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As a small business owner, you may feel compelled to manage all aspects of your business – after all, it’s your baby, and no one cares as much as you do. But is doing admin work really the best use of your time? This week, our team explores how you can reclaim those precious hours in a day to do the work that will have the greatest impact on your business.
Your key focus as a business owner should be selling products and services. To figure out how to free up time for selling, ask yourself – what are the things that only you can do – and only focus on them. The admin work can be delegated, automated, or outsourced.
You should start with scheduling everything. Even if it’s personal stuff such as your kid’s soccer game or doctor’s appointments. One of the best ways is to use an appointment scheduler. Once you set in stone your non-negotiable commitments, there are several effective strategies in the world of entrepreneurship that you can use to reclaim your business day.
1. Automation
You may have heard of delegation, but automation is the way to go in the modern world. For instance, an automated accounting software can manage your invoices. Moreover, if your customers are asking a lot of the same questions, you can write blog posts or even create a FAQ page. Share those with your clients!
2. Get organized
Consulting firm, IDC, found that knowledge workers spend about 2.5 hours searching for information every day. For instance, looking for files kept in some folder is a time-consuming task. Simply naming the files and folders can save you a lot of time which many of us underestimate. Moreover, instead of looking for passwords or recalling them every time you log in, you can use a password manager such as LastPass.
3. Figure out your most productive time
Everyone works best at a different time of the day. Take some time to find out when you’re the most energetic. Focus on the activities accordingly and keep the critical tasks during your peak performance times.
4. The Pomodoro Technique
Setting time for focused work is one thing, doing the focused work is another. The Pomodoro technique allows you to absorb the distractions and set a window for work. Here is how you can do it:
- Shut down all the distractions – phone, email and so on
- Set your timer for 25 minutes
- Focus on the one task for 25 minutes
- When the timer goes off, take a five-minute break to do something very different
- If you’re still focused when the timer goes off, continue working on the task, until you need a change
5. Batch activities
For example, a small business owner needs to have a presence on social media to generate online leads. Check social media at a specific time of the day. Pick a time where it is best for you to post. Similarly, set a specific time to read emails and respond to them. This way you won’t be distracted by email notifications and feel the pressure of responding right away.
6. LinkedIn leads
Many successful business owners make six figures from LinkedIn. You can do the same by knowing who your clients are. Search for your ideal client and connect with them. Start the conversation with the intent of building a relationship. Create intrigue by adding, “Ask me how” at the end of your LinkedIn tagline. In no time, you will get some solid leads which will grow your business.
Even a few of the above techniques will find you pockets of time you never knew you had. If you find that you have an extra 10 minutes because you’re waiting, use that time on one aspect of selling.
Happy selling!