I find myself struggling with uncertainty about the Davis Daily and my ability to be a successful content creator. 

It’s one part doubt and one part impatience.

It’s been 6 months, 36 posts, and more than 30,000 words since relaunching the blog; and the results are nowhere near satisfactory. Traffic to the site is abysmal – very few click, comment, or read – my bounce rate is way above average and time-on-site is basically the blink of an eye. 

The accompanying social posts for each article get very little engagement, too. I know those are vanity metrics, but still…

It’s disheartening to spend a few hours on each article only to have one or two readers. Don’t get me wrong, I am incredibly grateful for those that do read (you know who you are), but I’m starting to think my time could be spent on something more productive.  

The same holds true for my newsletter, the Diary of Davis. I don’t have many subscribers, the open rate isn’t great, and the click-through rate is even worse. Admittedly, I’m not following best practices to boost subscriptions – I don’t really have the time to do so.

As for Your Daily Dose of D, well, I know it’s just for fun and still in its infancy, but barely anyone has subscribed to the channel and viewership sucks. 

This is doubt speaking, of course, and it sounds like a lot of pissing and moaning if you ask me.

So let’s get to impatience. Building an audience and gaining momentum doesn’t happen overnight. 

Even some of the most prolific creators didn’t start seeing results until 12–18 months into the game. At only four months, I still have work to do. 

I need to be patient, practice perseverance, and embrace the growth process. Still, knowing that doesn’t stop me from all the second guessing. 

• Do I switch topics and write about something other than my journey to self-improvement? 
• Is there more I can offer to inspire others?
• Am I providing enough value?
• Does anybody really care?
• Do I keep going?

Now, I have to make an important distinction: these questions apply to everything I’m doing outside of my career as a professional copywriter for Alphabet®. I’m quite happy with my job and I’m doing well in the role, albeit there’s always room for improvement. 

This brings me to a quote from James Clear in his newsletter 3-2-1 on April 22, 2021. 

Keep reading for Clear’s wisdom, or you can hear about it in a recent episode of Your Daily Dose of D. 👇

The Paradox of Focus 

“Make the most of one opportunity and more opportunities will come your way. Moving boldly in one direction causes more paths to unfold before you. 

To get more, focus on less.”

James Clear

I received clarity the moment I read this quote. 

Currently, I’m split between being a content hobbyist and working as a professional with a highly reputable creative agency. 

The long-term goal of the Davis Daily has always been to build a loyal audience to the point of monetization – building a following of small business owners and entrepreneurs who could benefit from my freelance writing services. 

Doing just that is what led me to Alphabet® in the first place. 

That said, being a full-time copywriter is the most rewarding job I’ve ever had. Every day I get to collaborate with and learn from extremely talented, creative individuals, and I’m producing work for high-level clients. 

This includes:

• the Canadian Real Estate Association;
• Minto Communities Ottawa;
• Tourism Kingston & Ottawa Tourism;
• the Tourism Industry Association of Canada; and the 
• Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.

Plus, it’s been less than a year, yet I’ve already experienced significant growth. The potential to earn a reputation as an A-List Copywriter is within sight – more opportunity awaits.

As long as I work hard and remain focused. 

This means doubling down on professional development, which is hard to do when I’m caught in a balancing act between a vision of what could be and what is right in front of me. 

So am I going to throw in the towel with the Davis Daily? 

Not entirely. 

Blogging on the regular intersects with honing my writing chops – being consistent and showing up is one of the best ways to improve your skills. Not to mention, contributing to the Davis Daily and telling my story is the perfect way to deal with shit that goes on in my head. 

However, I won’t be publishing twice a week anymore. 

I’m aiming for one post a week – every Tuesday if I can manage it. This frees up time to study the craft of copywriting, which improves my worth to Alphabet®. That said, if I’m having a busy work week and push comes to shove, I’m not going to beat myself up if I miss a week or two. My career pays the bills; blogging doesn’t.

The new schedule allows me to spend more quality time with my partner and enjoy recreational pursuits, too. And giving myself a little grace reduces stress, which has been eating me alive lately.   

Beyond that, I’m still committed to filming Your Daily Dose of D – when time allows, of course.

Yes, it’s just for fun, but there’s an element of professional development attached to the practice. It improves my abilities as a presenter and increases my communication skills. 

Part of my job involves pitching ideas to management as well as clients. Confidence in writing is one thing, but facing high-level executives or members of the C-Suite can be unnerving. The videos are helping me be more assertive in that area.

Finally, I’ll leave you with a few parting words. 

If you’re struggling with uncertainty as I have been, think about the one opportunity that’s providing you with the most satisfaction and the most results. 

Remember – to get more, focus on less. 

Thanks for reading, folks.