Summer's Here! How to Manage Your Business Over the Break
It's important to rest and recharge over the holidays – here are some tips to keep business ticking away while you relax
We all need a break from work from time to time, but when you run your own business it can be hard to step back. Thankfully, it’s not impossible. With a little pre-planning and access to the latest smart business tools, you can enjoy a relaxing holiday and still come back to a healthy business. Here’s how.
We’ve accompanied this story with beautiful project images by design professionals who use Houzz Pro to run their businesses better.
We’ve accompanied this story with beautiful project images by design professionals who use Houzz Pro to run their businesses better.
Analyse your workflow
“Take a close look at your business processes, procedures and software to improve efficiency,” says Pace. “Adopting change can be challenging, but it’s crucial for business growth and also ensures you are providing the best client experience.
“Outdated software and processes are the biggest time leeches for any business owner. Time is money!” she says.
“Take a close look at your business processes, procedures and software to improve efficiency,” says Pace. “Adopting change can be challenging, but it’s crucial for business growth and also ensures you are providing the best client experience.
“Outdated software and processes are the biggest time leeches for any business owner. Time is money!” she says.
Let clients know you’ll be away
“Let your existing clients know that you will be away well in advance and, when responding to new inquiries, tell them that you are taking a break and give them the date you will be back,” says Pace.
Learn about Houzz Pro all-in-one business software
“Let your existing clients know that you will be away well in advance and, when responding to new inquiries, tell them that you are taking a break and give them the date you will be back,” says Pace.
Learn about Houzz Pro all-in-one business software
Here are three ways you can keep clients informed of your holiday timings:
- Send clients a holiday greeting eDM (electronic direct mail) in advance, with details of when your business will close and reopen.
- Follow up with a reminder email shortly before you close for the holidays, including who to contact in an emergency, if appropriate. Inform clients how often you will be checking emails, voicemails or social media, if you plan to do so while you’re away.
- Display holiday closure details on your website, in voicemail messages and out-of-office email replies.
Plan ahead to find new clients
“So you have one less thing to worry about when you’re away – and also when you return to the office – actively plan and build a pipeline of projects and clients for the new year months before you leave,” says Pace.
Learn how to help clients visualise the result of a finished project
“So you have one less thing to worry about when you’re away – and also when you return to the office – actively plan and build a pipeline of projects and clients for the new year months before you leave,” says Pace.
Learn how to help clients visualise the result of a finished project
Automate your business processes
“Simple things, such as creating a range of templated responses to inquires, ahead of time, can be a big help,” says Pace.
Houzz Pro software makes doing this easy. “You can set up a range of customised templates to use when responding to inquires on Houzz Pro. This allows you to send responses at the click of a button rather than having to draft a lengthy email when you’re at the beach with the kids,” she says.
“Simple things, such as creating a range of templated responses to inquires, ahead of time, can be a big help,” says Pace.
Houzz Pro software makes doing this easy. “You can set up a range of customised templates to use when responding to inquires on Houzz Pro. This allows you to send responses at the click of a button rather than having to draft a lengthy email when you’re at the beach with the kids,” she says.
Keep existing clients in the loop
“Sharing key project information with clients that they can access while you are away can also reduce stress when you’re on holiday.” says Pace. “When you create a project in Houzz Pro, you can share with the client all digital documentation, such as proposals, invoices, files, project timelines, and even message chains. This allows your client to access these items via desktop or app at any time.
“As a result, they won’t need to contact you for project-related questions and, if needed in an emergency, you are able to guide them and find what they need quickly as it’s all in one place,” she says.
“Sharing key project information with clients that they can access while you are away can also reduce stress when you’re on holiday.” says Pace. “When you create a project in Houzz Pro, you can share with the client all digital documentation, such as proposals, invoices, files, project timelines, and even message chains. This allows your client to access these items via desktop or app at any time.
“As a result, they won’t need to contact you for project-related questions and, if needed in an emergency, you are able to guide them and find what they need quickly as it’s all in one place,” she says.
Other things you can do to minimise away-from-office stress include:
- Delegate: Put someone in charge to assist clients and respond to inquiries while you’re away. This can give a colleague the chance to step up and take on more responsibility while you enjoy a well-deserved break.
- Organise a proper handover: This is what your colleague or team will work off when you’re away. With Houzz Pro’s Project Collaboration tool, you can invite colleagues to collaborate on projects so you can share information, files and updates, all in one place.
- Let colleagues know when (and if) you’ll be contactable to answer urgent queries.
No team to delegate to? With a little pre-planning, you can still enjoy a relaxing break away from work. You may want to:
From the team at Houzz, happy holidays!
- Set up an email auto-response and voicemail message explaining that you will return non-urgent messages when you get back. If you’re happy to respond to queries during your holiday, let clients know exactly when they can expect to hear from you.
- Allocate a specific time of day to check your emails and voicemails.
- Only respond to critical messages, and make a note of the ones that can be answered when you return.
From the team at Houzz, happy holidays!
Your turn
What’s your top tip for keeping business ticking along while you’re away? Tell us in the Comments below.
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Want more expert insights on how to run your business better? Check out this story: 6 Must-Have Features to Include on Your Website
What’s your top tip for keeping business ticking along while you’re away? Tell us in the Comments below.
More
Want more expert insights on how to run your business better? Check out this story: 6 Must-Have Features to Include on Your Website
“Whether it’s going on holiday or lazing around home in your pyjamas all day, take time to relax as this is crucial for your mental and physical wellbeing and it ensures you have a clear mind for the new year ahead,” says Melissa Pace, senior client success manager at Houzz Australia.