If you’re a freelancer or small business owner, you know that it’s often up to you to get everything done. From keeping the books to marketing your product or service, it can be a lot to manage on your own. But don’t worry—even if you’re alone, you don’t have to do everything yourself. Here are the top tips and apps for getting everything done as a one-person business owner.
Organize Your Business
First things first: as a one-person business owner, you need to be organized. This means having a system in place for tracking your tasks, deadlines, and progress. There are a few different ways to do this, but we recommend using a project management tool like Asana or Trello. These tools will help you keep track of everything you need to do and ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.
Reach Out to Customers and Clients
One of the best ways to reach out to customers and clients is through the Internet. There are a number of ways to do this, but we recommend using social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. These platforms allow you to reach a large number of people quickly and easily—in fact, 200 million social media users look at a business’ social media profile at least once every day. To add to that, using social media allows businesses to connect with customers and clients on a personal level, which builds trust and loyalty. Additionally, social media platforms are free to use, which makes them a cost-effective way to advertise your business
Additionally, you can use CRM tools like Salesforce to manage customer and client relationships. These tools allow you to keep track of interactions with customers and clients, as well as track sales progress and opportunities.
Delegate
Another important tip for one-person business owners is to delegate when possible. Just because you’re the only one running the show doesn’t mean you have to do everything yourself. If there are certain tasks that can be outsourced or automated, take advantage of that!
For example, if bookkeeping is not your strong suit, consider using an accounting software like QuickBooks or Xero. If you’re not good at creating marketing content, consider paying for AI writers like Writesonic, Jasper, Article Forge, and WordAI. And if social media marketing is taking up too much of your time, consider using a tool like Hootsuite or Sprout Social to help schedule and automate your posts. You can also use IFTTT to automate your social media marketing, project management, and even smart home control—and it has a mobile app.
Lastly, you can hire other people to do things for you. It’s not a bad thing to get help or to outsource some processes, just as long as you can get skilled professionals to do tasks for you. You just have to make sure that they can do it well, so do your research before signing any agreements. Besides, you’ll need way more time to get good at everything if you want to do everything yourself, and that investment in time and training may not be worth the task payout. For a more concrete example, if you’re a complete beginner, it’ll take you weeks of hard effort to make a mediocre website. In contrast, you can just pay a professional to develop a custom website for you while you sit back, and the end result will be more appealing. You can have them manage the website for you, too!
Take Time for Yourself
As a freelancer, it can be tough to find time for yourself, especially when you’re always working on new projects. Nevertheless, make sure you’re taking care of yourself both physically and mentally.
Taking Care of Your Body
As a freelancer, you have control over when you work, but that also means you don’t get sick days off—you basically trade off your personal time for recovery. This is one of the reasons why most freelancers try to avoid getting sick. Unfortunately, if you always work, chances are, you are at higher risk of getting sick. Here are a few activities you can do to stay healthy:
- Exercise. This one should be obvious—exercise is great for your body and your mind. You don’t need to go to the gym every day; in fact, even a short walk can do wonders for your mental and physical health.
- Eat healthy. It’s no secret that eating healthy foods is good for you, but it can be tough to do when you’re always on the go. Make sure you have healthy snacks and meals ready to go, so you don’t end up snacking on unhealthy junk food.
- Get enough sleep. This one can be tough, especially when you’re juggling a lot of different tasks, but getting enough sleep is crucial for your physical and mental health. Try to get into a routine where you’re going to bed and waking up at the same time each day.
- Take breaks. When you’re working all day long, it can be tough to take breaks, but they’re essential for your mental health. Make sure you schedule in time for breaks throughout the day, and use that time to relax and rejuvenate yourself.
Taking Care of Your Mind
Working as a freelancer can be very isolating, so a lot of freelancers become lonely. It can also lead to quick burnout since the boundary between personal life and business. Here are a few activities you can do:
- Meditation. This one should be obvious—meditation is great for your mind. You don’t need to go to a meditation class every day; in fact, even a short meditation session can do wonders for your mental health.
- Hobbies. If you get down time, use that time to do something you enjoy! Whether it’s painting, reading, hiking, or playing video games, hobbies can help you relax and destress. Relaxing activities like painting, watercolor, or even color-by-numbers books are highly recommended.
- Journaling. This one is especially helpful if you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed out. Writing down your thoughts and feelings can help you process them and figure out a plan to deal with them.
- Socializing. When you’re always working at home, it can be tough to socialize with other people. But socializing is crucial for your mental health—it helps you stay connected and helps you feel like part of a community. Join a hobby group or at least take some time every day to strike up a conversation with someone.
Final Thoughts
Running your own business can be tough, but with the right tools and approach, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By staying organized, delegating when possible, and taking care of yourself both physically and mentally, you can set yourself up for success as a one-person business owner. Do you have any other tips or apps that have helped you in your freelance or small business journey? Let us know in the comments below!
