What can you stop doing in your business? There's always too much to do, and if you're smart and ambitious, you're always on the look-out for new marketing tactics that will bring big results.
But you can't possibly use anything new if you're overbooked, overworked, and out of time.
Part of thriving in business has to do with keeping more of the money you make. How can you make your business more profitable?
The best tools and tactics can't make you more profitable if you don't have time to learn and use them.
You've probably already got too much to do. So what can you stop doing? How can you free up time to do what matters and focus on the things that count, that bring in results?
- Take a look at your income: what brings in the best revenues? What are the sources of those client leads? How can you improve either the number of leads, or the conversion rates of leads to clients? How can you create more of those products or services that earn the most?
- Take a look at your clients. Which ones could use other services or products? It's a well-known fact: it's easier to sell to someone who already knows, like, and trusts you. Think about including some upsell offers in your autoresponder messages.
- Take a look at your work load and schedule. Which projects take up the most amount of time, yet bring in relatively small revenues? Which project takes little time, yet brings in good money? Do more of the latter, and cut down the time and energy on the former.
- What can you delegate or outsource? Free up your time to do projects that produce income. Outsource tasks that won't cost a lot in freelance fees. Use low-cost yet dependable VA's such as those found in India. If you don't have someone you can count on, use a reputable VA; it's worth the higher fees to get a job done right the first time. (See MyFastype.com)
- What should you learn to do because it's simple, fast, and would save a lot in fees? Some software has become so easy, it's worth your time to learn them. For example, I recently spent money learning a system for teleconferencing bridge lines and AudioAcrobat, and now I won't have to rely on someone else. The same goes for my KickStartCart: once you learn to use it, you can save a ton in fees by running it yourself. (Caution: first time users beware: it's worth hiring a great VA service like Terry Green's MyFastype.com if you are unfamiliar with these programs.)
- Stop wasting time with social sites like Twitter and Facebook. I'm not saying social media is a waste of time, far from it. I'm just saying learn to use it wisely, for business, use feeds, aggregate the people you need to stay in touch with. Be smart, not just social. Limit your time.
I have a feeling that some of you spend too much time tweeting, emailing, telephoning, and not enough time posting quality blogs posts or creating cornerstone content.
And some of you are spending a lot of time preparing, learning, studying, taking teleseminars, listening to podcasts, getting ready for business.
You already know enough. You have expertise in your field. Hone in on creating products and services people can buy. Then communicate your core message to those people who have the problems you can solve.
Attract. Let people know you, like you, learn to trust you on your blog. Offer generous free content for download. Build up a list of interested people. Stay in touch with them.
Sell to them. Always overdeliver. Make your products and services small-medium-large. Be impeccable.
Profit. Keep on doing what's needed for your clients, to solve their problems, to help them.
If something you're doing in your business takes up your time, and it isn't falling into one of these three functions: Attract, Sell, Profit… then stop it. Stop doing it. Use the time for something that counts.
What can you stop doing?
