Let’s face it, life’s a whirlwind. Between managing your blog, conquering social media and attempting to find some work-life balance, you’re basically a superhero. But what if we told you there are ways to make your life easier? It’s time to automate your blog, as well as other areas that can use a system, and delegate like a pro!
Why Automate, You Ask?
First things first, why should you bother with automation? Simple: it’s your ticket to sanity and success. By automating routine tasks, you free up precious time – time that we’ve learned is infinitely more important than money – and brainpower for more exciting things. Here’s how:
- Time is Money: Automation reduces the time you spend on repetitive tasks, giving you more bandwidth to focus on strategic activities that actually make you money.
- Consistency is Key: Regular posting and engagement are crucial for blog and social media success. Automation ensures you’re consistently in your audience’s line of sight.
- Work Smarter, Not Harder: Why spend hours doing what technology can handle in seconds? Automate and let the machines do the heavy lifting
- Stress Less: With less manual work, you’ll feel less overwhelmed. Imagine having more time to enjoy life outside of the digital realm!
Let’s Get to the Good Stuff: Automation Hacks
Drumroll, please! Here’s a treasure trove of ways to automate your blogging, social media and everyday life:
Blogging Bliss
- The Blog Posts: One of my favorite things about WordPress has longtime been the ability to schedule when your posts will go live. Do the writing, set it & forget it.
- Editorial Assistance: Consider Grammarly for proofreading and editing your blog posts. It’s like having a virtual editor.
- Content Calendar: Use tools like Trello, Notion or Asana to plan your blog content ahead of time. No more last-minute brainstorming.
- Email Marketing: Platforms like Flodesk can handle your email campaigns and subscriber management effortlessly. It is the one that myself and many of my blogging peers use.
- Comment Moderation: Use Disqus or Akismet to automatically filter out spammy comments on your blog.
Social Media Mastery
- Social Media Scheduler: Invest in tools like Buffer, Tailwind, Later or Sprout Social to schedule your social media posts. Many social media apps like Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest also have free built-in schedulers. When you schedule posts in advance, you can focus on creating.
- Hashtag Helpers: Rely on apps like Hashtagify or RiteTag to find the most effective hashtags for your posts.
- Content Curation: Apps like Feedly or Flipboard can help you discover and share relevant content with your audience.
- Autoresponders: On platforms like Instagram, set up quick replies for common queries. Your followers will appreciate the instant response.
- Social Listening: Tools like Mention or Google Alerts notify you when your brand or keywords are mentioned online.
Life Made Easier
- Grocery Delivery: Services like Instacart or Amazon Fresh can save you trips to the store.
- Meal Prep Kits: Subscription services like Blue Apron or HelloFresh simplify cooking.
- Virtual Assistant: Consider hiring a virtual assistant for tasks that can be delegated such as email management or research.
- Automated Savings: Apps like Digit or Acorns round up your purchases and save the spare change.
- Home Automation: Smart devices like thermostats and lights can be controlled remotely, saving energy and time.
Tech Tips
- Password Managers: Tools like LastPass or Dashlane keep your online accounts secure and accessible.
- Text Expansion: Use text expansion software like TextExpander to create shortcuts for frequently used phrases.
- Cloud Storage: Back up your files automatically with Google Drive, Dropbox or iCloud.
- Document Scanners: Apps like Evernote and Adobe Scan can turn your smartphone into a portable scanner.
- Automated Backups: Set up automatic backups for your computer with software like Backblaze.
Financial Freedom
- Expense Tracking: Apps like Mint or Personal Capital help you manage your finances effortlessly.
- Investment Automation: Consider robo-advisors like Betterment or Wealthfront for automated investment management.
- Bill Payments: Set up automatic bill payments through your credit card or bank to avoid late fees.
- Tax Software: Use tax software like TurboTax to simplify tax filing.
- Subscription Management: Tools like Truebill can help you track and cancel unused subscriptions.
Last Note: Remember That Balance is Key
While automation is a game-changer, don’t forget the human touch. You should be engaging with your audience authentically & keeping an eye on what’s happening in the blogosphere! Also, automation isn’t about being lazy; it’s about using your time wisely. Implement these hacks to automate like a pro and you’ll find more precious minutes/hours in your day to focus on what truly matters. Life’s too short to be driven insane by the little things and with systems in place, your productivity will soar!
