What are SMART goals? Definition and free downloadable template.
Ensure your business stays on track with a SMART goals template. Set clear objectives and measure your success so you always know what the next steps should be. Learn more and download the template below.
What you’ll learn:
- What are SMART goals?
- How to create a SMART goals template
- How to write SMART goals
- How to share your SMART goals PDF template
- Frequently asked questions
Every business has goals, but staying flexible and realistic is another challenge. This is why it’s important to plan ahead and prepare for next steps, whatever stage in the brand journey you’re in.
SMART goals help you do just that. By following an objective framework, you can make sure you remain focused and aware of the factors affecting your business’ success. Read on to learn more about SMART goals and their criteria, and how to create your own tailored template.
What are SMART goals?
SMART goals are clearly defined business objectives, designed to be descriptive, focused and measurable. They often include creating a measurable scale so you can determine the success of each goal and reflect on business performance. They’re often combined with growth and maintenance goals to create an inclusive, comprehensive picture.
SMART is an acronym that stands for:
- Specific. The ‘who’ and the ‘what’. Define exactly what you want to accomplish, and who will be involved.
- Measurable. The ‘how’. SMART goals are quantifiable, so this is where you create the specific criteria that will enable you to track progress.
- Achievable. Goals should be realistic and attainable. SMART goals can be challenging, but not impossible.
- Relevant. The purpose and direction of your goals should align with your business as a whole, as well as other projects.
- Time-bound. Set a clear timeline for your SMART goals. This helps you to plan ahead and also encourages urgency and focus where necessary.
SMART goals should be measurable, both in terms of how you define success and the timeframe necessary to complete each objective. Keeping your criteria focused and specific is key to keeping things on track, so nobody in your team is unsure about what’s next.
How to create a SMART goals template.
When creating your SMART goals, it’s important to make sure they’re structured and specific. Sticking to your objectives will help maintain consistency and make it easier to measure success, which is why using a SMART goals template is a good idea.
To create one, all you need to do is:
- Create your initial objective. Even if it’s not fully formed yet, you can break it down further as you move through the SMART acronym.
- Work through each letter. Every goal should include a box for each SMART letter. Fill out each section to clearly define your goal and how you plan to measure its success.
- Review your goal. Review everything you’ve written and ensure that the SMART criteria have been met for each letter. You should be flexible – don’t worry about making amends.
- Create your final statement. After reviewing, create your final goal statement. This should be quite comprehensive and set out what you plan to do, how you plan to achieve it, and how you’re going to measure your achievements.
- Start again for your next goal. Once you’ve got the format down, you can use your SMART goals template to quickly work through the rest of your objectives. Quickly fill and sign your PDF templates to maximise efficiency and move forward with projects.
How to write SMART goals.
Creating relevant and achievable SMART goals is key to the success of this framework – but ticking all the boxes may feel a little overwhelming. Let’s take a look at some key tips on how to create SMART goals, so you have everything you need before getting started.
1. Consider business impact (Specific).
Think about how your SMART goals will impact your business – they should align to your current operations. For example, setting out to boost traffic by creating sponsored content is great if you already have a strong social presence. However, this may be a little too ambitious for an SME that isn’t very active.
2. Define how you measure success (Measurable).
SMART goals shouldn’t be subjective – you should be able to define and quantify your success. This helps you to evaluate exactly what worked, how much it worked, and what you can improve next time. Collecting quantitative data also allows you to reflect on your progress within the time limits you set.
3. Balance ambition with caution (Attainable).
Your SMART goals should push you to better your business. You should welcome a challenge as you want to see your brand thrive, but you should also consider your current situation. If something seems too daunting, however, don’t scrap it, try breaking it down into smaller goals first.
4. Reflect on your limits (Realistic).
While you want to do great things, you need to constantly be aware of the time frame, resources, and budget you have to work with. Look at these limits first, and set your goals within them – rather than starting big and facing the inevitable disappointment of having to scale down.
5. Stick to a timeline (Time-bound).
Not only is setting a time frame an important part of measuring your success, but it also helps to keep everyone on track. With a detailed plan in place, no one is left asking “What’s next?” Plan a start and end date as standard, but also work in smaller deadlines for each project stage.
How to share your SMART goals PDF template.
It’s a good idea to create your SMART goals template before getting started with any of the above planning. It’ll be where you keep all the project information you’ll need to reflect on as you advance. It’s an organised, professional way to share your plans and progress with team members and external stakeholders, while remaining flexible as the project moves forward.
Once you’ve created your template, save it as a fillable PDF to easily share it with colleagues. This also means you don’t have to worry about formatting issues, or things disappearing – just stress-free collaboration. You can also quickly and easily request electronic signatures, so you know everyone’s on board with next steps.
Learn more about how Adobe Acrobat can help you create your SMART goals and aid project collaboration.
Frequently asked questions.
Is there a free SMART goals template?
Yes, Adobe Acrobat offers a range of free SMART goals templates to help get you started. Simply take a look at the downloadable templates and choose one that works best for your business. You can easily fill out, share, and reuse the document for all of your projects.
What are simple SMART goals?
A simple SMART goal uses all the relevant criteria (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely), but keeps it a little more succinct. Simple goals may be better for smaller businesses that are just getting started and may not require highly detailed or ambitious plans. They may also be a good idea if you’re taking a look at business success generally, rather than specific project success.
What is an example of a SMART goal?
An effective SMART goal considers the acronym criteria (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely), and concludes with a final statement to summarise the objective. For example:
SMART goal: Increase sales revenue across the new product line.
- Specific: Increase revenue by improving customer retention and basket conversions.
- Measurable: Achieve a 15% increase in monthly sales.
- Attainable: Use our email marketing list to tackle basket abandonment and push paid content across social channels.
- Relevant: Increasing sales supports our overall objective to expand into our new product market while leaning on the social following we’ve gained in the past 12 months.
- Time-bound: Reach this target within the next 6 months. Beginning January 2026, ending July 2026.
SMART goal final statement:
Our sales team will increase monthly revenue by 15% over the next 6 months by using our email marketing list to improve customer follow-ups and paid content campaigns. We’ll lean on our increased social following to push the new product line and successfully expand into this new market.