Many small businesses in America are passion projects. The Huffington Post started as a small website in 2005, growing bamboo-like to reach its multi-million readership today.
Once you launch your company, you want to devote your energies to its creative facets. You will need time to improve your product or service, form meaningful relationships, and strategize promotion.
However, many entrepreneurs get straddled with routine tasks that take too much time. It is not a good position for the current US market, riddled with inflation and low consumer demand. Not devoting adequate time to developing a competitive advantage is bound to affect your business’s profitability.
Small businesses are particularly at risk when time becomes a concern, with many fizzling out in the first few years. In March 2024, the National Federation of Independent Business rated the optimism among small business owners at its lowest since 2012. Suffice it to say that founders need more time and less stress to ideate.
Here are four things you can try to save time without jeopardizing the quality of your offering.
#1 Outsource Repetitive Tasks to Virtual Assistants
You know the kind of activities we mean. Managing payroll, tracking employees’ attendance, and even posting on social media. There’s no avoiding these mundane chores in an organization without dedicated teams for finance or communication. But that shouldn’t mean you do it solo.
Virtual assistants are good for saving precious time without making serious errors. Explore the services of an online bookkeeping or receipt scanning application. Digital assistants can also tackle calls, meetings, and emails.
Likewise, social media scheduling saves time while ensuring your pages stay updated. Project management tools and email automation software can be blessings for growing teams.
Tools like these may have a nominal learning curve, but the time savings in the long run are significant. A good practice is consolidating your apps and assistants wherever possible. It reduces wasted time switching between them.
Talking of digital, you can save considerable time by limiting paperwork. For example, you may opt for online pay stubs you don’t need to hand out to your team or store in the office. You can also get affordable ERP software for HR and accounting tasks.
#2 Let AI Build Your Company Website
As of 2023, 71% of businesses have an official website. Forbes reports that over 40% of small business owners prioritize an effective website since many base purchase decisions on a firm’s online presence.
That said, building an impressive website is a massive drain on limited resources in small businesses. You may not have the finances to hire a full-purpose agency, but doing it in-house is cumbersome.
Fortunately, technological advances in artificial intelligence have made AI-built websites a reality. You can build complete, attractive sites within minutes without web development expertise.
The best thing is that AI-created websites don’t imply a compromise with security. Some providers integrate robust security protocols to ensure a satisfactory experience for your customers. It becomes more crucial if you use builders to set up e-commerce stores.
Using AI to create websites streamlines the process while giving you creative control, notes Hocoos. Templates are generated based on answers to standard questions, making the process quick and uncomplicated. Since the templates are unique, your website can hold its own in a crowded marketplace.
Which Website Aspects Should Small Businesses Prioritize?
As your company grows, it becomes essential to have an engaging, secure, and responsive website. Poor UX, broken images, or errors while making a payment can bring doubt into a potential customer’s mind. You should also check for compatibility on different screens, like mobile phones, and operating systems, like Mac or Linux.
#3 Maximize Your Returns From Networking Events
Attending industry events is vital for your role as a small business owner. These occasions are fabulous opportunities for finding new suppliers, partners, and customers. They are also time-consuming and involve ample resources. For one, there are commute expenses. You also risk losing opportunities for other things you could have accomplished.
While you can’t predict the results of a networking event, choosing them well is in your control. The US hosts many trade shows for diverse sectors. You can find events for everything, from home ownership to entertainment. Look for ones organized by domain leaders where you can meet relevant people.
Post the event, follow up with new contacts to take the relationship forward. You can do this by dropping them a message with a call to action on the next steps. Chances are the connections will come through. You may view your business as modest, but according to USA Today reports, small businesses constitute 99.9% of all firms in the US. It isn’t a mean feat.
Also, don’t forget to schedule your day (and week) to accommodate the event. Overpacking your calendar will make you stressed. You’ll be less likely to be at your best during interactions.
#4 Read Key Business Documents on Paper
Tablets and smartphones are now omnipresent. Business owners can catch up on critical documents wherever they are. Flight layovers, morning coffees, and pre-meeting waiting are peak reading times for many entrepreneurs. But wait – what if good old reading on paper could save you some valuable minutes?
A Science Direct report finds that paper reading may be superior in tasks needing you to think and process deeply. It is also better for comprehension when the material is challenging, but you must complete it by a tight deadline. Rings a bell, eh?
We are not advocating using more paper than necessary, as that will interfere with your business’s sustainability efforts. However, if time is of the essence and you are persevering to make strategic decisions, turning away from the screen can be helpful.
Time is scarce when you’re an entrepreneur, but taking control is a good first step. Finding ways to create time for sustainable growth will further your business goals.
