Competition is fierce for small business owners and solopreneurs starting up their businesses. In many cases, these new businesses are up against competitors who have been in their respective industries for decades. Some new business owners even get sucked into the notion that to succeed, they need only to focus on staying competitive and that with hard work, success will follow. However, many small businesses are inadvertently blocking their path to success with inefficient administrative systems.
EMAIL: HOW EFFICIENT IS YOUR EMAIL INBOX?
Email is an important business tool for communication. It’s essential for staying in touch with employees and clients, sending out new services or newsletters on upgrades within the business, and adds a personal touch to the client-business relationship. The system needs to run optimally so that you can prioritize emails, cutting down response time.
WEBSITE: CONTENT AND LOOK
Your website is your first impression, and in a world where most—if not all—businesses operate online in some capacity, you’ll want that first impression to stick. You should be updating your website look and content periodically so that it’s visually pleasing, easy for users to navigate, and stays up-to-date on new and emerging trends within your niche. If your website isn’t up to par, it will turn off many potential customers and clients.
MARKETING
Outlining and executing a clear and documented marketing plan is critical to your business. You want to get the most out of the budget, and having a sure-fire method will do that. Invest in well thought out marketing materials that will not only attract clients but are also in line with the current values of your brand and business. You want your unique message and voice to yield a positive result, and you can do that with apt marketing. Mapping your marketing efforts to your social media channels will allow you to ensure that you are posting your intended messages at the peak times for an optimal number of views by your customer base.
FOLLOW-UP AND CLIENT CARE
You want to foster happy and loyal client relationships when you own a small business. Customers choose small businesses over large corporations because they provide that specialized personal touch. When a small business lets its customer service decline, client satisfaction goes down, and your clients begin to look elsewhere for a new service provider in the sea of your direct competition.
BOOKKEEPING
It’s vital to take the time to set up efficient Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable systems so that there is a steady flow throughout your business. This will allow you to ensure that bills have been paid on time and to quickly follow up on invoices that are owing to you.
CALENDAR MAINTENANCE AND SCHEDULING
Nothing says disorganized business owners like missing an appointment or overbooking. You don’t want to spend one day crammed with meetings and other days with an empty schedule. Ensuring that you have a good plan will keep business flowing evenly and adequately throughout the week, which in turn will keep you on top of client retention.
LEAD PROCESSING
Failure to process leads quickly will result in lost sales. It should go without saying, you must follow up on your information as they come in to avoid missed opportunities. Inefficient lead processing systems will hurt both your business and your reputation.
Pave your path to success by setting up efficient systems that allow your business to grow, so that you can achieve your goals and improve your bottom line. Your competition will stop and take notice. For more information on how to attain symbiotic success with your systems, contact us today!