Have priorities

There are some limiting factors in this game (energy, goods, money, etc.) so you have to choose the best things to focus on if you are trying to level up quickly. Keep an eye on your XP bar. If you're about to level up, try to use up all your energy first as you will get a partial refill. You may want to hold off on accepting neighbor help if you're really close.

1. Supply your franchises! - Franchises pay out the best ratio of coins/ good. Franchise your neighbor's cities the more you can
If you need goods first:
a. Send the 5 minute Charlie Train (does not use energy and brings back lots of goods!)
b. Let your neighbors tend your ships and crops.
c.Collecting from ships is better than croping!!!

2. Activate the neighbors
Accept their help and follow them around. Try to get your bonus meter up all the way! 5 bonuses for the first stage, and 4 for to fill the bar for each next stage (there are 10 stages, so click on 51 bonus items).

3. Harvest your soon to expire ships/ crops until your storage is full

4. Collect from your best paying buildings (or the ones you need collectibles from)

5. Don't forget your community buildings! They usually give you an energy or 2 too!

6. Use remaining energy on highest payout to lowest payout buildings and to refill your goods.