As a small business owner, it’s easy to feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day. Once you’ve finished up on your managerial responsibilities, you have to worry about paperwork, hiring, marketing, and more. Though nobody said running a business would be easy, there are ways that you can save time and make life more comfortable. Here are some ideas…
Automate your marketing activities
Perhaps one of the easiest ways to save time as a busy entrepreneur is to automate your marketing activities and data entry process. From scheduling marketing emails in advance to target key dates like Valentine’s Day and Christmas, through to social media scheduling tools that will keep your Twitter and Facebook pages ticking over when you’re not around, there are so many ways you can cut your marketing hours whilst still bringing in customers. Look into your options.
Know when to outsource
Not everything has to be done in house. In these tough economic times, having the freedom to outsource parts of your business like cleaning and maintenance can give you some more breathing room and take a few items off your to-do list. Companies that offer facilities management services can really help here, taking the weight off your shoulders and helping you to create a more streamlined and efficient business, reducing waste and saving time.
Rely on expert advice and guidance
It’s better to do something right the first time than get it wrong 100 times. Whether you’re still learning how to greet customers in your store or you need some tips on bookkeeping and accounting, we’ve got you covered. Speak to the experts at every step of the way when you are starting out and you’ll save time/headaches; it’s better to learn from others’ mistakes!
Take some time off
It might sound counterintuitive to take time off work when you’re super busy and need every minute you can, but the truth is that it’s easy to become overworked and struggle to stay fully productive and motivated. Even in the early days of your business venture, it’s vital that you look after your own wellbeing and take time to relax and recuperate – if you’re on the go all of the time, you won’t be able to perform at your best and jobs will take you three times as long.
Delegate tasks – you can’t do everything!
Finally, accept you’re not an octopus. Run through your schedule for the week ahead and find things that can be offloaded onto colleagues and freelancers. Successful entrepreneurs know when to take a step back and delegate tasks to others – it’s the only way you’ll grow.
Do you have any other time management tips for busy entrepreneurs? Let us know and check back to the blog soon for the latest from Marketing Know-How – we post every day!
