It’s so easy to get caught up in the minutiae of blogging. What are you going to post next? What was your reach yesterday? How can I expand my audience? What are my metrics going to be like in the next hour?

Thoughts like these can quickly overpower your larger concerns and obscure the big picture. When you lose sight of your long-term goals, you can easily sink into confusion or misdirection in your blogging. How do you deal with the day-to-day demands while driving toward the bigger goals?

Define the big picture

You should not sit down and ask someone “What are your long term goals?” It’s such a broad question that it will take days for someone to sift through a myriad of desires and home in on the actual goals.

Instead, break things down into smaller question. Where do you want to be in the next two months? Where do you want to be in the next year?

Where will your blog take you in the next five years? Chop up “long term” into smaller, manageable periods. This can help you develop a realistic view of where you currently are and where you’re heading.

Keep your goals visible

Literally visible. Make a poster of your long-term goals and hang it on your office wall. Place a sticky note on your mirror and stare at it while you brush your teeth. Really drive these goals into your subconscious.

You want all your little tasks to be directed toward this goal. When you send an email, think about whether it will get you closer to your long-term goals.

It’s crucial never to let these targets get out of your sight. It’s all too easy to get distracted while blogging. You might be asked to guest blog, you might be called away to help edit a publication.

See if you can find ways to turn these distractions into steps on the trail to your long-term goals. If you can’t fit these tasks into the framework, then seriously question whether you should get involved with them in the first place. Will they take you a step backward instead of forward?

Learn how to say no

When people start blogging, the world is their oyster. Anything, really anything, seems like it can be the topic of a blog post. However, you must develop a sense of when something is worth following up on, and when a post or job should be avoided.

If you supervise multiple authors on a blog, think about who would be the best person for the job. Don’t put unnecessary strain on yourself, especially if another blogger can do it better. Part of running a successful blog is understanding how to delegate tasks. This means having to say “no” sometimes.

When somebody asks you to perform a task, think about the chances of losing sight of the big picture. If you’re unable to commit, think of whom this task might benefit.

A particular blog article could be enormously beneficial for another writer who’s involved in a niche interest or profession. You can turn a refusal into an opportunity for your staff members and colleagues. Also keep in mind that a diversity of voices and perspectives can only bring value to your blog. Don’t heap all the responsibility on yourself, especially if a task doesn’t align with your long-term plans.

Do you know where your blog is headed? If not, then it’s time to sit down and strategize. Envision where you want to be in the upcoming months and years, then steer your efforts in that direction.

Your blogging tasks should increase your business value, as you generate great leads, create eye-catching titles, and direct your writers.