Managing a website can be a tough job for webmasters. Trends change every day, and so do ranking algorithms. Webmasters need to update the content and analyze the feedback as often as possible. A well-maintained website can be very demanding. Because of this time management is really important.
Now imagine a webmaster who handles more than one website. It can be a stern test for the best of them. If you are one such webmaster, then you need to make the best use of your time. Here are some tips for your time management.
7 tips for Time management
1. Prioritize
As a webmaster, you have many responsibilities. If you manage three websites (say), that number increases threefold. That is why prioritization is very important.
Make a complete list of your activities. Divide this list into three parts.
– The first would be activities you have to do every day without fail.
– The second list would be things that have no fixed frequency. You can do them every other day, or weekly, or even once in a month.
– The third list would have things which you need not do on a regular basis. You can even delegate such tasks to others. Stick up the first list on the wall in front of your computer, and stick to it without fail.
2. Make a Routine
All your responsibilities need to follow a routine. You will need to take geological preferences into account. Let us assume one of your websites has an American audience.
You will need to assess the most popular times for logging on to that website. Depending on which country you are in, you will need to decide the timing of your updates. You should make your updates in such a way that your audience can see them when they log on.
You would also need to have a calendar for website posts. For example, Google calendar. Some of your websites might need less frequent posts than others. Schedule your whole week as per those requirements, and follow that routine.
3. Take Help When You Can
The decision of whether to hire someone or not is one of the most difficult decisions to take. But it can be really good for time management. On one hand, there is the promise of increased efficiency.
But that comes with the increased expenses of hiring someone. That’s why many webmasters prefer to do everything themselves. That can become too taxing for you. But if you want to find qualified freelancer for your website or blog, we recommend to read this article.
If you are still not in a position to pay, consider alternatives. Look for interns or trainees who would love the exposure. You might only need to take them for dinner once in a while. If you have friends or relatives who are willing to help, then take that help.
4. Identify Wasteful Activities
A webmaster always needs to keep abreast of the latest trends. Social media platforms are the best places for this. But social media comes with its own disadvantages. Social media can become very addictive for you. It is also a huge drain on your time.
You go in for the stated benefits. But you spend way too much time on social media. That hampers your productivity.
Acting on feedback can also become another such wasteful activity. Many webmasters take criticism to heart. This leads them into lengthy debates with the people who provided the feedback. If allowed to escalate, these arguments can become quite bitter. More importantly, they take up a lot of time without any productive outcomes.
Learn to walk away from such debates.
5. Lay Out Your Boundaries
Most webmasters work from their home if they need to manage many websites. This gives you a sense of freedom and flexibility.
But there is a flip side to this too. Friends and family see you at home and consider every time to be a good time to speak to you. You get caught up in requests for help just because people can see you around.
Here, you need to move early and fast to prevent this situation. You need to demarcate your workspace clearly. In that area, only your work-related stuff can be kept. Again, similar boundaries need to be marked for your time as well. People around you should clearly know what your ‘work’ timings are. During those times, you are off bounds for them even if they can see you.
6. Seek Out and Use Tools
We spoke earlier about the choice of hiring someone. Even if you are a lone wolf webmaster, there are other ways. You need not hire someone or take free help.
You can use one of the many tools available. These tools will make your work very easy. You can easily replicate their work on more than one websites.
For example, you can use tools to schedule your posts. If one of your websites has a fixed frequency of new content, you can use this tool. There are tools which can automate analytical reports for you. You can get a daily or weekly report about the visitors to your website. Some tools automate the sharing of your website’s content. Whenever you post new content on your website, the tool would share it to your social media profiles automatically. These are just a few examples which can make your work easier.
7. Utilize Free Time
This might sound like an oxymoron if you are handling several websites. ‘I do not have any free time’, you might say. But that is not true at all. There are times when you might be travelling, for instance.
Use that time to do some reading. Or use that time to learn something new. If you have a 30 minute gap before your next post, use it for a power nap. You never know how late you might need to stay up later. You need to train yourself to avoid time wastage. Only then will you be able to utilize every minute correctly.
Conclusion
Handling more than one website can be a great creative challenge. But the time management is an even greater challenge. If you are working alone, then the onus is completely on you. If you have a team, you need to ensure that you hire at least a couple of people who manage their time well.
