In our NEXT installment of 10 Weeks and 10 Strategies to REignite your business,(#10in10) we will focus on optimizing your business online and off. Now is the time to get clear about your productivity strategy for 2013! “Staged” businesses attract more clients online and off, so here are some steps to work on between now and 2013 to set you up for relaunch!
Project 1: De-clutter; like a boss.
1. Social media declutter exercise.
Get rid of the social media pages, streams and profiles you aren’t using.
- Yes, I said it. You do not have to be everywhere. Especially if you are having a hard time keeping it up. Abandoned Facebook pages, Twitter handles, (ahem…Empire Ave.) and especially outdated profiles. In the digital world it’s like saying “business is closed”. (no pun intended.) “Hide” old Facebook pages, drop streams from Tweetdeck or your Hootsuite, and start with a clean slate. (TwitCleaner and GrimTweeper are great Twitter detox tools.)
- Clean up your Facebook friends and lists, and even page feeds. Go through your LIKED pages and get rid of them if you have no interest in subscribing to their feed. If you went on a “new friend acceptance spree” and are overwhelmed with the amount of noise in your Facebook feed, trim the people you know you will never meet. (Especially the ones who send you invites to Open Homes across the country from you.)
- While you’re at it, drop any GROUPS on Facebook or otherwise you are not participating in, suck your time, and don’t make you feel positive.
2. Mobile apps declutter exercise.
Get rid of apps on your computer, tablets and phones you are not using.
- Clean up your app obsession. Even technology can get in our way. We have a tendency to want it all, and have options in everything we have. But it contributes to the noise in your life, and sometimes too many choices leads to indecision. So, DROP the apps you don’t LOVE, don’t USE, or have 2 of with different names. Try to keep it UNDER 20 business apps. (Confession: I have at least 10 Productivity apps I NEVER use. I’m a lost cause.)
3. De-clutter your database.
Oh, I can hear the groans now. Let’s break this down.
- Spend 30 minutes (or more if you can) at least once a day until New Year’s cleaning your database. (Consider this your ACTION DAY)
- Drop old and outdated contacts unless you plan on getting back in touch. Move contacts into their proper “contact type” (ex: past buyer, past seller, closed in 2012, buyer/seller prospects, etc.)
- Clean up contact types you aren’t using.
- Do this 30 minutes at least once a day and you will have better focus and follow-up on who you are communicating with, and where you will be putting all those NEW clients in 2013!
- P.S. Don’t have a database system to manage? Get one! Stop using an excel spreadsheet. (I’ve recently been introduced to Contactually)
Project 2: Get Organized!
4. Social media organization.
Update every profile: Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest. Whatever you use. Start with an updated bio, a fresh, new professional photo. Make sure you use the same contact information on EVERY profile, especially email address. Make sure all links to website, blogs etc. are all working.- (TIP on the photo: Don’t use a photo that is not of your face, on a personal profile page. Nothing is worse than wanting to know more about a person than having to look at your cat as your profile photo, or your favorite high school photo.) Blisscontrol is a service that helps streamline the update process for you.
- If you are using a logo, make sure its high resolution for optimum clarity and color.
- EXTRA CREDIT: Get up to date on the latest updates, additions and tips on the Big 3 social platforms with our Bootcamp session.
5. Mobile apps organization.
Separate personal and business apps into folders if possible. Use the same category guidelines as in the app store. I use Office Tools, Social, Entertainment, Productivity, Photography/Video, Fitness, Music, News, Travel, etc.
- Sync your systems! Since most apps work within the cloud, you may be also using the same apps on your desktop as well. If you find that you are using one app on your desktop, and something different on your mobile devices, then it’s time to sync them, and streamline your usage! Keep your work-flow as identical as possible. This will help your productivity and execution of goals and tasks optimized.
6. Database organization.
Automate your communication systems. It’s not too hard, but this goes a LONG way.
Craft your new email templates. Whether you are responding to new Internet leads, sending digital CMA reports, or crafting seller reports, set these up on templates so that you aren’t recreating the wheel every time you send an email. Even if you are just using Gmail, an extension like Yesware can give you easy ways to set those up.
- Update your email signature. Now that you have updated your social media profiles, your website links and blogs, make sure you only have the most important information on your email signature. Drive clickable traffic to only ONE place. This should be your website.
RE-launch 2013
Tell the world you are ready for 2013! You’ve decluttered, gotten organized and refreshed your business online and off. You should feel more focused, motivated and optimistic.
While not everyone in your social streams will appreciate…”Hey, I am a REALTOR in xyz, and I’m ready to sell you a home”, you can let people know that you are excited about 2013, you’ve got your business’s New Year’s resolutions under implementation, and you are ready for your Open House! Invite everyone in to see.
Congrats on all your hard work on this one…you deserve it! If you’d like some more tips or tutorials like these, let me know your problem areas below!
Missed Week 1? >> 10 weeks and 10 ways to REignite your business in 2013-Day 1
