Why I’ve gone freelance

I got into social media and content for two reasons: it’s quicker, and it’s fun.

I was frustrated at the pace of designing physical museum displays – the drafting and redrafting of text, the limitations of what could and could not go on display, and all the stories that had to be left on the cutting room floor.

Social media and content allowed those stories to be told at a fraction of the time and effort. It’s what led to the viral absolute unit meme, but also stories about bats, daily doodle challenges and conversations with people from across the world.

I’m going freelance because I want to help arts and heritage organisations discover their own sense of fun. I want to help demystify content and help you find your niche. I want us to become the online juggernauts I know we have the potential to be.

But mainly because it should be fun.

There’s a lot of distrust and fear when it comes to social media, and it doesn’t have to be that way.

Arts and heritage organisations already have most of the ingredients they need – a community, rich subject areas, and enthusiastic staff. What we need is a shift in mindset – to consider ourselves digital publishers and treat our online channels as not just arenas for marketing, but also where we can achieve our core mission.

Getting there requires the classics. It means knowing what we’re trying to achieve, putting foundational skills and processes in place, understanding what people need and focusing on meeting those needs.

I’ve worked in galleries, libraries, archives, museums and the private sector cutting my teeth on how to create the conditions for content people actually engage with, and I want to help you too.