Running an ecommerce business is hard work. You've got to spend hours upon hours dealing with customers, getting new products manufactured, managing inventory and finances --- the list goes on and on. But that doesn't mean you have to burn yourself out in order to run a successful ecommerce business that is profitable at the same time. In fact, I think it's possible for any entrepreneur who wants to build their own business from scratch without spending all their waking hours doing so. So if you're looking for ways to improve your life-work balance as well as your bottom line in 2019, here are some tips to help:
Minimize distractions.
The key to minimizing distractions is to turn off everything. It's simple, but it can be hard. Turn off your phone, turn off your computer and TV, turn off the radio and internet and lights and noise. The more you can shut down all outside stimuli, the easier it will be for you to focus on what matters most: running a profitable ecommerce business!
Create a schedule and stick to it.
Once you've set the goals for your business and decided on the type of work you want to do, it's time to get down to business.
But what does this mean?
It means creating a schedule. A schedule will help you keep track of your tasks and plan ahead so that nothing slips through the cracks. Having a schedule will also help ensure that no matter how busy things get, there is always time for family, friends and leisure activities outside of work.
Outsource tasks that don't require your personal attention.
Outsourcing tasks that don't require your personal attention is a pretty obvious way to save time. When you are running an eCommerce business, it can be difficult to find the time to do everything yourself. You may be able to get away with doing everything yourself for a little while but eventually, you will need to hire help or outsource some tasks.
There are plenty of people who are willing and able to do what you need done for far less than it would cost in terms of time and energy if you did them yourself. Hiring someone else will free up your time so that you can focus on more important things like growing your business or engaging with customers.
Organize your team and make sure everyone's on the same page.
Successful people know that in order to achieve their goals, they need to get organized. This means defining the problem before starting on a solution.
I'm not just talking about setting financial goals and sticking to them. You also have to be realistic with yourself and work within your means. Setting ambitious targets is good; getting caught up in a delusional dream where you think you can change your life overnight is bad. You need to be able to take incremental steps towards each goal as well as visualise how far away those steps are from their final destination---and then start taking them!
Track your progress with the right tools and spreadsheets.
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Tracking important metrics is essential for success.
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You don't have to be a micromanager in order to track your progress.
There are several data points you should be tracking, including: sales volume, profit margin (gross margin), total expenses per month/quarter/year and customer lifetime value (CLV).
- There are many ways to set up spreadsheets that will allow you to do this effectively.
Get enough sleep, eat healthy, exercise regularly, meditate and find ways to relax your mind.
This is the most important piece of advice in this entire article. If you want to run a successful ecommerce business then the single best thing you can do is take care of your body. You need to get enough sleep, eat healthy foods and exercise regularly and find ways to relax your mind regularly.
The reason why this matters so much when it comes to running an ecommerce business is because if you don't take care of yourself then it will be very difficult for you to stay focused on your work or even just enjoy life while working at home without distractions like social media, television or other entertainment options that might pull your attention away from what really matters which is running a successful business.
You don't have to burn yourself out in order to run a successful ecommerce business that is profitable at the same time.
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You don't have to burn yourself out in order to run a successful ecommerce business that is profitable at the same time.
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You can enjoy your life and still have a profitable business.
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You can have time for yourself, even if you are running an ecommerce business.
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And you can also enjoy spending time with your family, even when running an ecommerce business that's making you money!
Conclusion
Running an ecommerce business is hard work and it can be very stressful. But it doesn't have to be. With the right mindset and some good advice, you can create a profitable business that also allows you to enjoy life along the way.