Automate Your Business in 5 Easy Steps: The Ultimate Guide for Small Business Owners

Unlock more time, boost productivity, and streamline your operations, even if you’re not tech-savvy.

Are you tired of losing precious hours to repetitive, mind-numbing tasks? Imagine reclaiming your time and transforming your business with the magic of automation, no coding required, no big budgets needed, and zero tech wizardry necessary.

In Torie Mathis’s video, she breaks down the exact five steps you need to take to automate your small business, level up your productivity, and finally start focusing on what truly matters. Ready to begin? Watch the video and read on for your comprehensive guide to business automation!

Step 1: Identify Your Time-Sucking Tasks

The first step is simple but crucial: figure out what’s draining your time and energy. As Torie Mathis shares, we’ve all experienced that overwhelm, from endless paperwork to perpetual social media posting.

Start by listing every repetitive task you’re doing manually, such as data entry, invoicing, appointment scheduling, and more. Whether you’re drowning in appointments or perpetually buried under a mountain of email, getting these tasks onto paper is the first step toward freedom.

Don’t hold back! List out absolutely everything that feels like a time drain. This raw inventory becomes your roadmap to smarter workdays.

Step 2: Evaluate Automation Tools (No Coding Required)

Now that you know your biggest time-wasters, it’s time to choose your automation sidekick. The world of automation tools isn’t reserved for tech giants or corporate behemoths; many are free or low-cost and astonishingly easy for small business owners to use. Torie Mathis recommends:

• Zapier: Connects your apps and automates tasks like sending leads from Facebook ads directly to your email service provider.
• IFTTT: “If This, Then That” helps with custom automations, like saving attachments or sending notifications when a new order arrives.
• Integromat: Great for complex workflows, think updating spreadsheets or generating PDF invoices automatically.

And don’t forget everyday staples! Gmail offers filters and canned responses, while QuickBooks can automate your invoicing and reporting. Explore the settings in your current software; you might be surprised by the built-in automation features waiting for you.

Step 3: Master Email Automation

Never get stuck in your inbox again! Email automation is a game-changer for managing customer inquiries, nurturing leads, and even scoring more reviews. Use platforms like Constant Contact, ConvertKit, or Drip for automated email sequences, personalized campaigns, and instant replies with canned responses.

With email automation, you can guide your customers from their first contact all the way to purchase, building lasting relationships on autopilot. Set up automated review requests so happy clients effortlessly spread the word about your awesome services.

Step 4: Streamline Appointments & Bookings

Managing appointments shouldn’t make your head spin. Automate the process with online scheduling tools like Calendly or Acuity Scheduling. These platforms integrate seamlessly with your calendar, prevent endless back-and-forth communication, and even send automated reminders, so nobody forgets a meeting.

Customize your availability, automate confirmations, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your bookings are handled efficiently and error-free.

Step 5: Supercharge Your Social Media with Scheduling Tools

Consistent social media presence is vital, but manually posting on every platform? That’s a recipe for burnout. Torie Mathis recommends tools like Meet Edgar, Buffer, or Later to plan, schedule, and analyze all your posts in advance.

These apps let you batch content creation, automate posting, and use built-in analytics to refine your strategy for even better engagement and growth. It’s like having your own team of social media wizards working behind the scenes!

Smart Marketing Strategy

But automation is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to a smart marketing strategy. Let me ask you a question: Do you know how your marketing stacks up?

Find out by taking the SMART Marketing quiz. Get customized results on how to get smarter with your marketing, you’ll learn exactly what YOUR business should focus on, get personalized recommendations on how to get the best bang for your marketing buck, and unleash your business’s true potential. It’s like having a personal marketing coach by your side!

And remember, you don’t need crazy tech skills, buckets of cash, or a dedicated staff to market your business; you don’t even need a lot of time. What you need is to be smart, and automation is smart for your business.

Ready to automate? Embrace these steps, take the quiz, and let smart marketing be your guide to business growth!

If you're ready to grow your business with smart marketing you can:

1. Sign up for weekly FREE Business Bytes with CEO, Torie Mathis

2. Get a SMART Funnel and begin to automate your marketing

3. Learn Digital Marketing with a Smart Marketing Course

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: TORIE MATHIS

Torie Mathis helps entrepreneurs grow their business with Smart Marketing.  She is a best-selling author, Army veteran, international speaker + trainer, and the CEO + Creative Director at Lake Shark Media. She also teaches entrepreneurs how to get smart with digital marketing at toriemathis.com