My Blogging Goals for 2018 | The Future of GoodTomiCha

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2017 was such a crazy year for me in the world of blogging. Sure, I set a few blogging goals. But it was nothing like what I was actually able to accomplish! I went to New York Fashion Week TWICE?! You can read all about those insane experiences here and here. I met some incredible blogger besties like Hannah Goldstein, Kelsey O’Brien, and many many more. I landed my first campaign with a national clothing brand and had over 20 sponsored post opportunities from HBO to hotel reviews.

I’m not saying any of this to brag about my blog. It’s opened so many doors for me and allowed me to grow as a creator and a businesswoman. God has truly blessed me this year and I give all of my success to Him. Many people wonder how I did this with under 7,000 Instagram followers and I’m ready to share my tips in 2018. For now, I want to share my blogging goals for the future. I’m constantly making lists and goals for myself and it’s no different with blogging! I’m ready to move forward and keep growing GoodTomiCha with your help!

My blogging goals for 2018

Starting a Youtube Channel:

After working for INSIDER, I knew that I would eventually start a Youtube channel. With video being such a huge part of the future of social media, advertising, and marketing, it’s a no-brainer. I’ve spent a couple of months brainstorming on what topics I wanted to cover. Would I focus solely on fashion or lifestyle? I’m definitely a beauty-lover, but nowhere talented enough to become the next Jackie Aina. So why not a combination of everything I love? Starting in 2018, I’ll  be sharing blogging tips, lookbooks, and challenges all in video form. Watch out world. I’m super excited (and equally nervous)! If you have any Youtubers you think I should try to collab with, let me know below!

Newsletters:

I’ve been saying I would set this up since I started in June of 2015. However, 2017 was really the first year I started taking blogging seriously. My newsletters won’t be annoying emails alerting you every time I publish a new post. Instead, it will be filled with purposeful, curated content sharing sales, fashion news, and weekly inspiration. Be on the lookout for signups!

Generate a steady monthly income:

I’ve been able to make my blogging career into a legitimate side-hustle (see how I balance it with school here). However, I’ll be honest. Becuase of payment schedules or hectic class schedules, there are months where I don’t generate any income at all. My goal in 2018 is to create some kind of monthly revenue. Now, I’m not saying I want to earn the equivalent of a full-time salary, but consistency would be nice!

Creating and actually sticking to an editorial calendar:

This one is definitely the hardest for me. It’s been a struggle for me to stay organized when I don’t have the income to pay photographers or invest in new pieces to shoot. However, I’ll have a more diverse stream of income in 2018 and shouldn’t have as much of a problem with this. I’m sharing this with you guys so you keep me accountable! I’ll definitely be putting this Ashley Shelly planner to good use. I’m committing to either 2 posts a week or one post and a video. Wish me luck!

Growing myself as a brand:

I mentioned in earlier blog posts the importance of personal branding for creatives and I want to make sure I’m practicing this to the best of my ability!  I aim to only partner with businesses that align with me professionally and that I truly believe my audience will enjoy.

Continue the conversation towards an inclusive blogging community:

If you’re a fashion blogger, you know how diversity is always a hot topic. The lack of full-figured influencers and women of color I see on my feed can be disheartening. I shared a little bit on my personal journey with diversity in blogging and how it affected me when I first started. My goal is to foster a relationship with bloggers from different backgrounds and create dialogue on how we can work towards better representation in this space. Even in college, this was always a passion of mine. I’m ready to be able to carry it over into an industry that I believe could really benefit from it.

Phew. Did I mention I’m excited?! They say if your goals (dreams) don’t scare you, then they aren’t big enough! I’m so thankful for each and every one of you who have commented, liked, or shared my posts these past two years. You helped me take what I thought would just be a fun hobby to a future I didn’t think was possible in such a short amount of time! I’m continuously blessed by all of you. Keep checking back to see me put these plans into practice. If you have any questions about blogging or ideas for Youtube videos, share them below!

P.S. Loved the planner featured? You can use TOMI5 to get $5 off your own Ashley Shelly planner! Use them for your own blogging goals or to get organized in 2018. Get them here. 

xx

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