Time Management Tips from Captain Time

In this article, we are going to explore business networking benefits and why business networking is still one of the most powerful marketing methods available to small businesses and for career development. WHAT EXACTLY IS BUSINESS NETWORKING? Business networking is building mutually beneficial relationships with other business professionals. You meet people and get to know them over time.  These relationships can then be tapped to advance your career, make sales, promote your business, and help each other. BUSINESS NETWORKING IS ANCIENT Business networking has existed as long as there has been trade, especially when trade became more complex and expanded beyond simple villages where everyone knew each other to cities with more people and connections to trade routes. Throughout history, people naturally turned to people they know and trust to support their business ventures or hire them as employees. BUSINESS NETWORKING BENEFITS IN THE DIGITAL WORLD So you might be thinking. “That’s all very well, but we don’t need business networking anymore because now we have the Internet!” While it is true that the Internet has been a brilliant way for many small businesses to get the word out and grow their business, there is also a lot of noise on the Internet and it is easy for your voice to get lost. It is often faster and easier to build stronger business relationships when you meet in person. And, the Internet allows you to expand your business networking globally. WHY IS BUSINESS NETWORKING SO POWERFUL? You’ve probably heard the common adage, “Success is about WHO you know, not WHAT you know.” It is estimated that 67% of job openings are filled through referrals, internal hires, and other methods, NOT from public job postings. In the case of these job referrals, the job went to someone the HR department, CEO, or someone else in the company knew. In the political arena, we often see political supporters rewarded with plum positions in government or politicians voting on issues in a way that favors their supporters. The same is true for purchasing products and services – you go with the people you know and trust. Word of mouth has always been one of the most powerful forms of marketing. EACH person you connect to has 100s or 1,000s of people in their network of people they know, so business networking greatly increases your word of mouth because you have an entire network of people who love what you do and recommend you to their network.  Just 10 people who love what you do with 1,000 people each in their network, makes it easy for you to reach 10,000 people. GENERATING SALES: DOING BUSINESS WITH EACH OTHER In my own experience running a business networking group, whenever our members need a plumber, realtor, or business coach, they will go with the people they know and trust, their business family, the other members of the group that they have come to know over months and years of networking. REFERRALS Your sales don’t just come from the people you know, they also come from referrals from the people you know and who know and trust you. In my local community, I regularly see requests in the local chat groups for recommendations for plumbers, lawyers, realtors, etc. The original posters are reaching out for people’s experience and feedback with people and services. Whenever I see a service recommendation request, I and others in my local business networking groups chime in and recommend the relevant person with those skills from our business networking group. REFERRAL PARTNERS In addition to business and referrals from your business networking group, you can also find and cultivate referral partners. Referral partners are people who work with similar target audiences to you, but who don’t compete. For example a moving company and a realtor can be great referral partners. Both work with home buyers, but don’t compete. A single referral from a realtor to a moving company might be worth $5-$10,000 dollars. 4 referrals from that realtor per year might be worth up to $20,000 per year. Just 5 referral partners like this, and you now generate an extra $100K per year in income. CROSS PROMOTION: SOCIAL MEDIA 10X Let’s say you have 1,000 people who follow you on social media. You post a note about your upcoming event or workshop. Likely, only your 1,000 followers will see it. But, if you are a well-respected part of your business networking group and 10 people from your group love what you do, they will share your post on their own social media profile. If each of them has 1,000 followers, now you are reaching an extra 10,000 people! More than 10xing your reach. BUSINESS NETWORKING AVOIDS COLD CALLING With business networking, you never have to do cold calling if you work it right. Cold calling is when you call a person or company that doesn’t know you and you pitch your products and services. I have done this for a living and it is wearing and success rates for cold calling are very low. Here are the business networking benefits that make cold calling an archaic tool of the past. 1. Meeting Invitations: Instead of cold calling someone to pitch my time management coaching [https://captaintime.com/productivity-coaching/] or workshop training [https://captaintime.com/employee-training/], I invite them to my business networking group, offering them a free lunch or breakfast. A free lunch or breakfast plus a marketing and social opportunity is much easier to sell than a cold pitch for my services. Once they are at the meeting, I make sure to make my guests welcome and introduce them to some people whom I think might benefit each other. My guest is appreciative of the free lunch or breakfast and the opportunity to meet other people. They now know me and my outreach is no longer “cold.” And, if they join my local business networking group, they become part of my business family, creating lifelong mutually beneficial relationships. 2. Introductions: When your fellow networking groups know what connections you want, they can introduce you to people in their network who fit.  So instead of cold calling, you are introduced to them by someone in their network they know and trust. For those of you familiar with the “6 Degrees of Separation” concept (sometimes referred to as “The Kevin Bacon” game, you will find as your network grows, you will be able to reach more and more of the key people you need to reach. TESTING PRODUCTS & SERVICES In their early stages many small business owners are on their own, without a team. Belonging to a business networking group gives you a supportive “brain trust” that you can test or run ideas by. When I had the idea for “Captain Time” I ran the idea by my business family and they were very supportive. FINDING THE PEOPLE AND SKILLS YOU NEED TO GROW While most of us start business networking to find prospects, business networking is also the best way to find the people and services you need to help you grow. I found these critical people and services through my business networking group: * Business Coach * Videographer * Photographer * Virtual Assistant AFFORDABILITY Business networking is one of the most affordable methods of marketing. Most memberships might run $100 to $150 per month plus lunch costs – perhaps $200 to $250 per month in total. Compare this to any Google Adwords campaign where the average estimated cost per click is $2.69 and some categories like legal might be $6.75 per click. For ONE click you don’t even have people’s contact info for follow-up. You can easily spend $1,000s of dollars per month on Google Adwords, with little or no return. One of my clients spent $7,000 US on a Google Adwords campaign (before I got involved) and only generated $700 in sales…a fast road to bankruptcy. In contrast, with business networking, you might pay $200 per month, get some lunches and breakfasts, and meet REAL people/prospects and potential referral partners. FRIENDSHIPS And lastly, business networking is a great way to make lasting friendships with other like-minded people. As an entrepreneur myself, I love that I can meet other creative entrepreneurs and share time with them. I have several personal friends through business networking that my wife and I see socially. This was a great benefit when we moved into a new community where we didn’t know the locals. BUSINESS NETWORKING BENEFITS CONCLUSION For me, business networking benefits include: * finding prospects and creating sales * easier sales method than cold calling * referrals * powerful referral partners * connecting with the people I need to build my business * cross-promotion * affordability * lasting friendships BUSINESS NETWORKING HELP Business networking is a skill, and like any other, you do have to learn the skill and apply it. If your business networking efforts aren’t generating at least $1,000 per month in revenue, reach out for a free business networking discovery call [https://bookme.name/CAPTAINTIME/networking-followup-conversation] to see how I can help. You can also check out my business networking coaching programs here. [https://captaintime.com/business-networking-coaching/] Thanks for reading and viewing this article and video. If you found this article useful, please hit “Like” and “Subscribe” on the video to help others find our content.     The post Business Networking Benefits That Generate Real Business Results [https://captaintime.com/business-networking-benefits/] appeared first on Time Management Training [https://captaintime.com].

Every year, in January, people look at their previous year and see missed opportunities and goals they didn’t manage to achieve. So they resolve to do better and set new workplace goals and personal goals. New Year’s resolutions have become a joke for this reason that most people fail in their new goals in just a few weeks. Just like all the previous years, you will fail to reach your workplace goals unless you have systems to achieve them. WHAT ARE SYSTEMS AND HOW DO SYSTEMS HELP YOU REACH GOALS? Goal setting is easy. Achieving goals is hard! Here is a very simple process to actually help you achieve goals. 1. Set Goals: Using the SMART goal-setting framework 2. Plan: Create a step-by-plan to achieve your goals 3. Systems: Put systems in place, including dedicated time blocks, tasks, delegation, etc. to implement the plan in step 2. Most people just set goals, but don’t have a plan or systems to achieve the goals. A very few people do come up with a plan to reach their goals, but almost everyone fails Step 3: putting systems in place to move you closer to your goal each week.   Workplace Goals Setting - template [http://captaintime.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Workplace-Goals-Setting-template.jpg] Lets look at an example of a goal setting template using the SMART Method. SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timebound.   Goal Title: ---------------------------------------- Specific: * Make the goal as specific as possible. IE, instead of “Generate more income” use a goal to “Generate $500,000 in revenue while maintaining a profit margin of 65%.” Measureable: * How will you measure and track your success? Achievable: * Is the goal achievable with your current skills, people you can bring in, and your monetary and time budgets? Relevant: * How is the goal relevant to your overall plan? Time-Bound: * Create a timeline and milestones for activities to achieve your goal   Now that you have had a look at the SMART goals format, let’s try a sample goal – to write and publish a book.   Goal Title: Write & Publish a Book ---------------------------------------- Specific: * Write and self-publish a new book “The Time Management Success Formula” Measurable: * Write 2,000 words per week until I reach approximately 30,000 words in total Achievable: * Resources and Support: * Allocate 4 hours per week for writing and research. * Utilize existing content from workshops and courses as a foundation. * Engage with a graphic designer for the book cover by Apr 30, 2025. * Hire a professional editor by May 31, 2025. * Create a marketing plan for the book once it is published. Relevant * Alignment with Goals: * Enhance your brand as “Captain Time” by sharing your expertise in time management. * Provide value to your audience by offering a comprehensive guide based on your coaching principles. * Expand your reach and influence in the time management and productivity space. Time-Bound * Complete the book outline by Jan 31, 2025. * Write a minimum of 2000 words per week. * Engage with a graphic designer for the book cover by Apr 30, 2025. * Hire a professional editor by May 31, 2025. * Finish the first draft by June 30, 2025. * Complete editing and revisions by July 31, 2025. * Self-publish on Amazon by Dec 31, 2025 * Commence marketing of the book on Jan 2, 2026 based on the marketing plan created WORKPLACE GOALS – SYSTEMS TO ACHIEVE THEM You can already see how much more likely we are to achieve our goals using this template. By adding a measure of our progress and milestones, and a step-by-step plan, we have already greatly improved the likelihood of achieving our goal. But the third and most important step is still missing – Creating Systems to achieve the goals. The system is hinted at in the goal setting template. Writing 2,000 words per week, allocating 4 hours per week of writing and research time. We have only 4 things left to do: 1. Task List: We now need to create all the tasks involved in achieving the goal and add them to our task management system under a project like “Publishing” or  “Time Management Success Formula Book” along with deadlines and due dates. Many of these tasks are already listed such as creating the outline, hiring a book cover graphic designer, writing every week, etc. 2. Time Blocks: We need to set weekly dedicated time blocks for writing and publishing. In this example, we had suggested 4 hours each week, so for example, we could set aside 2 hours each on Tues and Thurs afternoons or perhaps 4 hours on Friday afternoons. See my previous article on Time Blocking Using Google Calendar [https://captaintime.com/google-calendar-time-blocking/] for tips on how to set up your weekly time blocks. 3. Measure: Each week, we need to our progress by measuring how many words we have written and our progress towards the milestones. 4. Execute: Now that we have the task list, time blocks, and measurement system, we need to make sure we have fully executed our systems to achieve our goal by honoring our time blocks and keeping this writing and publishing time sacred. If you write 2,000 words without fail every week, you will reach your goal of 30,000 words in only 15 weeks! WORKPLACE GOALS SETTING USING XTILES. Here is a nifty little free tool called xTiles [https://xtiles.app/en?fp_ref=garland-33] I have found to let you quickly set up “tiles” for goal setting, planning, and brainstorming. And here is a link to the goal-setting template I showed in the image above so you can copy it to your own free xTiles account. Smart Goal Setting Concept [https://captaintime.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/bigstock-Smart-Goal-Setting-Concept-5424018-610x827.jpg] INSTANT ACCESS TO OUR GOAL SETTING TEMPLATE You will also be added to our mailing list to receive the latest time management tips and workshop notices SUBSCRIBE! YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY SUBSCRIBED! Need help setting and achieving your workplace goals or personal goals? Let’s do a productivity breakthrough call. [https://captaintime.com/time-management-coach] Book a Call With Garland [https://captaintime.com/time-management-coach] The post Workplace Goals on Autopilot: Systems That Drive Success [https://captaintime.com/workplace-goals-on-autopilot-systems-that-drive-success/] appeared first on Time Management Training [https://captaintime.com].

As we step into 2025, it’s time for my annual roundup of the 10 best productivity apps that have been instrumental in my daily life as a time management coach. These are the digital tools that help me leap tall task lists in a single bound and break through all my productivity obstacles. 🦸 Narrowing down my extensive toolkit to just 10 apps was no easy feat, but here are my top picks for my personal best productivity apps of 2025: 📆 Please note that I may make a small affiliate commissions from these links but that did not affect my choices – these are the tools I use EVERY day. Thank you for supporting independent content creation. 1. TEXT BLAZE: TEXT EXPANDER 📃 Text Blaze [https://blaze.today/?ref=UWHWBCPL] has become an indispensable part of my workflow, particularly for automating repetitive tasks. Text Blaze is a text expander that lets you type a few keystrokes and insert prewritten snippets anywhere you want. This tool saves me 6-8 hours EVERY week. Text Blaze: * Automates replies, FAQs, proposals, document creation, and more, saving me huge amounts of time each week. * Customizable templates allow me to maintain a personal touch while drastically reducing typing time. * It’s the cornerstone of my  follow-up system that I teach during my business networking coaching [https://captaintime.com/business-networking-coaching/]. For a full review, read my Text Blaze review article here [https://captaintime.com/text-blaze-review-text-expander-extraordinaire/]. 2. CLAUDE.AI: AI FOR WRITING 🤖✍️ When it comes to AI writing assistants, Claude.ai [http://claude.ai] stands out for its remarkably human-like responses. I use Claude for * All my writing tasks, such as articles, emails, proposals, workshop descriptions, etc. * Brainstorming headlines, article ideas, new product ideas, marketing ideas, and more * Planning: Creating marketing and business plans. 3. PERPLEXITY.AI: AI WITH THE ENTIRE INTERNET KNOWLEDGE BASE 🤖📚 Perplexity.ai [http://perplexity.ai] has revolutionized the way I gather information: Perplexity: [http://perplexity.ai] * Provides real-time information gathering, largely replacing traditional search engines for me. * Offers concise, well-organized answers to complex queries. * Saves time by consolidating information from multiple sources into coherent summaries. * Generates documents, emails, and other writing based on information from my own websites or from the entire Internet. 4. CANVA: VISUAL IMPACT 🖼️🎨 Canva [http://canva.com] continues to be my go-to for all things visual. With a huge array of graphic templates, I and my team use Canva to: * Create eye-catching blog and social media post graphics that boost engagement. * Design professional presentations for my speaking engagements. * Craft visually appealing proposals that help me win clients. * Produce handouts and illustrations for workshops and training sessions. 5. MANGOOLS: KEYWORD RESEARCH & TRACKING 🗝️📈 For SEO and content strategy, Mangools [https://mangools.com#a5745d030285f736e5351efc6] has great features at an excellent price. I use Mangools to: * Conduct in-depth keyword research to optimize my content. * Tracs ranking for both my website and my clients’ sites. I have been able to get top Google ranking for many articles for myself and my clients using Mangools. Check out my review of KW Finder [https://captaintime.com/faster-keyword-research/], just one of Mangools great SEO tools.   6. MAILERLITE: EMAIL LIST MANAGEMENT 📨📢 Managing my email subscribers effectively is crucial, and MailerLite [https://www.mailerlite.com/a/xlbeinizic] delivers: * Streamlined subscriber management with intuitive tools. * Powerful automation features for targeted email campaigns. * Detailed analytics to help refine my email marketing strategy. Check out my MailerLite review article here. [https://captaintime.com/mailerlite-review/] 7. LOOM📽️▶️ Loom has become my secret weapon for creating fast video content and “how-to’s” for my coaching clients and for my team of virtual assistants. [https://chronotasks.com] Loom offers: * Quick screen captures with voiceovers * Sharing links to I can share the video with others * The ability to creates a video training library for my coaching clients and team * Videos I can download and later upload to YouTube Video delegation [https://captaintime.com/video-delegation-4-ways-it-improves-productivity/] is by far the fastest method I have found for effectively delegating complex tasks, and Loom is a fantastic tool to enable this and to create my video training library. 8. UPNOTE 📝📒 For note-taking and idea organization, UpNote [https://getupnote.com/] is my top choice. * Offers a clean, distraction-free interface for capturing thoughts. * Syncs seamlessly across all my devices, ensuring my notes are always accessible. * Provides powerful search and tagging features to quickly find information. * Makes it easy to share notes with my clients. * Has allowed me to create a powerful personal knowledge base. [https://captaintime.com/how-to-create-your-personal-knowledge-base/] Here is my UpNote review [https://captaintime.com/upnote-review-better-note-taking-and-organization/] if you want to learn more about UpNote. 9. LESS ANNOYING CRM Business networking, both in-person and online is a huge part of my marketing and business success. To manage all the people I connect with, I use Less Annoying CRM [https://www.lessannoyingcrm.com/a/ha]. This CRM lives up to its name, simplifying my business networking efforts: * Keeps all my contacts organized and easily accessible. * Tracks interactions and follow-ups effortlessly. * Integrates well with my other tools, creating a smooth workflow. Reach out [https://captaintime.com/contact/] if you would like Less Annoying CRM training or to join my business networking coaching program. [https://captaintime.com/business-networking-coaching/] 10. BOOK LIKE A BOSS Last but not least, Book Like a Boss [https://blab.co/?fpr=21bsz] has streamlined my appointment scheduling: * Allows clients and prospects to book time slots directly, eliminating back-and-forth emails. * Integrates with my calendar to prevent double-bookings. * Lets me create customizable booking pages that reflect my brand and professionalism. Here is an example of a “virtual coffee” landing page created using Book like a Boss that I use for people I meet through business networking. https://bookme.name/CAPTAINTIME/networking-followup-conversation [https://bookme.name/CAPTAINTIME/networking-followup-conversation] BEST PRODUCTIVITY APPS OF 2025 These 10 apps form the core of my productivity toolkit for 2025. By leveraging their combined power, I’m able to manage my time more effectively, serve my clients better, and continue growing my business as Captain Time. Remember, the key to productivity isn’t just about having the right tools – it’s about using them strategically to support your goals and workflow. Have you used any of these productivity apps? Share your experience in the video comments on YouTube. Please share this article and video with others who would benefit. Need help finding and implementing productivity apps in your daily workflow? Check out our time management coaching programs [https://captaintime.com/business-networking-coaching/]. The post Captain Time’s Top 10 Best Productivity Apps for 2025 [https://captaintime.com/captain-times-top-10-best-productivity-apps-for-2025/] appeared first on Time Management Training [https://captaintime.com].

In this Perplexity AI review, I will show why Perplexity is one of my most used AI tools. PERPLEXITY VS CLAUDE AI Previously I did a Claude AI Review [https://captaintime.com/claude-ai-review-captain-times-brainstorming-partner/] where I said I liked Claude for brainstorming and writing. So why do I also use Perplexity? Perplexity comes in a close second for me for writing and brainstorming, but the real power of Perplexity is its capability to bring in real-time information from the Internet, my websites, and the websites of others into my work. With Claude, I often have to copy and paste information from websites to give it more data to work with, but Perplexity can work with me just dropping in a url. This ability to gather more info in real-time is critical for a lot of the projects I work on. PERPLEXITY VS GOOGLE SEARCH As a long-time Internet user, I remember the days when Google wasn’t the dominant search engine. We had lots of tools back then like Infoseek and Ask Jeeves. Google rose to dominance because of its clean interface and because it gave you better results to your questions. But today, Google is full of sponsored results and heavily SEO-optimized content. So much so, that when you need an answer to a question, Google isn’t your best source anymore. Let’s look at an example. Let’s say I want some accounting software so I am looking for some QuickBooks alternatives. Let’s run the phrase “suggest some alternatives to QuickBooks for small business bookkeeping software.” When I do this search in Google, the first 4 results are all sponsored, including one advertisement for Quickbooks – the software I am trying to avoid! The next result is an AI Overview from Google’s Gemini. So essentially, Google’s entire search engine first page is a bunch of ads and an AI overview. So even Google knows that AI search results are more useful than old-style search but uses the opportunity to flood you with ads before you get to any useful results.     Perplexity AI Review - compare to Google Search suggest some alternatives to Quickbooks for small business bookkeeping software [http://captaintime.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Perplexity-AI-Review-compare-to-Google-Search-suggest-some-alternatives-to-Quickbooks-for-small-business-bookkeeping-software-.jpg] Now let’s look at our results from Perplexity. As you can see, no ads, and a good explanation of why each solution it comes up with makes it a viable alternative to Quickbooks. Perplexity AI Review - suggest some alternatives to QuickBooks for small business bookkeeping software [http://captaintime.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Perplexity-AI-Review-suggest-some-alternatives-to-QuickBooks-for-small-business-bookkeeping-software-.jpg] CITATIONS/SOURCES Perplexity also includes citations/sources, so you know where the data came from. (see the numbers above) This is critical as some AIs have been known to make up some statistics, or in the case of lawyers, make up case law. By having the source readily available, you can quickly check the validity of the data. PERPLEXITY FOR BRAINSTORMING Perplexity is a great tool for brainstorming because it can also gather information from the websites you are using as a base or for inspiration. Here are two example prompts: > Suggest some passive income products that could be added to my website at https://captaintime.com Perplexity AI - Suggest some passive income products [http://captaintime.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Perplexity-AI-Suggest-some-passive-income-products.jpg] Lets try another brainstorming prompt – this time to help me with my business networking. > Prompt: Suggest some good referral partners for my time coaching practice at https://captaintime.com Perplexity AI - good referral partners [http://captaintime.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Perplexity-AI-good-referral-partners.jpg] WRITING FROM ONLINE CONTENT Now let’s try some writing from existing online content. In this case, to write a social media message to promote a blog post on my social media profiles. Great results, and it creates hash tags and adds appropriate emojis for me. > Prompt: Create a social media message to promote this blog post. Make it warm and friendly and include emojis. https://captaintime.com/the-surprising-link-between-exercise-and-productivity/ Perplexity to write social media messages [http://captaintime.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Perplexity-to-write-social-media-messages.jpg] How about a larger writing task, like an entire marketing plan! This one was too big for a screenshot so I am copying and pasting the text. Perplexity has given me a great start to my marketing plan in just a few seconds! > Prompt: Write a marketing plan for my time coaching practice at https://captaintime.com > > > > MARKETING PLAN FOR CAPTAIN TIME TIME COACHING PRACTICE > > > > EXECUTIVE SUMMARY > > > The marketing plan for Captain Time, led by Garland Coulson, aims to leverage his 25 years of experience in time management, his best-selling book, and his extensive training services to attract individuals and organizations seeking to improve their productivity. The plan will focus on highlighting Garland’s expertise, building a strong online presence, and offering tailored solutions to meet the diverse needs of clients. > > > > TARGET MARKET > > > * Individuals: Professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone struggling with procrastination and time management. > * Organizations: Corporations, government agencies, non-profits, and small businesses looking to enhance team productivity. > > > > UNIQUE SELLING PROPOSITION (USP) > > > * Personalized Approach: Unlike one-size-fits-all solutions, Captain Time offers customized time management strategies tailored to individual and organizational needs. > * Proven Expertise: Garland Coulson’s 25 years of experience and his Amazon bestseller, “Stop Wasting Time: End Procrastination in 5 Weeks with Proven Productivity Techniques.” > * Comprehensive Services: Online courses, live training, live webinars, and one-on-one coaching. > > > > MARKETING STRATEGIES > > > > ONLINE PRESENCE > > > * Website Optimization: Enhance the user experience of https://captaintime.com [https://captaintime.com/] by ensuring it is mobile-friendly, easy to navigate, and rich in content. Highlight testimonials, success stories, and the variety of services offered. > * SEO: Optimize the website for keywords related to time management, productivity, and coaching to improve search engine rankings. > * Blog: Create a blog section where Garland can share tips, case studies, and industry insights to establish himself as a thought leader. > > > > CONTENT MARKETING > > > * Blog Posts: Regularly publish articles on time management techniques, productivity hacks, and success stories. > * Videos: Produce video content such as webinars, tutorials, and Q&A sessions to engage with the audience. > * Podcasts: Guest appearances on popular productivity and business podcasts to reach a broader audience. > * E-books and Guides: Offer free downloadable resources like e-books and guides on time management to capture leads. > > > > SOCIAL MEDIA > > > * Platforms: Utilize LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to share content, engage with followers, and promote services. > * Engagement: Respond to comments and messages promptly, share user-generated content, and run social media contests or challenges related to productivity. > > > > EMAIL MARKETING > > > * Newsletter: Create a monthly newsletter that includes tips, upcoming events, new course announcements, and success stories. > * Lead Magnets: Offer free resources like e-books or webinars in exchange for email subscriptions. > > > > CLIENT TESTIMONIALS AND CASE STUDIES > > > * Testimonials: Showcase client testimonials and success stories prominently on the website and in marketing materials. > * Case Studies: Develop detailed case studies of organizations and individuals who have benefited from Captain Time’s services. > > > > PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS > > > * Affiliate Partnerships: Partner with productivity tool providers, business coaches, and other relevant professionals to cross-promote services. > * Webinars and Workshops: Collaborate with other experts to host webinars and workshops on time management and productivity. > > > > PAID ADVERTISING > > > * Google Ads: Run targeted Google Ads focusing on keywords related to time management and productivity. > * Social Media Ads: Use Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram ads to target specific demographics and interests. > * Sponsored Content: Sponsor relevant podcasts, blogs, and newsletters to reach a wider audience. > > > > TRAINING AND COACHING SERVICES > > > > ONLINE COURSES > > > * 24/7 Access: Emphasize the flexibility of online courses that can be accessed at any time. > * Customization: Offer customized online courses tailored to the specific needs of organizations. > > > > LIVE TRAINING AND WEBINARS > > > * Global Reach: Highlight the ability to deliver live training and webinars worldwide. > * Interactive Sessions: Ensure that live sessions are interactive and allow for Q&A and feedback. > > > > ONE-ON-ONE COACHING > > > * Personalized Coaching: Emphasize the personalized approach of one-on-one coaching, where clients receive tailored advice and support. > * Accountability: Stress the importance of having a coach for accountability and continuous improvement. > > > > PUBLIC RELATIONS > > > > MEDIA APPEARANCES > > > * Interviews: Seek interviews with media outlets, podcasts, and blogs to increase visibility and credibility. > * Guest Articles: Write guest articles for reputable publications and websites. > > > > COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT > > > * Workshops and Seminars: Host free or low-cost workshops and seminars in local communities to build trust and demonstrate expertise. > * Charity Work: Partner with local charities or non-profits to offer time management workshops, enhancing the brand’s social responsibility image. > > > > PERFORMANCE METRICS AND MONITORING > > > > WEBSITE ANALYTICS > > > * Use tools like Google Analytics to track website traffic, engagement metrics, and conversion rates. > > > > SOCIAL MEDIA METRICS > > > * Monitor engagement rates, follower growth, and the effectiveness of social media campaigns. > > > > CLIENT FEEDBACK > > > * Regularly collect feedback from clients to improve services and marketing strategies. > > > > SALES AND REVENUE > > > * Track the number of clients, course enrollments, and overall revenue to measure the success of the marketing plan. > > > By implementing these strategies, Captain Time can effectively reach and engage its target market, establish a strong brand presence, and drive growth in the time coaching practice. > > >   PERPLEXITY FOR ANALYSIS You can also use Perplexity to gather information from prospects and clients. Here is an example where a web design firm could analyze prospect’s websites to find opportunities to approach prospect’s about improving their website’s design and marketing. Do you think I should forward this one to CNN? 😁 > Prompt: Analyze this website url from a marketing perspective to suggest ways we could redesign the site for them to make it more visible and generate more leads – https://www.cnn.com/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ANSWER > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > To redesign the CNN website (cnn.com) with a focus on increasing visibility and generating more leads, here are several strategic recommendations based on marketing and web design best practices: > > > > ENHANCE USER EXPERIENCE AND USABILITY > > > * Ensure intuitive navigation by limiting the number of main menu items and using a consistent navigation bar placement across all pages. This will help users find content quickly and reduce bounce rates. > * Optimize the website for mobile devices, as a significant portion of news consumption occurs on mobile. Ensure that the site is responsive and loads quickly on various devices. > > > > SEO OPTIMIZATION > > > * Conduct thorough keyword research to identify high-traffic keywords related to news and current events. Incorporate these keywords into blog posts, articles, and meta tags to improve search engine rankings. > * Use internal and external linking to improve page authority and help search engines find and rank the content faster. > > > > LEAD GENERATION ELEMENTS > > > * Forms and CTAs: Place forms and calls-to-action (CTAs) on high-traffic pages to capture visitor information. Use non-invasive CTAs such as “Subscribe for Updates” or “Get Breaking News Alerts” to encourage sign-ups without overwhelming visitors. > * Lead Magnets: Offer gated content like eBooks, whitepapers, or exclusive news briefs in exchange for email addresses. This can be particularly effective for in-depth analysis or special reports that provide additional value to readers. > > > > PERSONALIZATION > > > * Implement dynamic content to personalize the user experience. Use data to show visitors content that is relevant to their interests, such as recommended articles or personalized news feeds. Personalized content can significantly enhance user engagement. > > > > CONTENT STRATEGY > > > * Engaging Content: Leverage CNN’s storytelling capabilities to create engaging content that resonates with the audience. Use emotional storytelling and high-quality visuals to increase user engagement. > * Blog Content: Develop a robust blog section with in-depth articles on various topics. This can help establish CNN as a go-to resource for detailed information, increasing trust and return visits. > > > > SOCIAL MEDIA INTEGRATION > > > * Amplify content through targeted distribution on CNN’s social media handles. Ensure that branded and sponsored content is seen by the most relevant audiences. > > > > ANALYTICS AND PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT > > > * Use analytics tools to measure the performance of each lead generator, including forms, CTAs, and landing pages. Conduct A/B testing to determine which elements are most effective in converting visitors into leads. > > > > BRAND CONSISTENCY > > > * Ensure that the website design and content align with CNN’s brand identity and values. Use consistent branding elements such as logos, color schemes, and typography to reinforce the brand’s image and build trust with the audience. > > > > REAL-TIME ENGAGEMENT > > > * Utilize real-time engagement tools to ensure that ads and sponsored content are placed in contextually appropriate environments, maintaining the brand’s integrity and user trust. > > > By implementing these strategies, CNN can enhance its website’s usability, improve its visibility through SEO, and effectively generate more leads by engaging visitors and providing them with valuable content. Here is another analysis example. Let’s say you are comparing two types of software and want to see the pros and cons of each. > Prompt: Compare Hub Spot to Go High Level for CRM systems from a digital marketing agency perspective. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ANSWER > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > When comparing HubSpot and GoHighLevel from the perspective of a digital marketing agency, several key differences and similarities emerge that can help you decide which platform is more suitable for your needs. > > > > TARGET AUDIENCE AND FOCUS > > > * GoHighLevel: This platform is specifically designed for digital marketing agencies, entrepreneurs, and small to medium-sized businesses. It offers agency-centric features such as white labeling, reputation management, and the ability to sell the platform as a SaaS. > * HubSpot: While HubSpot is also used by agencies, it caters to a broader range of businesses, from small to enterprise-level. It has a strong focus on inbound marketing strategies and is versatile enough to be used by various types of businesses. > > > > CRM CAPABILITIES > > > * GoHighLevel: Offers a robust CRM system optimized for managing multiple clients, with features like lead tracking, automated marketing, and customer interaction management. It is user-friendly and designed to simplify the management of multiple client accounts. > * HubSpot: Provides a comprehensive and scalable CRM with extensive integrations and advanced reporting tools. It includes features like contact management, list segmentation, and automated CRM database updates, which are highly beneficial for data-driven decision-making. > > > > MARKETING AUTOMATION > > > * GoHighLevel: Excels in marketing automation with highly customizable tools for email, SMS, and social media campaigns. It also includes features like webinar funnels, two-way SMS conversations, and AI-driven booking and chatbot capabilities. > * HubSpot: Offers a broad suite of automation tools focused on inbound marketing strategies. This includes marketing workflows, list segmentation, and automated email campaigns. HubSpot’s automation is highly customizable but can be complex to set up. > > > > SALES FUNNELS AND WEBSITES > > > * GoHighLevel: Allows for rapid deployment of sales funnels and websites with a focus on conversion optimization. It includes tools for landing page creation, lead capture, and payment processing. > * HubSpot: Provides a comprehensive Content Management System (CMS) with advanced SEO and personalization features. This makes it easier to manage and optimize websites and sales funnels. > > > > PRICING AND INTEGRATIONS > > > * GoHighLevel: Offers a more budget-friendly option with a flat fee, providing unlimited features and contacts. However, it has fewer integrations compared to HubSpot. > * HubSpot: Has a pricing structure that ranges from a free plan to enterprise plans. HubSpot offers extensive third-party integrations but has limitations on lower-priced plans, such as the number of contacts and automation features. > > > > USER INTERFACE AND LEARNING CURVE > > > * GoHighLevel: While it offers robust features, the user interface is not the most attractive, and there is a steep learning curve. > * HubSpot: Known for its modern, easy-to-navigate platform with excellent help prompts. This makes it more user-friendly, especially for those new to CRM and marketing automation. > > > > ADDITIONAL FEATURES > > > * GoHighLevel: Unique features include the ability to create and sell courses, membership areas, and white-labeling the platform. It also supports multi-channel follow-up campaigns and AI-driven chatbots. > * HubSpot: Offers features like live chat, meeting scheduling, email tracking, and detailed analytics for email campaigns. It also includes pipeline management and comprehensive dashboards for better reporting and monitoring. > > > > CONCLUSION > > > * If your agency prioritizes sales and marketing automation, needs a platform with agency-centric features like white labeling, and prefers a more budget-friendly option with unlimited features, GoHighLevel might be the better choice. > * If your agency values a user-friendly CRM with extensive integrations, advanced reporting tools, and a strong focus on inbound marketing, HubSpot could be more suitable. HubSpot’s comprehensive suite of tools and its ability to scale with growing businesses make it a robust option, despite the higher cost and potential complexity. SHARE YOUR PERPLEXITY RESULTS Perplexity makes it easy to share your results with a simple share button on the top right corner that lets you copy a shareable link or share the result on Facebook, What’s App, or X. PERPLEXITY AI REVIEW CONCLUSION Perplexity AI is a great addition to my AI toolkit and a tool I use every day, especially when I am doing online search or need to incorporate web information into my research and writing. I highly recommend it. If you enjoyed my Perplexity AI review, please hit the Like and Subscribe button on the video and share this article and video with others to support independent content creation. Need more help? Check out our Time Titans and Time Mastery Collective productivity coaching programs [https://captaintime.com/productivity-coaching/] which include learning how to use AI in your every day workflow to supercharge your productivity.   The post Beyond Google: Captain Time’s Perplexity AI Review [https://captaintime.com/beyond-google-captain-times-perplexity-ai-review/] appeared first on Time Management Training [https://captaintime.com].

I teach a lot of time hacks to help people be more productive and one of the more unusual time hacks is the link between exercise and productivity. When you are busy and overwhelmed, the last thing most people want to try to jam into their already overloaded day is time for exercise. However, exercise and productivity have a powerful synergy that should not be ignored. Now, I am an overweight old guy who spends most of my day in front of a computer. So what would I know about exercise and fitness? But as “Captain Time” I know a LOT about productivity and increasing my physical activity has had a HUGE impact on my personal productivity. MY PERSONAL EXERCISE AND PRODUCTIVITY EXPERIENCE Like most people, after I got out of school and stopped having regular physical education classes and playing on school sports teams, I stopped putting time into fitness. Add to that that most of my jobs since then have been working at a desk and computer, and over the years my weight increased and my fitness level plummeted. After so many years of neglecting my fitness, what changed for me? Honestly, I got tired of being tired all the time. I decided to make one simple change and see if that would help. I decided every day, I would take a 20-minute brisk walk at lunch before going back to my desk to work. I was ruthless with myself – rain, snow, or shine, I would push myself out to walk at lunch and just make sure I dressed accordingly. Being on Vancouver Island where it rained a lot, my Tilley hat got a great workout! [insert picture of me in my Tilley hat] The first week, my new healthy walking habit had great benefits! 1. Improved Well-Being: After my walk, I immediately felt better. The break from my office and getting outdoors really refreshed me. It was like rebooting my mental computer. 2. Energy levels: I found that walking every day, greatly improved my energy levels. 3. Focus: With my renewed energy, I was better able to focus and work longer in the afternoon, instead of my usual dragging near the end of the day. 4. Mental Back Burner: With the change of perspective during my walk and the exercise, I found my mental back burner would kick in, solving many problems for me and generating many creative new ideas. I was able to easily add these new ideas and tasks to my productivity systems using the mobile apps on my smartphone. I called it my “Productivity Walk” [https://captaintime.com/productivity-walk/] and shot a vlog post about the walk one day while I was out. PROVE THE LINK BETWEEN EXERCISE AND PRODUCTIVITY Several studies have demonstrated the benefits of exercise on productivity. Here are some key findings: 1. Resource Caravans and Job Self-Efficacy: A 2023 study published in the Personnel Psychology journa [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/peps.12585]l found that daily physical activity provided “resource caravans” such as improved sleep quality, increased vigor, and enhanced task focus, which collectively supported better concentration, attention, and information processing. Additionally, exercise improved job self-efficacy, leading to higher motivation and better job performance[. 2. Corporate Wellness Programs: A 2017 study by the University of California highlighted the impact of corporate wellness programs on productivity. The study followed 111 workers in five laundry plants who participated in a wellness program that included exercise. The results showed a 10% increase in productivity among participants who improved their health through better diet and more exercise. 3. Connecting With Nature:  A 2021 report from the Mental Health Foundation in the UK found that being out in nature has a major impact on mental health with 45% of survey respondents saying being out in nature helped them cope with the Covid-19 pandemic. 3. Exercise is More than Medicine: The working age population’s well-being and productivity: In Denmark, 15 randomized controlled trials involving over 3,500 workers [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6188718/] demonstrated that workplace exercise programs improved health outcomes and productivity. These programs, which included about an hour of weekly supervised exercise, resulted in significant improvements in muscle strength, balance control, and cardio-respiratory fitness, leading to increased productivity. 4. Exercise Fights Low Energy and Fatigue: This trial found that regular exercise helped sedentary people had a beneficial impact on their energy and fatigue levels. ADAPTABILITY IS KEY When I moved back to Edmonton the winter cold made it more difficult to do my daily walks, but I persevered. I joined the local Tri-Leisure Fitness Centre in the winter and use their indoor walking track and weights. At one point, I ran into a problem with my productivity lunch walks. I got a puppy. While my puppy was ecstatic to join me on my lunch walks, have you ever tried walking around a friendly neighborhood with a cute, puppy who greets everyone like a long lost friend. [picture of Kya] My 20-minute brisk productivity walks turned into leisurely 40-minute chats with my neighbors. Fun, but not getting me back into my office for my afternoon work. So I shifted my walks to be in the late afternoon or after supper so that I could take the time to socialize with the neighbors. For the bitterly cold days, I either go to the local Tri-Leisure fitness Centre and use the walking track, weights, or pool or I stay home and exercise in my basement using exercise videos and home weights or our rebounder. I alternate between more active videos such as The Body Project [https://www.youtube.com/@BodyProjectchallenge], Rebounder Videos [https://www.youtube.com/@EarthOwl], and my Qi-Gong playlist [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfBUDyZozrp_1JwrDpZ1mxQ51vP9VbWZF]. The key thing is not to let weather, tiredness or procrastination stop you from exercising. I do this by “stacking habits.” For example, I set it up so the first thing I do after supper and putting the leftover food away is 20 minutes of exercise. By keeping this exercise time “sacred” I am maximizing the beneficial impact of exercise and productivity. So I highly recommend you “Get Moving to Get Results.” Your body and mental health will than you for it! The post Get Moving, Get Results: The Surprising Link Between Exercise and Productivity [https://captaintime.com/the-surprising-link-between-exercise-and-productivity/] appeared first on Time Management Training [https://captaintime.com].