how to stop ignoring your website
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I had a bit of an epiphany last week, Reader. It was: 12-year-old Me would be so disappointed in 34-year-old Me. 12-year-old Me had her shit together.
12-year-old Me was building a future of keeping that shit together, of staying aware of deadlines, of being proactive. Sooooooo, like I said ... 12-year-old Me would be so disappointed in 34-year-old Me. Because 34-year-old Me:
34-year-old Me is what 12-year-old Me never respected ... A PROCRASTINATOR. Add in my math handicap and a very-Millennial belief that my parents will always welcome me back home, and ... I have a particularly poor relationship with doing my taxes. Because, fundamentally, I hold these beliefs:
I've operated like this my entire adult life. (Subsequently, that 12-year-old go-getter spirit has died a little each time ... along with butterfly clips.) My partner — my poooooor, poor partner — tries to intervene every year. January: Him (optimistically): "Did you gather all of your documents?" Me: "I don't think they're ready." February: Him: "My taxes are all done. I can do yours this weekend." Me: "I haven't gotten that 1099 yet." March: Him: "I started your taxes anyway. I need you to get these exact things [offers simple list to follow]." Me: "This feels hard." April 15: Me: "Wait, fuuuuck, can you do my taxes today???" Well, Reader, I'm pleased to report: Today is March 24th ... and I've ALREADY STARTED MY TAXES. I hear you clapping for me. Now, since I'm a business owner (and since I sold stuff on waaaayyyy too many platforms last year) ... my taxes ain't exactly straightforward. I spent most of last week tracking down 1099s, some W-2s, and gathering expenses. Ugh, it was the actual worst. (Side note: I've considered hiring a tax accountant, but — by my measure — they have the easy part. I would still have to *gather the stuff* and that is the worst part of doing taxes.) But! Given my initiative (👏), I'm optimistic I'll have my taxes in by April 14th. That night, I will be owed a big-ass glass of champagne as a reward. (And then a second glass to calm the nerves that I screwed it all up and will be audited again. RIP 2013.) The Segue If you're procrastinating on your WEBSITE copy like I *was* procrastinating on my taxes ... HERE ARE 3 TIPS TO STOP PROCRASTINATING ON YOUR WEBSITE COPY (and feel fucking fantastic about yourself as a scientifically-proven result) STEP 1: NAME YOUR GOAL Before you start working on something, we've got to know where we're heading. How big or little do you want your website to be? (Luckily for you, I gave you the answer here!) Put your goal in writing. Like this: Write and publish my Home, Services, and About page by May 1. or ... Do my taxes on time and don't fuck them up. STEP 2: WORK BACKWARD A little planning goes a long way. You know your bandwidth, you know your schedule, you know how long you can be creative before you spin dreadfully into a doom scroll. Plot out your deliverables on a calendar just as you would for a client. Stick to your deadlines. STEP 3: REMIND YOURSELF OF THIS FACT 👇 "Done is better than perfect." I'll stand by the fact that this DOES apply to taxes. In the states, we really have no idea what we owe. We make a guess and the government comes back and tells us we're wrong (related: the 2013 audit). And it SURE as heck applies to your website. *A* website is better than *no* website. You can't crank out a beautiful work of art without farting out a little trash. I promise you — you are SO capable of owning the website of your dreams. In order to improve your website, you've got to start with *a* website, and then iterate from there. (And, obvs, you know I can help you with that.) So let's make a pact, Reader! If I do my taxes, will you do your website? (Honestly, this is actually a low stakes pact. Despite everything I wrote at the beginning of this email, there's really only a 50/50 chance I'll actually do them, so ... there's not, like, a TON of accountability here.) Much love ✌️ Kelsey |
website copywriter for edgy businesses
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