The 7 Step Blogger Business Plan

The journey to becoming a successful blogger can take time, and no two stories will be exactly the same. But, there are proven steps every blogger can take to be more efficient and results-oriented at any stage – whether just beginning or with an established site.

Use this 7-step guide as you reach for success in your blog and business!

1. Find a niche you are knowledgeable and passionate about.

A successful blog is built over time and is usually not a short-term venture. As you think about your niche, consider: what interests you enough that you can talk about it for years? Is it broad enough to incorporate subcategories and allow for ongoing content creation?

Another question to ask yourself is: does your passion align with a need that others have?

Take time to research your niche to find gaps in current online spaces or ways that you can provide value. Talk to people in your ideal audience and get a clear understanding of how you can serve them.

Lastly, determine how you can stand out from others in your niche. How does your presentation, aesthetic, or angle differ? Think about what you can offer that others aren’t and how your experience or knowledge brings a unique perspective.

2. Set clear goals and create a plan to reach them.

Setting goals is a key step to success as a blogger. Don’t leave those goals as just great ideas on paper – you also need to outline your steps to reach them!

To set clear goals, it’s important to fully evaluate your why. Why are you pursuing a blog (or business)? And what do you see as the benefits or outcomes?

These questions will help you visualize and define what you want your blog and business to become. Specific ideas that might come to mind could include reaching an income goal, gaining recognition or establishing credibility in your profession, creating a flexible vocation, etc.

Write down your goals and break them into actionable and achievable steps. (The S.M.A.R.T. goals method is an efficient way to frame goals with action steps.)

Finally, schedule time to revisit your goals regularly and update them as needed. Add this step to your to-do list, set a calendar reminder, or create other visual reminders to ensure you have time to reflect, adjust, and celebrate your progress!

3. Decide that you are ready to learn and grow

A successful blogging career doesn’t come without ups and downs. There will always be evolving trends, new technology, and questions you won’t have all the answers to.

As you pursue blogging, accept the fact that you will not have all of the answers today. Your blog will take time to grow, and this journey of putting yourself out into the online world will feel really hard at times. Bloggers must constantly be willing to learn new things, and it is a given that you will encounter frustration from time to time.

To prepare for inevitable challenges and moments of overwhelm, make sure that you have resources available to keep learning and find support. Approach your challenges with an open mindset and pursue growth. Lean on your community and blogging networks, and stay updated on industry trends.

Remember that every blogger’s journey will vary, and your timeline and goals will differ from others. That’s okay!

(P.S. Our blogging membership was created to support bloggers in this process. Take a peek at the options for training and support from experienced bloggers!)

4. Practice self-discipline

Self-discipline, the ability to focus and follow through on your own commitments, is crucial for bloggers and entrepreneurs in general. Some bloggers may initially struggle with the less-glamorous aspects of managing a blog, and this is where self-discipline is especially needed.

To hone your self-discipline practice, start by making a list of your biggest roadblocks and make decisions on how you will tackle them. Identify what support or resources you need to move forward and make a step-by-step plan. Focusing on your mindset, looking at the big picture, and continuing with actionable steps are all important aspects of practicing self-discipline.

Keeping your broader goals in mind, set a realistic schedule, and stick to it. Calculate the time you actually have available (not just what you wish you had) and break goals down into smaller tasks that fit into your available time segments. Even when it’s difficult, commit to doing at least one thing each day that will move you toward your goals.

On the flip side, saying yes to your goals also means saying no to other things. Consider carefully where you must lessen responsibilities or turn down opportunities (maybe just temporarily) that don’t align with your goals.

5. Implement growth habits

Once you’ve committed to learning, growing, and holding yourself accountable for your progress, implement growth habits. These are among the most important parts of success.

Since success rarely happens overnight, you must be consistent in the little steps that add up over time. Think about one step you could take today that will boost you to the next step tomorrow.

Keep a journal or make notes to track your short and long-term action steps and recognize your successes. Learn from your mistakes and view them as learning opportunities instead of signs to give up or stop aiming to reach your goals.

6. Stay true to yourself and your audience

It can be inspiring and helpful to see how others are finding success in your niche. However, this is not a blueprint for your own success.

Remember that you have unique qualities that your audience will connect with and value. Reflect on the input from your readers and the ways your content has served others. Keep the communication open with your audience and respond by serving them according to their feedback.

Most importantly, as you develop your blog and online presence, always do a “self-check-in” to ensure that what you are creating aligns with your values and beliefs. That might even mean sacrificing an opportunity or content ideas that could go “viral.” In the end, it’s more important to be true to your goals and authentic to your audience.

Unrecognizable worker typing on laptop at table with flowers

7. Review your results

For many bloggers, taking time to reflect and review can be one of the hardest parts! However, it is essential to have check-in points to see what’s working (or not) and celebrate the milestones you achieve.

Consider these areas to set you up for success:

Review the goals and milestones and see how you have progressed. This could include looking at how many posts you have published, how your posts are ranking in search engines, or if you have started or grown your email list.
Look at the data and numbers and see your growth. It’s super helpful to have visuals or tracking tools to see your progress! You might look at items such as page views, organic traffic, or the results of lead magnets or freebies.
Treat yourself like a business and review and plan regularly. Don’t skip this step! Create routines for reflection and strategic steps as your business grows.

Additional resources for blogging success

Bloggers are no strangers to “figuring it out” or tackling challenges as they come. Remember, you don’t have to navigate your journey to becoming a successful blogger alone!

At Spark Media Concepts, we have resources to help every blogger with everything from the big-picture planning or the nitty-gritty details of managing your site.

Explore our blogging courses and membership community to find support at the level you need.

Looking for more resources on specific blogging topics? The Ultimate Blog Podcast includes candid conversations around content inspiration, technical news, backend business tasks, and blogging success stories! Add a few of these episodes to your listening queue:

We love to hear from other bloggers and connect you with resources for success! Find us on Instagram at @sparkmediaconcepts