Publishing a blog can be tons of fun, and a great way to make friends and create opportunities. Starting one couldn't be easier: sign up, pick a theme, and off you go. But maintaining one and building an audience? That takes a little more work -- publishing regularly and engaging with the rest of the blogging community.

To make sticking to your 2014 blogging resolution easy and fun, we're introducing a way to stay on top of your blogging goals. Whether you're a brand-new blogger looking to make a splash, hope to return to a tumbleweed-strewn site you started long ago, or just want to introduce a little regularity to your blog, we're here to help you get there.

Now, when you register a new blog, you'll be able to pick a posting goal of weekly or monthly:

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If you've already got a blog, you can head to your Settings page to pick a goal.

We'll send you weekly or monthly emails with the tools and inspiration you need to meet the mark: great posts from other WordPress.com bloggers to get you motivated, writing prompts to push you past writers' block, and tips for making the most of WordPress.com. We'll congratulate you when you've met your goals, and give you a gentle nudge if you're falling off the pace.

(You can also opt out of the emails or update your goals at any time -- they're designed to help you meet your goals, not to clutter your inbox.)

What do you do? Just blog! If you've got something to say without our suggestions or want to post more frequently than the goal you've selected, go for it! But if you need a little extra push, we're there for you. Set a goal for yourself today, and get your blog off to a great start.

If you'd like something a little more intensive, visit The Daily Post tomorrow, when we kick off our first Zero to Hero 30-Day Blogging Challenge to give your new or flagging blog a serious jump-start. You can also visit The Daily Post for daily writing prompts and weekly writing and photography challenges.