Last weekend my family experienced a milestone moment. It was the first time my husband and I left our 11-month-old overnight. She was in good hands with Grandma and Grandpa, but any parent can tell you the lure of a night free of children also comes with a bit of anxiety because there is always a possibility something could go wrong.
We’ve had very few date nights in the past year. Life just always seems to be so busy. But once all the supplies were dropped off at my parents’ house and I kissed my little girl goodbye, it was amazing just how wonderful it felt to enjoy some adult time again. We went to a dinner party, stayed up until midnight, and slept in past, gasp, 8 a.m.
If you run a small- or medium-sized business, you know that the day-to-day activities take so much time that creating online content often gets delayed, in the same way that date nights do for new parents. But just as this blog has stressed so many times before, keeping up a regular flow of quality online content is crucial to growing a customer base, increasing your bottom line, and building your brand’s reputation.
My husband and I have resolved to plan more regular date nights in the future to maintain our relationship, and it’s important for business owners to make content creation a priority to maintain their relationship with customers. So even if your week seems booked with purchase orders, long meetings and accounting conundrums, it’s important to make time to post new content on your website, update your blog and interact with your social media contacts.
And just like any busy parent desperate for a few hours to themselves, don’t be afraid to call in reinforcements. For me, it’s a babysitter here and there. For business owners needing quality online content, it’s hiring a freelancer or contracting out the work to a firm. In the end, it’s an investment that will not only help your brand grow, but it will allow you to keep your sanity as well.
