Webmaster's daily/weekly/monthly routine

What is your routine as a webmaster?

[opraus]

I am working on a task list: daily, weekly, monthly; and wondered what some of the pros used. It can get pretty crazy working on several different sites simultaneously. With different research and needs/ problems.

Thanks in advance,

David

[opraus]

I did find this: [webmasterworld.com...] once i discovered the search button :)

Turn on machines
Get coffee/tea/water/cigs
Check Mail - answer some
Check Stats - Count Money ;)
Check Todo list
...

How to divide time among several sites?

Maybe according to success? Potential?

I guess I'm just weak in organization ... :(

-David

[vincevincevince]

Daily - keep on top of answering queries and fixing small bugs
Weekly - rearrange the global 'to do' list
Monthly - send out invoices, chase invoices, prepare any tax forms etc., complete payroll and fill in books

[grandpa]

working on several different sites simultaneously. With different research and needs/ problems.
At some point in time that should settle out.

I tend to be very disorganized. And so probably inefficient as well. It would be safe to say that I don't have a routine. For example, yesterday I put in a 17 hour day, then slept for 4. At 4:00am I'm back in the office. Basically I don't keep hours - which drives regular people batty :)

Daily

Make sure the accounts are settled.

Visit my sites. Everything is OK? Great.

Look around the web for ideas.

Weekly

Payroll and taxes.

Check advertising stats.

Run accounting reports.

Monthly

Sit back and wonder where the time went.

Do what I can to help this old PC of mine run for another year.

New task - clean the printer ;)

Try to make some little change to at least one important page on each site. The idea is to keep it fresh. The problem is that changes aren't usually needed.

I do have one major project for one of my sites in the works. That's a one step forward, two steps back process right now. But I try to give it some time every day. Otherwise my sites are happy.

I hired someone to answer my phone, read my mail and email, and deal with my customers. Daily feedback is sufficient. She won't make my coffee, or even pour me a cup. I'm fine with that.

[opraus]

Thanks vincevincevince, and grandpa,

This is a geat start:

Daily
# Visit my sites. Everything is OK? Great. Otherwise,
# Fix small bugs
# Answer emails + clean out spam
# Make sure the accounts are settled.
# Pull from to do list, or
# Look around the web for more ideas.
# Start at WebMasterWorld!

Weekly
# Payroll and taxes.
# Check advertising stats.
# Run accounting reports.
# Rearrange the global 'to do' list

Monthly
# Try to make some little change to at least one important page on each site. The idea is to keep it fresh.
# Send out invoices, chase invoices,
# Prepare any tax forms etc.,
# Complete payroll and fill in books

[balam]

Other tasks to consider:

- BACKUP WEBSITES online as often as is prudent
- Rotate & download log files (daily for high volume sites; monthly for low)
- BACKUP WEBSITES locally as often as is prudent
- Analyse log files (monthly reports for clients)
- Participate! [webmasterworld.com] (weekly)
- Did I mention you should do backups regularly?

[Jane_Doe]

How to divide time among several sites?

Maybe according to success? Potential?

I have tried to be more methodical about how I work on my sites this year and have divided my time based on current income of each site. Last year I spent too much time on new sites and let my old sites slip a bit.

So for this year I calculated the hours I have available to work on my sites each month, and the current income from each site. I put in a certain percent in for admin and new projects. Then what is left over in terms of my time I divide proportionately between sites. So if one site made 30% of my income, then I'd spend 30% of my time, after subtracting for admin and some new development, on that site. I am also trying to stick to working on one site, or at least one topic area, at a time.

I can't say I always stick to this plan, but I think it is better than having no plan at all. So far it has been better for my income.

[opraus]

Thanks balam and Jane_Doe

Daily
# Visit my sites. Everything is OK? Great. Otherwise,
# Fix small bugs
# Answer emails + clean out spam
# Make sure the accounts are settled.
# Pull from to do list, or
# Look around the web for more ideas.
# Start at WebMasterWorld!

Weekly
# Payroll and taxes.
# Check advertising stats.
# Run accounting reports.
# Rearrange the global 'to do' list

Monthly
# Try to make some little change to at least one important page on each site. The idea is to keep it fresh.
# Send out invoices, chase invoices,
# Prepare any tax forms etc.,
# Complete payroll and fill in books
# Backup online and locally

Being naturally prone to 'rabit trails' and 'distractions', is ESPECIALLY true on the net. ANY form or plan or limitation MUST help considerably. I am just figuring out that, if I find 'another great idea', I should just add it to my 'todo' list, and not run off with it right away. Which is Elementary to most, I'm sure.

Good idea about the percentages, Jane_Doe.

-David

[wheelie34]

Working from home is difficult to keep a routine, focus is needed, distractions are not.

Wife gets up about 6am, turns my pc on while she lets the dog out etc, then checks emails for me, not to see whats in them, to make sure all servers respond

IF (server errors){
wake me up;
}
else{
carry on dear;
}
I have 3 servers to monitor, 8am she goes to work.

I get up make coffee
read emails, reply where needed while sipping coffee
check stats AND adsense
look at todo list

I have a few hundred customers who from time to time need changes to their sites, they email me the changes to do, if they come in while I am busy with a bigger project, I do them rather than letting the todo list grow, it can grow fast.