Staying on top of your WordPress task list is critical for running an efficient site, meeting client needs, and keeping projects on track. This guide will show you two methods for creating a robust to-do list system in WordPress.
Why You Need a WordPress To-Do List
Before diving into the how-to, let‘s quickly cover the main benefits of task management for your WordPress website:
Increased Efficiency
- PM software increases productivity by 22% on average (PMI)
- Structured to-do lists improve productivity up to 25% (Doist)
Improved Collaboration
Centralized tasks with assignees, due dates, priorities, and status indicators enhance teamwork.
Higher Client Satisfaction
Organized tasks and on-time deliverables lead to happier clients.
Reduced Stress
A clear task system minimizes work about "slipping through the cracks."
Now let‘s explore two great methods for adding a to-do list to WordPress.
Method 1: Using a WordPress Plugin
WordPress to-do plugins provide built-in task management directly on your WP dashboard. We‘ll cover:
- Top plugin recommendations
- Customization and configuration
- Best practices for task tracking
Top WordPress Kanban Plugins
Kanban-style boards organize tasks visually into columns with drag-and-drop functionality. After testing many options, here are my top picks:
1. Kanban for WordPress
- Intuitive interface
- Lightning fast
- Custom statuses and colors
- Task sorting
- Time tracking
2. WP Project Manager
- Robust features
- Interactive dashboards
- Workflows and dependencies
- Analytics
3. Wekan
- Open source Trello alternative
- Real-time collaboration
- Task comments
- Labels and filtering
- File attachments
Configuring Your Kanban Board
Here are key steps to configure your Kanban plugin…
[insert infographic]- Install and activate the plugin
- Create new Kanban board
- Name columns to match workflow
- Add tasks under each status
- Set due date, assignees, time estimates for tasks
- Drag-and-drop to move across columns
I recommend starting with a simple workflow like "To-do, In Progress, Complete." You can then customize statuses further.
Enable key settings like due dates, time tracking, notifications, and analytics based on your needs. If working with a team, restrict access through user roles.
Best Practices for Managing Tasks
Here are a few pro tips for running an efficient WordPress task management system:
- Break down large projects into smaller actionable tasks
- Set reminders for important due dates
- Check-in daily and review outstanding tasks
- Measure progress with burndown charts
- Archive old tasks to keep list clean
Key Takeaways
- Kanban plugins add robust task management directly in WP dashboard
- Customizable boards, columns, and task features
- Top plugins provide sleek interfaces and solid performance
- Structure tasks systematically to enhance productivity
Now let‘s explore managing WordPress tasks using a dedicated software like Asana.
Method 2: Using Asana for WordPress Task Management
Asana is one of the most popular project management platforms designed specifically for tasks, due dates, and team workflows. With deep WordPress integration, it‘s my top pick for those wanting advanced features.
We‘ll explore:
- Asana standout features
- WP and Asana integrations
- Best practices for productivity
Asana Standout Features
Asana goes beyond basic to-do lists by providing:
Multiple Views
See tasks on list, board, calendar, and timeline modes.
Subtasks + Checklists
Breakdown big assignments into steps.
File Attachments
Attach images, docs, spreadsheets.
Dashboards + Reporting
Charts for task progress and productivity.
Project Templates
Prebuilt templates like "Website Redesign."
Automations
Triggers to update tasks, assign people, + more.
Workload Management
Set capacity levels and balance assignments.
These features allow you to build a customized workflow catered to WordPress site management.
Integrating Asana with WordPress
While Asana gives you advanced task functionality, WordPress still contains key information like:
- New plugin installs needed
- Content updates queued
- Support tickets received
Syncing activity between the two prevents duplicate data entry.
Popular integrations include:
Zapier – Automatically create Asana tasks for actions in WordPress like new posts, plugins installs, form submissions, etc.
WP to Asana – One-click publishing of WP posts to Asana tasks
RSS to Asana – Sync RSS feeds to create related Asana tasks
Best Practices for Asana Productivity
To maximize Asana for your WordPress task workflow:
- Match columns to pipeline stages like Request, Dev, Testing, Completed
- Use start dates, due dates and reminders
- Assign tasks and set expectations on deliverables
- Provide context via task descriptions, comments and attachments
- Review open tasks daily and track progress
Key Takeaways for Asana + WordPress
- Asana provides advanced task features from assignments to automation
- Integrations connect WP site activity to Asana tasks
- Best for teams wanting deep project management functionality beyond basic to-do lists
Summing Up
Adding a structured WordPress task management system boosts productivity and keeps projects on track. Choosing a plugin like Kanban for WordPress vs. software like Asana depends on your needs for customization, scales, and integrations.
Now that you know how to create an organized to-do list in WordPress, you can keep tasks prioritized and prevent things from slipping through the cracks.
Let us know if you have any other questions!
