How can you get more done, in less time when you’re working online?
If you’re just starting out writing a blog, or trying to build an online business and just learning the ropes, it’s very likely that you find yourself spending hours on the computer ineffectively…
You might be reading endless articles, surfing around You Tube, looking at various software people are promoting or the next big program or course that’s about to come out and looking very exciting…
Suddenly flash forward half the day and your original plans, (to complete that post or video, for example) are out of the window and it feels as though you have accomplished nothing.
If you’re feeling lost in the online world, the best gift you can give to yourself is some reasonable training and join a community – where others will all be going through the same thing.
Sometimes, you will want to hear that people understand what it’s like!
Related Post: The Pros & Cons of working from home.
When you;re trying to make money online – blogging, building niche websites, freelancing, self publishing or whatever it may be you’re doing online: it can be hard to stay motivated.
One problem is, there is always so much to learn too and so much information out there, that it can get overwhelming.
You need to focus on accomplishing one thing at a time.
If you already have half an idea what you’re doing and you’re starting to grow your internet business or blog, you need to get to grips with organising your time in the most efficient way possible.
This will mean scheduling time, where you’ll be able to fit in all the tasks required.
It’s very temping when you start to try and do everything at once.
This will not work. There is so much you have to do to just get proficient in ONE area, that you need to focus on one thing at a time — master that thing and THEN move on, but not before.
Here are some things you should make time for when you’re starting out.
While you need to do these things, you should create a routine for yourself. Set out tasks on specific days and try and stick to that each week.
I’ve also found using the pomodoro technique really helpful for increasing productivity.
- Content Creation – the first thing you should be focusing on if you have a blog/niche site, is your content. If you’re hoping to make money from your site, you need to be creating regular content and you need to work on this as often as possible – ideally 3 or more posts per week.
Helpful post: How to batch blog like a pro!
- Website Upkeep Tasks, for example checking broken links or affiliate links to products no longer for sale/out of stock, checking you’ve added alt text descriptions to images, expanding your articles or generally improving past content.
- Keep Up With Training: If you’re part of on an online training program, (such as WA) set aside time for your training, whether that be once a day or every couple of days, that you’re going to watch a training video.
- Keyword Research: Set aside a specific amount of time each week for doing keyword research. It will be much simpler to start creating content, when you already have a whole list of ideas.
Useful post: long tail/low competition keywords.
- Organising Your Content: Apparently some people have a content schedule planned two years ahead of time…(Ha! yeh right!). However, just having a week planned in advance can do wonders for your productivity.
Useful training: Creating an editorial calendar.
- Combine More Than One Task, if possible. For example, when I go out running, I listen to a podcast. This may be related to self-development, online business or blogging – but whatever it is, it should feel like I’m learning something!
- Instead Of Watching TV or Going On Facebook…. Pick up a book for a break instead. Buying books that are going to help you in your business, or simply change your mindset for the better are worthwhile spending time on. Therefore, even in your “free time” it feels you’re getting things done.
- Have A Diary Or Calendar! Each morning, spend 5 to 10 minutes just working out your essential tasks of the day. Only write a few down, so they are manageable. Try and do these essential tasks FIRST! After that, you have more freedom to choose what you want to do.
Useful post: Bloggers, how to stop procrastinating & get stuff done.
What You Shouldn’t Be Wasting Time On:
- Checking email. Really, really, really… allow once or twice a day for this. I know I’ve been guilty of checking email relentlessly and answering emails as they come in but this is a massive time waster. People can wait, they are not desperate for a response the second they send an email.
- Relentlessly check google analytics and webmaster tools. Have set times for doing this and don’t become obsessive. If you have a decent chunk of data to analyse, you will have more to work with.
- Obsessively Check Your Affiliate Accounts For Sales. If you have signed up to affiliate programs – don’t check them out ten times a day. This is especially unnecessary in the beginning – you will feel really depressed if you continuously check your accounts to find a big fat ZERO! (Did I used to do this? YES!).
Essentially, the best way to get more done is to create a schedule that works for you and try and block out a lot of the unnecessary distractions.
What works for me best, is knowing exactly what I’m going to be doing that day – it certainly doesn’t always work out that way. But if I have a plan, I’m far more likely to commit to it.
Another thing that can help, is getting up earlier and getting all your organising out of the way first thing in the morning… you can read more about that over at this post.
So, despite my attempts to keep on the straight and narrow, things do not always go to plan.
The things I struggle with most are – looking at my email accounts and getting distracted by social media.
What are the hardest aspects for you?
Let me know in the comments!
All the best…
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