With summer so close you can bet that most of us are thinking about how to fit into that new swimsuit or teeny weeny bikini. I talk a lot about getting your body bikini ready, but what about your business? I’ve outlined a few small business solutions.
So many new and old entrepreneurs have a variety of tools to keep their businesses running, yet over time either forget how to get the most of the platforms or simply neglect looking into newer options due to lack of time. There are also plenty of new entrepreneurs who ask me what systems they need in place for a profitable business from the start, worried they will have to invest lots of money upfront and having no idea where to start.
Whether you’re new to running a business or you’ve been doing this for years, I’m sharing my favorite platforms to keep your business running on a shoestring budget. Not only that, I’m sharing the best ways to trim the “fat” from your days so you can run an efficient and profitable at home business.
First, Let’s Trim the Fat
How many of us put items on our to-do list that just aren’t making us money? Busy work is the stuff we do to avoid doing the stuff that really matters.
For example, you might fiddle around on Facebook for a few hours getting your header image just right. Or you’ll spend an hour writing an Instagram caption for a fitness image. Making sure you’re branding and copy are on point is of course important but it’s often not the things you should be spending the most time on.
In the beginning of any new business, you’ll want to spend the most time on the things that bring you money. For me this means sharing my fitness knowledge, having lots of conversations and following up with interested fitness enthusiasts.
Step 1: Figure Out What Makes You Money…And Do More of That!
What brings you the moolah? Is it teaching a PiYo class? Sharing your love of fitness with friends and family? Following up with people who show interest in starting their fitness journey? Whatever makes you money start with that first. You’ll want to schedule a bulk of your time doing these things and avoiding those that distract you from generating an income.
Step 2: Get Good at Generating Leads
Lead generation is one of the most important aspects to a long-term business. Lead generation includes things like a YouTube channel, Facebook page, Instagram feed, and newsletter list (and the opt-in you’ve created on your site). It’s the activities, images and information you routinely share to attract interest in both the short-term and long-term. Once you are making money it’s time to invest some time into generating new interest and customers.
Step 3: Hone In On What You’re GREAT At
So many new entrepreneurs will learn how to run a business from all aspects: finance, marketing, branding and sales. Based on an individual’s learning curve and passion, building a profitable business may take longer than expected when learning how to run the many facets already mentioned. When you’re able it’s best to outsource the work you don’t love to a virtual assistant or personal assistant, allowing you to focus on what you are GREAT at. This frees up your time while allowing you to become the business owner you always envisioned. (For more on hiring an assistant, check out this post to get started!) -INSERT past post on when to hire outside help
The Best Small Business Solutions
Now that you’ve “trimmed the fat” and cut all that busy work, you can now focus on the systems and platforms that allow you to run your business efficiently and effectively. There are a lot of platforms out there and it’s up to you to pick the right one for your business but the ones I share below have worked well for me over the years. Please note: I am not an affiliate of these systems and do not receive any credits for recommending them.
Project Management: Asana
An affordable and easy platform for managing multiple people and projects, it’s a great website (and phone application) for any to-do’s related to your business. If you’re working with an assistant, copywriter, website designer or customer service admin it’s simple to add them to projects and keep track of what’s getting done next. You can check them out at asana.com.
Time Management: Acuity Scheduling
Need to speak to new clients, offer an introductory call or schedule mentoring sessions? I’ve found Acuity Scheduling to be the most effective when it comes to calendar management. Set up your available times and send a link via email to make scheduling easy and avoid that back and forth that happens in everyday emails. You can easily link it to your existing calendar in Google or Outlook with a click of a button! You can learn more at acuityscheduling.com.
Email Marketing: MailChimp
Want to send professional emails to more than just friends and family? MailChimp offers affordable (and even free!) plans with easy templates to create, write and send regular emails to leads. Easy to use on websites and social media, people can sign-up nearly anywhere in just under a minute, making staying in touch super easy. You can find out more at mailchimp.com.
And finally…
I’ve learned over the years that being busy doesn’t always mean I’m making money. Avoid the trap of countless hours doing things that don’t drive your business forward and you’ll see results faster than those who don’t!
Your turn: have a favorite system or platform that keeps your business running smoothly? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
