How to keep organized?

[UCSales]

Hi,

What does everyone use to help organize their business(es) such as their articles, account passwords, list of affiliates, list of all their websites or domains, etc.? Do you use software, pen and paper, keep track in your head? If you have any tips or ideas, please share them.

Thanks,
Brent

p.s. I tried to search the forum for organization but did not find anything, so if this has been posted before, sorry I must have used the wrong search keyword.

[wendywood]

Roboform is a great tool to manage your passwords. I have my affiliate site programs, admin areas of my sites, etc. set up and I can easily find them and automatically login.

[jkgourmet]

welcome to my world. I've asked a similar question about affiliate programs and links. Here you go: http://www.selfstartersweeklytips.com/members/showthread.php?t=1509&highlight=organized

I've not yet found the best solution for myself.

I can tell you that I use an excel spreadsheet for all of my passwords and log in names, for personal and business. I use one spreadsheet with separate tabs for different types of sites/accounts. I password protect this speadsheet with a totally unique password. That tool has saved a lot of time and jerking around for me.

I used roboform for some stuff, but since I use different computers and have tons of passwords, it didn't work too well for me. But I suspect it might be a good solution if I worked with it somemore.

[UCSales]

I am using Google Docs and it is great, in that, you can access it anywhere that has internet access. The only thing is I have to remember to update when I write an article or purchase a domain, etc. I do not like to play catch up and update things later, I get behind when I do that.

[UCSales]

Thanks for the tips wendywood and jkgourmet.

[Kayla Fay]

Roboform has a 'to go' version that works on a flash drive.

I have a spreadsheet, and keep organized that way. Some of the tabs include:

Domains - with all the log ins and passwords for the main site, with addon domains listed underneath. I also keep blog log ins and passwords there.

My products - with sales pages, thank you pages, and download page information, price, affiliate link formats.

Articles, Squidoo lenses, etc. - the title and their URL.

I really need to do a tab for affiliate programs - right now they are just in a bookmarked section of my browser and in an Outlook category. Of course, the passwords are also in Roboform! But I need a place for the links I use most often - like my Elite formum referral link!

[pamb10]

I use Roboform 2 Go and am lost without it. It is on my flash drive. I "usually" dont leave home without it!

[UCSales]

Speaking from experiencing, please be careful when you save your data to a flash drive. Make sure you have another back up on something other than a flash drive. Flash drives can crash as mine did one time.

Thanks for the tips, I will have to check out Roboform.

[angienewton]

The link Jeanette shared won't be available to read for non elite members because it's in a private forum but I will share what I posted there.

Well, to be honest I have been trying to find the perfect system and haven't really gotten anywhere until I heard Kelly's audio (http://www.wahmtalkradio.com/work-at-home-moms-talk-radio-275/) on the topic. Very simple! She's a member here by the way:)

But I am excited to see what this mind map (http://www.angienewton.com/mindmap.html) stuff is all about after hearing about it a few times now.

Hope this helps!

P.S. You might find this How to organize your content ideas? (http://www.selfstartersweeklytips.com/members/group.php?do=discuss&group=&discussionid=78) post in the Content Writing social group helpful too.

[deniseoberry]

Password Admin
I have used Roboform for at least three years now and absolutely love it! It totally simplifies password administration. I work between four different computers, have a licensed pro version of roboform on each and keep my identities synced between those machines along with carrying my identities on a thumb drive for when I travel. Here is a link if you would like to use it - http://www.deniseoberry.com/roboform

Managing Articles and Websites
I let the sites I'm a member of keep track of articles (http://www.EzineArticles.com) and websites (http://www.GoDaddy.com) for me. I do keep a chart of websites and their software platform in a spreadsheet as I have several.

A Word of Caution
Keep your process as simple as possible because although it's necessary to keep your information organized, it can suck away a lot of your time that is better spent on projects that will make you money. If you can swing it, you could have a virtual assistant handle it for you.

Denise

[Randy Cantrell]

1Password - for maintaining passwords on Mac. It also works on the iPhone.

Evernote - for just about EVERYTHING. Syncs from my Macbook and is accessible via Macbook and iPhone.

Entourage - email app for Mac (calendar, etc.)

And use a good titling system for files and folders for easy searching.

STRONG BOOK RECOMMENDATION: Upgrade Your Life: The Lifehacker Guide To Working Smarter, Faster, Better by Gina Trapani

[anitahampl]

Funny, no one has EVER asked me for advice on organizing anything. Ever.

The one thing I do pretty consistently, taught to me by my engineer DH, is to always name files by starting with the date, : yy-mm-dd such as:

09-10-06 bank_recon.xls

The reason you do the year first is so they will line up in order; if you need to see the name of the month for easy visual retrieval, do it like this:

09-09-01 Sept_goals.doc

I sometimes use this format for Folder names, also.

[UCSales]

Thanks for that tip anitahampl. I am now using Google docs and I ready like the fact I can logon anywhere and update my data. It helps me keep organized.

[jkgourmet]

I Like your idea too, Anita. Thanks (you'd think as an ex-accountant, this one would have been one I would have learned already. Maybe that explains why I don't do accounting or auditing anymore?)

For the RoboForm users - You feel comfortable with this information being online rather than restricted to your hard drive. (though on second thought, I use mozy, so maybe I've already answered my own question.)

[Lynn Terry]

STRONG BOOK RECOMMENDATION: Upgrade Your Life: The Lifehacker Guide To Working Smarter, Faster, Better by Gina Trapani

Thanks for this Randy - I just ordered it on Monday (http://www.clicknewz.com/2054/my-amazon-order-oct5/) after reading your reply to this thread. Look forward to checking it out when it arrives!

[Randy Cantrell]

I think you'll be amazed at the scope of all the life hacks in that book.

[Baggs]

As a slight tweak to Anitas file format I add a preface letter, so LYYMMDD for Letter, SDDMMYY for Spreadsheet RDDMMYY for report etc, so I can search by type and date

[UCSales]

Has anyone used Affiliate Organizer (http://OrganizedAffiliate.com) software? Rosalind Gardner list it in her Super Affiliate Handbook. Here is a list of the types of information you can input into Affiliate Organizer:

• Hosting
• Websites
• Advertising
• Merchants
• Outsourced Work
• Adsense
• Tasks/Alerts
• Projects and Ideas
• Keyword Lists
• Domain Registrars
• Forums
• Link Partners
• Blogs
• Year Plan
• Services
• Training
• Resources
• Software
• Autoresponder
• Memberships
• Contacts

It looks promising. Is it a good product for those that may have it?

Thanks.

[Clay Franklin]

I use roboform and would be lost with out it.

I also use At-a-Glance Telephone address book for password management.
I do not write every one in here, yet it is full and I am ready for another one.
It is 5"x8"

I also keep a 3 ring binder for log ins. I print out the new ones
I also keep a 3 ring binder for alliliate log ins.
I print and file so much I bought a electric 3 hole punch and battery operated stapler.

[Lynn Terry]

I may check it out, Brent - but I'll admit to being a creature of habit and I have a hard time changing the way I'm doing things (esp if it works for me). Still, I'm interested to see how easy it is to use, refer back to, back up, use on multiple computers (I use 3), etc.


I think you'll be amazed at the scope of all the life hacks in that book.

I just received it today - look forward to digging in :)

[Henrik Flensborg]

For organizing I use:


Mindmaps: Freemind (http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Download)
Notes: Evernote (http://www.evernote.com/about/download/)
Passwords: Password Safe (http://sourceforge.net/projects/passwordsafe/files/)
Backup: Nero BackITup2 Essentials (that came with my Verbatim External HD)
Filemanagement: Total Commander (http://www.ghisler.com/download.htm)
Writing/Spreadsheet: OpenOffice (http://download.openoffice.org/index.html)

[pamb10]

I would be really interested in hearing about Affiliate Organizer also. Looks pretty comprehensive.

[Lynn Terry]

Consider it done - I've put it on my list to review and will let you know when that review is available at ClickNewz ;)

[UCSales]

Nice. Thanks.