|
Home / Business / Entrepreneurship
Necessary Tasks You May Want to Delegate
By:Alicia Smith
As a business owner, time is of the essence. Running a business is demanding. You are either performing the day-to-day administrative work or you're working in your business, attending to your customers or clients. What is the best use of your time? The answer is simple. Your time should be spent doing what you do best. The day-to-day administrative tasks can be delegated. It's so much easier to review work than to do it yourself! Here are some suggestions to get you started.
1. Secretarial services. Don't do this yourself. From answering phones to managing your correspondence, hire a secretary or a service to handle these everyday, but very time-consuming tasks.
2. Research. Need to find market data, special software for your business, or research a particular issue? Don't spend valuable time doing it yourself. There are online researchers, virtual assistants, and even college students who have access to the latest and greatest research databases and tools.
3. Word processing. This is a wonderful task to delegate. You can make it even easier by recording your thoughts and then passing a tape or digital recording to an administrative assistant for processing. Word processing assistance is especially helpful if you're producing large volumes of books, workbooks, or other word-intensive products as a part of your business.
4. Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentations. Why be a Microsoft guru, mastering each and every one of their products? Instead, delegate the preparation of your presentations. It is far easier to critique the finished product produced by someone skilled with the software than to try to create it from scratch.
5. Data processing/database management. Managing a contact database can be a time-consuming process even if you have a small number of clients or customers. Instead of processing add, change, and delete requests yourself, spend your time adding new customers to your business. You may even be able to find a system that, once set up, automates people coming into your business through your website or eZine.
6. Desktop publishing. Publishing a newsletter or eZine? Sounds easy, but it's a lot more time intensive than you might think. Crafting a publication involves writing content, formatting, editing, and distribution. It may be time to call in a ghostwriter and/or an experienced desktop publisher to help with these projects.
7. Web design and maintenance. If your online presence is a critical part of your business, and especially if it is more complex than most (using shopping carts or interactive databases), ask someone with technical expertise to help you out. While it's a good idea to understand all aspects of your business, even how to manage your website, hiring a helper is the best solution in terms of productivity.
8. Shopping cart setup and maintenance. Setting up a shopping cart to sell your products and services is easy to do. But, easy as it is, it can be extremely time consuming depending upon the number of items that you sell. Teach someone how to do this for you. You'll be happy that you did.
9. Transcription services. Going hand-in-hand with word-processing, transcription should definitely be delegated. As an added bonus, the project you have transcribed might turn into a product you can sell to your clients or customers in the future.
10. Bookkeeping. Accounting is probably one of the most frustrating tasks of any business owner. Of all of these areas, it is definitely one that should be farmed out to a professional. At a minimum, keep your records organized in folders so that they can easily be transported to and handled by your accountant.
11. Purchasing services. Are you spending considerable time buying office supplies, collateral or even products and services, which you resell to your customers? If so, find someone skilled in purchasing and negotiation. They'll help you find what you need much faster and probably at a lesser cost.
12. Writing & editing services. Unless you're a talented writer and editor, you'll want to hire a professional. The written word, whether it's in an article, in a brochure, or on your website, speaks volumes about you and your business. You can't afford anything less than the best when it comes to writing.
13. Marketing services. As a business owner, you need to do a certain amount of marketing for your business. But when it comes to publicity, advertising, or other types of paid marketing efforts, hire a professional. They have the contacts that can make a difference to your future success.
14. Personnel services. If you have employees, that means doing payroll and possibly administering benefits. The paperwork, alone, can be overwhelming, not to mention the rules and regulations related to tax and legal compliance. Don't even think of trying to do these tasks yourself. You'll save yourself a lot of frustration.
15. Personal errands. As a business owner, hiring someone to do your personal errands will free you up to work in your business and will provide you that much needed break when you just want to be at home relaxing. Having someone to do personal errands like renewing subscriptions, handling snail mail, dry cleaning, and even providing food delivery or in-house chef services can free up considerable time that can be spent doing things that you most enjoy.
© Copyright 2005 Alicia Smith
Digg
del.icio.us
Blink
Stumble
Spurl
Reddit
Netscape
Furl
Article keywords: business, marketing, delegation, time management, research, personnel services, personal errands, bookkeeping
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com
Alicia Smith is a Coach and Trainer whose specialty is helping coaches to Make Money Now. To learn more please visit:
www.90DayMarketingMarathon.com
www.discninja.com
www.InternetAssessments.com
Permission to reproduce granted if all attribution & contact information is included.
|
|
| Top Entrepreneurship Articles |
- 1). Stellar Customer Service in 10 Simple Steps By : Debbie LaChusa
If you're like me, you've had plenty of experience with BAD customer service. Just think about the last time you had a bad experience with a product or a service.
Perhaps the product or service did not live up to the sales pitch. Maybe the company was unresponsive to your calls or emails. Maybe they did not do what they said they were going to do.
|
- 2). Pamper Me Please! - Self Care For The Busy Entrepreneur By : Kristie Tamsevicius
Why am I doing this? I just feel like I can't focus today! I feel like I'm not enjoying my job like I used to. What's the matter with me?
I NEED A BREAK!!!!
When you are CEO, head nurse, mommy, head of janitorial services, and chief crafts coordinator, life can leave you a little weary sometimes. As a business owner YOU are your most valuable resource, so it makes sense to take care of yourself! When
you start to feel overwhelmed, it's important to know when to slow down and take a break.
|
- 3). Top Five Reasons to Establish Business Credit! By : Corporate Credit Concepts
Too Many business owners are using their personal credit to finance the launch, expansion or growth of their business. A majority of business owners have no idea what business is or how to establish it. By following a few simple steps any business owner can establishing business credit, therefore, separating their personal credit from their business credit.
|
|
|
- 5). The Advantages of Owning a Handyman Franchise By : Dorian
Many exciting reasons to participate in a handyman franchise business exist. One of the most sought after franchise concepts for a decade has been in the industry of home improvement. These franchise systems are planned specifically to take on common problems that need maintenance around the home.
The preceding facts can explain why the home improvement market is growing.
|
- 6). Rich Jerk - Are You Absolutely SURE? By : Ryan Parker
Do you want to be a millionaire, no a billionaire??!! This hour? This very minute? I'm sure you know the answer to the question. However I'm sorry to break it to you, but its not going to happen in this world we live in. At least not for 99.999% of us. Good. Now we have established that, in order to be a millionaire or indeed a billionaire you need to work, be smart and work some more.
|
- 7). What it Takes to Succeed in Business! By : Murad Ali
Business if tough in today’s world! Most small businesses go bankrupt or are closed abruptly in the first five years. Over the course of the next five years many of the remainders also “pack up” shop and lock their doors. Why do so many businesses fail?
The reasons lie in three main spheres. Those spheres of influence can be labeled personal, customer, and operations.
|
- 8). Believe the Hype? - Making Millions Online By : Michael Saunders
How much money can you make online? Are there really online millionaires?
Of course there are, but is it reasonable to expect that you can be one of them. Don't let the hype surrounding the emergence of opportunities cause you to lose your common sense. Millionaires are made by effectively assessing the needs of a market and having a product or service that addresses those needs.
|
- 9). Stop Charging by the Hour and Make More Money as a Creative Professional By : Kirstin Carey
One of the biggest challenges with a creative business is getting paid what you are worth. The root of the problem isn't that the client doesn't have the money and it isn't that the client isn't willing to pay you what you are worth. The root of the problem is how you are charging and how you are creating value in the mind of the client.
First, you must create a business based on value pricing and not hourly pricing.
|
- 10). How Well Do You Know Your Prospects? Take this 10-Point Quiz to Find Out By : Debbie LaChusa
It’s crucial to know your prospects if you want to market effectively to them.
Take this quick quiz to see how well you know and understand your prospects. If you can't answer these questions, how can you be sure you are connecting with your audience in a relevant and meaningful way?
How can you be sure you are reaching them with a compelling message.
|
| New Entrepreneurship Articles |
|
|
- 2). Trying to Save What You Have is a Sure Road to Losing It - Part 2 By : Helmut Flasch
We all have heard about the risk-takers, the entrepreneurs, who despite huge hardships, made it big in their career through their courage and tenacity. They are success stories we love to hear and which we draw inspiration from. They work very hard and are willing to take risks to achieve their goals. While others are contented with an average income and career, they strive for the stars.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- 6). Factoring Basics By : Marco Terry
Most sales to commercial clients usually carry 30 to 60 day payment terms. This means that as a supplier, you must deliver your products or services now. However, your client has between 30 to 60 days to pay you.
This creates a significant challenge for owners of small and midsize businesses. The problem is simple. Your clients want to pay you in 30 to 60 days, but you must pay rent, payroll and your suppliers now.
|
- 7). Can any Tom,Dick and Harry Start A Home Business? By : Mary Janet
First, my apologies to who ever is offended by the title of this article on home business.
Okay back to the question. Can every Tom, Dick and Harry start a home business?
I know you may have a different view from mine. But let me first tell you that just like a candle lights up a room, this article was written with the intention of providing some light on home business.
|
- 8). Computer Consultant Startup: What's The First Step? By : Joshua Feinberg
If you're the typical person who’s considering becoming a computer consultant, then you are probably a LAN administrator, doing some kind of PC support job for big enterprise or maybe even working for a smaller integrator. In this article, you'll learn what you need to do first to realize your goal of becoming a computer consultant.
From talking to hundreds of people in this situation right now, the number one thing is that you have to decide that you really want to and really need to do it.
|
- 9). Success Factors By : Russell Brunson
What is the difference between successful people on non-successful people? Are successful people more intelligent or do they just have better opportunities than non-successful people?
I heard Brian Tracy say, "Only Difference between successful people and non successful people is this: "Everybody thinks about what they want, but successful people think about what they want, and HOW to get it!"
The most important things is the HOW.
|
- 10). Computer Consultant Skills: Can You Be Your Own Boss? By : Joshua Feinberg
If you're just getting started, what do you need to know about the business aspects of being their own boss? It really boils down to two very straightforward things. You need to have some basic business skills and knowledge and you need the motivation to become a computer consultant.
Motivation
You have to really want to become a computer consultant badly.
|
|
|
