Oct 8

Are you an internet marketer?  If so, you may spend all day on the computer.  Unfortunately, the computer and the internet makes distractions easy.  For example, researching marketing forums for new ideas is ideal, but not if you spend hours carrying on personal conversations with other members.

To be a successful internet marketer, time management is important.  Unfortunately, many new to the business assume time management is difficult or costly.  Yes, it can be, but there are easy and affordable approaches you can take.  A few cheap ways to manage your time are highlighted below.

1 – Create a To Do List

A to-do list is a cheap time management tool, as all you need is a pen and a piece of paper.  If you prefer, your list can be complied in Microsoft Word or a spreadsheet.  Each morning or the night before, create a to-do list for yourself.  What tasks do you need to accomplish throughout the day?  For example, do you want to approach webmasters for banner exchanges or research website page ranks to find the best advertising deals?  If so, include these items on your daily to-do list.

When creating your daily to-do list, go into great detail.  For example, step number one could include approach five webmasters for link exchanges.  Once the task as been completed, cross it from your list.

Not only will a to-do list give you a set guide to follow, but it helps to promote motivation.  

2 – Create a Schedule

A to-do list is an easy way to manage your time, as you are provided with a list of what must be completed in a day.  Crossing tasks from your list may serve as a source of motivation, if not, a schedule is recommended.  Set aside a specific time frame for you to complete a task.  

Do you want to submit articles to directories you paid an outsourced writer to write?  If so, set aside a specific block of time to doing so.  For example, submit these articles between 9 and 10 am.  By keeping an eye on the clock, you know when you are starting to fall behind, allowing you to pickup the pace.

3 – Use a Desktop Calendar

Creating a detailed schedule or to-do list is ideal for internet marketers with serious time management problems.  If you are good at time management or staying on task, you can take a more lax approach.  One of those approaches is using a desktop calendar.

Desktop calendars are large in size, enabling you to write various tasks on a daily slot, but without great detail.  Do so.  Each time you complete a task, cross it from your calendar.

Desktop calendars are available for sale online and in many local department stores and office supply stores. They tend to retail for under $5, making them an affordable way to manage your time.

4 – Use an Alarm Clock

An alarm clock is a cheap way to manage your time as an internet marketer, as you should already have one in your home.  An alarm clock is ideal when used in conjunction with a daily schedule.  

As sited as an example above, you created a one hour block for submitting outsourced articles to directories with back links.  Set your alarm clock to go off at 10am.  This signals that it is time to stop and start a new task or quickly finish.

5 – Think of the Money

As an internet marketer, you may work for clients who hire you to drive traffic to their websites or you may do the same for your own websites, blogs, products or services.  Regardless of who you work for, it is important to think of the money.  This can serve as motivation.

When you stay focused and on task, you do your job.  That job is to drive traffic to a website, blog, product or service.  Many times, this will translate into money.  Remember the more you work, the more money you will make.

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Sep 23

Do you work from home as an internet marketer?  Whether webmasters pay to access your marketing skills or if you market your own personal websites, time management is important to your success.  In terms of time management, your ability to stay focused and on task is crucial.

So, how can you stay focused and on task as an interenet marketer?

Avoid online forums.  Unfortunately, it is easy to market a website, product, or service online.  With the use of signatures, posting in an online forum can be considered a form of marketing.  However, use your best judgment.  Choose message boards inline with what you need to market, such as a pet board for pet products.  Set aside a specific block of time for marketing on forums, like 30 minutes.  Stop when your 30 minutes are up.

Avoid instant messaging programs.  If you are marketing a product or service you sell, you should not need to have an instant messaging program open on your computer.  The only exception would be if you are internet marketer for hire who uses instant messages for business purposes.  Other than that, do not socialize on instant messaging programs.  In fact, avoid them at all costs.

Avoid surfing the internet.  Since internet marketing relies on the use of the internet, you will need to use it.  There is a difference between surfing the internet for internet marketing ideas and viewing random, but interesting pages.  For example, search online for internet marketing forums where the latest tips are shared, but avoid other websites, such as those for news, gossip, and sports.  View these websites on your own time.

Avoid checking your personal email.  One of the biggest time wasters in the day of an internet marketer is email.  If you are currently using one email account for personal use and business use, stop immediately.  An email account just for business enables you to check your email throughout the day, but without getting distracted with personal messages.

Let everyone know you work.  Unfortunately, not everyone understands the concept of working from home.  Some actually think it is nothing more than a clever disguise to be lazy and watch television all day.  This means you may find friends, family members, or neighbors calling or stopping by for a visit.  Do not let this happen.  Instead, let everyone know you do work a normal job, just from home.  Also make it known that you will not be available during work hours unless for emergencies.

Create a to-do list.  Having a daily to-do list by your side is one of the best ways to stay focused and on task as an internet marketer.  Why?  Because you have a specific guide to follow.  For example, your list for the day may include marketing on message boards, writing search engine optimized content, and so forth.  As you complete each task, cross it from your to-do list.  A to-do list not only serves as a helpful guide, but as a source of motivation.

Create a detailed schedule.  If you have time management problems, a simple to-do list may not be enough.  If that is the case, create a detailed schedule.  A schedule is essentially a to-do list with times attached.  Set aside blocks of time for specific internet marketing tactics, such as message board marketing or article directory submission.  Keep an eye on the clock.  When you have a deadline, you are likely to increase your productivity and stay better focused.

Know the consequences of not staying on task.  It is nice knowing how you can stay on task as an internet marketer, but you need to know what the consequences are for not.  Unfortunately, many make the mistake of believing they will just fall behind.  Yes, this will happen, but there is also the money aspect.  Time that is wasted, as opposed to spent marketing a website with affiliate links, products, or services for sale translates into money lost.  Essentially the more marketing links you distribute online, the money you can make.

In my new ebook Motivation To Succeed Online I teach you how to stay focused.

Borge Hansen

http://www.yourcareergoals.net

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