You have swapped from working for someone else on a 9-5, five days a week schedule. Now you find yourself working from 6am-10pm with minimal breaks. Being an entrepreneur isn’t glamorous; you’re tired, and you’ve got more projects than hours in the day. It’s both a blessing and a curse to be so busy in your business, especially when you have to schedule the time to sleep and eat.
But you can take a few easy steps to kicking your business into shape, and claiming more hours back for yourself. Streamline isn’t just a buzz word; it’s a must do. Below are 3 essential streamlining software tools every entrepreneur should be familiar with.
Management Tools
While working away on your computer along with your team, you may want to start considering how you can make your processes easier using technology. More than likely, you have client and project information, documents, records, assets… and so much more you’re tracking. By implementing a tool called enterprise content management tools, you could revolutionize how you are managing all your data.
Content management systems allow you to store and centralize your files and data, freeing up time for other tasks. While you’re improving your use of technology, you may also want to consider outsourcing your payroll. Entrepreneurs spend up to a third of their time on managing HR issues and fixing tax problems. Another consideration could be to hire a virtual assistant to take on a chunk of your administrative tasks.
Time Management Tools
Stick to your schedule, but schedule smarter. If you have a few people working with or for you, it can be challenging to make sure they are all utilizing their time efficiently. This is where taking it online to a shared calendar is incredibly useful. Making this change allows you to see where people are without having to call or text them. Here is a list of possible software you can use to help you keep track of the hours that have been worked by your staff.
In addition, try to decrease the time used for staff meetings. If you are forced to condense your conversation topics into less time, you are also forced to be more productive with the time you have allocated.
Customer Relations Management (CRM)
Feedback is the backbone of a great business and to get that you might need to get a little hands on. If you have a supply chain, products in stores, or an online business, are you getting the feedback you need?
It is always better to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to business. Now is the time to get productive. Write a list of questions that you would ask a consumer about your product.
“You don’t build your brand by yourself anymore; your customers are equally involved,” says Michael LeBeau, CEO of Byte Interactive. So whether it is comment cards, you place in stores or implementing a web-based survey make sure you see the information first hand. Investing in a good CRM systems makes tracking customer inquiries and problems that much easier.
The idea isn’t to do all of these at one time. Instead, look at what is going to help you in the long term. Don’t stretch your finances, but search for smart time-saving investments. Make sure you’ve surrounded yourself with supportive people and enjoy your business.
Be sure to hop into the Savvy Entrepreneur Private Facebook Community to collaborate, learn and grow with your fellow entrepreneurs and business owners.
Similar Posts by Savvy Entrepreneur:
10 Income Reports by Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs
https://savvyentrepreneur.co/10-income-reports-by-entrepreneurs-for-entrepreneurs/
Get More Customers Using Your Website, Email Marketing and Social Media
https://savvyentrepreneur.co/get-more-customers-using-website-email-marketing-social-media/
Mastermind Groups for Entrepreneurs Foster Accountability
https://savvyentrepreneur.co/mastermind-groups-for-entrepreneurs-foster-accountability/
