New Years resolutions are great, but it’s the tasks we do daily, weekly or monthly that lead to the fulfillment of a yearly goal. If one of your resolutions for 2015 is to be more social media savvy, then we’ve got you covered with a list of goals to get you there. In this article, we’re breaking down this year’s social media resolutions for Mom Bloggers.

1. Set a posting goal. New content is what keeps readers coming back to blogs, so it’s imperative to continue posting fresh and interesting content. It’s easy to get caught up in everyday life and forget about creating new posts. This year, make a vow to publish a certain number of posts a month. For you, maybe it’s four times, maybe it’s daily posts—read How Often Should You Blog, by The Book Designer, for ideas on your perfect number of posts each month. Make a commitment to post on social media (including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Google+) about every new blog post. Whatever number you pick, place your goal somewhere you will see it daily as a reminder to stay on track.

Keep in mind you can create additional posts beforehand (when you’re feeling extra ambitious) to make up for that weeks you’re swamped and have no time to write. Just make sure these posts are timeless, so you’re not posting something that is dated. 

2. Clean up your profiles. Having your information clear and streamlined is very important to how you market your blog. Take a look at all your social media accounts—do they clearly state who you are and what your blog is and about? Try reading your accounts as a first-time visitor and make sure all the information you want to convey is available and easy to find.

When it comes to your blog, focus on your About page. It’s your business card and typically the page with the most traffic on your site, so it needs to be a priority. DIY Themes has a helpful article, How to Create An Amazing Blog About Page, that gives you tips about putting your best foot forward.

 3. Interact with one new blog a week. Your online network will grow as much as you’re willing to grow it. If you haven’t already, join a social network like Mom Bloggers Club to give you support and a place to start connecting.

If you’re already part of the club, then get out there! This is the perfect time to make new online connections, and share ideas, stories and information. Growing your blog takes a village; so allow those around you to help. Don’t forget to return the favor and help promote their blog posts as well.  

4. Don’t be negative. It’s difficult to avoid negativity on social media, but that doesn’t mean that we should feed into it. As bloggers, we have a voice in the online conversation. This year, resolve to keep things positive. As you interact with fellow bloggers, keep in perspective that everyone is a person (even from behind a computer screen), and remember to follow the golden rule—treat others as you would like others to treat you. 

5. Use the right hashtags. Hashtags help bring recognition to your posts by categorizing the hastagged phrase and helping your post show up quickly in a search. Most social sites, including blogs, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook include hashtags. Aim for hashtags that are well known, but not too popular, so your content doesn’t get lost in a sea of other posts.

Anytime you use a hashtag on a public account, you are increasing your chances that others will see your posts. However, don’t over hashtag a post. Try to find the most relevant two to three hashtags to include. If you’re a tagging beginner, check out What is a Hashtag? And What Do You Do with Hashtags?

If you’ve been hashtagging for years, make sure you’re using the best possible hashtags to get your content in front of your audience. Do your hashtag homework and make sure the tags you are using are populated with content you want your posts to be associated with. If you’re having trouble knowing which hashtags you should use, read Make Use Of’s article #RandomDoesntCutIt: How To Choose The Right Hashtag For Your Tweet for advice.

6. Incorporate more visual features in your social media. We are living in a visual world, so it’s important to incorporate images into your posting. We’ve all heard that the blog is all about the content, but that content needs to include visuals. Spin Sucks’ article Incorporate Visual Social Media in Your Content Strategy breaks down why images are so important to social media.  

When posting on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, include a visual that corresponds with your message, or consider putting your message ON a graphic. 

Sites like Instagram and Pinterest rely entirely on images (although you have an option to insert text). If you’re not into photography, there are sites like iStockPhoto and Shutterstock that have a plethora of stock images you can search, modify and use for a member fee.

Share your social media resolutions with us, and let us know which goals you’re going to stick to this year in the comments below!