You can run into a number of avoidable snags or delays mystery shopping, just as with any other business or job. Fortunately, many of these challenges can be avoided when the proper steps are taken to prevent mishaps from occurring.
Back It Up! If you have ever had a computer crash on you, you understand what a complete nightmare it is to try to re-create the vital data you have stored on your computer. As a mystery shopper, you likely keep your accounting records on your system. In the event of a computer crash, without your income and expenses, you will have a very difficult time filing your tax return at the end of the year. You also will have a tough time determining which assignments you have already been paid for and how much money you are expecting to come in. If you keep your assignment schedule on your computer, you may be at the mercy of the provider sending you an email reminder of upcoming assignments.
The solution is simple – back up your data regularly. Some people choose to back up daily, while others prefer to do it weekly or monthly. How often you back up will depend on your comfort level for the amount of data that is lost. Are you OK with the possibility of losing a month’s worth of data? Whatever your preference for the back-up is, the most important thing is to actually follow through with doing the back up. Set up an auto-reminder or put it on your calendar to do the back up at regular intervals, and then do it!
The Old-Fashioned Way! Everything these days is digital, likely including your calendar or schedule. If you do regular back ups of your data and are comfortable with looking at your schedule in a digital format, keep doing what works for you. However, many mystery shoppers may be more organized and comfortable looking at the big picture of their schedule laid out in ink in front of them.
Your schedule as a mystery shopper is so vital. Before you accept an assignment, be sure to check your calendar to make sure you don’t have other obligations (personal or as a mystery shopper) during the date and time of the new job you’re looking at. Every day or two, refer back to your calendar to check back for upcoming assignments that you need to prepare for. The bottom line is that your calendar plays such a big part in your life as a mystery shopper that you need it to be in a format that you are comfortable with. If you will stay more organized with the old-fashioned calendar, do what works for you.
Use The Power Of The Spreadsheet! Lists, lists, and more lists… If you are working with more than a handful of mystery shopping providers, you may find it helpful to keep spreadsheets for a few different things. First, you may want to list out the providers you work with, as well as their website address and the type of assignments they have. This will help you to keep track of providers when you are online looking for new assignments to apply for.
Then you may want to keep a spreadsheet of your assignments. I would suggest keeping a separate sheet for upcoming assignments, completed assignments pending payment, and assignments you have received payment on. On these sheets, keep track of the date of the assignment as well as the provider.
Again, if you are comfortable keeping track of this information in excel or another digital format, or if you prefer to keep it all handwritten in a notebook, do what works best for you. The important thing is to get a system going that works for you and then keep it updated regularly.
Not every system or method will work for everyone, so develop an organizational system for your mystery shopping job that works best for you!
I utilize both. I had a computer crash and burn four years ago and had to start from scratch. My income log and pay log are handwritten at the time it is done, then updated in an Excel spreadsheet on a regular basis for the accountant. By doing it twice, I am able to catch errors or make sure all receipts for tax write offs are catalogued and filed also. It also makes me have to do the mileage calculations since it is built into the spreadsheet. All my passwords and mystery shopping co info is on a spreadsheet, but it is all handwritten and updated everytime I register with a new company. I sort the company’s by first letter and have multiple sheets for each letter of the alphabet. It’s not alphabetic, but categorized by first letter. It is up to 20 pages long with up to 20 companies per page. It is easy for me and portable so I can take it with me. My phone has email so I can respond to shop requests on the go and I have all my login info with me.
Good Luck everyone. Phyllis
I have Windows Live OneCare which reminds me to back up my files every Monday, but my most valuable asset in this is my Daytimer. I enter each assignment as I get it including the fees, bonus, address and time. I then enter the travel costs and any other expenses so that everything is in one place. Before I accept a shop I check my daytimer to be sure that it doesn’t conflict (an absolute must as I often travel over a hundred Km for shops and it is not worth it for just one shop.)
I use excel for my shopping co’s password & date of shop, $ due. This I find is the easiest way to be organized.
Phyllis,
I would love to know how you keep track with excel. Would you be willing to help me????
You can email me at kellygravener@gmail.com.
I need some type of organization since I have been getting more jobs. If you can’t help that’s fine, I just thought I would ask.
I also, do both. Have it on computer and manually. I have had a computer crash in the past so backups are very important. It is always important to have a backup system when computers are involved. Sometimes we become too reliant on computers and that is not good.
I use the
google calendar to list all jobs, plus my personal schedule. Yahoo Notepad comes in handy for the details; I have a file for assignments pending, completed, and paid. Without duplicate motions, a mere click of the mouse, transfers an assignment to its respective file. Additionally, I have a file for cancelled assignments. I am very familiar with Excel, but I find the Yahoo Notepad to be most convenient. The added feature being that I can access it from any computer, anywhere! Good article, thank you.
I love this idea. I have tried many things and would love more advice and examples. I don’t know how to do the spread sheets or even the pages that are backed up. Any assistance is deeply appreciated.
God bless….