Today, Val and I talk about systems and processes for your business. What are systems and processes? Why are systems important? How can they help you manage your business more effectively? What type of systems are available? Which systems do we use for our businesses?
Val and I talk about a wide variety of systems, processes, and tools that we use throughout our businesses, as well as others that many entrepreneurs find useful. We answer all of the questions that you are dying to know about systems and processes, including the ones mentioned above. We share with you which system tools we use in our own business, and why we prefer these tools over others.
Season 2 of the Get Paid Podcast is sponsored by Acuity Scheduling. Start your exclusive 45-day free trial at acuityscheduling.com/getpaid!
In This Episode You’ll Hear:
- Val explains what business systems are, and how they can help you run your business more efficiently.
- Examples of free and affordable system tools you can start using immediately.
- What CRM’s are and why they are important.
- What “model calendaring” is and how it can help you save time.
- Why using to-do lists can help you organize your business.
- Why solopreneurs should use email management systems.
- Scheduling programs: why they are so important and how they can make scheduling your work week significantly easier.
- System tools we recommend.
Mentioned In This Episode:
- Val’s blog post on Acuity
- Val’s blog post on model calendaring
- Val’s Gmail School
- Paul Jarvis on his writing pricess
- Acuity – Scheduling tool (affiliate link)
- Project Management Software
- Forms
- Email Management
- MailChimp
- ConvertKit (affiliate link)
- Automation
- CRM’s
The TL;DR of the show:
Choose one system tool per month then put it in place in your business.
- Scheduling
- Calendar
- Project Management
- CRM
- Email Management
- Checklists
Connect with Val and Claire on the ol’ Social Networks:
Val Geisler
Claire Pelletreau
SUBSCRIBE ON iTUNES, STITCHER OR GRAB THE FEED LINK HERE!
Thanks for listening! Time to go get yourself paid. :)
Love, love, love this episode!!! Gonna get onto setting up a ‘Testimonials’ Typeform & Gmail canned response today :) Oh, and I also reaaaallllly need a blog post on how to use Streak properly Val
Great ideas, Ang! Yes, I’m gonna presume I can call you that. :D The testimonial system is one that’s SO easy to implement, you just have to get good at sending out that form in a timely manner. I have my assistant do it so I don’t let my own fears of negative feedback stop me.
Did I miss this Typeform testimonials segments on the podcast? Maybe I should listen again.
You can totally call me that Claire ;)
I use basecamp as my project management software, plus a dash of Trello. Here’s a post on how I use basecamp:
http://www.creativetexturetools.com/news/2009/03/09/how-i-manage-my-deadlines-for-shows
People can still get basecamp for free if they google basecamp classic or listen to their podcast, The Distance, for a special offer.
Still getting used to the new podcast format, I miss Claire giving her guests hell and asking the tough questions! : )
Thanks for all the great info. on systems, it’s something I’m working on.
Awesome, thanks for sharing your Basecamp workflow Elaine! There will be plenty of me giving Val hell in this season, and we’re going back to the new-guest-each-week format in Season 3. I like to shake things up a little over here. :)
As always, thanks so much for being a faithful listener AND reader, Elaine!
You’re welcome!
Fantastic podcast, as always! Val mentioned a blog article by Paul Jarvis about his writing systems/processes. Would you all mind adding that to the show notes? Thanks! xx
Thanks so much! I’ll add it above, but here’s the link just for you: https://pjrvs.com/a/cycle/ ;)
Thank you, Claire!
Was listening to the new episodes for your second season (YAY!) and heard you guys briefly discussing whether or not blog writing was a system, as in, the actual sitting down and writing.
And I just wanted to pipe up and say: It totally can be.
No matter what we’re writing, we go through the same set of steps — whether you’re writing a book or a blog post:
Plan
Research
Organize
Write
––Cool off––
Edit
Sometimes we combine them, sometimes we might skip one (usually one of the first ones), but generally, these are the steps writers work through — and if you add these steps to your system for blogging, I can practically guarantee your writing will improve. I’ve got a PDF of the checklist if anybody wants it: http://lacyboggs.com/write-like-a-professional-with-these-5-simple-tips/
Awesome, thanks for sharing Lacy!