How do I get It All Done? Simple Time Management Strategies for Busy Women Entrepreneurs

Time. We all wish we had more time. I personally can never find enough hours in the day to do it all and yet folks are always asking me, how in the world do you do it all? (lol) Well alright, a few days ago I posed a question, “What would you ask me if we were on the phone right now?” A few of you responded, so I know yall are still listening (lol). I decided to answer your questions on the sistasense blog. Today I’m going talk about time….

Question #1 and #2 from my Facebook Circle:

HOw do you stay on top of everything?….(your “Brand” is all over the internet.) What do you do to stay on top of your industry/niche? -Gazania

What organizational system you use to keep all of your businesses and branches of those business together? -Sharonda

Ok folks! Here are a few of my not so-secret time management and organization tip:

• Like the Nike Commercial Says, I just do it! Seriously, when your business is your primary source of income AND you have little mouths to feed, you don’t have time to procrastinate, put off, give up, or neglect those things that are going to keep your bank account from going into overdraft (lol). When folks ask me this question, I like to hammer home this point because sometimes the issue isn’t time BUT you actually doing the things you say you are going to do.
• That being said what do I do first and how do I keep it in order? I do NOT use any crazy online tools or widgets. I have three things that keep my system right: my notebooks, my outlook, and my excel. I was originally going to upload a picture of my notebook for this post, but then I got the idea to put in a few personal pics of me. (You see me squeezing that guys butt? I’ve always been the short girl who likes them tall, what can I say). Anyhoo.. Everyday in my notebook I map out bullets of what needs to get done, so many of my notebooks are full of me saying the same thing hundreds of times, but they stay in my head and as I get them done I check them off.
• THEN I have my notepad on my computer, that simple text editor with no bells and whistles, every month I create a file like “todolist_may2010″… I’ve got files like this going back to about 2006. When things come up, I see sites I like or I come up with a great idea, I just cut and paste them into the pad. I get to what I can get to and I’m cool with letting the rest of the ideas pass away like many of my brain farts often do (lol).
• At the end of the day (or I should say beginning) top priority always goes to my paying clients first, then my personal projects, then my emails, then people’s questions. I always make sure the first thing people can say about me is that when they pay me, I am timely and professional, so customers come first. Remember I told you how to keep your customers happy.
• I’ve got over 30 websites right, but I’m NOT afraid to let some of them sit there and collect dust for awhile. If you listened to my audio (the 3 things blocking your business), you’ll remember I said one of the things that keeps your business blocked is being all over the place. While it seems like I have alot going on, most times I am focusing on one very specific project at a time. Last month my focus was on updating BBWO and putting together the BBWO50. This month my focus is on launching the SistaSense Circle. I give myself personal projects to focus on and then dig in. Remember my post, ‘Tweak Vs Twitter‘, most of the time I’m just making my current online ventures better, I’m not really doing anything new. Focus truly adds time onto your day and your business because you avoid wasting time doing anything else.
• If you had a chance to listen to the first 6 minutes of the sistasense circle, you would have heard me say that I focus on 5 Elements that I believe help me make the most of my time online and help me avoid getting distracted by all the new internet marketing trends or ideas. I don’t go through social media time warps where I spend hours tweeting or chatting it up on Facebook because I practice exactly what I preach; “my true objective online is to build my list, get new customers, and keep the old ones happy”. I avoid all things that DO NOT accomplish the goals in my true objective. (I know its sounds like army talk, but you gotta be militant about this kind of thing if you want to make that money).
• Yes, before I forget, I also mentioned that use both Outlook and Excel. With outlook when email interview requests come in or I have to schedule a consultation for a client, I use the reminder tool, which is like my virtual receptionist there to remind me when I have something to do. Excel helps me manage the books, from as far back as … I can’t even remember every month I do this thing where I simultaneously open my excel, my bank statement, and my paypal to assess how much money I’ve made last month, when to pay the bills, and how much I am saving. I know at some point I told you about my money marker system, right? If you want to stay organized and ensure that your business revenue increases you have to track your progress, keep your bills in order, save (so you can see what your working for) and set financial goals for the future.

Related Articles I’ve written on Time Management and Staying Organized

• Marketing Your Business When You Don’t have time to Market Your Business
• Time Management Tips for Busy Entrepreneurs and Work at Home Moms
• There is Still Time to Join the SistaSense Circle
• Time Management Tips for Bloggers: Scheduling Your Blog Posts
• Do I Really Sleep or am I Online ALL the Time

Those are my time management strategies and I’m sticking too them! Good luck to you with yours.

Marketing Your Business When You Don’t have time to Market Your Business

I’m the kind of entrepreneur that wears many hats (I don’t like to), but many times I have to. SO at some point I realized if I wasn’t going to spend a ton of money on my business I had to spend time on it to make it grow, which is what I did. Out of that came all my marketing tips that you all love to read, in which I basically show you how to put on the marketer hat and push your business for yourself.

BUT truth be told when you have other things going on in your life (the job, the kids, the spouse) or when your business has got you busy all the time you find yourself in a place where you want to push your business online, but you can’t. That is exactly why today we are going to talk about Marketing Your Business when you don’t have time to market your business.

Question from SistaSense Circle Comments:

I am starting another business venture about helping people. I really don’t have the time to do the things you suggest and grow the business. Can you recommend someone that will do it and not tell you how to do it?

My response: While I do teach hands-on marketing, its not something you have to do alone. You can work with a VA (virtual assistant), PR Agent, or even a freelance writer who specializes in writing for online entrepreneurs and have that person do your marketing for you. The advantage of learning this for yourself is that you’ll know how to direct your VA or Writer and you’ll know what to look for when he or she is promoting your material.

Here are a few folks I’d like to plug today for those of you in need of good people to help you market your business.

Evelyn Bourne over at Productive Pen is a freelance writer who specializing in online marketing. As a matter of fact she can write your ebooks, article marketing posts, blog entries, eblasts and all the stuff that you can’t seem to find the time to do for yourself.

Larissa Parks over at Seven Winds Virtual Assistance is a certified Business Manager who can help you get organized and market your business online.

In today’s Social Media wonderful web world, you’ll find many VAs are expanding their services to do things like manage your twitter accounts, facebook pages, videos, and more. They can help you stay on top of your marketing when you have a busy schedule. All you have to do is just take the time to find someone you feel comfortable working with.

One more thing: I did a quick search for Virtual Assistants on Black Business Women Online. You can also look on BBWO and ask questions about VAs, PR Marketing, and Freelance writers.

Related: How do I get It All Done? Simple Time Management Strategies for Busy Women Entrepreneurs

6 Minutes Inside the SistaSense Circle with LaShanda Henry

Have you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall of a really good conversation? I feel like that sometimes, which is why I decided to give you a quick listen in on the first 6 minutes of our 1st SistaSense Circle Session. Again, in case you haven’t heard, the SistaSense Circle is a 4 Week Telecourse + Consultation Session for 10 women in my circle who want to learn how to be better information entrepreneurs online. So for those of you who have been thinking about joining us BUT something is holding you back here is alittle nudge forward.

If you can not view the video above, click here. For more details about the SistaSense Circle or to Join Us Today click here.

Does picking a target market hurt your pocket?

After countless conversations with entrepreneurs who have difficulty driving traffic to their business, I’ve come to realize most of them would say yes. When asked the question, “Does picking a target market hurt your pocket?” most folks either come out and say “yes” or something like, “I don’t want to focus on one group and look like I’m turning anyone away.” (Sound Familiar) They (maybe you) are afraid to pick a target market out of fear of losing customers. To that response I have to ask, “When you market to everybody and nobody is listening, don’t you still lose?”

The thing that really hurts your pocket is this fear, which is in turn preventing you from achieving your true objective of getting customers and building your own business. I talk about the 3 things blocking your business in my (audio conversation, which you can listen to here) and FEAR is one of those big blocks that can stop you for being a successful entrepreneur. Trying to pitch your product to anybody or trying to make your service look appealing to everybody is never going to get your business the kind of attention it really needs.

Let me dig alittle deeper here… As far as my business is concerned my target market isn’t black women. My target market isn’t even black business women. I specifically focus on black women solopreneurs who want to start or improve their online business using low cost marketing strategies. While that sounds like a mouthful, it is for and all about a very specific group that appeals to me because that is who I am. I guess I’m kind of a narcissist, wanting to work with myself (lol).

Seriously though, when you define your ideal customer from head to toe, it makes it easier for you to find and attract them. Perfect example, I recently finished a web design project for a client whose business is senior care services. At first glance, you might think her target is a senior in need of a home care attendant, but not necessarily. Her core target market is actually comprised of local area middle-aged children of seniors looking for professionals to assist in the care of their parents. Understanding her market allows her to talk their language and shed light on their issues. These are things that you can NOT do when you blindly put your business out there in the hopes that somebody will buy. Remember when I talked about ‘Spaghetti Marketing‘, just throwing stuff out their and praying something sticks, I told you its messy business and it doesn’t work as effectively as picking a focus. When you lack a target market, you can’t use the right images to attract potential customers or even say the right words that trigger the right customer to buy. You can’t do any of these things if you don’t first define who your right customer is.

I’ve found in most cases the problem for many struggling entrepreneurs is not the product or the service, it’s their lack of experience when it comes to marketing. I’ve started doing my one-one-one consultations for the women in my SistaSense Circle and the common issue across the board is showing them (and you) that it pays to focus on a specific area for a specific audience. I know we all want to do big things and have big businesses but believe me when I say you have to start somewhere. I’m almost sure that if you are blocked in your business chances are you haven’t effectively defined your focus.

Funny enough, once you effectively define your target market you’ll see how much easier it is to get more people to follow you. But the proof is in the pudding; keep reading because below this I decided to share with you an email I received this morning from Rickey, one of the many men who enjoy reading SistaSense.com. I do have male customers and non-black clients who I also love to work with! As a matter of fact, one of the last Ning Network Designs I did was for a client in Australia! I say this to show you that the people who really want what you have to offer are going to take advantage of it, whether they are in your target market or not. SO fight the fear and pick a focus. Otherwise you’ll be the only thing that’s really hurting your pocket.

A Message in response to post Don’t Work With Black Women (Period):

LaShanda, I met you via Multiple Shades of You, and was completely impressed with your professionalism and service delivery. You have stayed the course ( helping others help themselves) and done exceptionally well. So, as it is said, Keep On Keeping On!!! You have addressed as an ongoing issue, both genders deal with i.e “Don’t work with Black Men” LOL same issues. You have been a huge encouragement for me, so this man, thanks you. - Rickey | Juniques Multi Cultural Connections

Last thing, don’t forget that I’m ready to help you find your focus. You still have time to either join my SistaSense Circle OR just schedule a one-on-one consultation.

Related Post: Spaghetti Marketing is Messy Business