This question comes to me often – when setting up your business for success, where should the focus go first?

Should you concentrate on getting the right technology and software?

Or is developing operational systems the first stop on the business organization train?

After all, you can’t do such fundamental actions as sign up new email subscribers or collect payments without some basic pieces of technology. So that’s it right? Concentrate on the tech first.

You probably know my answer is very much the opposite.

In my opinion,  systems come first!

And this isn’t just because I’m all about the processes. No ma’am.

Without efficient workflows in place first, you won’t be able to best use your technology.

Solid tech can only take you so far. It can only make you so efficient without operational systems in place.

But then you can become restricted by what your team doesn’t know they should be doing, by everyone needing your input on basic tasks, and even by what the program can and can’t do.

Technology totally helps you along and makes workflows easier, don’t get me wrong, but it functions best when there’s a clear purpose and method for getting from point A to B.

So try this:

• Instead of relying on technology first, start by thinking through your process.
• Write down or type out the steps to take the project, task or action from start to finish.
• Who’s responsible for what piece?
• What happens if there’s a break in the chain, like a client’s payment doesn’t go through as planned? Who follows up and how and when?
• How do you know the process is complete? What needs to occur?
• Get it all out of your head and down on paper or into a digital doc, then show it to your team, get their input and make sure each person knows what part they’re responsible for.

An insider secret – once a process is in place, it typically doesn’t matter what piece of technology you’re using, whether that’s AWeber or ConvertKit, Acuity or Calendy, WordPress or SquareSpace.

So that fancy $200 per month CRM/sales/email marketing platform can only take you so far, unless you have a clear marketing action plan in place to really leverage that type of technology.

The foundation has been set.

Agree? Disagree? Just want to join the conversation. Post below – I’m dying to know your thoughts on the topic.

Photo by William Iven on Unsplash