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Expert Briefs

What does a “typical” day or week in your business look like? (If such a thing exists.)

Do you have a to do list for either that you can share?

: Nicole Dean Asks Successful

Marketers the Questions You Wish you Could

By Nicole Dean of www.NicoleontheNet.com

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NOTICE

You MAY

: THIS REPORT COMES WITH GIVEAWAY & MASTER RESALE RIGHTS INCLUDED.

sell it, AND give it away. However, this report may NOT

What CAN You Do With This Awesome Report?

be altered in any way!

− Tweet about it. − Blog about it. − Post on Facebook about it. − Add it to a Membership Site. − Include it as a surprise bonus with your own products. − Send it to your list.

© Copyright Nicole Dean

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this report may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any informational storage or retrieval system without express written, dated and signed permission from the author.

AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER. The short, direct, non-legal version is this: Some of the links in this report may be affiliate links which means that I earn money if you choose to buy from that vendor at some point in the near future. Yes, I am proud that I feed my family by finding the *best* learning resources on the net and sharing them with you and I am humbled and thankful that you trust me to do so. I do not choose which products and services to promote based upon which pay me the most, I choose based upon my decision of which I would recommend to a dear friend. You will never pay more for an item by clicking through my affiliate link, and, in fact, may pay less since I negotiate special offers for my readers that are not available elsewhere.

DISCLAIMER AND/OR LEGAL NOTICES:

The information presented herein represents the view of the author as of the date of publication. Because of the rate with which conditions change, the author reserves the right to alter and update his opinion based on the new conditions. The report is for informational purposes only. While every attempt has been made to verify the information provided in this report, neither the author nor his affiliates/partners assume any responsibility for errors, inaccuracies or omissions. Any slights of people or organizations are unintentional. If advice concerning legal or related matters is needed, the services of a fully qualified professional should be sought. This report is not intended for use as a source of legal or accounting advice. You should be aware of any laws which govern business transactions or other business practices in your country and state. Any reference to any person or business whether living or dead is purely coincidental.

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About Nicole: Nicole Dean is the Mostly-Sane Marketer. (Ask anyone who knows her and they’ll say that the “mostly” part is up for debate!)

Nicole loves to help online business owners to earn more money AND have more fun! She is an expert in Affiliate Marketing, Affiliate Management, “Lazy Marketing” for passive profits,

Outsourcing Effectively, and Marketing with Content. But, she’s got a secret. She uses a LOT of shortcuts.

Nicole juggles a lot of things, but she does it all without owning a Blackberry or giving out her cell phone number. The reason she works from home is to have the freedom when and where she wishes to work.

She enjoys work very much, but lives to spend time with her much-adored husband, her two silly children – and also her two slightly neurotic puppies, Eddy (short for Edison) & Einstein.

Resources from Nicole at NicoleontheNet.com Learn the secret shortcut that many niche marketers use to stop working so darned hard Quality PLR Articles & Reports

Find out how Nicole has gotten a waiting list of people who want her to steal their web traffic: How to Guest Blog

Jimmy D. Brown called her Wonder Woman when she was his Affiliate Manager. Why? She got more done in a day than he thought she'd accomplish in a month.

Check it out here: How do you have a Business AND a Life at the Same Time

For infoproduct marketers, Clickbank is a hands-free way of selling online. Are you ready to get your infoproduct out of your computer and into the Internet — where it can start making moolah for you? Check it out Nicole's course here: How to Sell Your Products on Clickbank

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Welcome It’s another Expert Briefs, where I ask really smart business owners to answer your burning questions.

Today’s question is -

What does a “typical” day or week in your business look like? (If such a thing exists.)

Do you have a to do list for either that you can share? And, here are our answers…

Alice Seba of Contentrix.com says: Over the years, I’ve worked strategically to make sure my typical work day doesn’t look like a typical work day. I make sure I work with partners and contractors so we can all focus on our strengths…leaving me to work on just a few specific things in my business.

The things I work on are:

* Marketing Strategy: While this is done to some degree on a daily basis, most strategizing takes place annually, then quarterly and most in-depth, monthly.

* Email Marketing & Promotions: This is my real strength and what my daily work is really focused on. On a weekly basis, I plan out emails an promotions and then work on them each day. This includes communication to subscribers, customers and affiliates.

* Product Development: For some products, I simply work on the ideas/planning, but where my expertise is required, I am more hands on. I generally keep product development work to one or two days per week.

Things I don’t work on:

• Support, inquiries and administrative tasks. I have a capable assistant to manage this. • Management of most of our contractors or writers. My business partners handle this. • Technical tasks. I have a techie on board to install scripts, customizations, etc. • Graphics. I just don’t have the skills.

Learn More from Nicole at her blogl! → www.NicoleontheNet.com

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So to make a long story short, my work days are fairly short and are focused on strategizing, writing copy and sometimes developing products.

I will often work a little in the morning and finish up in the evening…rarely working more than 2 hours at one time. I find working longer than that, I get really distracted and start exploring other things I shouldn’t be!

I also keep my iPhone around and that’s what I use for my online goof off time…separate from work time. The laptop is for work. The iPhone is for social media, reading blogs, etc. So you’ll often see me tweeting in the bank line up, while waiting for the kids, and reading blog posts while I relax on the couch.

Shannon Cherry of The Power Publicist says: A typical week? Really?!? Is there such a thing when you have a business with reporters calling all hours of the day (and night), twin preschoolers and a business to run?

Actually there is. And that’s because I plan and organize my weeks. Here’s a glimpse on how I do it:

1) I have a six months+ plan I work with. I know exactly what I’ll be promoting when it comes to my products and services, as well as any affiliate or JV promotions six months in advance. That way I can plan what marketing I will do for each thing. I use a wall calendar to map it out so I know exactly what marketing has to be done when. (Hint: I work backwards from the launch date to set deadlines on what needs to be done when.)

2) I know when I’m at my best. Unlike Nicole, who tends to be a night owl, I am an early bird. My creative ideas are abundant in the early morning and I can write quickly. By 2 PM, I need a nap! So I make sure I schedule my most creative work in the morning on my to-do list.

3) I split my week up into segments. I have two days set aside for talking on the phone with clients. One day is strictly for writing. One day is a combo of writing and planning. (I try to take an extra day off to make a long weekend. That way I can meet any school obligations my kids have, as well as a little me time.)

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4) I don’t do my own scheduling. I’ve learned I am too nice when it comes to putting people on my schedule for phone calls, etc. So I send all stuff about my schedule to my administrative director, who knows which days are for calls and schedules people accordingly.

Finally, here’s one last tip:

Know – and accept – that there will be days that will screw up your best laid plans.

A kid gets sick. A reporter wants to interview a client on Good Morning America. Your Internet service dies. It happens and there’s nothing you can do about it. So when you plan, don’t over-plan your days. (Psst! It’s one of the reasons I try to have that extra day off a week. It’s a great to have a ‘just in case all hell breaks loose’ day.)

And, here’s my 2 cents.

Nicole Dean of NicoleontheNet.com says: First of all, I love this quote from Alice “I’ve worked strategically to make sure my typical work day doesn’t look like a typical work day“.

And, Shannon – this rocks! “It’s a great to have a ‘just in case all hell breaks loose’ day.“ Been there. Done that.

Boy, can I ever relate to both of those.

I asked our experts this question, because it’s something I’m always in the process of re-evaluating and tweaking in my own business.

For me, the best use of my time is spent in content creation and networking.

So, the majority of my time that I work during the day is spent -

• Blogging here. (Creating content here.) • Writing emails to customers & leads. (Lists and relationship building.) • Connecting with my friends/mastermind partners & affiliates. (Goal setting, brainstorming,

and JVs.) • Communicating with my team so things are running smoothly. (Business management.) • Getting exposure on other sites (doing interviews, guest blogging, article marketing, and

video marketing). (Traffic.)

Learn More from Nicole at her blogl! → www.NicoleontheNet.com

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The one thing that’s been put on the back burner for me the last few months has been product creation. It’s the easiest thing for me to let slide “just one more day”… so I’m actively working on that now before I get strung by by my toes from my mastermind partner (and before my customers who keep asking me WHEN I’ll be teaching my next course come knocking at my front door to kidnap me and make me finish it). Yes, we all have obstacles to overcome.

ok. Back to getting things done. You guys know I’m a project person, so I like to break up my tasks by “chunking” them.

Rather than writing one email each day, I’ll write all three for the week at one time and schedule them.

Rather than writing one blog post each day, I’ll write a few and schedule them.

So, I’ve learned that I work better when I focus on a weekly set of goals (or a weekly schedule) instead of a daily one.

I’m the kind of person who would spend one full day exercising each month rather than having to do it on a daily basis. I’ll also put off laundry until I have nothing to wear and am running around nearly nekkid. Then I’ll spend a day doing laundry, knowing that I don’t have to deal with it for another month. I also prefer to do batch cooking rather than cooking a meal every day. I’d rather make one big huge batch of chili and freeze it in meal-size containers than to have to cook every day. It’s just how I work.

However, I’ve also known people who NEED a daily schedule. They thrive on knowing exactly what they’ll be doing every day. It’s about knowing yourself and being true to that.

Rather than setting yourself up to fail – set yourself up to succeed.

I have two lists. A “must do” list and a “wish list” of things that I’d like to accomplish, but that’s a separate list. Never do the two meet.

So, here’s my “must do” to do list for this week – the things that I have to do or my accountability partner will beat me:

- Final plan for my next infoproduct (outline, format, price) - Order sales page for course - 3 Blog Posts NOTN (here) - 2-4 mailings (see promo schedule and decide based upon what provides most value to readers)

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- Switch EasyPLR.com to WordPress (working with hubby on this) - Daughter’s birthday & party (make it rock!)

Next week, I’m focusing more on Traffic Generating activities.

The “must do” list doesn’t look too impressive, in my opinion. (The “wish list” is much longer.) But then again, I don’t work that many hours compared to a lot of my colleagues. In fact, today, I’m working a whopping 2.5 hours total. When I’m on vacation, I don’t work at all other than checking email every few days. But, the only reason I CAN do that is because I outsource to really smart people.

One other thing that’s really helped me with my “to do” lists is this book -

Focal Point: A Proven System to Simplify Your Life, Double Your Productivity, and Achieve All Your Goals

Knowing where your focal point is – WHERE you should focus your time – helps to prioritize. Your list may be completely different than mine or Alice’s or Shannon’s. But, knowing where you should focus helps you to make a smart decision.

Learn More from Nicole at her blogl! → www.NicoleontheNet.com

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UPDATE: I posted another example of my day -- (A Day in the Life of an Internet Marketer) and it got quite a few comments, so I wanted to

include it here. I hope you like it! Yesterday, I sent out a mailing to my EasyPLR.com list with a questionnaire asking for feedback on a few things.

If you’d like to give me your feedback, you can here: Please Help Me to Best Serve You!

I’ve gotten over 70 responses so far and one of the common trends I’m seeing is a level of frustration. Basically “Stop telling me what to do and tell me what YOU do.

I understand. It has to do with both Credibility and Trust.

”

I also got questions about “Do you REALLY make a sustainable income online?” I don’ t know if you’re asking about me, specifically or if it’s possible. I don’t normally share numbers, simply because I was raised to be private about money, I don’t really want to tick off the FTC, and because I figure I’ll be real and you’ll see the truth, as opposed to those who are talking out of their ears.

However, I also realize that’s a leap of faith that I’m asking for.

Here’s the scoop.

• Yes, I make over six figures online. • Yes, I can send an email and make several thousand dollars if it’s the right offer. (And,

sometimes they just bomb. lol!) • Yes, I consistently make money in niches OTHER than Internet Marketing. I don’t just sell

“how to make money online” stuff. I started in other niches and still “play” there to make sure anything I teach works across the board for all niches.

• Yes, my ONLY source of income for my family is my business. • Yes, both my husband and my mother work for/with me. • Yes, I can have the heat pump break, have a new one installed and pay cash. • Yes, I’m debt free.

My life is pretty wonderful.

• No, I don’t own a Ferrari. • No, I don’t have a million dollars in cash laying around.

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• No, I don’t have a vacation home in Hawaii. • No, I don’t own a private jet.

I hope that helps clear that up.

So, back on that note — here’s exactly what I’ve done today. This is not an “average” day as there is no such thing in my life. I have kids, dogs, a marriage, and a business. There is no “normal”. And, my to do list may not match yours.

However, in all transparency, here’s my day as of 12:45 as I’m about to have lunch…

1. Got up, felt stuffy from allergies. Took two Benadryls.

2. Realized I probably shouldn’t have taken 2 Benadryls when my fingers started to feel fuzzy.

3. Sat at my desk with coffee and decided to work anyway and hope for the best.

4. Checked on an issue for an affiliate promo that I wanted to send today to see if I had the all clear. Got the all clear. Things are apparently working now.

5. Checked on the mailing that I’d written yesterday (for today) to see if it was helpful, useful, and valuable to still send to my readers. Sent email to my EasyPLR.com leads list and then to my customer list. (30 minutes)

6. Dealt with puppies, kids, etc. Made sure everyone was fed and dogs had been let out, kids were doing chores, etc. (an hour)

7. Checked Twitter to see if all was well there. Retweeted a few people. Responded to a few people. (10 minutes.)

8. Purchased 6 solo ads for next year. (5 minutes).

9. Tweaked & wrote copy for 6 solo ads and sent it to list owner. (30 minutes)

10. Updated my bio for the new NAMS sales page to explain who I am and what I’ll be talking about for my presentation. (15 minutes)

11. Checked on Emails and dealt with a few issues. Set some emails aside to think on them, and ignored some figuring they’ll either work themselves out or go away on their own.

12. Pondered the answers I got from the questionnaire and decided to think on them for a bit.

13. Got email from my VA that I only had one response for Expert Briefs this week, so I resent the email to my group there to see if anyone else wanted to contribute.

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14. Loaded up some audios on my mp3 player so I can listen if I do housework later.

15. Wrote this blog post.

On a usual day, I’ll do a variety of things, but across a week’s time things average out more. I normally make progress on the following things -

• Do something for my lists. • Write something on my blog. • Fit in some form of marketing (interviews, videos, article marketing, etc.) • Tackle something for product creation.

Well, time for me to have lunch, go to a movie and do some housework – and hopefully kick these allergies.

Let me know how your day went. I’d love to hear from you.

Warmly, Nicole Dean

Recommended: If you’d like to peek inside the activities of other successful online business owners, you’re in luck.

Two of my friends have private newsletters where they show you *exactly* what is working in their businesses every month. And, you can get either of them – cheap.

But, they aren’t for absolute beginners – so only look if you consider yourself beyond the “newbie” stage.

Here they are – and I recommend them BOTH highly. Choose the one that connects more with you.

• Melissa Ingold’s Private Newsletter. – Includes planning sheets, audios, and all kinds of cool stuff. Melissa really focuses on infoproducts.

• Tony Shepherd’s Private Newsletter. – Includes a monthly report. Tony is no-nonsense and a little on the guerrilla marketing side of things. I pay for his newsletter and it’s pretty cool, advanced stuff.

You may certainly share this document with a friend!