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Creating Your Action Plan and Online Business Timeline Can Help Your Business Excel
Most businesses start out with a dream and an inspiration, but that is where it ends. Even the most innovative businesses can wind up closing their doors because a good action plan and a focused timeline were not in place at conception.
There are many benefits to creating your action plan and online business timeline. When you have an action plan put into place and follow it regularly and continue to focus on your business timeline, things will run much more smoothly for your new business, your employees, and your customers.
Tips to Create a Powerful Action Plan
Streamline Your Path
If you have a dream and a vision – excellent. Now, you must have knowledge of where your business is heading down the line. It is important to focus on a streamlined path when you first start your business. Otherwise, you are likely to find that your business is “all over the place.” Be sure to be specific in where you expect your business to go in the first twelve months and make sure to have a clear business plan in place.
Put It in Writing
In the early stages of creating your business, it is important to create an action plan in writing. Without this piece of the puzzle, it can get messy quite quickly. Having an action plan in your head or verbalizing it with other team members is not nearly as efficient as putting it down in writing.
Measure Your Goals Consistently
Make sure to check up on your goals often. By measuring your goals, you consistently marry those goals against where you are at the moment. If your goals are not in alignment with where they should be, then it is time to re-evaluate.
Break Down Bigger Projects into More Manageable Ones
When you create your action plan, make certain to break down bigger projects into more manageable ones. In this way, you will be able to get the whole job done without it feeling overwhelming.
Delegate
Do not be afraid to delegate some of your action plan. If you try to do everything all on your own, chances are all those balls you are juggling will come tumbling down sooner rather than later.
Tips to Create an Online Business Timeline
Being productive in your business is so important. There are a ton of tools that you can use to boost your business productivity.
Create a Timeline for Every Task
You may think it is not necessary to create a timeline for each and every task; however, a timeline is essential for success. Creating a timeline will help you to manage your time and your business.
Keep It Real
A timeline should have manageable date attached to each task. If you create a timeline goal too soon, then you may set yourself up for failure. By being realistic, you set yourself up for success.
Differentiate Your Tasks
Make certain to differentiate your short-term tasks from your long-term tasks. For example, a short-term task would be to hire employees or a VA to help with your Pinterest growth and a long-term task would be to improve your social media status.
Stick to Your Timeline No Matter What
You have to have integrity in this area. You need to stick with your timeline no matter what, as this is the only way to achieve success.
Stay Focused – It is very easy to let a task go because other “stuff” gets in the way. Stay focused and stick to your timeline. Check your progress as you go along the way
Yes to all of this! I feel like I am so organized and can plan out goals and tasks in every other area of my life, but when it comes to blogging, I never feel like I have a clear direction. Like an oh, I’ll work on it “in the morning” and “if I have time” and “maybe I should try that” kind of attitude. Thank you for the reminder and the motivation that I need to get on this and begin to prioritize my own writing. ❤️
Hi Valerie! I don’t think you’re alone on this one. Especially if you have a full time job and you’re trying to “fit it all in” when you can. I think having a clear schedule can be really helpful so that you set your own deadlines. Thanks for reading and have an amazing day!
This was so helpful! Thank you!!
You’re welcome, Nicole! So glad that you enjoyed it!
Such great information! My husband started an online business last year, and it took off way faster than we planned. An action plan is just what we need! I’m going to share this with him tonight!
How exciting, Mellissa! It’s amazing when something takes off faster than planned or expected and then so important to make sure to have everything you need in place to continue to grow! Thanks for sharing and for reading 🙂
I love these tips. As a new blogger, I find myself getting overwhelmed so easily, so these will certainly be helpful!
Thank you, Maggie! So glad that you found these tips useful for creating an action plan for your business! Being overwhelmed in the beginning is so normal. The best advice I can give is to take things one step at a time. Learn things in small chunks, really get a handle on them and then move on to the next step. And most importantly, try to make sure to reward yourself along the way. Hope you’re having an amazing weekend.
Measuring goals is so important. Sometimes you’ve come a lot father than you think but you have to take the time to check in!
Absolutely! Measuring goals is so important just to see if you’re on track and pivot when/where you need to. Hope you’re having an amazing day!
I have been blogging for over 2 years, and I still don’t have a GOOD solid action plan. I know, right? Sticking to a time line is so hard for me. I have BIG plans in 2020 to do a better job. We will see! 🙂
Hi Gina! It’s so funny how hard it is to make that plan but when it’s finally in place, it feels SO GOOD!! Let’s rock 2020! Cheers – Sasha
Excellent advice. I just started my blog 2 months ago. I don’t have a business action plan yet, but I’m going to make that my goal for this month.
Thank you, Crystal! And welcome to the crazy world of blogging :). I think creating an action plan at any stage is a great goal – and even better that you’re doing it early on so that you have a plan to follow. Thanks for reading!
This is so helpful! I feel like it’s so hard to stay on track because I always have a million and one ideas running through my head. I think your timeline method is actually going to be a game-changer for me.
YES, Daynah! Timelines are a great way to keep you on track and visually be able to see and reward yourself for your progress. Excited to see what you come up with as I’m always in “shiny” mode and need to stay super focused.
A great reminder of how important getting organized and focusing on one step at a time is. This year has mostly been about learning and building up content. Seeing a plan starting to come together has a great sense of accomplishment.
Yes, Maura! You hit the nail on the head there. Having a plan is SO important to staying focused and on track. It’s also a way to measure your accomplishments and reflect if you need to pivot when unexpected things come around the corner. Thanks so much for reading and all the best in the New Year!
Thanks Sasha. I recently started my VA business and I really don’t feel that I’m getting the most out of it all. The problem is that I am a creative mind, so I have ideas coming out of my ears. But when it comes to doing, I get so overwhelmed and just have no idea where to start. I will definitely be looking at your blog for more tips so that I can secure some clients.
Hi Renicia. I totally understand the life of a creative and overwhelm. I think it goes hand in hand. If I could offer a tip it would be to write down all your ideas and then each week, list one or two to work on by priority. This way, you’ll keep yourself on track and still keep all those great ideas somewhere for when you have time. Hope that helps a little 🙂
Yes! Tangible, realistic tips for excelling at entrepreneurship. Love these, Sasha! Specifically
“stick to your timeline no matter what.” Even if you aren’t seeing the results you wish you’d see, stick to the timeline! Progress over perfection, all day.
YES Tiffany! Perfectionism just causes procrastination and I have to remind myself constantly that done is better than perfect and to keep on schedule. So glad that you enjoyed the post!
Thanks for this post. I really needed this.
You bet! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading. 🙂
These tips are very helpful, thanks! I really like the idea of creating a timeline for every task.
You’re welcome, Ivana! Timelines are a great way to stay on track for sure. So glad that you found some tips to help you in this post. 🙂
Hi! Awesome article, informative. Thank you…