The Time-Stealing Traps To Avoid

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Have you ever said this: “It’s eight p.m and I still don’t have all of today’s task done.” Or done this: Spent all day catching up on email and other administrative tasks without getting anything else done?

I know I have. There are days I wonder why I didn’t accomplish half the stuff on my to-do list when I spent all day at the computer.

Or I tell myself I am just going to visit Facebook for a quick update, only to realize two hours later I am still on there. This is one time trap I am trying to break.

One of the problems is not using all the tools available to me to make this run more smoothly and efficiently. As a virtual assistant for others, it’s hard to outsource your own pesky tasks that you do daily for others.

But to be more efficient, and to grow, I have to learn to use the tools, to take advantage of the help from others for some tasks and to learn to embrace technology.

Here are 7 Simple Steps to Online Efficiency 

 

Time Trap #1: Not Knowing Your Market

You have to know who your target market is. You will be wasting time and effort trying to attract people who don’t fit your market. It isn’t wasting time figuring out everything you can about your potential buyers. If you are in the health niche, why are you creating products on how to make money online? Stick with what your health market is buying.

Time Trap #2: Not Taking Advantage of  Outsourcing

As a solo entrepreneur, you can only achieve so much at one time. So take advantage of outsourcing.There are a lot of creative people, administrative help and technical phobes who are more than willing to do the work at great rates.  Outsourcing helps you stay efficient so you aren’t wasting time! I love to dabble in learning new programs, but it isn’t my strong suit so I should be outsourcing that to someone else.

Time Trap #3: Avoiding The Cloud

“The Cloud” is simply a popular saying for any cloud-style web hosting that lets you keep you files stored online and have access to them from anywhere. One popular cloud provider is DropBox. You can share files with your employees or partners easily with “The Cloud”. This is something I am exploring.

Time Trap #4: Posting to Every Social Media Individually

Having a good social media presence is smart for any online business. You’re able to reach your customers where they are at. But it can be time consuming. Use tools to help you monitor or update all your social media outlets at once. Hootsuite is a good example that lets you monitor and update sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn from one console.

Time Trap #5: Not Taking Advantage of Free Tools

Use free tools, especially if you are just starting out with very little money. You can add programs and software later on as you need them. Look for free alternatives to word processors, cloud storage, email, graphics programs and just about anything else you need online.

Time Trap #6: Staying Away From Browser Add-Ons

There are Add-Ons available for your browser that can add more efficiency to your online work. Firefox or Chrome both offer a lot of handy Add-Ons to increase their functionality. Add-Ons include SEO tools, measurement tools color pickers, password mangers, enhanced bookmarks, social media, etc. I use some of these, but could probably use a lot more of them to save more time.

Time Trap #7: Not Having A Mentor

A mentor can make a big difference in any online business. It’s one the most efficient steps you can do.  Find someone who’s already succeeded in your field. It will save you countless amounts of time.  A mentor will guide you away from making the mistakes they made on their way to success. I have had several mentors over my life, both personal and professional. There is no better way to push yourself than to follow someone you admire.

Being efficient in your business helps you get more done. Getting more done gives you more time to grow. And Growing gives you more freedom.  What are some of your most efficient time savers? What ways have you found  to get more done without spending more time? Has it helped you in your business?

 

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