Good afternoon!

I hope you are well and keeping as busy as you wish to be. Over my last couple of years in online marketing I’ve sometimes found  it hard to focus and stay on track. Especially through the trickier months where I wasn’t really earning quite as much as I’d like to. It’s difficult to try and avoid checking e-mails every 2 minutes, playing games or starting yet another new project which will probably earn some money………

Do you know this feeling?

As you may or may not be aware, I’m currently undergoing the Internet Marketing coaching programme from Alex Jeffreys. One of the greatest lessons that I have learned since taking Alex on as a mentor is the importance of planning within a home Internet business. I’ve come to realise that (even though we live in a world of technology) sometimes you just can’t beat the good, old fashioned pen and paper.

It’s unbelievable but just taking a few minutes out and putting ideas down onto a piece of paper does all kinds of positive and cash-generating things for your Internet marketing business. This morning, I managed to successfully complete a 90 day plan for my business.  And you know what? I feel amazing. It’s like a finally have some sort of structured device that I can use to ensure maximum success. It’s just given my business a direction. And it didn’t take very long either. Writing “goals” and “objectives” sounds really tough, doesn’t it? But truthfully, it isn’t.

I’m sure you’re aware that all large companies have business and marketing plans. Written documents detailing how they are going to get from A to B and onwards. Well don’t assume that just because you may be merely a one or two person operation that you need

The intention now is to expand that and create a 12 month plan. Check me out… not only am I planning my business for the first time.. now I’m even planning to plan!

So take a leave out of my book. Plan everything. Grab a parchment and quill (oh yeah!?) and scrawl down your plan. On a daily basis you should be planning whatever business activities you intend to do tomorrow. Now, at the “close of office hours”, I write out everything that I have done today and then plan what I intend to do tomorrow. Then, not only are you effectively planning BUT you can also begin to test, track and work out what business activities are earning you the most money.

So for today, my “to do” sheet says that I was going to write some new articles for one of my other niches, write this blog post and then spend half an hour commenting on blogs and making similar traffic driving/networking tasks. After that I’ll be taking part in a meeting on Skype to discuss a potential JV partnership.

Take it from me. I was always skeptical about this planning malarky. It sounds like bull, right? But seriously, it’s made SUCH a huge difference to my life. You MUST start planning.

The old adage/cliche is true…. “If You Fail To Plan Then You To Plan To Fail!”.

Speak soon!
Marc Milburn
www.MarcMilburn.com

P.S. Leave a comment on this blog with your favourite planning techniques, tips and strategies. Lets brainstorm the ass of this topic!