Career Changes: The Time Management Struggle
I’ve been using the Pomodoros technique to help me manage the time I spend studying the Conversion Optimization mini degree from the CXL Institute. For the most part, it’s been really great at helping me maintain focus in short bursts.
I’ve never been the type of person who could study for hours at a time without a break. Looking at a computer screen or a book for more than two hours is about the quickest route to a long and uncomfortable nap for me, even if I’ve had a strong cup(s) of coffee. When I learned about the time management technique, I jumped all over it.
Basically, what I do is study for twenty-five minutes and take a break for five minutes. When I’ve done four sets of twenty-minute studying sessions, I can take a twenty-minute break. During the five minute breaks, I take short walks or watch Youtube videos or just do something that gets me out of my desk and stretching my limbs for a bit.
This method has helped me study this mini degree pretty consistently for four to five hours every day. But this week, life kept happening and I could barely find the time to study. When I did get a chance to do so, my WIFI would have a glitch or something would derail my session. It was just one obstacle after another.
I’m not sure if I should try to make up for the lost time (meaning I’ll have to wake up earlier to put in some more study time) or just let it go and face the week afresh. The wise decision would be to wake up earlier, but I’m likely just going to let it go and face the week afresh (System 2 at work here).
Truth be told, I probably needed the rest.
Google Analytics for Beginners Comes to an End
I was able to finish up the Google Analytics for Beginners course this week. Honestly, up until the very end, I had a good learning experience with Google Analytics. Chris Mercer has a way of making the course seem very interesting.
In fact, all the instructors have a way of making their course seem interesting. I guess that’s what happens when you put together a course like Conversion Optimization that is taught by people who are knowledgeable and passionate about their topics. I wish I had more teachers like this when I was growing up, school would have been a lot more fun.
I couldn’t believe that I passed the final exam on my second attempt. I had to take the final exam for Product Messaging four times before I finally passed on my fifth attempt. I figured Google Analytics would be more of the same.
In hindsight, my mistake with the Product Messaging final exam is I didn’t go back to my notes or the material or even just google to find out more information on the questions that I was getting wrong. Also, I didn’t refer to my notes before attempting the exam. I wrongly assumed that I would remember all the material I had gone through. But I was wrong…four different times.
With the Google Analytics final exam, I went over my notes to find the answers to the questions that I wasn’t clear on. I even used Google for the questions that I couldn’t find the answers to. While I didn’t find the answers on Google outrightly, I did get additional information that led me in the right direction. So by the second attempt, I was pretty confident with my selections.
Taking the extra time after the final exam helped me pass on my second attempt. Now, I’ve improved my test-taking process, which will hopefully help me in subsequent exams.
Landing Page Optimization
One thing that I really appreciate about this mini degree is that it was developed for beginners. Since I decided to go into writing/copywriting, I’ve started three different copywriting courses (with CXL’s Conversion Optimization being the third one). Five, if you count the two blogging courses that I started.
By far, this mini degree is the most comprehensive course that I have ever taken. It leaves nothing up to the imagination or assumption. The courses teach you the theory, give practical examples, and then templates as well.
It literally is idiot-proof. I’m confident, without any prior experience, that I could put together decent copy in the areas that I’ve covered so far. While I am so happy that I finally found the CXL Institute, I wish I had found it earlier. I wouldn’t have wasted so much time and money on the other courses.
I also like how each instructor appears eager for you to learn. I don’t know if it’s because the CXL Institute pays them really well or if it’s because they’re just really passionate about imparting knowledge in their area of expertise. But the delivery of the courses is quite good.
In Landing Page Optimization, Michael Aagaard breaks down the entire Landing Page experience to the minutest detail. From what a Landing Page is (yes, I was a bit confused because Landing Page seems to be the go-to term for everything on a website), to the user decision-making process, to the relevant Google Analytics reports for optimization, to Qualitative and Quantitative research.
I like how he was able to tie his course to several others being offered by the CXL Institute, some in the Conversion Optimization mini degree. To me, it just shows how everything is interwoven. He didn’t do it as if he were selling the other courses, as he still went over the points related to Landing Pages. It was more of “if you want more information check out…”
As I’m going through his course, I’m getting a clearer picture of the optimization process for a Landing Page. I feel like I have a step by step process that I can easily follow to optimize a Landing Page. And I’m only halfway through the course.
This is the last course in the foundation module of the Conversion Optimization mini degree. I’m so excited to be wrapping this module up. The other modules don’t look to be as long as the foundational module (I hope). So I feel I should be able to make up for the extra time that I took in module 1.
At this point, my fingers seem to be permanently crossed.
