Digital goodbyes aren’t any easier than real ones. I’ve recently decided to archive a digital project which I spent almost ten years working on. In the process, I found myself pausing and questioning my actions a lot more frequently than I’d anticipated. What’s the proper way to “sunset” a digital project? And is it possible to preserve online publications in a useful form? Here, in no particular order, are ten questions which I found myself grappling with. Feel free to refer to them the next time you decide to pull the plug on your digital creation!
1. Why is now the right time to stop this project?
Some people would urge you to quit otfen, quit early, and quit strategically. Others prefer to keep repeating the worn-out “quitters never win” nonsense. But what is true for you? If you decide to stop investing your time and effort in a digital endeavor – why is now the right time to make this decision? Maybe you will question your initial assumption and return to give the project one more chance. Or maybe you’ll find yourself wishing that you’d done this ages ago. Mileage will vary – but make sure you know why this project gets its final curtain.
2. Who still needs this (and how badly)?
This question leads to more questions, as most good questions tend to do. Does your user base rely on your project for something vital? If a blog ceases to update, that’s no big deal – but what if a key community website goes dark? Figure out whether or not you’re leaving someone hanging by your decision. If so, see question three.
3. What kind of service can I keep providing?
My old blog is still online. All the posts are still there – showing up in search results, displaying in full on the website and in the RSS feeds. This costs me next to nothing – the SSL certificate and the domain are a small price to pay for the exposure. With your project, this may vary – but it’s worth considering a presence which, while inexpensive, will make sure your users’ needs keep being met in some way.
4. Which promises need to disappear?
“Regular monthly updates.” “Online coaching sessions.” “Bi-weekly newsletter.” All these were offers which people could benefit from, for as long as my project was active. The decision to archive a digital project means, in many cases, that you need to stop making these promises. Frequently, this question is where the resistance to mothballing anything online really lies: “…but I need to keep sending the newsletter to my readers!” If so, see next question.
5. Can your absence really be justified?
Sometimes, the human connections we’ve developed online are the most valuable outcome of a project. And sometimes, a project which used to connect us with a tribe moves past this stage, and becomes a place where people used to be, but aren’t. There’s plenty of states in between these two, of course. The point of the question is this: will people miss you when you’re gone? Think of this step in similar ways to deleting an account on a social medium. Can you picture people’s faces and remember their names as you leave? If so – is this what you want to happen, and are you prepared for it?
6. / 7. What will it cost to leave? What will it cost to remain?
I’m talking about the financial cost here. My blog, social media and course websites could probably be maintained by freelancers, for a fee. But it’s been a boostrapped enterprise from the start, and throwing money at it now didn’t make sense – much better to invest it elsewhere. Do the math yourself – calculate the price of lost business, if any, versus the price of trying to use the project to win more business.
8. Where are the hidden costs / technical risks?
A WordPress plugin which isn’t updated or deactivated can break your website, or worse. A bill for renewing a domain you no longer need can be steep. A Facebook page which you forgot about can grow wild and weedy if not moderated. The obvious and visible parts of your project are usually the tip of the iceberg. What else needs attention / upkeep? If you don’t know, ask someone who does – or a trusted user.
9. Will it be possible to restart the project?
Can you imagine making a decision to shut down your blog about Zoom-related memes in the early days of February 2020…? Circumstances change. Zeitgeist is a tricky beast. You may one day find yourself wishing you’d retained access to your digital platforms. Many providers are happy for you to “deactivate” rather than “delete”. Is this something you can plan for and afford?
10. How are you going to brag about this?
You don’t think that you should? Be serious. Digital work deserves to be celebrated, showcased and recognized. Recruiters’ tip for these occasions: make this achievement-based and measurable. Something like: “Over 11 years, I delivered 200 blog articles and published 5 book-plus-course bundles on my lifelong learning blog.” Get stats, screenshots, testimonials, anything you please. It’ll be worth it.
I’ll miss BRAVE Learning – but I know the time was right to say goodbye! What tips would you have for anyone who plans to mothball their digital projects?
(Photo by Cristina Gottardi on Unsplash)
I am an editor, author, translator and teacher based in the UK.
I am always looking to get involved in new projects. My areas of expertise:
ELT publishing – print and digital
Language learning
Translation – POL-ENG-POL, non-fiction
Editorial project management
Does it look like we could work together? Download my CV or get in touch via e-mail.