Running Multiple Websites
I have recently found that I bit off more than I could handle. When I started I built up multiple sites and I still think it was a good idea. However, it is also difficult to manage all those sites when you are doing most of the work yourself. How am I working around this? If you have found yourself in this position, or if you are considering starting multiple projects, follow these simple tips to keep yourself on track. It has worked for me, and for others as well.
Focus on One site
Even if you have multiple sites started, I recommend you focus on one site until it is successful. Once you get some money coming in from one site, you can go back and work on the others. THis will help you to have more to put into those other sites. Instead of pocketing the money you make, reinvest that money into outsourcing.
I know this can be difficult to do. However, you will achieve more success faster if you focus. This is part of why it is highly recommended to find your passions at least when you start out.It has been proven that you can be successful in a niche you know very little about. But, you will need to do a lot of outsourcing in order to get there.
Scheduling
If you just cannot force yourself to focus on one site, then this is the most important thing you need to do. Set yourself daily schedule. Figure out what you need to do for each site. Depending on how you work, you can do this one of two ways. You can schedule yourself tasks to work on one site every day.
Schedule yourself what you will do for which site. Make sure you include one day each week for analyzing all of your sites and setting up your plan for the next week. I recommend doing this on Sunday or Monday to start your week off with a good plan.
If you can change gears easily, you may choose to schedule yourself a couple of hours every day for each site. I often work 10-15 hour days anyway, so if I spend hours on each of my 5 sites, I can make some progress on each one every day.
Success will come much more slowly following this path. You can do it, it just takes longer to get there.
Look for free help
Now, this will not always be an option. but, if you can get someone to help you with no payment or the promise of future payment this will help you tremendously. Make it fun and exciting. Where can you find people to do this? Ask your wife or friends for help. They may not understand the whole concept, but you can show them how to do simple tasks.
For example, I have a friend who is a school teacher. She helps me to proofread my articles, and she also helps with posting those articles to different directories. I showed my roommate how to do blog commenting, and he does about 5-10 per day for me. This helps save me a lot of time, but does not ask too much of them. I have found that offering to buy pizza and beer will get a lot of help without paying a lot of money. we get together with our laptops and work for an hour or so, then have some fun.
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6 comments
Joseph Doughty
Twitter: drjmedulla
on June 20, 2010 at 3:43 pm
Having friends and family help in your blog building is brilliants. I currently manage content on 7 blogs for two different clients. I enjoy the subject matter, but find days where I have a hard time finding my writers groove.
BTW: I have also been using a 90 min on 30-60min off writing/working schedule. It is based on some newer scientific research that indicates our brain has a hard time focusing on tasks much longer than 90 minutes. It has worked pretty well when I do it. I set an egg timer and go, stay focused and ignore all distractions for that amount of time.
Joseph Doughty recently posted..Google TV poised to change your online chiropractic marketing strategy
James Pruitt on June 20, 2010 at 7:56 pm
Cool tip joseph Thanks for sharing. I never tried timing myself. Once i get started it is usually hard for me to stop. Sometimes i will write for 30-45 minutes, and sometimes 2-3 hours.
Murray Lunn on June 20, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Being able to control your schedule is really important when you’re running multiple blogs.
I run two at the moment but had up to four – it simply didn’t work out.
I was stretching myself too thin and the content started to slump.
Sometimes you gotta bite the bullet and just hunker down on one or two blogs that are going to be your success. Then, afterward, pick up the pace on the others :)
Murray Lunn recently posted..Finding Blog Post Ideas In The Most Unlikely Places
James Pruitt on June 21, 2010 at 12:27 pm
i agree Murray. That has been the hardest part for me personally. Thanks for your comment.
Joseph Doughty
Twitter: drjmedulla
on June 21, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Here is another tip I have found uber helpful: I will use other writing services (textbroker.com) to help me ghost write for clients. I will break down one aspects of my writing project and delegate a few 300-500 word posts. This works for “fleshing” out content on my clients sites for generic topics. Of course I put my spin on it and edit it, rarely do they come back ready to use. For $10 or so I can save myself 2-3 hours of writing and research time. This strategy doesn’t work as well for this style blog, but is great for local business blog clients of mine.
Joseph Doughty recently posted..Google TV poised to change your online chiropractic marketing strategy
James Pruitt on June 21, 2010 at 7:23 pm
actually I agree. I will have someone else write short articles to distribute for links, but all my blog posts and guest posts, I personally write myself.