1. Not for profit work and presentations

I’ve always been keen to use the skills that I have to help not-for-profit organisations in the best way that I can, whether that means collecting on the street for Women’s Refuge, or providing web advice. When So Content becomes more financially sound, I want to spend at least 10% of my time on charitable projects. For now, while I’m trying to generate paying business, I don’t have a whole lot of time to seek out pro-bono work, but I’m always happy when people approach me. In that vein, I was honoured when David Barrow from Comms2Comms asked me to come and present to the group:

” All of us have awareness of Web 2.0 tools and some are implementing them already. Others want to but need to know a bit more about how to actually go about it – they need help as opposed to going there and having a go themselves. It’s more like we’re ready for Social Media 102 now, us all having passed Social Media 101. Many have launched blogs as a feature of new websites. I know you had a lot to share”

So here’s the presentation I prepared for them. It’s short on words because I talk a lot on top of the slides.

2. Some client updates

• I’ve recently worked with Meg from Tea Pea who makes and sells beautiful children’s bedsheets and acessories. We discussed some ways that she could build up community around her site and some ideas for blog posts, so it’s really awesome to see her coming up with a loose blogging plan. It was also really great for me working with her because I got to see how her particular e-commerce platform worked, which is always interesting.
• Tash from Knitsch has launched a yarn club, and the Outdoor Knit project It’s A Tree she’s running with SuperVery Sue from Craft 2.0 (another client of mine) is looking fantastic. Speaking of Craft 2.0, the next one is on June 12 at the NewDowse in Lower Hutt, and I’m sure to be there helping out with something-or-rather.
• I got to go along to the first cheese-making workshop run at Cultured Petone, and learnt how to make halloumi and ricotta. It was a really fun evening full of delicious cheese, so if you’ve ever thought about making your own cheese, you should enroll in one of their classes, which are run every month.
• Earlybird registrations for GOVIS closed today, but if you’re a public servant working in ICT and you’re not already registered, you really should get your act together. Of course, if you can’t go, you can always watch my presentation from last year instead!

3. Finally, a me update:

I’ve  just accepted a full-time three-month contract at Customs which will be starting soon, so accordingly, I won’t have a lot of time to accept new clients, but if you’re thinking I could help you with your business, get in touch anyway and we can probably work something out. Hurray!

Ever since I first started learning how to make web pages back as part of my degree at AUT, I realised that it doesn’t matter how pretty your design is if you have nothing to say, so content really is king. I wanted to reinforce that message with my business brand. In a brainstorming session with my good friend Martha at her lovely shop, she told me that she loves the name of my party-host site You Are So Entertaining. I thought I could bring the two together, and low and behold, So Content was born. Also, because I am a huge grammar nerd, I like how punctuating and pronouncing it differently will illustrate the process that you and I might have working together. I’ll say to you “So, content?” and when we’re finished working together, you’ll be all “So content!” Ahh, fun with bold and italics tags, that’s how I roll. So stick around, and let’s see what comes out of this. Hurray!