How Bernard looks after things for me

For now, Bernard prepares everything and waits for your yes. Nothing goes live, sends, or changes on your site by itself yet. What you choose today is the goal he works towards and the setting that will decide, over time, how much of that work he is trusted to do on his own.

Working towards a goal

Every site works towards one goal at a time, such as improving your Google rankings or getting more enquiries. The goal changes what Bernard works on first and what he measures. It never lets him do more on his own. See How do I choose what Bernard works towards? for the full list and how to change it.

Watching in shadow

Once your site is live and connected to at least one source of real evidence, Bernard can spend a period watching your site and working out what he would do, without changing anything. How do I see what Bernard would do before I let him? explains what he looks at, and what you see at the end.

Bernard may

Every site starts at “Ask me first”, where you approve everything. You can choose a higher setting for when Bernard has earned it: “Do the routine things” or “Get on with it”. How much should I let Bernard do on his own? walks through what each one will mean, and Can I change just one thing Bernard does, without changing my whole setting? covers setting a single kind of work on its own, apart from the rest.

Where to find these controls

Look at the top of Bernard’s list, on your site home. Three quiet lines sit there: Working towards, your goal; Watching in shadow, while it applies; and Bernard may, your setting. Each opens its own panel. Anyone who manages your site can read them; only an account owner can change them.

What never changes, whatever the setting

Some decisions always stay yours, at every setting, on every site - prices, deletions, access, billing and a handful of others. What will Bernard never do without asking me first? lists them all.

Pausing

If you would rather Bernard did nothing on his own for a while, whatever your setting, How do I pause Bernard? covers pausing and resuming him.

Seeing what happened

Bernard’s list on your site home is also his board: four numbers and a column for each state, from what he found to what did not work. Where can I see everything Bernard has found and done? explains the columns, and What has Bernard’s work actually achieved? covers the results panel on your Analytics page and the monthly record. What he plans for the weeks ahead is on your calendar: What is Bernard’s calendar of work? explains its entries and how to approve or stop the work inside them. Social posts on your calendar are drafted by Bernard and posted by you: see What does Bernard do about my social posts?.

For courses and the shop in particular, What does Bernard do for my students on his own? and What does Bernard do for my shop on his own? say exactly what he does on his own there today.

Keeping up by email

Bernard’s morning note tells you what needs you, what he did and what will happen, and says nothing on a quiet day: see What is my morning email from Bernard?. Before anything goes on hold, he emails a notice first, and How do I stop something before Bernard does it? explains how to stop it. What he may do with your emails and contacts is in What does Bernard do with my mailing list on his own?.