Lori's Goal Buddy Network Objectives

[Lori]

So, here's my issue. I get so caught up in client work during the work day that I find I don't take the time I used to develop FreelanceMom.

My goals are from 9-11 every weekday morning:

1 hour of promotion and optimization:article submissions
directory submissions
optimizing pages on freelancemom
inbound link building
advertising
forum posting
blog commenting
1 hour of content developmentadding articles to freelancemom
writing articles
blogging


By the end of the morning I'll come here and report what I've achieved before I get started on client work.

What are your goals??? Start your own thread and let us cheer you on! :thumb:

[Lori]

Well -- I did approximately an hour of directory submissions this morning :)

So - off to a good start.

I'm going to work on content right now but only have 45 minutes before I get my son from preschool.

Still -- I'm pleased for the first day! :work:

[tam2005]

Sounds great Lori...keep up the good work. :thumb:

[Audrey]

Lori,

How's today going for you?

[Lori]

HORRIBLE! Every distraction imaginable!

The up side is that we recently renovated our basement. I have a NEW office that was just carpeted today.

I really anticipate much more productivity. I can't wait to be moved into it!

[tam2005]

Oh a new office...how exciting!! :) Sounds great.
Well my day was not that productive either. Didn't get a whole lot done.
But...always tomorrow! ;)

But I got a 3 month advertising order...so that makes up for it. :D

[SEO expert]

Wow...a 3 month advertising offer...that sounds great !!

Keep it up and keep us posted on your goals !!

[Lori]

Good morning ladies!

I'm in my new office -- complete with new L desk -- right adjacent to hubby :)

It's amazing. It's QUIET. It's SO professional. I haven't had a real office for two years since we sold our house in CT.

What a thrill!

Anyway -- I'm off to a good start today. Just completed an hour of submissions. And the baby is STILL asleep.

I'm going to work on content now :)

Hope everyone has a super productive day!

Lori :work:

[Lori]

But I got a 3 month advertising order...so that makes up for it. :D

Congrats on the ad Tammy! :thumb:

[tam2005]

Thank you Lori :)

Wow...I'm happy you are settled in your new office! New desk and everything...super! :D COOL!!

Hope you have a productive day as well Lori. With that new office, you have quite the incentive! :work:

[Audrey]

Lori,

Wow...how awesome to have your own office. I do not have an office in this house. We moved here in February.

I'm so happy to hear your day is turning out productive.

[WorkAtHomeSpace]

Having office space is a great motivator. We're all getting some work done. Yay for us!

[Lori]

Well -- no content again today - LOL. It's 6pm here and I'm wrapping things up.

I did get some cool flowers added to the forum. I hope they are fun and not annoying!

Enjoy your nights everyone :)

[WorkAtHomeSpace]

I really like the flowers. They are refreshing. I hope you have a great night too.

:)

[SEO expert]

Yes...flowers are looking very nice and keeping everyone refreshing...also the ones that you have chosen suits to the forum....after all that tells us that you now have enough experience in doing these wonderful things...I can see that you completed 4 years since you built and joined this forum....Right??

[tam2005]

The flowers look awesome Lori! I love them. :)

[SEO expert]

All the best Lori with your new office....I can imagine that how well you will be doing after having this office because you were doing great even without this office...:thumb:

[Audrey]

Lori,

How did yesterday go.

Two tips on content....one is to scan article titles in the categories you want conten for. Very often I've gotten ideas just from article titles.

My 2nd tip is to read a busy message board and see what folks are asking. Then write about it :)

[tam2005]

Audrey...those are 2 excellent tips. Thank you. :)

[Lori]

Hi Ladies,

So glad people like the flowers! I know it might be overkill but oh well :)

Audrey, great ideas for article inspirations!

I haven't been doing so hot on my goals -- getting a ton done of course - but not what I really want to be doing.

I plan to start up again tomorrow morning before I get started on a big new SEO project.

I'll let you know how it goes.

BTW -- I hope this has been as helpful for all of you as it is for me. It's great not feeling alone and I have really been feeling like I've been getting to know some of you much better.

:)

[tam2005]

Hey Lori,

This Goal Buddy Network has helped me a whole lot. That's what inspired me to write that article. ;)

I feel a little more organized lol, and believe me, I'm the most UNorganized person there is! This has helped me more than you know. :) And don't beat yourself up because you fall short at times at reaching your goals Lori. The important thing is that you get right back on and make new goals for the next day like you just did. :thumb:

I feel I'm getting to know you better as well.

[WorkAtHomeSpace]

I think when you have your goals for everyone to see, you want to live up to those expectations. It's so easy to set a schedule for yourself and not share it with anyone so if you don't succeed no one will know but you.

Regardless Lori, you still got tons done (not exactly what you wanted to accomplish) but nevertheless you did what you needed to do eventually.

:)

[Audrey]

Lori,

What kind of SEO project?

[Lori]

Lori,

What kind of SEO project?

Hi Audrey,

A website I designed a few years back for a client. Their business is growing and they are ready to take it to the next level online. So they've hired me to optimize their site and work on an external link building campaign...

It should be fun :)

[tam2005]

Congrats Lori on the SEO project! :D
Way to go.

[WorkAtHomeSpace]

Woo Hoo Lori! How exciting and Congratulations!

[Lori]

I made some progress on content this morning :) Here's a blog post (http://freelancemom.com/blog/archives/90) I wrote.

I've got to focus on some customer support work for awhile now but I'm going to really try to get some more work on FLMom done today.

I'll be back!

[tam2005]

Hey Lori,

Great article! Excellent article idea too. I left a comment. :)

[Lori]

Thanks Tammy! I love comments :)

I'm doing better today. I've optimized 4 existing articles and added 1 new one. Not my own, but still - it's content!

[tam2005]

No problem Lori. :)

Sounds great! I've got a lot done today myself.

[Audrey]

Lori...what a great post. I sure do wish more and more companies would see the benefits of telecommuting.

[Lori]

Added 3 new articles to FreelanceMom today :)
No promoting though... gotta get that client work done!

[Audrey]

Three? Wow, that's great Lori.

[tam2005]

Awesome! :D

[Lori]

Not much action in the Goal Buddy Network this week! I thought I'd better get the ball rolling... :)

I did post 4 articles on FreelanceMom yesterday... Not my own, but good ones.

I'd love to get my newsletter written and sent today, but I'm also in the middle of painting... My kitchen is a gorgeous harvest gold color, I am in LOVE with it. And I know this is just going to make some people roll their eyes, but I'm heading to Home Depot today to pick up three colors... Purple for the entryway, turqoise for the kids bathroom, and really I'm thinking of a deep cheerful pink for my own bathroom. They are all small rooms and I want to get them done really quick because the gold kitchen has me smiling every time I walk in it.

So -- Inadvertently, new colors on my walls may actually help FreelanceMom, it is definitely affecting my energy!

Lori

[WorkAtHomeSpace]

Don't forget to share pictures. :D

[tam2005]

Oh sounds like fun Lori! :)

Harvest gold sounds all warm and cozy. Yes, pics would be good! :D

[tam2005]

Hey Lori,

How's the painting going? Hope all is well. :)

[Audrey]

Lori,

Share links to these articles :)

[Lori]

Painting is still coming along... so much fun!

I have had NO time for FreelanceMom. A big client of mine has a worm on his server. He has a sitebuilder so many of his customers are being affected.

YUCK - it's taking up lots of time.

I hope everyone else is doing better!

[tam2005]

That doesn't sound good Lori. :(

I hope it gets resolved soon.

[WorkAtHomeSpace]

How are things going Lori?

[Lori]

Hi Gals --

Thanks for keeping the ball rolling on the Goal Buddy Network :) I'm sorry I haven't had much input the past couple weeks.

Life has been I-N-S-A-N-E !

The server/worm issue for my client is pretty much under control, but that same client has had several large web design projects for me recently.

I also got a new, quite large seo client.

I'm at that point -- where I want to hit home runs and really impress, but am also being swept away by day to day business stuff.

I'm going to really begin looking at outsourcing more of my busy work - getting a reliable team together that I can count on for help so that I can do more of the high profile end of the SEO work.

On the other hand -- this really difuses my original goals here of taking FreelanceMom and my other sites to the next level.

I think if it was anything but SEO I never would have taken it. I just love the challenge :)

Anyway -- I guess I'm doing a little soul searching right now! I'm going to do a Tony Robbins workshop tomorrow and get my priorites laid out.

I'll report back with some refined goals!

Hope you're all doing great and having awesome weekends with the fam!

Lori

[tam2005]

Hey Lori,

I'm glad the server/worm issue was resolved. :)

Congrats on the new client! Way to go. :D :D
I kind of thought you were busy with client work. I've missed you here in the Buddy Network.

If there's anything I can help you with, let me know...sounds like you're quite the busy lady. That's a good thing! :thumb:

[Lori]

Hey Lori,

I'm glad the server/worm issue was resolved.

Congrats on the new client! Way to go.
I kind of thought you were busy with client work. I've missed you here in the Buddy Network.

If there's anything I can help you with, let me know...sounds like you're quite the busy lady. That's a good thing! :thumb:
Thanks Tammy,

Gosh - it's nice to be missed!

I'm sorry I haven't made it over to your forum in a long while. I really appreciate the great contributions you make here and genuinely always plan to do the same.

As soon as I figure out what I can outsource I will definitely contact you to see if it's something you're interested in!

I just contracted my mother in law to type a couple hours a month :D That's a good feeling because she's recently retired and does need to earn some money.

I anticipate needing help with article and directory submissions for clients. If I could get some fast, competent and reliable help with that I could accept a lot more work!

Thanks for the congrats -- you're right, it's really good news isn't it? LOL.

Actually, I was just talking with my MIL today and reflecting on how much we have to be GRATEFUL for in our lives. There is so much suffering in the world -- it's really important to sit back each day and appreciate how much good is in our lives :)

:popcorn:

[tam2005]

You're welcome Lori. :)

Sounds good...let me know and I'll figure out if I have the time for it. Yesterday I just started on a new project. It's not business, it's personal...a nice change from business. ;)

Actually, I was just talking with my MIL today and reflecting on how much we have to be GRATEFUL for in our lives. There is so much suffering in the world -- it's really important to sit back each day and appreciate how much good is in our lives :)

I agree...it's amazing what we take for granted in life. We are very fortunate.

[Audrey]

Lori....

Congrats on the new client!!!!! So...hmmm I wonder if you'd share a weekly tip for us on SEO here on the forum that we could all apply to our own businesses.

We all go through times that are busier than others. My life changed when school started and now I can't seem to catch up. I was so looking forward to the structure of the school year, however some how structure gave me less time LOL.

[judilynn]

Sounds like you are doing great! We do have so much to be thankful in our lives.

Outsourcing is not an easy thing to do for me. Maybe it is a thing where it has my name on it, so I want to have control over it. I don't know if this is an issue with anyone else, but it is one I am trying hard to get over. I can't do everything myself. Somewhere along the line I have to admit I am not superwoman.

Well that is my take on it anyways. I am sure you will find a happy medium and get even more clients. That is so exciting.

[WorkAtHomeSpace]

It's a very exciting time your life right now and enjoy every moment of it even it seems all so crazy. Congratulations on the new client! Count me in if you need anything.

Keep doing what you're doing...you're already succeeding!

:)

[Lori]

I have so much on my plate this week. I thought writing it all out for you gals might help me get my head straight :)

1. FreelanceMom Newsletter
Decide on focus topic for November's newsletter. Work on it a couple of hours the next couple of evenings.
Deadline: Friday

2. SEO Quote - DONE!
I've been asked for a quote on several microsites for SEO.
Deadline: Today

3. Website Template - DONE!
Get template made for a client site and sent to our programming team to upload into the sitebuilder software we use.
Deadline: Yesterday :)

4. Article submissions
I wrote an article (http://freelancemom.com/blog/archives/92) over the weekend and began submitting it. I'd like to continue submitting it for about 30 minutes daily for the rest of the week.

5. Photoshop mockup of website into HTML - DONE!
I've designed a website for a client and it was approved yesterday. I have to slice that up and get it into HTML and live on the web.
Deadline: Friday

6. Continue deworming clients server
I actually found a software that is helping me enormously in finding the infected files on my clients server and cleaning them up. I need to continue with that.
Deadline: Ugh -- weeks ago.

7. Outsource article submissions for client - DONE!
I have to organize my files and thoughts and get this project outsourced... in other words - PM Tammy!
Deadline: Friday

8. Finish up quarterly work for SEO client
I have a client that I do ongoing SEO work for on a quarterly basis. I have to complete 3 hours of directory submissions and about 4 hours of updating content on their blogs so that I can invoice them for the next quarter.
Deadline: About a week late already.

9. Yet another SEO client I'm working on...
Have to update their homepage with approved changes. Send the suggestions for at least one other page on their site this week. Also need to do about 3 hours of link building.
Deadline: Friday

Alright -- I think that covers the deliverables. It feels so good to get things written out, doesn't seem quite as overwhelming :)

I'll be back in touch!

Lori

[judilynn]

Looks like you have a lot on your plate! But it is great to have it all written down in a plan.
Looks like you are well on your way to meeting your goals!

[tam2005]

Oh my goodness Lori, that is quite a bit there. But looks like you may have a handle on things, for the most part. :)
It does help writing it all down. You're doing great!

[WorkAtHomeSpace]

That's quite the list Lori, but it's good to see you're tackling them. Kudos to you.

:)

[Audrey]

Wow Lori. Sometimes seeing it all in writing helps put it into managable chunks.

[WorkAtHomeSpace]

How are you doing, Lori?

[WorkAtHomeSpace]

Lori,

You have been tagged. Please see my blog for instructions. :)

http://healthyperspectives.blogspot.com/2007/11/meme-challenge-tag-your-it.html

[tam2005]

How are things going for you Lori? Hope all is well. :)