Unravel the Magic of SEO

Unravel the Magic of SEO: Why You Need It and Where It's Used

Hello, curious minds! We're about to embark on a thrilling adventure through the digital jungle known as Search Engine Optimization, or SEO (as the cool kids call it). Buckle up buttercups!

Let's Break It Down: It's Not Rocket Science!

Let's Break Down SEO: It's Not Rocket Science!

Think of SEO as the coolest party you've ever been to, and your website is the next big hit song. Now, DJ Google is spinning the tracks, and you want your song to be the one that gets everyone to the dance floor. SEO, in essence, is your song's VIP pass to the top of DJ Google's playlist.

In the world of web, Search Engine Optimization is the practice of boosting the quality and quantity of traffic to your website through organic search engine results. Its about understanding what people are searching for online. The answers they seek, the words they're using, and the type of content they wish to consume.

Why You Absolutely, Positively Need It

If you want your website to be seen and heard in the vast digital universe, SEO is your North Star. Here are a couple of reasons why you need it:

1. Visibility and Rankings: When people search for products or services that you offer, you want to appear as high in the search engine rankings as possible. Because people rarely scroll past the first page of search results.

2. Website Traffic: More visibility means more traffic. SEO is about attracting high-quality traffic - people who are genuinely interested in what you offer.

3. Credibility and Trust: Websites that appear higher in the rankings are viewed as more reputable. It helps build trust and credibility with your audience.

4. Improving User Experience: SEO is also about providing a friendly user experience. Search engines want to see user-friendly websites with relevant, high-quality content.

5. It's Cost-Effective: Unlike paid advertising, the traffic from Search Engine Optimization is completely free. It's an investment in your website’s future.

The Many Faces of SEO: Where It's Used

Now that you understand the "why" of SEO, let's delve into the "where". SEO isn't just for your website's content. It's a multifaceted beast that affects many aspects of your online presence:

1. Website Structure: Well-structured, easy-to-navigate website.

2. Content: The heart of Search Engine Optimization lies in content that is high-quality, relevant, and regularly updated.

3. On-Page SEO: This includes things like page titles, meta descriptions, and headers. It's all about making your website easily understandable for search engines and users.

4. Off-Page SEO: Think backlinks and social media signals, demonstrating to search engines that your website is a trusted authority.

5. Local SEO: If you're a local business, Search Engine Optimization is crucial in attracting local customers. This includes optimizing your website for local search terms and managing your online reputation.

6. Mobile SEO: With more people using mobile devices to search online, mobile Search Engine Optimization ensures your site is mobile-friendly.

Your Ticket to the Digital Dance Floor

Let's face it, the digital world is crowded and noisy. If you want your website to stand out and make some noise of its own, SEO is your best friend. It's all about making sure your website is seen and heard by the right people, at the right time.

Let's get ready to hit the digital dance floor. Start with SEO, and watch as your website becomes the life of the online party. It's not just about being seen; it's about being remembered. And trust us, with a solid Search Engine Optimization strategy, they won't forget you.

Its not a one-hit-wonder. It's a long-term strategy that requires time, dedication, and a bit of creativity. But hey, we're here to guide you through it, one beat at a time. So let's crank up the volume and get this party started!

What is Brand Identity?

Understanding Brand Identity: Why It's Essential for Your Business

Your brand identity is the face of your business. It's the personality that connects your product or service with your audience. Whether you're a small business or an established brand, having a strong brand identity is essential when it comes to standing out from the competition and establishing a loyal customer base. We'll explore the concept of brand identity and how it can help take your business to the next level.

What is it?

The visual representation and overall image that your business presents to the world. This includes everything from your logo and brand name to your products or services, messaging, and overall market position. A strong brand identity creates an emotional connection with your audience, making them feel more connected and loyal to your brand. Essentially, it's the glue that holds everything together and makes your business identifiable and memorable.

What are the benefits?

First and foremost, it creates trust and credibility with your customers, making them more likely to choose your business over competitors. A strong brand identity also sets you apart from the competition and makes your business easily recognizable. It can even attract new customers who resonate with your unique brand personality. Overall, a strong brand identity establishes a clear image for your business, making it easier to market and grow.

How to build one

It starts with identifying your target audience and market position. Who are you trying to reach and what unique value do you bring to the marketplace? Once you have a clear understanding of your audience and goals, you can start to develop your brand personality and messaging. This includes your brand name, logo, colors, typography, and overall aesthetic. The goal is to create a cohesive image that resonates with your target audience and makes your business easily identifiable.

Maintaining Your Brand Identity

Its an ongoing process. It's important to maintain consistency across all aspects of your business, from your website and marketing materials to your social media presence and customer service. Inconsistencies in your messaging or branding can confuse your audience and weaken your overall impact. Make sure to define brand standards, guidelines, and a strategy to ensure that your message and image remains consistent and effective over time.

It plays a crucial role in the overall success of your business. It's the personality that sets you apart from the competition and connects with your audience on a deeper level. By understanding the power of brand identity and how to build and maintain it, you can create a strong, reliable brand that will attract and keep loyal customers for years to come. So, what are you waiting for? Start developing your brand identity today and take your business to new heights!

5 Ways Social Media Boosts Your Branding

Blog Title: 5 Ways Social Media Boosts Your Branding

As an Aussie business owner or tradie, you know how important branding is for your business. Your branding represents your unique identity and serves to differentiate you from the competition. Branding also helps build trust and credibility with your customers. But did you know that social media can be a powerful tool to boost your branding? We’ll explore 5 ways social media can help increase brand recognition and grow your business.

Increase Visibility and Reach

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn are some of the largest audience platforms globally. As they are so widely used, there is a high chance that your target audience is using them too. By creating and sharing content that resonates with your target audience, you have a chance to reach more people beyond your usual customer base. As your content spreads and grows, it will lead to increased visibility and exposure, generating more significant opportunities for your brand.

Develop Trust and Credibility

Social media can be used as a tool to show the human side of your brand. By creating content such as behind-the-scenes glimpses of your work process, showcase positive customer reviews, or share other informative and engaging content with your audience, you can establish a relationship built on trust and credibility. This connection will help increase brand loyalty and trust which will improve the effectiveness of your branding.

Create a Strong Visual Identity

Using photos, graphics and video is a powerful way to tell your brand’s story. By creating visually engaging content that reflects your brand’s personality, it can leave a lasting impression on your target audience. Social media channels provide a perfect opportunity for you to showcase your brand’s visual identity. Use your social media channels as the voice of your brand online, and allow your visual identity to do the talking.

Generate Leads and Sales

Social media offers the advantage of being able to reach a highly targeted audience at a cost-effective price; the real value is the return on investment through lead generation and increased sales. By producing educational and informative content, you can establish yourself as a knowledgeable and trusted individual or business, and ultimately, gain leads and increase sales.

Stay Ahead of Competitors

Lastly, social media provides an excellent opportunity to study your competitor’s online presence. By observing and analysing them, you can gain an insight into their marketing strategy, their branding and what tactics have been successful, allowing you to develop your own social media marketing strategy, tailor-made for your brand.

Social media provides an unmatched opportunity for small business owners and tradies to establish and improve their branding. It can help you increase visibility and reach, develop trust and credibility, improve visual identity and generate leads and sales. It can also provide insight into competitor’s strategies, allowing Australian business owners and tradies to outperform their competitors online. Remember that social media is a long-term game. By consistently delivering high-quality, engaging content, you can create a unique and recognisable brand, helping you to grow your business and stand-out in your industry.

How Good Web Design Can Boost Conversions & Sales

In the age of digital marketing, having a business website is crucial. But just having a website isn't enough. It's essential to have a website that's been designed with user experience in mind. In short, good web design can boost conversions and sales. But how exactly does it do that? We'll explore how good web design can help you achieve your business goals by increasing conversions and sales.

Good web design improves user experience

Good web design is crucial for providing a positive user experience. Users are more likely to stay on your website if it's easy to use and provides information in an easily digestible way. Good design includes factors such as a clear layout, easy navigation, and fast-loading pages that keep users engaged with your website. By keeping users on your website longer, you increase the chance they will convert into customers.

Good web design builds trust and credibility

People are more likely to do business with a company if they trust it. A well-designed website that's visually appealing helps build trust and credibility with potential customers. A website with a professional design and great content shows that you care about your business and your customers. It tells potential clients that you have high standards and that you take your business seriously.

Good web design can help with search engine optimization

Web design isn't just about aesthetics. Properly implemented, good web design can boost your search engine rankings. Search engines like Google give preference to websites that are well-designed and easy to navigate. Search engines also look for content that's relevant, and a well-designed website will make it easier for search engines to crawl your site, improving your search ranking.

Good web design optimizes for mobile devices

With more and more people accessing the internet on their mobiles, it's essential to ensure your website is optimized for mobile devices. Good web design includes responsive design, which means your website will automatically adjust to the screen size of the user's device. A website that looks great on a desktop but is difficult to use on a mobile device won't convert mobile users into customers. Having a website that's easy to use on a mobile device will increase conversions and sales.

Good web design drives sales and conversions

Ultimately, good web design is about driving sales and conversions. With a well-designed website, customers are more likely to stay on your site longer, trust your business, and share your content. Good web design creates a positive user experience, which helps to drive sales and conversions. Websites with a clear call to actions that are easy to find and use will turn potential customers into actual customers, increasing sales and driving revenue growth.

Good web design is about more than making a website look good. It's about creating a user experience that drives conversions and sales. A well-designed website builds trust and credibility with potential customers, helps with search engine optimization, optimizes for mobile devices, and ultimately drives sales and revenue growth. As a business owner, investing in good web design is one of the best ways to boost your online presence and take your business to the next level.

Custom Website Design vs Templates - Which Is Better?

As a small business owner or a tradie looking to create a website, choosing between a custom website design and a template can be a daunting decision. While some may argue that templates are more cost-effective and get you up and running quickly, others insist that custom websites are superior in every way. We’ll help you make a well-informed decision by breaking down the advantages and disadvantages of both. So, let’s dive in!

Custom Website Design

When you commission a custom website design, you’ll be working with a team of professionals to create a website tailored to your brand and business needs. Customisation is the biggest advantage of a custom website design. You’ll have complete control over the look and feel of your website, as well as its functionalities. When you’re working with experienced website developers, you’ll get a website that will be unique, one-of-a-kind and, most importantly, it will be made to convert visitors into customers.

But custom design can be expensive

The downside of custom website design is the fact that it can be expensive. If you’re working with a tight budget, custom design may be out of reach for your business. A custom website design can also take longer to create, depending on the number of design revisions needed. If you’re under time constraints, a template web design may be a more preferable option.

Template Websites

Template websites, or cookie cutter site as they're known in my world...as the name suggests, are pre-designed websites that can be customised with your content and branding. It’s an affordable and quick solution if you need a website built quickly. These templates come with predefined layouts, visuals, features that are easy to edit and update to provide a website that looks professional and unique. You’ll be able to choose from an array of templates, which provides you with a lot of options and saves you from the process back and forth designing and verifying the design process of custom websites.

But template websites can be generic

One of the disadvantages of template web design is that you will be sharing the same design with many other businesses or competitors as well. A template can limit your ability to convey your brand personality in a way that sets you apart. A template can also limit customisation, and that may not make it possible to achieve the whole essence of unique visual experience.

Choosing between custom website design and template website design is a crucial decision that will impact your business significantly. Many businesses choose templates because of their affordability, while others opt for custom websites because they offer a tailored and unique website. But custom web designs can stretch budgets and take longer to create.

In conclusion, it all depends on your individual business needs and budget. If you’re looking to build a website that is unique, conversion-focused and personalised to your brand, then custom website design is the way to go to establish your business's online presence in the market. But, if your budget is very tight or you need a website built quickly, template websites are a good solution, but you may need to compromise on the level of customisation and uniqueness. In the end, make sure to work with experienced web developers who can guide you through the process step by step, keeping in mind your business goals and budget constraints.

Your Business Needs a Website, Not Just Social Media

G'Day, fellow Aussies! As a business owner or tradie, you might think social media is all you need for online visibility. It’s easy to create pages on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, and start posting your promotions and services. However, have you ever asked yourself if your social media efforts are enough to reach your target market and boost your business growth? We’ll share with you why your Aussie business needs a website, not just social media.

A website gives you more control

When you have your own website, you have the freedom to design it according to your brand and vision. You’re not limited to the templates and features provided by social media platforms. A website allows you to customize your pages, add functionalities, and create an immersive user experience that will set you apart from your competitors. Additionally, having a website means you’re not relying on a third-party to host your content. You’re the owner and have full control over your online presence.

Your Business Needs a Website, Not Just Social Media

A website showcases your credibility

Having a website gives your business instant credibility. It’s like having a digital business card that shows your professionalism, services, and accomplishments. On your website, you can showcase your portfolio, list testimonials from satisfied customers, and display your awards and certifications. This can help build trust with your potential customers and increase your chances of converting them into loyal clients. In contrast, social media platforms are more casual and often used for personal connections and leisure, which may not resonate well with certain business niches.

A website expands your reach

While social media can help you reach a broad audience, a website can give you more opportunities to target your niche market. With the help of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) techniques, you can increase your website’s visibility on search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. This means when people search for keywords related to your business, your website will show up on the top results. Moreover, having a website allows you to use various digital marketing strategies like email marketing, PPC, and affiliate marketing, that can help you drive more traffic and revenue to your business.

A website provides valuable insights

One of the benefits of having a website is the ability to track and analyze visitor data. By using tools like Google Analytics, you can monitor your website’s traffic, user behaviour, and engagement metrics. This data can help you identify the strengths and weaknesses of your website, and optimize it to meet your business goals. You can also use this information to personalize your website’s content and offers based on the preferences and interests of your visitors. This level of analysis and personalization is not possible with social media platforms, as their analytics are more limited.

A website future-proofs your business

Finally, having a website is a smart investment for your business’s future. As technology continues to evolve, having an online presence will become a necessity rather than a luxury. By starting your website now, you’re setting a strong foundation for your business that can adapt to changing market trends and consumer behavior. Some social media platforms may become outdated or lose their popularity over time. Your website, on the other hand, can grow and evolve with your business and be a reliable source of leads and sales for years to come.

There you have it, mates! Five reasons why your Aussie business needs a website, not just social media. While social media can be a useful tool to complement your online presence, having a website gives you more control, showcases your credibility, expands your reach, provides valuable insights, and future-proofs your business. Make sure to create a website that reflects your brand personality, is user-friendly, and is optimized for search engines. By doing so, you'll be on your way to building a strong digital presence that will help you grow your business and connect with your customers. Thanks for reading, and may your website soar like an eagle!

5 Free Web Builders to Help Tight-Arse Business Owners

We're here to introduce you to 5 Free Web Builders for tight-arses. Wondering WTF tight-arse has to do with a business that's not the fitness industry? Let us help you out. Tight-arse is Australian slang for a person who spends as little money as possible. Let's use it in a sentence for you: "There's no way the boss would pay for a website, he's a total tight-arse". Do you see what we mean now?

One of the most common knockbacks we get from our website quotes is because the boss or business owner is a tight-arse. They probably read somewhere it's not the fu*king hard to build a website and passes the job to their unsuspecting partner, admin person, or apprentice...[insert any position other than their own here] See the thing is, your boss's mate that built their own site and said it wasn't the fu*king hard, is also a tight-arse. They tend to stick together.

Are free web builders really free

If you read our previous blog (Are free websites really free), you know we really do not recommend free web builders for established Aussie businesses. But we are aware of the increasing number of tight arses in the business space and thought we would help them out. Or for those working for the tight-arse. A quick note to let you know we are not associated with any of these builders, except Google. We are a Google partner. That doesn't really mean a lot though.

Google Business Profile

Coming in at number 1 is Google Business Profile. Its not actually a web builder...but it is with the biggest search engine so it kinda makes sense you should have a profile with them. It is actually entirely free. It will help people find your business and you can upload images, logos and all the things. It's not the slickest of builders but as far as getting found online this is the bare-bone minimum you should be doing.

WordPress

Not for a beginner. You need to do some serious YouTubing to get your WordPress, site to work. It is the powerhouse blogging engine that commandeered a staggering one-third of the Internet. Yes, you read that right. It's a force to be reckoned with. Now, here's the deal. You can go old school and install WordPress on your own servers, or you can save yourself the hassle and simply hop on over to WordPress.com (not WordPress.org) to get your blog, online magazine, or small business site up and running in a mere five minutes.

Mailchimp

Mailchimp is more than just an EDM platform. You can build websites too! Its not hard either. Most is drag and drop now. With Mailchimp's free website and landing page tools, you can effortlessly create stunning sites that will impress your audience and bring your brand to life. And that's not all. Their built-in marketing and automation features will take your marketing strategy to the next level. Obviously, some of it's free and some of the extra features are not.

Wix

What can we say. It's the most loved and hated of all the free builders. Wix has actually come a long way. It has improved so many of its lacking features. So don't feel bad using it. What WIX is notorious for is being super basic and any add-ons or decent features will cost you more. So keep this in mind. Again a basic drag and drop builder. Nice responsive templates. Easy to edit.

SITE123

A newish kid on the block. Site123 is more of an app. Their mission is to get you online in a flash, with a fully functional website in just minutes. It's as simple as that. Got your content ready? Great! They'll guide you step by step to create a stunning site. They have a heap of free images, videos, and icons to add that professional touch. No need to stress about design, this is the builder for anyone who wants a quick, easy, and stylish website for their business, portfolio, wedding, blog, or CV.

With the five free web builders above, building an awesome website for any tight-arse business owner has never been easier. Not only are they user-friendly and fun to use, but they will help you create a professionally designed website that looks sleek enough to satisfy even the most penny-pinching boss. So don't settle for a website that your budget doesn't give you - take matters into your own hands and try out one of these five powerful web builders!

Is your boss a tight-arse?

Do you need help convincing them you don't wanna build their stupid site? No problem. Get in touch and we'll help you out.

Are free websites really free?

As a small business owner in Australia, you know the importance of having a website to represent your brand online. However, building a website from scratch can be a real challenge. This is where free website builders come in. They seem like the perfect solution, but are they really free? Are they worth the investment? We'll debunk the myth about free websites and bring you the truth about what they really cost, both financially and in terms of your brand's image.

But before we bash all the free web builders let us stress, if you are a:

Micro business
Startup
Non Profit
Local sporting club
Microblogger
Hobby business

Then free web builders are fine! This is more for the established Aussie business.

But is anything really free?

Depends on what you consider free...If you mean will it cost you money? Then yes you can build a site for free. What it will cost you is time, so much time and possibly your mental health. Also data, your personal data. Yep in the digital world if something is 'free', then you are the product. Sounds weird but let me break it down for you. If you sign up to a 'free' anything, then chances are all you had to give them was your email or phone or something. That means they will gather your data. Mainly for marketing but there are some dodgy mofos out there too.

Free website costs

Yes, free website builders may be "free" in the sense that you don't have to pay any money upfront, but that doesn't mean they come without hidden costs. Do you want a custom domain name, more storage space, or a professional email address? Prepare to pay a premium fee. Need to add more pages or expand your website's capabilities? Expect to pay up for every additional feature. And by the time you're done paying for everything, you might as well have hired a professional web developer to build your website from scratch.

Boring AF websites

Speaking of professional web developers, they create unique, custom designs for their clients. When you use a free website builder, you're limited to the templates they provide. While they may look sleek and modern on their homepage, these templates are often overused or unprofessional. The result might be a website that looks like a dozen other sites out there. Your website is an extension of your brand, and you want it to stand out for the right reasons.

Limited Functionality

Free website builders can only take you so far. You won't have access to fully customised features or third-party integrations like you would with a professionally developed website. This could be a problem if you need to use your website as a tool for generating leads, storing customer data, or managing e-commerce transactions. There's only so much you can do with a free website builder, and the last thing you want is to outgrow its capabilities within a few months of launching.

Search Engine Optimisation Impacts

Finally, free website builders often have severe limitations when it comes to Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). How do they make money if they don't charge you anything upfront? By serving up intrusive ads on your website, of course. These ads can negatively impact your website's load time and search engine rankings. And even if you manage to get some traffic to your site, you may not be able to track and measure it as effectively as you would with a professionally developed website.

Free website builders may seem like a cost-effective solution to building your online presence, but they're riddled with hidden costs, limitations, and sub-par features. They might be okay for personal blogs or non-profit organisations, but for Australian small businesses that want to stand out and achieve their goals on the web, they're not the way to go. Don't be fooled by the promise of something for free. Your website is too important to take chances with. Instead, invest in professional web development, and watch your brand soar online. Get in touch if you want to know how we can get you sorted.

Types of Website For Your Australian Business

In today's highly digital world, having a website is a must for any business. But what type of website does your business need? Understanding the different types of websites available and what each can offer can help you make an informed decision. We'll explore different types of websites, their features, benefits, and drawbacks, to provide Australian business owners, farmers, and tradies with the knowledge they need to choose the right type of website for their business.

Brochure websites

Brochure websites are simple, informative websites that provide basic information about your business, services, and products. They are usually static and have no interactive features. Brochure websites are suitable for small businesses with limited content and no need for regular updates. They are easy to build, quick to launch, and affordable. This is the bare minimum of sites. You can definitely build on them and they are a great starting point for those with tight budgets or start-ups.

Lead Generating websites

A Lead Generating website is more than a brochure site. It's designed to help businesses generate more leads. It typically works by collecting detailed information from users and then showing them ads or other offers that may be relevant to them. This type of website can be used for a variety of purposes, such as increasing sales, building an email list, or even targeting potential customers with a customized message. Lead Generating websites can also provide valuable insights into customer behaviour and preferences, allowing companies to create targeted marketing campaigns and improve their customer service. Additionally, they can provide analytics data to help further optimize marketing efforts for maximum return on investment.

E-commerce websites

E-commerce websites are online stores that allow businesses to sell products and services directly to customers. They feature a shopping cart, checkout, and payment gateway, among other features. E-commerce websites are ideal for businesses that sell products online and need a platform to manage their sales and inventory. E-commerce websites require more investment and maintenance than brochure websites, but they also offer more opportunities for revenue and growth. We use Shopify for our client's e-commerce sites.

Blog websites

Blogs are websites that publish regular articles and posts on various topics related to your business, industry, or niche. They can help businesses establish their credibility and authority, attract traffic and engagement, and build relationships with customers. Blog websites are suitable for businesses that want to provide value-added content to their customers and establish themselves as thought leaders in their industry. Blog websites require regular updates, quality content, and an engaged audience to be effective.

Social media websites

Social media websites, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, are online platforms where businesses can create profiles, share content, and engage with customers. They are ideal for businesses that want to reach a wide audience, build their brand, and foster customer relationships. Social media websites are free to use, easy to set up, and offer various tools and features, such as advertising and analytics. However, social media websites are also crowded, noisy, and constantly changing, which can make it hard to stand out and stay relevant.

Custom websites

Custom websites are tailor-made websites that are designed and developed according to your specific requirements. They can offer unique features, functionality, and branding, and can be fully customized to your business needs and goals. Custom websites are ideal for businesses that have specific needs or want to differentiate themselves from their competitors. However, custom websites are also more expensive, time-consuming, and require a team of professionals to build and maintain.

Choosing the right type of website for your Australian business depends on several factors, such as your business size, goals, budget, and audience. While each type of website has its pros and cons, it's important to consider your business needs and objectives before making a decision. A website is an investment in your business, and choosing the right type of website can help attract customers, generate revenue, and build your brand.

Tips for Running a Business from Home with Kids Around

This depends on a million things, which we can't cover but we will do our best to give you a general idea. We have also written this assuming it's just you. Either you don't have a partner or they work during the day or are entirely useless at anything involving domestic chores and child-rearing. If you have access to childcare, vacation care, or a family member or neighbour to help, 100% do that first. Because the harsh reality is you will burn yourself out trying to do it all!

Being a business owner while caring for kids at home is fucking hard. Your minions demand attention and time when you have important tasks that require your immediate attention. You go from design queen to snack bitch. Many parents who work from home often feel overwhelmed and frustrated because they struggle to balance work commitments, chores, and childcare responsibilities. I mean who doesn't? The good news is, it's entirely possible to run your business from home. Just not like it looks in the movies. Here are some tried and tested tips to help you run your business successfully with kids around.

Set realistic expectations

If there was only one rule, this is it! It's not possible to devote your entire time to work even during office hours. As a parent, you must juggle multiple roles- a caregiver, teacher, and entrepreneur. It would be best to acknowledge that your productivity levels might take a hit when you are with your kids. Set realistic goals and timelines. When your kids are most chilled, get blocks of work done. For babies and young kids that's normally nap time. From primary school kids, its whenever they are most tired and relaxed. Early morning and late arvo for example.

Prioritize your schedules

Running your business while caring for your kids requires careful planning and organization. Scheduling your work and other commitments can help you stay focused and productive. Create a routine that suits your and your family's needs and prioritize your tasks and goals accordingly. Use a planner, calendar, or an online tool to help you keep track of your work and life activities. Be flexible though.

Shit happens

Despite your best efforts and planning, things can go wrong. Kids often fall sick or have emergencies that require your attention. It's essential to have a contingency plan in place to deal with such situations...says the single man that's never looked after a kid in his life. Our plan is there is no plan. Shit happens. Just roll with it. Sometimes I have to walk away from he computer to take one of the minions to the hospital for a playground stunt that failed.

Take breaks and practice self-care

Running your business from home with kids around is physically and mentally exhausting. Apart from attending to your work and family, it's crucial to practice self-care. Take short breaks and engage in activities that you enjoy, such as reading, exercising, or spending time with friends. Set boundaries and don't overwork, as it can lead to burnout. Practice self-compassion and be kind to yourself.

IN OTHER WORDS:

Take time out for you! Just you! Take a long bath, read a book, go to the gym, eat chocolate and watch Netflix. Whatever works.

When we have our shit together

This means there is food in the fridge, pre-made snacks, everyone has taken their medication and no one is in hospital, injured or starting their own death camp. To give you some context, we live on a large property and my minions are 15 months apart in age and both have ADHD.

Our Daily routine looks like this:

5.00am	Wake up, walk the dogs and feed the animals and chores
6.00am	Breakfast
6.30am	Kids watch TV, puppy is still napping and I read my book
7.00am	Work starts for me and the parrot. Kids have a choice of devices, outside time or TV and puppy tags along.
10.00am	We all have morning tea together
10.30am	Back to work. Kids have a choice of devices, outside time or TV and puppy tags along and parrot has ditched me for the kids.
12 noon	Lunchtime! Lunch and a movie or TV show with the kids, puppy and parrot.
2.00pm	Back to work. Kids have a choice of devices, outside time or TV. Parrot and puppy hang with them.
4.00pm	Work is done. Kids off devices and outside. Feeding animals and messing around outside.
6.00pm	Dinner, TV show and chill.
8.00pm	Back to work if needed, if not Netflix and a cuppa.

When we don't have our shit together

Probably haven't done a grocery shop, minions had a shitty sleep and woke at 4. Its rough starting your day like this so you can forget a lot of shit. Mainly medication...

Our Daily routine looks like this:

4.00am	Wake up to the sounds of screaming and both boys performing in their version of redneck WWE.
6.00am	Make one child feed the animals with me while the other eats breakfast...so one complains and the other just watches TV until I get back.
6.30am	One kid has eaten the entire contents of the fridge, the other refuses to eat. The parrot is out of his cage and snacking on the HDMI cable.
7.00am	First coffee for the day. WWE continues. Find mystery puppy poop in the kids room.
10.00am	Get to work, kick kids outside along with puppy.
10.30am	Stop work because of the blood-curdling screams in the backyard. One of the kids has made a dirt hole and is trying to bury the other one. Split up the fight and give them snacks. Find puppy chasing the chooks. Bring her inside.
12 noon	Realise I have forgotten medication and it's too late now. Listen to all the bitching about how they want McDonalds for lunch and the 2 min noodles they have is just not going to cut it. One kid is still refusing to eat, the other one eats both lunches with assistance from the parrot and puppy.
2.00pm	Back to work. Find a stash of chip packets in kids' room who is always refusing to eat... Kids are sent outside again. With the puppy.
4.00pm	Panic because it's quiet. Go find the kids. They are up to dodgy shit behind the shed. Make them come with me to feed everything. One of them is chased by the turkey. Always entertaining. Puppy was in a box which apparently is a 'home base'
6.00pm	Dinner and bed...seriously they eat dinner and go to bed. I am DONE
8.00pm	Eat chocolate, watch TV and contemplate my life. Puppy curls up on my boobs. Best sleeping spot.

Keeping it real

With these tips, managing your business and childcare responsibilities can work, but it's okay if it goes to shit. Remember, it's okay to ask for help or take a break from work when you need it. Your family will benefit in the long run when you maintain a healthy work-family balance. Being a parent and an entrepreneur is a juggling act, but with a little bit of planning, self-discipline, you can give it a red hot go!