Work Routine

If you’re like us, you sometimes find keeping to a schedule a bit challenging….and yes, sometimes even tiring. This is particularly true if you are not realizing the rewards you expected.   

I know from first hand experience that it’s at these times, being consistent in one’s efforts can be a real drag. But it’s also at these times you want – and need – to keep moving forward. Keep building those websites and adding to those pages. Keep putting up those blog posts or finding a new niche to promote. It is only by being consist that you can go forward and grow the business you desire.

Organizationally challenged? Find it difficult to complete a task?

Try setting up a schedule for your various projects. Sit down and write out a weekly task plan … and keep it! Dedicate specific days and times of the week to specific tasks. Internet businesses are not built overnight but in many cases require months and sometimes years to grow. By keeping to a set schedule and having a targeted goal, you’ll find your work gets easier.

And, if you don’t see the results you want and are feeling frustrated – don’t stop. Rather see if you can make any changes to what you are doing to  re-energize yourself, re-arrange your schedule or maybe even move in a new IM direction.

Managing File Names

One aspect of Internet Marketing (IM) that can be overwhelming is keeping track of all those file names and folders. This is particularly true if you have more than one ongoing website or project.

Obviously you’ll have a dedicated or primary folder for each project with secondary folders inside for various sections of that project, i.e, HTML, images, JAVA, CGI, etc. Inside those secondary folders you’ll want an easy way to manage and name the files. This is especially true, if you find yourself using the same document for multiple websites. In this situation, you might manage them more easily by simply adding the initials of the domain to the end of the file name.

For example:

www.yourdomain.com/deliveryschedule_XX.com - where XX are the domains initials.

You may ask . . . what good is this? Well, say for example, you are updating delivery schedules for several different websites – and these schedule documents are open in your HTML editor- all at the same time. Using the domain initials at the end of the ‘deliveryschedule’ file name will eliminate any confusion as to which file you’re working on as well as the possibility of over-writing a file in error.

Also, if you use very many templates for multiple websites – using initials on the end of the file name allows you to save the templates and at the same time distinguish which template is for which domain.

Using an add-on to the the end of a file name also works well for image files.

For example:

www.yourdomain.com/myimage_600x400.jpg

www.yourdomain.com/myimage_350x233.jpg

www.yourdomain.com/myimage_150x100.jpg

In the samples above, we’ve added  the actual image size to the end of the file name, making it very easy to select an image when using an HTML editor.

HTML

Unlike writing XHTML,  you don’t necessarily have to keep your HTML tags in order or use the same designation for sizes, i.e.,

<b><i>HTML Tag</b></i> will display just like <b><i>HTML Tag</i></b>

When writing tables  where size is an issue, you have the option to designate the size by using either pixels or a percentage of the area so that <tr><td width=”400″> can also be written as <tr><td width=”XX%”>  where XX would be the equivalent percentage.

Let’s say we have a table that is 800 pixels wide with 2 columns. Each column is 400 pixels wide or 50% of the total table width. The code might look like one of the following:

<table width=”800″><tr><td width=”400″>  Col 1 </td><td width=”400″> Col 2 </td></tr></table>

<table width=”800″><tr><td width=”50%”>  Col 1 </td><td width=”50%”> Col 2 </td></tr></table>

<table width=”800″><tr><td width=”400″>  Col 1 </td><td width=”50%”> Col 2 </td></tr></table>

While any one of the codes above will achieve the same results, it is easier to keep track of sizes if you are consistent in the code you use. In other words, if you plan on using pixels – only use pixels; if you want to use percentages – only use percentages.

For our next sample, we want to put a horizontal rule (HR) that is 100 pixels in size in one of the columns. The most basic code for this HR would look like. . .

<hr size=”1″ width=”100″> OR <hr size=”1″ width=”25%”>

In the percentage code string, we arrive at the 25% width  by calculating  that 100(pixels) is 1/4 of a column’s width of 400(pixels), and since 1/4 is the same as 25% – that is what we use.

Conclusion

Having a regime helps keep things organized. However, if you’re a person that has a hard time either keeping organized or following a schedule, try starting out slowly. Add one task at a time to your schedule. Follow that mini-schedule for a week or so, and keep adding in tasks until you have a schedule that covers everything you need to do – and is workable. And if you happen to stray for a day, don’t beat yourself up – we all need a day off now and then – just pull yourself up by the boot straps and get back to work.

Computer Files

Organizing the files in your computer doesn’t have to be hard. Put everything relevant to one project, website, etc. in one folder in the C Drive then create sub-folders within the main folder to hold images, CGI forms, HTML, drafts, notes, etc. By doing this everything you need for that single project will be in one place. If you have trouble remembering what you’ve named something, use a standard 3-ring binder (with dividers) to keep hand-written notes of the names, dates and comments – and if you have a very large number of files, have separate sections for HTML, graphics, forms, etc.

You can make things even easier by giving the file a name that relates to what it contains. And, if you think you will be using the same document – maybe it’s a form for more than one website – start the file name with the initials of the website, i.e., ABC_inforequest.html and DEF_inforequest.html. This quickly lets you know which website each file references and also lets you know what it contains.

Old or outdated files should not be deleted. Create a ‘holding’ or ‘morgue’ folder in your computer or external hard drive where you can keep these old files. Create sub-folders within the main ‘holding/morgue’ folder for each website, blog, etc. to keep the files separated. You may never need them, but if you do – you’ll be able to access them quickly.

When you’re finished with a project burn all the files to a CD for a file copy. You may or may not want to delete the burned files from your computer. We prefer to keep files for at least 2-3 years before deleting. An external hard drive makes this easy.    Our favorite external hard drive is the  Seagate FreeAgent Go 500 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive ST905003FGA2E1-RK (Silver). 

Graphics

Keep all images in their own folder within the main folder for the website, blog, etc. If you design and create your own images using a graphics program with layers, keep the original graphic separate from the final merged image. We have found over the years it is wise to keep the original layered graphic making it easy to make minor changes without having to re-create everything from the bottom up.

Any outdated or images you no longer need can be held on an external hard drive or burned to a CD.

Calendar | Date Book

Keeping track of what you need to do each day can be a challenge – sometimes it’s hard to even know where to start. Having a daily and weekly list of ‘things to do’ can be very helpful in keeping you targeted and on track. Once you have found the direction you want to take with your Internet business, you will find scheduling your week with each day dedicated to a particular task or tasks is easier. Writing your schedule down and crossing off the completed tasks not only helps keep you moving forward but also gives you a sense of accomplishment when a task is finished.

There are some on line programs that may help you stay targeted. The one that comes to mind is Simpleology.  It’s free and you may want to take a few minutes to review it. It is designed to help get you organized and remove clutter – so you may find it’s just what you’ve been looking for.

Another thought is to use an online calendar (Google Calendar is good) to keep track of your deadlines, webinars and appointments. It is available through your Google Account and can be configured to keep you current via emails, or instant messages.

Letters, Agreements, Etc.

There’s no getting away from paper and you will need to have a traditional file system of some sort. We have found keeping folders for business clients, domain registrations, websites, affiliates accounts, business purchases and such is the best way to go. We use color-coded files and pocket files to keep information together.

If you have charges associated with your Internet business, you will need to have a bookkeeping system to maintain records of incomes, expenses as well as keep track of when to invoice clients. There are some good programs out there, i.e., Quick Books. At first, you may find it more cost effective to handle your own accounting, invoicing and bill paying until you are earning enough money to justify the purchase.

Passwords

If you plan on growing your business, keeping track of passwords can be the most difficult part of it all. You’ll soon find there are passwords associated with just about everything you do . . . .

• Domains Accounts
• Hosting & cPanels
• Email(s)
• Affiliate Accounts
• Client Passwords
• Forums
• Outside Services
• AdSense
• Google account(s)
• Blog Accounts
• Social Marketing Accounts
• Banking Accounts
• PayPal
• QuantCast, etc.

. . . and you will need a good way to keep track of them. Starting out this will not be a problem – you’ll probably do just like we did – jot them down on a piece of paper. But once you get that sheet filled up and start changing passwords (some affiliates require them to be changed on a schedule) you’ll soon find it very confusing.

Roboform is the best program out there for keeping track of passwords. Right now we have well over 130 passwords and are adding more daily. There is no way we could keep up with that many passwords on one sheet of paper.  Roboform is password protected, allows you to edit, print and manage all your passwords easily by remembering only 1 master ‘keyword’.

Staying Focused

Once you have your system in place take time about every 4-6 months to ‘clean house’. We all get in a hurry and let things slide . . . so take a moment, review your files, move them if necessary, move old files to the ‘morgue’ or burn them to a CD. Having un-necessary files in your computer can take up space that in turn can cause your computer to perform more slowly. You’ll find keeping everything in order will make doing the work you’ve targeted much easier.