As a mom, you know how to multitask like a pro. But when it comes to running a business, there's only so much you can do by yourself. That's where automation comes in. By automating processes in your business, you can free up your time and energy to focus on the things that matter most. And the best part? You don't have to be a tech whiz to make it happen. Here are some ways moms are making the most of automation to take their businesses to the next level:
Time-saving: Automating processes in your business saves you time, allowing you to focus on other important tasks or spend more time with your family.
Calendly: A scheduling software that allows you to update your calendar around your availability saving the back and forth between you and your customer.
ClickUp: Streamline your workflow, keep your must-dos, emails and projects all in one convenient location that you can share with teams or contractors. Best of all? It has a time tracker so you can see what tasks are eating up the most time
Consistency: Automated processes help ensure consistency in your business, from social media posting to customer communication, leading to a better customer experience.
Later: Scheduling tools like Hootsuite and Later make it easy to plan out your social media posts in advance, so you don't have to worry about constantly logging in to different platforms.
Chatbots: Have a bunch of always asked questions? Setting up these FAQ's can help your customers get a timely response when you are busy being mom
Canva: Consistency is more than just showing up. You need to show consistency through your brand as well. Canva allows you to create brand templates that will allow your brand to become more uniform and identifiable helping improve visibility.
Cost-saving: Automating certain processes can help cut costs in your business, such as reducing the need for manual labor or software tools but also mistakes! You do not need to reinvent the wheel in your pursuit to offer your customers fantastic service and value. There are so many templates that are easy to add your stamp to so that people recognise who they are buying from.
Scalability: As your business grows, automating processes allows you to handle more tasks and customers without becoming overwhelmed.
Think about the long-term game when you are seeking to purchase a software or learning a whole new skillset. If you set up your website via wix.com will it have all the features you will need as you scale your business? What about your email system and CRM?
It takes time to set up automation processes but they are worth it when you can begin to gather metrics about who your ideal client is and how they interact with you
Peace of mind: Automating processes gives you peace of mind knowing that important tasks are being taken care of even when you're not actively working, allowing you to step away from your business and focus on the all of a sudden playdate happening next door.
Choose the right platforms:
Focus on the social media platforms that your target audience is most likely to use. Don't spread yourself too thin by trying to be on every platform.
Create a content calendar: Plan out your social media content in advance. This will help you stay organized and ensure that you are consistently posting quality content.
Repurpose content: Don't reinvent the wheel every time you create content. Repurpose old content by updating it or creating new graphics to go along with it.
Monitor analytics: Use analytics tools to monitor the success of your social media campaigns. This will help you identify what's working and what's not, so you can adjust your strategy accordingly.
Automating email marketing
Email marketing is a great way to stay in touch with your audience and keep them engaged. Tools like Mailchimp and ConvertKit can help you automate your email campaigns, from welcome sequences to sales funnels.
Create a welcome email: A welcome email is the first email that a new subscriber receives from you. Use this opportunity to introduce yourself and your business and to let them know what they can expect from your emails.
Create an email series: Once you have your welcome email set up, consider creating an email series to help your subscribers get to know you and your business better. This series could include educational content, special offers, and more.
Segment your email list: Not all of your subscribers will be interested in the same things, so segmenting your email list can help you deliver more targeted content. For example, you could create different segments for subscribers who have purchased from you before and those who haven't.
Set up automated emails: Once you have your welcome email and email series created, you can set them up to be sent automatically to new subscribers. You can also set up automated emails to be sent based on subscriber behavior, such as abandoned cart emails or re-engagement emails.
Monitor and adjust: As with any marketing strategy, it's important to monitor your email campaigns and adjust them as needed. Look at open and click-through rates to see what's working and what's not, and make changes as necessary.
Simplify your Bookkeeping
Keeping track of expenses and invoices can be a real headache. But with tools like QuickBooks and FreshBooks, you can streamline your bookkeeping and get a clearer picture of your business finances.
Keep business and personal finances separate: One of the most important things you can do to simplify your bookkeeping is to keep your business and personal finances separate. This means having separate bank accounts and credit cards for your business expenses. Mixing personal and business expenses can make it difficult to track your business finances and make it harder to file your taxes at the end of the year.
Choose the right bookkeeping system: There are many bookkeeping systems available, ranging from simple spreadsheets to more complex accounting software. Choose a system that works for you and your business needs. Some popular options include QuickBooks, Xero, and FreshBooks. If you’re not sure which system to choose, consult with a financial professional for advice.
Track all business expenses: Be sure to track all of your business expenses, including receipts and invoices. This includes everything from office supplies to travel expenses. Keeping accurate records of your expenses will make it easier to file your taxes and can help you identify areas where you can cut costs.
Schedule regular bookkeeping tasks: Schedule regular bookkeeping tasks to ensure that your finances are up to date and accurate. This can include tasks such as entering expenses, reconciling bank accounts, and generating financial reports. Set aside time each week or month to work on your bookkeeping tasks to stay on top of your finances.
Automating customer service:
As your business grows, it can be tough to keep up with customer inquiries and support requests. That's where chatbots and other automation tools can help. By setting up automated responses to common questions, you can save time and provide better service.
By automating parts of your customer journey, you can provide a seamless experience for your customers without sacrificing your own time and energy. Here are some tips for automating your customer journey:
Map out your customer journey: Before you can automate your customer journey, you need to understand it. Take some time to map out the different touchpoints your customers have with your business, from their first interaction with your brand to their post-purchase follow-up.
Identify areas to automate: Once you have a clear picture of your customer journey, look for areas that can be automated. For example, you might automate your welcome email to new subscribers, your post-purchase follow-up email, or your appointment reminder emails.
Choose the right tools: There are many tools available to help you automate your customer journey, from email marketing platforms to customer relationship management (CRM) software. Do your research to find the tools that best fit your needs and budget.
Personalize where possible: Just because you're automating parts of your customer journey doesn't mean you can't personalize the experience. Use customer data to personalize your emails and other automated communications.
Test and refine: As with any aspect of your business, it's important to test and refine your automated customer journey. Use analytics and customer feedback to see what's working and what needs improvement.
By making the most of these automation tools and others like them, you can turn your playdates into paychecks and take your business to new heights. So don't be afraid to embrace automation – it might just be the key to your success.
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