What to do with all those free resources you’ve downloaded

This is the year your business is really going to take off right? And you just know there’s one ‘thing’ out there that’s going to help it do that. So you get busy searching for tips/tools/resources/webinars/templates:

• Blogging 101 tips
• DIY content marketing tools
• How create visual marketing assets like a boss
• Social media for time-poor entrepreneurs
• Public relations 101 templates
• How to successfully launch your course, program or product

… and find a stack of awesome free resources.

You jump on the list to get said content and it all gets delivered to your inbox via various series of cleverly crafted automated responses.

So … what do you do AFTER you have acquired these digital assets?

A. Return to the shiny object regularly and read it?

B. Print the shiny objects off and whack them in a folder?

C. Save them to your computer for a day when are ‘working on the business’ and can read them?

D. Nothing.

I used to swing between C and D. And tomorrow never came. I was then hit with a serious case of digital distraction. Which got pretty counterproductive given I’m busy enough.

So here are my four rules for dealing with the inbox overwhelm that can happen when you sign up for all the free resources going round.

1. Sign up mindfully

You will be receiving content from this person after you sign up to their list so make sure you resonate with the influencer’s vibe or else you will be swiftly hitting unsubscribe!

2. Do something useful with your free resources

Create a hard copy folder for different elements of your business: content marketing, growing your business, new projects, courses, programs etc.

Add tabs to create sections and then add the content to each section.

You may also like to have an action plan printed at the start of each folder so you can track progress too.

Want more articles like this? Check out the business productivity section.

3. Declutter each year

Declutter your digital life as much as you do your real life.

Work out how often you can commit to decluttering your hard drive and inbox, add it to your calendar and commit to the process.

Enlist the support of an accountability partner if you are struggling.

Or engage a business coach or decluttering professional if you know you need help.

4. Unsubscribe when it all gets too much

If the subscription rampage at the start of the year gets too overwhelming, hit unsubscribe.

Or use a service like Unroll.me.

When all is said and done, remember this: you’re better off signing up for just one resource, and actually following the tips/instructions shared in that one resource, than you are in signing up for all the free resources you come across. The overwhelm that comes from knowing you never have time to do ‘All the things’ is just not worth it!