6 Business Processes To Put On Autopilot Today
Gear up for a new year full of white space by putting these six business processes on autopilot right now.1. Social media updatesSit down at the end of each month and create thirty status updates for the next month (one per day).Set up a Hootsuite account, hook it up with your Facebook and Twitter and schedule your updates.Make this process even easier by using Timely, a free web application that puts your Twitter and Facebook updates in a queue and automatically sends them out based on the most effective time of day. Get your VA to set up and monitor the account for you.2. AppointmentsMany service-based business owners invite their visitors to set up a complimentary call with them by email.How about letting them book a time in your calendar? Makes it look like you’re in demand (which you very likely are) and saves you and them the whole ‘I’m free on Wed 3pm and Fri 11am. You?’ dance.Check out Tungle (free) and Timetrade (around $49 per year), both of which hook up with your Google Calendar.Take it up one notch and use Setster if you want to collect payment for consulting services automatically after a client made the booking (Setster links up with Google Calendar and PayPal). Plus, Setster gives you a great looking button saying ‘Appointment’ that hovers on the left or right of your website. Scheduling at its best.3. ContractsDo you require your clients to sign a contract?Create a template PDF with space for your new client to fill in (e.g. their name, business address, email). Then set up a free account with Echosign where you upload your template contract and create a widget that can be put on a hidden page on your website. Send the link to your new customer and get them to fill in the blanks and sign the document.Once the contract is signed, a PDF is emailed to you and your customer to keep. Contract done.4. EmailsReclaim your inbox in two easy steps:TemplatesSet up email templates that you keep in a folder in your email program. Copy and paste the template into a new email and amend person-specific details. Send.If you use Gmail, their nifty Canned Responses do the work for you.FAQsCompile the questions customers ask most about your products and services and create a FAQ section on your website. Head off your customer's questions at the pass by putting your FAQ’s front and center on your Contact page. Bonus points for adding a link to your FAQ page in your email template. ;) 5. Customer ServiceDo you emails with questions about your products or services that are too specific to be answered by your FAQ section?Set up an account with Zendesk (starts at $9 per month) and have your VA answer those questions for you.Should a question require your attention, have your VA forward it to your for your response.6. PaymentsStart taking payments online instead of manually invoicing each individual client.Simply outline your prices and offerings on your website (on a hidden page, if you prefer) and include a PayPal button. No need to waste time on invoice creation and emailing.Go a step further by hooking up your PayPal account with your email service provider. Upon payment completion, clients will automatically be added to your email list.Then, set up an email autoresponder that's sent to welcome your new client. Professional and time saving!
What are you putting on autopilot in 2012? Share it with us in the comments below!
About the author:Kat Csengo is the former CEO and Chief Virtual Assistant at PaperclipFox.com, a virtual assistant company specializing in online marketing. Kat supports her clients in launching new websites, products and services and assists them in running the daily management of their successful online businesses.{Top Image Credit}