[STUFF ON STYLE] Setting blogging goals

New for 2013, STUFF ON STYLE is a monthly feature that focuses less on trendy, sartorial pursuits and more on my writing adventures (or misadventures) in the nail polish blogosphere. Don't be surprised to see the odd "how-to" piece pop up here, too! I love writing, but like so many things in life, it's "use it or lose it" -- and since Stuff is the only thing I write with any consistency these days, I am not about to let writing go the way of my seven years of Spanish. I mean, how the fuck do you even say "gone" in Spanish, again?


Why, hello! Thanks for joining me for today's first STUFF ON STYLE. (Yeah, capslock that.)

Many bloggers already write incredible "how-to" posts about nail care and nail art. I don't have the knowledge, skills or the camera abilities to attempt any of that, so you won't be seeing that from me. What I can share are a few tips and tricks about writing, grammar and style, as well as other general nail blogging topics I haven't seen covered on other blogs. I simply want to pass on what has helped me and what I know, even if they are common sense. I have a hard time thinking of myself as a proper blogger, and wanted to challenge myself by finding something special I could add to our growing niche.

STYLE is the perfect platform for me.

Today's topic is something that took me the better part of January to decide, but it's fitting for the first month of 2013.

In this day and age, you can't go at least two weeks into a new year without seeing friends post incessantly about their new year's resolutions on Facebook, or without seeing some horribly unfunny piece on Yahoo! or Buzzfeed or some other site. Look, I get it. I do want to read more than two books a year and run a mile in under 20 minutes and make healthy meals and all that, but I take the concept of new year's resolutions about as seriously as Lululemon and Anne Hathaway's British accents. That is to say ... I cannot.

However, as trite as personal resolutions sound, I didn't see why I couldn't apply that mentality to blogging goals.

I think the first question any blogger should consider before starting a blog and setting goals is the same question I had: "What do I want to get out of this?"

Well, all I wanted was a place to document my collection somewhere I could share it with other addicts like minds. That's it. And I'd do it two to three times a week, as time allowed. Nothing fancy. If I'd been in it to run a popular, successful site, up my beauty product game or connect with companies' PR folks, I would have been a lot more strategic about everything than I am now.

An important part of setting attainable goals is to make sure you can set a realistic time frame to accomplish them. If you have to break it down to make it happen, that's okay! When I know I want to tie in a TV premiere or some other pop culture thing with a polish, I try to draft that post at least a week in advance, since I tend to ramble and the picture taking process can be a while. I actually drafted this post two days prior to posting it, but I sat and tweaked it last night because I wasn't happy with it. I don't always have the time to sit down and crank out a post, so I try to set aside maybe half an hour in the evening when I have the computer to myself.

In other words, be flexible. Know your schedule and what works for you -- my schedule fluctuates every week. It's impossible for me to post every day, which is partly why I can't commit to set weekly series posts and why I love my monthly Skinny Dipping nude polish series with Anna. I don't know what Stuff would be like without my draft folder in Blogger and its scheduling feature!

I'd also suggest keeping your blogging goals somewhere you can easily refer to them; this post is a perfect place for me. In addition to your goals, write down any ideas you have for future posts. You may have some stinkers, but you'll find some winners there, too. Don't discount anything.

Here are my goals for Stuff in 2013 (in no particular order):

1. Update my spreadsheet with a complete inventory of my collection. I like the way my spreadsheet is organized, but I haven't done inventory since Summer 2011. 'Nuff said.
2. Blog polish purchases at the end of each month and post the total at the end of the year -- I see this a lot on fashion blogs, in particular. I'm trying to save up for a few big things this year (my bridesmaid dress and my friend's bachelorette weekend in Kentucky, for example). Also, I've been collecting for almost five years, and with a full Helmer plus several boxes of overflow, I really need to quit buying dupes, unwearable brands and any polish with a hilarious name (e.g., Sinful Colors Beau Khaki). This will debut on Thursday, the 31st.
3. Comment more on other blogs; respond to comments and e-mails in a more timely manner (within two days). Stuff takes a backseat to real life, and unfortunately I tend to fall behind with these things and they tend to pile up. I do read everything, though.
4. Be more proactive about networking, guest posting, etc. FWIW, I also suck at networking IRL. In fact, I don't tell some of my online nail polish friends about this blog because I feel like everyone and their mother has one. Last September, I was accepted to a Facebook group right before my move, but I freaked out and never did anything about it because I didn't want to use my personal account and I didn't want to open a separate account to join. I get overwhelmed with too many accounts after a while. I didn't think I'd get in! Anyway, my point is that was not the greatest move. I spend more time on this hobby than I thought I would, but I also don't want to do anything if it doesn't feel right, you know? And sometimes you don't know until you know.
5. Do more with Stuff's Facebook page: update it more frequently and find more ways to engage my Facebook followers.
6. Find a Revlon-compatible top coat. I'm serious. If I cannot, I'm getting rid of my Revlons. Most of them, anyway.
7. Blog sale, RAOK/give away or swap at least 50 polishes by May. I guess this is part of controlling my intake and overall stash size. If someone else can use what I'm not planning on using again (or ever), then ... awesome.

So there you have them, my nail blog goals for the year. Now I'd like to hear yours, whether you're a fellow blogger or a reader. If you have any suggestions for blogging goals or setting them, please share -- maybe I can take them on. (Maybe.) If you have any suggestions for future STYLE topics, feel free to leave a comment or e-mail them to me. I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks for reading! Come back for your regularly-scheduled polish posts this week, plus my first monthly purchase post. 2013's already been one heck of a year. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad one ... I just know I'm tired.