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Category Archives: Productivity Tips

Tools to gain an edge on your social marketing

Posted by focuspoint on February 4, 2012 None comments

Some great tools I found this week:

Buffer - ever want to tweet something to your followers, but not right now? When reading through my blog list, I usually find 4 to 8 posts I’d like to share – but all at the same time?

That’s where buffer comes in – it allows you to schedule your tweets. You load up your buffer, it posts according to your schedule.

SocialBro - When is the best time to schedule your tweets? SocialBro will tell you when your users are most active. It also host of other features for getting to know your followers and friends.

Quipol - Create elegant, easy polls and embed in your blog and website

What tools are you using this week?

Looking to speed up WordPress posting? Use these shortcut keys!

Posted by focuspoint on August 5, 2011 None comments

Writing can be time consuming enough, we should do all we can to make it more efficient. There are a number of ways to do this -

  1. Using WordPress plugins that make it easier to create stunning posts (like TinyMCE Advanced)
  2. Spend a little time learning to write from websites and books and webinars (and reading Chris Brogans My Best Advice About Blogging)
  3. Using Shortcut keys common to writing, and unique to WordPress’s editor

'Black Topre Realforce 105U keyboard' photo (c) 2010, Adrián Pérez - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
Right now we’ll explore point 3, shortcut keys. WordPress is full of shortcuts you can use to make your writing faster. First of all, you can enlarge your editor window (Go to Settings > Writing > Size of the post box and make it 20 or 40 lines). This gives you more room to see your post.

It does push the “kitchen sink” and formatting tools farther away, but with WordPress’s keyboard shortcuts we don’t need it as much. Plus, using shortcut keys regularly will improve your efficiency (don’t believe me? Time how long it takes to find mouse, move it to “Hyperlink” vs. hitting Alt+Shift+A).

Here’s some useful WordPress shortcuts:

With text highlighted,
Underline = [Ctrl] + [U]
Bold = [Ctrl] + [B]
Italics = [Ctrl] + [I]
Strikethrough = [Alt] + [Shift] + [D]

Link: Alt+SHIFT+a
Blockquote: Alt+SHIFT+q
Align Center: Alt+SHIFT+c
Align Left: Alt+SHIFT+L
Read More: Alt+SHIFT+t
Unordered List (ul): Alt+SHIFT+u
Ordered List (ol): Alt+SHIFT+o
Publish the Post: Alt+SHIFT+p
Unquote/outdent: Alt+SHIFT+w

Jason wrote an excellent post with a bunch more shortcuts helpful for writing over at JetStream, check it out for shortcuts like Select a Letter and Select a Word, and jumping by word using Ctrl+arrow keys.

Busy entrepeneur or business owner? Better make this a habit!

Posted by focuspoint on July 24, 2011 None comments

'run it out' photo (c) 2010, lululemon athletica - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

If you’re like me, there’s one thing that you often don’t have or make time for that we all know is so important to finishing strong.

Staying fit.

Who has time to go for a jog or go to the gym, when you’ve got a business to run here, family here, friends here? The time slot for working out just seems to get crowded out by more important things.

I’d encourage you to continue to strive to make it a priority in your routine.

I don’t know about you, but when I work out (which for me, is usually a 1 to 3 mile run; I almost daily do some pushups and situps to keep my core strong, but that only takes a few minutes) I experience the following benefits:

  • More energy
  • More endurance throughout day
  • Feel better because my body is stronger
  • Better mood
  • More focused, so I get more accomplished

Michael Hyatt has a great post about 3 non-physical benefits to running, be sure to check it out. He mentions it helps him to recharge, giving more energy through the day.

Plus, if you’re like me, you try to fit more in during a workout to be as efficient as possible. I use the time for

  • listening to audiobook/conference recording
  • deep thinking time
  • thinking through big decisions
  • praying time

So it has a double benefit – you get more done because you are in shape, and you get something done that is worthwhile, that you may not get a chance to do otherwise (like think deeply or listen to audiobook)!

Stop putting it off, start your workout regimen today – even if it is 3 times a week, just do something to keep your body active. Our bodies are made to be active, a desk job does not keep them tuned the way they are designed to be.

The best way is to make it something you enjoy – I’ve yet to find this (running isn’t my idea of fun), so if you know of a fun way to stay fit let me know!

What about you, what benefits do you gain from being active?