One Project at a Time

Many people tell you that to become successful in any field, not just internet marketing you need to remain focused on your goals. You need to concentrate on one project at a time. You need to complete one project before you start on the next, especially when you are an internet marketing newbie. I agree with this but only to a point.

Staying focused on one project at a time in the beginning will ensure that you don’t miss any critical steps in the planning and execution of the project. Each individual step will take much longer to complete the first time that you do it than it will in any subsequent project and the first time you do something will definitely be the worst that you ever do it.

Why is Multi-Tasking Better?

Multi-tasking to me, means having several projects on the go all at once. The key is to have them all at different stages of development.

Why do I think having several things on the go at once is better than concentrating on one thing at a time?

Well, the reality, is that sometimes things take time to be resolved. For example, if you buy a domain name and make a mistake assigning the dns nameservers then it can take up to 24 hrs for the changes to propogate through the web. If you want to start generating traffic on this site then you have to wait the 24hrs or so until it is live on the web before you can implement traffic generating strategies such as submitting RSS feeds, pinging, social bookmarking etc.

If you didn’t have something else to work on, then any time that you might have been able to use to build your business in that 24 hour period has been lost.

There are plenty of other examples where things on the internet are not instantaneous. Emailing support for help, waiting for approval from a potential affiliate program and of course waiting to see if a PPC campaign will work or not.

If you don’t have anything else to work on your time will be wasted doing unproductive things like over-checking analytics and Google AdWords accounts.

I do think that you should be focused on the task that you are doing whilst you are doing it – so don’t try and talk on the phone, chat on Skype and write an auto responder series all at the same time. This is NOT an efficient use of time. Doing so many things at once will mean that nothing gets done well or effectively.

But have only one project to focus on at a time is not the best way to achieve your goals powerfully.

The question to then ask is, how do I have several projects on the go and know exactly where I am for each one?

Systemization

Yes, it’s back to the excel spreadsheets, I love my excel spreadsheets. Each and every project on the internet has a series of steps that need to be completed.

For example: setting up a website involves the same set of steps every time, market research, domain name purchase, website setup …

I use a website template for every project and check off each stage as I complete it. That way it is easy to stop in the middle of a project  if you run out of time (when you are trying to squeeze in internet marketing in your spare time this happens a lot) or when you hit a roadblock that is going to take time to resolve.

I also use an excel spreadsheet to keep track of the methods that I have used for traffic generation for a site. For example,  if I write an article, I document when I submit it to the article directory and when it is accepted I copy the URL of the article into the spreadsheet, then it is easy to find when I want to ping or bookmark it. I also keep a record of what I have done to each and every peice of content so that I don’t repeat the same thing to the same piece of content. Conversly, if I write an article or submit a video and don’t bookmark it as well then I haven’t optimized that piece of content for it’s traffic generating potential.
My advice is have a system that you follow for each project and keep track of everything that you do for that project. You might find that excel spreadsheets don’t work for you – I don’t care what method you use, just have some kind of checklist. It helps you keep track of where you are up to and you can easily pick up where you left off without spending too much time finding your place.

Extra Ideas

Have you ever been in the flow? You certainly know when your are there. It is easy to write and ideas come flooding into your brain. You can’t act on them all at once but you certainly don’t want to lose the inspirations.

Yep, you need a system to keep your ideas organised and in one place so that you can find them when is it time to act on them. I find that the little black book or notebook is a good place to keep ideas for the future (I bet you thought I was going to say a spreadsheet again)

Although if I am going to be completely honest I tend to write them on scraps of paper – yes I do have a messy desk but at least my computer files are organized!

There is always room for improvement with any system or organization!

Related posts:

1. Internet Marketing Tip – Systemization

2 Responses to “Internet Marketing Advice – Focus or Multi-tasking?”

1. Clemento says:

   August 6, 2009 at 12:43 pm

   Are you a professional journalist? You write very well.
2. imnd says:

   August 7, 2009 at 9:20 pm

   Thanks for that compliment but no I’m not a professional journalist.