Reading Challenges and Blogging Goals for 2020
2020 is going to be my year. I just know it. I can feel it. Or so I’m going to tell myself, I have a lot I want to achieve and let’s face it I’m not getting any younger so the time is now. I have a lot of books that I want to read but I also want to challenge myself and read more outside of my comfort zone, I have definitely started that as is apparent from my last couple of months of reading and working at the library. But I want to be a little more challenged when it comes to what I choose to read and maybe look at getting rid of some of the books that have been sat on my shelf for a really long time.
So for reading challenges this year I have chosen a few that offer me a little more freedom and also some that have a great chances for me to crossover which is always a win!
Reading Challenges for 2020
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
I have heard a lot about this one through other book bloggers I follow and it seemed as though not only are the categories fairly simple they would also push me out of my comfort zone to read other books that I might not necessarily pick up otherwise.
The categories include: A book that’s published in 2020, A book that passes the Bechdel test, A book you meant to read in 2019 and so many more.
If you like the thought of this challenge then click here to download their list of categories!
The Backlist Reader Challenge 2020
I was going to take part in this challenge last year but I ended up trying my own and failing miserably. So this year I thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to get rid of some of the books that have been sat on my shelf for a really long time.
The rules for this one are really simple you have to read a book that was published prior to 2018 and must have been on your shelf or want list. Rereads are allowed under certain circumstances but I’m giving myself the added rule of no rereads at all.
If you want to sign up for this challenge then click here for more info and to sign up.
52 Books in 52 Weeks
I really love the thought of this one, I don’t think I’ll manage to get through all of them but I think it’ll be a fun way to track what I’m reading and maybe point me in the direction of some other books that I might like.
Some of the categories include: Written in 1970s, An author’s debut book, Published when you were 20 and obviously quite a few more.
If you want to know more about the prompts or download your list then click here.
Audiobook Challenge 2020
I have a huge love for audiobooks but I haven’t made enough time for them in the past year. I really want to make sure that I make some kind of impression on my Audible Library, because it keeps growing and I haven’t made a dent in it!
There aren’t rules for this challenge as such but different levels of participation so I’m going to aim for Stenographer (can listen while multitasking) 10-15.
If you want to learn more about the challenge, sign up or just see about the levels click here.
A to Z Reading Challenge
I’m actually really excited but also terrified of this one. I love the idea behind this one, and I think there will be a little more of a crossover with the other challenges which might give me a little more of an advantage.
Basically the rule is that you read one book starting with each letter of the alphabet, and I think this will be such a fun challenge.
Blogging goals for 2020
Now that I have covered the reading challenges for this year which is the most important part really seeing as this is what the blog was created for but I do want to make sure I’m still aiming for the blog to move forward and onto bigger and better things.
- I am aiming to hit 500 followers by the end of 2020
- Followers aren’t everything at the end of the day but I would love to know that more people were reading and looking out for my stuff when I write it.
- I want to have more consistent daily stats
- I have some really good days and then I have some really bad days so I just really want to make sure that my blog posts are more evergreen and more accessible.
- Be more active within the community and make more of an effort to read more blogs and comment on at least 3 a day.
- I love reading the different blogs and the book recommendations I’ve gotten have been really good, I just don’t take the time to do it as regularly as I like, so in the New Year, I want to make sure that this is a priority.
- Have a posting schedule of 3 times a week.
- This is something I started in 2019 and I kept to as much as I possibly could but this year I want it to be my main focus especially if I want to grow my following and stats.
- Be one month ahead of myself with content scheduling
- I think this is going to be the most important part of my goals, I hate feeling panicked and rushed so I want to make sure that I don’t have to scratch around at last minute for content.
- Follow at least 100 more relevant blogs.
- As I said before I really want to get involved in the community so I want to find other book blogs that review and read the same kind of stuff I do.
- Copy all of my reviews over to Goodreads
- I have been trying to do this for a really long time and I think I need to make sure that 2020 is the year that I make it happen. I want to be as active on Goodreads as I am here.
- Get my book database up to date
- Black Friday gave me the opportunity to buy the new Nose Graze plugin and I am working on populating the book database, so I want to have at least the books I have reviewed on this blog in there.
- Write more than just book reviews.
- I feel as though because I’m never on top of my content I always revert back to writing book reviews so this year I want to make time to write other types of content.
- Work on the site’s SEO
- The most daunting of my goals. I think I have been putting this off for a really long time but it needs to be done, and I need to do some serious research into what I need to do.
Social Media
I really want to make an effort with my social media this year, I feel as though I’m always on top of it or I ignore it completely so I really want to get consistent with it all the way through 2020. My aims are:
- Use at least one social media account daily, not including Instagram
- I want to make an effort to use my Facebook and Twitter more, and utilise the different audiences on each of them making sure to add more content than just sharing blog post links.
- Take part in the 365 Day Photo Challenge on Instagram
- Part of being consistent and Instagram is one of those places that I really struggle with posting. So I’m hoping that this challenge will force me to be more active and make an effort.
- Look into some classes on Skillshare to do with using social media.
- I have had a Skillshare account for a little while but I haven’t really used it so I want to make sure I’m using my time effectively and with posts that matter.
- Make sure to customise the Publicize feature on all my posts
- This is a problem of pure laziness if I’m being truly honest with myself, but I really need to start customising the text that goes out with my posts, sort out my back log as well.
- BE MORE CONSISTENT
I have set myself up for quite a year especially if I can get it all done and be happy with the way everything is going. Have you set yourself any goals or taking part in any reading challenges?
Good luck, it sounds like you’ve got a busy year! There’s nothing better than signing up to a few challenges to help choose your next read. I hope it all goes well for you and look forward to seeing your updates! 😊
I don’t like to do things by half I suppose. I agree, I love the motivational feeling I get by signing up for all of these, now just to pull it off!
Good Luck with all your challenges and goals! I hope it is a successful year ahead! I always take part in the 20 Books of Summer challenge so looking forward to that already!
Thank you! I think if I can keep to the challenges it will be very successful year, but my dedication has to be there… so we shall see. I haven’t heard of that challenge, don’t think I could add it on now, but good luck it sounds like a great way to make sure you’re reading over summer!
I love all these goals, Jordann! I may steal some😁 I try to visit other blogs every day and leave at least 20-25 comments every day, it really helps draw in new readers. Plus you get to make lots of friends and discover new books😁
Help yourself, I’ve linked all the originals up there! I would love to do that but I really struggle to manage my time, something I am desperately trying to get better at! Will definitely be building it up this year and trying to blog hop a little more!! 🙂
Good luck with all your goals and challenges!
Thank you! I think I’m going to need it!
Wow these are all great goals, best of luck for them all! I also really need to do better with goodreads and posting entire reviews rather than just snippets on here haha. And planning a month ahead?? I so wish I could manage to do that ahah. I hope you can! 🙂
I think I may have been a little ambitious with the month ahead business, I’m going to keep striving for it but who knows if it will actually happen!!
Good luck with all your challenges and goals! 👍
Thank you! I think I’m going to need it!
Love your blog aesthetics <3 And good luck with all of these challenges and goals, you can do it!
Thaaank you so much. It has definitely taken me a little time to get to where I like it!
I think I’m going to need all the luck I can get! <3