Looking Forward – 2018

Yesterday – the final day of the year – was all about looking back on 2017. It’s only right therefore that today – on the first day of the year – I take a little look forward as to what I hope to achieve this year.

Now, I’m not a fan of New Years resolutions. I just don’t think waiting until January 1st is a very good way to making a change in your life. Yes, it works for some people. However, I can’t help but think that if you really were looking to make a lifestyle change like losing weight or getting fit then why not just start now if you’re serious about it? Goals though, are entirely different. I love looking forward to the year ahead and thinking about what I want to achieve. This helps me break down the how into an achievable plan I can work on throughout the year.

For myself and the blog, this is what I hope 2018 will look like. I have 5 main goals that I want to focus on:

REACH

My goal last year was to generally increase my reach across all social. This year I want to be a little more specific on each channel. I have 5 channels that I am active on (6 if you include direct subscribers to the blog). I need to have a good think this year as to what it achievable on each channel and what I want to use it for. For now though, I hope to achieve the following across my networks:  2k on Facebook, 5k on Twitter, 5k on Instagram, 1k on YouTube, 1k on Pinterest and 1k Subscribers to the blog. A total of 15k by the end of the year. Therefore, if you fancy helping me out on any channel then feel free to click the link! *shameless plug*

PHOTOGRAPHY

I’ve loved developing my photography this year and can’t wait to further this in 2018. I’m currently working my way through my post-graduate diploma in photograhy which I hope to complete this year and take it all one step further. There’s so much I want to do and learn on this, not only for the blog but also for myself and my freelance side of the business. It seems that the more I learn, the more I need to learn which I’m finding very exciting!

DA

Yet another way us bloggers are ranked; my Domain Authority is something I’m hoping to increase throughout this year. Through a combination of guest posts, linkys and generally getting involved in the blogging community I’m aiming to get my DA up into the 30’s and keep it there.

MONITISATION

As I said yesterday, this is what I’m ultimately working towards. I work as a freelance writer and blogger, which means this is more than a hobby as this is where I earn my living. This is my job. The good news is that it’s moving forward, but there is still a long way to go before it’s a sustainable income. I’m working on it though, and I hope that 2018 will bring me a step forward to this.

REDIRECTION

I’ve been thinking a lot about the blog and where I want to take it, and i’ve decided on a little change in direction. Not huge as parenting and lifestyle is where I definitely feel I fit as a blogger. However, I want to make it less about me being a parent to my toddlers, but more about being a parent to any toddler. A little less about my little Bears, and a little more general.

What I want to do is ultimately help parents with toddlers to be more creative, and encourage them to find that illusive balance between ‘mummy’ and ‘me’.​” So, think creative stuff for kids and parents alike, great passtimes such as days out, hobbies and books to read, as well as things to make life easier. Organisational tips, thify hints, make do and mend activities as well as repurposing and upcyling projects etc. Basically things I hope will encourage people to get a little more creative, take a little time for themselves and have a go projects! I’m not sure whether that sounds interesting enough though, therefore that’s what I need to figure out in 2018. And while doing all of this, I want to proactively plan all this content to make sure that it all compliments each other and ensure that the blog, YouTube and social work together.

However, that being said in amongst all of that I want to find a way to continue to record and celebrate those little moments in our lives that makes our ordinary life extraordinary. It will be less of the core focus, but tippytupps is also a diary of our life and I don’t want to lose that completely. Therefore, I need to work out a way not to lose that so I still have something to look back on once I’m old and my children have left us for their own lives.

REDUCE OUR WASTE

This last one is a personal one rather than a blogging goal. Although not a specific New Years resolution, the amount of waste that we seem to generate is rather sickening so I want to really make an effort to minimise any waste that we generate. Things like writing (and then sticking to) a food plan, upcycling and repurposing anything we can, and donating things we no longer need to charity so that other people who may have a use for it have the chance to do so. I also have a serious stash of craft stuff such as fabric and wool that I want to find a use for during 2018, maybe even find some things for gifts etc throughout the year as I do love a make do and mend project!!

And there we have it! 2018; I hope you’re ready as I’m coming to get you.