Coming soon!! The time of year when flowers are budding, birds are chirping, and warmer winds are blowing. It’s also a time when people purge their houses of dirt, dust, and debris … aka spring cleaning.
But spring cleaning doesn’t just apply to houses anymore. Business owners can also take advantage of this wonderful time of year to get organized and make improvements by spring cleaning their business.
So, what are you waiting for, business owners? If you want to get your business on track for success, get cleaning!
Spring cleaning your business can show you what processes need improvement, what you need to let go of and help you streamline everyday operations.
Here are six ways you can freshen things up at your company.
Your Website
Your small business website can help your business grow and evolve. But if you let much-needed changes fall through the cracks, your website can easily damage your brand.
There is a good chance your business has grown and changed during the last year. You might have revised your mission. Maybe you completely switched your business logo or color scheme. Take time to look at your website for things that don’t line up with your business’s current brand.
Maybe there is some content on your business website that needs to be rewritten to better reflect your company’s offerings or target market. Or, maybe your website just looks completely outdated and needs a little love.
It is actually a good idea to look at your website on a regular basis and do not limit spring cleaning to the beginning of the year or springtime. Try to “spring” clean your website throughout the year and dedicate time for website cleaning year-round.
Your Books
There is no question your accounting/business books are the centre of your business. They can help you forecast your financial future and make smart decisions about your finances. Consider accepting the services of a bookkeeper or accountant to keep you books in tip top shape. We have a few SBCN members who can help you with this.
Your Business Plan
When was the last time you looked at your business plan? I know some of you are guilty of it, including myself. And, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. That’s right, most of usceate our business plan and set it on a shelf to collect dust. If you’re guilty of this, now is the perfect time to dust off your business plan and revisit it.
Businesses constantly develop and change. And because your company is ever-changing, your business plan should be, too.
Set aside time each year to spring clean your business plan. Reflect on the past year and ask yourself what kind of changes your business has made in the last 365 days. Did you add or remove products? Are you targeting a new market? Or, did you completely change up your business structure? If you did, mention it in your plan.
Remember, entrepreneurs: your business plan is the foundation of your company. Take the time to revisit it each year.
Your Marketing Strategies
There is no better time than the spring to take a step back to examine and freshen up your marketing strategies. Like your business, marketing tactics are constantly developing. And each day, a new marketing trend pops up.
Spend some time this spring sprucing up your marketing strategies. You can freshen things up by:
- Researching new marketing trends
- Investing in social media
- Automating tasks (e.g., email marketing)
- Going to a conference or trade show
- Revisiting your brand
- Analyzing last year’s data
Your Inbox
Oh the horrors. I have seen many an entrepreneurs in a frenzy as they try to manage their emails and social media accounts. As a busy business owner, things like emails, paperwork, and other documents can quickly pile up. I’ve been there.
When you’re occupied by your business, it’s easy to become disorganized. Emails stack up and, as soon as you know it, your inbox is an absolute disaster. I now am on a 321 Zero plan and if you want to know more about that, message me. It made such a difference when I got on track.
Your Office
Now for the “fun” part … actually cleaning your office and workspace. If you want to literally spring clean your business, give your office a deep cleaning.
Doing some decluttering around the office will do your business some good. After all, tossing out trash, dusting, and vacuuming never hurt anybody, right? Plus, it doesn’t hurt to do some extra cleaning during this coronavirus age.
Spring cleaning your workspace can make you feel refreshed and organized. Not only will your workplace look better, but you might also feel better, too.
I actually try (most of the time) to clean my office up every Friday afternoon so I walk into a tidy, clean and welcoming office on Monday. It takes just a short period of time and the rewards are worth it.
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