Here are some resources that I think might help those of us who want to spend this weird time of a global pandemic preparing for the future. Whether you want to increase your resilience, learn a new skill, strengthen your business or take stock, I’ll be adding to this bunch of resources regularly. Please also check out these complementary resources over on Katya Willems’ site, and let me know if you have any others to suggest.

Sort your strategy

If you usually “wing it” with your marketing because you don’t have a chunk of time to really think about what it all entails, well … now you have the time, don’t you? When I work with clients on their marketing strategy, the first thing we discuss in depth is their purpose. Your “why” is far more important than “what” you sell and “how” you deliver value. Here is a useful blog post including a video that can help you start to articulate your why.

Marketing audit

Check how well you’re doing in search by using Paul Jardine’s website MOT guide. It’s free when you sign up to his (excellent) newsletter.

Social media

Now is not the time to stop communicating with your audience. Through social media, you can continue to connect with people, allow them to get to know you and your business, and be there when they are ready to spend money. So get those channels in perfect condition. Here are 10 things you can do to spring clean your social media.

Learn a new skill

Why not learn that skill you always wanted to learn, or get better at something you can do, but want to improve?

I use Canva all the time. It is so easy to use once you’ve got the hang of it, and free! So if you want to make amazing graphics to use on your website, social media and other marketing, I highly recommend you taking the time to learn it. Here are some Canva tutorials to get you started.

Skillshare is currently offer 2 months of free Premium membership. You can use this to learn everything from how to run a creative business, to journalling, styling your house and even brewing the perfect cup of coffee. All essential skills in these trying times.

Creativelive was suggested to me by my friend Stacey Siebritz, and their website is very enticing: Answer Your Creative Calling. Tempting, especially as there are often promotional offers on courses, so worth keeping an eye out for those.

Udemy has 100,000 courses online and has a special offer until March 19th where some courses start from just £11.99.

Openlearn has loads of free courses, including some marketing strategy courses (I’ve not checked the content so can’t vouch for the quality).

Calm your mind

Yoga. My friend Helen Roscoe-Rutter will soon be offering online yoga classes. I also really like Daria’s kundalini yoga and Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube, and my kids love Cosmic Kids yoga (they start each day of homeschooling with a practice with her).

Headspace. Some COVID-19-specific resources from this great app.

Care cards. I have these saved on my phone homescreen and they really offer a moment of calm and good vibes when I need them.

This Living with Ease mindfulness resource was suggested to me by my good friend Jenni Rose, a wellbeing expert.

10-minute relaxation by my friend Sara Starling, the award-winning voiceover artist. I tried this and fell asleep twice, that’s how soothing Sara’s voice and words are!

Podcasts

Here are a few of my favourites (I’ll keep adding to this!).

Creative Boom S1 E5: Jane Bowyer on being a woman in design and the joy of side projects

I’m really enjoying this new podcast series by Katy Cowan where she interviews some brilliant people. I wasn’t aware of Jane before listening, and now I’m a bona fide fangirl! She is very inspiring, a feminist, and a good egg.

Going Rogue: all the episodes

Katya’s interviewed some super interesting people for the two series she’s recorded so far. In the second series there’s an episode where I interview her about her career so far, and another episode where she interviews me. I wanted to list my favourite episodes here but it’s impossible. Just listen to them all!

All Killa No Filla

What, you’ve never heard of a podcast genre that combines brilliant comedy with real-life crime? Specifically murder? Trust me on this.

Dolly Parton’s America: The Only One For Me, Jolene

I adore Dolly Parton, I really do. I loved listening to this backstory and analysis of one of my favourite Dolly songs, Jolene.

My Dad Wrote a Porno

This is not everyone’s cup of tea but it had me howling (I vividly remember listening to some of the earlier episodes while out riding my bike and actually laughing out loud in shock and cringe - I’d never heard anything like it before!).

Any more to add? Just let me know.