This is a common question I get asked, with what I do for a living as a Social Media Manager. “How can my Small Business Succeed?” “What’s the secret to success for my new business?” and so on and so forth.

The secret isn’t in the social antics you use… don’t get me wrong, social media is an important aspect of marketing for your small business, but the true secret is in your efficiency and the organization of everything that makes up your business.

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30 Tips for Small Business Success

Now, the following tips are tried and true, have proven to work for my own small business, and upon a quick Pinterest search, my tips align and elaborate on common trends that have been frequently discussed upon the pinterest universe for tips and tricks in business.

You may have seen my #30for30 series on my Sydney DeLucchi Facebook Page, and if you have, you know the secrets already!  I’ve included the links to the Facebook Posts so you can engage in the discussion in the comments if you’d like! Simply click follow my Sydney DeLucchi facebook page and join the fun. Without further ado, let’s get down and dirty with my secrets to business success!

Bookmark this blog post, or tune into my Facebook Page for the updated details for each tip! This blog post is going to evolve over the entire month! (Jump to FREE Printables by clicking here)

1. Set aside 30 minutes to create a Prioritized list for your day.

What can you accomplish for yourself or your business in 30 minutes?

If your answer is ‘not enough’, and maybe you find yourself forgetting tasks or struggling on follow through, let’s see how we can change that in only 30 minutes a day! ⏱

?Prior to your 30 minutes, my task for you is to identify what is the most important goal for yourself or your business. Write this down. Grab your planner, get the highlighters and fun pens, and put all distractions away.

Set a timer. 30 minutes on the clock!
1️⃣ SCHEDULE EVERYTHING. Everything of importance gets put on the schedule. (& hey, don’t forget to schedule your YOU time!) The further out you get in the month, the better. You’ll become proficient at this task with more practice.
2️⃣ MAKE GOALS TO COMPLETE TASKS. Just like important meetings with your boss (YOU!), you won’t cancel these. Make the accountability promise.
3️⃣ SCHEDULE YOUR NEXT 30 MIN SESSION. Consistency is key here.

Commit to this for 30 Days. #30for30 Efficiency in scheduling brings efficiency and follow through in life. You’ve got this!!

2. Shift your mindset! Stray from your ‘GSD’ kryptonite!

Now, let’s chat about the struggles we run into when it’s time to work on the tasks themselves! I’ll go first: I’m SO much better at ‘busy’ work and organizing than I am at doing the tasks.

NEWS FLASH: Guess what… this is a LIE I tell myself. ?? You know what stands in my way? A mindset shift. And I have to talk myself into them daily. An easy way to getting this done is to be aware of your ‘kryptonite’, give it ownership of what it ‘controls’ about you, and WRITE DOWN how you plan to destroy it!  You’ve got this!

3. Avoid Distractions

These tips to avoiding distractions help me a TON, especially the bonus tip. Check it out and let me know what works for you! (read more here)

4. FAIL!

FAILURE! YES I SAID IT! We celebrate our failures. The BIG EMBARASSING ones!

WTF, Syd, I don’t want to celebrate my failures. That’s ridiculous.

No, boo, it’s actually not!

5. Avoid the ‘I’m so busy’ time warp.

Don’t fall into the ‘I’m SO BUSY’ time warp. Ugh. I know i do at times. But  getting out of this mentality is asking yourself if the thing you’re saying you’re ‘too busy for’, ask yourself if it’s really a priority.

Are you falling victim to any of these in the article? Which one? This can fall into kryptonite too, own it and defeat it!

https://www.themuse.com/…/5-reasons-youre-so-busy-every-day

6. Affirmations!

The power of positivity… It’s so much more than a cliche. For today’s #30for30 task, let’s talk about instilling some positivity into our daily tasks.

Did you know that studies have shown that people who complain daily – their brains change? And not in a productive or constructive way either.

So today, REST, practice self-love through some positive affirmations. If meditating is your thing, go do that, and focus on all the positive vibes you can bring yourself. All the positive promises, and all the things you LOVE about yourself.

7. Prep for your tasks for the week!

How are you feeling with your productivity and your tasks you’re on the way to turning into habits?

TODAY’S Task – the MOST important for the week! Get your timer and your planner out and do your FIRST 30 min session of the week. This week has a tiny remix to it… keep reading ??

8. BATCHING! Your saving grace to social media antics for your business

Let’s talk about how we can pack a TON of ‘busy work’ into a short amount of time, to benefit you or your business for A LONG TIME!

Friends, meet the concept called ‘batching’.

Just like baking multiple batches of cookies (which is why my face is so excited in the picture – someone asked if i wanted a cookie HA!), the concept rings true for business and life too.

9. Workspace, desktop, and iPhone ORGANIZATION!

Physically Organizing your workspace. When’s the last time you went to town on that?

Personally I like as little items on my ‘kitchen table’ size desk as possible. It leaves more space for my MacBook, iPad, and agendas. The only ‘clutter’ I have is minimized to my candle, lamp, and spot for my beverage so I remember to hydrate throughout the day.

BUT, I fail at organizing my phone. Ya’ll… don’t forget to close ALL tabs from time to time. A TON of you work from your phone, right? I know I do!

If you’re like me and need to figure out how to do that, open your safari, then hold down on the FAR RIGHT button that looks like two papers stacked over one another. This screen will come up. How many tabs did you have open?

Not only will your phone work faster, but this also minimizes the opportunity for distraction while you’re searching for something!

10. SHIFT when you do your 30 min priority list to before you leave work, setting yourself up for next day efficiency!

Where are my organizers at? My list-lovers, my tribe that likes to play by a game plan? By now, you’re a PRO at your 30 minute task-listing every day.

NOW, are you ready for the true hack? Instead of doing these at the beginning of the day, for the day ahead, do these lists at the END of your work day! That way you know what’s on your to do list for tomorrow before you even leave work.

Talk about initiating efficiency!

11. No scrolling until you’re ready for the day!

What does your morning routine look like?

Do you grab your phone and scroll before your feet hit the floor? OR do you get ready first, get settled for your day, THEN scroll?  A lot of times when I ‘check my important notifications’ before my feet hit the floor, and after what I think was 5 minutes turns into 30 and $100 spent at Target Online, and now I’m making the decision between hair OR makeup, Houston we have a problem…

I know you’ve been there! Let’s band together and be strong, no phones til we are ready to GSD!

12. Make a ‘Love List’ to celebrate your wins of the week!

This will be a fun ‘task’!

Whip out your favorite mode of note taking – whether it’s iPhone Notes app, pen and paper, or smoke signals, your choice! However you do it, if you would like to share, share below!

Write down all the things you LOVE that you do. The organization that you LOVE. Celebrate your WINS! Reflect on your progress through this #30for30, and then create 3 S.M.A.R.T. goals for next week!

13. Select 3 Self-improvement outlets (podcast, book, course.) Schedule 30 minutes a day for Self-improvement!

Did you know? As an entrepreneur, the BIGGEST thing you can do daily to help catapult your business forward is investing in yourself? Devote 30 minutes a day to Self-improvement!

By that, I mean investing into self-improvement outlets.  Whether that means the gym, spa treatments, or diving into podcasts or self-improvement books, that is up to you!  My FAVORITE outlet for my business is listening to podcasts of entrepreneurs in the same industry as me while I get ready for the day, but I make sure to listen to entrepreneurs that are a bunch of steps ahead of me – that way, they become my virtual mentor.  Stay tuned for a round up of my favorite podcasts for social media entrepreneurs.

Another Self-Improvement outlet I love participating in is continuing education courses.  I am ALWAYS learning and you will never hear me tell you that I am an ‘EXPERT’ in anything… especially in the industry that I am in – social media – It is ever changing and upgrading!  I can promise you that it is my priority to always stay updated and always prioritize learning all that I can about the industry. And our Syd & Michelle clients know this!

14. Make plans to attend a networking event!

As a professional in the Social Media Management industry, we strongly encourage our clients to exist in the physical space, and not just the online social space for their business.

This goes for Network Marketing entrepreneurs as well as small business owners alike! A strong social media presence is fabulous, but you also need the in-person exposure to back your amazing brand presence online.  Authenticity across both spaces makes your brand and business a strong force to be reckoned with! We will dive into Authenticity in Day 27.

PLUS, who doesn’t love meeting other small business owners and creating a tribe of like minded hustlers who understand the life of an entrepreneur?

A fabulous place to start is looking into joining the Chamber of your town or city.  Then, a quick facebook search for small business owner networking group helps too! Are you in the Charlotte, LKN area? We would love for you to join our Social Empower Tribe – where Syd & Michelle Social Management is cultivating a network of small business entrepreneurs that are looking to continuously learn and share questions or learnings with the community.

15. AUDIT YOUR TASK LIST (from #7)- time management

On Day 7, we started the list of recording ALL daily tasks that you engage in throughout the week & the time you invested in.  How does your list look?

What were your big time suckers?

It’s ok.. this is a safe space!  The purpose of this task for you, was to shed light on the tasks that you spend the most time on, as well as the tasks that you get sucked into that are not a priority.

The tasks that are not a priority, tally up how much time you spent on them and see how you can better maximize your time, or if these tasks need cut all together.

The tasks you spend a majority of your time on — is there any way you can create efficiency in these tasks? Do you repeat certain tasks on multiple days during the week? Is it possible to batch these repetitive tasks to open up more time or create more efficiency?

Time management as an entrepreneur can be a constant struggle, and something that you have to actively practice working on and wanting to get better at daily.  This exercise of auditing your task list may seem mundane, but you will notice over time, this is a fabulous way to create efficiency and eventually ROI (return on investment) in your business. Sleep on your lists, and we will address these more tomorrow!

16. DELEGATE & DELETE!

The day has come! You reviewed your weekly task audit list and prioritized items vs time suckers.  Which items can you Delegate? And which items need to be deleted altogether?

Delegate ‘worthy’ tasks are ones that are important, yet not tasks that ONLY you can do.  Delegatable tasks are fabulous to bring on a virtual assistant for, or even looking into hiring an in person assistant.  These are tasks essential to business however sometimes can be viewed as ‘busy work’.  Maximize your entrepreneur time so you can build your brand by delegating these tasks to someone you train and trust.

Delete ‘worthy’ tasks are ones that are not helping your business in any way. Let them go and watch the efficiency come!  Imagine the tasks that will help push your business forward that you can pack into the time you spent doing the deletable tasks! The sky’s the limit!

17. Automate one of our daily/weekly tasks.

Maybe hiring an assistant isn’t in your business plan.  Maybe the tasks that presented themselves as important yet ‘busy work’ can be batched and automated!  If this is something you’ve noticed along the way of list building and auditing your tasks, I highly recommend using Trello and Zapier.

Trello is fabulous for organization and has a lot of add ons that can upgrade it’s efficiency.  This is how I learned of Zapier.  Zapier can create automated workflows for you, and the sky is literally the limit here.  Have a google form that you want responses submitted into a Trello card with all the pertinent details? There’s a ‘zap’ for that!  Want Zapier to post to instagram for you from trello? There’s a zap for that too!  Check out Zapier today and see what it can do for streamlining your business.

18. Reward yourself! Celebrate your wins with another LOVE LIST!

This one is simpler.  What do you love about anything – life, your new organization, yourself, etc.  The sky is the limit.

These are important tasks too – so be sure you don’t skip over them! Scheduling in self love is just as important as self-improvement!

19. Download my FREE #30for30 worksheets to keep your ’30s’ and your tasks organized!

We’ve talked about a lot of awesome tasks to do daily/weekly and maybe you need a bit more structure to your life?

If you’re like me, you love some gorgeously put together worksheets to help with your organization.  & Guess what… I’ve created some FREE printables for you!

Simply join my newsletter list (click the following image) and receive the download link today!

20. Give yourself a SPA DAY!

What’s better than a spa day to rejuvenate after a long week?

I’ll wait while you try to come up with an answer. lol 

I’ve been using FRÉ skincare products for the past month and I am OBSESSED with their 123FRE line as well as their DETOX ME mask.  Their Detox Me mask is ridiculous in all the best ways! Leaves my skin feeling refreshed and clean – no build up whatsoever.

For the next 7 days, FRÉ will plant 3 trees for every DETOX TRIO sold, conveying a simple but so true message: to really DETOX our skin, we have to DETOX the planet!

You’ll want to try it too, I’m sure, so guess what! Use my code SYDNEYD for 15% off.

21. INFLUENCE – what is yours? Why you should harness this and who can be an influencer.

It’s 2018, the year of the Influencer.  You’ve heard this before and thought ‘wow, that will never be me’… that’s where you’re wrong!

We will establish later what and how you can define your ‘tribe’ and how this plays into your authentic message, but these aspects as well as your individual influence, all play a huge role together in creating loyalty of your followers to you and your message you’re putting out to the world.

Influencers are individuals who have maximized and monetized their social presence by joining affiliate programs and entering relationships with brands they stand by and love, to help promote their products and mission.

Now, what products and brands would you choose to share with your friends and loyal followers?

22. CONFIDENCE in your business, as a female entrepreneur

Confidence vs bitchiness as a female entrepreneur.  The ‘struggle’ we face when attempting to convey classy, professional, assertiveness as a female in business.

Personally, I have struggled with this & I know I’m not alone. (picture of my RBF for good measure – looks like I’m pissed AF, right?) I get overly expressive with my facial reactions & overly loud when presenting a point.  Some have perceived this as bitchiness or over assertiveness.

How do we convey our expertise as women in business without coming across as ‘bitchy’?

It is said, that being ‘confident assertive’ is the way to go. And by doing this, you remain calm, collected, confident in your knowledge and skill set, and that in and of itself asserts your presence.  No need for raising of voices or anything else.

What have you found that works for you?

23. Huge LIVE Announcement coming tomorrow!

No, I’m not spilling the beans early, you’ll have to tune in live to see! BUT, this is a great opportunity to share the importance of LIVE broadcasts via social media and what they can do for your business!

Facebook Live is an important social media tool to harness because the benefits it has for your business and the reach of your social posts can expand logarithmically!  Live videos allow you to connect IMMEDIATELY with your following, while giving them quality content that they want and allowing them to ask questions or give real time input, is something FABULOUS to establishing brand loyalty within your tribe community!

Do you utilize Live video as a cornerstone content for your brand?

24. WHY is the 30 for 30 so important to you?

This is something I can’t answer for you.  What brought you to this post? What made you follow my facebook series?

What was ‘lacking’ (for lack of better words) in your business that forced you to type into interest ‘how to maximize efficiency in my small business’?  This motive is actually a rather important thing to note – so write it down! Remember what drove you to where you are as you read this, and make a promise to yourself to do all the things you can to get better (even if its 1%) every day!

Having a clear cut reason for pursuing this 30 for 30 allows you to continue on the path to your true goal! So keep in mind why you started the whole way. 🙂

25. Authenticity and remaining true to yourself.

In a world where Instagram vs Reality is something we wonder often, authenticity and losing sight of it is something that can keep people from utilizing the social space all together. A lot of times, lines get blurred and photos are edited, stories are fictionalized to engage the reader and embellish the story… It’s hard to not compare your hard work to these situations.

Sometimes, comparison can be the thief of all joy – in life and in business – and without going down this monstrosity of tangent (blog post on that topic coming soon!). The greatest tip I ever received about avoiding the comparison on social media rabbit hole is to be sure that you are staying true to you, your brand, and your goals.

When you establish brand guidelines and clearcut goals, this can become a rules list that will help you verify that you are staying authentic, communicating your mission, and on the way to truly smashing your goals for yourself and your business.  What does authenticity mean for you?

26. Celebrate you by defining your TRIBE!

There is only one YOU and that is your superpower!  This superpower sets you apart and makes your business that much more special.  Defining your tribe is a quintessential part of your strategy in business AND in the social space.

Take your Tribe into account if you are an aspiring influencer or even social entrepreneur.  Give your people what they want, that you vouch for.

27. Social Strategy for ‘dummies’.

Which social platform(s) should you be on for your business? You don’t have to be everywhere! It’s a simple answer… Where is your tribe? Exist where they exist. Then follow these steps that your #30for30 has trained you on oh so well:

1. Create a list of all important upcoming events for the month
2. Create a list of important brand/mission/culture topics
3. Abide by the 80/20 rule for brand story/promotions
4. 2 max posts for FB, 1 max post IG per day (INDUSTRY AVERAGE – can vary per account)
5. Schedule your content then fill in the blanks
6. Need help? Email sydandmichelle@icloud.com – we specialize in assisting small business owners in social strategy!

Now, something else important to consider is to remember if Instagram is where your tribe lives, be sure to give them beautiful content to look at – Instagram is like a ‘catalog’ and the goal is to stop their scroll dead in their tracks so they stare at your image and then want to read the caption.  Facebook is a little more relaxed.  Remember to always provide quality content over quantity.  You’ve got this!

28.  Transition and my brand adjustments.

On September 27th, I’ll be making a pretty big announcement on my brand, and how I plan to adjust.  Stay tuned and come follow my facebook page for the LIVE update! Then, come back here for the UPDATE of this #28!

29. How to put to work what you learned over your #30for30

This step will be different for everyone, as each and every one of you more than likely picked up different aspects of this #30for30 that you loved, and left behind the parts that you tried, but didn’t serve your business.  This is awesome!  Let’s make another list now of the things you love and your intention on how, when, why you will put them to use.  This declaration of intention will help set you up for continued success!

In regards to putting to use what you learned about Social Strategy and your brand in the social space — don’t over think it!  If you have a product or service that you sell, keep the post ratio to 80% brand story & 20% promotional posts.  BUT, keep in mind, promotional posts may be different depending on your brand — focus on sharing the PROS versus shoving price points in front of people.  Tell them what problem your product or service ‘fixes’.  We all love something that makes life easier, right!?

Lastly, don’t forget consistency is key in anything you do — so whatever you picked up from this 30 for 30, make a plan to stay consistent.  If you need any help at all with a game plan strategy for your brand or business, reach out! Syd is part of a duo (Syd & Michelle Social Management) that specializes in organizing YOUR brand mission and creating efficiency in your brand presence on the social space.  Email us today! sydandmichelle@icloud.com

30. Celebrate your new habits! How did your #30for30 go?

What helped? What did you like/dislike? What is becoming part of your daily ritual?

For more business & self-help tips, join our Syd & Michelle FREE Social Empower Tribe! Our space to ask questions, learn together, & rock your businesses! With a combined 10 years and counting of experience in the ever-evolving social media space, Michelle and I are not saying we are the end all know all, but we are fabulously efficient in what we do know, and we are ready to help us all learn together! Can’t wait to see you there!

 

So, If you made it to the very end of this post, YOU my friend are a rockstar! & your commitment to reading all of this has earned you a special treat for your business! Michelle and I are giving away 10 FREE Strategy Sessions to the first 10 entrepreneurs who Email us a short paragraph about the goals you have for your business, how we can help you in the social space, and what you learned from this #30for30!

Email us today! sydandmichelle@icloud.com

 

 

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