You’re a small business entrepreneur, and that means you’re not afraid of a little hard work. You started your own business, worked hard, and got it to the point where it is today. But even you realize that there is only so much you can do in a day. Sometimes it makes sense to not just work harder, but to work smarter, too. Here are four tips that will help you boost your entrepreneurial efficiency, so you can take your small business to the next level of success:
1. Deliver value to your customers: If you’re going to work hard anyway, make sure you’re doing it in a way that provides an outrageous value for your customers. Make sure they know exactly what you do to help them, and ask them to tell others about it. They won’t want to lose what they’ve got with you, even if your competition comes in with a lower price.
2. Be an efficiency expert: Step back and take a look at everything you do during the course of the day, and then think about whether there are better ways to do it. Do you start on a project, get interrupted by a phone call, stop to check your e-mails, and then realize it’s the end of the day and your project is still not completed? Make a schedule and stick to it. Those phone calls and e-mails can wait. Don’t say you will check your Facebook page for just a minute; leave that for your personal time only. If there are tasks that take too long because they are not your forte, then hire an assistant or a freelancer to take them over for you. Concentrate only on what you do best, and organize your time to do it.
3. Plan ahead: Stop just reacting to what goes on around you, and start preparing for it. You know the cycles of your business, so get out a calendar and start doing some planning. Think about what you need to order, how you need to market, and whether you will need any outside help. Have an editorial calendar ready so you can execute an effective marketing plan. Anticipate what your customers are going to need, and make sure they know you are the best one to provide it.
4. Learn from the best: Of course you are smart – that’s why you started your own business. But it’s not embarrassing to admit that there are still things you don’t know. Other people have different talents than you do, so take advantage of them. Build your network, read informative blogs and books, and find yourself a good mentor.
Finally, here is a bonus tip for you: START NOW! Don’t just read this post and think these are good ideas that you should implement someday. Figure out what you need to do to get started on improving your efficiency right now. See, you’re already more organized, aren’t you?