Maggy Woodley is an Author at Red Ted Art.
What led you to start working in digital/media publishing?
I was the classic “stay at home mom” and needed “something else” to do. I was looking at different business ideas that I could work on alongside looking after my children (then 2yrs and 3months). I decided to try and sell some Pop Art I had made for my kids’ bedroom. In order to do this, I need an online presence. Creating a blog was the quickest and easiest way to get online. I quickly found that I enjoyed blogging more than creating the Pop Art (much less stressful) and I could see a potential for advertising revenue. That was 8yrs ago — and now my blog is one of the leading craft websites and online resources in the UK.
What does a typical day look like for you?
As many self-employed people may tell you, there is no real “typical day,” but I will try to describe one none the less. The day starts with getting my kids ready for school — working online gives me an incredible amount of flexibility! Once the kids are at school, I start work on my daily social media “tasks”, as well as managing my emails. Social Media tasks involve scheduling content to Facebook and Pinterest and sharing photos to Instagram stories etc. Once that is complete and all my new emails dealt with, I am likely to start work on any given project — be it a craft project for a client, a new video for YouTube or fresh new content for my website. This always involved designing and making a new craft, filming/photographing, editing, and writing.
This usually takes me up to the kids’ school pick up time at 3:30 pm and then “mom life begins again.”
In the evenings, I am likely to do a little more social media work — responding to questions/comments on YouTube and talking to my blogging community etc.
What does your work setup look like? (your apps, productivity tools, etc.)
I have two main tools of the trade — my laptop and my camera/phone, and I use a combination of both all day!
What do you do to get inspired?
Inspiration can indeed be a problem. Luckily my work is driven by seasons and as one season ends and a new one begins. So you move on from hearts at Valentine’s to Bunnies at Easter. That in itself keeps things fresh and flowing. If I do get a little stuck, the key to continued inspiration is to write lots of lists of ideas as you go along and to revisit them regularly!
What’s your favorite piece of writing or quote?
I can’t think of one right now but it would have to be something self-motivational along the lines of “just do it.”
What is the most interesting/innovative thing you have seen on another outlet other than your own?
Again, there isn’t anything specific. However, I do notice that working in our “online industry” is key to keep on top of trends. Things are constantly changing — one-minute square images are what drives Facebook traffic, the next it is a short video. It is always changing and you have to keep up with the algorithms and topics of the day.
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What is the problem that you’re passionately tackling at the moment?
The biggest problem for me is being distracted from the “bigger picture” by focussing on a day to day tasks. I should really be hiring people to help do the day to day for me, whilst I look at new ideas an opportunities. However, it is incredibly hard to let go.
Do you have any advice for ambitious digital publishing and media professionals who are just starting out?
Patience and perseverance and never compare yourself to others. Building an online presence takes time and effort. GIVE yourself the time to grow, don’t compare yourself to people who have been doing what you are doing for longer. But also persevere. Don’t give up six months down the line, because you haven’t achieved a certain goal yet. It all takes time. But it also takes hard work and focus.
