How To Create A Procedure Manual [Roundtable Series with Indigo Colton and Laura Neff]

Have you heard everyone saying “you need systems in your business”? Or you’ve already realized the only way you can hire someone is if you have systems. Or you know that systems will definitely save you time and make your life easier, but you don’t know where to start!

Well, if you’re ready to ACTUALLY live more and work less you need to create a procedure manual for your small business. To get an exact outline of how to create your own, join us for this episode as we talk to Indigo Colton and Laura Neff. Two systems experts who have perfected the art of creating procedure manuals for themselves and their clients!

In this episode you’ll learn:

• What’s in a procedure manual

• How to write out your procedure manual

• How to best use a procedure manual to live more and work less

Recap Of First Questions + Answers In This Episode

What are some of the results that you or your clients have had from having a procedure manual?  

Indigo:

What a lot of people might not know is that I have been sick a lot in the last month or so. It got to a point where my doctor said I had to take time off and stop working. I am fortunate enough to have a project manager on my team but we had never got to a point where I had to pass everything over to her while being gone. Because I had different procedure manuals she knew exactly what had to be taken care of and how to do it so I did not have to worry about my business or my clients while I was resting. I was really able to focus on getting better. To me, that was the biggest success (if you can call that a success!) with having a procedures manual that I’ve ever had.

Laura:

I created my own procedure manual for my wedding photography business because I was completely drowning. I was working a 100 hours a week so I created a procedure manual to reduce my workload and anxiety and then started helping other people with their procedure manuals. A couple of people have been testing them out recently and one of my lovely 1-1 clients said that in one wedding she has been saving 16 hours a week. She got to have a Valentine’s date with her husband, to hang out with her kids and visit her family. That is invaluable to me. Other clients have said to me how having a procedure in place has saved their marriage because of not having to spend every single moment in front of a computer.

What would a marketing procedure look like for you?  

Laura:

I would start by creating a content calendar. On that calendar I would write what blog posts need to go out when, what Instagram posts need to go with it to promote it, same with Facebook and other social media channels. I try and create a calendar that covers all different topics I like to write about such as wedding photography, brand photography, productivity tips and tips for photographers.

I then use that calendar to map out my blogging frequency, what days the blog posts need to go out, what days I am posting on social media – it really helps with consistency and not having to worry about figuring out what needs to go out when.

What does a client onboarding and offboarding system look like?

Indigo:

It’s important to have your onboarding email sequence written out. I have it written out from the moment I send a proposal to them all the way to when they’re actually a new client. Once they have accepted the quote I have an email going out to them with the next steps that are going to happen such as when they can expect an invoice and a contract. I also like to have a Welcome Guide that goes over some frequently asked questions depending on what the service is. 

Make sure you are clear on your communication methods and that you have access to everything you need to have access to.

To Dive Deeper Watch The Full Episode

 

If There’s One Thing I Know It’s…

Each episode I ask my guest to teach us about a lesson they’ve learned through their business and life experiences, by completing the sentence “If there’s one thing I know it’s..”. I’m always taken back by the incredible insight they have to share!

Indigo: You have to take care yourself first.

Laura: Life comes before work every single time.

Quotes Worth Sharing:

Indigo: [bctt tweet=”You have to take care yourself first. – Indigo” username=”nevicavazquez”]

Laura: [bctt tweet=”Life comes before work every single time.- Laura” username=”nevicavazquez”]

To Keep In Touch With These Ladies

Indigo’s mission to create empowering systems + strategies all began when she started her virtual assistant business in 2014. She saw first-hand how many business owners were struggling, and felt like everything was slipping through the cracks. Now she works with creative online business owners to create customized, empowering strategies that support their businesses so that they can stop feeling overwhelmed and overworked.

Her website: www.indigocolton.com 

Her Instagram: www.instagram.com/indigocolton

Laura Neff is a wedding and brand photographer for adventurous and creative hearts as well as an educator for photographers and creative entrepreneurs.  Her mission is to empower photographers and creative business owners to build a profitable business and fulfilling life with education designed to help save time and make more money. Through workflows, systems, and productivity, she’s redefining how entrepreneurs run their businesses and their lives— proving that creatives can achieve work-life balance AND grow successful, profitable businesses at the same time.

Her website: http://lauraleecreative.imlauralee.com

Her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraleecreative

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