Happy New Year From Real Football Man

Congratulations if you are reading this you’ve made it to 2017! and with that I wish you a Happy New Year.

The end or start of a year is always a good time to review and reflect what has happened in the previous 12 months, so I thought I would take the time to give a review on what has happened here with the website.

Firstly I should thank anyone who has taken the time to read any of my articles, even if it’s just one then I appreciate the time you have taken to do so. I now have over 3,000 pieces on the site so there is no literal shortage of content although that said I need to work out on better site navigation to make the articles more prominent (but more of that later)

In regards to the site itself the readership is up when we compare 2016 to 2015, with this being the first full calendar year since the start of the project that should not come as too much surprise and to be honest I would be disappointed if that was not the case. But on any given month when you do a year on year comparison there is a marked increase in 2016.

I would consider the readership steady but now in 2017 I want to try and move on to the next level in terms of views and without being modest get the views that the quality of my work deserves. But I know that quality of writing is not just enough it has to be part of an all round package.

And that means a website that is more polished. As always the question is ‘where do I find the time?’ especially as I’m just a one man band who also has a full time job. For someone who adds content daily, I honestly think you would be hard pressed to find a harder working solo Football blogger. If there is then I would like to meet him.

Ultimately you have to make time or at least find the right people to help you out. That then begs the question what exactly do you want from this site? is it a) a vehicle to promote yourself in this industry or b) do you want to run a successful website.

I’m at a bit of a cross roads at the moment and perhaps I need to make a decision as to what route to go down in 2017 as at present I’m doing decent enough in both directions but I know I can still take either this or myself a lot further.

And if we look at a) then it has been a very successful year. More writing opportunities have opened up off the back of this website and I’ve even got myself a slot on the TV. Now if you told me 2 years ago that I would be on the TV each week discussing Spanish Football I would have told you that you were absurd but it’s all happened thanks to this blog and the contacts of Chris Darwen – Chris has an excellent Premier League site which you can find here

So the hope and plan in 2017 is to have even more writing opportunities come my way and start really making progress in this industry. I know you have to be patient and I’m very happy with where I’ve got to in less than 24 months but that impatience is starting to light a fire in me and I want something soon.

But that will only come with continued hard work next year. I’m confident that if I keep doing what I’m doing then more opportunities will present themselves (especially as there already some new things in the pipeline in 2017, but I have to keep quiet for now)

I certainly have to be prepared to network more next year, that’s a given. Unfortunately the success does not fall into your lap you have to go out and earn it. I get the feeling that I’m one of the Internets best kept secrets right now but 2017 needs to change.

As I referred to earlier the site definitely needs a refresh and redesign plus I think all the other facets of Social Media need to be sharpened up. I loathe to say it but it almost needs to become a ‘brand’ – but considering this was just a humble blog back in April 2015 it’s almost grown too big for it’s own capability.

It would be great to have more people on board but part of me is apprehensive as it’s my creation and I fully understand that people should not have to work for free and unfortunately I’m not in a position to pay anyone else right now. But that will be the long term goal.

How long term is that goal, who knows? But i’m certainly enjoying working on this. Yes it may be a slog spending 2-3 hours doing Premier League previews and trying to find 500 words to write about Burnley v Middlesbrough but the thing is at least someone reads it and that is what makes it all the worthwhile.

So once again thanks for the regulars and the people who have stumbled across this website and stuck around. With 150,000 views in under two years I must be doing something right, I just need to make sure I do more of the same in 2017 and make this and/or me even better.

It just leaves me to get a quick shameless plug in – if anyone wants to contact me for work/advertising/networking purposes please e-mail me at realfootballmanwordpress@gmail.com

All it leaves me to say is I wish you all a very prosperous 2017 and be sure to keep your eyes on the website.

Keep enjoying the Football

Dan