2014 Goals for Fig + Cotton!

With so much going on in my personal life (read: flood, day job, family, etc.), I haven’t had the opportunity to spend as much time and energy on Fig + Cotton as I would like.  So, I decided to write down my 2014 goals for my little budding blog and paperie.  It was such a wonderful exercise for me.  This simple task was eye-opening and helped me refocus on what I truly want Fig + Cotton to be for me, my family, and for all of you!

I broke my goals up into two categories:  the blog and the paperie.   I also decided that, while “realistic” goals are certainly best, making at least one over-the-top lofty goal for both parts of my business will help me dream a bit bigger and stretch my boundaries.  I think dreaming big is critical for success, so that is just what I am doing.

THE BLOG:

1. Nail down a solid editorial calendar, and stick with it.  I am a tad OCD, so a well-laid out editorial calendar keeps me in line.  I am hoping to stick to it every month so I can provide you with colorful and useful content.
2. Post four times a week.  Any blogger will tell you that the key to success is regular posts.  I am committed to it in 2014!  I want readers stopping by to stay a while on a regular basis, so that means new posts more frequently and consistently.  (Note:  this is my first post this week, so lets say this one starts next week!)  I hope to grow this goal to five times a week, but I am starting a bit smaller.
3. Work to increase readership by 100%.  For a blog that is less than nine months old, I have a wonderful reader base.  I am so blessed and completely excited that YOU want to come see what I am up to.  Now, it is time for me to impress your friends, as well.  I am very proud of my collaboration with La Dolce Vita and the new readers that come with being associated with such a wonderful blog, and I am excited to see what the year has in store.   I am also committed to having a bigger Pinterest and Twitter presence this year to drive additional traffic to my site.
4. Make a little scratch.  Well, I would do this for free; I honestly would.  However, I spend a lot of time creating these posts.  To compensate for my time away from friends and family, I really hope to dig into the blogging advertising world, just a bit.  I certainly don’t want this online source of fun to be cluttered with ads, but I would like to learn more about my advertising options this year.
5. Attend the Alt Summit in Salt Lake City (in January 2015).  I am so mad at myself that I didn’t go this year.  I want to grow as a blogger as the years progress, and learning from seasoned, successful bloggers is the most organic way to do just that.  So, I have made a pact with my pal, Katie with Spray Paint and Chardonnay…we are planning our trip this year and going in 2015!

I have one “realistic” goal:  grow my presence on Minted.com with more product and more interaction in the incredibly talented community thriving within their virtual walls.  Since I decided to close my etsy.com shop for an indefinite amount of time, all my “cotton” creative energy will be spent there for now.  I am focusing on entering at least one design in EVERY. SINGLE. CONTEST.  There will be no excuses.  I hope to be a CMYK designer soon and create my own little Minted storefront.

My “dream big” goal for the Paperie is to partner with a well-known lifestyle brand on a paper line, party decor, or kitchen accessory line.  Target…Anthro…Food Network…anyone listening??

Well, there you have it.  All in all, my long-term goal is to inspire my readers with accessible recipes, party menus, and entertaining tips for years to come!

xo,

erin