Setting Goals for note | note Growth Diary #2
Hello, this is Sato-senpai.
This may be sudden, but what is the reason you started note?
・Because I want to share what I love and connect with like-minded people.
・Because I want to monetize it and earn side income.
・Because I want to improve my writing skills and consistency.
・Because I want to promote my own business or products.
・Because I want to write original stories or works.
I'm sure there are many reasons.
All of them are wonderful reasons!
But note is hard to keep up with, isn't it?
I have also failed at note many times.
What I realized from that is the importance of "goal setting."
It is difficult to continue without a solid goal.
So this time, while introducing recommended ways to set goals, I would also like to set goals for this account itself.
I hope this will be helpful for note beginners✨
4 Steps to "Sustainable" Goal Setting
STEP 1: Verbalize your "Purpose"
The first thing you should do is verbalize your "purpose."
The purpose here is what you want to achieve with note.
The question at the beginning is to draw that out.
The five examples from earlier are my top 5 purposes for note.
Don't they mostly fall into one of these?
(Sometimes there are people who continue for a long time just "because," which is amazing... but it was impossible for me, haha)
Organizing these five looks like this.
Please think about which one applies to you.
【5 Types and Main Purposes (What you want to achieve)】
Empathy Writer Type ▶︎ Building a readership / Expanding awareness
Knowledge Provider Type ▶︎ Monetization / Providing value
Self-Growth Type ▶︎ Habit formation / Writing skills
Marketing Type ▶︎ Product sales / Branding
Portfolio Type ▶︎ Introducing works / Building a fan base
Of course, I think there are cases where multiple apply, not just one.
A combination of 2-3 is strategically fine, but if you try to cover everything, the direction of your account will become unclear.
It is also disadvantageous in terms of search traffic and algorithms, so in that case, it is recommended to separate accounts by purpose.
STEP 2: Decide on KPIs according to your purpose
Once you have decided on your style, the next step is to determine your KPIs (target metrics).
There are many types of KPIs, but
here I will briefly introduce the ones that are especially important for beginners👇
【Basic KPIs and what you gain from them】
Number of articles: Proof of consistency
Number of paid articles: Opportunity for monetization
Number of views: Interest from readers
Number of likes: Empathy from readers
Number of comments: Approachability to readers
Number of followers: Evolution from reader to fan
Sales: Trust from readers
【KPIs that are important depending on your goal and what you gain】
Posting frequency: Stability of your consistent pace
Number of external link clicks: How much it resonated with readers
Number of job requests/product sales: Strong trust or empathy from readers
Profile article views: Strong interest from readers
Number of magazine registrations: Consistent readers (≒ fans)
etc...
KPI analysis can be a rabbit hole if you get hooked, but
you don't need to worry about most of them as a beginner.
Personally, I think starting with just the 'Basic KPIs' above is sufficient.
Think about what kind of KPIs you will use as growth indicators
to match your note.
For reference, I have also summarized the KPIs that should be prioritized for each of the styles mentioned earlier👇
[Empathy Writer Style]
→ Number of followers, number of likes, number of views, number of comments, etc.
[Knowledge Provider Style]
→ Paid article views, paid article purchase rate, sales amount, free article views, external link clicks, repeat purchase rate, etc.
[Self-Growth Style]
→ Number of posts, posting frequency, writing time, monthly update rate, number of likes, number of followers, etc.
[Marketing Style]
→ Number of followers, number of views, profile views, external link clicks, number of comments/citations, number of job requests/consultations, etc.
[Portfolio Style]
→ Number of articles, number of likes, number of followers, profile views, number of shares/embeds, number of inquiries/requests, number of magazine registrations, etc.
STEP 3: Make it concrete with "SMART"
Are you familiar with "SMART" in goal setting?
To put it simply, it is this👇
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-bound
A goal that includes these five elements can be called a good goal.
Let's try creating one using the "Empathy Writer Style" as an example.
Goal: To have people empathize with my thoughts and way of life, and to increase fans
S: Write one "lifestyle/realization-based" story article every week
M: Aim for "300 likes" and "+50 followers" in one month
A: Aim for 5 times the growth from the current average number of likes (e.g., 5 per article)
R: The metrics align because the goal is fan formation
T: Achieve by October 31st
▶︎ Post one empathy-based article per week during October and achieve 300 monthly likes and +50 followers
The above is a goal on a one-month span, but you can also set long-term goals with the same structure.
Once you reach this point, "goal setting" is effectively complete!
STEP 4: Visualize your reflections
The final step is not so much about goal setting as it is
a tip to make it easier to realize and continue your goals.
That is the method of "recording the trends of each KPI".
Just list each KPI in Excel or a spreadsheet,
and record how they change day by day.
At first, I also researched various things and made elaborate tables.
But I really don't recommend that lol
You'll either be satisfied just by making it, or you'll get bored in 1-2 weeks.
Instead, start by just using the "Basic KPIs" mentioned earlier,
create a super simple sheet, and record them as rough notes.
That is overwhelmingly easier to keep up with.
Moreover, when a table is simple, your eyes are drawn to the numbers inside, which leads to essential analysis and new ideas.
Eventually, you will develop the habit of being creative, thinking, "I should turn these numbers into data too," and it will evolve into an analysis tool perfectly suited for your note.
It will continue to evolve into an analysis tool that is increasingly suited to your note.
Hato-senpai's note goals
With that said, I have finally thought about Hato-senpai's own note goals.
Applying them to the process I introduced so far, it looks something like this.
[Purpose]
To provide a way for beginners to enjoy continuing note and growing,
based on my real experimental data.
(The image of being a beginner like you, but just a little bit ahead, haha)
▶︎ A combination of "Empathy Writer" x "Knowledge Provider"
Also, as a hidden purpose, I want to show off the photos of birds I've taken...
*Wild bird photography beginner
[SMART x KPI]
[Short-term]
By the end of October (half a month remaining), post 5 times a week and achieve 1,000 views, 100 likes, 100 followers, and 1 sale.
[Long-term]
By the end of October next year, post 200 times and achieve 50,000 views, 5,000 likes, 1,000 followers, and 50,000 yen in monthly sales.
First, by the end of October, I wonder what kind of expression I will have on my face...
I think the impression of the numbers above will vary quite a bit depending on the person,
but I will prioritize enjoying it myself first.
To all beginner noters, let's do our best together!
I would be happy if you could support me with likes and follows✨
Read this too!
