How To Organize Your Business in 2022
Here we are! At the start of a brand spanking new year. And what better time to get your SHIT together and organize your business.
If you are reading this blog post, you are probably already feeling like you could use some organizational expertise. While that might feel overwhelming, I am here to help you break down your business into 7 specific areas to focus on.
By focusing on these 7 areas, you can more easily tackle this organizational beast and have more time to focus on your clients, your business, and, yes, of course, making more money.
So let’s take a step back, re-assess what you’ve got going on, and see what you can do better to start off this new year ready to ROCK!
Content Marketing
Whether you are new to social media or a seasoned pro, it’s always good to take a first, second, or even third look at your marketing strategy. Ask yourself, what’s going right? Where can you use improvements? And what are the numbers staying?
In my experience, there are several key areas of your content marketing that you should make sure are firing on all cylinders.
Make sure you’re on the right platform - are you on the platform where your ideal client is? If not, make a change, maybe you need to be on more than one platform. In that case, focus on one, master it, then expand to the next.
Create a calendar - I’ve always felt “calendar” is a weird term to use but it might also be the best one. Make sure you have a repeatable plan to make your posts and scheduling easier. How are you generating content? Are you making the most of what you already have? Are you repurposing for all platforms and types (i.e.; Stories, Feed, Reels, etc)?
Look at the numbers - Social media is constantly changing. Use this organizing time to make sure you are getting the most bang for your buck. Create a process where you are analyzing the numbers on a regular basis so you know what is working and what is not and you can adjust.
Project Management
Regardless of your business size, you always need to manage and coordinate projects within your organization and, at times, with other contractors or teams of employees. A couple of ways you can succeed at this is by investing in project management software. There are several kinds that are great ways to keep your projects on task. You can assign work, keep lines of communication open, and assign work to different people. Creating milestones and having a clear workflow will help you sail through all your projects with ease and efficiency.
Finances
Do you have a strong understanding of your expenses, working capital, and even your expected tax filings? Use software to keep track of expenses, payroll, and capital on hand. Creating regular processes around your money will keep you on track and make you better prepared for the future.
Scheduling
Are your calendar notifications and appointments out of control? Are you missing important meetings or constantly getting double booked? Now is the perfect time to streamline your scheduling.
Make sure you are only using one calendar for all your business meetings. Using a scheduling app like Calendly or Accuity can help with some of the needless back and forth that can occur when trying to fit everyone into your busy schedule.
Your Office
Whether you work in an office, at home, or in a shared workspace, there are lots of ways to create an environment that promotes performance and overall happiness for yourself and your employees.
Purge unnecessary clutter - Anything you haven’t used in a while? Toss or donate it. Go through those towering piles of documents, post-it notes, and scrap pieces of paper.
Organize your archives - Purchase inexpensive storage boxes and/or binders to file away important paperwork, receipts, and other items that don’t need to be accessed often. But most importantly, see where you can go green and digitize your records. Online filing systems are cheaper and easier to manage than anything in the real world. Oh, and this includes your email inbox too.
Time Management
Let’s be honest. Time management can make or break your business results. If this is an area you struggle with, consider trying something new. There are many techniques that have been proven over the years - the Pomodoro Technique, 80/20 rule, or the ABCDE method to just name a few.
Do a little research and pick a method that seems like it might work for you. You might even consider just the simple task of keeping a time log to see if you are using your time wisely. There are always places where you can save a little time.
Focus on Learning
We all need to work harder on this. Commit to staying on top of your industry’s news and trends in the coming year. Find a new blog, newsletter, or publication to follow, sign up for expert advice, or a new learning module. Maybe even look at industry conferences or events and commit yourself to attend.
It might seem like a lot, but most likely you’ve got some of these areas under control. Focus on the places where your business really needs the work and start there. Investing a little extra time organizing these 7 areas of your business will offer great pay-offs when it comes to business growth for the year and later on down the line.
