8 things I’ve done for my business this month

I think it’s fair to say I have been working my butt off this past month, so I thought I’d share a few exciting things I’ve done for myself and my business in January. 

Maybe you’ve also been working on your brand or perhaps you need a little inspiration to get your February off to a great start. 

Maybe you just like hearing what other people have been up to. It doesn’t matter much, I’m just glad to have you here. 

So here are eight things I’ve done for my career over the last 31 days: 

1. Completely redesigned my website 

I completely redesigned my professional, freelance writing website. I have hated my old site for years but never found the time to fix it.

But I wanted to go into 2024 feeling excited about my career and growing my business this year, so it needed to be done. 

You can check it out here if you’re interested: https://www.natashialarkin.co.uk/ 

2. Generated case studies for my website 

As part of the big redesign, I put together some more in-depth case studies of my work from the last four to five years. 

I wanted to showcase my work better and the brands I’ve partnered with, as well as how I can help businesses in the future. And this was the best way to do it. 

I just can’t believe it’s taken me this long! 

3. Continued working on this blog 

I have also continued working on this blog. It’s been redesigned, I’ve reviewed content and I’ve added new posts. 

My goal for the next few months is to keep posting regular content and start sharing this across different channels to get those views up. 

So you know what to do guys, read and share as much as you like! 

4. Created a Facebook page

It has only taken me seven years, but I finally created a Facebook page dedicated to my business, where I can share content from this blog and from my work. 

My following is still very low, but I’m hoping to work on that over the next few months as well. 

5. Updated my LinkedIn profile 

I also took the chance to update my LinkedIn biography and work experience. 

I’ve started to post on there more frequently, though I’m aware I need to share more and more updates if I hope to start pulling in work from that platform. 

6. Joined Medium 

I decided to join a writing platform called Medium. You can share content (it looks a little like LinkedIn Pulse), follow other writers and even make a passive income from those articles if people like them enough. 

Now, I don’t really have the time to write for an entirely new platform, but the great thing about Medium is you can import blog posts directly from here. 

These go through a different process and are marked as an imported post to stop them from messing with your SEO. 

I’ve also joined several Facebook groups for Medium writers to help me promote my content. So right now I’m just building up my library so I have plenty to share. 

7. Revisited some freelance platforms 

As I’m looking for new work, I’ve decided to explore every avenue and one of those is freelancing platforms. 

This is where I started my freelance writing career, so I thought it best to revisit my roots. 

I revisited my People Per Hour profile and I signed up for Upwork. 

I’m not suggesting these are going to be the solution to finding great work, but they can be a great way to make some extra money. 

That being said, when I used these platforms six years ago I was prepared to take low-paying jobs with ridiculous word counts just to start building my portfolio and getting some experience behind me. 

I will no longer be doing that!

These content mills can be very damaging to writers, especially when you’re starting out. I genuinely saw a post on Upwork the other day from someone looking for a well-researched, 

2,000 word article. 

They were prepared to pay $12 for that piece… and that was before the Upwork fees were deducted.

Not that I would ever have considered that one! But this time around, I’ll only be applying to real opportunities that I’m excited about and that pay well.

8. Raised my rates 

The final thing I did for myself this month was something I was very nervous about. I decided to slightly increase my rates in order to keep up with the ever-increasing cost of life. 

Seriously, it’s getting out of hand. 

I was worried that it would cost me some of my oldest and most regular clients and I dreaded sending the email. But at the end of the day, my rates are far below the industry average, and a girl’s got to live.

So I crafted a very polite email notifying them of a rate increase in March to give them some time to adjust. 

I received my first reply within seven minutes simply saying ‘Sure, no problem’. 

I was feeling better about the move. 

But as I had feared, the next client emailed me back a day or two later and said that they would not be continuing our now five-year partnership as they had other writers on board that were cheaper. 

And that’s OK, they’ve got to run their business and I’ve got to run mine and after the initial blow, I realised that perhaps it was the right time to say goodbye.

And so we move. 

This year I will be looking for some exciting new clients and partnerships from those who value my years of experience.

I’m embracing hygge in 2024! Here’s how you can too

The first time I heard about the concept of hygge (pronounced hyoo guh) was from the literary legend that is Susie Dent. 

Describing Jon Richardson as ’hygge incarnate’ on 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, she explained that the Danish concept is all about embodying cosiness and comfort. It’s about contributing towards a more joyful and balanced lifestyle. 

Something we all know the Nords do in spectacular fashion. 

And what better time to embrace hygge than when it’s cold and windy outside (currently thanking storms Isha and Jocelyn for hibernating inside)? 

But really, this is a year-round concept and one that I implore you to embrace. 

Here are eight simple ways to do just that. 

Create a cosy space (or two) for yourself 

Whether it’s your bedroom, living room, snug or even your office, this year it’s all about arranging your living space to be cosy and inviting. 

This can be done with bundles of beautiful blankets, plush pillows, cosy cushions, and maybe even a fireplace if you’ve got one! It’s really just about creating a comfortable atmosphere and a place where you’re happy to spend your time.

A place that instantly makes you feel happier or makes your day a bit better. 

Introduce warm lighting - everywhere!

Whether it’s candles, fairy lights or flickering lamps, hygge is all about soft, warm lighting and I, for one thing, love a bit of mood lighting! I always have some cute little fairy lights or scented candles on the go. 

This lighting encourages relaxation and tranquillity and gives you the opportunity to slow down and unwind.  

This year is all about comfy clothing 

I’m aware that I’m very fortunate, I get to live and work in my comfy leggings and an oversized sweatshirt, and I do this a lot. 

I am ALL about the comfy clothes. 

But if you don’t do this enough, it’s time you did! 

Come home from work? Chuck on some joggers and a big jumper. Working out? Leggings and a baggy Tee. Going to see friends, wide-leg trousers and a cosy jumper. 

Basically, what I’m saying is whenever the opportunity arises to be comfy then take it. Especially when you’re sitting around relaxing, but even as you go about your daily life. 

Tight, uncomfortable clothes are OUT this year and comfort is very much in. 

Surround yourself with all the things you love

Whether it’s watercolours on the wall, houseplants, flowers, hand-crafted coffee mugs or piles of books, it’s time to surround yourself with the things you love. 

You can incorporate these into your interior design or simply make sure you have plenty around the house so they will always bring you joy.  

Connect with nature 

Bringing natural elements into your home and workspace can create a soothing atmosphere and houseplants famously boost the mood and improve the air quality. 

That is why I have so many. 

But it doesn’t just have to be plants. Wooden features or furniture, natural art or photographs, indoor water features or even just flooding the room with natural light can all contribute towards this joyful feeling. 

You could even have an indoor herb garden or introduce natural scents to your home. All of this can help to generate positive emotions like calmness, joy and creativity. 

Take back the simple pleasures in life 

Hygge isn’t just about the physical space around you, it’s also about the activities, routines and habits you introduce into your daily life that create happiness and balance. It’s about indulging in self-care. 

This might be having coffee with friends once a week, your evening skincare routine, going for a dog walk or preparing a comforting meal each day.

Even these simple tasks can bring immense joy and you need to make sure you take the time out to appreciate this. That is why hygge is also about practising mindfulness. Taking time to slow down and take back the simple pleasures in life. 

Work on building stronger connections 

Part of creating a comforting and warm lifestyle is also about cultivating strong relationships with those in your life. It’s about spending quality time with friends and family, as well as contributing to the local community. 

For example, we recently went on a family getaway - with my cousins and their partners - to a cosy converted barn in Devon. It snowed while we were there, so we enjoyed the hot tub in the snow, played board games, drank wine and sat in front of the log fire. 

It was an all-around perfect weekend and hygge is always so much better when celebrated with others. 

Take some time away from technology 

The final suggestion on this list is to give yourself plenty of opportunities to disconnect from technology. 

Sure, we live in a digital world and lots of us rely on technology to do our jobs, as well as lots of other daily activities. 

But hygge encourages you to switch off every now and then. To do something that doesn't involve looking at a screen, or at the very least, doesn’t require you to be totally immersed in what’s happening on the screen. 

You might want to read a book, have coffee with a friend, or even phone someone while you snuggle under a blanket. However you choose to switch off, just give yourself a break from technology every now and then. 

It’s time to embrace hygge this year!

Just remember that hygge is all about bringing joy and happiness to your life, so some of these suggestions might not be for you. For example, you might hate burning candles, taking a long soak in the bath or seeing your family (it happens). 

So ultimately, it’s about creating a cosy, comfortable and happy life that fills you with joy. And that can be achieved however you like. 

Should writers be scared of AI content generators or should we embrace them?

As a content creator, the emergence of AI content generators like ChatGPT can feel genuinely terrifying. 

For one thing, there’s the thought that any brand can now pop a couple of keywords into an AI writing tool and instantly have informative, coherent content. Why would they ever pay for a copywriter again?

Plus, I keep seeing references to ChatGPT and AI writing in job descriptions, on LinkedIn and in many other resources I use as a writer. So it’s only growing in popularity. 

But rather than fixate on what could be, I thought I would take this opportunity to have a little play with ChatGPT myself and see what it’s all about. 

So I decided to ask the machines ‘Should writers be scared of AI or should we embrace it?’.

Here is a little snippet of what the robots said: 

The relationship between writers and AI is nuanced, and opinions can vary. Here are some perspectives to consider:

Embracing AI:

Enhancing Creativity:

AI tools can serve as creative aids, helping writers brainstorm ideas, overcome writer's block, or suggest alternative phrasing. They can act as valuable companions in the creative process.

Automation of Repetitive Tasks:

AI can automate mundane tasks such as grammar and spell checks, allowing writers to focus more on the creative aspects of their work. This can improve efficiency and save time.

Data Analysis and Research:

AI can assist in data analysis and research, providing writers with valuable insights and information to enhance the accuracy and depth of their writing.

Was I still worried? 

At first glance, I’ll admit, it looked pretty good. The content certainly covers the basics anyway. 

But for the most part, it’s easy to see that this was generated by a machine. The language is stiff and very to the point, there is no real storytelling going on and the entire post came back at 365 words. 

Not ideal from an SEO perspective.

On top of all that, the formatting is strange and ChatGPT seems to love overusing colons. 

There is also a little disclaimer at the bottom that says ‘ChatGPT can make mistakes. Consider checking important information., which means this is not a foolproof resource. 

So sure, while the content may have all the Hallmarks of a good piece of writing, I can confidently say that most readers would be able to tell this was conjured up by a machine. 

This made me relax a little, believing that we do not need to be afraid of AI content generators.

In fact, these could even help to enhance a writer’s work, using them to get the building blocks in place before adding the human touch.

What about Google’s Search Generative Experience?

But unfortunately, it doesn’t stop at writing tools.

New updates from Google mean that AI-generated information will soon be displayed at the top of search pages. 

And although this seems harmless, it can actually be detrimental to content writers and SEO experts who have worked so hard to get their content to the top of SERPs. 

So, in that respect, there may need to be an adjustment period and it certainly means more work for us humans in the industry who will need to work even harder to get our content seen. 

Does this mean we should be scared of AI content generators? 

What’s the verdict? 

Well, I’m not going to pretend that I am happy about AI and who knows how advanced these tools could get in the future. 

That being said, I have started to play around a little more with ChatGPT and I can certainly see how it could be used to assist with writing, particularly if you’re up against a quick turnaround time. 

Personally, I value my clients too much to use AI content generators to produce copy for me and I don’t believe you can get the same human element by doing so. 

But I can certainly see the benefits when writing on a topic that you haven't got much experience with. These tools can give you the building blocks, like headings and a good idea of relevant topics, so you can go off and conduct more research yourself. 

For now, I suppose what I am saying is let’s not be scared, because let’s face it, this is the future and it’s coming whether we like it or not. 

So, as writers, we need to embrace these tools and try to use them to our advantage, hoping and praying that this strengthens our writing skills so much that machines can never replace us. 

But I guess we’ll see…