and am now just beginning to make money off of ad networks.
My family and I have enjoyed several outings in the Chicago area together, those make fun, lasting memories. I understand about your desire to travel with your family, as that is one of my desires, a perk if you will. 🙂
Happy Blogging!
trisha says
I think its pretty rare to have a whole family on a trip! I think getting invited to Italy like you did would be amazing!!
trisha
Tiff @ Babes and Kids says
I think those are some amazing goals! I can’t see you being shy, you seem so outgoing here on your blog! I think you could definitely get a sponsorship for blogher with a little work and pitching. You have an amazing blog and brand.
Rachel Lloyd says
I love your post and writing style! I really think you will make all your goals come true!
Joy Williams says
You have great goals! I would love to attend Blogher as well. I am sure its very much stigma, but I’d like to learn what it is all about.
Tracy Roberts says
You. Can. Do. This! You really can!
One of the biggest things I had to do was learn how to get out of my own way. I’m extremely shy and couldn’t fathom why anyone would want to listen to what I had to say. I had to really stretch outside my comfort zone to break out of the poverty mentality and realize that I have value.
Do you know that it doesn’t matter if there are 100 million “mom bloggers” out there the fact of the matter is that there are people that want to hear what YOU have to say. They’re looking for you because you’ll be able to connect with them in a way that no one else can.
Reach out to other people and don’t be afraid of the word no. It’s just a word and doesn’t have diddly to do with your worth.
How can I help you reach your goals?
Karen says
You are one of the people I am envious of. Getting invited to Italy? my dream!
Kelly Stilwell says
Doesn’t it feel great to just get all this down on paper? Make it a goal to go to Blogher next year. Just put a little money away each week. I’m going for the first time next year, too! We are blessed to have such a great network of women at Momdot who share their ideas and experience with us!
Kim L says
I really enjoy your blog. I think you are an awesome blogger. Great post!!!
Brandy says
I think you are an amazing writer. Every time I visit you have something awesome to say and it’s well written! Loved learning more about why you blog and I hope you will read my post on why I blog too!