Blogging Goals for 2017

It’s that funny time of year between Christmas and New Year, no one knows what day it is, work hasn’t really started back yet and everyone is still on the festive high that comes from eating too much chocolate and drinking too much wine.  It’s the time of year to reflect on what has been and to set goals for the year to come.  This year, for the first year ever, I am setting myself blogging goals.

Goals are defined as objectives that are planned to be achieved, a plan in place.  Words written on the screen that automatically seem to gain more gravitas.  You give them more importance, and more than that by saying them out loud you are already part of the way on the path to achieve them.

2016, in terms of blogging, has been a fun yet frantic year.  It saw me head to London to my first ever blogging conference in #BML16 where I got to put faces to names and have some lovely big cuddles with some of my favourite bloggers.

A photo posted by Cuddle Fairy (@cuddle.fairy) on Jun 26, 2016 at 11:43pm PDT

Yes. That’s my massive head at the front.  Though the less said on that the better, back on with my 2016 blogging wins….

Ignoring the fact that I’ve managed to make a few pennies here and there, had wonderful trips to Thomas Land, the Sea Life Centre, a weekend in Abu Dhabi, to name a few, the best thing, for me, coming out of my blog this year has been the way that it has helped me with my move to Qatar.  Writing became my way of coping, then much more than that, suddenly the power in blogging came to light as people reached out to me and welcomed me to Doha with open arms.  Invited me for coffee.  For cake.  To wash my pants.  From one post; the loneliness of putting yourself out there as a mum.

How can 2017 even begin to compete?!

My 2017 Blogging Goals

• A Blog Overhaul

I’ve been busy despairing over my blog name, of how it refers to a stage of my life that is no longer there.  I’ve tormented myself, and others, over whether I should bite the bullet and just change it.  For now I’ve decided, no.  For now I’ve decided to do a little overhaul on the site.  Go through my posts, properly categorise old posts and change my theme.  It’s a slow work in progress…..

• Play around with video

I’ve had a little dabble, I have a couple of videos on Facebook that I absolutely loved making.  More than that I also have about 6 videos on YouTube and I have even got to the stage where I enjoy being on camera (great big fat drama queen!) in 2017 I’d like to expand.  But more than that I’d like to do it off the iPhone, I’d love to invest in a GoPro and take it on our travels round Doha, our big summer UK trip home as part of the Middle Eastern Mummy Summer Exodus, and on our great big exciting secret Christmas 2017 trip that we are in the middle of booking….. I have so many ideas that I’d love to see on film.  More than that, I’d love to have the memories.

• Set up an email list

I work with MailChimp for clients, I play around with it, I see the importance that it brings.  I just have never set it up on my blog.  I’m not sure if I’m scared about adding a pop up or adding to my work load.  Time to put my big girl pants on and do it I’d say…

• Engagement is key

I sometime feel that Twitter is a minefield.  That Facebook is an algorithm too far.  That Instagram is a secondary blog post.  2017 is about being a real person on every platform again, to not just drop a link and run but instead to go back to doing what I do best, dropping a little piece of me with everything I write.  Speaking to people.  Listening to their stories.  It’s the part I love most about blogging.

• Meet some of my favourite bloggers

This year has seen me get to know a lot of wonderful ladies through blogging.  Not only do we have the lovely ladies I got to meet at #BML16 above but girls I talk to nearly daily.  Who’s success I celebrate along my own.  Who cheerlead and champion me as well as each other.  Who can swear like a trooper but be as lady like as they come (maybe) so who makes the list?!  It has to be Harriet from Toby and Roo, Beth from Twinderelmo, Danielle from Someone’s Mum, Cat from Pushing the Moon, Louise from Pink Pear Bear. Then we bring the Welsh contingent in with Kerry from All about a Mini Norris and Leanne from A Slice of my Life Wales.  Not to be outdone Scotland offers up Jenny from Monkey and Mouse.  And then, finally, my little Irish beauty, Hannah from Hi Baby Blog.