I'm a firm believer that in order to be more successful and progressive in 2014, it is crucial that we review and revisit the prior year's status. As they say, "Those who fail to learn from the past are destined to repeat it."
In other words, are you headed in the "write" direction? Or have you had many detours on the road to success? What would you do differently or sooner?
Did you spend too much time "socializing" on social media and not enough time actually writing? And how about your finances? Would you categorize them as more "feast" or "famine?"
The more we can ask these questions honestly and look at how we fell short of our goals, the more we strengthen our positioning in the future.
Accordingly, each year, I conduct a blog audit to assess my efforts and projects here at Pen & Prosper. And I invite and encourage you to do the same.
Just like conducting an audit of your finances and yearly taxes allows you to be more strategic and purposeful, so too does a blog audit.
On board?
Here are some questions and metrics to consider:
1. Do you have more followers to your blog this year than last?
(My goal is to have 300 "listed" Google Connect Followers by June.) And how about readers' comments?
2. Are your page views on the increase or decline?
3. Did you find it more difficult to come up with weekly topics to post? (If so, you may want to reach out to other bloggers for guest posts).
4. Have you been able to monetize your site through ads?
5. How about your site's appearance? Do you feel that now it is more reflective of your intended direction and your true "brand?" (I've done a Blog "makeover" about 6 times over 4 years.)
6. Have you won any awards or been recognized through any commendations for your Blog? (Pen and Prosper was chosen as a "Power 100" Blog for modern writers in January).
7. How was your Google Page Rank?
How about your writing career...
1. Fewer or more clients than last year?
2. Higher rates than last year, or about the same?
3. How about your productivity? Are you cranking out more than last year? Is your rate of acceptance higher? (I found that last year I made more progress with my clients' projects than my own). I'm seeking more balance in 2014.
4. When you do a comparative analysis, do you feel more successful in 2013 or 2012?
Analyze your efforts. How do you fare? How was your year in review?
What can you learn from the facts and figures you're now confronted with? What would you do differently? Or are you on track?
I've shared my figures and failures...would love to hear about yours.
Image: freedigitalphotos.net
Well now, you have inspired a healthy competition. Now I want more blog followers. I submitted a total of 63 and had 15 acceptances. I have to write MORE this year, and maybe diversify, although the anthology market has been good to me.
ReplyDeleteYou are funny, girlfriend. :-) Can I share a secret? I was already "secretly" competing with ya'. LOL
DeleteI remember back when you had about 85 followers, and I had about 100; then you just zoomed up there! Thanks so much for stopping by and starting us off. Have a great weekend.
These are great questions. I need to do a blog audit soon. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure. Thanks for your thoughts!
DeleteJust looking at some of the stats here, and in 2013 I got a substantial bigger amount of Unique Visitors than in 2011 and 2012, So that is Positive, Also the amount of Return Visitors in 2013 did increase compared to 2011, Only I feel that there still is plenty of room for improvements.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I made an effort to make it more clear what you can expect to find on my blog, with practical categories also making it easier to find what your looking for, with also more clear Blogpost Titles that explain what you can expect from reading them etc. etc.
Also besides in the Writer's Kit (pre) selling some high priced items, also (pre) selling more lower priced items as well, such as a Note Taker Notebook, Notebooks or a special (LED) Pilot's Pen that gives just enough light to be able to light a little writing area for jotting down ideas, you might get just before going to sleep when you start to relax, and your mind starts unwinding.
Awesome! Sounds like you're on the "write" track for 2014. Keep going, H.P. Thanks for your detailed feedback and your time. :-)
DeleteI'd like investigate monetizing my blog this year. I'm also seeking an audio book producer through ACX for my book. I had some nice new markets come into play in 2013 and I'd like to nurture those. Thoughtful post, Jen. Love it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sue. And I love that you took the time to let me know.
DeleteWishing you great success in the year ahead. Keep me posted. :-)
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