How to Start Automating Parts of Your Business

Juggling school, extracurriculars, and a business can feel like a lot. Instead of doing everything the hard way, why not let automation handle some of the boring, repetitive tasks? The goal isn’t to eliminate effort but to simplify your work, giving you more time for creativity and decision-making. In this article, we’ll explore simple, realistic ways to start automating your business, even with zero budget.

Use Free Lead Magnets to Attract Potential Customers 

People love freebies. Whether you’re selling a service or a product, finding new customers can take a lot of time. Instead of constantly chasing leads, let them come to you. One of the easiest ways to do this is by offering a free resource in exchange for an email. This way, you’re building a list of people who are already interested in what you offer.

Let’s say you run a social media management business. You could create a free “Instagram Growth Checklist” as a PDF and offer it to anyone who signs up. A tool like Mailchimp (which offers a free trial) can automatically send the guide when someone joins your list. Now, you’ve got a direct way to stay in touch and turn those leads into paying customers.

Set Up an Automated Email Campaign

Now that people have signed up for your freebie, you’ve got an email list of potential customers. Instead of messaging each person one by one, you can set up an automated email marketing sequence to stay in touch without extra effort.

With a tool like Mailchimp, you can schedule emails to go out automatically over a few days. Here’s an example of how it might look:

• Email 1 (Sent Immediately): “Thanks for Downloading! Here’s Your Free Checklist.”
• Email 2 (Sent 2 Days Later): “How to Pick the Best Fonts for Your Brand.”
• Email 3 (Sent 5 Days Later): “Want a Custom Brand Video? Here’s a Discount for My Services.”

Use Project Management Tools to Stay Organized

Skip the messy to-do lists and confusing tracking methods. Instead, use a free tool like Notion or Trello to keep your business organized.

For example, if you run a custom T-shirt business, you can set up a Trello board with columns like “New Orders,” “In Progress,” and “Shipped.” This makes it easy to see what needs to be done without digging through messages or notebooks. Plus, it keeps your workflow clear, so you don’t accidentally miss important tasks.

Automate Email Tracking to Know Who to Follow Up With 

Reaching out to potential customers, business partners, or mentors is a big part of running a business. But sending emails isn’t enough—you also need to know who’s actually interested. If you’re pitching your social media services to local businesses, you don’t want to waste time following up with people who never even opened your email. Instead, focus on those who showed some interest.

With a tool like Streak (a free email tracker for Gmail), you can see who opened your message. If someone opened it but didn’t reply, send a follow-up to check in. If they never opened it, try tweaking your subject line to grab their attention next time. This way, you’re making smarter follow-ups instead of guessing who to contact.

Schedule Social Media Content in Advance

Marketing your business can be time-consuming, especially when trying to stay active on social media. Instead of posting manually every day, use scheduling tools to sort out all of your content in advance.

For example, TikTok’s built-in scheduler lets you upload videos and set them to post at the best times. You can schedule a full week’s worth of content in one sitting, keeping your brand visible without having to log in daily. This saves time and keeps your business consistently in front of your audience—all without extra effort.

Automate Appointment Scheduling for Calls or Consultations

If your business involves calls (whether it’s tutoring, coaching, or consulting), going back and forth to find a time that works can be a hassle. Instead, use a tool like Calendly to do the work for you.

Just set your availability, and people can book a time that fits their schedule. Plus, Calendly sends automatic reminders, so you don’t have to be stressed about last-minute cancellations.

Automation Isn’t Just for Big Businesses

Even if you’re just getting started, a little automation can go a long way. Pick one or two easy tools to try this week. As your business grows, you can add more based on what actually helps. The less time you spend on repetitive tasks, the more time you’ll have for creativity and building something bigger.

Are you a high school entrepreneur in Florida? You might be eligible for a Kantner Foundation college scholarship! Learn more here.