Adjust Processes as your Business Evolves

It’s easy to overlook the cogs in the machine when you are busy focusing on client work. So, I revisited processes I had put in place years ago and made some great improvements. Here’s what I did and what I recommend for you:

Consider high-tech solutions. The software market has exploded with innovative business solutions, and new apps are emerging all the time. I am in awe of exciting project management software now available like Asana, ClickUp and Trello that streamline client projects and integrate with other apps, keeping systems cohesively organized and much more. And have you heard of apps like Loom, Slack and Voxer? These are super innovative ways to communicate with clients.

Re-evaluate past decisions. Choices made about how to approach marketing and communications just a few years ago may no longer apply. A significant amount of marketing now happens online and most of it is content-driven. Many of the new ways to market can also be facilitated through scheduling systems, keeping your brand in-focus and on-track.

Leverage your time. I love my online appointment scheduler that integrates with my calendar, eliminating the time-consuming process of back-and-forth emailing to lock in an appointment. I can now point my clients to my scheduler with a simple link. They select a time and the appointment schedules right to my calendar. What a time saver!

Revisit the aspects of your business that are right in front of you. Closely scan integral elements you may be taking for granted. For example, comb your website to make sure all buttons and links potential clients might click on are functioning as they should. Or review your file storage options. Could you be more mobile with accessible cloud storage?

Grow your Skillset. Options for learning online are now vast. From YouTube, SkillShare and LinkedIn to local groups like SCORE and the Chamber of Commerce, the possibilities are endless. And everything is online right now, eliminating commute times.

It’s easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day operations of running a business. Stepping back with a larger lens allows the opportunity to see how your business can truly evolve over time. 

A digital communications expert with over 14 years of experience, On Trend Founder Kirsten Carbone is hired by small businesses to streamline their content marketing plans. To subscribe to OT Topics, Kirsten’s free monthly newsletter for solo professionals and small business owners, go to www.ontrendllc.co.