Smart Services That Save Your Sanity

As business owners, we face struggles each day. These include too little time, too few customers, and uncertainties when it’s time to create marketing materials that show us at our very best. Never fear, the digital age is here. Today, more than ever, you have options for services that let you streamline without sacrificing your bottom line. Keep reading today’s SocialPhoto blog for insight.

Problem #1: Not Enough Time

Although you likely work at least 50 hours each week, which Patriot Software says of around 33% of small business owners, there’s still probably not enough time to get everything done at the close of each day. There are many ways that you can free up minutes each day, and these minutes can add up to a better work/life balance. Just a few tips here include:

• Establish an LLC early on. A limited liability company reduces the burden of liability on you but it also requires very little paperwork to maintain. Using online formation service and save when compared to outsourcing this to an attorney.

• Hire a virtual assistant. A virtual assistant can instantly give you hours back every day by answering calls, scheduling travel, and even handling your social media.

Problem #2: Too Few Online Customers

The world has gone digital, and if you aren’t currently catering to the online marketplace, there’s a good chance that you’ll fall behind. A few great ways to establish your e-commerce identity include:

• Utilize an e-commerce platform. To start selling online and enjoy huge time savings, invest in an e-commerce platform that lets you quickly put together a website and publish it to your audience. The right platform will help you personalize each user's experience while helping you keep up with your inventory and analytics. Secure payment processing and flexibility should be on your short list of features.

• Create your brand. Your brand is more than just your logo and slogan. Instead, it is a comprehensive plan of how you present yourself to your customers both online and in person. Brand Folder explains that there are several steps involved in creating a brand strategy, and it begins by clarifying what, exactly, your brand is and defining your target audience. If you’re just getting started, hire a graphic designer to create a logo, business cards, and other branding visuals, and ensure they are consistent across all platforms.

Problem #3: Inexperience With Marketing

Once you have started saving time and you’re ready to begin marketing your brand, it’s time to find a professional service to help here too. A few of these include:

• Photography. You are just as much a part of your brand as your logo and typeface. Make sure that you have a corporate headshot that helps your customers see who you are, which can build an emotional connection with you.

• Social media marketing. Social media marketing is not going away anytime soon. This is today’s public town square where people can sit back and talk about you and your products and services from the comfort of home. Social media marketing services can cost anywhere from $500 per month and up, that give you the expertise of someone that knows how to read the analytics and frees up your time so that you can focus on filling orders.

Streamlining your operations means putting some faith in others and in digital apps and services that allow you to focus on the things that need you the most. Today’s tips, which range from hiring freelancers to utilizing an e-commerce platform to forming an LLC so you have less paperwork, give you back valuable time so that you can give yourself back to your customers.