Success Advice

Put Your Daily Tasks Into These 4 Categories if You Want to Systemize Your To-Do List

Published

6 years ago

Sep 11, 2018

McVal Osborne

Image Credit: Unsplash

Who doesn’t like to get stuff done? Getting stuff done feels great because it takes you a little bit closer to achieving your long term goals, and it allows you to cultivate a feeling of being productive while making a difference in the world.

There’s a certain feeling of achievement that comes from checking off each item on a to-do list, sort of like vanquishing your enemies before declaring victory over your day. At the very least, it stops you from feeling like a useless couch potato.

I have been slightly obsessed with getting stuff done since before I was a kid in school, planning out my days with the precision reserved for most aeronautical engineers. However, as I grew older, my daily to-do lists grew larger and less manageable.

Today, the story is different, and I rarely manage to complete all the tasks I’ve outlined. Unfortunately, try as I might, I rarely make it through the monumental to-do list I have made in my notebook.

While most of us try our very best to get work done in a timely way, we often struggle to accurately predict just how much time individual tasks might take. We may complete some tasks in the blink of an eye, while other activities may take twice as long as initially predicted.

Thankfully, there is a way to systematically divide your to-do list into segments so as to improve the likelihood that you will get the most important activities, often called “high value tasks,” done before moving on to other tasks of less importance.

First, if you haven’t done this already, practice writing out a list of activities that need to be done. Below we’ll go over the four categories you can put your tasks in:

1. Urgent and important

Look at your list of to-do’s and highlight which ones are most important and urgent. You should try to highlight between 3-5 activities which are so urgent that they need to be completed right away. If you need help, try asking yourself these questions: What do you need to do right now? What needs to get done in the next 24 hours?

Think about what barriers are keeping you from reaching the next stage in your personal growth or development. What tasks need to be completed to get you more information or allow you to take action? Maybe you need to speak to someone about a product idea, or perhaps you need advice on how to respond to a client.

This list of activities should include things that are so important that you literally cannot do anything else without completing them first. This may mean working on a report that is due today or sending a follow up email to a boss or client who is waiting for a reply.

“Sometimes our stop-doing list needs to be bigger than our to-do list.” – Patti Digh

2. Time sensitive but less important

Next, look over your to-do list and select the activities that are time sensitive but are less important than the 3-5 “urgent and important” activities. This may be updating your CRM system, planning sales calls, or arranging a marketing campaign. These activities are still necessary to achieve your goals, and they have a definite timeline. Try to keep this second group to between 7-10 activities.

One thing to be wary of when developing this list is to avoid tasks that are simply “busy work.” This type of task should be delegated or automated as much as possible to avoid burnout and allow you to focus on strategic, higher-level activities.

3. Important but not time sensitive

These activities are just as important as those in the first group, but they may require more time and more effort than those urgent and important activities. This may include reworking your business plan, developing a new product launch strategy, or arranging to hire new employees.

“I made a huge to do list for today. I just can’t figure out who’s going to do it.” – Anonymous

4. Not important and not urgent

Activities in this group should be considered “like to have” tasks. These are activities and tasks that would be nice to make time for, but aren’t required for success.

No matter how you approach your daily activities, tackling your tasks in a way that allows you to prioritize what is most important to you will be key to developing a deeper understanding of how you work and how you can make yourself more effective.

How do you prioritize your to-do list? Let us know below!

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McVal Osborne

McVal is the founder of We Write For Growth, a platform for businesses to connect with talented writers and researchers and growth hackers. He is also the author of How to Make $2,000 a Month Online and Start Up your Life: Why we don’t know what we want, and how to set goals that really matter. McVal writes about motivation, decision making, and strategic thinking. He graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2011 with a degree in Spanish, and has since worked as a market researcher and business consultant in Washington D.C., New York City and London. You can reach him on Twitter @mcval or on IG @mcvaliant.

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How to Choose the Best Affiliate Programs for Your Blog

If you follow these steps, you can create an affiliate marketing plan that makes money, fits well with your content, and connects with your readers

Published

2 weeks ago

Apr 10, 2024

Addicted2Success Editor

how to choose the best affiliate programs for your blog

Picking the right affiliate programs for your blog is really important. It can make a big difference in how much money you can make and how much your readers get out of your blog. With so many choices out there, deciding which ones to go with can be tricky.

This guide is here to make it easier for you. It will give you clear steps and helpful tips to choose affiliate programs that fit well with what your blog is about, what your readers like, and what you stand for.

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Understanding Affiliate Marketing

Before you start picking affiliate programs, it’s important to really understand what affiliate marketing is and how it works.

Basically, affiliate marketing is when you promote a product or service on your blog, and then you get paid a little bit every time someone buys something or does something because you recommended it.

It’s great for both the person selling the product and the blogger, because the seller gets more sales with low risk, and the blogger can make money from their blog.

How to Choose the Right Affiliate Programs for Your Blog

1. Assess Your Niche and Audience

The key to doing well in affiliate marketing starts with really knowing what your blog is about and who reads it. Consider the following:

Your blog’s content: What topics do you cover? Ensure the products or services you promote are relevant.
Your audience’s interests and needs: What solutions are they seeking? Choose affiliate programs that offer products or services that solve their problems or enhance their lives.

2. Research Potential Affiliate Programs

Once you know what your blog is about and what your readers want, start looking for affiliate programs. Choose ones that are well-known for good products, great customer service, and helpful support for affiliates. Resources to find these programs include:

Affiliate networks like ShareASale, Commission Junction, and ClickBank.
Direct searches for “[Your Niche] affiliate programs” in search engines.
Recommendations from other bloggers in your niche.

3. Evaluate the Commission Structure

The commission structure is a critical factor to consider. Look for programs that offer competitive rates that make your efforts worthwhile. Consider:

The percentage of commission per sale.
Whether the program offers a flat rate per action (e.g., per sign-up).
The cookie duration, which affects how long after a click you can earn commissions on sales.

4. Consider the Program’s Reputation and Sureness

Join affiliate programs with a solid reputation for quality and sureness. This not only ensures that you’re promoting good products but also that you’ll be paid on time. You can:

Read reviews from other affiliates.
Check the program’s history and background.
Look for any complaints or issues reported online.

5. Analyze the Support and Resources Offered

A good affiliate program gives you things like ads to use, training on their products, and helpful managers. Having access to these resources can really help you do a better job at promoting their products.

6. Understand the Terms and Conditions

Before signing up, thoroughly review the program’s terms and conditions. Pay close attention to:

Payment thresholds and methods.
Any restrictions on how you can promote their products.
The program’s policy on affiliate marketing on social media platforms.

7. Test the Product or Service

If possible, test the product or service before promoting it. This firsthand experience allows you to offer genuine charge and build trust with your audience.

8. Look for Recurring Commission Opportunities

Some affiliate programs pay you again and again for subscriptions or services that charge fees regularly. These can provide a more stable income compared to one-time sales commissions.

Implementing Your Choice

After choosing the best affiliate programs, the next step is to smoothly include your affiliate marketing in your content plan. This includes:

Creating valuable content that naturally incorporates affiliate links.
Disclosing your affiliate affairs transparently to maintain trust with your audience.
Tracking your results to understand what works best for your audience and adjusting your strategy accordingly.

Picking the best affiliate programs for your blog involves careful planning, research, and making sure they match what your audience likes and needs.

If you follow these steps, you can create an affiliate marketing plan that makes money, fits well with your content, and connects with your readers.

The real key to doing well with affiliate marketing isn’t just about the products you talk about, but also how much your audience trusts and values your advice.

With enough time, patience, and hard work, your blog can grow into a successful space that earns a good amount of affiliate money and helps your readers choose the right products.