Setting Goals for 2008
December 8, 2007 by Deb Ng
Filed under Freelance Writing
This is the time of year when we all start talking about our goals. Last year, on my (sadly now-defunct) Finding the Right Words blog, I listed my goals for 2007. I’m happy to report I met or exceeded several of these goals. For instance, I earned more than I had set out to, and I transitioned from copy and content writing to full time blogging. There were also some goals I still need to work on, for instance, proofreading. I have a bad habit of firing off a post without giving it a good look over. I didn’t finish my e-book, either. Still, that won’t stop me from creating more goals for the upcoming year.
Be Realistic
When it comes to goals, I believe in being realistic. When I set goals, I know these are things I can easily do. I also don’t list personal goals, such as losing weight, on my writing blog. We really don’t need to go there.
I’d like to share with you this writer’s goals for 2008.
Income – Last year I vowed to earn $10,000 more than the year before, and I’m happy to report I’ve exceeded this goal. This will be the third year in a row I’ll list a goal of $10,000 more than the year before.
Personal Projects – I have two e-books in the works. One is just about complete; it needs some updating, tweaking and editing. The other is still in my head. I hope to finish them up and start selling.
Blogs – My goals are to increase traffic and revenue on Freelance Writing Jobs, and really all of my blogs. I have a couple of blogs I don’t spend much time on at all, I’d really like to change that. Though I’m spending most of my time for one client, my goal is to increase traffic and earnings for all of my blogs, regardless of whether or not I own them.
Clients – I have no plans to take on new clients for the time being, My goal is to continue to please my existing clients and work to the best of my ability.
My main goal for 2007 was to go back to enjoying writing again and that I am. Last year I experienced career burnout with all the SEO and web content writing, but I’m back on track and thrilled with my chosen path. It’s nice to be happy and excited about working each day. I’ve never before had a job where I was able to say that.
What are your goals for the upcoming year?
For the past few years, a few of us have worked on goal-setting questions called “Goals, Dreams, and Resolutions”.
2008’s questions are up on my Live Journal Site, http://devonellington.livejournal.com, so there’s a place where they can sit until the end of the year.
On the Ink in My Coffee site, at the end of December, I’ll post how I did with the 2007 GDRs, and then, early in January, my answers to the 2008 questions. And a group of us check in with each other and encourage progress throughout the year.
It’s been enormously helpful over the past three years, and made it possible for me to transition into writing full time.
This year’s questions are more all-encompassing, where some of the previous years’ questions were specifically focused on the writing to the exclusion of all else.
I feel that 2007 was a lot of floundering for me, as it was my first full year of freelancing. I was also working part time at best while taking care of my elderly Mom. I’m looking forward to 2008, however, and hope to:
1) earn more – enough to live on
2) expand into writing non fiction for middle schoolers
3) work more on my language blog
4) specialize in writing about languages and linguistics (with some health writing and career/workplace writing mixed in)
I guess I’m still feeling a bit vague because my family situation is so unsettled now, but having the goals helps me move foward.
You should also stop whining that other people stealing your lousy content!
My goal is also to earn enough to live on. I just went back and totaled my earnings this year and it is a bit depressing. Of course, it was my first year of just freelancing so I guess I can cut myself a little slack.
Many self-help and sales books recommend setting a specific goal, like Deb’s $10,000 rather than something much less definable like “more.”
That being said, I expect my business to return to the levels of 2005-2006 (nearly identical years of revenues), which would be a 20 percent increase from this year as base of clients continues to shift from traditional journalism to PR. Had some accounts cut back sharply at the beginning of the year and didn’t get that business replaced til the end of the summer. I have a lot more potential clients in the pipeline now than a year ago, and have eliminated one very difficult client. Also hoping that a child’s health issues that required my attention earlier this year continue to stay on hold.
Also plan to lose at least 10 pounds next year. Time to get back on the treadmill.
My goal for 2007 was to make as much freelance writing a month as I did at my full time job (I’m a teacher, so that shouldn’t be too difficult, ha!).
I’m happy to report that I have landed a gig that has done just that within this last month. I consider that goal met!
For 2008, I’d like to keep earning that much freelance writing plus another $500 a month above and beyond.
I’m also needing to get more organized and create a home office that I can work in (I am currently using my dining room table and then have to clear away all of my writing stuff when it’s time to eat).
I haven’t really analyzed my goals for this year yet, but a few random thoughts that come to mind:
Cut down to 8 hours of work per day (I’m currently doing 12+, sometimes only 10 on weekends).
Give up a handful of blog (some of my own, and a few clients’) so I’ll have more time to dedicate to more lucrative projects and/or so I can work fewer hours.
A fuzzy goal I have in mind is to transition over to only doing law firm blogging work. This will mean marketing my services more and transitioning a good number of clients over to other writers, but it’s a vision I have for 2008. It may be more like a 2-year plan.
I’d have to do some calculations to come up with a goal for increased earnings. Something to do at 3am when I’m suffering from insomnia.
Hi,
Nice post.
I have planned to earn more next year by writing more articles, once again put more efforts oin my blogs and adsense.