I am going to start talking about SMART goals with a quote:
Dear Sisters,
Should you choose to observe the Islamic hijab, we pledge our utmost endeavors to significantly curtail embezzlement, economic rent, and other detrimental practices within our nation’s economy within a year’s time.
Signed,
The Sons of Revolution
What is your feeling toward this single statement? Maybe you are confused about the connection between wearing the Islamic hijab and stopping embezzlement. Or maybe you feel offended by the implication that religious practice is somehow tied to societal problems like embezzlement.
Your reaction can also be anger, seeing it as an attempt to manipulate religious beliefs for political or economic gain. Do you support it, criticize it, or tend to evaluate it analytically? You could also simply dismiss the statement as nonsensical or irrelevant.
But what if I tell you this text is a government advertisement banner on one of the major highways of Tehran. The first time I saw it, my reaction was a mixture of all, added with a smirk for a government’s last attempts for survival; like a non-swimmer’s struggle after being thrown to a vast body of water.
It saddens me to witness a state of deprivation where knowledge has been unjustly withheld from all segments of society for an extended period, affecting both the ‘dear sisters’ and ‘the sons of revolution’. However, the difference is that the ‘dear sisters’ have long found other ways to keep themselves up-to-date.
From this example I want to go to what exactly is wrong with the revolutionary boys promise (!), leading us to the concept of SMART goals. I will first discuss what makes goals SMART for you as an artist and why I insist on writing SMART in capital letters. And then we’ll examine what’s not so SMART about the boys’ promise!
Table of Contents
Understanding SMART Goals
As an artist, you may have already set goals for your social media presence. But you might be wondering how to make progress toward them in a meaningful way. This is where SMART goals come in.
SMART goals are a framework for setting objectives that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
- Specific: Your goal should be clear and well-defined. Instead of saying “I want more followers,” specify how many followers you want to gain and what actions you will take to attract them.
- Measurable: You should be able to track your progress and determine when you have achieved your goal. For example, if your goal is to increase engagement, you can measure it by the number of likes, comments, or shares your posts receive.
- Achievable: Your goal should be realistic and within your reach. Consider your resources, skills, and limitations when setting your goals. Setting unrealistic goals can lead to frustration and demotivation.
- Relevant: Your goal should be aligned with your overall objectives and priorities. It should contribute to your artistic growth and success on social media. Avoid setting goals that are not relevant to your artistic vision or audience.
- Time-bound: Your goal should have a deadline or timeframe for completion. This adds a sense of urgency and helps you stay focused and motivated. Without a deadline, you may procrastinate or lose sight of your goal.
In contrast, unSMART or general goals lack specificity, measurability, achievability, relevance, or time-bound elements. For example, saying “I want to be famous on social media” is a vague and unSMART goal. It’s not clear how you will achieve fame, how you will measure it, or when you expect to achieve it.
By setting SMART goals, you can create a clear roadmap for your social media journey, track your progress, and make meaningful strides toward achieving your artistic aspirations.
A SMART Goal Reality Check
Well, well, well, if it isn’t the “Should you choose to observe the Islamic hijab” promise. Let’s break it down, shall we?
First off, it’s about as specific as a foggy morning. What exactly constitutes “significant curtailment”? Are we talking a 10% decrease in embezzlement or a magical disappearance of economic rent? Clarity, bros, clarity!
The second stop in SMART goals is measurability. How are we supposed to track progress here? Are we going to whip out our magic wands and poof away embezzlement whenever someone puts on a hijab? I think not.
Achievable? Ha! Unless the cool bros have some secret anti-corruption superpowers up their sleeves, I’m not holding my breath for a hijab-induced economic miracle.
Relevance? Last time I checked, draping fabric over one’s head doesn’t exactly fix deep-rooted societal issues. It’s like trying to put out a fire with a squirt gun.
And as for time-bound… Sure, let’s give ourselves a year to solve all the country’s economic woes. Because, you know, Rome wasn’t built in a day, but apparently, we can overhaul an entire economy with a wardrobe change.
15 Examples of SMART Goals for Social Media Presence
As an artist leveraging social media for success, it’s essential to set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to ensure focused and efficient growth. Here are 15 examples of SMART goals tailored for different kinds of artists:
SMART Goals for Visual Artists (Painters, Illustrators)
- Increase Instagram Followers
- Specific: Gain 1,000 new Instagram followers.
- Measurable: Track the follower count through Instagram insights.
- Achievable: Implement a strategy involving daily posts and collaborations.
- Relevant: More followers can lead to more exposure and potential sales.
- Time-bound: Achieve this within 3 months.
- Engagement Rate
- Specific: Achieve a 5% engagement rate on Instagram posts.
- Measurable: Use Instagram analytics to monitor likes, comments, and shares.
- Achievable: Engage with followers and post high-quality content regularly.
- Relevant: Higher engagement can lead to a stronger community and increased visibility.
- Time-bound: Achieve this within 2 months.
- Content Calendar
- Specific: Create and follow a content calendar with at least 3 posts per week.
- Measurable: Track the consistency of posts using a calendar tool.
- Achievable: Plan and schedule posts in advance.
- Relevant: Consistent posting helps maintain and grow the audience.
- Time-bound: Maintain this schedule for 6 months.
SMART Goals for Musicians
- YouTube Subscribers
- Specific: Increase YouTube subscribers by 500.
- Measurable: Track subscriber count using YouTube Studio.
- Achievable: Release bi-weekly music videos and engage with comments.
- Relevant: More subscribers can increase video reach and potential revenue.
- Time-bound: Achieve this within 4 months.
- Spotify Streams
- Specific: Reach 10,000 streams on a new single.
- Measurable: Monitor stream counts through Spotify for Artists.
- Achievable: Promote the single through social media and playlist placements.
- Relevant: Higher streams can lead to more recognition and opportunities.
- Time-bound: Achieve this within 2 months of release.
- Live Stream Concerts
- Specific: Host 4 live stream concerts.
- Measurable: Count the number of live streams conducted.
- Achievable: Schedule and promote concerts in advance.
- Relevant: Live streams can engage current fans and attract new ones.
- Time-bound: Conduct these within 3 months.
SMART Goals for Writers
- Blog Subscribers
- Specific: Increase blog subscribers by 200.
- Measurable: Track the number of new subscribers through the blog platform.
- Achievable: Write and promote weekly blog posts.
- Relevant: More subscribers can lead to a larger audience for your writing.
- Time-bound: Achieve this within 6 months.
- Twitter Followers
- Specific: Gain 500 new Twitter followers.
- Measurable: Track follower count using Twitter analytics.
- Achievable: Post daily tweets, engage with readers, and use relevant hashtags.
- Relevant: A larger Twitter following can increase exposure and influence.
- Time-bound: Achieve this within 3 months.
- Book Sales from Social Media
- Specific: Sell 100 copies of your book through social media promotion.
- Measurable: Track sales using unique promo codes or links.
- Achievable: Run targeted ad campaigns and engage with book communities.
- Relevant: Direct sales from social media can indicate effective marketing strategies.
- Time-bound: Achieve this within 4 months.
SMART Goals for Photographers
- Instagram Features
- Specific: Get featured on 5 major Instagram photography hubs.
- Measurable: Count the number of features obtained.
- Achievable: Submit photos regularly to these hubs.
- Relevant: Features can significantly increase visibility and credibility.
- Time-bound: Achieve this within 3 months.
- Pinterest Traffic
- Specific: Increase website traffic from Pinterest by 30%.
- Measurable: Track referral traffic using Google Analytics.
- Achievable: Pin images daily and use SEO-friendly descriptions.
- Relevant: More traffic can lead to higher client inquiries and sales.
- Time-bound: Achieve this within 2 months.
- Client Bookings via Instagram
- Specific: Secure 10 new client bookings through Instagram.
- Measurable: Track the number of inquiries and confirmed bookings.
- Achievable: Regularly showcase portfolio and client testimonials.
- Relevant: Direct bookings are a primary revenue source.
- Time-bound: Achieve this within 6 months.
SMART Goals for Digital Artists and Designers
- Behance Project Views
- Specific: Achieve 5,000 views on a new project on Behance.
- Measurable: Track views using Behance analytics.
- Achievable: Promote the project across all social media platforms.
- Relevant: Higher visibility can lead to job offers and collaborations.
- Time-bound: Achieve this within 3 months of project launch.
- Etsy Sales
- Specific: Sell 50 digital art prints on Etsy.
- Measurable: Track sales using Etsy’s dashboard.
- Achievable: Optimize listings and promote them on social media.
- Relevant: Sales contribute directly to income and business growth.
- Time-bound: Achieve this within 4 months.
- LinkedIn Connections
- Specific: Increase LinkedIn connections by 300.
- Measurable: Track the number of new connections.
- Achievable: Actively connect with industry professionals and share content.
- Relevant: A robust professional network can lead to new opportunities.
- Time-bound: Achieve this within 6 months.
Setting these SMART goals helps artists in various fields to focus their social media efforts on achievable and impactful outcomes.
So, in summary, this promise is about as SMART as a rock. It’s vague, unmeasurable, unrealistic, irrelevant, and about as time-bound as eternity. Nice try, “Sons of Revolution,” but I’ll stick to solving problems with more than just a dress code, thank you very much.
In the next post, I’ll introduce you to Leila (visual artist), Lars (musician) and Aya (writer), my three artists personas and define some SMART goals for their social media presence.
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