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A Goal Plan Thats Designed to Ensure Success

Written by: AWAI’s The Golden Thread

Article Overview: Rebecca Matter, AWAI's Vice President of Marketing, talks about how important it is that you set goals instead of make New Year's resolutions.

A Goal Plan Thats Designed to Ensure Success

Do you make New Year’s resolutions?

I used to make them every year. But like most people, I made them unrealistic and immeasurable, and often tried to achieve too much too fast. Then a few months into the New Year I’d realize I’d already missed at least one of my resolutions, and shortly thereafter, would simply forget the rest.

But about five years ago, I learned a lesson from Michael Masterson when I first started working with AWAI that changed everything. And I’m not longer an “oh well, maybe next year” kind of gal.

Instead of making New Year’s resolutions … I now set goals.

Rather than making empty general resolutions like I’m going to drink less, make more money, and exercise more; I’ve learned to develop an actual plan that’s designed to ensure I succeed. And you can too.

Instead of banking your success as a web writer on a New Year’s resolution, I’d like you to set a career-building goal to get you to that next level – whatever that “next level” is for you …

If you’re just staring out, maybe your goal will be to land your first paying client …

If you’ve successfully launched your web writing business, maybe your goal will be to land ten new clients …

Or maybe it will be to clear the six-figure mark, so that you can quit your full-time job.

Whatever it is, make sure your goal meets the following four criteria:

It must be specific …
Instead of setting a goal to make a lot of money from your web copy, set a goal to land 5 clients worth at least $20K each.

It must be actionable …
Winning $100K in Vegas is not an actionable goal. But winning enough projects to bill $100K in fees is.

It must be time-oriented …
While landing five clients worth $20K each is a good goal … landing five clients worth $20K each by October 31st is a better one.

It must be realistic …
Landing five clients worth $20K by October 31st may be an aggressive goal, but it’s possible. Landing those same five clients by January 31st is not.

Once you have a goal that meets all four criteria, write it down. According to successful people like Michael Masterson and Brian Tracy, this one simple step can spell the difference between achieving your goal, and failing completely.

Next break that goal down into small objectives, that each take you one step closer to your goal. Write the objectives in the order they need to be completed, and assign a deadline to each one.

Let’s say your goal was to land five paying clients by August 31, 2008. Your first couple objectives may look like this:

Objective 1: Complete phase one of my web copy training by February 28th.
Objective 2: Send out 150 solicitations for prospective clients by March 31st.
Objective 3: Write on spec for a client in each of the web areas I target by April 15th.

So on and so forth.

Then, break each of these objectives down into even smaller measurable tasks. Make sure you specify exactly what needs to be done, and once again assign a time frame.

Using the same example, let’s say you plan to specialize in writing website content and SEO (search engine optimization) copy, and area about half way through Nick Usborne’s Million-Dollar Secrets for Online Copywriting. You may break the first objective like this:

January 1-11, read pages 171-239 of the Usborne program and complete the exercises.

January 12–18, finish the Usborne program. Read pages 241-273 and complete the exercises.

January 19- 31, start researching potential web clients, and collect all relevant contact data. Write my self-promotion letter selling my website copy services, and practice my new web skills on spec assignments offered by AWAI and my own copywriting website.

February 1-14, learn how to write SEO copy by watching Heather Lloyd-Martin’s SEO Copywriting Success DVD homestudy program, and practice writing SEO copy on my copywriting website.

February 15-18, attend the Web Copywriting Intensive in Austin, Texas, learn the skills needed to be a working web copy specialist, and submit at least one of the spec assignments to Rebecca Matter.

February 19-28, contact 50 potential clients and offer my web copy services.

You’ll want to create a tracking system so that you can easily keep track of these tasks. I personally like to use an 8 ½ X 11 calendar that when opened, lays flat on my desk and shows me a month at a time. One of AWAI’s Marketers, Tammy Lawman, prefers to keep a single word document that she updates daily.

Whatever you choose, make sure you can access it easily. Then check your tasks daily, and your objectives monthly to make sure you are staying on task. If you need to adjust any deadlines, go ahead. But don’t let yourself make excuses for not sticking to your plan.

So what goal will you achieve in 2009?

Take 30 minutes right now, and write it down along with the objectives it will take to achieve it. Remember to be specific and realistic. And then get ready to achieve it!

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Article Tags: 100k, aggressive goal, full time job, michael masterson, money, new year, next level, october 31st, resolutions, six figure, web copy, web writer



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Re: What are your January Goals? - Here's a quick update on mine: Goal #1: Hire New Writer = done - Post job description on oDesk - Set up trial job - Pick top candidate Goal #2: Follow up with Clients = done - Create and send quarterly report - Touch base with last year's clients - Follow up with 4 connectors Goal #3: PERSONAL = about 70% done on the month - Do something nice for my wife each week - Exercise 4 times per week - Daily stretch - want to touch my toes
Business Innovation - Hi Simon If you can finish off the Business Plan and think about your strategic direction or how you are going to use your product to convince people it's a great idea, it will set the foundation for your programming project. You see, when you are looking for funding you will need a Business Plan and Strategic Plan that will convince companies to invest into your new idea. Has anyone achieved this idea before using another industry besides health and fitness that you know of? You should also design some mockups as a "preview" for your programming project. This will also help reduce your programming costs as everyone will know exactly what you want if you have detailed mockups already completed including any functionality you require. Starting mockups for websites and software applications on paper is the best way if you're not a guru in graphic editing software.
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Starting a New Business - Congratulations on the first step of deciding to create your own business. First, you have to ascertain if you are going to be selling your products or services to people or to businesses. People purchase products and services for three basic reasons: •To satisfy basic needs •To solve problems •To make themselves feel good. You have to determine which of these three categories your product or service is the solution to. Businesses, unlike individuals, buy products and services for three reasons as well: •To increase revenues •To maintain the status quo •To decrease expenses. Knowing the reasons why people/businesses buy, you should have a picture emerging of who you think your "Target Market" (or ideal customer) is. Once you have zeroed in on your solution, you are ready to create your Marketing Strategy. If you look at any company that has grown rapidly over the past few years, (i.e. WestJet and Starbucks), it should demonstrate to you the importance of Marketing. In simple terms these companies have: •Clearly defined what makes them different; •Who their ideal customer is; •How to reach them; •Why customers should buy from them; •And most importantly why customers should come back again. It is strong Marketing Awareness that singles out the best companies. I can not stress enough how important it is to create a "living" Marketing Plan before you even start. I hope this helps a little in the creation of your plan. All the very best of luck. Remember: "A Goal without a Plan is just a Wish" Miles of Smiles, Marketing Maven
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