So hopefully I’ve convinced you that systems are necessary if you want to take your business to the next level.
But where should you start? What areas of your business are best to look at? You could have systems and processes for everything, from how to set the alarm in the office to how to send emails to your customers.
So here are some key systems you should begin with which will make the most impact on the day-to-day running of your business.
Start with your accounts. And I don’t mean necessarily mean shelling out for systems which can cost hundreds of pounds, but you can start with getting a cash flow document and balance sheet up and running. This can be done easily by yourself, or even consider taking on a bookkeeper or accountant, and through them, you may be able to get access to their systems. Having your accounts in order will enable you to be able to make informed decisions in your business, whether you can afford purchases, what money you need to bring in to hit your financial goals etc. So this really should be the first thing you get in place, so that you can easily track what’s going in and out.
Next, get a handbook underway. This will be used by any employee, freelancer, or other supplier who will get involved in the day-to-day running of your business. It will list all the policies and procedures which form part of your business, from how to book holiday, confidentiality agreements, dress code, fire safety procedure etc. This will make it easier for you to bring people on board, and get them integrated with your organisation as quickly as possible. Ensure you set yourself a reminder to update them regularly, this really should be the bible you run your business with.
Get a system into place to manage your customer database.
Your existing customers and prospects are worth a lot of money to your business, so you need to ensure you are keeping in regular contact with them. To do that, you need to automate this system. There are plenty of email marketing tools, such as Mailchimp or Infusionsoft which are available at relatively low cost, which can help you keep in contact with your database, manage subscriptions, as well as collect information about which emails and communications are working best for you. These systems can also help to collect information about your customers, so you can even segment the list in many different ways helping to keep any communications as relevant as possible. This will help to convert prospects into customers, and keep customers coming back to buy more from you.
Then consider getting a project management system in place. This will help all working with you, both within your organisation or outside up to date with what’s going on. Each person can upload documents, update the status to reflect any changes, and report progress. This is vital to ensure that nothing gets forgotten and you can easily pick up a task if someone is off sick, etc. This helps to ensure you are all working together in conjunction with each other, even if you aren’t in the same office. You can assign tasks to people, and all are updated in real time, so that you can all work from one document, for example. Vital to ensure cohesion within your organisation.
So you can see how important these systems are. If you start with those above, then you will easily see how your business will operate more efficiently, it will feel more streamlined, and you don’t need to worry that things are being forgotten. You can rest assured that all is being done as it should, allowing you to take a step back, look at the overall picture, and work out where the gaps are.
And if you need help to get your business working as you should, then ensure you book a free call with me, and I can help get you on the right path.
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