Whilst scouring my website the other day trying to fathom exactly what it was I did for a living, a family member commented that I hadn’t written any new blogs for over a year. (They also commented on how much they liked what I’d written in previous articles and in fact, were really quite impressed…thanks Dad).
But yes, the whole blog writing thing has taken a bit of a back seat over the past 12 months, basically because I’ve been busy with client work. Which is a good thing as it seems that extra day a week I was promising to commit to the business this time last year, has been well and truly gobbled up.
This is not a best practice example to set for my clients however. Anyone who has even the tiniest understanding of how online comms works, knows you need content. Regular, relevant, interest, keyword-packed content. Posting just the one article a year really isn’t going to cut it and quite frankly, I’d be embarrassed if that was all I’d delivered for a paying client.
On the other hand, over the past 12 months I’ve produced a steady flow of content for all my clients, some of which have opened doors for them to multi-million pound contracts (never underestimate the power of PR). I’ve written about everything from utility infrastructure, to caravanning and camping, and also had ideas for angles for my own blog, but at the end of the day – literally – I haven’t had the energy to put my thoughts down on paper.
I think as any freelancer, small business owner (or parent) would agree, making time to do things for yourself or for your business, always seems to take a back seat behind paying clients and the demands of family life. There are actually only 24 hours in a day and while I’m convinced I can create an extra ‘working day’ each week by cramming hours over a few evenings – I’ve learnt that switching off from work by tea time is a far healthier way to go about things.
I know the lack of new content on my website means I won’t score highly in searches, but to be honest, all of my work has come through referrals and recommendations – which is fine for me, for now. It’s all about priorities and I figure as long as I continue to deliver the work and results that clients and those around me expect, then I can hopefully get away with not practising what I preach – until someone catches me out again.