Jo Harris-Cooksley's Posts

Writing a blog that no one ever reads is the internet equivalent of throwing a party, where half the people who’ve marked themselves as attending on Facebook don’t turn up. 

That moment when you log into Google Analytics and see that your posts have had three visitors in the past month, and two of them were you, is exactly like watching the hummus you decided to make from scratch (that’s a thing) remain untouched by the four guests that come to your house; two of whom are already claiming they’ve got another birthday party to go to and are making for the door.

There are two questions here. The first is whether Facebook RSVPs can ever be an accurate way of knowing how many people are actually coming to your event (absolutely not). And the second: what’s stopping people turning up? 

The not-so-great thing about having the word “creative” in your job title is the pressure that comes with it. Because there, in your email signature, is the expectation that you’ll come up with something good.

The Oxford Dictionary defines creativity as “The use of imagination or original ideas to create something; inventiveness.” And never are you more aware of that weighty definition than when you’re starting out on a new creative brief: a blank screen or piece of paper in front of you, a process to follow, and the knowledge that in a few days or weeks, you’ll have to fill those blanks with new, exciting, eye-catching ideas.

The use of imagination or original ideas to create something; inventiveness.

Oxford Dictionary

If your job description tasks you with coming up with imaginative ideas, concepts, projects or campaigns (big or small) on a regular basis, you’ll probably already have a process of some sort that works for you - and if you don’t, this is a good place to start.