Just Get On With It: The Power of Taking Action in Building and SEO

You know, sometimes I just can’t stop building stuff. It’s like this itch I have to scratch. Lately, I’ve been knee-deep in renovating one of the living rooms in our old farmhouse. It’s one of those projects that’s been staring me in the face for ages, and I finally decided to roll up my sleeves and get on with it.

So there I was, staring at this old chimney breast. The room’s probably about 130 years old, give or take. When we first stripped the plaster off, we found this measly little 1950s inset open fire. Nothing to write home about. But you could tell there was more to it. The brickwork had been filled in, but you could see the outline of a grand old inglenook fireplace just waiting to be brought back to life.

For whatever reason, when we first renovated the room, we just plastered over it and stuck with a smaller fire. But it kept nagging at me. I thought, “Sod it, I’m going to knock it all out and rebuild the original fireplace.” And that’s what I’ve been up to these past few weeks. Bit by bit, I’ve been dismantling the old brickwork, hauling away about three tonnes of brick—reused them around the farm for gateways and whatnot—and getting back to the bare bones of the original structure.

Now, I’m no master builder, but over the years, I’ve picked up a fair few skills. Back in 2001, when I bought my first house—a real fixer-upper—I had to strip the place from top to bottom. We’re talking floors up, plaster off, new electrics, the whole shebang. Money was tight, so I did a lot of the grunt work myself. When it came to the skilled bits, I’d hire builders but labour alongside them. Learned a ton that way.

Fast forward to now, and I can tackle things like bricklaying and installing steel supports on my own. It’s amazing what you pick up when you’re not afraid to get your hands dirty. And I’ve been collecting tools over the years, so I’m pretty well-equipped these days.

But it’s not just about the physical building. This whole philosophy of just getting on and building things has spilled over into my work life too, especially in SEO and digital marketing. Back in 2004, we started building Broadband.co.uk, and we’ve been creating digital assets ever since. It’s all about taking that first step and not getting bogged down in overthinking.

I’ve noticed a lot of folks in our industry tend to over analyse everything. They’re always chasing the latest strategies, trying to perfect every little detail before making a move. But here’s the thing: sometimes you just need to crack on and build something. It doesn’t have to be perfect. In fact, chasing perfection can be the enemy of progress.

I’ve known people who’ve spent months—sometimes even years—planning their websites or projects. They’ve got spreadsheets full of keyword research, competitor analysis, the works. But they never actually launch anything. Meanwhile, others who might be less prepared but more action-oriented are making strides simply because they took that first step.

It’s like when I’ve worked with builders over the years. I always ask loads of questions, sometimes probably daft ones, but that’s how you learn. I’d say to them, “You’re the experts, but why are we doing it this way? Can’t we try this instead?” And often, it leads to better solutions for everyone. Don’t be afraid to ask stupid questions; it’s one of the best ways to learn.

I think a lot of people procrastinate because they’re afraid of failure or making mistakes. But mistakes aren’t just inevitable; they’re invaluable. Every time you mess something up, you learn from it. It’s a stepping stone towards where you want to be.

In SEO, especially, there’s this paralysis that comes from overthinking. People think they need to master every technique before they can start. But SEO is a journey, not a destination. I’ve been at it for over 20 years, and I’m still learning new things all the time. If I’d waited until I knew everything, I’d have never started.

Reid Hoffman, who founded LinkedIn, once said, “If you’re not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late.” That really resonates with me. The idea is to get your product—or website, in our case—out into the world and then improve it over time based on real feedback. Hands-on experience trumps any amount of theoretical knowledge.

So how do you get started? Well, set a simple goal. Maybe it’s writing a blog post a week or launching a basic website. Create a timeline to keep yourself accountable. Break it down into smaller tasks so it doesn’t feel overwhelming. And most importantly, take immediate action. Do something today, no matter how small, that moves you towards your goal.

And don’t worry about being perfect. Embrace the imperfections. Your first attempt might not be great, but you’ll learn so much from just doing it. After you’ve made a start, take time to reflect. What worked? What didn’t? Use that insight to adapt and move forward.

There’s this compounding effect that comes from building things. Each piece of content you create, every project you launch, they all add up over time. It’s like planting seeds. Not every seed will sprout, but the more you plant, the greater your chances of a bountiful harvest. In SEO terms, the more content you have, the more opportunities you have to rank for various keywords.

Taking action also builds momentum. That initial push is always the hardest, but once you’re moving, it gets easier. And honestly, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of looking back at something you’ve built, knowing that you made it happen. It’s good for the soul.

So, if you’re sitting there thinking about starting a new project or launching a website, just get on with it. Don’t let the fear of failure or the pursuit of perfection hold you back. Remember, everyone starts somewhere. The experts you look up to were once beginners too.

Don’t compare your starting point to someone else’s middle or end. Use their success as inspiration, but don’t let it discourage you. And keep in mind that action trumps inaction every time. An imperfect website that’s live will do more for you than a perfect one that never sees the light of day.

So, start building. Write that article. Launch that site. Create that product. Learn from the experience and keep moving forward. You’ll be amazed at where you can get by just taking that first step.