I recently got into a discussion thread on a friend’s Facebook feed about the concept of time and how it doesn’t exist—it is a human construct. I use my human brain to digest this (it’s not the first time I’ve heard this).
I get it, but it boggles my mind. Anyway, the point I’d like to make today is that even though, philosophically, time doesn’t exist, many of us struggle with having enough of this commodity to do all the things we want and need to do.
That said, how can we spend more of our time on the things we love to do, or the high-level things that require our expertise or superpowers, and less time on the things we don’t enjoy and that can be passed on in some way to ease our load? The solution is to automate tasks. Thankfully, there are tools for that.
There is an enormous number of online tools that are simple to adapt to and use in our day-to-day to give us the perception of expanded time. If there is a process that you would like to create more efficiency around, there is a specific tool developed to help you with that.
In the spirit of keeping things digestible, I will tell you about three of my favorite efficiency tools that automate steps and sequences in my business.
1. TidyCal – Calendar Scheduler
What a gem this was to discover. Thanks to my network of business friends for passing this one on. What stood out was the one-time payment referred to as a Lifetime Plan – a single payment of $29 USD. Whaaat?! I had to check this one out. There’s no skimping on the features of this plan. Here’s a quick overview from me, but check it out yourself if you want the details:
- Unlimited booking types—for example, 30-minute free consults, client meetings, strategy sessions, check-ins, etc., to suit your unique business model. You can add a payment feature to your bookings if you like.
- It connects to your calendar, sends booking and reminder emails, and allows your clients to reschedule or cancel.
- You can set your availability—globally or per booking type. You can include questions to gather preliminary information.
2. Stripe – Payment Processor
If you’re looking for a payment processing platform for your service-based business, I really like Stripe. I use it when I need to process transactions outside of my local area. I use e-transfers whenever possible. When not possible, I offer credit card payment links on my website.
What I like best about Stripe is the simple and seamless experience it provides my clients. There is no fuss, no muss. No redirecting to a sign-in screen. No need for them to create an account. Clients just enter their payment information. Once done, they are directed to a thank-you page with further instructions if needed.
Stripe is easy to adapt to and use – with a quick YouTube tutorial if you need it. There are a few steps needed to set up your products and your payment links, connect your bank account, and make a test purchase. You can be in business fairly quickly. Of course, there are processing fees to contend with. I see these as a tax-deductible cost of doing business.
3. Pallyy – Social Media Scheduler
Last, but not least, is Pallyy. I was delighted to find out about Pallyy. A feature I haven’t seen anywhere else is that you can schedule far into the future – like a year (or more). If that appeals to you, you may become a fan like me.
Another thing I like is that I can upload all of my content into a folder that lives on Pallyy. I like to use the calendar view to schedule my content. So far, I’ve enjoyed these features in the free plan, which limits the number of posts per month that you can schedule.
There are more features to tap into in the free and paid plans that I’m looking forward to learning about on a need-to-know basis.
To Sum Up
I don’t know if I’m a geek for getting excited about these efficiency tools that help me automate tasks. If I am, I’m sure I’m not the only one.😉
They do the work for me in the background, allowing me to focus on client projects, expand my knowledge and skill set, write newsletters, and keep in touch with my growing network of friends, clients, and colleagues.
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Disclaimer: I’ve provided links that are not affiliate links. I will not be earning any commissions if you click on them. I just thought I’d save you the step of Googling them. If you decide to try any of them out, let me know how it goes. We can compare notes and geek out a little.