Getting and staying organized is key to seeing success as an online business owner. When you’re not organized, you end up getting less done, missing deadlines, having poor communication, and more. It also leads to a lot more stress as you don’t know what you should be doing. To ensure that you can succeed within your business, you need to learn how to get organized.
Here are five ways to get (and stay) organized as an online business owner.
Don’t Rely on Yourself to Remember
As an online business owner, you’re likely doing many different things. This means that you can’t assume that you’re going to remember everything that you need to do, and when you need to do it by. Instead, always write it down, or use tools to help you remember. There is no point in using mental space when there are tools to help.
If you have a deadline, make sure it’s in the calendar. If you have an appointment, make sure you have that written down as well. Want to get something done, even though it doesn’t have a hard deadline? Make sure that’s written down too, or it won’t happen.
Always keep your calendar or planner nearby. That way you can see what you have planned, and when you have it planned for. You can see if you have time to do something new, or if you’re booked up and can’t take on anything new for a while.
This also goes for being able to keep track of all of the steps of doing something. When you have an online business, you’re often doing things that require a lot of steps. Make sure that you write down all of the steps to do something, so that the next time you do them you don’t have to start from scratch again.
For example, let’s say that every time you write a blog post, you have a set list of things to do. Let’s say you post it, and then tweet about it, and then post it on Facebook, and then email your list about it, and then do 3 other things.
Write that down somewhere, so that the next time you write a blog post, you can look at that list and you’ll automatically know what needs to be done. This can go for many different things online. You’ll get things done faster and won’t forget a step if you have things done this way.
Start With a To-Do List
To-do lists are simple to do yet provide a decisive outcome. They can give you the direction, focus, and understanding you need to get each day done faster and with more quality. If you start your day by looking at your to-do list, you’ll know exactly what must get done that day. You’ll know how to plan your time accordingly, and can make sure that you accomplish everything that you need to.
Here’s another thing you should do to stay organized. Before you end your day, always create a new to-do list for the next. This way, you can get right into your work and don’t need to take the time to remember what you have already finished. You’ll start off the day productive, and know exactly what you should be doing with your time. You won’t spend any time confused or stressed trying to figure out what you should be spending your time doing.
Know Where Things Are Located
If you know where the things are that you use most often, it’ll be easier to find them. This goes for both physical and digital things. If you keep your planner and to-do list near you, or know exactly where it is at all time, you’ll be able to use it whenever you need it.
The same goes for digital products as well. Write down where you keep certain files, products, emails, and more that are important to you. This is especially important if you don’t use them all that often.
Then, when it’s time for you to use them, you’ll know exactly where they are and won’t have to waste time trying to figure out where that digital item is. Having to find something on your computer or online can be very difficult if you don’t know where it is already. So make sure you don’t end up having that issue by having it written down somewhere.
Automate as Soon as Possible
Automation can free you from stress. It also saves you from doing repetitive and mundane tasks. For example, instead of having to send an email personally to every person who joins your list, you can create an autoresponder series. You set up a series of emails once, and every single new person who joins your list will get all of those emails. They’ll get sent what you want them to know, and you only had to set it up once.
Another thing you can do is automate some of your social media. You can create a social media post once, and automatically post it as many times as you want.
Plan Things Ahead of Time
You might know what you want to work on this week, and might even have an idea of what you want to do next week. But what does the future look like? What do you want to accomplish in your business over the next month, quarter, or even year?
Spending some time thinking about what you want to do with your business in the future can help you get organized as well. If you know that within 6 months you want to have 3 new courses for example, you should start planning for them now. If you want to have 10 articles written in the next month, you need to start planning when you’ll write them now. This will not only let you be organized, but you’ll accomplish a lot more as well.
If you struggle with organization, then give each of these tips or techniques a try. The more organized you are, the more that you’ll be able to accomplish. You’ll be able to deliver the products or services that your audience needs, and make them happier as well. You’ll also be a lot less stressed, as you’ll get things done when you’re supposed to, and won’t be behind trying to finish something. Use these techniques to get your business more organized today.
Enjoy,
