As unbelievable as it might seem, creating a growing business on the internet isn't as hard as most people think it is. In fact, just like learning to cook or speak another language, there are definite steps you can take that will almost definitely lead to rapid improvement.
So why is it that every business website designer doesn't have hundreds of successful online companies? For the same reasons that we don't all speak Mandarin or know how to make the perfect chocolate soufflé – it's as much about managing your time and resources as it is knowing the right steps.
In other words, you don't have the time and money to try everything that could or should go into your online marketing plan. Instead, you have to make the most use of the spare minutes you have available to you in order to find customers and overcome your competitors.
Here are a handful of time management tips that can help you boost your online profits:
Keep a running list of content and marketing ideas. As you might remember from your days in school, the worst time to come up with a topic for paper (or in this case, a blog post or marketing idea) was when you needed one. Instead of subjecting yourself to that kind of pressure on a weekly basis, simply keep a notebook around and jot down thoughts and inspirations as they come to you. Then, you can use them later when you need them.
Stick to a schedule. Assigning half an hour at day, for example, to online marketing might not be ideal, but it can be extraordinarily helpful. That's because scheduling the time will force you to set aside the time, while simultaneously keeping you from devoting too many minutes to your online marketing activities and neglecting the rest of your company.
Hire outside help for tasks that are specialized or routine. Your job is to be your company's leader, not its online marketing expert or admin assistant. Each of these distinctions is important, because you probably don't have time to learn everything there is to know about copywriting and search engine optimization, for example. Neither does it makes sense for you to do jobs that could be outsourced for a few dollars an hour.
Devote a few minutes a day to reading about online marketing. Knowing the basics of online marketing will reduce the amount of meetings and discussions that are needed between yourself and your web design team. It also helps you come up with better ideas, and makes your business more likely to succeed on the Internet.
Having a good time management plan can make or break your online marketing efforts. You might not ever have enough spare hours to try everything you want to, but if you make time for the most important pieces, you'll be well on the way to success.
