This post was originally published on Medium.

It’s important to have a website if you have an online presence, whether writing, running an online business, or podcasting. However, before starting a website, one must know the goal. Knowing your website’s goals is essential because they will drive your website’s content, design, and overall strategy.  Without a strategy, the website will exist for nothing. It will be out there in digital cyberspace doing nothing. Make the website work for you! 

Understanding Why Your Website’s Goal Matters 

When you set goals for your website, you have a guide on how to make it work. For example, if one of your goals is to collect emails to grow your email list, then you can set up a pop-up that shows when people land on your website and provides a freebie in exchange for their email. 

Another example is if another goal for your website is to sell digital products, then you’ll need to set up a shop on your website with your digital products and ensure that the user experience is smooth. But if you don’t set the goals, you won’t have a guide on how to start. 

One of the benefits of having a website is that your goals can be met for years to come. As long as the website works for you and meets your goals, it will continue to grow and meet those goals for years. For example, I know a business coach who has a quiz as one of her email list opt-in options. She created this quiz about three or four years ago, and it’s still the best way she’s been able to collect emails. 

How to Define Your Website Goals?

Here is a step-by-step guide to creating achievable, measurable, and relevant goals. 

1. Define Your Website’s Purpose
   1. Answer: Why do I have this website? 
   2. What value do you want to provide to your audience? Answer this: Is this website to inform, entertain, inspire, or educate? 
   3. Example: My website is to educate podcasters and help them grow their skill and audience. 
2. Who Is Your Audience?
   1. Answer: Who am I trying to reach with my website? Get specific about your audience demographics, interests, and needs. 
   2. Example: My audience is beginner to intermediate podcasters looking for actionable tips for podcast growth. 
3. Write Down Potential Goals
   1. List all the objectives you’d like your website to achieve. It doesn’t matter how big or small. 
   2. For example:
      1. Content goals (how often will you publish your content – weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, etc.)
      2. Engagement goals (building an email list)
      3. Monetization goals (earning passive income through ads or selling digital products)
4. Prioritize SMART Goals 

SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound:

1. Specific: Clearly state what you want to achieve. 
2. Measurable: How will you track the success? 
3. Achievable: Ensure the goal is realistic. 
4. Relevant: Is the goal aligned with your overall vision and audience?
5. Time-bound: Set a deadline or timeframe for the goal. 

An example of a SMART goal would be grow my email list to 500 subscribers within six

months by offering a free podcasting checklist. 

5. Break Down the Goals into Actionable Steps

1. Break down each goal into smaller, manageable tasks. Like the example above for building an email list:
   1. Create a podcast checklist lead magnet
   2. Design a subscription form and landing page. 
   3. Promote the lead magnet via social media, blog posts, and podcast episodes. 

6. Measure Your Progress Regularly

1. Use analytics tools like Google Analytics or email marketing platforms to track key metrics like:
   1. Website Traffic 
   2. Subscriber count 
   3. Ad revenue 
2. Example: every month, you can check your email subscriber growth. 

7. Make Adjustments to Goals as Needed

1. Revisit and revise goals based on what’s working and what’s not. 
2. Remember to stay flexible as your website and audience grows. 
3. Example: If the initial freebie you created doesn’t attract many subscribers – try making another one. 

Here Are My Goals for My Podcasting Website

The main goal of my website is to provide valuable podcasting information to my audience. I do this by publishing bi-weekly blog posts about podcasting tips. The weeks I don’t publish about podcasting tips, I publish a blog post for the most recent podcast episode. 

The second goal for my website is to grow my email subscribers. The main reason I want to grow my email list is to rely on something other than social media for marketing purposes. With an email list, my audience is engaged. They receive my blog posts directly to their emails when I publish, and I let them know first when I am hosting a webinar or offering special discounts on my digital products. 

The third goal for my website is to generate passive income with ads. I do not have enough monthly website traffic to show ads and earn passive income right now; however, if I stay consistent with publishing high-quality content, I will eventually be able to make passive income with my website. 

Lastly, I want those who land on my website to know more about me, my podcast, and the services I provide. My most recent client was a referral from a friend, and she told me that before she followed through with setting up a consultation with me, she reviewed my website, and because of how it was set up and the look of it, she knew I was legit. 

Are You Ready to Set Goals? 

Now that I’ve explained the importance of knowing your website’s goals and how they can be used as a guide to set up your website, are you ready to write down your goals for your website? 

Let me know in the comments what your website goals are, and if you need help with any of them —I’d be happy to help! 

And if you’re interested in staying up to date on podcasting tips – you can join my newsletter here. 

With Love, Heidy