So here I am writing the very first blog for Website Alchemy!
Soooooo… This is it! Hello!
This is not my first rodeo!
A new blog is not a new place for me, yet it feels just as daunting as when I started one nearly 14 years ago.
After the initial 6 months, it became exciting and novel and launched a life-changing lifestyle journey which included publishing deals and travelling the world for 8.5 years through 35 countries.
A couple of years later the launch of our second blog facilitated us visiting and documenting the stories of people around the world who were dedicated to making a difference to their community, and for the adventure – reviewing hotels, cruises, tours and travel gear worldwide.
Then I burned it all down
Supping on a torrid brew of grief, compassion fatigue, hormones, and RSD, I burned it all down and buried my voice so deep I honestly didn’t think I would find it again.
For 8 years, I have been hiding in plain sight. Dark-night-of-the-soul type stuff- reflection, healing, discovering, exposing. And now – today I start again.
In 14 years, the world has changed; the technology has changed, social media has changed, and I have changed.
Until today I was consumed by every reason why I shouldn’t/couldn’t/wouldn’t get started. Mainly “it’s too hard” wrapped up in an ADHD haze of busy business owner and mother to a small human.
What has this got to do with websites?
Good question!
I stopped teaching courses and groups when we left to travel, as internet connections were fairly unreliable in ye olden days in many of the countries we travelled through.
Now, I miss teaching website stuff. I miss seeing the energy and buzz as a group starts to really “get” it. I still have a special place in my heart for my original website students from 13 years ago! Most of whom I have never met in person.
I love our website clients to bits, and I have the same conversations with every client. They say it takes a village to raise a child. But then I had a child and guess what? No village! We lost our villages in the busyness of this modern world.
For website owners, it is the same deal. No village – but we NEED the village! There is just too much to learn and know, and if you are not a natural at marketing or technology, then helping your website fulfil it’s potential can feel overwhelming at best.
Why am I sharing this?
Well sure, I will write website content about website stuff and it would be great and helpful and blah blah blah. And yes, I “get” this stuff! And no doubt there will be plenty of time for that!
However.
There is an emotional element to successful website ownership that I don’t see many people talk about. There is so much to do, and so much to learn, and for many people, especially those who are not digital natives, website ownership can be overwhelming, exhausting and defeating sometimes.
If you have been stressing about your website.
If you have been avoiding or procrastinating on marketing.
If thinking about SEO makes your eyes bleed.
If the idea of posting on social media is downright depressing.
If your website is invisible and/or ineffective.
If all seems too hard or you just don’t know where to start…
This blog is for you!
I estimate it has taken about 3 years to get to this point. Three years. One blog. Less than one word per day.
And yet, I got it done…
And so can you!
What’s next?
My goal is to share the journey from zero marketing to somewhat consistent marketing, launching digital products, growing our services business and everything in between.
If you like the idea of seeing how it all pans out, and even joining in the challenge with your own website, please subscribe in the footer! Or like our sparkling new, and rather sparsely populated Facebook page.
If you are a woman with a website check out my FREE website workshops for women where I share all I know until the clock runs out!