Hi 

A few years ago I sat down and did something I probably should have done sooner.

I tracked where my time was going. Then I tracked where my clients were actually coming from.

Oh boy.

The two lists looked nothing like each other.

Sound familiar?

Here's the one question I now ask about every marketing channel I use:
Is the time I'm spending on this proportionate to the job it's actually doing?

Or, as I often phrase it: is the juice worth the squeeze?

Go through each channel: email, Instagram, LinkedIn, networking, wherever you show up — and answer it honestly. 

Not what you hope it's doing. 

Not what it feels like it's doing. 

What it's actually bringing you.

You'll probably find one or two things working harder than you realised. And at least one thing that's just keeping you busy.

You don't need to look at this as failure, btw. Look at it as data. Useful information.

During May in the Do Crew we worked through this as part of our theme 'algo-proof your marketing'. Members now have a simple one-page map of their whole marketing ecosystem, with clarity about what's working, what they have control over, and what is all squeeze no juice.

It's easier to keep posting and hope for the best than to sit with the honest numbers. It's uncomfortable, facing the gap between where your time goes and where your clients actually come from. 

Especially when it feels like the whole marketing world is telling you to just post more, show up more, do more. 

But the bravest marketing move is actually shutting out that noise for a few minutes and looking honestly at what's actually working for you.

Photos of the week

1. This was what my office looked like for 2 days this week. So much cricket.
2. New rose in bloom in the garden.
3. The Barketing Assitant is forever committed to finding sun spots - even in a heatwave, even in her thick fur coat.
4. I'm forever committed to this hammock.

Picky Bits

🤑 Meta's no longer content with just your data. It wants your money.

🏆 Enter the Prolific North Marketing Awards here (I've judged these and can confirm the judging process is legit, ethical, and above board!)

🐸 I adore these meditations for children (and adults) by my friend Sara Starling. She just added a new one here.

🌱 Moss lovers, this one's for you (thanks Maggie for this in your newsletter)

💖 Coming soon to Manchester: Cowork Crew! I've long been an admirer of this wonderful community so I was thrilled when Penni and Jo said they're coming up North. Join the waitlist here. 

By the time you're reading this I will have hopefully completed the Manchester 10k. Look out for a medal pic next time!

Hope you have a great week. 

Karen

PS. Work with me!

1:1 marketing support (coaching + strategy) - available from June

Power hours - next availability on 10 June