How Solopreneurs Can Boost Productivity with Tech-based and Freelance Support
*This week we have a guest contributor to the The Work In Progress Project Blog, Courtney Rosenfeld.
Starting a new business is a major endeavor. When you decide to do it solo, it becomes an even bigger commitment. However, the lack of partners and employees doesn’t mean that you have to run your business without any support. With the right help, you can increase your business’s chance of success while decreasing your stress levels. The Work in Progress Project invites you to discover how freelancers and tech-based solutions can boost your productivity.
Outsource Web Design and IT Support
Unless you’re already a tech expert, the backend of your business can be time-consuming and overwhelming. The right freelancers can help you build and maintain a website, troubleshoot any computer issues, and help protect your business from hacking or fraud. Many freelancers specialize in more than one area, so it’s possible that you could find someone who can offer both web design and IT solutions.
If you prefer to handle some of this yourself, focus first on creating a great website for your business. It’s important to do it right because your website is the digital face of your company. It’s usually a customer or client’s first impression of who you are as a business. If you’ve never designed a website before, there are online website builders to help you get started.
Look to Business Formation Services
As you prepare to launch your company, don’t forget to consider how you’d like to structure your business. The type of structure you choose will impact the amount of paperwork you do, how you pay your taxes, whether your personal assets are liable, and more. An LLC is a good choice for many solopreneurs because it offers flexibility and financial advantages. While it’s possible to navigate business registration on your own, there are online services that handle formation simply and efficiently. Just be sure to read up on your state’s regulations before moving forward.
Boost Your Online Presence
For your business to thrive, people need to know about you. In addition to traditional marketing and networking, consider sprucing up your business social media accounts – such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and more. Posting quality content regularly can be time-consuming, so you may want to work with a content creator to keep your social media accounts current and engaging.
If you’re not sure how to approach online ad campaigns or digital marketing, consider hiring a freelancer who specializes in social media marketing. They can help you with as little or as much as you want – anything from a few meetings for guidance to developing a long-term campaign. You can also use social media management tools if you want to handle it yourself.
Hand Off Time-Consuming Tasks
If you start to feel like the business admin eats up most of your day, it may be time to delegate your busywork to a freelance virtual assistant. They can help with tasks like data entry, scheduling, client management, and answering emails. By freeing up your time and helping you stay organized, you’ll likely see a big boost in productivity.
If you’re not keen to hire freelance help for office admin, consider automating some of your work with software and mobile apps. For example, accounting software can help keep your books current and streamline your taxes. Apps such as Shoeboxed can help you go paperless with receipt scanning and expense tracking. The important thing is to take advantage of time-saving tools that will reduce your workload.
As a solopreneur, it’s easy to feel like you have to do everything to help your business grow. While there’s no denying that you have a lot of responsibility, both your business and your quality of life will benefit from delegating work to freelancers or finding tech-based solutions. Then you’ll have more time to focus on the aspects of your business that inspire you.
