As a business owner, you have to wear so many different hats in your business. From marketing to bookkeeping, it’s up to you get it all done. The easiest way to stay on top of things and actually get stuff done each week is to have some solid business systems in place. You may be wondering, “What exactly is a system?”
A system is a tool or process that helps you streamline things so you are not constantly having to reinvent the wheel. Having solid business systems in place is one of the many keys to having a successful online business. The tools you use to run your business can make all the difference in the world, saving you time & money.
I have been an online entrepreneur for 5 years and I have literally tried out every system under the sun! Today, I want to share with you some of my favorite tools and systems that I couldn’t run my business without!
My Favorite Business Systems:
1. Asana
Up first is Asana. I use Asana for both my personal to-do list and also my business todo list. Asana is amazing because not only is it free but it’s super to easy to use and helps me stay on track with both client work and my personal life.
I use Asana to keep track of all my client projects, my editorial client, important appointments and events, and so much more. If you are having trouble staying on track and need a way to get organized then I recommend Asana!
2. Dubsado
Another tool that I find really useful, especially if you work with clients a lot is Dubsado. Dubsado is amazing for client management! It allows me to send proposals, invoices, and contracts all from one app! It lets you set up a lead capture form directly on your website and you can keep track of all your leads and follow up with them without ever leaving the app.
I can’t tell you how many hours having a solid client management system such as Dubsado will save you every week, as your business grows. Dubsado is free for up to three clients, so try it out and see how you like it!
3. Acuity
How much time do you waste every day going back and forth trying to find a perfect time to chat with a potential client? I’m guessing too much! Why not cut out all the back and forth and using a scheduling system to automate and streamline? One of my favorite online schedulers is Acuity. I have been using Acuity since I first started my business.
I have tried out several other tools but I always come back to Acuity. Acuity is great because it’s affordable (only $10 a month!) and super easy to use. With Acuity, I can simply send a link to a potential client and she is able to view my schedule and find a time to chat that works for both of us. You can customize Acuity to include your own header and also embed it onto your website for a professional look.
4. Smarter Queue
If you run an online business, chances are you use social media for marketing. Are you still posting things day by day with no real schedule you? If so, you are missing out on saving your valuable time!
Social media is one of the easiest things to automate in your business to save you time. One of my favorite tools for social media scheduling is Smarter Queue. Smarter Queue is a social media scheduler, that will save you a ton of time. It allows you to batch and auto-schedule your social media posts.
I love it because it has an evergreen option that will recycle your content so that you don’t have to keep adding new content in, it’s super easy to use, and it has a pretty affordable solo plan. I use Smarter Queue for to schedule social media for both SBS and also my clients.
Here’s what I like to do: Plan out all my posts for the week in one day (Sunday or Monday are great days for this!) Then I spend about 1-hour loading everything in Smarter Queue. That’s it now I don’t have to worry about social media anymore that week, I simply pop into my social networks to engage but all the hard work is done. Simple & easy!
5. Thrive Architect
If you are building an online presence, you most likely are also building an email list (or you should be!). I love Thrive Architect because it makes lead generation on your website super easy.
You’ve probably heard of Lead Pages or ClickFunnels… Thrive Architect is extremely similar except it’s easier to use, more customizable and it’s way way more affordable.
I love it because you can create inline opt-in forms (like the one at the end of this article), pop-ups and even info bars! The editor is very easy to use because it’s drag and drop, plus it comes with a tone of pre-designed templates.
So tell me, what are some of your favorite tools & systems that you use in your business?