How to Use Anywhere Automation with Your Remote Team
There are many buzzwords out there today, particularly in regards to remote working. Here’s our favorite one because it’s all-encompassing - Anywhere Automation. Sounds pretty self-explanatory, doesn’t it? But is your team able to function anywhere they work remotely? Do the processes, systems, and applications you need to run your business allow your team to be efficient and effective?
Here are some areas that can easily be automated to help your team focus on value-driven tasks.
Lead generation email campaigns
Generating leads is important, and we’re certain you’ve noticed those leads can come in at any time - day or night. Set up an email campaign that can nurture the potential client by sending them the freebie they signed up for, or by sending them a link to schedule a time that’s convenient for them to meet with you. By setting this up automatically, your leads don’t pile up in an inbox somewhere and become cold.
Marketing tasks
Planning out content for newsletters, social media posts, and other marketing ploys is important. By planning them out ahead of time you’re already one step ahead. By using Hootsuite or another scheduler you can set them up to post when you want them posted. Heads up though! Make sure you have someone who can regularly check them because as is common with automation, glitches happen and your social accounts can get disconnected.
Client support tasks
You never want a client to feel like they are getting a canned email. But there are times when you are pressed for time, or you’re being asked a routine question. Having email templates set up to answer commonly asked questions helps you save time and still personalize your response. You can also use Send Out Cards to schedule birthday cards and anniversary cards to be sent to teammates or clients.
Financial tasks
Payroll and other repetitive HR tasks can be a time suck. Programs such as Gusto help you set it and forget it. Most of these programs also help at tax time in getting your W2s and 1099s out on time. Bill paying is another task that can be automated. Long gone are the days of sitting down weekly with your checkbook and stack of unpaid bills. Schedule as many of your business bills as you can and those that you can’t, set up a reminder so you don’t forget to take care of it.
Integrations
Zapier might be the best-kept secret of apps! Zapier is a program that enables your applications and programs to integrate with each other and trigger processes and notifications. Zapier has an exhaustive list of apps and programs that it can integrate with. Once you have your “Zaps” set up, things run like clockwork.
Remember, just because you have automated something doesn’t mean it will work forever and ever, amen! Assign a tech-savvy team member to keep track of all your automations and regularly check them to make sure everything is connected and running smoothly.