I’m back!
After a long struggle with Wix, and then a whole load of technical issues trying to get my Waves PR website back, what a fabulous way to start the year – I have my domain, and site back!!
Hello and welcome!
Why the Absence?
I, like many, moved to a Wix site having read that we were all ok with SEO, that it was easily as good as WordPress etc, etc. And my site looked fabulous, but no-one could find it, so it was as good as useless.
I am always happy to talk to anyone thinking about moving. In my experience, it’s currently great for ‘brochure sites, ones that you don’t expect to find in search, but I sadly can’t recommend it to anyone else.
Getting back my domain has had me running around like a headless chicken, not least because of their outsourcing of my domain. Least said, soonest mended, especially as I may inadvertently reveal the limits of my technical ability in this respect – but that’s what tech savvy professionals are for, and I’m proud to count more than a few as friends.
This also happened against a frustrating background of house moves and some fairly major life changes, all for the good in the end, so I can’t blame Wix for everything however much I’d like to!
It’s not stopped me working, but felt somewhat unprofessional since I need to demonstrate that I understand the web!
Past content
I have a lot of old content that I had fortunately backed up – a lot of it I’d like to keep just for the memories of projects I’ve loved. These have included a police helicopter service (Kingston Communications), Twestival (a charity fundraiser online), huge Tweet ups and more. But those heady early days of Social Media startups are behind us, and may be left to another part of the site – memory lane? A decision for later.
For the moment I’ll be reviewing and reposting things that remain current, if not for their timing then for their lessons, including the pieces on Crisis Management. Little by little I plan to recuperate and post them.
Looking forward to 2021
Going forward, I have decided to focus on the things I love – I enjoy crisis management, probably because I’m good at it.
I love writing: everything you research to write is a chance to learn. I’m currently loving blogging for two easy Group companies, and having lots of fun doing it. And I’m keen to take on more writing.
However PR is in my blood – you don’t just turn your back on years of media relations, exciting product launches and strategy, so I’m delighted to take on projects from agencies or small business clients wanting to get best value for their money.
And with 25 years of experience, I have a highly strategic brain – meaning that helping with messaging and positioning, crisis preparation and planning, PR strategy, social media strategy are the places I’ll be able to add value both to agencies (PR, SEO and marketing) and organisations of all sizes directly.
Charity Projects
I am regularly contacted to do charity projects, and often asked to work for nothing.
This has given me a lot of pleasure, and highlights of the past few years have included helping the Reading Hydro Community Project, albeit in a very limited manner ahead of their share offer, and helping Elizabeth Burton Phillips of DrugFam with their positioning (with friend and colleague Darren who invited me in).
However, going forward I will be reducing what I do (in order to focus better) and it has been hard to turn down projects from African startups to Welsh ones, and both health and art projects, causes close to my heart.
I remain involved with CAAGe, the Campaign Against Adult Grooming, which will take on a new form this coming year, and give time each month to translating from Spanish to English Filia, which supports global women’s rights.
So please don’t ask me to take on more – whilst I’m happy to offer advice over the phone occasionally, this is pretty much my limit.
So here we are!
Thanks for reading this far!
I have small amount of capacity, which I’m happy to keep free for projects I’ll enjoy and do well, working with people I like in areas I love: technology, the built environment, arts and design, health and campaigning.
If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that nothing in life is certain except change, death and taxes. I fully plan to enjoy my work in 2021, and hope our paths will cross.
Happy New Year
Waves PR 