Guest post from Carrie of Natural Mom Talk Radio
Every work-at-home-mom wants to maximize her time online. Whether you are a blogger, virtual assistant, writer, or crafter, here are six tips that will help you get more done in less time when you boot up your computer:
1. Define Your Purpose
Before you even open your computer, know exactly what you're going to accomplish and get right down to business.
I'm reminded of those movie scenes of medieval times when a traveler arrives at the gates of the city. Before he is allowed in, he must state his business. Doing so will help you avoid aimlessly checking email, social media accounts, and the like (who, me!?). Personally, I find it imperative to have a to-do list at my side so I don't get sidetracked.
2. Analyze
What are the steps you regularly take in your business? Are they paying off for you? Are your marketing efforts producing measurable results?
It's important to track these things so you don't waste time in unprofitable activities. For example, getting to know your website stats so you can see where your traffic is coming from is vital.
Another area to analyze is your own energy and productivity levels. In her book, 2K to 10K: Writing Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love, author Rachel Aaron said that she created a spreadsheet to track how much she wrote at various times of the day. She was shocked to discover that simply by changing her writing schedule a bit, she could produce far more words in the same amount of time.
3. Think Like Henry Ford
Henry Ford didn't invent the car. He invented the assembly line, which made cars affordable, and that changed everything.
Mass production saves time, money and energy. How can you use the assembly line approach in your work? By batching similar activities together.
If you have a time slot to write an article and get on a roll, write two articles. Don't check your email all day. Check it once or twice a day, when you're actually at a computer and can answer emails.
Need to make some changes to your site? Wait until you have several tweaks, and do them all at once.
Brain researchers have told us that each time we have to switch gears mentally, we lose time and focus. So stay in flow. Multitasking doesn't really work.
4. Automate
Tools like autoresponders, vacation response settings in email, signature lines, e-courses, FAQ pages on your website, scheduling posts in your blog, etc. are all wonderful pieces of technology that allow you to do something once and benefit from it over and over.
For instance, if you are a virtual assistant, you probably find that clients ask you the same questions over and over again. Copy and paste those into an FAQ page on your website to save yourself time. If you're in direct sales and have a downline, train them all at once using Google Hangout, webinars, teleseminars and such.
5. Identify Your Shiny Objects
In some way, we're like that dog in the movie Up. (Squirrel! ) We get distracted by shiny objects online. Maybe it's email, Twitter, visiting message forums, reading too many blogs, Facebook or Pinterest — oh, don't get me started on Pinterest!
You might just have to eliminate some of your social media accounts if they aren't anything more than a distraction. Consider using some of the free software available to help you block these, because here's the honest truth: Anything that doesn't directly earn you income needs to be done in your free time, after money-making activities.
6. Use a Timer
If you have young kids, you probably know the power of the timer. The timer keeps your preschooler in time out. The timer tells your impatient child "how much longer?!" until something happens. Etc. Why not utilize the mysterious power of the timer on yourself?
If it currently takes you 45 minutes to write a blog post (which you should know from the "analyze" portion), challenge yourself. Set the timer for 35 minutes then hit publish. If you have only an hour to work while hubby plays with the baby, set a timer for 45 minutes and work quickly, then check email and Twitter.
These are a few of the tips that have helped me to stay focused and get more done online… do you have anything else to add to my list?
Carrie, a wife and mom to seven lively kids, writes about homeschooling, practical frugality and natural parenting at Natural Mom Talk Radio. She is the author of the ebook, Slash Your Grocery Budget *and* Eat a Whole Foods Diet with ALDI.
Got student debt? Sign up for SmarterBucks (for free!) and earn rewards that help pay down your student loans. Click here to learn more. 
Related Stories
Just a reminder that the live Google+ webcast is tomorrow!
On Thursday, August 22, 2013 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST I'll be doing a live Q&A on Google+! During that hour, I'll be answering as many of your pre-submitted questions as possible. There's no set topic for the event — so feel free to ask me anything and I'll answer as many questions as I can!
This will be a fun way for us to just get to hang out live for a bit. (I wish it could be in real-life — but virtual chatting can be the next best thing to real-life chatting!) You can just show up and tune in or you can participate in the live chat that will be happening at the event page during that time, too.
There are two ways you can submit your questions ahead of time:
1. Fill out this quick form.
2. Post your questions as a comment on the Google+ event page.
I'll pull questions from both places and answer them during the live event. It's likely that I won't be able to answer every question that's submitted — but, if I can't get to your question, you may see your question used as inspiration for a future Money Saving Mom® blog post!
To watch the Q&A session live, just head over to the Google+ event page at 3:00pm EST on August 22nd. You don't have to have a Google+ account to watch the event (but if you'd like to participate during it by leaving comments on the event page, you will need to have a Google+ account).
We hope you'll join us on August 22, 2013 — and feel free to invite your friends, too!
By the way, don't forget you can follow Money Saving Mom® on Google+ and join the Money Saving Mom® Google+ Community!
Got student debt? Sign up for SmarterBucks (for free!) and earn rewards that help pay down your student loans. Click here to learn more. 
Related Stories
Here are some of the best deals at Target this week, with thanks to Marcy from Stretching a Buck for her help in compiling them:
Hormel Rev Wrap – $1.67
Buy 3 Get 1 Free
Use $1/2 printable or coupon from the 8/11 SmartSource insert
Stack with $1/2 Target printable
$0.25 each after coupons
Green Grapes – $1.69/lb
Use $1/1 Target Mobile Coupon (FRESH)
$0.69/lb after coupon
Eggo Breakfast Items (select) – $2
Use $1.50/1 printable
$0.50 after coupon
Skippy Peanut Butter – $2.50
Use $0.55/1 printable
Or use $0.50/1 coupon from the 7/28 SmartSource insert
As low as $1.95 after coupon
Kellogg's Cereal (select 11 to 18.2 oz) – $2.75
Buy 5 – Get a $5 Target Gift Card
Use $0.70/1 printable here or here
$1.05 each after coupons and gift card
Glade Wax 3.1 oz., Candles 4 oz or 2 pk Oil Refills – $2.99
Use $1/1 printable
Use 5% off Cartwheel.com coupon
And use $1/1 Target printable
$0.99 each after coupons
Natural Instincts Hair Color – $5.99 each
Use $2/1 Target coupon from the 7/28 SmartSource insert
Stack with $5/2 coupon from the 8/18 SmartSource insert
$1.49 each after coupons
Band Aid Kids Licensed (20 or 25 ct) – $2.29
Use $0.50/1 printable
Or buy 2 and use $2/2 coupon from CVS Minute Clinic: Get Ready for Back-to-School
As low as $1.29 each after coupon
See the full list of deals at Target this week here.
Did you find a great deal at Target? Just post about it on your blog and leave your link below. To make it easy for everyone to navigate quickly through the links, your link must link directly to your Target deals post. Links going to the homepage of your blog or any other part of your blog besides the direct link to your Target deals post will be deleted.
Got student debt? Sign up for SmarterBucks (for free!) and earn rewards that help pay down your student loans. Click here to learn more. 
Related Stories
No comments:
Post a Comment