Soul Proprietor - The urge to purge your biz

Has your business become constipated?

No, I’m not talking about restroom problems (polite company, yo). Instead, I mean a business jammed-full of stuff that is taking up space and providing zero benefit.

Stuff like:
Outdated files
Old client records
Dated digital products
Unnecessary expenses
Aggravating relationships
Newsletter lists clogged with people who don’t bother to open up you emails

That.

If that sounds like your biz, it’s time to clean it out. You’ve gotta purge.

A proper business audit and purge will keep your business well-oiled and regular.

So how to do it?

I know, I know – it seems overwhelming. But it’s not that hard! Here’s what to do:

Set a date every year to do your purge. (I have found that I prefer a twice-a-year schedule. I like to be super-clean ‘n tidy.)

Next, look closely at your business. What needs to go? Where have you been holding on to? What’s no longer relevant to your business? Which clients aren’t a good fit? How many people are on your email list – who haven’t opened your newsletter in months? Look under the hood and find all that dead wood. Audit the heck out of it!

After you’ve done the audit, purge baby, purge!

Begin by shredding old files + receipts. If they are more than seven years old, toss ‘em.

Next, if you keep records on your clients, look ‘em over. Are they up-to-date? Do you hang on to records for old clients that you stopped working with long ago? Take some time to update information and, in some cases, feel free to delete those files. (In case you’re curious: I keep zero records on my clients. This way, I get a fresh slate every time I work with them and can remain objective. But that’s just me. You may prefer otherwise.)

Now take a look at your website. Do you have ancient digital products that no longer thrilling to you – or barely selling? Retire them to the digital vault. You can always update them and bring ‘em back at a later time if you’d like. (I regularly retire programs and e-books to make space for new offerings.)

The newsletter list is next! If you use a program like Aweber Email Marketing, it’s easy to do a search and see which subscribers haven’t opened your emails in months…or years. Find ‘em and unsubscribe them! Yeah, I know a big list sounds impressive but if no one is opening the emails, is it really doing anything for your biz? Probably not. Plus, you’re paying for those people to take up space. Unclog your list and you will have a more responsive one – and save some bones! (I burnt down my entire list two years ago and was able to recoup the numbers within a few months.)

Finally, look at your computer + inbox. Are you subscribed to a bunch of email newsletters you never read? Unsubscribe! (Yes, feel free to unsubscribe to my newsletter too. No hard feelings!) BAM!

Do you have a bunch of docs and files littering up your hard drive? Organize or delete! Toss that stuff!

Get rid of any classes that you stopped participating in (better yet, don’t buy yet one more program or class that you don’t intend to finish no matter how badly you think you need it). School’s out!

Lastly, clear out old relationships that drag you down: that biz partner who barely shows up, the client who consistently pulls a no-show, that V.A. that needs to be nagged to do one simple thing. Fire ‘em gently and move on. Ahhhh…..

Feel better?

I thought so.

Taking the bloat out of your business allows it (and you) to breathe – and that creates a smooth movin’ enterprise.

Blessings,
Theresa

@ Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady 2016