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Automation Tools and Other Shortcuts

Imagine if I told you to dig a 3 X 3 X 3 foot hole. The first thing you’d probably ask for is a shovel. And that’s because you already know that a good tool can make almost any job go a lot faster.

Likewise, there are a number of tools you can use to make your personal and business tasks go a lot more quickly.

Let me give you an example…

Example: Let’s suppose you wanted to start a blog on your site. If you wanted, you could accomplish this by creating a special HTML page. Then you’d regularly edit this HTML page and upload the newest version to your website.

As you no doubt know, there’s an easier way. Instead of taking the time to upload, download and format HTML files, all you have to do is use a content management script or blogging script like WordPress. This blogging software does all the work for you, so that all you have to do is compose your article and click “post” to make it appear on your website.

Here’s an example of using a shortcut…

Do you find that you spend a lot of time answering emails that are very similar? If so, there are two things you can do:

1. If this is a business email, then create a FAQ page (frequently asked questions) where you address this issue. For example, if you often get questions about how to open a zip file and read a PDF file, you may provide instructions on your site (including on the download page).

2. If it’s something that needs to be answered privately (such as a refund request), then you should create template emails that you can copy and paste. Clearly label and organize your template replies and you’ll save hours of time every week.

If you’re doing a task on your computer, chances are there is some sort of tool or software you can use to automate the task.

Examples:

• You can do your bookkeeping and taxes quickly by using financial software like Quicken.

• If a certain task requires you to use a series of keystrokes repeatedly, you can create macros or “shortcut” keys to perform this task. For example, if you want to create a macro when you’re using Microsoft Excel, go to “tools,” highlight “macro” and then click on “record new macro.”

Tags: Time Management

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