Whether you have a regular job too or you are a full-time marketer, one of the biggest challenges is deciding WHERE to spend your time. A few hours spent wisely could lead to thousands of dollars in the coming years. Likewise, it is quite easy to spend time on things which will yield zero.

It can be quite stressful figuring out which time is spent wisely and which time is being wasted.

I have been there, done that, and do that still!

I am sure you have the same "what to spend time on" issues just like everyone else. There is no magic bullet for curing the dilemma. However, I have a few suggestions which might help.

In the beginning, try a LOT of different things. Do your best to give each area a decent amount of time. For example, if you choose to go the article marketing route, one or two articles a month will not suffice. Likewise, if social marketing is on your list, a few Twitter posts a day to a few dozen followers are a waste of time. I could go on here with other examples, but you get my point I am sure.

As you try many things along the way, you will notice some do get traction. If Google analytics shows that some of the pages you optimized specific keywords for are actually getting traffic from those keyword searches, then take note! The work you did on those few pages will continue getting your site traffic for a long time to come...your time was well spent! Wash, rinse, and repeat in the areas you see working for you.

Likewise, just because I like to use Twitter to market with, DOES NOT mean you have to spend your time there too! Internet marketing is a unique and personal venture. What works for the big Internet gurus may not work for you...and vice a versa! Do not feel "obligated" to continue with methods which do not work for you.

Most of your success will come from the creative time you spend...not from mundane tasks. However, we all have days when the creative juices are no where to be found. Do not panic in those times! Simply have a list of those non-income producing tasks ready. For example, yesterday I totally rearranged my office. No, it did not earn me dime, but I think it will make me more efficient down the road. The point is that I still did something constructive for my business.

It takes time and experience to know where and how to spend your time wisely. Be aware how important that skill is and let your small successes be your guide!