It’s Time to Streamline!
Over the last 6 months or so I have found it more and more difficult to get everything done that I want to get done in the time I have available to me and I am sure this is something that many of you can empathise with. Organizing and arranging things in the correct way is essential in effective time management; this is why I am in the process of streamlining my business.
Presently I have around 20 active affiliate sites (of varying sizes & resource requirements), several products & product websites, multiple affiliate programs to manage, over 10 email addresses and several other projects on the go including product development and new affiliate site builds. On top of all this I am still working during the day in my 'day job', although the plan is to leave this in around 5 months time. So you can see that it can get very busy sometimes and I end up spending a lot of time at my computer, and I wonder why Kate complains about my 'obsession':).
You will come to a point in your online business where you simply have sites all over the place, which is why I always say to people don't use too many plugins, it's fine whilst you have one site but once you start building your portfolio up then they become a logistical nightmare to keep updated. I am finding that I spend the first hour or so of my day simply visiting sites, answering various emails, dealing with download issues, managing affiliates and this is all before I can get any 'real' work done. So what is my solution? Streamline!
I am in the process of migrating my entire affiliate database and member database over to a new central location where I will base my business from, this central location will be AffiliateWizard.com. My blog is going to remain at the current domain but it will be receiving a well needed makeover with a new theme design which will flow throughout my business, hopefully this will be completed by next week.
So what will be based at this new central location?:
- My new business home page
- My new members/product support forum
- My product support/ticket desk
- My member/digital product purchase area
- My new affiliate area
Hopefully all of the above are going to make life a little easier and make things easier to manage. Since the only parts of my digital product websites which I will need to manage are the home/sales pages while the affiliate and member areas will be easily accessible via the central domain. The product support forum is going to provide a place to find answers to commonly asked questions as well as a place for you to discuss issues with other members related to internet marketing in general.
This transition is hopefully going to take no more than 2 weeks but in that time I will be sending out emails to current members with new membership login details and download locations for all digital products. All current members will be automatically approved as affiliates and details of how to access promotional material will be sent to you. The blog theme will change and my business will be branded under the name of the Affiliate Wizard and the location of my support ticket desk will change so you may need to re-register once the move is completed.
So why am I telling you this? I am telling you for two reasons, firstly as valued readers I want to keep you informed of any major changes which may affect how you reach my sites or your product downloads. Secondly I want to highlight the importance of streamlining things for yourself in your own businesses. You need to be able to time manage as best as possible to ensure that you are able to use your time effectively and achieve your full potential.
I hope you like the new changes and as always I appreciate any feedback you may have. As part of these changes I am going to be starting a monthly competition where I will give away a FREE prize to one winner at the end of each month, there will be more details about this in a post later this week.
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Scott (3)
Kelvin (1)
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stew (1)
Ooh, I love competitions, Ben, that sounds really exciting! Good luck with your streamlining. I know I did a number of key things right at the beginning of Masterclass that have really cut down my workload now, and I know there are a number of things I could have done differently, and still might change!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy,
I know what you mean I love competitions too but unfortunately I can’t win my own prizes :). I will have some great prizes up for grabs so watch out for a post on the 1st of June.
It’s so important to be organized, simply by having to login to one account and then another and another just to check some stats for example can really slow things down.
Thanks for stopping by.
Ben
Ben I was reading along thinking you were talking about me. I have a few more sites on the go but close and then I read that you still have a day job. Right there you blew me away.
I quit my day job a few years ago and still find I get overwhelmed with all I need to do.
Almost all my sites are blogs and I just purchased the Thesis Theme for WordPress. I have to say that I am really excited and have put it on two blogs to see if it is going to help me work more efficiently.
I know you will do a great job. Write detail info on what you do. It may just help me get more streamlined.
Hi James
I think a lot of people will probably relate to it, the more successful sites become I find they need more work and with a lot of sites on the go in can be hard to manage all of them, it’s just a case of prioritizing those which are performing well enough. Some sites will tick along and make a little here and there but no matter what you do they will never be killer niches and it’s been able to accept that which is really important.
Yes I do still have a day job:) I just can’t bring myself to walk away from it, un-like many online marketers I do like working 12-15 hours a day and I enjoy the massive variety I have but it is getting to a point where the work load is beginning to get un-managable even by my standards. I do plan on leaving my current job in the next few months.
The thesis theme is a very nice theme indeed, it will work with pretty much any niche which is great.
Cheers
Ben
I knew something was up when I opened your email. It looks terrific. So I know that everything else you’re working on is going to have a similar outcome.
I tried organizing all my tasks in a calendar, but that quickly fell by the wayside. My problem is that sometimes I just don’t feel like doing what ever the calendar is calling for. So I go on to something else that’s more appealing (or less off-putting).
I admire your dedication and discipline. I knew you were busy, but I had no idea just how busy you are. It makes me feel bad that I’ve bothered you with my silly problems. You always respond so quickly and your assistance is always “spot on.”
I look forward to seeing the end result of your “re-do.”
Olivia
Hi Olivia
Yes, it’s coming along but it’s just taking time to get everything looking how I want, hopefully should have it completed this weekend and the first competition started on Monday.
It’s so important to get yourself properly organized and make the best use of your time if you are to get through the mammoth tasks we sometimes set ourselves.
You know me, I am always happy to help others out where I can and I always try and get back as soon as possible, I know what it was like when I first started out, it was all about earning for most people and not teaching.
Have a good one.
Ben
Hi Ben, I really do like your site. There is so much info to read I will have to come back on a regular basis!
Good luck on the Masterclass course.
Ray.
Hi Ben,
I can certainly empathise with you about trying to get everything done whilst still ‘holding down’ a day job.
What I am finding difficult in to put the hours in after getting home from work, I am shattered as usually I am out for between 10 – 12 hours per day due to a fairly long commute.
I would dearly love to do IM full time but that isn’t possible just yet, I need to keep putting in the ‘hard yards’ and I will get there I’m sure!
Well done on a great looking blog and what sounds a very good business you have!
Cheers
Andy
http://www.andycockayne.com
http://twitter.com/andy_cockayne