Time Management Tips for Marketers to Boost Productivity
Did you know that most marketers say they feel overwhelmed by the number of tasks they face daily? From juggling client campaigns to analyzing data and brainstorming creative strategies, marketers often find themselves racing against the clock. Time management is essential, as time remains our most finite resource. So, how can we get more done without burning out?
The marketing team at Epom, a leading ad server, knows this struggle all too well. Drawing from their own experience in programmatic advertising—a field where delays can mean missed opportunities—they’ve compiled actionable time management tips to help teams stay productive even with limited resources.
Let’s dive into practical strategies for finding those elusive “25 hours a day” and turning time into your greatest ally.
Time Management Tips for Marketers
Save Time and Stay Secure with Password Managers
Marketers handle a lot of sensitive data and services on a daily basis. Remembering everything is impossible, and recovering access to resources wastes time. Use a password manager. There are many such services. You can choose one that will be very useful in your case. Here is a convenient option – LastPass.
LastPass is one of the most reliable and user-friendly password managers available today. Here’s why it stands out:
- Secure storage
- Cross-platform accessibility
- Password sharing
- Password generator
- Emergency access
By adopting LastPass, you save time logging in, reduce security risks, and streamline access to essential resources.
Simplify Your Workflow with Social Media Automation Tools
Social media automation saves time and ensures content reaches your audience during peak activity. There are many tools available for working with social media. Buffer, a free tool, lets you schedule posts across multiple social networks from one platform. Its advantage is that you can schedule your posts to different social networks in one place. Buffer allows you to work with LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media.
Templates Are a Marketer’s Secret Weapon
Many actions on social networks are repetitive. You can make and save graphic templates for each network. Postcron or Canva services are good for this:
Postcron
This tool allows you to design branded templates, schedule posts, and manage social media graphics in bulk. It’s perfect for marketers who want to automate their workflow and maintain consistent branding across all platforms.
Canva
Known for its user-friendly interface, Canva offers a library of customizable templates for every social media format. Whether you need Instagram Stories, Facebook posts, or LinkedIn graphics, Canva simplifies the creation process with drag-and-drop features, stock elements, and collaboration options for teams.
Save ready-made sets of hashtags that you use for Instagram posts. Simply update the text and photos instead of starting from scratch for every post.
Track Your Work Hours with Time Tracking Software
Do you know how much time you spend on each work task during the day? Most marketers underestimate their actual time usage.
Use software that will record activities and show how much real time you spend on work. This helps you prioritize important tasks and delegate or eliminate the rest. TrackingTime is an effective time-tracking program with a free version.
Set Time Limits to Get More Done
When you start putting a limit on each work task, you’ll see your efficiency increase. Use a countdown timer on your phone or Google. For example, you want to write 2 Facebook posts. Allocate 30 minutes for this work, set a timer, and start working.
Plan Your Work with a Task Manager
Keeping all tasks in one place helps you manage your time effectively. Nowadays, there are many programs for smartphones and PCs that allow you to keep things in order and plan effectively. You can use services like Todoist, Trello, Microsoft Planner, or Any.do to increase your efficiency.
5 Proven Time Management Techniques for Marketers
If you incorporate one of these methods in your work, you will be on your way to fewer distractions and more productivity at work.
Pomodoro
This method of time management was invented by Italian Francesco Cirillo when he was studying at university. Now, it is used by many specialists in different specialties to increase efficiency.
The Pomodoro technique uses a 25-minute timer for focused work. During this time, you work on the task and do not get distracted. Then, you have 5 minutes of rest and set the timer again. The goal is to work on 4 tomatoes and give yourself a short break.
The Pomodoro method is a popular way to increase your own efficiency. It is especially useful for those who have problems with motivation and do not have time for anything.
Getting Things Done
David Allen’s GTD method helps you organize your work and manage tasks effectively. Allen’s GTD method enables you to stay organized and in control of your tasks. In order to finish any task, you need to go through 4 steps:
- Collect all the papers for notes that are in the work area.
- Next, transfer the information into a notebook.
- Review the notes every hour.
- Systematize the tasks: it is important to add to the calendar and delete the rest.
- Start working with a final list of important tasks and bring them to completion.
If you’d like to take a deep dive into GTD, we recommend reading David Allen’s book Getting Things Done: The Act of Stress-Free Productivity.
COPE Technique
The author of the technique is A. Duncan. He recommends the following 4 principles of effective time planning:
- Clear – set goals for yourself;
- Organized – organize your work;
- Productive – prioritize;
- Efficient – accomplish the most important tasks.
Fresh or Fried Technique
This technique emphasizes tackling important tasks in the morning when your energy and focus are highest. During the day, it gets fried due to fatigue and high flow of information, and it loses concentration and ability to think quickly. Want to get more done? Work on important tasks in the morning.
Autofocus Technique
М. Forster suggests the following three principles to improve work efficiency:
- Make a list of all the tasks that need to be done.
- Choose the urgent and important ones to work on first.
- The rest of the tasks should be performed one by one, focusing on each of them.
This technique will allow you to learn to see your priorities and pay attention to them before routine tasks take up your time.
Build Good Time Management Habits
Combine techniques and find the efficiency improvement method that is right for you. Scheduling, time management, and rest will help you to get your work done on time and not get overwhelmed.
Work on time optimization on a regular basis. If you try a time management technique once a month, don’t say it doesn’t work. Regularity and analyzing effectiveness are important.
Time management is a habit that requires consistent practice. Choose methods of working with time that you are comfortable with. It will make controlling time more enjoyable and easier.