How to Create Your 2026 Social Media Goals
Every December, business owners and marketers sit down with a fresh notebook, a new planner, or a clean Notion board and start mapping out “next year’s goals.” Grow the account. Post more consistently. Engage daily. And by March? That planner’s collecting dust.
The problem isn’t ambition, it’s the lack of structure behind it. Most social media goals fail because they’re built around output (posting more, reaching more people) rather than outcomes (building authority, generating leads, earning trust).
As 2026 approaches, it’s time to stop writing resolutions and start building systems.
Step 1: Audit Before You Aim
Before you decide where you’re headed, take a good look at what worked (and what didn’t) in 2025.
Open your platform insights, and this time, skip the vanity metrics. Focus on these three questions:
Which posts or campaigns drove meaningful engagement — saves, shares, and DMs?
Where did actual inquiries or leads come from?
What content built trust, not just reach?
Action Step:
Open your Insights or Analytics right now. Write down your top 3 posts from 2025 and note why they worked.
Step 2: Set Goals by Funnel Stage
If all your goals live at one end of the funnel, your strategy is unbalanced. True growth requires movement through Awareness → Engagement → Conversion.
Awareness Goals
These grow visibility and brand recognition.
Example: “Increase Utah-based audience reach by 25% by Q2.”
Engagement Goals
These deepen relationships and build community.
Example: “Boost DMs, comments, and replies by 15%.”
Conversion Goals
These translate attention into action — inquiries, sign-ups, or sales.
Example: “Generate 5 qualified leads per month through Instagram by Q3.”
Try this:
Download my free 90-Day Content Planner and use the Goal Breakdown worksheet to plan one goal for each funnel stage.
Step 3: Build a Content System, Not a Schedule
Consistency doesn’t mean posting daily, it means showing up with structure. Instead of waking up and wondering what to post, create a system that makes decisions for you.
The 3-Post Play
1 Awareness Post: Storytelling, lifestyle, or behind-the-scenes content.
1 Engagement Post: Educational, tips-based, or conversation starters.
1 Conversion Post: Testimonials, promotions, or direct calls to action.
Repeat weekly. It’s rhythm, not randomness.
Exercise:
Write your “3-Post Play” for next week in your notes:
Awareness idea →
Engagement idea →
Conversion idea →
Now plug them into your calendar or content planner.
Step 4: Make Your Goals Measurable and Motivating
If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.
“Grow my Instagram” isn’t measurable.
“Gain 1,000 new local followers in six months by posting three times weekly” is.
But numbers alone won’t sustain your effort — motivation will.
Tie every goal to a deeper purpose:
“Grow engagement by 15%” → to build real relationships with my audience.
“Batch one month of content at a time” → to reduce stress and create space for creativity.
“Increase conversions through Reels” → to attract aligned clients without relying on ads.
Worksheet Prompt:
Write 3 measurable goals and add the “why” behind each.
Then, use your 90-Day Planner to break them down into weekly milestones.
Step 5: Review Quarterly, Not Annually
Life shifts. Algorithms evolve. Offers change.
That’s why 12-month goals fail — they’re too rigid.
Instead, build in 90-day reviews to pivot fast and prevent burnout.
Quarterly Check-In Questions:
Did engagement rise, but leads stall?
Are you attracting the right audience?
Did your content rhythm hold up?
Do your goals still align with your business focus?
Pro Tip:
Schedule a “content review day” every quarter — audit your analytics, update your goals, and plan your next 90 days.
You can use my free 90-Day Content Planner to simplify this process (it walks you step-by-step through the quarterly review system).
Final Thoughts: Make 2026 the Year of Systems, Not Stress
Growth isn’t magic — it’s maintenance. The brands that win in 2026 will be the ones who make structure their strategy.
So before January hits, take one intentional day to:
- Audit your 2025 data
- Define 3 funnel-stage goals (awareness, engagement, conversion)
- Build a repeatable posting system
- Schedule your first quarterly review
You don’t need more hacks or trends.
You need alignment — between your goals, your systems, and your story.
Make 2026 the year your social media strategy feels sustainable, not stressful.
Ready to start?
Grab your Free 90-Day Content Planner and get your first 3 goals mapped out today.
