SMART Goals: What are they and why you should use them.
If you work in the business world, you've probably already heard about the SMART goal framework. It's a way to set goals to help you prioritize your projects and get results. The SMART framework was first developed in 1984 by George T. Doran and presented at an American Management Association conference. Since then, SMART goals have become the standard for setting organizational priorities and goals across industries. But did you know SMART goals can also help you with your digital marketing strategies? This simple acronym will help you stay on track when you sit down for creative brainstorming and define your goals for a digital marketing strategy or your business itself. So how exactly can SMART goals help you create a successful digital marketing strategy? We'll tell you!
SMART Goals and Your Digital Marketing Strategy.
Setting SMART goals can turn your digital marketing strategy from a collection of ideas into one that has a purpose. One of your goals could be to boost your Instagram engagement rate by 7% by posting reels or videos. Including a measurable KPI in your SMART goal allows you to track your progress while implementing tactics to reach your digital marketing objectives. You can also write a measurable goal to show the impact of SEO tactics like keyword mapping. SMART goals will help you map out a digital marketing strategy that gets results.
What Does SMART Stand For?
SMART goals are a way to help you get your work done, track your progress and achieve success. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Let's look at each letter in more detail.
Specific
"Specific" means that your goal is clear and well described. Being specific about your goals means there is no ambiguity concerning the result you want to achieve. Consider this as the mission statement for your goal. It's not a detailed list of how you will meet your goal, but it should answer the popular 'w' questions: who, what, where, when and why. Your goals should be clear enough to tell whether or not the goal has been met.
Measurable
"Measurable" means the goal can be quantified. While this may sound obvious, it's essential to check and make sure your goals are measurable all the way through. This is important because you need to know whether or not you're achieving your goals. In terms of a digital marketing strategy, you will have the tools and data readily available, so measurement shouldn't be a problem.
Attainable
"Attainable" means that your goals are achievable without being overwhelmed. Don't set ridiculously high goals you may not be able to achieve. When setting goals, you should balance optimism with enthusiasm and make sure they are realistic. Goals should always be realistic, so ask yourself: is your objective something your team can reasonably accomplish?
Relevant
"Relevant" means ensuring your goal aligns with your values, long-term goals and objectives. This is an essential element of setting SMART goals. This is where you need to think about the bigger picture. Why are you setting this goal? A relevant goal is a meaningful goal. If something isn't relevant to you, you probably won't pay much attention to it and take it less seriously, so make sure the goal is relevant to your objective.
Time-bound
"Time-bound" refers to setting your goals deadlines so you don't get stuck in perpetual "goal planning mode." If your goal has no deadline, it's not a goal. You need to set a date by which you will complete this project or task. Your time-bound goals should be challenging but realistic so that they are achievable! It becomes overwhelming if the goal is too complicated or takes too long. Every goal needs a deadline, so you have something to focus on and work toward.
SMART Goals Can Help You Achieve Success!
If you have difficulty setting goals for yourself or your business, SMART goals can help. Using SMART goal setting, you can create specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-sensitive goals. It's easy to get caught up with what you want to do or want to accomplish, but taking some time to write down your SMART goals will help you stay focused and plan for success. If you have SMART goals you'd like to apply to a digital marketing strategy, we can help! At Encompass Online Marketing Ltd., we create expert digital marketing strategies to help you achieve your goals! Contact us today!
Written By: Trenton Ross