When it comes to automation, the whole point is to make things as simple as possible when running your business. To accomplish this, there are many resources available to streamline communication and task management. If you are unsure where to begin, this list can provide a great start. Without further ado, here are 10 ways to boost your business efficiency with automation.
1. Social Media
Channeling the internet’s biggest social networks can be a smart business move, but it can also be time-consuming. For this reason, social media posts are one of the top things you should automate at your company. To do this, you can use a content management system or a monthly scheduler to write posts in batches that the system can disperse in the future.
2. Blogging
Why limit scheduling to social media? If you regularly share content with customers via a blog, consider using a CMS like WordPress which will allow you to schedule posts for a later date.
3. Customer Support
Another great place to automate your business operations is in your customer support department. How many calls do you receive per day? If you have ever thought about hiring a receptionist or two to answer the phones, consider a different option: Hire a virtual one! You can do this by purchasing answering service software that will allow you to save both time and money. In addition, you can have unlimited availability with this kind of solution.
4. Emails
Ah, email. Who does not love opening their morning inbox to see a flood of unread messages? If you need a more efficient way to respond to emailed inquiries, you can configure “canned responses” with Gmail that will allow you to send standard replies for frequently asked questions. In addition, you can foster customer relationships by incorporating automated celebratory emails into your marketing strategy. As with social media and blogging, you can schedule these sorts of emails far in advance.
5. Invoice Reminders
If you have a client who has not paid for services yet, automating invoice reminders can be another way to tackle your to-do list. Look for services that will automatically send email reminders. Since computers do not get impatient, this can be a particularly wise move.
6. Payroll
Human resources is never an easy job, but one way to make things easier in this department is by investing in an app that can take care of payroll for you. Your HR employees will thank you for the lifted weight.
7. Paying Bills
Many people automate their personal bills, so why not do the same thing for your business? Instead of taking the time to gather the billing notice and payment details every month, simply turn on automatic withdrawals from an applicable company bank account. This can also save you money on checks.
8. Calendars
How do employees know when you are available? While you may not think this is a form of automation, consider how “automatic” coordinating schedules can be when people know when they can or cannot meet with you. When the alternative is tracking you down to ask, this is one simple way to potentially save significant time and effort.
9. Email Signatures
This may be another thing you do not think about, but how long does it take you to write out an email closing? In addition, are you providing customers with the critical information they need to know such as your phone number? An easy way to avoid spending time signing each email while also remembering to include necessary details is by setting up automatic signatures. If you have more than one role in your company, you can further customize signatures by creating different ones for different kinds of communication.
10. E-Commerce Reminders
Have you ever started to do some online shopping, but then something distracted you and caused you to walk away from your computer? This can happen to your customers, too! To make sure you do not lose out on a potential sale, it is a smart idea is to find a software that can send clients nudges after they have abandoned their carts.
Running a business is never easy, but you do not need to make it more complicated than it needs to be. By embracing automated tools like the ones on this list, you can save time and money while enjoying more productivity at work.
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