You may have heard this many times before, but it’s worth repeating. Most Internet marketers do not succeed online because they fail to take action.Let me add my own spin to this: it’s not just any action that’s important, but rather focused, meaningful, productive action.
You can read all the latest ebooks on how to succeed online, but unless your actions are results-oriented, you won’t move forward. Frustration ensues, and this is when most people give up.
If you’re just starting out, you have the advantage of recognizing this, thus avoiding the pitfalls of ‘running in place’. This is an especially challenging issue for Internet marketers who typically work out of their homes - and thus have to learn how to manage their time effectively and productively.
All too often I have found myself bouncing from one project to another, and then wondering at the end of the day what I’ve accomplished. I realized I needed some strategies to help me stay focused, and when repeated, these strategies become habits.
Here are some ideas I want you to think about.
ELIMINATING DISTRACTIONS:
1. Turn off the TV and the radio.
2. Carve out some specific time during the day for your online business.
3. Close the door to your home office or work space.
4. Turn off the phone.
5. Work on one project at a time.
6. Close all browser windows except for what is needed for the single project you’re working on.
STAYING FOCUSED:
1. Develop a business plan.
2. Don’t buy ebooks or software or subscribe to newsletters that lead you away from your plan.
3. Create a weekly and daily to-do list (more on this later).
4. Use a timer. Work in 45-50 minute blocks without interruption.
5. Work on one clearly defined project at a time.
6. Keep a Daily Progress Chart.
7. Reward yourself when you complete a project.
DON’T GET BOGGED DOWN WITH:
1. Checking your email. Check it quickly once in the morning, and then not until you’ve completed a project.
2. Browsing forums. Yes, we can learn a lot by visiting forums, but they also serve to keep us away from the task at hand. Do this later in the day, after you’ve completed a project.
3. Reading marketing materials/ebooks: while education is vital to our success, mark out a time later in the day or evening for this work. Get some projects done first.
Are you ready to take action? Then grab a sheet of paper and jot down a quick ‘to-do’ list for what you want to accomplish today. Prioritize the tasks, and then get going!
Next time we’ll talk some more about time management strategies, and I’ll tell you about an application that I’m using that helps me stay focused on my daily activities.
In the meantime, please share your ideas on how to stay focused by adding your comment to this post. We’d love to hear from you!