The Power of Short-Term Blogging Goals for Consistent Progress

Remember that post we did on setting long-term blogging goals? If you haven’t read it, go do that now, and then come back to this one. 

If you have mapped out your big, ambitious vision for your blog and created some awesome SMART goals for the future, you’re probably wondering now, “How do I actually get there?” 

The answer lies in breaking down that long-term dream into achievable short-term blogging goals. These bite-sized targets act as stepping stones, guiding you step-by-step toward your ultimate destination, your bigger goals.

Think of it like a road trip:

• Your long-term goal is the final destination
• Short-term goals are the pit stops along the way

At each stop, you can:

1. Refuel your motivation
2. Celebrate small wins
3. Make sure you’re still headed in the right direction

The best part? Short-term blogging goals make that long-term vision feel totally doable. With a smart plan and consistent effort, you’ll knock out those mini-milestones and build serious momentum.

What are Short-Term Blogging Goals?

At their core, short-term goals are like mini checkpoints on your journey toward long-term success. They give you a chance to break down those big, audacious dreams into manageable steps.

I mean, saying that you want to create a sustainable business from your blog is way too abstract, don’t you think? How are you going to pull that off? You will need to work on that dream on a daily basis. That’s where short-term goals come into play. 

But what exactly defines “short-term” when it comes to blogging goals? Generally, we’re talking goals with a timeframe of a few weeks up to several months, think monthly or quarterly. Any less than that is more of a daily/weekly task, while longer than several months starts creeping into long-term territory.

Still feeling a bit fuzzy on the concept? Let me give you some concrete examples:

• Increasing your blog’s traffic to 5,000 monthly visitors within the next 3 months
• Writing and publishing 2 new blog posts per week for the next 8 weeks
• Growing your email list to 500 subscribers by the end of this quarter

See the pattern? Short, contained timeframes with specific, measurable targets. That’s the essence of an effective short-term goal.

Now you might be thinking, “But why even bother with short-term goals? Isn’t the long-term vision what really matters?”

Absolutely, your long-term goals are crucial – they’re the overarching purpose that drives your blogging efforts. But as Michael Hyatt wisely states, “Long-term goals merely assist long-term vision if they are broken down into short-term targets.”

In other words, those huge, audacious blogging ambitions you have? They only become reality when you consistently knock out smaller, achievable goals along the way. Each mini-goal that you reach, gives you a motivational boost and builds momentum.

So don’t overlook the power of short-term goals. When set up properly, they’re the stepping stones that’ll guide you toward blogging success and make your dreams a reality.

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Connect Your Short-Term Goals with Your Long-Term Vision

Your long-term blogging vision is that big, ambitious target on the horizon. But how do you make sure the short-term goals you set today actually move you towards that target? The two need to work together. We need to connect your short-term blogging goals to your long-term ones. 

You don’t want to work on random tasks, you need a plan, because your short-term goals are the stepping stones, guiding you toward your big goals. When there’s clear connection, even seemingly small steps propel you meaningfully forward. Now how do we do that?

First, you’ll need to grab that long-term game plan we mapped out in the previous post. What were those big, overarching goals for your blog’s future?

Maybe it was:

• Becoming a full-time blogger and quitting your 9-5
• Hitting $100,000 in annual revenue
• Building an engaged community of 50,000 email subscribers

Whatever your long-term goals, think about them and let them remind you why you started blogging in the first place.

Now ask yourself, “What are the first essential steps I need to take to set myself on that path?” Your short-term goals should be focused on knocking out those initial milestones.

For example, if your long-term goal is to go full-time, some aligned short-term goals might include:

• Increasing blog traffic to 10,000 monthly visitors this quarter
• Launching an online course and generating $5,000 in revenue over the next 6 months
• Scoring your first paid brand partnership deal within 3 months

See how those goals are purposefully funneling you toward that long-term dream? That’s the key: using short-term goals as stair steps, not random distractions.

When you nail that connection, those small wins will boost your long-term goals, believe me!

Making Your Short-Term Blogging Goals SMART

Just as we made our long-term goals SMART, we should also make our short-term blogging goals SMART. This strategy is even more powerful for short-term goals because they are so actionable. 

We already used the SMART framework, and I covered it in my post “A Practical Guide for Setting SMART Goals for Blogging Success”  but let’s take a quick look at what SMART stands for:

Specific: Get crystal clear on what you want to achieve.
Measurable: Make sure to include numbers or data points that you can measure, so you can see your progress clearly.
Achievable: Your goals should be ambitious yet realistic based on your current skills and resources. Shooting too high leads to frustration.
Relevant: Make sure your goals align with the long-term blogging vision and priorities you have in mind. Don’t get distracted by irrelevant targets.
Time-bound: Having a clear deadline creates urgency and motivation. Open-ended goals are easy to procrastinate on.

A few Examples of SMART Short-Term Goals Broken Down

• Publish 8 new high-quality blog posts per month for the next 3 months. 
  • Specific: Clearly defines what needs to be done (publish 8 posts per month) 
  • Measurable: You can track the number of posts published each month 
  • Achievable: Assuming you have the time/resources, publishing 2 posts per week is reasonable 
  • Relevant: Creating new content regularly is crucial for blog growth 
  • Time-bound: Has a deadline of 3 months to accomplish this goal
    
• Grow your email list from 500 to 2,000 subscribers within the next 6 months. 
  • Specific: Increase email subscribers from 500 to 2,000 
  • Measurable: You can track the exact number of new subscribers 
  • Achievable: A 1,500 increase over 6 months is realistic for an established blog 
  • Relevant: Building an email list is important for reader engagement/monetization 
  • Time-bound: Must be achieved within a 6-month period
    
• Boost your average comments per blog post by 50% over the next 90 days. 
  • Specific: Increase average comments per post by 50% 
  • Measurable: You can calculate the average comments before and after 
  • Achievable: A 50% increase is reasonable with consistent effort
  • Relevant: More comments = more engaged community 
  • Time-bound: Must be accomplished within 90 days
    
• Implement an SEO strategy to improve rankings for 10 key posts within 3 months. 
  • Specific: Optimize 10 key posts for better rankings 
  • Measurable: You can track ranking positions for those posts 
  • Achievable: Optimizing 10 posts over 3 months is manageable 
  • Relevant: SEO is critical for driving more organic traffic 
  • Time-bound: Must be completed in 3 months
    
• Generate your first $500 in blog income through affiliate marketing this quarter. 
  • Specific: Make $500 from affiliate income
  •  Measurable: You can track exactly how much affiliate revenue you generate 
  • Achievable: $500 is a reasonable initial monetary goal
  • Relevant: Monetization is a key focus for many bloggers 
  • Time-bound: Must be achieved within this quarter (3 months)

So take a few minutes to put your short-term blogging goals through the SMART filter. You’ll be amazed at how purposeful and achievable they suddenly feel.

Creating an Action Plan

Awesome, you’ve nailed down your SMART short-term blogging goals! But how do you actually make them happen? By creating a solid action plan, of course.

Let’s go back to the road trip analogy (we seem to love that one!). You’ve got your destination mapped out (your long-term goals) with the pitstops along the way (your short-term goals). But you’ll need clear turn-by-turn directions to get there. An action plan is your personal GPS for reaching those short-term goals.

Here’s how to build one:

Step 1: Break it down 

Take each SMART goal and list out all the individual tasks required to complete it. Don’t leave anything out, no matter how small!

For example, if your goal is “Write 8 new blog posts per month,” some tasks might include:

• Research topics and keywords
• Create an outline for each post
• Write the draft content
• Source images/media
• Edit and proofread
• Optimize for SEO
• Schedule and publish

Step 2: Make a schedule 

Now take those task lists and assign due dates to each item. This is where an editorial calendar can be a huge help in staying organized.

Tools like Trello and Google Calendar allow you to map everything out visually and set reminders. Having a structured schedule prevents those goals from slipping through the cracks.

Step 3: Build new habits 

Achieving short-term goals requires consistent effort over time. That means developing new habits and routines.

As James Clear says, “Your habits are how you embody a particular identity.” Decide what habits a successful goal-crusher would practice, like waking up early to write or time-blocking your work.

Step 4: Remove roadblocks 

We all face limiting beliefs, distractions, and challenges that can derail our goals. An action plan helps you get ahead of those roadblocks.

Maybe you need to upgrade your blogging tools, learn a new skill through a course, or simply ask for your family’s support. Identify those potential hurdles and have a strategy to overcome them.

Step 5: Track your progress 

There’s nothing more motivating than watching your hard work pay off! Whether you use a spreadsheet, app, or just old-fashioned notes, track your incremental progress toward those goals.

Celebrating small wins along the way provides a constant motivational boost to keep you fired up.

With a detailed action plan in place, those short-term blogging goals go from dreams to inevitabilities. It’s like having a customized recipe for success.

Short-Term Blogging Goals Examples

Enough talking about SMART goals in theory. Let’s look at some real-world examples to spark your motivation. These short-term goals check all the boxes for being specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

Setting short-term blogging goals is crucial for staying motivated, focused, and making consistent progress toward your long-term vision. These achievable milestones provide a sense of accomplishment and help you celebrate small wins along the way. 

Whether you’re just starting out or have been blogging for a while, having specific, measurable, and time-bound targets can propel your blog forward. Here are 30 short-term blogging goals to consider:

Examples for First-Time Bloggers:

1. Set up your blog and publish your first post within 2 weeks
2. Write and publish 1 new blog post per week for 3 months
3. Grow your email list to 100 subscribers within 6 months
4. Increase social media following by 250 new followers in 90 days
5. Leave 25 thoughtful comments on other blogs in your niche over 3 months
6. Attend 1 local blogging meetup or online webinar within 6 months
7. Implement basic on-page SEO best practices within 2 months
8. Collaborate with 1 other blogger on a guest post within 5 months
9. Redesign your blog layout or branding within 9 months
10. Generate your first $100 in blog income within 12 months

Examples for Bloggers with 1-2 Years Experience:

1. Increase monthly blog traffic by 50% over the next 6 months
2. Grow email list to 2,500 subscribers within 12 months
3. Publish 8 new blog posts per month for 3 months
4. Boost average comments per post by 25% within 90 days
5. Launch 1 new product or service within 9 months
6. Secure 5 paid sponsorships or brand deals within 12 months
7. Attend 2 blogging conferences within 1 year
8. Improve rankings for 10 key posts through SEO within 6 months
9. Redesign and optimize the blog’s user experience within 4 months
10. Double monthly blog income within 12 months

Examples for Seasoned Bloggers (3+ Years):

1. Increase monthly traffic to 50,000 visitors within 12 months
2. Grow email list to 10,000 subscribers within 12 months
3. Publish 150 new high-quality posts within 12 months
4. Boost overall social engagement by 40% within 6 months
5. Launch 2 new successful products/services within 12 months
6. Secure 12 high-value brand partnerships within 1 year
7. Speak at 1 major industry conference or event within 12 months
8. Rank on the first page for 15 high-value keywords within 9 months
9. Migrate to higher performance hosting within 6 months
10. Increase monthly revenue to $5,000 within 12 months

This list provides a range of achievable short-term goals within a 12-month timeframe for bloggers, whether you just started out or you’ve been blogging for quite some time now. It covers key areas like content, traffic, email, monetization, networking, technical optimization, and more.

I hope that these examples will inspire you. Tailor your specific short-term goals to align with your long-term blogging vision, current stage, and priorities. The key is to make them SMART for maximum impact.

Adjusting and Reassessing Goals

You’ve set your SMART short-term blogging goals, created an action plan, and have been diligently executing. But what happens if circumstances change or you are in danger of falling off the wagon? It’s time to revisit your goals!

The reality is, that even the most well-laid plans can get disrupted by unexpected challenges, new opportunities, or shifting priorities. Holding on to your goals that no longer make sense is a recipe for frustration. I mean, life happens, right? We need to roll with it sometimes.

Because long-term goals can also change over time, you don’t want to treat your short-term blogging goals as set in stone. They’re meant to be dynamic, evolving targets that keep you focused while allowing for flexibility.

And frankly, even if your long-term goals stay the same, the path to get there may change and so your short-term goals change as well.

Here are some signs it might be time to adjust your goals:

• You’re consistently missing deadlines despite your best efforts. Perhaps you created too tight a schedule.  
• New, higher-priority opportunities arise that require a shift. Maybe you got a promotion at your 9-to-5, and you need to put in more time.
• Your available time/resources have changed significantly. You may need to look after a loved one.
• You’ve already blown past your original targets! Way to go!

If you identify the need for change, it’s not too late. And please, don’t view it as a failure. It’s simply part of the goal-setting process. Just reassess what’s realistic, given your current situation, and you’ll be fine.

Maybe you need to extend a deadline, scale a goal up or down, or even replace it entirely with a new priority. The key is to make those tweaks with purpose but still have your big long-term vision for your blogging business in mind. Remember, they need to connect, ok?

For example, if you set a goal to write 8 posts per month but can realistically only manage 6 right now, that’s okay. Adjust accordingly and update your action plan. It’s better to meet a revised goal than to miss the original one.

As you check goals off the list, celebrate those wins! You’ve earned a moment of pride and reflection. Then simply reset the cycle by defining new short-term targets to pursue.

Goal-setting is an ongoing journey of making progress, facing obstacles, course-correcting when needed, and constantly renewing your commitment. Embrace that process, and you’ll be unstoppable.

My Final Thoughts

Whew, we covered a ton of ground on setting short-term blogging goals that’ll keep you motivated and making progress! Let’s quickly recap:

We discussed:

• What short-term goals are, and how they differ from long-term visions
• Connecting those short-term targets with your bigger blogging ambitions
• Using the SMART framework to make goals specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound
• Creating an action plan with clear tasks, schedules, and habits to follow through
• Short-term goals examples of effective SMART goals for first-time bloggers to seasoned ones
• The importance of adjusting and reassessing goals as situations change

Quite the journey, right? But now you’re armed and ready to start crushing those short-term wins.

So let me leave you with this: What’s one SMART goal you can set and start working towards over the next week or month? Is it publishing a certain number of posts, boosting traffic by a percentage, or making your first dollar from the blog?

Whatever it is, get it down on paper using the SMART criteria we discussed. Outline your action plan, mark your calendar, and take those first steps.

Because I’ll let you in on a little secret – that very first short-term goal you achieve? It’s going to feel incredible. I remember checking off my first reached goal, it’s like a runner’s high, but for your blogging motivation. Trust me, you won’t want to stop there.

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