As a small business owner or solo professional, you’ve got many processes and procedures in place, not to mention lots of outwardly facing marketing tools, like your LinkedIn profile, Facebook and Instagram accounts, and your website.
Over time, it’s easy to look at these elements without really seeing them. This can be a problem, particularly as your business evolves.
With that in mind, here are three ways I keep a fresh eye on my business:
1. Question past decisions. Decisions you made about how to do something 3, 4, or 5 years ago may no longer apply today. Better software solutions are invented all the time. Your business focus may have shifted, or an easier, less expensive solution is available now.
At the end of each quarter, I evaluate one piece of tech I have purchased for my business to see if I still need it, whether I am using it effectively, and whether it is worth the investment to continue.
It is very easy to fall victim to “shiny object syndrome,” leaving you with a cluttered mind, feelings of being overwhelmed, and a drained bank account.
2. Look closely at the parts of your business right in front of you. The other day, a friend noticed a typo in her email newsletter that had been there for years – how could that happen?
To avoid this, scan the parts of your business you may be taking for granted.
If you’re about to give a presentation you’ve given many times before, review it closely one more time.
Look at your website – every page – and ensure all the buttons and links your potential clients might be clicking are working as they should.
3. Know that the buck stops with you. I’ve heard solo professionals say many times: “I don’t know how that works; someone set it up for me.”
That’s fine; I don’t expect you to know how the technology was set up, let alone how to modify it. But it is critical to check the work you outsource and make sure you understand what is supposed to happen and when. Then document it, so you can look back later and check again!
It’s easy to fall into a comfortable groove when running your own business.
That can be a good thing; just make sure your eyes remain wide open!