Social Lives #10 | Working in offices is overrated // Jobs from Evermade, The Quirky Group and Diabetes UK // What is a 'wife guy'? // A tribute to Judith Kerr
'Work from Home' image by Tyler Feder (@roaringsoftly)
WORKING IN OFFICES IS OVERRATED
It’s my firm belief that you absolutely do not need to work in an office to do social media well. In fact, if I had my way, I would never work in an office again (a goal I am slowly working towards in my own freelance life). A lot of this is due to the fact that I really, really hate working in offices. Working from home for three years has made me go a bit feral and I become a bit anxious when I have to regularly speak to people IRL. I hate commuting (although I live in the North of England, so that shouldn’t come as a big surprise if you’re aware of Northern Rail’s epic crapness), I hate having to get dressed in business-appropriate clothing and wear makeup every day (because fundamentally I’m a lazy slob) and I hate not being able to do the work I want at the time I choose.
One of the best pieces of advice I give out when people ask me about my work is - ask any potential client can this be done remotely? In my experience, the majority of projects – particularly community management-based ones – can be done from anywhere you please, so long as you have a laptop and a decent WiFi connection. I’ve been know to answer emails between squat sets at the gym and reply to a work tweet while half-in, half-out of a bra in a Bravissimo changing room.
It’s wild to me how many clients like to talk big about their flexible working practices but don’t apply them in practice. If you’re dealing with sensitive information, which can only be accessed in one particular location from one particular server, it makes sense to work in an office. But if you’re writing a content calendar or creating a strategy deck, it’s usually quicker and easier to do it in the environment you’re most comfortable working in.
If a client is unsure about whether they’re comfortable with you working remotely, compromise. Often, they’re pressed for time, have had to get someone in who they don’t really know that well and just want to make sure that you’re not a complete potato. I always try to work in the client’s office at the beginning of a project so they can see who they’re working with and we can get all the briefings and important stuff out of the way.
Once that’s done, try to establish a way of working such that people know they can get hold of you when they need to. I’d always recommend setting up a WhatsApp group or Slack channel with clients so you can let them know when you’re online, as well as get quick approvals on copy or answers to questions not covered in your FAQs. On one recent job, the client and I collaborated via a shared spreadsheet in Google Docs. I knew that all of my work had to be finished by a certain time each day so that they could check the copy. They’d then send me a WhatsApp message to let me know if any amends were required and what time they needed them completed by.
With more and more digital professionals turning freelance, it seems strange that the industry is so inflexible with people who don’t wish to do traditional work in traditional ways. The most successful social media people I know are those who have carved out their careers in the ways that best suited them. Work in an office if you want to. Work from bed if you prefer. Just make sure that you do good work.
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JOBS BOARD
Evermade are a small business based in Brighton who sell art prints, giftware and stationery. They're looking for a freelance Social Media Executive to work with them for 16 hours a week.
The Quirky Group are recruiting a freelance Marketing and Events Manager to work alongside them for three months.
If you know your ASOS from your Armani, speak to The Unstated. They're an exciting sounding new fashion e-commerce manager recruiting a freelance Social Media Manager.
Sphere Digital want to speak to freelance Senior Social Media Managers who know their influencers for a campaign with a major retailer.
This looks like a really great part-time Content Manager opportunity working with Diabetes UK.
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TOOL OF THE WEEK: PDF ESCAPE
One thing people never tell you when you go freelance is just how many PDFs you will have to fill out, sign and return. As a cheapskate who dislikes paying for things when she can just find a free alternative, I decided to do some in-depth research* (*a Google) and found PDF Escape. It's a free editor which allows you to add text, upload signatures to documents and download them. It's not 100% perfect, but it's one of the best free options I've found out there. Although it hasn't fully stopped me moaning, because nothing ever does.
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IN THE NEWS:
In the run up to the Champion's League final on Saturday, Liverpool FC have become the first premier league team to join TikTok. Expect lots of celebratory renditions of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' on there this weekend.
Klear have released a report showing the average rates that influencers charge for sponsored posts.
Here's a bunch of useful tips on how to make your Facebook ads more effective.
This is an interesting report from eMarketer saying that people are spending less time on Facebook and Snapchat, and more time on Instagram.
Why audio should be an important part of your digital media strategy.
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THINGS I LIKE:
Let's all take a moment out of our day to appreciate this truly incredible gif of Keanu Reeves.
A quick primer on my new favourite internet phenomenon, 'the wife guy.'
Speaking of which, this is a truly incredible episode of 'Reply All,' breaking down a truly incredible tweet.
As an old, grumpy woman who increasingly likes routine, I appreciated this piece on why spontaneity is overrated.
The Quick Roasting Tin is out today! The first two books in this series are two of my favourite (and most used) recipe books of all time, so this is sure to be a banger.
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CAT(S) OF THE WEEK: THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA/MOG
Like many people, I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of author Judith Kerr last week. She was a woman who led a truly amazing life and gave so much joy to so many young readers - myself included. I grew up with a funny, flat-faced, forgetful cat called Mog and was always in awe of the voracious, unrestained greed of The Tiger Who Came to Tea. I've loved reading all the tributes to her and her work over the past few days, as well as the numerous people who asked her if The Tiger represented a malevolent force only for her to respond with 'No, he's just a Tiger.' There's also this incredible picture of her with her cat, Katinka which I absolutely adore. Rest in Power, Judith.
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You can follow me on Twitter at @ChristinaMcMc and Cattington at @HelloCattington.
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See you next Thursday!