Down-and-dirty summary of planning theory adapted for bloggers to inspire critical thinking, goal setting, critical analysis of opportunities, and actionable plans in the expansive environment of online publishing. Follow-up to content presented at Type A Mom Conference, Asheville, NC, September 23, 2010 by Deb Rox, deb@3smartgirlz.com.

1. Strategic Planning for
Dynamic Bloggers
in .5 Hours!
Deb Rox
@debontherocks
#typeamom
www.3smartgirlz.com

2. Strategic Planning

3. A blog is simply a blog, nothing more or less, a powerful elegant bit of
digital paper that can be a destination in and of itself or simply a strategy
to advance a different objective. Don’t let anyone else assume or define
your goals or your metrics ofsuccess for you.

4. Do you want to build a successful
online publication?

5. Make it into print?

6. Grow your own business
or work with brands?

7. Create & Share
In the Digital Community of Artists?

8. Gather people? Teach?
Make things happen?

9. A combination of all of the above?
Something
Entirely
Different?

10. Make a Statement, or 2

11. SWOT Analysis = Keeping it Real

12. SWOT Analysis
• Strengths – Identifying existing strengths in
your skillset or the content you’ve created
• Weaknesses – Identifying existing weaknesses
• Opportunities – What market or artistic
opportunities might there be? Where can you
grow? What’s hot? Who needs you?
• Threats – What is not hot? What
infrastructure needs attention? What could
unravel?

13. SWOT – honest contemplation leads to
individualized success
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
OPPORTUNITIES THREATS

14. Discerning Strategies
to Meet Your Goals
• If my goal is to be an influential
voice, I need:
– Networks
– Track record that includes public
speaking
– Platforms
• If my goal is to be published, I need: Your goals will be different depending on
– Development as a writer you, your assets, your life, your business,
– A resume of previous publications your dreams.
If a new opportunity comes along, ask
• If my goal is to represent brands, I yourself if it meets your goals. If not, let
need: it go.
– Access to decision makers
– A professional service to offer Your time is best spent planning actions
that allow you to meet your goals.

15. Bust myths and common assumptions
that don’t fit your goals
• Not every blogger needs big traffic—only
cultivate if your goals require audience numbers
• Not every blogger needs to go to conferences
• Not every blogger needs to be active on
Facebook and Twitter
• Not every blogger is working towards a book deal
or needs killer prose
• Not every blogger benefits from ads or brand
support
YOUR goals come first. Then pick strategies and actions
that will manifest the success you defined.

17. How can you get there from here?
Gap analysis
Metrics and measures
Making choices
Planning actionable steps
Strategic decision making
Constant feedback loops
Finding help

18. Planning Activities
to Meet Your Goals
• Break your goals down to achievable activities with deadlines
and metrics to measure your progress.
• Think through the help and resources you need to achieve
that goal.
• Ask yourself: More than anything else, what would help me
reach that goal?
• Ask yourself: If I could convince a
funder/editor/superhero/fairy godmother to help me meet
that goal, what would I tell her I have already been doing to
make it happen?
• Ask yourself: What 5 things could I do this month to help me
reach that goal?
• Celebrate every success, big and small.
YOUR goals come first. Then pick strategies and actions
that will manifest the success you defined.

19. Writing it down
Tactics are a series of specific actions
necessary to support and accomplish the
overall strategic plan. Break them down to
deliverable actions, and you have a plan.
S pecific
M easureable
A chievable
R elevant
T ime-bound

20. Strategic Planning 101 in .5 hours!
• Get Centered with Your Mission & Vision
• Articulate Your Goals
• Analyze Strengths Weaknesses, Opportunities
& Threats to Strategize How to Meet Those
Goals
• Only Accept Opportunities that Match
• Don’t Wait to Be Asked: Write SMART Steps to
Take
• Find Support
• Continually Assess
• Kick Ass!

21. www.3smartgirlz.com