Like all other kinds of success, blogging success is not an accident. Like any business, the best blogs begin with a plan. This plan henceforth will be known as TheStrategic Blogging Plan.  Successful bloggers don’t just start randomly writing posts as the thoughts occur, can you imagine what that would look like if they did? How would a blog post look if it was an endless stream of consciousness? How would the entire site look if it was filled with posts written like this? More importantly, now you've imagined this, would you read it?
Blogging success is achieved from having and following your strategic blogging plan, which guides you towards your goals. Ah, but Sarah I hear you say, I blog for pleasure. And so do I would be my reply. A strategic blogging plan is needed to build an audience and grow your blog even if you blog for enjoyment and pleasure over money in the bank.
It’s estimated there are over 160 million blogs on the internet right now, and a new blog is created every half-second. With  numbers like this  you need to have a plan to put into action so you can attract your audience and grow your authority.
A good blogging strategy includes researching and planning your content, monetization, and understanding your audience.
What is a strategic blogging plan and why do you need one?
A strategic blogging plan is a roadmap that shows you what you need to do to get where you want to go. It helps you determine where to spend your time and money as well as when to get help. One of the biggest myths in blogging is that you can do everything yourself. You can't and no one does, even the most successful bloggers have a team behind the scenes.
Your blogging plan will be a systemized approach to the content you create, the advertisers and products you promote, and the ways you build a following. This plan is what gets you from point A (where you are now) to Point B (where you want to be).
Your Strategic Blogging Plan helps you set your course, and then stay on it.
Your plan will also allow you to prioritize the order in which you need to do things. Prioritizing is important because it enables you to focus on each step individually. When you focus effectively, you are less inclined to find yourself fannying around (a technical term) on Facebook and pretending its work.
Your Strategic Blogging Plan assists you in clearly, defining what you need to achieve.
When your needs are clearly stated, there is no second-guessing what you should do, when you should do it, or even why you should do it. It’s all right there in the plan. Your blogging plan will include your content plans, how you will build traffic and gain readers, how you will grow the blog, how you will monetize the site, and your ongoing marketing plans.
It might seem overwhelming to create a strategic blogging plan, especially in the beginning; however, it’s not difficult when you break it down into easily managed steps.
So here's a gift to you, share the post and get your free guide for Strategic Blogging.
Love that content locker thingy, Sarah! It works great on Safari (but not Chrome).
This is really timely because I’m about to plan out my conference schedule and hence the big picture for the blog in 2015.
Too true Sarah – I’ve just downloaded a 2015 blogging calendar and I’m adding key dates to my year planner to get my strategy started
My posts on my first 30DBBC were random, and I often wondered how to go about creating a plan, or getting more organized. My first goal was to just make the challenge of “30 blogs in 30 days.” But I’ll develop a plan for next time and I’m sure it will feel so much more professional.
Hello Sarah,
I totally agree. We must have a systematic approach to blogging and a strategic blogging plan gives us that. I am very interested in reading your strategic blogging plan. Thank you for sharing.
Great post and a like the Strategic Blogging plan and the 30 day challenge. I have done those before but not with the concept of planning it all out.
Once I have read your plan I will decide how to plan my blog for 2015.
Andy
great post and very useful download as well.
Thank you, I will definitely be referring back to it regularly!
Hi Sarah.
Thanks for your valuable post. It is quite true that without a strategy you can not get success in blogging like other kind of successes. If you want to get success in your blogging career you need make your own plan with a solid strategy which will help you a lot in blogging.
With Regards.
Naveen
I have a general outline in place for my blog, but not a strategic plan per se. Utilizing a monthly/yearly planner helps a lot for staying organized and on track.
Hi Sarah,
I love that you get to the point! No plan = no success. Stumbling your way is no way to fulfill ones strategies, goals and objectives.
If you don’t have a plan, how do you measure success? How do you know if you’re really know if you’re productive or just wasting your time?
It’s a really serious issue and I’m glad you’re helping many with a template to get them started. I know it’s a big help!!!!
One thing that will help people build a plan is to know what business they are in, what problems they solve or how they improve someones life, and who they specifically do it for.
When you know this information, it makes it a lot easier to create a plan and execute it.
Thanks for all you do Sarah!!!!
Have a Happy New Year!
~ Don Purdum
Excellent advice Sarah!
And i think it’s pretty obvious that if someone is constantly as you
say “fannying” around on social media in general, then they simply
don’t have a written plan!
Otherwise there’s simply no way they could afford to devote so much time and effort on merely socializing online!
Great points as usual!
Thanks so much for sharing! BTW, how is locking your content working for you so far? Thanks!
Hi Sarah.
It’s definitely best to be strategic, although of course it’s best to be strategic AND something to say. A systemised approach will help with that. In fact, it’s something I’m working on.
That’s also a great point about setting a priority to do things. It helps a lot in the long term.
Thanks for the tips.
Nathan.
Well, I know I can’t depend on my writing muse to move me to write! I need a strategic plan, and I need to exercise discipline in writing whether I feel like it or not. Thanks for a great post!