One of the most fruitful undertakings for an internet marketer is to become more efficient and gain more time. Most people in business on the net do not even begin to think about this until they are stretched as thin as they can go. So you need to ensure that you’re on the right track and always work to be improving your time management skills. It’s really not as complicated as people make it out to be. If you need to do something, then you can begin right here in this article on managing your time.
You should regularly invest your money in things that just work. That is why selecting a impeccable web host like Hostgator is the first thing you should do.
Keep track of your time so that you know where it is being spent. You can do this by carrying a record of all your activities and thoughts. You’ll know precisely how much of your time is spent on productivity. This allows you to improve your time management skills as you progress. So shooting in the dark should not be an option for you when you’re trying to manage your time. The more effort you put into knowing your own habits and understanding your own approach, things will be blurry.
Even just this one step will help you make your time management skills better. You maybe already know that so many things that we do as web marketers is not the most exciting stuff in the world. What you do each day will depend on your marketing method, so you will do what is required of you. If you can outsource, then that is a good idea but the catch is to have the money for it. What is usually the deciding criteria for outsourcing has to do with losing money per hour doing the mundane things. The clear path to taking your business to higher levels is getting into money and hiring others to help you.
The first half an hour of your day should be set aside for planning. If you want to stay ahead of yourself then this step is important. You can really help yourself by spending that time planning out your day’s activities. You will know in which direction you’re moving, which will help you re-design your activities if needed. So, overall, your goal needs to be making sure that you getting as much work done as possible in as little time as possible. As long as you persevere, managing your time as an Internet Marketer isn’t all that difficult.
Finding success when you are an Internet marketer is all about building a really strong foundation before you do anything else. To do that properly, you need to know how and where your time is getting spent. If you want to get the most from your online business, you need to make sure that you are good at time management. There is a lot more that you can achieve from your Internet marketing business if you simply get this right. Your mind should be focused on enhancing your productivity and skills, while you progress. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and apply the above time management tips to get better results from your IM business.
TMN’s Best of 2011
As the year ends, I want to give recognition to the best productivity tools of the past year.
So, today’s post is about Time Management Ninja’s favorite tools of 2011.
You may have heard me talk about some of these previously. And there are a couple that I have kept to myself until now.
These are the tools that were in my arsenal this year.
Hopefully, you will add a few of these to yours.
Best Todo List: Wunderlist
Wunderlist is the best todo list out there.
It works on almost all devices out there. It syncs effortlessly between all of your platforms. It has sharable lists.
And of course, it is deadly simple.
None of the bloat that hampers other todo lists.
You can read my previous reviews of Wunderlist here and here.
Go get Wunderlist (Free).
Best Email App: Sparrow
My email client of choice is Sparrow for Mac.
I think it is the best lightweight email client out there.
Read my previous review here.
It is fast, powerful, and productive.
Get Sparrow from the Mac App Store. (.99 – There is also a free lite version to try it out.)
Best Calendar App: Fantastical
Want the most productive calendar out there?
Want to add that conference date for next year to your calendar in mere seconds?
You have to try Fantastical. It is that good.
Fantastical sits in your menu bar and springs to life when you need it. It has some of the best event text recognition I have seen. It interprets your input to immediately place your event on your calendar.
Get Fantastical from the Mac App Store. (.99)
I have been remiss in doing a full review of Fantastical. I will remedy that soon.
Best Online Notes App: Workflowy
Here is a well-kept secret.
I have been using Workflowy for the past few months.
It is like having an endless notebook in the cloud. You can take notes, make lists, or write outlines.
It is fast, slick, and a great way to get your thoughts out-of-your-head. And you can then access it from anywhere.
If you like note apps and are looking for a cloud-accessible solution, look no further than Workflowy.
Check out Workflowy. (Free)
Best Password Manager: LastPass
Save time and effort, and be safer at the same time!
I use LastPass to manage all my passwords. (See my review here.)
It also helps me generate complex passwords and remembers them so that I do not have to.
The best part is that I can access my passwords from the cloud no matter where I am.
They recently added Goggle Authenticator support for 2-factor authentication. Because you can’t be too secure.
Get LastPass today. (Free and Premium)
Best Social Media Tool: Buffer
If there is one tool that has changed how I use social media in 2011, it is Buffer.
Simply put, Buffer is the quickest way to tweet or post to Facebook.
Get the Chrome extension and start using it today. You can even do it from your mobile. And from Twitter itself!
Here is the magic formula… you add things to your queue and Buffer tweets/posts them at preset prime times that you have set up.
It’s really handy when I am working at 4AM and want to queue up top content for my readers to see later in the day.
It takes seconds to use and has saved me a lot of time and effort in my social media workflow.
I recently added Buffer to the share options on TMN. (See the new Buffer button in the share area…)
Joel and Leo have proven what a small team with a great idea can produce!
Go get Buffer. (Free and Premium)
Best Journal App: Day One
I have previously written about the productivity benefits of having a journal.
Day One is my journal of choice. I have it on my iPhone, iPad, and MacBook. It stays secure and perfectly in sync.
Day One can even prompt you at regular intervals to remind you to add to your journal.
If you need one journal app, this is it.
Get Day One for Mac here. (.99)
Or try Day One for iPhone/iPad. (.99)
Best Utility App: Clarify
Clarify is one of the latest additions to my productivity toolkit.
It is a screen capture app specifically designed to make instruction sets.
Ever need to quickly explain to a teammate how to do something inside an app?
Or do you want to demonstrate a specific feature to someone via email?
Clarify helps you construct PDF instructions in mere minutes.
I was amazed to see how quickly you can construct a document.
The app is well designed and the simplicity is impressive.
Get Clarify in the App store. (.95 – You can also get a free trial.)
Best Gadget: iPad 2
Don’t bother with any other tablets.
I don’t care if they cost or have “Fire” in their name, you are wasting your time and money.
I won’t even try to convince you otherwise.
Instead, here is an actual conversation I overheard in Costco one day in front of a competitor’s display.
Two young kids were talking about the tablet that was on display:
Kid 1, “Is that an iPad?”
Kid 2, “No, that is a tablet made by some ‘other’ company. That’s not what you want!”
Enough said.
Best of 2011…What’s Next?
These were the best tools of the past year.
I hope my recommendations will aid you in improving your productivity.
I am excited to see what new technology comes along in 2012 to improve and simplfy our lives.
What was your favorite productivity technology of 2011? What would you add to the list?
(Note: Some of the above links above are affiliate links.)
You know the sayings…
Every picture tells a story.
A picture is worth a 1000 words.
Take a picture, it’ll last longer.
Usually when we think of pictures we think of taking photos of friends, family, and vacations.
However, pictures can be a powerful tool to assist in your time management.
Do you use pictures to help with your productivity?
Every Picture Tells a Story
With smartphone cameras and apps like Evernote, it is simple to capture and file pictures.
These days, we don’t have to remember everything. In fact, sometimes taking a picture is the best solution.
“Taking a picture is often faster and captures more detail that writing down notes.”
Here are just a few reasons why you should take more pictures…
- Quick – Snapping a photo is fast! (Although, Siri is pretty quick…) With iOS 5 and your iPhone you can quickly snap a photo even when your phone is off. Simple double-tap the home button and press the camera button. Many people do not know about this new shortcut. Try it.
- Captures Detail – Photos capture information that you cannot get via written notes. Taking pictures of an object or a document can provide more insight that simple notes. So, pay more attention during that meeting and simply snap a picture of the whiteboard when the discussion is done.
- Cameras Everywhere - With our phones, most of us are carrying top-of-the-line cameras with us at all times. This was not always the case. Yet, many overlook the capability of their smartphone camera to help them be more productive.
- Store Your Pictures - With technologies like iCloud (PhotoStream) and software apps like Evernote, it is easier than ever to get photos off our phones. Evernote is particularly useful for filing pictures for future reference. It will even perform OCR on photos to look for keywords. If you are not familiar with Evernote, I highly recommend you check out Brett Kelly’s “Evernote Essentials Book.” It is a great getting started tutorial. (affiliate link)
Have A Photographic Memory
The next time you want to remember something, instead of reaching for that pen… grab your camera.
10 Things to Take Pictures of To Remember:
- Solutions to Problems - If you have the answer to a problem, take a picture. There is no reason to have to solve the problem a second time in the future. This is particularly useful for capturing the known state of something before you start troubleshooting.
- Important Information – Lose the scrap of paper, back of the napkin sketch or random business card. Instead of packing your wallet or purse, snap a quick picture and dispose of the clutter.
- Whiteboards – I often see people furiously scribbling notes during a brainstorming session. It is hard to actively participate if your head is down in your notebook. I prefer to engage and not distract myself with note-taking. Then at the end, I will snap a few pictures of the whiteboards that have filled up with ideas.
- Documents – When on the go, you can use your phone camera to scan paper documents into PDF. There are many great apps out there that do this. Try JotNot Scanner Pro for iPhone. With one button, you can even upload your PDF to Evernote.
- Where You Parked - Yes, there are many apps to help you remember where you parked. But, none of them are as simple or fast as snapping a quick photo. And it doesn’t have to be your parking space. It could be your hotel room door number or your rental car. If you travel a lot for business, you know how easy it can be to misplace your hotel room.
- People – I am great with faces, not so great with names. Take pictures of people you meet. Of course, be courteous and make sure you have their permission. Add their photo to your address book contacts.
- Details For A Todo – If you need specific information for a todo, take a picture of the relevant information. For example, if I need a prescription to order a refill, I will take a picture of the bottle before I depart for the day. Then I have the information with me when I am ready to call the pharmacy.
- Documents For An Appointment/Event – No need to carry miscellaneous papers with you to appointments. Carry them virtually in your photo roll. This is great way to carry invitations or directions to a special event right on your phone.
- Inventory or Physical Condition - Do you have a home inventory? Take pictures of all of your valuables in case of disaster. (Video can be even better.) Need to document the condition of something before you rent it? Take a picture in case there is a dispute later.
- Items You Need to Purchase – I keep photos of things like air filters, light bulb types, batteries, etc. filed in Evernote. When I need to purchase these items, I have the info with me. Having an actual picture, makes them easier to locate and identify.
Take A Picture
Using your smartphone camera to take pictures is a powerful way to increase your productivity.
Photos can save your time and effort.
I would love to see more todo apps that allow photos to be attached to tasks. (There are a few…)
Then next time you want to remember something, take a picture and you’ll have a great memory.
Whether it is of the family playing… or that todo that you need to do.
How do you use photos to improve your productivity?
Take a look at your calendar. How full is it?
Maybe there is too much on it. It may be full of things that others have scheduled for you.
Perhaps, you are guilty of letting others steal your time.
On the other hand, maybe your calendar is blank.
Just waiting (and wanting) to be filled up.
On the surface, it appears that you have plenty of free time.
However, an empty calendar can also be a productivity danger sign.
The Empty Calendar
What are you going to do today?
If your calendar is empty, you may think that you can do whatever your want. (Free day!)
There are some people that like the “take as it comes” approach.
(Many of these are the ones that I reference as driftwood on the river of life.)
Usually, a blank calendar means that you haven’t planned anything. You are unsure (and unaware) of what you need to be doing and when.
“I believe that a good plan beats no plan… any day of the week.”
On the flip side, too many meetings can be destructive and there are many reasons why you should skip that meeting.
Most meetings are a waste of time. No agenda, no purpose, and no follow-up.
However, when a meeting is with your work… that is another thing.
When More Meetings is Productive
Over-scheduling can be a bad thing. However, most people tend to under-schedule.
This is especially true when it comes to themselves.
“Most individuals let others schedule them all over the place
…but don’t take the initiative to schedule time for themselves.”
It is important to be take command of your calendar.
Here a few tips to help you better schedule your time:
- Call a Meeting with Yourself – Yes, with yourself. Everyone else calls meetings with you, why shouldn’t you also do so? Schedule time for yourself. The important thing is to do it in advance of others getting ahold of your time. I usually block out personal time 1-2 weeks in advance on my calendar.
- Let Your Calendar Help Your Todo List – Tasks need appointments, too. Let your calendar support your todo list by scheduling time to accomplish specific projects or work. This is a powerful technique that lets your tasks take priority over many of the daily timewasters.
- Don’t Leave Yourself Open – Leaving your time open only lets others think they can take it. For example, you are planning on using Thursday afternoon to work on an important report you need to write. What happens? By the time you reach Thursday, your Outlook calendar is peppered with meetings that your colleagues scheduled because they thought “you were open.”
- Don’t Be Afraid of Your Calendar – Don’t be afraid to put things on your calendar, even if they are placeholders. Most people are hesitant to add things to their calendar that are not definite. Be quick to put tentative plans on your calendar. It will prevent other things from taking their place.
- Defend Your Time – Be ruthless in defending your time. We don’t let others take our money, yet we are often careless in letting others steal our time. Money can be replaced, time cannot.
Call A Meeting With Your Work
Many meetings are a waste of time.
However, sometimes more meetings can be a good thing.
So, make sure that you schedule time for yourself.
Maybe it is time to call a meeting with your work.
What does your calendar look like? Is it covered with wasteful meetings or it full of scheduled time with your work?
Yesterday, I went to dispose of a piece of paper from my desk.
But, when I turned to my trash can… it was full. Actually, it was overflowing.
What did I do?
Since I was in the middle of a task, I put the paper back on my desk. I told myself that I would empty the trash at the next opportunity.
It occurred to me, that a full trash can was not very productive. It was not doing its job very well.
Is your trash can full?
Better yet, what else in your life is full and not doing its job?
Full To Overflowing
My trashcan was overflowing. (I like to throw things out.)
However, that was not helping me as my day went on. On more than one occasion I found myself refraining from throwing something out since I had no where to dispose of it. Those items ended up on my desk.
The trash can example stayed with me most of the day. I witnessed several other instances of tools not doing their job because they were completely full:
- A co-worker was unable to leave a message for his boss because their voicemail box was full.
- Someone’s email inbox was over the limit, and thus they couldn’t send or receive email.
- A team calendar was double and triple booked for most of the day.
- A friend’s todo list was overflowing to the point that they could not keep track of it.
Do overloaded tools affect your productivity at work?
Full Isn’t Functional
It is important to keep your productivity tools in working order.
“Our productivity tools are there to aid us and help us get things done. However, when they are overflowing to the point of being non-functional, they actually become a hindrance.”
Which of your tools are full?
- File Cabinets and Drawers – This is similar to the trash can example. If your cabinets and drawers are overflowing, you will not be able to find what you need or be able to put things away when you need to.
- Desk Top – This one deserves special mention. I was recently in an executive’s office and they had paperwork sprawled out across their desk that was almost a foot high. Not a very productive work scenario. Is your desk clean?
- Voicemail – Voicemail can be very time consuming. It can be frustrating when it is full. Try having your voicemail messages forwarded to your email or to another phone. I eliminated my work voicemail box by having it forward to my iPhone voicemail. (I prefer the iPhone’s visual voicemail anyway.)
- Email Inbox – Your email inbox is not a storage area, nor is it a todo list. If it is overflowing with thousands of messages you will inevitably lose important items among the noise. (Here are some ways to get tough with your email.)
- Purse or Wallet – If you purse or wallet is busting at its seams, you are not going to be able to access it very easily. And you probably won’t be able to find that one item that you suddenly need.
Do You Need to Empty the Trash?
Take a look around your workspace.
What is full? What is not doing its job?
It could be your trash can. Or your inbox. Or even your todo list.
Make sure that your tools are able to do their job in keeping you productive.
When you need them, they will be ready for you.
What in your workspace is full? How does it affect your productivity?