Taming the STM Data Dump (7)
I want to give out two little tips that I've been using that has save me countless hours and $$$$$ while I've been getting started in this business.
I was talking to a buddy of mine that seems to know all the new/best/neat apps around the net. I'm not sure how he does this, but he is always mentioning the next best thing before it becomes popular. I've been amazed with this ability, and I asked him what apps/programs/service could you not live without. I was kinda surprised by his answers.
He said Evernote and LastPass. But these aren't new or exciting?!?
I'll tackle LastPass first.
LastPass is a really neat little browser add-in program that keeps track of all of your user names and passwords for you - best of all, it FREE. I asked him why, OH WHY would I want to give ALL my usernames and passwords to someone I've never met before. I'm not a big one for technical jargon, but he mentioned that it's doubly incrypted with hexes, keywords, magic beans etc. He said superman couldn't break into it. Alrighty, I thought I might as well give it a try. I've been using the same password all around the internet so I don't have to remember 1000 different ones. I know I shouldn't do that, but keeping track of everything would be to cumbersome. I'm better than that! It was also getting confusing keeping track of the different !1,!,1 variations at different sites I was using.
I've been using it for about 8 months now, and I love this thing. I click on a site, and it automatically logs me in. I don't have to do or remember anything. When we are dealing with 10 different aff networks and more traffic sources, it makes things significantly easier. Need to remember all the log in information for your various databases on your servers? Yeah, it can do that too. I can't live without this thing anymore.
"But Matt, what happens they get bought out/close their doors? Won't all your information be lost forever??" I asked the same question. LastPass is cached on your computer, so you don't need to fret. It will be there even if the apocalypse comes sweeping through (assuming we still have internet connections and your computer didn't get destroyed).
For my second tip. Behold the power of Evernote!
I'll say this, it took me a while to figure out how to use Evernote properly. I was making To Do lists, jotting some ideas down but not really enjoying it. I kept asking him, why do you like this thing?? He asked if I used the web clipper. I asked what that was. It's a really neat little tool that can clip any part of or a whole web page. Alright, this could be a game changer. I started clipping from STM furiously. I was taking all the notes, tips, tricks I could. After I clipped 100 or so bits and pieces of threads here, I realized I had a tangled mess. I didn't use it. I didn't like sifting through it. The concept was neat, but the execution wasn't there.
A couple weeks ago I decided to go a different way. I remembered reading a thread about creating a road map for your daily process. Something that you would follow along to remind you of all the little details you need to pay attention to. I've been creating a roadmap since that day. I can go onto tasks without thinking about it. What do I need to do in the morning? First, collect all your accounting data. OK how do I do that? Follow these easy 10 steps... What about creating a campaign?? Follow these steps... I don't have to think about it, so I don't use any brain power doing it. Conserving all my smarts (or lack there of) for my campaigns by attempting to be creative.
Why do I need to do this?? I know how to set up my tracking links. I've done it too many times to mess it up. Well, just yesterday, I set up a new mobile campaign got things off and rolling. Conversions were coming in like crazy (all 1 or 2 of them - did I mention I'm still new at this 
) I went into prosper to see where they were coming from. I was flabbergasted when I found that prosper didn't record any conversions! NOOOO! I looked and looked at the links, postback, prosper setup. Everything looked perfect. But Matt, why did you use your campaige guide on how to step up links?? BRILLIANT! Within 2 min I had found the issue because and saved the day. I'm always being reminded of why I should be using Evernote...
You haven't mentioned how you keep track of everything. What's your secret sauce??
What really started to make this road map work for me was linking inbetween the notes. For instance...
Campaign Walkthrough
* Incrowd
* Leadbolt Landing Page
* Your pick up line
* Angles
* Creating Ad's
That's part of my overall campaign walkthrough. I broke it up into the basic parts and drill down from there. All of the bolded lines are links to other notes that break the information into more detail. I can zip between all of he steps of my daily routine with ease. Need some mobile optimization tips? I'm 2 clicks away. Need to see what colors work on landing pages? 3 Clicks. It makes the organization off all this data on STM very manageable. It was hard for me to document everything properly when I first started absorbing everything on STM and around the web.
I usually copy the tips and tricks directly and add them into my notes rather than use the web clipping. At the end of the note, I would make a reference back to the thread for additional details if needed.
This has REALLY helped me with my optimization as well. I have my rules for when to cut ads, change landers, and swap offers. I follow the rules and don't have to worry about making the wrong decisions. Every thread mentions statistical significance somewhere. I have all of that logged and categorized. I don't need to go find the thread or bookmark where the AB split tester is. It right there in my note for me. I input the numbers and off I go.
Find a better way to do something?? Change it up. This is an ever evolving document that I'm working with. My methodology will get better. This lets be make notes accordingly.
It took me a good week to get the bulk of the information down, but the time and $$ saved has been enormous already. They are free after all. One added feature is you can access both of these programs from anywhere. Have a desktop and a laptop that you use like I do? Not a problem. Need it on your phones? No worries. Everything is integrated.
This thread turn out to be a little longer than I expected, but I really wanted to explain why these apps/programs are worth the time. Give them a try. They have been helping me significantly while I'm in my super learning phase.
Good post, bro. If you have a new Samsung Note 3, you can just link your existing Evernote account, it turned into premium version for a year or two, as well as dropbox give me 50GB for 2 years, more than enough for me :P nowsadays these app & tools really make people life much easier, not suffer from information overloaded.
I use dropbox like a mad man also. I forgot to mention that one. Being able to access you files from anywhere is like magic. I probably keep too much personal information on there, but I figure google knows everything about me and more already 
Yeah LastPass and Evernote save my life. I use dropbox for my swipe file and creatives. That way I have access to my stuff no matter where I am.
Try using Ifttt.com to link all these 3 services together with If/Then statements . For example, you can do If I make a new note in evernote, then turn it to a PDF and save it to dropbox.
1Password is great too!
Also 'Crashplan' (auto computer backups) is extremely comforting to have
I've done the same thing but with OneNote which is much easier for interlinking notes. Evernote is awesome for image swipe files though!
Imagine having to type in every password, wow, those were the days. Password managers cut my days in half!
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