Top Organizational Tips

SmackDog · #1 10-26-2007, 02:17 PM

I am currently going through growing pains as my business continues to expand even outside the poker affiliate world.

I'm wondering if some of the more experienced affiliates have any tips on how to organize your business?

I'm wondering if people keep earnings and expenditures for each site seperate? Or if this is seperated out by type of site, IE poker, casino, cell phones, etc.

Also, does anyone use software like MS Money, Quicken, etc.?

I am currently using a basic spreadsheet, but feel like maybe I need to update my accounting records so it is easier at tax time for me.

I look forward to hearing what other affiliates have to offer.

Thanks,

DealerDan · #2 10-26-2007, 02:44 PM

I keep all data separate for sites. I find that way you can analyze trends, and adjust your promotions based on that. For example if you generate $50k a month at Full Tilt, then one month you generate 60k, you could look to see if there was anything special about that month - ie: a WPT satellite rake/raked hands promotion, and start promoting things like that more. In some cases I'll even e-mail the poker room/casino to see. Sportsbooks are where I notice the biggest trends up & down.

I stick to Excel as I'm very comfortable and experienced with it. I think for a lot of accounting software there may be trial versions available for you to play around with. Try a couple and see what you like best.

GregK · #3 10-26-2007, 04:03 PM

For simply organizing your day & schedule, I love this...
http://www.mozilla.org/projects/calendar/sunbird/

Still looking at financial type apps myself?
Its looking like Quicken is hard to beat though, lots of integration with the major banks online banking too. import/export back n forth etc.

JBlixt · #4 10-26-2007, 04:14 PM

If you want to but a good structure for your business you need to ask yourself a couple of questions:
1) What are the legal requirements for bookkeeping, taxes and so on. This you have to put in order. I recomend that you find a solid software for bookeeping. Do not do more of this than you need to!
2) The second part is what you need to be able to develop your business. To keep track of your different websites and how much the cost and generate would be very usefull when you want to decide where to go next. Maybe you will even find that you are loosing money at some of the websites and should let them go.

We are small and do not have that much different websites. But i regret that we did not put it up a bit different from the beginning. Now it is to much work to change all the trackers and so on.

stocktrader · #5 10-27-2007, 04:48 AM

I like to keep everything in spreadsheets because it allows you to make notes on everything. Also, the biggest organizational headache, in my opinion, is organizing your ideas and information. The financials, IMO, tend to be the easiest thing to organize. The spreadsheet I use is here - http://www.webpageblueprint.com/organization.php.

The operational tasks of being a webmaster is the biggest area that people underestimate - especially among intermediate webmasters. Beginners tend to underestimate marketing and planning the most but as a webmaster becomes successful they invariably come up with new ideas for new sites, etc and tend to underestimate how much time they spend managing everything.