Running a small online business can be both rewarding and challenging. Organise your business to avoid the latter.
It’s exciting to watch your business grow, but it can be difficult to manage all the tasks that come with it. As an online business owner, you’re responsible for managing your website, online marketing, customer service, and order fulfilment. It’s crucial you organise your business to keep on top of things. Here are some tips to help you get there.
Create a Work Schedule
Creating a work schedule is one of the first steps in getting your small online business sorted. A work schedule will help you manage your time and ensure that you’re using it effectively. Start by making a list of all the tasks you need to do each day. Then, set specific times for each task. For example, you could set aside an hour in the morning for responding to customer emails and another hour in the afternoon for updating your website.
When creating your schedule, make sure to prioritise the most important tasks. This will ensure that you’re using your time wisely and that you’re not getting bogged down by less important tasks.
Keep Track of Your Finances
Managing your finances is essential to organise your business, and for its success. Keeping track of your income and expenses will help you make informed decisions and ensure that you’re staying within your budget and maximising your chances of being profitable.
Consider using an accounting tool like MYOB Essentials or Xero to manage your finances – which you can integrate with your Little Big Shop. These tools allow you to manage things in one place, reducing stress and confusion. For example, you can keep track of your income and expenses, create invoices, and generate reports, and integrate with other tools, like your bank account and payment processor.
Learn our top tips to sticking to a budget, here.
Use a Project Management Tool
If your team is on the larger side, a project management tool can be a great way to organise your business. Tools like Trello and Asana allow you to create tasks, assign due dates, and keep track of progress. They also allow you to collaborate with others, which is essential if you have a team of employees or contractors.
When using a project management tool, make sure to break down larger tasks into smaller ones. This will make it easier to manage and ensure that you’re making progress towards your goals.
Automate Your Marketing
Marketing your online business is essential, but it can also be time-consuming. Consider automating some of your marketing tasks to save time and stay organised.
For example, you could set up email automation campaigns to welcome new customers, promote sales, or ask for feedback. You could also schedule social media posts in advance using tools like Hootsuite or Buffer, or even Meta Business Suite.
Discover our tips on social media marketing, and how our platform can help with your online store marketing.
Running a small online business requires a lot of hard work and dedication. If you organise your business, there’s a higher chance that it will run smoothly and efficiently. By creating a work schedule, using a project management tool, keeping track of your finances, automating your marketing, using e-commerce software, and outsourcing tasks, you can stay on top of everything and focus on growing your business.
