You can’t deny the importance of goals. They give you direction and something to shoot for.
However, the problem comes in when your goals aren’t followed up with a strategy.
I’ve seen it too many times. People have great ideas for what they want their sites to accomplish, but they fall short when it comes to the strategy part.
A classic example that I see all the time is when people say they want to create a website to make money from advertising/sponsors, but they have no plan for how they will attract interested parties.
Making money from advertising is the long-term goal, but you first have to develop a strategy for how you are going to make your site popular enough so that people will want to advertise on your site.
People aren’t just going to throw advertising dollars at you because you have a site.
First, develop a strategy that makes your site attractive to advertisers (you’ll need lots of targeted traffic), THEN start thinking about setting your prices and selling ad spots.
I know this may sound elementary to many of you, but there are still too many people starting off on the wrong foot. They have a goal to create a website, but don’t take the time to strategize because they assume people will just flock to their site automatically.
Below is an example of a goal, followed by a potential strategy someone could use to obtain the goal.
Goal: I want to create an online store.
Strategy: First, I will develop a content website surrounding the theme of my store. I will learn SEO (search engine optimization) to attract free, search-engine to my niche website, and use that site to funnel targeted into my store.
Lesson: Any type of site lacking themed content that is not updated frequently, can be challenging to drive traffic to. (Unless you plan to pay for traffic.) That is why many people choose to create content-rich websites to funnel traffic into the site.
Juggling The Task
Jim Nelson’s website, JuggleNow.com is a great example of this strategy in action.
Jim knew it would be challenging to promote a brand new, stand-alone online juggling store. He doesn’t have the brand awareness or popularity of Amazon.com or any of the popular e-tail stores. So he created a content-rich website about juggling to funnel traffic into his store using SEO.
In my opinion, this is one of the best ways to promote a new store if you are just starting and do not have an audience or brand awareness.
I implemented a very similar strategy with my forum, WebsiteBabble.com. I used my content-rich, heavily trafficked website to 2 Create a Website to drive traffic to the forum because I learned (the hard way) that promoting a forum with no existing traffic base often yields poor results.
No matter if you have goals to create a forum, social networking site, e-commerce store, membership site or whatever your choice. Take the time to learn how and why certain sites become popular. Then develop a strategy to help you reach your goals.
Don’t become so blinded by your long-term goals that you neglect to develop a road map for how to reach them.
Interesting article. Were did you got all the information from… Great articles
Your blog post really admireable and obviously helpfull for the starter like me. I’ve posted something on making online money with the title “Earn Money Smartly from Home” n the url is http://www.taka4ubd.blogspot.com
Here is my latest post on joining Adsense:http://taka4ubd.blogspot.com/search/label/AdSense%3AHow%20to%20Join
I think sometimes people get so excited about what they want to do, I think they forget to think about how they are going to do it. Building a strategy is always a challenge – I try to set small goals as well as an actual date and time for when I will implement them. Yes, I’ve got a large to-do list, but I also have a plan.
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Lisa, I just gotta comment that you have such a cool group of readers who really listen and get what you’re doing. Awesome!
.-= Christian´s last blog … Selling vs Marketing =-.
Building content takes time and committment. If people want to take short cuts they are going to fall short.
I know that so many people appreciate that you are honest with them and let them know that things didn’t happen overnight.
You help keep us focused Lisa.
Thank you!
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Very true. I believed I could just start a website and would get an avalanche of orders, didn’t exactly work that way. If websites could get spiderwebs I think mine would have been full of them and dusty. But that was a long time ago, learned alot since then , alot of thanks to this blog.
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I agree with what you’re saying. I was one of those that started on the wrong foot. I soon realized that unless I kept the site fresh and interesting it would remain stagnant.
So now I opened an online store using a WordPress theme called Market theme. I am in the process of integrating with my blog and offering a wide range of products for both pets and humans. It is slowly building up traffic and returning customers. But it wasn’t until I developed a plan containing both short and long range goals.
Lisa, I enjoy watching you grow such a useful internet kingdom. I can relate to nearly everything you write about. By the way, thank you for removing the fear of CSS from my life with your YouTube videos. You are going to go far.
Great points. You can’t just build a site with all thoughts about your advertising and making money. That comes last. If you think that way, be prepared for a lot of disappointment. You need to develop content and gain readers first. Have a plan and stick to it. It does take time. Keep developing content and always know your next step before you take action.
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So true. Without a strategy you are leaving everything up to chance. I’ve heard it said that success is when opportunity meets preparation.
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Hi Lisa
I wholeheartedly agree,
Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance
i call it the 5P’s and it helps me to always prepare a strategy for whatever i do.
Regards
Lam N
.-= Lam N´s last blog … How to Advertise Your Link On Our Site For Free =-.
Another great post Lisa, and you have touched on a valid point. I have been guilty of this in the past too.
It’s essentially a three step process :
you Dream – you Plan – then Execute
Great stuff Lisa
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I also like to differentiate between “goals” and “objectives”. Each quarter, I revise my plan for the year and review these things.
Goals are specific places you want to take your business…7 figure income, 100k subscribers, etc, etc. Objectives are progress markers along the way. this is what you mean by “strategy”, which is why I love this post…because you are 100% right.
Objectives serve as a means of keeping you on track along the way. It’s easy to say “I want to make $100k this year” and then go for it. It’s more work (and WAY more powerful) to work backwards throughout the year and tell yourself where, specifically, you need to be throughout the year. working back to what you need to do TODAY…to keep yourself on track. That’s how you make stuff happen! You rock lisa!
.-= Christian´s last blog … Selling Without Selling =-.
Too often people get lost in the frenzy of wanting to make money, and miss the road that will lead them there. When the money eludes them, frustration steps in. My counsel to anyone is always to get involved any any project for the love of it, and the rewards will come later. This very principle is applicable here. Strategy is key, but also patience….Rome was not built in a day.
.-= Wayne Farley´s last blog … Air Traffic Controllers Celebrate ATC Day =-.
I was one of those without a strategy. Then I learned a little about SEO and marketing. My traffic is better, but minimal at best. I’m grateful for wonderful people like Lisa that help me along the way. Thank you!
Article marketing is one way, but don’t forget about the many Press Release sites. I would suggest that as his main strategy right now.
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Lisa,
I want you to know that I have been telling people about you! I admire your motivation to educate others and I want you to know that you are an excellent teacher. You are so correct with “A Goal Without a Strategy Equals Failure!”
I really pray that God increases your “territory!” You are GREAT keep up the good work!
Kind regards,
Regina B
It all makes perfect sense. Too often ideas are born but not nurtured.
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Agreed. The bottom line is to deliver value; tons of great content; a reason to visit your site and then buy something from your store or affiliates.
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Great Post.
I agree that you need a game plan before doing anything or launching anything. You need to plan what your next step will be in advance. Be pro active, not re active.
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