Setting S.M.A.R.T goals

When it comes down to it, graphic design is all about business. Crafting an image and/or message which distinguishes your brand, sells your products and achieves your goals. But what are your goals?

It wouldn’t be for the first time that a client had something designed, then a month later when business hasn’t increased 10 fold came and blamed the designer for the suddenly unsatisfactory design.

The S.M.A.R.T marketing principle dictates your goals meet the following criteria, they are;

Specific: What exactly do you want to achieve? more sales? more exposure? more web traffic?

Measurable: How will you know when you’ve reach your goal? Having it seem like a little extra business coming your way is hardly definitive. Have measures in place to accurately see your projects success ( or lack thereof ).

Achievable: There’s the old saying aim low and succeed which couldn’t be more true. On the flip side of that coin, setting fantasy goals you’re unlikely to achieve is going to somewhat defeat the purpose of the exercise.

Realistic: O.k. So this is much the same as achievable, but this wouldn’t be an acronym without it.

Timely: The problem with setting a rough finish line is you will never reach it. If your happy to have something finished in about 6 months time you’ll be just as content with it taking 7 months. Then 8, then 9, 10, 12, 18, then your so far past your deadline you’ve accomplished nothing.

So what are your goals?

Have you recently begun or finish a project of some kind? How successful was it and how do you know? Image credit.