Dusters at the ready, it’s time to give your small business a spring clean!
Not literally, of course (unless you really want to) but metaphorically, now is a great time to time to reflect on the first quarter of the year and tidy things up a bit as we head into a new season. Whether it be making changes to your processes, implementing new strategies or simply getting on top of something you’ve been putting off, it really will make a huge difference to your small business going forwards.
If you fancy a bit of a business spring clean but aren’t sure where to start, give this a go…
Simple Tasks for a Business Spring Clean
Declutter your Admin Processes
Admin collects dust. No matter how much time you dedicate to it or how quickly you manage to get through your to-do list, there’s always more being added to the pile. Particularly if you’re running your small business solo or with a small team, it probably feels like there genuinely aren’t enough hours in the day to complete all your admin tasks on time and to a high standard.
If that’s the case for you, it could mean that your admin processes are in need of a little decluttering.
Take your inbox management for example. If you’re constantly bombarded with emails and find yourself pushed for time when it comes to dealing with them, try implementing a folder system to make certain emails easier to find and action.
Or, if you have repetitive processes that need completing and take up a fair chunk of time, look into automation tools or consider outsourcing to remove these tasks from your to-do list.
The key to a business spring clean is that not of the changes you make have to be huge. You’re simply making small tweaks to your existing processes to make things slightly easier for you and your business going forwards.
Organise your Credit Control
Q1 is on its way out, which means its time to get organised with your credit control. The beginning of the year is always a little backlogged when it comes to invoicing and payments, so now is your chance to step it up a notch and get some solid credit control processes in place.
If you don’t currently dedicate time weekly to making chaser phone calls or reducing aged debt, it really is an excellent task to add to your to-do list. While it may take you a little extra time per week to get things done, doing these tasks on a regular basis means you avoid the dreaded build up of late payments and aged debt.
Your financial stability as a business is paramount and integral to its success. If your credit control processes are looking a little shabby and you’re worried about falling behind, put small changes in place now to get things organised. Or, if you feel you may not have time to do this yourself, consider delegating this task to a virtual assistant who specialises in credit control. You’ll get all the benefits of the above, just without having to take on the extra work yourself.
Tidy Up your Marketing Strategy
Now is a great time to tidy up your marketing strategy. We’re well past the Christmas and New Year content (always great as a content calendar filler!) which means you need to start thinking about how your marketing is going to work for you throughout the rest of the year.
Take some time over the next few weeks to have a look through your existing content and give it a bit of an analysis. What has worked well for you so far? What is your audience responding to? What isn’t working so well? Taking this information into account, jot down some ideas for content over the next few months.
If you’re feeling extra organised, you can even pop it all into a content calendar so you don’t find yourself scrambling at the last minute when you realise you need to upload a blog to your website or post something engaging on social media.
It’s also a good idea to get some content sorted in advance. For example, dedicating an hour a week to creating some form of content can make a massive difference to your business. It takes the pressure off and eliminates last-minute panic while also ensuring you’re consistently providing your audience with relevant, engaging content to consume.
If your marketing strategy hasn’t been at the top of your priorities list so far this year, pop it up there now so your business can benefit from it.
Spruce up your Tools and Technology
Are you utilising the latest tools and technology to help speed up processes and keep things streamlined? If not, this is your sign to do just that!
Implementing new tools and technologies is a super quick and effective way to give your business a spring clean. For example, if you’re spending hours per week posting on social media, invest in a tool that allows you to schedule your posts in advance. If you’re struggling to come up with content ideas, utilise AI. If you’re finding credit control complicated, invest in systems like Sage to automate invoicing.
There are plenty of tools out there designed to make life easier for small businesses, it’s up to you to invest in them and reap the rewards.
A Business Spring Clean with The Edwards Company
Giving your business a spring clean not only improves your processes in the here and now, but it also works to benefit your business throughout the rest of the year and beyond.
If your business could do with a spruce up but you’re struggling to find the time to do it yourself, we can help. We provide Virtual Assistant services in admin, credit control and content creation to ensure businesses like yours see the success they deserve.
Please get in touch with our fab team for more information.