Seeking Substack experiences
I've recently resurrected the Weeknotes series so thank you to those who've let me know these have been interesting and enjoyable. The encouragement does really help!
I'm looking to do more writing this year by developing a Substack for more in-depth pieces. Am also looking to do a separate online journal for non-work stuff (music/walks/mental health). That's the current plan, so I'm interested to hear from anyone who has used Substack as a publishing platform. I'm also starting to test HubSpot CRM soon too, but unsure how these will speak to each other or work out in the long run (if at all, as this Hub Spot community discussion indicates here).
These tie in to wanting to have a more structured plan for David Salmon Consulting, including more considered structured marketing and sales channels alongside a desire to have a creative writing outlet too.
Am going to be having a chat with Jon Conradi soon about this all and his plans but I'd be grateful to hear from anyone who has done/is doing something similar or has experience of Substack (good or bad).
Get in touch if you're willing to share experiences and ideas - david@david-salmon.co.uk.
I've also used this week to create more space for myself and sort my head out following a mental health wobble over the weekend.
Anyway, here's this week's, um, Weeknotes...
Doing (non-client facing work)
HubSpot vs Substack research:
Working through my notes from a workshop/planning/peer support session with the awesome and supportive marketing freelancers Bryony Bishop and Fran Taylor. This includes the usual admin stuff that any freelancers and sole traders may recognise (managing sales pipeline, getting on top of cashflow and accounts, plus mapping sales and marketing channels/funnel (I do this for clients, but never have done for myself)
Drafting an annual business plan for myself - need to set some goals!
Done (client-based work and plus more of my own)
Lauren Pope 10 Things / reflections questions. These really helped me get ideas down and reflect before getting into planning mode. Follow this link to Reflection Questions
Joined a Growth Hub peer support session hosted by Good2Great - really helpful and has given me the motivation to get started on ideas and plans. I'm finding it really helpful to hear from SMEs and business owners outside of my own specialisms to get ideas, spot similar challenges and opportunities. More about the Growth Hub
Reviewed a strategy for upcoming research findings for a client
Held a session with project team looking back on the successful Birmingham Museums Trust's Citizens' Jury launch last week. TBH, this video should inspire you to find out more:
The team secured some brilliant coverage and its a frankly brilliant project as part of the wider transformation work happening at Birmingham Museums Trust. If you've got any interest in the future of democracy (seems quite important ATM!) then take a look at the article links in the useful links section or head straight to the source on the BMT website.
Any learnings?
Lots ABOUT ME here. Because reasons.
BAD mental health over the weekend - took Monday off to have time away and recover/sort my head out and go again. This has led to a shift in my thinking, allowing more flex when working between clients and David Salmon Consulting needs rather than set working days. Awesome clients plus a few boundaries really help here.
Interesting conversation working from home vs office with Fran and Bryony. I tie myself to my desk when working from home so by 4pm I really struggle. Found out others are waaaay more productive when working from home as they are able to move, stretch, go for lunchtime walks etc. Need to start embedding these habits again instead of LinkedIn doom scrolling.
Useful links
Lauren Pope's Reflections Questions via this link
Excellent 25min BBC podcast ReThink, discussing the role museums play in todays society, why and how they need to be more relevant and democratic and the fundamentally broken funding model. Also features co-CEO of Birmingham Museums Trust Sara Wajid. Link to BBC Sounds
More on BMT's Citizens' Jury launch from last week:
Two fab marketing freelancers here:
Fran Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frantaylor
Bryony Bishop / BeeBee Communications: https://beebeecomms.com/
Comments