Do It Yourself or a Hire Professional?

Have you just created a website? If you work from home, your intention is to make money with that website. Whether you generate income through affiliate links or by selling a product or service, internet marketing is vital to your success. An internet marketing campaign lets consumers know you have something for sale.

 

Since internet marketing is an important component of making money with a website or even a blog, it must be incorporated into your business plan. However, you might assume there isn’t enough room or time for it. In fact, your first thought may be to avoid doing your own internet marketing and hire a professional.

 

Professional internet marketers are easy to find online. To get started, perform a standard internet search. After a close examination, you will find that most have a long list of well-known clients they work with, have an amazing list of testimonials, and so forth. Also, a close look will show you that internet marketers do not come cheap. In fact, the cost may surprise you. Essentially, this may once again leave you rethinking your marketing approach.

 

So, what should you do? Should you do your own internet marketing or hire a professional? In all honesty, you should do your own. Even if internet marketing is a subject that you are unfamiliar with, you can learn it. It is a lot easier than you may have originally thought, especially when you have a good sense of time management. In fact, if you have poor time management skills, you should work on improving those before you start an internet marketing campaign.

 

In terms of improving your use of time, there are many steps and changes you can make. To get started, create to-do lists. These can be done on a daily basis and outline each task you need to complete. When finished, cross it from your list and move on to the next. You can also eliminate distractions or interruptions. Do you find yourself talking on the phone when you should be working? If so, don’t answer your phone and don’t make any personal calls during business hours. Once you eliminate distractions or at least learn to tone them out, you can start improving your use of time and productivity.

 

Once you realize the connection between time management and internet marketing and its importance, you can begin to get started. If you are unfamiliar with internet marketing, research the subject. There are many internet marketing forums where tips are shared. Visit these forums. What is nice about this approach is that you can ask questions if you have any. Just remember to use online forums for research, not for personal chats.

 

After you familiarize yourself with a few internet marketing approaches, such as keyword optimized articles, signatures in message forums, banner and link exchanges, and so forth, you can get started. Now, it will take you a little bit of time to master the trade. For example, keyword articles can be difficult to write. It takes time and experimentation to find the best keywords and properly implement them into your articles. So, don’t give up if you don’t see results right away. It will take time and a lot of practice.

 

Finally, it is important to not focus solely on one internet marketing tactic. Even if you find a successful traffic and sale generator, use multiple methods. The key is to properly manage your time so that you can give each opportunity a try over the course of a week or one month.

 

Get More Done

Do you run a website that sells a product, a service, or generates income through affiliate links? If so, internet marketing is a task you must complete. Unfortunately, internet marketing isn’t something you can do and be done with. To successfully generate income overtime with your website, you need to develop a lasting and long-term internet marketing plan.

 

When creating an internet marketing plan, there are many questions you need to answer. First, start with the large ones. These include how you want to market your website, products, or services. If you are new to internet marketing, research your options. You will find they are unlimited. Once you have developed a plan of action, such as buying advertisements, using article directories, link exchanges, and so forth, there is another important question you need to answer. 

 

When should you work as an internet marketer? What should your work schedule hours be?

 

Before outlining ways for you to carefully choose your work hours, know that you may not have a say in the matter. Internet marketing and making money online can be a full-time job, but not everyone uses it as such. If you work part-time, your hands may be tied, in terms of flexibility. However, if you are a full-time home-based worker, please continue reading on for helpful tips.

 

Work when you work the best. We all have grooves that we get into. These are times when we work the best, when we come up with the best ideas, or when we are the most productive. Some are early birds, rising and ready to work before the sun is even up. Others are night owls, working into the early morning hours. What type of person are you? Choose to work when you produce the best results.

 

Work when you have few interruptions. Are you a parent? Can you work when the kids are not home? If your children attend school, work during the day. If your children are home on vacation, there are benefits to readjusting your hours to late nights or early mornings. When you limit or eliminate your interruptions, you can work continuously.

 

Work when you have few distractions. Unfortunately, interruptions can’t always be eliminated as a problem, especially if you are a parent. You can, however, eliminate distractions. Do you have a favorite television show that you watch weekly or do you have houseguests every Tuesday night? If so, now is not the time to work. Readjust your schedule, even if just for one day a week, so that you can work without distractions.

 

When choosing what hours to work on internet marketing, many run into a common problem. That problem is not having enough hours in the day. That is why it is important to create a schedule. You cannot be expected to market your website a hundred different ways in one day, so spread the tasks throughout the week or month. And, in dire times hire a professional to outsource your work to. Freelance web content writers and graphic designers can help you market your website for an affordable fee.

 

As previously stated, you may not have the luxury of choosing your hours to work on internet marketing. If that the case, take anytime that you can get. Remember, the more you market your product, service, or affiliate links, the more income you will generate.

How Managing Your Time Can Save You Time

Do you rely on your skills as an internet marketer to generate income? You may sell your services to others or use your skills to drive traffic to a website you monetized. Regardless of how you make money as an internet marketer, you must not only have good marketing skills, but good time management skills. Why? Because managing your time can save you time.

 

Managing your time can save you time. That sounds like a neat and catchy phrase, but is it really true? Yes, it is. Unfortunately, many individuals look at good time management as nothing more than a useful skill. Yes, it is, but it can be so much more. It can be transformed into a time saving and moneymaking tool. How?

 

An important component of time management is knowing how your time is spent. For example, how do you market a website for yourself or a paid client? Do you submit articles to directories, submit websites to directory lists, or you buy advertisements? If so, you are on the right path, as you are getting work done. But, are you using your time to its fullest extent?

 

One of the many pitfalls of working as an internet marketer is that you work from home and on the computer. There are many benefits to doing so, but many cons as well. One of those being rampant distractions. Every time you turn around, you may find a distraction. These distractions could include an incoming phone call from a relative, a sink full of dirty dishes, an interesting website you found online, or computer games. Are you avoiding these distractions, eliminating them as an issue, toning them out, or falling victim to their allure? If falling victim to their allure, you are not making full use of your time.

 

But wait! Above, you stated that you are getting many internet marketing tasks done throughout the day. Yes, this is good, but you are still not making full use of your time. Even if you send an email to a family member, you are wasting time. It doesn’t matter whether you spend 30 seconds or three minutes sending that email, it is still wasted time.

 

When your workday involves more than just working, you get less done. By eliminating distractions and improving your time management, you can get more done. This is nice, but look at it from an opportunity standpoint. When you finish your to-do list quicker, you can do something else. If you are an avid internet user, your newfound free time many be spent focusing on researching new internet marketing tactics, but it could also be spent with your friends or family.

 

In addition to saving you time, properly managing your time can also help you generate income. In fact, it can prevent you from losing money. When an internet marketer, you generate income by either selling your service or marketing a product you sell. Regardless of which category you fall into, time management is vital to your success and your high earnings. By eliminating distractions and doing nothing but work during business hours, you distribute more links over the internet and complete more paid projects. 

 

In short, time management is more than just a nice skill to have. When properly used, it can be a moneymaking and time saving tool.

 

How to Get More Done as an Internet Marketer

Are you new to internet marketing? If so, you may want to improve your time management. So, how can you do so?

 

Realize that time is money. Time is money is a common phrase that you may hear all the time; however, it is very important to an internet marketer, such as yourself. Why? Because your ability to manage your time and market a website, product, service, or blog will have a direct impact on your income generated. For example, do you sell products on your website? The more traffic you generate with marketing, the more sales you will receive.

 

Do not let your computer be a distraction. As you can gather, internet marketing involves using the internet. Yes, it is your job to use the internet, but you must use it properly. Unfortunately, distractions are common when using a computer. For starters, computers come preloaded with games. There is also the internet factor. These are many interesting websites online, as well as fun instant messaging programs. Enjoy these things in your free time, but not during work hours.

 

Eliminate your distractions. As previously stated, playing games on a computer or using instant messaging programs can be a huge source of distraction. For starters, do not use them. If your willpower to stay away isn’t strong enough, disable these programs or entirely delete them from your computer.

 

Since most internet marketers also work from home, it is important to eliminate distractions in the home. When not working, do housework to have a clean and professional workspace the next day. Do not watch television or answer the phone when working. These tasks will disrupt your work, hindering your ability to market and make money.

 

Research. Unfortunately, many new internet marketers make the mistake of believing that research is a distraction or a waste of time. It isn’t. As an internet marketer, you need to stay up-to-date on the latest happenings online. If you don’t, you may miss out on the “hottest,” way to market a product or service online. So, research. With that said, make sure research is all you do online. If you visit an internet marketing forum, ask questions if you need help, but avoid socializing or personal conversations.

 

Brainstorm and create a plan. Whether you are a new internet marketer or an experienced one, you should already have marketing ideas running around in your head. This is good, but what should you do with those ideas? Brainstorm and create a plan. A good example involves taking your ideas, prioritizing them, and creating a daily to-do list or schedule. For example, your first task could include updating a blog with a link to your website. Task number two could include choosing a product to give away in a marketing contest, and so forth.

 

Execute the above-mentioned plan. Once you have a list of internet marketing tasks to complete, get to work. Remember, it is important to stay focus and on task. Work on crossing items off your to-do list. Avoid distractions, such as surfing the internet, checking your personal email account, or watching the television in the background. By focusing only on your list of things to do, you can get more things done as an internet marketer.

 

Outsource when you fall behind. Whether you fell behind due to poor time management or if you just have too many tasks to complete and not enough hours, seek help. That help can come from a qualified outsourcer. Who you hire will depend on the task you need completed? Do you want to design a banner for a link exchange? Hire a graphic or web designer. Do you want to write articles for article directory submissions? If so, hire a freelance writer.

 

In short, there are many ways for you to get more done as an internet marketer. The best way to see success, which should include extra income, is to work on your time management skills. Do you see a problem or distraction? Eliminate it as an issue and focus solely on the tasks at hand.

 

Create a Time Management Plan in 6 Easy Steps

Do you do internet marketing? Whether it is your job to market websites, services, and products for others or if you are marketing your own personal projects, time management is key. In fact, your ability to work and manage your time is directly related to your income earnings. The more links you distribute and the more interest you generate, the more money you should make.

 

Since time management is an important component of becoming a successful and profitable internet marketer, you may wish to revamp the daily managing of your time. If so, continue reading on for 6 easy steps to get started.

 

1 - Brainstorm

 

Do not make the mistake of jumping right into work. Instead, take the time to brainstorm and develop a list of internet marketing tasks. Decide what you want to do for the day. How do you want to market and advertise today? Do you want to update your website or blog? Do you want to submit to article directories? Do you want to buy advertisements on similar websites? If so, list these items on a scrap sheet of paper.

 

2 - Prioritize

 

You might assume that you are done after brainstorming your daily tasks, but you are not. Next, you want to create a to-do list or a detailed schedule. To get started, prioritize. If working for yourself, as opposed to a client, you have more freedom. It is best to start with internet marketing tactics you know will work. Since there is less gamble, your work and the energy you put forth should pay off. For example, submitting articles to article directories is “safer,” than using Twitter to generate clicks to a website.

 

3 - Set Time Limits

 

As previously stated, you can create a detailed schedule. When doing so, use blocks of time. For example, 9am to 10am can be used for writing and submitting one article to EzineArticles.com. This gives you one hour to do the task. Yes, it does apply pressure, but a time limit can also serve as a source of motivation.

 

If you opt to create a detailed scheduled, set aside specific blocks of time. Even if you don’t take this approach, still create a time limit. Before you start each task, create a goal time to have it completed by.

 

4 - Stay Organized

 

Those who are unorganized often have poor time management. And, those with poor time management are often unorganized. To improve the use of your time, get organized. Make sure you are working in a clean and professional environment, even if only working from a laptop at your kitchen table.

 

5 - Know When to Outsource

 

Outsourcing is not the preferred method of internet marketing, as it does cost money. With that said, there will come a point in time where you fall behind or feel overwhelmed. This is when you should outsource. Outsourced projects do not need to be large. So, even if you only hire a writer to write one article for directory submission, you are still receiving much needed marketing help.

 

6 - Don’t Waste Time

 

The biggest time waster when working as an internet marketer is the internet. Yes, this seems ironic, but it is true. There are millions of things to do on the computer and online. Therefore, it is easy to get distracted and waste time. Set rules for yourself. For example, no checking your personal email, no communication with friends on instant messenger, no playing computer games, and no surfing the internet for random websites while working. The internet is a great source of entertainment, but not when you should be doing your job.

 

How to Stay Focused When You Work At Home

 

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 internet 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 in line 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.

 

Time Management Mistakes

Are you an internet marketer who finds it difficult to stay focused and stay on task? If so, you have a time management problem. The first step in curing a time management problem is to know what the problems are.

 

So, how do you know what your time management problems are? An easy approach is to examine common time management mistakes and see if they apply to you. 

 

Mistake #1 - Not Realizing Time is Money

 

Whether you sell your internet marketing services or use internet marketing to drive traffic to a website or blog where you sell a product, service, or generate income through affiliate links, time is money. Your ability to market a product, service, website, or blog, is what generates income. When you are successful, you make a sale or receive an advertisement click. 

 

The ability to make money based on your productivity is a unique opportunity. In the corporate world, it doesn’t matter how efficient and productive an employee is, they usually receive the same paycheck week after week. Since you have a unique opportunity, realize the potential. Remembering that time is money can serve as a source of motivation.

 

Mistake #2 - Using the Internet for Personal Communication

 

Yes, the internet makes it easy to stay in contact with friends and family. You are encouraged to do so, but on your own personal time. If you are working from 9 am to 3 pm, work only. Do not check your email, unless for business purposes only, avoid instant messaging programs, and so forth.

 

When you take the ability to socialize away from the internet, you will find it easier to manage your time and tasks.

 

Mistake #3 - Not Knowing Where You Are Wasting Time

 

Unfortunately, many home based workers waste time without realizing they are doing so. Many think that quickly checking their email won’t waste time, but it can. What if you check your email multiple times a day? You could waste as much as 15 minutes or more. That doesn’t count the time you may spend responding, clicking on links, and so forth.

 

Yes, it is important to start managing your time and right away, but first complete a trial run. Have a pen and paper handy and go about your day. Each time you find yourself stepping away from work, record the time and what you are doing. No that you know what your distractions are, eliminate them.

 

Mistake #4 - Allowing Distractions

 

Once you determine what distracts you from completing your daily internet marketing tasks, it is important to eliminate them. Do you use instant messaging programs to communicate with others for personal reasons, not business? If so, disconnect the program. When you do, it no longer becomes an issue.

 

In addition to eliminating distractions online, look at your surroundings. If you work from home, it is easy to find many distractions. Background noise is ideal for some, but do you find yourself watching television instead of working? If so, shut it off. Do not answer your phone. Instead, use caller identification and an answering machine so you can be alerted in an emergency. Otherwise, do answer the phone.

 

Mistake #4 - Justifying Your Actions

 

When may realize their common distractions, most will take steps to eliminate the problem, but others tend to justify it. Do not do this, as it will not improve your time management skills.

 

A unique way to market a website, blog, product, or service is with the use of applicable internet forums. For example, do you sell a dog obedience eBook? If so, create a message board signature with a link and a catchy sales phrase. Each time you post a message, your link will appear below. So, this approach involves chatting on internet forums. Do so, but only in moderation. Set aside a specific block of time, such as 30 minutes or 1 hour. Do not spend all day socializing and justifying your actions by claiming it is a marketing tactic.

 

Manage Time in 3 Easy Steps

Do you work as an internet marketer? Whether you advertise and market websites, products, services, or blogs for clients or if internet marketing is one of the many hats you wear working for yourself, time management is key. Your income levels depend on your ability to not only market a website, product, or service, but do so in a quick and effective matter.

 

One of the many time management mistakes new internet marketers make is jumping right into work. Yes, there are benefits to doing this, like getting a head start, but think long-term. Without first developing a plan, you may later find yourself fluster, unorganized, and behind schedule. 

 

So, how do you avoid this? By taking three easy steps. These three steps are highlighted below for your convenience. Once followed and properly implemented, they can improve your internet marketing skills and produce effective, profitable results.

 

1 - Think

 

Thinking, otherwise known as brainstorming, is vital to the success of a new internet marketer. Why? Because you are still learning the trade. You may know that search engine optimization is a great organic way to market a website, but do you know about article directories and the use of bank links? If not, you are missing out on moneymaking opportunities.

 

For that reason, take the time to think and do a little bit of research. Brainstorm ways to market. Once you have a set of tasks in mind, start to plan your day.

 

2 - Plan

 

Many stops planning once they brainstorm. This is a costly mistake. Having a set of tasks in mind for the day is ideal, but it will not help if you have poor time management skills. To get started, create a to-do list or a detailed scheduled. This can be done by hand or with the use of a computer program, such as Microsoft Word or a spreadsheet.

 

Take the tasks you developed in your above-mentioned brainstorming session and put them in order. You may want to start with easy to implement steps, such as posting on related messages boards with a link attached in your signature. You can then move onto more complicated forms of internet marketing, such as writing content that is optimized with keywords for the search engines.

 

If knowing the tasks you need to complete are not enough, create a detailed schedule. Give yourself specific blocks of time to complete each task. For example, do you belong to a work-at-home forum where you can advertise your eBook in your signature? Create a specific block of time to complete this task, such as 30 minutes from 10:30am until 11am.

 

3 - Execute

 

The final step of this 3-step plan is to execute. You might assume this to be the easiest step, but it isn’t. When executing an internet marketing plan or to-do list, many home-based workers find themselves distracted. Whether it be reading the news online, continuously checking email, or instant messaging friends and family, distractions are common and easy to fall victim to.

 

When executing an internet marketing plan, it is important to stay focused and on task. That is why a detailed schedule is recommended. On your schedule, set aside specific blocks of time for a specific task. If you must, set an alarm clock to warn you when your time is about to expire.

 

The easiest way to execute an internet marketing plan without falling victim to distractions is to avoid them. For example, turn the television off in the background, shutoff your instant messaging program, and so forth. When your distractions are eliminated, you will find it easier to execute your daily tasks.

 

In conclusion, internet marketing is a great way to work from home. Why? Because your income all depends on your success and your ability to manage your time. This is an amazing and rare opportunity. For that reason, implement the three above mentioned steps to ensure you make money from home, not lose it.

Manage Tasks with a Spreadsheet

Do you do internet marketing? Whether you sell your skill as an internet marketer to other webmasters or if you market your own website, blog, product, or service, time management is key. After all, your income depends on how much marketing you are able to accomplish.

 

Since time management is an important component of generating income as an internet marketer, you may be looking for helpful tips. Yes, there is time management software available for sale, but this software is not only expensive, but it can be another source of distraction. For that reason, rely on simpler tools, like a spreadsheet.

 

So, why should you use a spreadsheet for time management as an internet marketer?

 

It is free. You should already have a spreadsheet program on your computer. Whether you use Microsoft Word or Microsoft Words, one will be available to you. Since it is free to use and already installed on your computer, why not use one? When properly used, this free tool will produce the same results as many expensive time management software programs.

 

It is easy. Spreadsheets are designed to promote organization. For that reason, it is easy for you to use one to your advantage. Get started with a blank spreadsheet. Fill in the tasks you need to complete on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. In fact, that leads to another benefit of using spreadsheets as a time management tool, your options.

 

You can create a spreadsheet however you want. With that said, make sure your guide is always organized, easy to print, or easy to read on the computer. Since spreadsheets are organizational tools, do not let them create more problems. Take a few extra minutes to complete yours.

 

As previously stated, you can make a spreadsheet anyway you see fit. Daily spreadsheets are ideal for going into great detail. If you end up completing your tasks, but rushing at the last minute, you need to change your daily and hourly work habits. The best way is with a daily spreadsheet schedule. With a daily spreadsheet, you can do set blocks of time. For example, in the columns record time blocks, such as 9am to 10am. In the rows underneath, write what you want to do in that time frame.

 

If you are marketing your own website, as opposed to marketing for hire, your spreadsheet can be less in detail. For example, do you want to write five articles for article directories? Instead of writing the titles of each article, just write “Write five articles and submit.” Once you have completed those articles, cross them from your list. Being general lets you use the same spreadsheet each week, which is ideal for creating a common, productive schedule. Just save a copy on your computer and print when the day arrives.

 

In addition to daily spreadsheet schedules, weekly are popular as well. If you are okay with managing your time, but have only a few problems, a weekly schedule may work. Remember, if you have difficulties managing your hour-to-hour day, a daily spreadsheet is recommended.

 

When creating a weekly internet marketing spreadsheet schedule, start with the columns. Write each day in a separate column. This may require 2 printable pages. In the rows underneath, highlight the tasks you want to complete. In addition to being generalized, you can go into further detail. For example, record the names of the articles you want to write or which directories you intend to submit to.

 

To use a spreadsheet as a time management tool, it is important to use it. For that reason, print your sheet. Having a detailed to-do list in the form of a spreadsheet right by your side will be easier. In fact, regularly having to bring it up on your computer screen can technically be considered a distraction. Remember, when looking to improve your time management skills, even the smallest distractions can cost you time and money.