Automate Your Business in 5 Steps

Are you tired of spending endless hours on repetitive tasks that eat away at your time and energy?

Well, what if I told you there’s a game-changing solution that can revolutionize your business operations, even if you’re not tech-savvy?

Automation is no longer a luxury reserved for big businesses. It’s time to level the playing field and discover the transformative power of automation for your small business!

Imagine reclaiming those precious hours, streamlining your processes, and watching your profits soar. With just a few simple steps, you can automate your business, saving time, reducing errors, and boosting productivity.

I’m Torie Mathis, Marketing Agency CEO, digital marketing coach at the Smart Arsenal, and recovering time-waster, and in this video, I’ll walk you through five easy steps that will make a huge impact on your business, all without breaking the bank or needing crazy tech skills.

I’ve helped thousands of small business owners like you unlock the potential of automation, and I promise, it’s easier than you think. Let’s get started.

Automate Your Business – Step 1

Alright, folks, let’s kick things off with Step 1: Identifying those pesky repetitive tasks that are sucking away your precious time and energy. Trust me, we’ve all been there, another work day drowning in the same tasks day in and day out.

I remember the days I used to take a full workday to do my monthly invoicing by hand. I’m sure you have some of these tasks, too, that you’re manually doing.

It feels like you’re drowning in a sea of paperwork, overwhelmed by data entry, buried in a never-ending flood of appointment scheduling, or feeling like a social media posting machine. Sound familiar? Well, my friend, it’s time to break free from the shackles of repetitive tasks.

Data entry, invoicing, appointment scheduling, and social media posting – these are just a few examples of the repetitive tasks that can be automated. And trust me, when I say automation is the key that will liberate you and your precious time.

By automating these tasks, you’re essentially waving a digital wand that frees up your valuable time and energy. You’ll have more room to focus on what truly matters – growing your business, nurturing relationships, and, dare I say it, taking some well-deserved family time!

Here’s your Step 1 action step: Grab a pen and paper or open up a new document on your computer.

Take a moment to jot down all those repetitive tasks that have been driving you up the wall. Don’t hold back – let it all out!

Once you have your list in hand, you’re ready to move on to Step 2, where we’ll explore the marvelous world of automation tools. Trust me, this is where the real magic happens! So, stay tuned, and let’s automate our way to freedom!

Automate Your Business – Step 2

Now that we’ve identified those repetitive tasks that have been sucking up your time, let’s move on to Step 2: Evaluating automation tools. Trust me, these tools are not only accessible but also budget-friendly, even for us small business folks!

Let me introduce you to a few popular automation tools that require no coding knowledge whatsoever. We’ve got Zapier, IFTTT, and Integromat. These tools are like your helpful digital assistants, ready to automate tasks and simplify your workflow. And best of all, each have free plans that pack quite the productivity punch. Let’s take a closer look at what they can do!

Zapier

Zapier is a powerful tool that connects various apps together. It allows you to automate tasks such as creating new contacts in your CRM system whenever you receive an email inquiry, saving you the hassle of manual data entry. For example, I use this for all my Facebook Ad clients, to get leads from Facebook into their Email Service Provider. Imagine if I had to do all of these tasks by hand for each client!

IFTTT

Next is IFTTT, short for ‘If This, Then That,’ it lets you create custom automation sequences based on specific triggers. For instance, you can set it up to automatically save email attachments to cloud storage or send you a notification when a new order is placed on your e-commerce platform. Super time saver!

Integromat

Integromat is another fantastic tool that enables you to create more complex workflows by connecting apps and services. It goes beyond simple automation and allows you to automatically update spreadsheets, send custom messages, or even generate PDF invoices.

But wait, there’s more! Remember those everyday software you’re already using? They often come with automation features too! Let’s take Gmail, for instance. You can set up filters and labels to automatically categorize incoming emails, or create email templates for common responses, saving you time and keeping your inbox organized.

Quickbooks

QuickBooks, the trusty accounting software, also has automation capabilities. You can schedule recurring invoices to be sent automatically, track expenses by syncing with your bank accounts, and generate financial reports with just a few clicks.

Most modern software have added these automation tools built right into the software at no extra cost to you, pretty cool huh?

So, here’s your Step 2 action step: Take a moment to explore the automation features within the software you’re already using. Dive into the settings, navigate through the menus, and unleash the power of automation that’s been hiding in plain sight. You might be surprised by what you find!

Also, take a look at one of the free automation tools I mentioned and see how you can use their free version to free up a little time.

Remember those invoices I was manually sending out every single month? Automating those saved me a full day each month – that’s almost 100 hours a year, with one simple automation through my invoicing software.

Automate Your Business – Step 3

With these automation tools and built-in features, you’re equipped to conquer the world of automation, my friends. In Step 3, we’ll dive into the realm of email automation and bid farewell to mundane replies.

Let me ask you a question. What if, instead of spending countless hours crafting individual email replies or struggling to keep up with customer inquiries, you could set up email automation to do the heavy lifting for you? It would be like having a personal assistant who never takes a coffee break!

Email automation offers a multitude of benefits, my friends. You can set up automated email sequences that guide your customers through the buyer’s journey, nurturing relationships and boosting engagement. It’s like having your very own digital tour guide, showing your customers the way from introduction to sale!

And there’s more! Automated replies are here to save the day. Set up canned responses or templates for common inquiries, and watch those replies fly out faster than a superhero in a cape. Your customers will think you’ve mastered the art of teleportation!

And let’s not forget about the magic of personalized campaigns. With email automation, you can create targeted and tailored messages that speak directly to your customers’ needs and interests.

Oh, and here’s an email automation hack that will leave you amazed – getting more reviews on autopilot! You can set up automated review request emails, making it effortless for satisfied customers to spread the word about your incredible products or services.

Now, for your Step 3 action step: I recommend exploring beginner-friendly email marketing platforms like Constant Contact, ConvertKit, or Drip. These tools provide user-friendly interfaces and offer a range of automation features to make your email game truly magical.

Also, look into your current email inbox, and see what automation you can add to save time…like filtering messages, automated responses, or setting up a few canned responses for messages you send out often.

With email automation on your side, you’ll be soaring to new heights of customer engagement and productivity. But don’t fly away just yet – Step 4 awaits us, where we’ll uncover the secret weapons of social media automation.

Automate Your Business – Step 4

Let’s face it, fellow solopreneurs and small business warriors – managing appointments can be a wild ride. Juggling phone calls, emails, and endless back-and-forth to find a suitable time can make your head spin faster than a rollercoaster. But fear not, for automation is here to save the day!

Allow me to introduce you to your trusty sidekicks: online scheduling tools like Calendly (which has a free version) or Acuity Scheduling. These tools seamlessly sync with your calendar, making it a breeze for clients to schedule appointments without the need for endless coordination dances. It’s like having a personal assistant with an impeccable sense of timing!

And, there’s more! Automated reminders and confirmations are about to become your secret weapons. No more frantic last-minute calls or forgotten appointments. These tools can send gentle reminders to your clients, ensuring everyone shows up on time and ready to do business.

Here is when everything changes. Just imagine the time you’ll save, my friends. No more playing phone tag or endless email chains. You can focus on what you do best, while your automated scheduling system takes care of the logistics.

Now, for your Step 4 action step, explore online scheduling tools like Calendly or Acuity Scheduling. These user-friendly platforms will revolutionize the way you manage appointments. Set up your availability, customize your preferences, and watch the magic unfold!

With streamlined appointment and booking processes, you’ll feel like a true scheduling superhero. But hold on tight, because step 5 we’re going to revolutionize your social media game and unleash the power of social media scheduling.

Automate Your Business – Step 5

In today’s digital world, maintaining a consistent social media presence is key. But let’s face it, manually posting on multiple platforms can be as challenging as herding cats. Luckily, automation has a solution, and it comes in the form of social media scheduling tools!

Meet your social media sidekicks: Meet Edgar, Buffer, and Later. These powerful tools allow you to plan and schedule your posts in advance, saving you time and ensuring your content reaches the right audience at the right time. It’s like having a team of social media wizards working behind the scenes!

And let’s not forget the secret sauce – analytics! These scheduling tools come with built-in analytics features that allow you to track the performance of your posts. You can measure engagement, reach, and other metrics that provide valuable insights to refine your social media strategy. It’s like having your own personal data scientist!

Now, for your Step 5 action step: Take a leap into the world of social media scheduling by exploring tools like Meet Edgar, Buffer, or Later. These user-friendly platforms will empower you to automate your posts, save time, and level up your social media game!

With the power of social media scheduling in your hands, you’ll conquer the digital landscape with ease. Your content will shine, your audience will grow, and your social media strategy will reach new heights.

Congratulations, my fellow automation heroes!

We’ve covered a lot of ground. In Step 1, we identified those repetitive tasks that were sucking up your time faster than a black hole. We discovered that even small businesses can automate and reclaim their precious hours. No more playing hide-and-seek with automation!

Step 2 introduced us to the wonderful world of automation tools. We explored the likes of Zapier, IFTTT, and Integromat, and realized that you don’t need to be a tech wizard to make magic happen. We even talked about hidden automation in the tools you’re already using and you could save hundreds of hours. Wave your wands, my friends, because automation is now within your grasp!

Moving on to Step 3, we unlocked the power of email automation. We waved goodbye to manual replies and welcomed the art of personalized customer engagement. With tools like Constant Contact, ConvertKit, or Drip, you’ll charm your customers and leave them spellbound!

Step 4 took us on a wild ride through streamlined appointment and booking processes. We hopped on the online scheduling train with tools like Calendly and Acuity Scheduling, bidding farewell to the chaos of coordination. Sit back, relax, and let automation handle the scheduling circus!

And finally, in Step 5, we conquered the realm of social media with scheduling prowess. Meet Edgar, Buffer, and Later became our trusty sidekicks, allowing us to plan, schedule, and analyze our social media campaigns.

Automation can be your Smart Marketing super tool.  Take it one step at a time, experiment, learn, and grow. Soon enough, you’ll be basking in the glory of streamlined processes, saved time, and increased profitability. You’ve got this!

And remember my friends, you don’t need crazy tech skills, buckets of cash, or a dedicated staff to market and grow your business. In fact, you don’t even need a lot of time. What you need is to be SMART, and automation is definitely SMART for your small business!

But don’t just take my word for it. Let’s put your business to the test and discover the SMART marketing strategies that will elevate your business to new heights. It’s time to take my Smart Marketing quiz!

This quiz is a quick and easy way to assess your current marketing efforts and receive actionable steps tailored specifically to your business. In less than five minutes, you’ll uncover the secrets to your marketing success.