My original plan for this post was to share with you my top ten posts from 2015. Unfortunately, due to going self hosted in November, individual post views from before that time have all been lost. Instead I thought I would share with you how I did on my blog bucket list. You can have a look here if you missed it.
Below is a round up of all the goals on the bucket list and how I did:
Goal 1: Reach 100,000 page views
When I set this goal, I thought I was over reaching. As of New Year’s Day I had 188,003 page views. I can’t tell you all how happy this makes me. It still amazes me everyday that people take time out of their days to come and read my little blog, and I don’t think that feeling will ever go away. I am so grateful to each and every one of you.
Goal 2: Reach 1000 Twitter followers
I have to honest here and admit that I forgot to note down how many followers I had reached by New Year’s Day, but I currently have 1,370.
Goal 3: Be self hosted
This was the one that terrified me. If I hadn’t made my bucket list public, I really don’t think I would have dared do it, but once I said it, there was no going back. I made the jump in early November and I am so glad I did.
Goal 4: Start actively seeking out brands I would like to work with in the future
This is one I didn’t get done. I have increased the work I have done with brands but they have all approached me. This is something I would still like to do, but I am struggling with how to approach a brand without sounding a little desperate. It’s something I will be working on though.
Goal 5: Finish my first novel
I am still a little short of being finished, but I plan on having it finished by the end of this week, so I am still really happy with the progress made on this one.
Goal 6: Finish a book of short stories
This one didn’t even get started. I’m a little disappointed, but rather than dwell on past failures, I will make more of an effort to get it done this year.
Goal 7: Work out how to self publish them
This is another one that didn’t get done. It seemed pointless taking time away from writing to work out how to do something when I wasn’t at the point where I would be able to do it yet anyway.
Goal 8: Buy and start using a decent camera instead of just my phone
I’m halfway there on this one – I’ve bought the camera (a Nikon), now I just need to find the time to get it set up.
Goal 9: Do some guest posting for other bloggers
Since setting the goal, I did an extra four guest posts and an interview so I’m quite happy with this one. I am always up for guest posting on other blogs, so if anyone is looking for a guest poster, give me a shout.
Goal 10: Learn enough about web building to redesign my site
Although I bought a theme, I did play about with the design quite a bit until I got it just as I wanted it. It’s very different from my old blog design, which I felt was a bit childish and cartoony. Overall, I am happy with this one as I love my new design.
Goal 11: Redesign blog button and header
I did this as part of my redesign when I went self hosted. I think the new header and button fit in with the new design much better than the old ones, as they were designed to fit in with my old theme.
Goal 12: Learn CSS and a bit more about HTML
I feel much more confident playing around with HTML now. I spent a little time writing all my posts in HTML instead of using the shortcuts. I use the shortcuts again now because it is so much quicker, but it’s nice to know I could do it myself if I ever had to. Once I decided to buy a theme, I found I didn’t really need to learn CSS. Maybe at some point in the future if I decide to build my own, I will look back into doing this, but for now, I’ve decided against learning it.
So that’s it:
12 goals.
6 fully achieved.
3 half or more achieved.
And 3 I still need to work on a lot more. I’m really pleased with this overall.
Check back later on in the week when I will be sharing this year’s blogging bucket list!
What about you? Did you achieve everything on your bucket list? Are you writing a bucket list for 2016? Let me know in the comments 🙂
You can find me here: Twitter Bloglovin Pinterest and Instagram Please do stop by and say hi!
fab goals Debbie. I too had a goal for 100,000 and i met it too and was so so pleased. You did amazing almost doubling it! Good luck with your plans..I hope to get my book sorted this year and it will be hard work but i kow i can figure out this publishing milarky later on in the year! Angela
Thank you 🙂 I was so happy when I hit it, it’s a fab feeling. You’ll figure it out no bother I’m sure, good luck 🙂
I am so sorry that you lost all your data when you moved hosting, that must be a little frustrating but love your goals and love how you smashed your page view goals! Well done!!
It was, I had a bit of a sulk then I figured if I built it up once I could do it again! Thank you 🙂
Thats brilliant, well done on becomming self hosted!! My goals this year are fairly similar!
Thank you, it was nerve wracking but worth it! Good luck with yours 🙂
I didn’t really do much of a bucket list at the beginning of the year. I still achieved quite a bit which I am proud of!
Well done for achieving half of your goals! Keep at the others, I hope you will achieve them and much more in 2016!
To be honest I only did it last year because someone tagged me in a bucket list tag or I probably wouldn’t have. I’m glad I did though! Thank you, and you too!
I think you did amazingly well with your goals last year. Completing half and making progress with three more was a fab achievement.
Thank you 🙂 I was a little disappointed that I missed a few of them, but I’m trying to focus on the positive and be happy about the ones I did meet!
So intrigued with your first novel goal! I love books and reading so would be dying to read it when that happens for you 🙂 xx
Thank you, I’m really excited about it 🙂 x
I never do a bucket list, but maybe I should if it means getting that number of views. Is that just this year? I’m not at that number and I’ve been going 3 years. What’s your trick?
I love having a list, it really keeps me on track. The views are since February when I started my blog. I’m not sure really, I don’t have a massive strategy as such – I try to make sure the SEO is optimized in each post, share across all my social media and I join in with quite a few linkys which I think has really helped me.
You did great with all your goals from last year! I am always afraid to set goals incase I don’t complete them and then get discouraged but this has definitely got me thinking!
Thank you 🙂 Go for it! I always thought like that but seeing my goals written down in front of me really helped push me to stay on track.
You have done a good few of these and going self hosted is massive. I love the design too 🙂 here’s to sorting the novels in 2016. Thanks for ljnking with #bestandworst and see u soon X
Wow, well done with your productivity!
I am pretty new to blogging and I have been writing out what seems like a million different things on my annual goal list.
I really like the idea of of a more focused bucket list of 12 important goals.
Thank you 🙂 There’s so much to be done and so much you wan to achieve isn’t there! I tried to pick the things I wanted to do most and focus on those.
Good work on meeting most of your objectives! And good luck with the book. Let us know when it’s done.
Thank you 🙂 I will do, thanks again!