Want more time in your day? Try these 5 foolproof digital tips for small business success

All too often, small business owners are left feeling burnt out and stretched thin by their multitude of tasks. The best way to get a little relief from the always-on pressure that comes from running a business is to set up simple and efficient processes for your day-to-day operations.

Here’s five simple things to help streamline your work:

1. Schedule social media posts in advance

Social media posting is often something which hectic business owners either neglect entirely, or try to do regularly but get frustrated as it sucks up a lot of time. By scheduling all your social media posts a week ahead of time, you can minimise disruptions to your workflow on a daily basis. Scheduling all your social media posts across multiple platforms for the entire week can be done quickly and easily using tools such as Hootsuite.

2. Crowdsource tech advice

Being a small business owner can feel overwhelming especially if you don’t have other business owners you can turn to for advice. Facebook has thousands of networking and support groups for business owners and entrepreneurs across multiple niches. Most of the groups have thousands of members, and some of them will probably have already dealt with the exact same situation you need advice on – even better, these groups often include business owners who are experts in accounting and web development. Some popular Facebook business groups are: Business, Business, Business, Australian Small Business Network, and Australian Business Mums.

3. Invest in streamlined phone and internet systems

Every successful business, regardless of size, depends on effective communication. Streamlining your communication systems by introducing enterprise-grade office phone and internet solutions is an easy way to increase functionality. BusinessCom’s range of office phone and internet solutions will improve the day-to-day work flow in your business.

4. Set up alerts that notify you of customer behaviour

One of the best ways to convert leads into customers is to gain better insights into their behaviour. Most top CRM software and apps have an alert feature that lets you track behaviours you are interested in, for example, when a lead lands on your site, if they request a trial, watch an online video on your site or download a whitepaper. You can also use further automation techniques like pop-ups that offer leads an incentive to sign up to your email list, apps that respond to messages when you are offline, or automated emails that are sent out to re-engage with inactive leads. Most of this information can be tracked and analysed through software like HubSpot or PipeDrive.

5. Hire freelancers to help lighten the load

Do you need someone to design a website banner or a flyer for an advertising campaign? Sites like Fiverr allow you to hire freelancers to achieve simple design jobs. Rates can be as little as $5 or $10; always check the quality of work done by any freelancer you are interested in working with and check their reviews. You can also ask to see samples of their work before hiring them and make sure you ask for the quote that includes up to three revisions if needed.

This article is brought to you by Flying Solo in partnership with BusinessCo.