Following along with yesterday’s blog, today I’ll talk about things that you SHOULD do on a day to day basis in order to stay focused.

1. Set Goals: Whether you run a blog, a forum, a news site, a service, or really any type of online business, you are in it to make money. How much you make and how soon you make it are up to you. How motivated are you? Are you a goal setter? When you work for yourself it’s easy to have a main goal in mind, but often times it’s easier to reach that goal if you break it down. If you have a blog then decided in advance how often you will update it. If you have forums, set a goal of how many posts you will make per day, and how active you will be. Participating in your own websites is often times the key to growth. If the admin leaves then the rest will follow. Set strict goals and be very adamant about reaching them.

2. Have a sense of direction: Don’t just make sites to make sites. Unless you have an interest in what you are doing, you won’t last long. Plan your content around personal interests and personal experiences. If you make a website about mesothelioma (a form of cancer, and also the highest paid AdSense keyword), my guess is that you are keyword scouting a little too much. Most people don’t know jack when it comes to cancer research and I doubt many people can create a legitimate website covering the topic. Pick something that you know backwards and forwards. Otherwise it will be obvious that you are just in it for the clicks.

3. Don’t abuse conveniences: It’s nice to be able to work from home, but unless you are already making good money, you need to be careful about how you spend your time. If you consider yourself to have a flexible schedule, that should not mean that every afternoon you go and see a movie with friends, and every night you go out and party. You need to set aside time to work regardless of how often you choose to have some fun. Working from home is not working from home unless you are making money. You’re not fooling anyone but yourself if you think otherwise.

So ask yourself this question. Would you hire yourself? Do you have the work ethic required to achieve the goals you have set for yourself? If not then you need to either get motivated or get a job.