Spring Clean Your Small Business

March 25, 2015

Mark Swenson - VP/Businss Banking - Cash Management

Spring is a time of excitement and renewal; a time to brush off the grime from winter, a time to put on some gloves and start scrubbing. While spring cleaning may not be your cup of tea, it's important to annually review and freshen up your small business. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Remove the Digital Cobwebs

Preform a web site deep cleaning - It's good practice to keep your web site updated. Fresh, relevant content will keep your audience (customers) engaged and can help your search engine rankings. It's important to preform regular web site audits to review content, images and links. Be sure to review each page, proofing your content and making sure that all links are working properly. The marketing department at Home Federal audits our bank web site at the end of each quarter. In terms of content, it may help to create a content calendar that outlines and reminds you to update your site throughout the year.

Give your social media a makeover - How long has it been since you updated your Facebook images or your Twitter avatar? Maybe it is time to slap a new coat of paint on your social media profiles. Offer up promotions, conduct a contest or share some articles. Just like your web site, create and update content seasonally on your social profiles to stay relevant and interesting to your followers.

Dust off your listings - Search engines are a wonderful way for your customers to find you, but are they really finding your business? Use Google and Yahoo and other search engines to find your business - what are the results? Chances are you'll find listings you didn't create. Review what you find and make or request the necessary corrections to ensure that your customers can find and contact your business.

Air Out Your Staff and Operations

Sort through the clutter - How well did your staff do over the winter? Did you meet goals? Are they satisfied with their jobs? Take some time and have some conversations. Evaluate your employees and work with them as a team to make improvements. The best thing you can do for your business is to recognize and rectify any issues that may be influencing employee motivation and/or productivity. Identify resolutions and set expectations so everyone is on the same page.

Sort your business expenses - Spring is also tax season, so you've probably already been reviewing your expenses. Use this time to determine how your business capital is being used, and identify areas for potential savings. Review your options and shop around. Even if your loyalty stands with a specific company, find ways to eliminate unnecessary expenses.

Tidy Up Your Office

Clear some space - When your work environment is cluttered, your ability to focus suffers. Clean your office. Sort through files and discard all unnecessary paperwork or junk. Explore other options for getting organized. Do you have piles of paperwork heaped on your desk or stuffed in drawers? Maybe scanning those items and digitally storing them would be helpful. You can organize these digital files just like physical folders. Remember to make a copy and back up any files you create.

Take some time each year to renew and declutter your small business. When your business is clean and organized, it will be easier to focus on the goals and plans that will help your business succeed. As always, Home Federal Bank is here to help your business succeed. Contact us today, if you have any questions.

Home Federal offers Personal Banking, Business Banking, Ag Lending , Home Loans, Trust and Asset Management, and Investments. With so much to offer, learn what Home Federal can do for you.

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