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Use a content calendar to stay organized with content planning.

Use a content calendar to stay organized with content planning.

Using a content calendar to stay organized and on track with content planning.

Let's chat about Using a content calendar to stay organized and on track with your content planning.

A content plan can significantly improve your productivity and efficiency as an online business owner. Friend, you have enough going on in your life. Things need to be simple and easy. Content planning is like meal planning. When you create a system, everything becomes simple and easy.

Are you ready to master the art of using a content calendar to plan and a project management software to stay organized and get it all done? This will ensure you're working on the right things.

Do not blow off planning content.

I'm going to try my hardest to get you on board with the importance of a Content Calendar.

One key reason for having a content calendar is to stay organized and on track. This will keep your content consistent and ensure that you’re meeting your deadlines.

How to Create a Content Calendar

Creating a content calendar can be as simple as writing it in your planner. Once you have a team helping you, this can be done with a project management application or a shared Google calendar.

When you create a content calendar, it must work for you. This includes how to choose the right format and tools. It also includes realistic goals and deadlines and how to prioritize your content based on your business needs.

Just because something worked in the past doesn't mean it will always work. I love creating videos for my YouTube channel. However, to record videos, you need good lighting. Many of my podcasts are recorded when the sun is bright in my office or during the winter months when it is dark outside. My clients' work is done during the day when lighting is appropriate.

Plus, I recorded the episode in my comfy clothes and ponytail. Zero makeup is required. 

As a raw truth, it takes less time to edit a podcast than a YouTube video.

For this time in your business, where is the best place for you to create a simple content plan to get you started?

How to Use Project Management Software

Do you have project management software, such as Trello, Asana, Teamwork, MeisterTask, and Monday? The options are endless because project management software is not one size fit all. One project management software will click better than others, don't be scared to try a few out. Book a 30-minute mini-session, and we can figure it out together.

A project management software will help you streamline your workflow, manage your team, and stay on top of deadlines.

Using a content calendar to stay organized and on track with content planning.

How to Stay Consistent and On Track

Planning content, staying consistent, and staying on track are the final keys to success. Be realistic about what you can do. How much original organic content can you churn out?

If you only have a few hours a week, how much for you personally can you do?

Is it only you doing all the work? It will likely be less than someone with a team.

The last thing you want is to burn yourself out and stop creating content altogether. I've done that, and I can tell you from experience it's not good for an online business.

Whatever you select, you need to be committed to staying consistent and on track.

What works for you, your business, and your family? Be realistic about what you can do.

If you are not sure, start with less and add more. What amount will keep you excited, motivated, and focused?

Using a content calendar to stay organized and on track with content planning.

Plan at least a month in advance, using a content calendar and project management software to increase your efficiency and productivity as an online business owner.

You can stay organized and on track, keep your content consistent, and meet your deadlines if you create a plan that works for you. This is when you put on your blinders and make the decision that works for you as a busy mom running a household, family, and business.

Thank you for reading, I appreciate you, and I hope you have a wonderful week. 

How to Streamline Your Business with Effective Systems

How to Streamline Your Business with Effective Systems

Are you a busy mom trying to juggle your family and business responsibilities? Do you struggle with feeling disorganized and overwhelmed? Guess what? You're not alone. I feel the exact same way. Running a business while also managing a household can be a daunting task. Still, there are ways to simplify your workflow and achieve your goals. Let's create effective systems that simplify your business and simplify your life.

Are you wondering exactly how to do that? 

Step 1: Identify Your Business Processes

The first step in creating effective systems is to identify the business processes you need to set up to feel more productive and less overwhelmed. 

As a busy mom, you likely have many tasks and responsibilities on your plate. Don’t just think inside the business box; there are workflows that you can create in your life as well. 

Start by making a complete list of everything you do daily, weekly, and monthly. 

Emails, social media accounts, and invoices are a few you might include on this list for your business. Laundry, dishes, whatever, all the things that you do. I want this to be an exhaustive list. Everything that you could possibly think of that you do in a week. 

Once you have that list. I want you to analyze each of these processes and determine which ones are essential for your business and which ones can be streamlined or eliminated. 

Do you want to know one scary thing I’ve recently had to let go of for now and set on a shelf? My YouTube channel, while I love creating these videos. For this time in my life and business, it was too much. Switching to a podcast has been so much simpler. Instead of one video a week, now I’m putting out 3 podcasts a week. My goal is to have 100 episodes before the end of the year. You should keep me accountable for that. 

Now I want you to do that same thing for all those different tasks that you have in your life. Which ones are essential, and which ones can you do away with at this time in your life? 

Step 2: Document Your Processes

After that, we'll just document the process, and no, it’s really not that difficult. Documenting your process, though, is critical to ensure that everybody on your team is following that same process and that tasks are getting completed consistently and efficiently. 

As a busy mom, you may not have time to oversee every task. 

And you should not! I repeat you should not oversee every task in your business. If you can, hire a virtual assistant to help you. 

Okay, let me backtrack a little bit. In the beginning, yes you will need to approve work and oversee what is getting done. Providing constructive feedback to ensure that tasks are completed to your satisfaction. After that, trust the people you have working for you. Spot-check and provide feedback in a weekly meeting with your team. 

And that is why it's so important to create. Your step-by-step instructions for each task and activity. 

Include all of your tools. All the software that is used in your business, create a links spreadsheet and have all that gathered in one spot. 

Documentation can also be used to train those new team members and delegate the task to others on your team. For those home tasks, get your kids involved. 

I’m not even sure about the age that my oldest was when I outsourced her own laundry to her. Hey, when you travel for work 75% of the time, you have to find ways to get stuff done. She took pictures of everything that we were doing, printed them out, and attached them to note cards. Each note card was a step in the process, from sorting the laundry to setting the on the drier. See how simple that process was? Pictures with notes. 

Step 3: Automate Your Processes

You're going to look for different ways to automate the processes. Automating your processes is one of the best ways to save time and reduce the risk of errors or oversight. Again, as a busy mom, you need to prioritize your time and your energy and use technology to handle repetitive tasks and workflow. 

Use automation to free your time and energy to focus on the more important task. 

 There are so many tools and software available that you can use to automate the different tasks. Think. Email marketing, social media, scheduling your invoicing.

 I use HoneyBook, which handles all my contracts and invoicing. I can set them up to reoccur. 

Think of different software solutions that can save you time. You must not undervalue your time and have a good understanding of how much your time is actually worth. 

Because if you spend your time on $10 tasks, that will not grow your business. Those tasks will not move you forward. That is not going to allow you to work part-time hours and get that full-time income that you desire.

Step 4: Effective Systems Use Project Management Tools

Pick a project management tool; just make the decision. And don't second guess yourself.

Grr, second-guessing my decisions is an area that I’m working on. Oh my goodness, the wasted brain space that I’ve used up by being wishy-washy and second-guessing decisions. And this year, I have said no to second-guessing decisions. Because what CEO does that?

If I catch myself, I literally say out loud to myself. “No, cut that out. Stop procrastinating and move on to what you must be doing.”

As for a project management tool. Yes, you need to pick a project management tool. That will help you keep all your tasks and projects organized in one place.

As a busy mom. You need to stay organized and on top of your task.

Options for project management tools include Asana, Clickup, Teamwork, Trello, or MeisterTask.

It doesn't matter what all the cool kids are using. Pick a software, that truly works with your brain.

And doesn't leave you feeling overwhelmed just from using the tool.

It also allows you to be able to assign your tasks to your team members, set deadlines, track your progress, and communicate with your team members in one central location.

When you use tools for your project management, you can ensure that everybody on your team is on the same page and you're working towards the same goals.

Which will help you achieve your business objectives more effectively. And when I talk about your project management system, I'm just not talking about putting your business tasks in there, put your life task in there as well.

You need to make sure that every task that you have is attached to time in your calendar.

Because if your not attaching time, things are not going to get done. In the beginning this is a bit of trial and error until you figure out how long things take. Cause I’m only guessing you have no idea. Give yourself grace you're going to either schedule not enough time or you're going to schedule too much time.

Give it your best shot and adjust as needed, I only ask that you make sure that every task that you have is attached to time in your day. So it gets done.

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Little Side Note

An amazing tool I’ve discovered for attaching time to your activities is Sunsama. It has a little timer at the top so you can see that you’re not overbooking yourself. 

Here is a referral link if you’d like to check it out. Affiliate Disclaimer: As with any link I share, it’s a tool that I’m using or have used. I may or may not receive a commission at no additional cost. 

Step 5: Continuously Review and Improve Your Systems

Don't forget to continuously review and improve your systems. Because your systems will change as your business grows. As you bring on more team members.

Start by creating one effective system. That's the first step. That's all you need to do. 

As a busy mom, it's so important to continuously review and improve your systems. 

Regularly assessing your progress, identifying any areas that you need to improve on and implementing changes as needed. 

When you regularly asses your systems it will help you stay ahead of the game. Ensuring that your systems are always optimize for maximizing efficiency and effectiveness. 

This allows you to simplify your life and your business, while still achieving your goals. 

Thank you so much for reading. I appreciate you and I hope you have a wonderful week.