Estimated reading time: 9.7 minutes

ChatGPT has taken the digital world by storm and more businesses are using AI for automating tasks and shrinking creative exhaustion. For good reason too. With burnout causing a not-so-silent crisis, work and life demands have become too demanding for most.  

As a small business owner and SEO content writer, I get it.  

Which is why, like any smart copywriter, I’ve explored and experimented with ChatGPT content. 

Here’s what I learnt. 

Despite the hype around ChatGPT articles, it isn’t the holy grail to your content woes. Sure, it can be a companion, but AI-generated content cannot replace SEO articles – and nothing beats that human touch for creating authentic connections with your audience. While ChatGPT is helpful as a foundation, no one should rely solely on AI tools to create content. Especially if you want to provide real value. 

Still, there’s a place for ChatGPT if you know how to use it intelligently. 

More importantly, those who embrace the ever-changing digital landscape must understand what good content writing is and how it works for such tools to be successful. 

This article can teach you creative ways to combine ChatGPT with human skill. It’s for educating business owners on the best strategies and what to be aware of. 

Understanding ChatGPT

But first, what is this ChatGPT that’s dominating headlines?

Open AI’s ChatGPT is a powerful deep-learning tool that provides answers in seconds. It uses a Language Learning Model (LLM) to understand the intricate relationships between words and information and sources responses from an extensive dataset of websites, online books and journals.

You can ask the computer bot questions and converse with it like a person. Then it regurgitates content and answers into new prose. Similar to responses from a Google search, but much faster and without citing sources. 

Of course, taboo subjects are off limits, such as trying to overthrow the government and illegal activities. There are also questions ChatGPT won’t answer. 

Let’s dig into how I’m harnessing ChatGPT for SEO articles. 

1. Eliminate Procrastination 

One way I’ve been using the AI tool is to amplify productivity. For most creatives, this means eliminating procrastination areas. 

Those deep rabbit holes we sometimes get stuck in. 

Procrastination is something most writers and business owners face. Quotes from avid creatives remind us that writing is 90% procrastination, and pie graphs poke fun at the writing process. A chunk of time gets spent staring blankly at the wall, binge-snacking and random Internet surfing – a tidal wave away from productive research. 

I know because I can be guilty of it too. 

With ChatGPT, you have a procrastination killer. It can be a handy helper for drafting article structure and sub-headings, and gives you a blueprint to work from.  

For example: I asked ChatGPT to suggest subheadings for this piece. Although I had already mapped the points, it’s a good way to find new angles or ideas you might not have thought about. 

Fire up Your Creative Synapses

ChatGPT is a catalyst for fast idea generation. It can be the perfect tool for when inspiration isn’t striking. 

While I prefer picking up a book and disconnecting for 20 minutes to fire up my creative synapses (as Stephen King does), client deadlines often take priority. For those times – or to get your juices flowing – use ChatGPT to brainstorm ideas. 

The best way to do this is by starting a conversation.  

Just as you would brief a copywriter, ChatGPT needs detail and precise objectives to generate worthy ideas, topics and research. 

With the right person behind it, ChatGPT can revolutionise your research game. Use it as a researcher for:

• Brainstorming blog topic ideas
• Recommending headlines
• Industry research 
• Exploring the initial points for SEO articles
• Finding potential pain points linked to your target customer

There needs to be a partnership between a qualified writer and ChatGPT to make this relationship work for quality SEO content. A copywriter can refine and expand the data for your brand voice, goals and audience. Then uses their expertise to bring it to life and add vital SEO copywriting elements. 

Additionally, you want an industry expert who knows your niche and understands the importance of value-added content that connects and converts.

Because that’s something ChatGPT articles can’t do. 

You can use the AI tool as a launchpad for creating more engaging ideas. But it’s only a dirty draft with serious limitations. These include:

• Privacy and plagiarism: Generated content is paraphrased from existing content without proper attribution
• Superficial and soulless: Robotic content, limited creative thinking and zero personal experience and emotional intelligence
• Stifles creativity: Over-dependence on AI technology can lead to less collaboration and creativity, steering content away from that vital human touch
• Poor quality: Google rewards high-quality, people-first content which AI content can’t always produce. If it’s not helpful and reliable, your content will be devalued
• Lack of experience and personalisation: Content must show Experience, Expertise, Authority and Trustworthiness to build trust and credibility with your audience 
• Lack of search engine optimisation: ChatGPT lacks the understanding and insights a human SEO copywriter or specialist has. What’s more, it can’t provide essential data on website traffic, rankings and conversions
• Lack of research and comprehension: Yes, it’s a research tool but you still need to understand your audience and the different ways of communicating with them first. Research for your messaging is a step you can’t skip
• Lacks real-time data: Its knowledge cut-off date is September 2021 making ChatGPT ineffective for recent research and statistics

I’ve also been using the AI tool to make space for fresh ideas by eliminating clichéd and obvious concepts. I stole this great idea from Tom Roach, an expert in marketing and branding. 

2. Discover Seed Keywords and Phrases

ChatGPT can assist with keyword research by suggesting relevant search terms to expand your list. Tell it your topic, brief it on your business and target audience, and ask for associated keywords and phrases. 

It’ll spit out ideas in seconds – but I wouldn’t be using it solely for keyword research. 

Think of ChatGPT as an alternative to Google’s Keyword Planner. You still need other platforms like Semrush or UberSuggest for reviewing the raw data, and it doesn’t replace the skills of an SEO copywriter for finding the most appropriate search terms and using them in your content.  

The thing about keyword tools such as ChatGPT, Yoast, Ubersuggest and Semrush is they’re simply tools. They make our jobs easier but you need human expertise for the final decision. More importantly, you need a creative copywriter who knows how to find ranking keywords and turn them into relatable content that’s unique and better than what’s ranking in the first spots. 

While this trick doesn’t replace the skills of an SEO pro, it can give you a starting point. But it won’t provide information on search volume, intent, SERP features or keyword difficulty, which are vital for keyword research.

ChatGPT SEO example:

Ideally, ChatGPT could’ve recommended location-specific search terms since Perth and Australia are in the brief.

The below example provides a better response. I like how it recognised you need additional tools for in-depth data and mentioned niche-related keywords, however, this was only after I regenerated the response. 

Hot Tip: Google any keyword ideas you get from ChatGPT to see what content is ranking, identify gaps, and better understand the search intent. You should never rely on ChatGPT for your SEO strategy either.

3. Gather Helpful Information

People want helpful content that’s written by humans for humans. If your content doesn’t prove experience and meet the E-E-A-T standards, then it won’t be deemed helpful by your audience and Google. Consequently, it’ll be devalued and dropped in the search rankings. 

Creating helpful content starts with gathering essential information. While you shouldn’t use AI tools to write your web copy and blogs, ChatGPT can streamline how you collect data. This makes your day more productive and provides a platform for fleshing out content and adding copywriting expertise. 

For example: Recently I was writing an article for my local winery client. They wanted a piece on annual organic audits to show their customers why certified standards and inspections are important. 

I knew I needed more information from my client to begin. 

Usually I’d spend 15-20 minutes researching potential topics and angles and mapping points to include. Instead this time, I called on ChatGPT. 

I had an idea of the points to highlight and used this to prompt ChatGPT. This is what it said:

I wasn’t going to get AI tools to write the content – ChatGPT isn’t an article writer. But it enabled me to send the right questions to my client and uncover the information I needed for mapping and writing the piece. By doing so, I saved 20 minutes in research. 

The result was a unique blog tailored to their winery and vineyard, and why these audits matter to their products and customers. 

Expert Tips for Effective ChatGPT Content

Writing SEO content that provides value demands a certain level of skill, experience and creativity – something AI tools aren’t yet equipped with. Yet there are ways to embrace the tool. 

Make sure you:

• Add ‘experience’ elements – the first E in E-E-A-T – professional experience and human experience
• Master the art of writing good ChatGPT prompts
• Double-check suggested article titles and topics haven’t been used before
• Provide specific instructions and always refine
• Use words like ‘expand’ to delve deeper into a point or topic
• Fact-check information for accuracy and plagiarism 
• Review ChatGPT SEO articles for sensual experience – sights, touches, tastes and smells breathe more humanity into content
• Enhance the content ie: visuals, quotes, statistics and internal linking to related articles 
• Download the ChatGPT Chrome extension 
• Create content machines can’t replicate

The Takeaway

AI is already starting to fill the Internet with noise, ultimately making quality human-created content more valuable.  

Still, the question remains. Will AI tools like ChatGPT replace creative copywriters? 

It depends on your standards. 

Canva didn’t replace graphic designers and neither will AI for copywriters and SEO specialists. 

But there’s no use denying the technology – it’s already here. Rather than treating AI as a replacement for human expertise though, use it as a tool. Supplement your productivity and accelerate how you work. 

ChatGPT isn’t an SEO article writer. It’s an assistant – and a limited one at that. And it doesn’t excuse you from working on the real foundation of great content writing: listening, empathy and connection.

The post 3 Creative Ways to Use ChatGPT for Your SEO Articles appeared first on the little typewriter.

With AI tools like ChatGPT and Bard sweeping the globe, business owners are considering their options for writing more efficient content. Of course, it makes sense. Copywriting is hard work. It takes investment and creative energy, and planning content on a regular basis is time-consuming and costly.

That’s also fueling the frenzy around AI writing.  

Everyone wants more for less. But does that mean you should cut corners?

Definitely not. 

Shortcutting the process won’t achieve high-quality work. 

If you want content that connects and converts, you need the appropriate drivers behind it: human emotion, creativity and strategic thinking.

The technology of AI is spectacular and intelligent, but as with any digital tool, there are limitations. AI-generated content cannot replace SEO copy and the creative content it generates remains superficial and soulless. What’s more, AI tools cannot replace authentic human emotion (yet).

Before we dive deeper, let’s consider the Three Laws of Robotics.

These rules were developed in 1942 by sci-fi writer Isaac Asimov to protect humans from androids by restricting robot behaviour and keeping AI ethical. 

1. A robot may not injure a human or, through inaction, allow a human to come to harm
2. A robot must obey the orders given by humans except where such orders would conflict with the First Law
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws

Asimov envisioned the problem we face today, as sci-fi often does, and created a principle for safe, compliant and robust robots. 

More than 80 years later, the fundamentals have not changed, just evolved. Here’s how to stop bots from harming you or your business when considering AI tools.

Key Points:

• Users want helpful content that’s written by humans, for humans
• AI should be used as a foundation, not the final (or only) solution
• 100% AI-written content is ‘rubbish’ for SEO and will be flagged by Google
• AI maximises productivity and streamlines repetitive tasks, but AI content lacks the key drivers for creating emotional connections

Where Creative Copywriters Trump AI

You don’t need me to tell you that human emotions and connections are integral to content marketing. I know I bang on about the importance of creating connections, but you need them if you want your content to perform. 

So if you’re not getting the results you want from your web copy (or copywriter), you’ll look for alternatives. Cue robots and AI for business. 

Great SEO copy performs and actively engages an audience. It provides value and creates an emotional connection, one that’s often built through the power of stories.

While AI is a smart tool to aid the process, no matter how good it is at churning out copy, those words aren’t the best words for your audience. 

Why?

Users demand audience-specific content tailored to their needs, wants and search intent —content that’s written by humans, for humans. 

The best website copy is not superficial. You don’t simply choose keyphrases and write optimised copy around them either. Good SEO copywriting, like any form of marketing, sprouts from strategic thinking, originality and the ability to creatively connect dots in ways we haven’t seen from AI tools like ChatGPT. 

That doesn’t mean AI shouldn’t be a valuable part of your toolkit though. There are benefits, especially if you want to maximise productivity and streamline repetitive and mundane tasks. 

When used logically, AI tools can help create better content. But they should be used as an assistant, not an outsourcing solution. 

Is Your Content Experienced?

ChatGPT opposes everything Google asks for in user-friendly content; web copy that demonstrates Experience, Expertise, Authority and Trustworthiness. Without meeting these signals, you leave your audience unsatisfied and run the risk of Google devaluing your content. 

Since AI-written copy lacks E-E-A-T credentials, quality raters (and users) will struggle to trust content that doesn’t showcase the expertise of the writer and their years of experience. 

Imagine what that lack of trust and credibility could do to your brand.

Google’s Helpful Content algorithm is also something to factor in, which rewards content that gives readers a satisfying experience. The most recent update highlights that content must be written by people, for people to be deemed helpful. After all, it’s content from humans that provides a more cohesive and satisfying approach to creative copywriting and SEO. 

Without the experience or interpersonal understanding of your business, how can AI articulate why customers should choose you, or most importantly, why they should trust your brand? You need more than just a bot to handle your strategy.

Copywriters and business owners cannot rely solely on AI tools for web copy, doing so is irresponsible and detrimental to your brand. 

If you want to spice up your content and make your readers and Google hungry for more, focus on creating authentic human experiences. 

For websites, this demands three essentials.

1. Uniquely written, reliable and people-first content 
2. SEO elements according to best practices 
3. Functional and visually appealing web design

AI for SEO

Bots like ChatGPT can be incredibly useful for marketing materials such as emails, sales letters, social media and speeches. But 100% AI-written content is ‘rubbish’ for SEO. Your web copy might be new, but it won’t be original or have that competitive edge. Quality content with backlinks is what ranks. 

The SEO value of content depends on how informative, useful, credible and engaging it is. High-performing copy must also be optimised for your target keyphrases.

AI tools can find and categorise keyword opportunities and generate content that ranks – much quicker than any SEO specialist or copywriter could. But using AI to automate the process puts your content and SEO strategy at risk. 

Because anything less than reliable damages your brand and hurts your online presence.

A New Era of Search

We’re almost living in The Jetsons era. But instead of flying cars, we’re seeing robots make mind-blowing breakthroughs in medicine, healthcare and agriculture. 

The online world is no different, and there’s no denying web search is changing. 

Just recently, Microsoft and Google have jumped on board with AI-assisted search similar to the conversational bot ChatGPT. But Google is no stranger to AI search technology. Its machine-powered algorithms have been helping to process search results for years, for example, RankBrain and BERT among others. 

These algorithms use Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Natural Language Understanding (NLU) to scrape answers from websites, process search queries and determine what results appear and how.

SEO still remains relevant, no matter how sophisticated AI gets. AI search simply creates new opportunities the same way Google’s Knowledge Graph, Alexa and Siri did when they first came out. 

Penalties for AI-Generated User-Content

With AI, you have an indispensable tool for automating the time-consuming parts of copywriting like research, outline development and generating ideas. 

But everyone who uses AI tools such as ChatGPT and Jasper is using the same language model. This can generate similar content for related topics and causes copy to be flagged if it’s too similar to published materials. The secret behind this is advanced pattern recognition. 

When you use AI tools to generate content, it’s very similar to article spinner tools that shuffle words and use synonyms to spit out copy. This doesn’t provide value to your audience and steps wildly on plagiarism’s toes. 

Google says AI falls under auto-generated content which is against guidelines and can lead to a manual penalty, harming your website and business. On the other hand, the company also has a policy of rewarding high-quality content and will continue to prioritise people-first copy, whether humans or machines produce it. 

It would be unlikely for Google to completely ban the use of AI content anyway, when they use AI so heavily themselves. 

Robots or not, there’s no way to beat search algorithms outside of creating reliable, human-first content. And Google is smart at detecting (and penalising) AI-generated words. 

How to Avoid Ending up in Digital Landfill 

If you’re using 100% AI-generated copy for web pages, blog articles, product descriptions or any other form of digital content, it’ll be flagged as rubbish by Google. And your site will be dumped into the digital landfill – a place where profits crumble and customer engagement dissolves. 

The best way to avoid compromising your SEO and hurting your brand is to use AI as a foundation – not the final (or only) solution. 

There are three options to consider as a business owner who needs web copy:

1. Hire an experienced SEO copywriter who has the expertise to write for your business – whether we use our own unique creative brilliance or embrace AI transparently in one or more processes
2. Learn to work with AI automation but don’t use it to spin hundreds of articles or manipulate the algorithm – and make sure you’re upfront about where and why you’re using AI
3. Write all of the content yourself, which isn’t ideal for time-poor business owners or someone without SEO copywriting experience 

Tips to Maximise the Benefits of AI

I’ll let you in on a little secret. 

Digital marketing isn’t all conscious planning and creative brilliance. There are many tedious tasks we can speed up, automate and improve with AI if it’s used ethically and responsibly. AI tools might not be able to replace the skills and real-world experience of copywriters, but it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be used in digital marketing and the SEO industry. 

Here are a few processes that can be streamlined with AI:

Spark content ideas

While creativity can’t be forced, AI tools can be useful for stimulating ideas. It’s still important to work with a copywriter who can flesh them out with human skill and find a unique angle to further research into, plan and write. And you should never publish topics or ideas as they come. 

Research

Extensive research is an enormous part of marketing, especially SEO and copywriting. AI chatbots can help simplify the process, summarise PDFs and create content outlines, providing a solid starting point to dive deeper into.

From an SEO perspective, most conventional keyword research tools already use an AI input, helping to crawl and analyse large amounts of data in far less time. But it’s the experience of an SEO copywriter that solidifies the right information into creative web copy that converts.

Editing drafts

Every piece of content you publish must be grammatically checked. No one is perfect after all, and typos can fall through the cracks when double-checking information, even by the smartest of people. 

Grammar-checking programs such as Hemingway Editor and Grammarly are powered by AI-enabled algorithms. I’ve been using both to tweak and polish my copy for years. In this case, it could make sense to test an AI tool for streamlining the editing process. A skilled human proofreader will have to refine the final output. 

Automate helpful content

Not all use of automation and AI-generated content is spam. There are types of helpful content, such as transcripts and weather forecasts that many publishers automate with AI to save time. AI tools can also be useful for Google Ads and social media captions. Human editing and fact-checking are still required. 

With or without AI, you should never publish any content without asking yourself is it helpful or spam? Was it written with purpose or does it add to the noise?

More importantly, does it offer a solution to your audience’s problems? 

My Creative Copywriter Bias

There is a lot of concern surrounding AI technology stealing jobs. In many industries it already has, so it’s normal to have some anxieties around it. But I don’t believe robots for writing or online search is something to be anxious about. 

AI isn’t here to take over, it’s designed to help. And believing robots might replace copywriters is like thinking computers will replace writers. Can a tool replace the person who uses it? Maybe for menial tasks. But writing content that creates connections is far from menial.

As predicted, AI has evolved into imaginative and highly-intelligent machines. But that emotional human component is still integral for content marketing and those important parts of people’s searching and buying journeys only a human can relate to. 

Key Takeaway

While AI-generated content may seem efficient and affordable, it lacks these key drivers of creative thinking and personal perspective that are needed for creating content that converts. 

AI technology is always learning and will only get more sophisticated. Instead of trying to beat it, why not find ways to ethically embrace it? 

As an SEO copywriter, it’s my job to provide value through helpful content that creates connections. I’ve been doing that for many happy businesses for more than 10 years – and I’ll always strive to give more value than a bot can. 

Robots may not be able to harm you (yet), but don’t let them harm your words, your website or your brand either. 

Disclaimer: 

There are elements of AI I use in my work regularly:

• AI-powered online searches each time I perform research for articles, websites and client research
• Keyword research tools that use AI inputs, which help me find suitable keyphrases to target and content gaps to fill
• Hemingway Editor and Grammarly for minor edits that refine final blogs
• CoSchedule’s Headline Studio – a tool that uses AI to analyse headlines against key parameters and provide a headline and SEO score

The post Should You Use AI for Creating Brilliant, More Efficient Content? appeared first on the little typewriter.

Although this topic was planned months ago, the recent pandemic has made the issue much more significant. 

As someone who’s worked from home for the last year and a half, I’ve had my ups and downs with productivity. Learning to tame time takes getting used to. You must create your own flexible structure to make it work, and there’s a fine balance between flexibility and order. 

Once you learn to tame time and balance expectations, working from home is more productive than co-working environments. Unfortunately, it took this world infection for many companies to understand the importance of allowing remote work options to staff. I guess there’s a silver lining in everything. 

Whilst most employees seem to be on board, others forced into remote work may find it hard adjusting. 

Here’s how to tame time, tackle the at-home blues and stimulate productivity amidst COVID-19 and beyond. 

1. Create a Private Writing or Working Room

In Stephen King’s On Writing, he talks about creative sleep; a term used to describe how your writing (or working) room should be. 

The same way as you go to your room to sleep, your writing place should be a private space where you go and “dream”, or create. We do our best creating when we dream. 

“Your schedule – in at about the same time every day, out when your thousand words are on paper or disk – exists in order to habituate yourself, to make yourself ready to dream.”

Stephen King

Of course, Stephen King is talking about writing when he pens this in his book. But regardless whether you’re a writer or not, having a cosy workspace you feel comfortable in is the starting point of a productive day. You want a space you want to be in or motivation to work is impossible.

King also recommends your writing room to have a door. A good tip for any remote workspace. This tells people you mean business. The door serves to keep the world out, but also keeps you focused without distractions. 

Make sure the workspace you create is clean. A clutter-free bedroom promotes better sleep the same way a clean office motivates productive workflow. 

2. Learn to Cook Plant-Based Recipes

It’s ironic how many virus outbreaks fatal to the human race are from people handling animals to consume their meat. The coronavirus is only a small part of the bigger story, as animals’ viruses continue to cause global epidemics.

Although it’s not realistic for the world to go vegetarian, adding more plant-based recipes to your diet won’t hurt. In fact, the benefits for your immune system, health and productivity are huge. 

The human brain is intricately wired and responds to different foods in various healthy and unhealthy ways. For it to perform at optimum peak, it needs the right nutrients.

Swapping meat meals with plant-based alternatives decreases the levels of stress hormones, eliminates toxic waste to your brain and restores balance to neurotransmitters.

Try meat-free Mondays or switch take out Fridays with a healthier plant-based option like Beyond Meat patties. Melt coconut-based Bio cheese on top or add tomato and lettuce for a tasty homemade burger.

Fun Fact: Companies like Google, Facebook, Dropbox and Volkswagen have all incorporated plant-based eating initiatives for employees. By offering vegan-friendly meals, they provide long-term benefits to staff that improve their overall health and productivity.

Getting creative in the kitchen is also the perfect break from work, especially if you’re glued to the screen for hours straight.

I’ve always enjoyed cooking but working overtime in an office for 6-years made me lazy. (I also have a husband who’s a great cook!) Yet since working from home, there’s more time to create in the kitchen. Nothing beats working with delicious smells in the background, and nourishing home-cooked meals are the fuel for productivity. 

If you cultivate great cooking skills, take up a hobby, exercise from home, tackle a cleaning project or support small local businesses online instead. 

3. Embrace Oxygen-Boosting Indoor Plants 

An indoor garden can be your refuge from the outside world. Aside from aesthetics, adding greenery also serves a practical purpose. 

Plants produce an increase in mood and productivity and create a living space soothing to work and live in. Studies have proven indoor plants enhance concentration and productivity by 47%.

Choose plants with broad leaves, as they have higher oxygen and moisture levels. They strengthen your creative performance, facilitate healing and act as a natural air-con unit cooling inside temperatures and removing toxins from the air. 

The best species to grow inside for productivity are:

• Devil’s Ivy
• Snake plants (Mother in Law Tongue)
• Aloe Vera
• Spider plants
• Rubber plants
• Succulents and cacti
• Pothos plants
• Willow-leaf figs

Tip: Why not start a plant project? More time at home means time to try different hobbies. After being inspired by Hilton Carter, my husband and I began propagating. It’s a cost-effective way to grow your own plants and collect different cuttings to use as a feature wall. Once their roots come through, they’re moved into pots to add inside or out. 

4. Chill, Connect and Create 

To work efficiently, there must be a balance between the three c’s. 

Chill

Now more than ever it’s essential to switch off. Make time to disconnect; a 20-minute break does wonders for productivity. Have a break from your phone and news by turning off notifications or limiting usage.

Listen to music, go for a walk, soak up the sunshine, prep food for the week, play a podcast, be resourceful and start a veggie garden. Just try to avoid scrolling through social media. The idea is to break away from screen and work time to engage in something that relaxes you.

Reading is also a good tool to calm the chaos. Use books as a way to travel in your mind when travelling isn’t an option. Consuming books reduces stress, stimulates the brain and refines thinking skills and concentration. 

To help switch off, fellow copywriter Amanda Jane, who has worked from home for more than 2 years, suggests creating dedicated email hours and avoid inboxing outside of them.

“Research has found that when employees are interrupted by any kind of contact, their IQs drop 10 points (which is twice the impact of smoking marijuana, so you may as well light a joint instead!)”

Amanda Jane

Amanda also recommends sipping on a hot drink.

“Train your mind to associate hot-beverage time with productive mode. I’ve apparently done such a good job of this I can’t work without tea.” 

Great excuse to curl up with a good novel and a hot drink to stimulate productivity. Check out these gourmet treats and care packages to encourage time to chill and connect with loved ones.

Connect

Social distancing, restrictions on gatherings and businesses forced to close their doors make it harder to stay connected in the flesh. But the need for an online presence and digital connection is peaking.

Humans are sociable creatures. People and businesses rely on human connection to build trust and relate. Despite isolation now a reality, there are ways to encourage healthy connections both on and offline. 

If you have a business, build your online presence to keep connected with customers. A few ways to do this are:

1. Build the blog or news section of your website
2. Hold an online course or workshop
3. Refresh your web copy
4. Make more time to call people, rather than only email
5. Meet with clients face-to-face online
6. Write relevant, relatable social media posts – remember, this is impacting everyone 
7. Join online communities  

Find out how a Perth copywriter supports you in this process or learn about website copywriting rates in Australia. 

Create

Stephen King believes reading is the creative centre of a writer’s life. But for any of us to create or work well at home, it’s vital to nurture chill (disconnect) time and make time to connect. Without enough of one, you’ll struggle to maintain the other two. 

5. Have a Goal

Before you step into your working space, plan your day with a goal in mind. This is crucial for momentum, otherwise you could spend the first few hours trying to organise your day.

Use the night before to map out the next workday’s tasks. If you’re not someone who regularly works from home, distractions may be more common. Track time through tools like Toggl and if you get stuck, touch base with a friend throughout the day to hold yourself accountable for certain tasks. 

6. Separate Work from other Activities

When you work from home it’s easy to work around the clock. But remote work doesn’t mean working all the time. Eventually, this leads to burnout if you don’t set boundaries and learn to adjust them.

Avoid picking up your phone or laptop, checking emails and editing work when you’re winding down – put work aside until those dedicated hours. 

Google recommends leaving your computer in your workspace and only work when you’re in that spot. Pick a time you’re done for the day and stick to it. Use tools like Google Calendar to block time out and let others know when you’ve clocked off. 

If you really have to attend to work tasks for a moment, wait until you finish your activity and set a 15-minute limit. 

There are many benefits to remote work. Working in your own space can result in a healthier, more productive lifestyle, foster creativity, lower stress and save you money. Take a look at these remote work statistics from HubSpot to see why. 

In these uncertain times, we’re all being pulled in a million different directions. Don’t let the chaos decide where to put your energy. Play around with your schedule and stamina for balance and to find your ‘biological prime time’ to work.

Read Mark Manson’s book if you’re after inspiration. This is the time to prioritise who and what’s important, rest and focus on the bigger picture. 

Stay safe,

Jayde – the little typewriter.

If you need help building your online presence, contact me to talk today.

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