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| http://thirdcousinsmedia.com/education/7-ways-to-reach-your-goals/ |
Reading Challenge
This is the first year that I've ever really tried to track how much I read. I vaguely thought that I usually get through two books a week, but I had no data to support that. So, at the end of 2011 I added up all of the books I had reviewed in 2011, and concluded that I read 97 books (give or take a handful). That gave me a jumping off point for setting a 2012 reading goal. First, of course I wanted to beat 97. I wanted to blow that record out of the water. I didn't just want to do 100 (to easy), but 120 seemed too hard. I settled, somewhat arbitrarily, on 112 books. How am I doing on that?
I have read 69 books this year so far! That puts me 9 books ahead of schedule, so I no longer need to maintain a break-neck pace in order to finish. I should mention that my natural reading pace is turtle-slow, so this really is an accomplishment for me.
Pageviews
Yes, I know this might be vain of me, but I do set pageview goals. This is the only way I have to gauge that people are finding and reading my blog, other than comments, and it's unrealistic to expect every reader to comment. My focus right now is simply to double the number of pageviews from that I got this same time last year. Since I was new to blogging, my count were low but steadily climbing. Outdoing them is easy, because I have a good number of (awesome) followers now. Doubling them is a little harder, but so far so good.
I am coming up on 30,000 total views SOON, and I'm pretty excited about that!
Posting
January: I'm totally going to post daily!
March: Okay, 6 days a week. I'm going to post at least 6 days a week.
June: Screw this, I can't even open my laptop six days a week. I'll post when I post.
All I can say is...good thing for Misc. Monday and for the few memes I participate in, because I feel like they keep the blog alive during extended gaps between reviews. I want to become more consistent with review schedules, but I just haven't worked out a good system yet. The post as I go system leaves too many weeks full of reviews while others have no reviews.
Commenting
Originally, my goal was to visit and comment on anytime someone left me a comment. Reality #1 I don't always have time. Reality #2 Sometimes I visit and there's nothing to read or comment on. Like, the person reviewed book 12 of a series I don't care about, or they haven't updated since my last visit, or their blog is ALL memes. But I'm still trying, I really am. Commenting is the last thing on my blogger priority list, but that doesn't mean it's okay to ignore it.
Did you set any reading or blogging goals this year? How is it working out for you?
I recognize myself in what you write about posting. I keep telling myself to at least post reviews on my four meme free days, but life gets in the way. I haven't given up on myself though, but I also refuse to feel overly guilty about it.
ReplyDeleteTo tell you the truth the only goals I set was for reading 250 books (I'm at 53%) and finishing the reading challenges I participate in. That's it though. :)
250! Wowsers! Go you! I hope you complete all of your challenges!
DeleteGREAT job!! being ahead of schedule is AWESOME!
ReplyDeleteI dindt set a goal for reading this year, since this is my first year really blogging, but next year I will.
Also, I know what you mean about maintaining your blog! Sometimes it seems like a blogger ONLY does Memes, and I only do one... so it makes it hard to comment on all the millions out there.
But I think you post a good amount!! :) dont stress about it! :)
I get why the meme thing happens--memes are fun. And they're easy. And they will clutter the hell out of your blog if you aren't careful. In general, I think your posts shouldn't be more that 1/3 memes. Two "original" posts to every one meme. But that's just my feelings.
DeleteOoh congrats on almost reaching 30,000 pageviews! :) I am horribly behind on pageviews and such LOL, it's like sad sometimes -.- For posting, it's really what makes you comfortable! I'm comfortable posting at least every day but other people have different tastes so it's really up to you! :) And I am TOTALLY with you on the commenting! I usually comment back and then hop around a little bit but the thing is that sometimes it's so annoying to comment back when I don't have time or the last time I visited their blog hasn't been updated yet! And then sometimes I see all there is are memes! I'm actually totally okay with a few memes but if you haven't posted a review in months and it's only memes I'll probably just end up unfollowing them as well -.- I hope you reach all your goals, though! :)
ReplyDeleteEileen @ ***Singing and Reading in the Rain***
Making sure you put up some original, non-meme content is so important! Even if it's off topic, or a mini-review, or SOMETHING. You want comments, you have to earn them.
DeleteWow, this was a great post! Haha, your decision making for the reading-goal was cute <3 I originally settled on 50 because I've never done it before, then changed the number to 60, then 75, then finally now, it's a 100 >_< For posting, you could always type them up and keep them as drafts, then take 5 seconds to post them evenly throughout the week :)
ReplyDeleteVivian @ Vivaciously, Vivian
Yeah, I had no idea what a good reading goal for me might be. I've never tried it before!
DeleteSometimes I schedule reviews in advance, but often if I have nothing to post the day I write the review, I just put it up right away. If I do that for a whole week...well, that's how we end up with heavy review weeks. Must learn to space things out more!