The Art of Smart Automation
When, Why, and How
Automation is on my mind today as I’ve been heads down finalizing the sales page and welcome flow for my upcoming 1 day intensive.
Automation is the buzzword that’s everywhere in digital marketing and business, much like "habits" is the buzzword in psychology. But what does it really mean for your business?
The Psychology of Habits
In psychology, a habit is a routine behavior that's repeated regularly and occurs subconsciously. It's something you've practiced so much that it becomes second nature. In business, these "habits" are your processes and automations. They're what you do so well or so often that you can—and should—automate them.
When to Automate
The key question isn't whether to automate but when. Here are some guidelines:
Too Early
Automating prematurely can create more problems than solutions. There’s no point in speeding up something half-baked; you just end up doing an unnecessary thing very, very fast.
Just Right
The ideal time to automate is when you've nailed down a process manually. You know it works, and now it's time to make it more efficient.
Too Late
Waiting too long to automate can mean missed opportunities and inefficiencies that cost you time and money. It's like realizing you've been doing your taxes by hand when software could have saved you weeks of work. Speaking of taxes, don’t forget that October 15 deadline…I’m trying to.
The Golden Rule of Automation
When automating, think about the experience you'd want for yourself or your customers. This is especially crucial for first touchpoints in online businesses. New customers expect immediate acknowledgment, and automation can help you deliver that without compromising quality.
Practical Tips
Audit Your Processes: Understand your current workflows before diving into automation.
Start Small: Choose one well-defined, effective process to automate first.
Iterate: Review, refine, and then move on to the next process. Don’t forget to come back to it every once in a while.
First Touchpoints: If you have an online business, start by automating initial customer interactions. People are impatient, and people who don’t know you yet are extra impatient.
Golden Rule: Always automate with the end user experience in mind.
Final Thoughts
Automation is about enhancing what you already do well. But remember, it's not just about speed and efficiency; it's also about creating a better experience for everyone involved. So, automate wisely and always keep the Golden Rule in mind.
3 Things
You can’t discuss automations without mentioning Zapier. I attended their ZapConnect conference recently, and replays are up for a limited time. I guess they heard the lesson on scarcity.
“Impostor syndrome” is another buzzword you might hear a lot. But is it really impostor syndrome?
If you do any form of email marketing, you have to play by Google’s rules, and they’re getting more stringent, with good reason. Check out the new requirements that will be effective in February 2024, and reach out if you need help with setting up the required authentication. It will be worth it!
Got any plans on October 21st or 24th? If you're new to running an online service-based business, clear your schedule!
I'm hosting a special intensive focused on making technology your ally, not your obstacle. We'll cut through the jargon and get straight to what you really need to know.
It's all about empowering you to run your business more efficiently.
Hope to see you there! Know someone who could benefit? Invite them to join in!
