Do you plan to let your blog flounder or flourish in 2008. Specifically, what are your blogging goals for the upcoming year? Are you blogging to make money?

The above are two pointed questions that I recently asked myself. The end of the year serves a dual purpose for many people. Typically, year’s end is considered a time for reflecting upon what has happened in the past, and it is also a time to look forward in our lives and make a plan for the upcoming months.

A year ago I started my blog, MyTropicalEscape with the hopes of inspiring people to pursue their passions and dreams, whatever they may be. The name of the site was really meant as a euphemism for personal freedom and pursuing dreams. However, after I asked myself those pointed queries above I realized that I have been floundering and not flourishing!

I haven’t made a penny from blogging and you can too.

Do you want to make money online? Let me just state that I did not start blogging with the intent of creating an income stream. Which is good because as of today I can honestly say that I have made $0.00 and if you need advice on how to do this successfully just send me an email and I’ll give you my secrets.

However, for 2008 that is going to change. A couple of months ago after reading great sites like ProBlogger, DoshDosh, and Entrepreneurs-Journey. All of the sites mentioned have inspired me and I realized that maybe I could earn some money from blogging. The problem, blogging properly takes time. Everyday.

Because I am still working to hone my blogging skills, I might spend two hours a day trying to draft well-written, relevant content for my site. Now remember, if you are like me and you have a wife, a home, and a business that is two hours out of everyday that you could be spending with your family, working on home improvements, or increasing your business.

For another example of the time-spent blogging let’s have a look at the following scenario. What if, as opposed to blogging, you decided one day that you were going to sell cars but you didn’t have a lot or even any cars to sell? Can you imagine telling your spouse or family members, “Hey I think I am going to make money selling cars so I am just going to go down and stand on the street corner and practice selling cars for two hours a day, everyday.” I believe they would look at you like you were crazy.

Well, if you would like to make money from blogging but you are not taking the relevant proactive steps and pursuing active income generation that is essentially what you are doing. This is one area where I have been floundering. Truly, I do have the mindset that blogging to make money is a business but I have not been pursuing advertising leads consistently enough to bring in money, nor have I been trying to land PAID freelance gigs.

What are your blogging goals?

The initial question of my reflection process had me asking, “What are my blogging goals?” Of course, there is more to that query because we all know, whatever your goals might be, the next step is, how do you go about achieving them successfully?

Below, I have listed some of my blogging goals for 2008:

• Set an editorial calendar based on my new MyTropicalEscape branding campaign which includes the following niche topics - Living Overseas | Blogging | Inspiration and Motivation | Entrepreneurship

• Create a new look and feel to my site through an innovative theme

• Increase my reader base

• Set realistic financial goals

• Seek and find a sponsor for a flagship interview series

The plan to help me achieve the goals

Goal 1

Create an editorial timeline, or as Maki from DoshDosh calls, it “Pattern Your Audience.”

Creating a specific posting timeline for the various categories of articles that you will post is important because people are creatures of habit. If readers know that they can come to your site on a given day for a specific type of article (e.g. improving their lives, escaping the cubicle, etc) then there is a more likely chance they will visit your blog, hopefully everyday, out of habit.

Recently, I started a new series called, “Ten Questions With” that will focus on asking ten unique questions to a top blogger, entrepreneur, or other individuals that I find interesting, and most importantly, they must be people who can add value to my reader’s lives.

Purposefully, I have slated Tuesday of every week to post the interviews and coincidentally, Cameron Low, the new owner of NorthxEast as well as Leo Babauta of ZenHabits and Skellie of Skelliewag was just recently interviewed on my blog. Darren of ProBlogger will also be appearing in a few weeks time. In this manner, people who like interviews and would like to find out more information about their favorite bloggers now know that they can come to my site on any given Tuesday and find something good to read.

Another good example is ProBlogger. Darren has masterfully patterned his audience to create a habit so that they go to his site at least once a day because we all know there will be some relevant and practical information like, How Much Money Do Bloggers Earn Blogging and How To Pitch To Bloggers – 21 Tips.

If the patterning is done successfully site visitors might even subscribe to your RSS feed.

Goal 2

Create a new look and feel to my site.

Nonverbal communication, even on blogs, is an extremely important mode of transferring information about who we are. Lately, I feel like my website comes across like a dead fish handshake, which is not a good thing. The most important aspect impacting a first time site visitor is the initial ‘visual’ greeting that they receive. We all hope to make a lasting impression. However, I do feel that this goal goes beyond the particular blog theme that you happen to use, or even the niche that you are in.

Moreover, I feel that it is important that we all be our own brand and not try to be somebody else. Sometimes, (for me at least) it can be difficult when you see a sites doing extremely well and you know that your content is similar. The initial temptation might be to clone what the other blogger is doing to try and recreate his or her success. Honestly, I think it is okay to be similar to others, but try to avoid the enticement of trying to be someone else. Have your own unique voice because if you don’t, in the long run I think you will fail.

Collis also believed that the road to building a super blog involves, among other things, having a good design to capture the the initial perception of a reader… readers will associate a blog with a good design with good content.

Goal 3

Increase my reader base.

It has been a difficult decision to make but I have decided to block out of my mind the number of visitors that I see other sites getting because it only creates frustration. A few weeks ago, I posted two articles on methods of generating traffic for your site, one was on Commenting on Blog Posts and the other was based on guest posting for traffic titled, “The Problogger and Zen Habits Effect.”

I plan to increase my reader base by creating absolutely must read content and continuing to network with other bloggers. My interview series has already allowed me to come in contact with many top bloggers and I have other plans for collaboration and traffic growth in the works.

Goals 4 and5

Set realistic financial expectations and find a sponsor
As stated above, during the past year I did not make any money blogging. So, realistically I can’t expect to make $4000 in the first week of January. However, I am setting a goal of making at least $100 and I am going to do it on my own terms. A lot of sites have Google Ads on them and for some folks they work really well. Because I lack the requisite design skills to integrate them properly into my content so I am not going to actively pursue them.

Currently, I am researching other affiliate programs and I would also like to sell some ad blocks on my site. A major goal that I have is to find a sponsor for my Tuesday interview series and I already have a couple of leads. However, do not hesitate to email me if you have other ideas. By the end of the year, I hope to be making $4000 per month (I will keep you posted on my success).

Well, that is my plan for 2008 and I am excited to see how everything goes. The Tuesday interview series I already consider a success, just due to the caliber of people I have been able to interact with. Thus, any added traffic will be a bonus.

So bring on the New Year and let’s get started!

Now, I would like to throw it back to you, the reader. What are your blogging goals and aspirations for 2008?