How did i do with my blogging 2017 goals and goals for the year ahead

When I look back on my goals for 2017 I think I was being a little optimistic , I don’t think I took into account that I was returning to work. which meant I would have less time to post to my blog and social media channels. I definitely didn’t expect to be pregnant again and I had times in my pregnancy. Especially the early days where the thought of getting on the laptop and writing a blog post was just too much to contend with.

Although I didn’t reach a lot of my goals I am happy with where my blog is at. Yes it may not be the best known blog in the world. But people are reading it which is my main goal. Even if they are close friends and family. I know they enjoy taking a look at what we have been up to. Especially those family members we don’t get to see very often.

I have really enjoyed blogging this year especially documenting my pregnancy. When I was pregnant with Ava I didn’t take any pictures. In fact I can remember very little about the pregnancy. But this time around I have it all written down to look back on in years to come. In fact it makes me a little sad that I didn’t start my blog earlier when I was pregnant with Ava. But hey ho I have it now and I can document the two of them growing up together. Even if no one reads them they are there for me to read.

My blogging goals for 2017 were

• Make it into the top 250 in Tots 100 . Now this didn’t happen in fact I have been in and out the top 500 all year. I’m not sure if this is because I don’t have an active YouTube channel as I know this is a metric they use to determine positioning now. As much as I like being apart of the Tots 100. Purely so I can gage how my blog is doing compared to other ( I know I shouldn’t compare myself) . Being apart of this chart hasn’t brought me anything ,I haven’t gained anything from being in the Tots 100 chart. So I tend not to worry about it.

• Achieve a DA of 40. Now I have got a DA of 36 not quite 40 but its pretty close. I have worked hard on this gaining new links and back links from other sites. Its been a slow increase but it’s getting there. I can say though since my DA hit 30 it has opened the doors to more paid opportunities that are generally better paying. But DA isn’t the most important thing. Brands / pr’s need to enjoy how you write. So I have been working hard on my voice as a blogger and I think I have it now. I read some of my earlier posts a cringe a little as they don’t sound like me at all. I suppose its one of those things that once you have confidence in what you’re doing it will come.

• Receive 5000 page views a month. I was definitely being optimistic with this one. I would say on average I receive around 2500 page views a month. Which I’m happy with , as long as one person is reading my blog then I’m happy. I have come to realise over time that I need to blog for myself not other people. With this I have come more relaxed about stats and I don’t ;