Online goal trackers vs. accountability partners: What’s the ideal choice for creators?

Creators often get to a point in their business where they feel stuck and aren’t sure how to move forward.

Coming up with goals is the easy part. But figuring out how to actually reach those goals is tricky.

Online goal trackers and accountability partners often provide the motivation and clarity needed to move the needle without any of the overwhelm.

But are goal trackers or partners better for you? We’re exploring both options so you know which one to pick.

Next-level milestones for creators

When you first started your business, your main goal was probably just to make enough to cover the bills.

But both your business and goals have changed over time, and now, you’re aiming for more.

If you’re a professional, full-time creator, your update goal list might look like this:

Diversifying revenue streams

Multiple sources of income can stabilize any ebbs and flows within your business and help you earn more, often without drastically increasing your workload.

When we dove into the creator economy, we found that professional creators monetize their craft with over six streams of income. And while that might sound like a lot, getting to this level isn’t as difficult as you might expect.

Many creators launch ecommerce shops to sell products like ebooks, evergreen courses, newsletter subscriptions, or monthly memberships (that’s four different streams of income right there).

Streamline and scale business

Creators might look like they’re running successful one-person shows all by themselves, but many have “extra hands” behind the scenes helping them scale.

Consider setting up Automations to handle repetitive tasks without manual input (think automatically sending promotional emails to people who are interested in your products but haven’t bought yet).

For tasks that need a human touch, reach out to virtual assistants (VAs) who can take over tasks so you can focus on your craft.

Achieve work/life balance

Some creators might want to take a step back from their business to spend more time with loved ones and pursue their hobbies—without sacrificing income. Automations and VAs can help those who want to achieve this level of freedom.

Increase audience reach

You don’t need to post more on social media or write more blog posts to get your business in front of more people. A newsletter ad is a simple—and often passive way—to promote your business.

Kit’s Paid Recommendations lets you pay creators a fee to promote your newsletter to their audiences. Both methods help you fill your list with quality subscribers without demanding hours of your time.

Help more people

There are plenty of people searching for the services and information you offer but don’t know of you—yet. And the easiest and fastest way to help more people with your offers is, again, to use methods like newsletter ads and Paid Recommendations.

Become an authoritative voice

Being known as an authority in your niche can open doors to more work, sponsorships, and partnerships. Creators who’ve been working in their business for a while often use strategies like publishing books, speaking at industry events, or collaborating with other well-known experts to build credibility.

How online goal trackers can help creators achieve their goals

Online goal trackers (apps or websites) are perfect for the self-motivated creator who prefers independence.

And although each goal tracker is different, many share similar features and characteristics:

Key features:

• Break goals down into manageable tasks
• Track your progress by assigning tasks categories like “in progress,” “not started,” and “completed”
• Integrate with other apps to keep your tech stack aligned

Type of support:

• Visual charts and graphs so you can analyze your progress
• Automatic reminders for upcoming task deadlines

Strengths:

• Accessible for virtually anybody with an internet connection
• Collaborative features for those with teams
• Available on different devices (laptops, phones, tablets) to access on-the-go

Limitations:

• May be difficult to customize for complex goals with many moving parts
• Privacy concerns for those sharing confidential details

Online goal tracking apps and tools ideal for creators

• Strides: Strides is for Creators who struggle to focus on the present and want an online goal tracker with custom tracking systems. It automatically prioritizes tasks to the ones you need to complete first, so you spend less time worrying about future goals and more time working on those that need attention right now.
• ATracker: ATracker is a time-tracking app useful for creators who need to track time spent on projects. It lets you build reports like pie charts or line graphs, and has the ability to export data into CSV files if you want to create your own custom reports.
• StickK: StickK works well for creators who need extra motivation to achieve their goals. Stickk gamifies the goal-setting experience by giving users the option to put charitable donations on the line if they don’t achieve their goals. This online goal tracker also asks users to sign “commitment contracts” to keep users accountable.
• Joe’s Goals: Joe’s Goals is a straightforward goal tracker designed for self-motivated creators who want a no-frills way to track their milestones. Using a simple point system, it helps you monitor progress: earn points for completing goals and lose points for missing them. This system makes it easy to pinpoint areas for improvement and celebrate your successes.

For more details on different goal-tracking apps, check out this online goal trackers review.

How accountability partners and body doubling partners can support creators

Accountability partners are people who help you achieve your goals by providing support and holding you accountable. This partnership is often collaborative, with both individuals sharing their goals and encouraging each other along the way.

Using accountability partners is ideal for those who thrive on external motivation, like working closely with others, and get joy from motivating their peers.

While an accountability partner typically involves two or more people regularly checking in on one another, alternatives like body doubling (working on a task alongside someone in-person or virtually) or virtual co-working spaces can also provide the accountability you need to stay productive.

Key features:

• A collaborative and mutually beneficial relationship
• Ability to design a partnership however it works best for you and your partner(s)

Type of support:

• Motivational boosts during times of low productivity
• Emotional support to work through challenges

Strengths:

• Fresh perspectives and tailored feedback you might miss if working alone
• Supportive environment to celebrate wins together
• Ability to tap into new networks to secure new opportunities (like speaking engagements, collaborations, etc.)

Limitations:

• A person may be unavailable during times when you need them
• Inconsistent, changing partners depending on the app you use
• No data or metrics about your progress unless you collect it yourself

Accountability buddy apps and tools

• Flown: Flown is a virtual coworking space that gives you the option to drop in to sessions as you’d like or take part in more structured, organized body doubling led by expert facilitators. You can even run your own sessions by inviting specific people you’d like to work with.
• Flow Club: Flow Club is another virtual coworking space for people who want organized coworking sessions. Each session lets workers set and check off goals and see other people’s goals to help them stay motivated. You can also choose to listen to music (like binaural or lo-fi) to keep you focussed.
• Focusmate: With Focusmate, you can pick people to work with one-on-one silently or collaboratively. This tool works well for people who want to find accountability partners for a range of tasks—not just business. Think doing client work, cleaning your house, or working out.
• Deepwrk: Deepwrk was specifically designed for folks with ADHD who want to take part in body doubles and virtual coworking. But you don’t need to be neurodivergent to join. Just book a predetermined session, show up, and work with the people in your cohort.

This detailed review of different accountability partner apps explores other platforms for those who’d like deeper insight.

Try the Creator Network to find accountability partners

As a creator, you’ll likely want to seek out partnerships with other creators who know the unique ups and downs that come with a creative lifestyle.

Why?

Because creators can offer you the best perspective and advice to move you forward with your business, and can empathize with you when you come across roadblocks and challenges. After all, they’ve likely been there themselves, too.

Kit’s Creator Network was made specifically for creators to connect. Even better, it’s also available on the free Newsletter plan, so you can give it a try for free.

Here’s how you can use it to find the perfect accountability partner.

Set up your Creator Profile

First things first, you need a Creator Profile so other people can find and reach out to you about potential collaborations.

Think of your Creator Profile like a mini website that highlights what you do. Take this one from photographer Elena Dragoi:

The above profile includes Elena’s bio, products, website and social links, and recent posts. Pulling together these helpful resources gives other creators a high-level view of Elena’s business, helping them decide if a partnership would be worthwhile.

So, try to be detailed and include any information someone might find useful when building your own profile.

To get started on your profile, head into Kit and click Grow > Creator Profile.

Edit and customize your profile with the menu on the right. Add different links, custom pages, products, and more.

When you’re done, click Publish and Kit will put you into a database so others can find you and view your profile.

Note: We created instructions to build your own mini-website using the Creator Profile if you need a detailed walk-through and more inspiration.

How to find creators to be your potential accountability partner

The Creator Network is a database of every Creator Profile that you can use to find an accountability partner.

Head into the Discover tab. Then use the different filters and search options to find relevant partners.

Filter by creator type (artist, author, YouTuber, etc.), topic (comedy, design, history, etc.), and language to find people in your niche.

Here’s a snippet of the results for music coaches:

Scroll through these and look for people who might be a good fit. To view someone’s Creator Profile, click on their result, then click the kebab menu and select View Profile.

Check their profile for contact details. Look for a website with a contact form, social media links where you can send a direct message, or an email list you can join and respond to one of their newsletters.

Whichever method you choose, introduce yourself, explain why you’re reaching out, and see if they’d be interested in becoming accountability partners.

Choosing between online goal trackers and accountability partners

Online goal trackers and accountability partners can be valuable tools for any creator.

Goal trackers are convenient and work well when you want to manage yourself.

But nothing beats the personal touch of working with someone else. Accountability partners often provide an extra layer of support—like personal insight and tailored advice—which ultimately helps you reach your goal posts faster.

Want to build your Creator Profile and find an accountability partner?