How to Set a Goal – Quarterly, Monthly & Weekly Examples

A community member indicated an interest in copywriting and asked for tips on getting into freelancing. Our reply inspired sharing and expanding on that in an article relative to how to set a quarterly goal broken down into monthly and weekly action steps.

While this example of how to set a goal is about copywriting, it can be applicable to most any area of interest you’re pursuing. Just substitute the subject word of ‘copywriting’ with your area of interest, or your tasks to get done.

Whether it’s a career change, an art show, writing a novel or publishing your poetry, every task is broken down into steps as ingredients for the recipe for success of whatever your endeavor.

Anchor your goals daily:

Think it
Ink it
Say it
Do it
Success arrives on
the heels of daily diligence.

~LeAura Alderson, cofounder-iCreateDaily.com®

Example of How to Set a Goal

Setting a Quarterly Goals of How to Become a Paid Copywriter

1. Create a brain dump list of all things that come to mind to relative to this goal. You can organize them into months, weeks and days later.

How to Set a Goal – QUARTERLY – EXAMPLE:

1. Research Copywriting Courses & Training
2. Course Sign up & Study
3. Set up a Freelancer Account and Profile

ACTIONS TOWARD GOALS – EXAMPLE:

• Research copywriting training courses.
  • Sign up for a course
• In between studying and writing, immerse in the field. E.g.,
  • Google articles on –
    • how to become a freelance copywriter with no experience
    • Freelance copywriter
      Read and study these articles.
• Create a freelancer profile on several of the freelance platforms, such as:
  • Upwork
  • FreeeUp
    • FreeeUp is our favorite platform for hiring freelancers
    • apply to be a freelancer for FreeeUp
• A recommended strategy on any platform is to start at a very low fee in order to acquire positive reviews.
• Start scanning options and sign up with the one/s you most resonate with in content delivery, style and going rates.

How to Set a Goal – Monthly & Weekly Examples

As you review the quarterly list above, you’ll see how it can easily be segmented into monthly tasks.

MONTH 1 GOAL – Research, Course sign up & Immersion

• WEEK 1 GOAL – Research industry and courses. Decide on and sign up for course to take.
• WEEK 2 GOAL – Divide course content into a weekly and daily study goal.
• WEEK 3 GOAL – Create a business social account such as LinkedIn or Facebook
  • Document and share your journey of learning, such as:
    • sharing a new tip each day
    • positively documenting your experience of the course.
  • Continue course studies, industry research and immersion.
• WEEK 4 GOAL – Continue course studies and immersion.

RELATED: Weekly goals and daily goal setting

MONTH 2 GOAL – Study and Immersion

• WEEK 1 GOAL – Assess progress and time to completion. Adjust as needed.
• WEEK 2 GOAL – Continue course studies, industry research and immersion.
• WEEK 3 GOAL – Continue course studies, industry research and immersion.
• WEEK 4 GOAL – Continue course studies and immersion. Offer to help write content for friends and associates for free for practice. If they’re pleased always get a written testimonial

RELATED: More on daily planning.

MONTH 3 GOAL – Complete Course and Set up Your Freelance Profiles

• WEEK 1 GOAL – Assess progress and time to completion. Adjust as needed.
• WEEK 2 GOAL – Complete course at ~8 weeks.
• WEEK 3 GOAL – Create freelancer profiles on 2 freelancer platforms.
  • scour freelance job platforms and apply
• WEEK 4 GOAL – Canvas preferred industry’s social media accounts –
  • join/sign up and begin to assess favorite companies might need and to contribute and approach them

RELATED: Daily Habits

As you review the monthly list above, you’ll see how it can easily be segmented into weekly tasks, one month at a time. Next, it’s to segment the month’s task into weekly tasks and from there into daily tasks.

We recommend setting your first month and week first and not trying to plan out in too much detail too far out. This is because as each day unfolds you will need to update and tweak your daily and weekly planning. So best to have a general plan for each subsequent month, but to flesh out the weeks one at a time, the week prior.

Once you’re in the journey of your quarter and month, you will have a better view and perspective from which to set your next week’s goals and from there, your daily goals. Similarly, as you get closer to the new month, you will have greater insight as to how to structure your next month.

Tips for Freelancers on How to Get Work

1. Be Willing to Write Anything for (virtually) Anyone (at first)

Be willing to write copy for:

• Emails
• Ads
• Blog article headlines and subheadings
• Landing pages and other sales copy
• Brochures

Being willing to take on whatever opportunities come your way will sharpen your skills more quickly and open your opportunities for a wide array of client needs. Your goal will be to become the go-to writer for all your client’s needs.

The more they can count on your the more they will, and you will become an indispensable member of their team. Each satisfied client will provide referrals and testimonials that will lead to the next client and increased opportunities to be selective in your preferred medium and genre, as well as increased pay.

RELATED: How to make money as an artist.

2. Be Willing to Work for Cheap or Free (at first)

Be willing to work for less or even for free at first, writing anything and everything to accrue client testimonials. Always ask for testimonials. References for free work still counts for it is still your work.

RELATED: New renaissance – creators needed.

3. Invest Time and Money in Ongoing Education

The more you know how to do well, the more valuable you’ll be to your clients. Businesses from solopreneurs to large corporations and everything in between prefer to do business with those they already know. So once you’re in with a client, they’ll be glad to pass on any relevant work to you. So be eager to invest time and money into ongoing relevant education.

RELATED: Discover Yourself

4. Immerse in Your Industry

Dedicate time each day to learning something new, practicing and studying the best in your field. You can acquire tons of free education just by reading articles, watching YouTube interviews and presentations and listening to podcasts.

But no, you don’t need to go to college to become a professional creator!

If you have a dream, every hour of every day has to be dedicated to bringing this about.
~Will Smith, American actor, rapper, media personality, b.9/25/1968

Copywriting Courses

Copywriting is one of the highest paid profession for writers, so if you’re dedicated to immersing and learning it, it can be a most promising career. For more on best paying jobs for writers, and also jobs lists, check out this article on MediaBistro.

We trust courses and offerings from these sources:

• Teachable
• Udemy
• CreativeLive
• DigitalMarketer
• AWAI – American Writers and Artists, Inc
• Miles Beckler – we trust anything Miles puts out and this article may help

Start scanning these options and see which one/s you most resonate with in content delivery, style and price. Hopefully, the course you choose will also have tips and information on how to market your freelance services, industry pricing and opportunities. However, you will also want to immerse in your chosen industry.

We’d also love to hear how your goal setting going for you. Please let us know if you have any questions goal setting and/or how to set a goal.

The more you immerse the more quickly you will blossom into your new career. Focus is the hothouse environment that fosters growth.
~LeAura Alderson, cofounder-iCreateDaily.com®

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