10,00 Facebook fans. 40,000 Twitter followers. 100k email subscribers. All those stats sound nice, right? They sure do! But what do all these stats allow your business to obtain? How do they help your business succeed?
As marketers we love facts and figures. They’re something we can point to and feel good about. But the key to really succeeding is setting rational, achievable goals - goals that have a purpose beyond being numbers on a page.
There are multiple goal setting tactics out there. If you’ve found one that works for you, great. Please visit our Facebook page and tell us about it.
If you’re looking for a little direction, S.M.A.R.T. might be just the thing. Here’s how it works.
S – Specific
What is your end objective? The more specific you can be the better. Clearly identifying what you want accomplish will allow you to see the necessary steps. Often you can see this by answering the five Ws: Who, What, Where, Why and Which.
Example: We would like to grow our email distribution with verified contacts because this will allow us to share helpful marketing tips in a user friendly format.
M – Measurable
If your goal measurable? While facts and figures aren’t as important as the objective, they do give us a way to concretely define achievement.
Example: 50 new subscribers.
A – Attainable
Is your goal realistic? If, for example, you currently have 29 email subscribers and your goal is to get another 1,000 in the next month, you might be asking a little too much of yourself.
Example: Yes. 50 new email subscribers for RWL Design’s email list is attainable.
R – Relevant
For your business, is this goal relevant? Another way to think about this is: Will this goal help my business achieve its core mission?
Example: Yes. Growing our email distribution list with verified subscribers will allow us to help more business succeed.
T – Time-bound
Set a deadline. By when can you realistically expect to achieve your goal? This deadline will help you hold yourself accountable.
Example: 3 months.
Only Fifty Subscribers?
You might be thinking, “50 additional subscribers?” But those fifty subscribers could be the goal you need to get the ball rolling. Sometimes small successes can build the momentum you need to tackle larger goals. Don’t be afraid to start small or do small things - just work to do them them well. It takes a little bit to get a train moving.
