Are You Wasting Time in WA?
Hi everyone!
Today I want to talk to you about the difference between productive engagement in WA and . wasting time.
WA is a huge community. If I utilize it correctly, it can and will be beneficial to my online business. But if I don't, I could end up wasting time. How so?
Well, it's easy to get caught up in lots of things in WA, like:
- Links to other pages
- Reading other people's posts
- Doing the exercise from a training, then getting caught up in conversations with other people on here
- Hanging out in the live chat room
- Answering other people's questions
- Commenting on other people's posts
Before you know it, I'm off track. So how do I productively utilize networking on WA? It all comes down to time management.
Time Management
So how do I make sure I don't end up going off on a tangent after commenting on someone's post, or not clicking on to another link which leads to another link and another?
Simple.
At the beginnig of the day (or even the night before), I map out what I plan to do in my training lesson. So today my goal is to do at least 2 segments from the online certification course. Then I have a list of things that I need to do as far as engagement within the community.
Limit Time Spent Wandering Around WA
I then list the things I'm going to do in specifics like:
- I'm going to comment on 3 people's blogs today
- I'm going to give feedback on 3 people's websites
- I'm going welcome 5 newcomers
With your list, you make it clear to yourself what you need to do.
Now, here's the kicker:
When you comment on the person's blog or give the feedback - THAT'S ALL YOU DO. Do not engage in needless conversation or click on any other links because that's what sidetracks you.
In other words, only do what you committed on paper to do to keep yourself from wasting time.
PM People and Ask Them to Comment
I also block out 15-30 minutes out of the day to PM people and ask them to reciprocate commenting on my blog posts. That's helpful because it limits my distraction in the "Give and Take" section on WA.
Lastly, the most important way to not waste time on WA is to have a goal for each day as to what you need and want to accomplish. If you don't have that, you'll waste a lot of time.
If this post was helpful, please leave your comments below. I'd love to hear from you.
Recent Comments
31
Just responding to the emails from followers eats away the time. I have set a time limit for emails. When it expires, I am gone.
Some really valid points, WA runs 24/7 so there is always something going on, it can be easy to get caught up in things.
Creating a routine or that " work first mindset " works wonders, or get the work or tasks you are working on or your website up first then, open a tab for WA have them running so you can work and play at the same time.
Like you say too much play and no work gets done.
Thank you for this very important message. I am fairly new to WA and have found myself constantly allowing myself to get very distracted doing most of the things you mention in your post. I think that your post is so important that it should be recommended reading to every new member that comes aboard. THanks for sharing things that really hit the bullseye.
TLC
Hi there! Thanks for your comment. Maybe I'll ask Kyle to make it a recommended reading post!
Great blog Shalisha, time management is such an important part of any business, especially from a management perspective.
I agree with you Shalisha. Without setting goals, you can end up "wasting" time. Note I put wasting in quotes - primarily because being her isn't a time waster but it can be a distraction from what you are ultimately trying to achieve which is to build your online business.
I log in to check on my referrals, see if I can answer any questions, welcome Premium members and new starters and complete my training schedule. I will pop into chat for a bit.
All of this can easily take up to an hour - which is what I limit myself to. When I close out on WA I do like to see that there are no notifications pending then I know I have 'completed' my tasks for the day.
Thanks for this reminder.
Hi there Jackie. You're so right and I agree! I limit my time to answering questions to a certain amount per day.
Yes. It is so easy to get distracted especially those posts that link to another and before you know it, your day is done and you haven't spent time on your site.
All the best Shalisha!
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We are very good at setting, and following up on, our goals in respect of training, writing posts and working on our website but we never even considered setting goals in respect of social interaction at WA. We usually just allocate a set amount of time but then we never stick to it and, as you say, just aimlessly drift around for way too long. Starting tomorrow we will be a lot better organized. Thank you.
Colette and Philip
You're very welcome.