Most of the tools I review are online tools that require no download, or like Giftag.com last week, just a browser add-on.  But today’s tool is a program available for free from Download.com that has been invaluable in tracking how much time I’m spending on tasks so we can report that to our clients at New Edge Media.  The program I’m talking about is called Time Sled. From the developer, FineApp:

Time Sled is a time tracking utility that will allow you to account for the time spent on one or another task. You start it when you begin working and you stop it when you finish working. The tasks you are working on may be grouped into projects. Using such grouping, you may set an hourly rate (the cost of the work performed for the project per hour) for each project. Time Sled will be calculating the time spent on one or another task (project) as well as the total amount according to the indicated hourly rate

This is a trial version that you’re downloading for free, so it does have some limitations.  This is a great tool for me to track how much time I spend, but since the free trial version only allows you to track 4 hours with of projects, I can’t log and archive my time spent within this program (for that, we use Basecamp).  What I like about this program is that you can nest by Client (in my case).  So what I do is I call the overall project the client’s name, then I add the individual tasks and track the time as I’m working.

The program doesn’t take a lot to run and does its job quietly in the background.  The one issue you have to remember is to stop the task or pause when you get up to take an extended break from the computer!  There are reporting features too, although since I use the free, limited version I honestly haven’t explored them much.  The full version is available for purchase through the FineApp website for $34 and has no limitations in reporting or time, so if you’re looking for something a bit more robust after you’ve used the free version and want for more, that is a very affordable option.

This is overall a great tool for any freelancer or firm working with multiple clients.  And I’ve found that additionally it assists me in staying focused since I’m subconciously aware that I’m tracking the time I’m spending.  It’s a great way to help organize your day!

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