How Automation Can Help Your Business

Real estate investor and business coach. Owner and CEO of E3 Coaching LLC.

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I remember getting started in my entrepreneurial journey. There was so much to do, and never enough time. As the business grew, I realized that one of the ways to make the most impact and initiate growth in the organization was through automation and delegation. At first, automation can seem daunting and a little scary, but once you see the results, it can be a game changer.

The Benefits Of Automation

Using automation to perform repetitive tasks can be a huge timesaver. The ability to “set and forget” certain aspects of the business give us greater freedom to pursue those areas that need our attention. Think about working on the business rather than in the business.

It can also lead to greater profitability in your company. Save money on labor hours by automating certain tasks such as drip campaigns, follow-up sequences and bill pay. The right automations in your business also contribute to an increase in productivity. When all of your processes and workflows are in place, you can find opportunities for automation that allow team members the freedom to work on the important tasks that need hands-on attention. With this increased productivity, you can ensure your business is always moving forward and nothing is being left behind.

When you set up automated tasks, there is less risk of error, which can save you both time and money. Consider using automation apps for your social media posts to ensure you don’t miss getting content out in a timely manner. You may also want to implement automation in your bookkeeping process by using software that allows charges to be imported with a click of a button, rather than making entries by hand. Automated drip campaigns ensure efficient communication in that the prospects and current customers in your pipelines are being contacted on a regular basis.

Remember the days of stuffing envelopes and hand addressing letters to potential sellers? Mail houses now provide automated versions of both of these tasks. In addition, automated communication can lead to better customer experience, since they are being responded to in a timely manner. Utilizing a good CRM system is a great way to introduce automation into your business. The CRM system can manage your contacts and communications, provide insight into your KPIs, track your marketing and manage your leads. All of these things contribute to the overall efficiency of your organization.

Automation has helped my organization through automated email and text drip sequences for follow-up to ensure that no lead is ever left behind. We also use automation to set and confirm appointments with sellers. In marketing, we use it for our direct mail campaigns and responding to potential sellers on social platforms. In hiring, we use automation to help sort and communicate with potential job candidates.

Getting Started With Automation

If you are considering using automation in your business for the first time, there are a few points to consider. The first is ease of use. Make sure the software or service you are using makes your life easier, not more complicated. The second thing to consider is what’s causing you the biggest pain point right now. Is there an automation out there that can solve a problem in your business? I would also recommend taking a look at where you are in your business. Are you running in 50 different directions with no help or extra time? Consider what automations you can implement to help you get your time back.

There are a several ways you can identify areas of your business to utilize automation. Look for tasks that are repetitive. Look at your manpower availability. Do you have enough people on your team right now to do all of the daily tasks that need to be done?

Automation can help when you’re a small team or an individual running the business. The most important place to look is at your processes. Where are the points of failure? Where are the errors occuring? By identifying those deficiences and replacing them with automation, you can correct and improve those processes leading to greater overall efficiency in the business.

Looking Ahead

Long-term benefits of implementing automation include increased profitability, accountability, productivity and flexibility. It can help you get your time back, reduce errors in your processes and even increase sales and lead generation. These factors contribute to your bottom line and overall health of your organization. Once you are able to identify areas where automation can help, don’t be afraid to use it. In business, it’s often these small adjustments that can really move you forward and lead you to success.

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