Can You Automate Your Customized Service?
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Yes!
I have had many people come to me asking how they can use automation if they offer very customized services. Some don't believe that they can harness the power of automation just because their services are specific to each individual client. This just isn't true! Whether you are using Dubsado, Honeybook, Practice, or another CRM, they should have some kind of workflow functionality to help you create your processes and incorporate at least some automation.
Below are some examples of how you can add automation into your processes for your customized service.
Inquiry:
Let's start with Inquiry. I bet some if not all of your leads go through the same inquiry process. Maybe you have a few different channels that they may come through, but for the most part, the process is the same. Why not automate some if not all of it?
Personally, I currently have 2 inquiry processes: One is a general inquiry and one is for clients coming from a specific referral source that I use. The only real difference in the processes is that I have a certain form that automatically goes out to my general inquiry leads that I don't need my referral leads to fill out (as I already have that info).
Maybe you have a scheduler on your website so that inquiries can book a call with you. They all go through the same process. Maybe you also have a contact form so they can reach out first before scheduling. They all go through the same process. Ta Da! You can easily automate having confirmation and reminder emails going out, an auto responder email for your contact form, and even have some canned emails in your arsenal for FAQs you get through your contact form, then have your system auto send your scheduler for them to book a call! The possibilities are endless and that is just for inquiries!
Onboarding:
Once a client signs up to work with you, do you have a specific onboarding process that all go through? Certain forms that all of your clients need to receive or fill out? Or maybe you have a specific onboarding for one type of service/client and another for another service/client?
Personally, I currently have a few different Onboarding workflows based on the service my client is requiring. Each workflow has specific forms and documents that I or my client needs for their project, it automatically applies specific tags to the project, activates their client portal, reminds me when to complete any manual steps that need to be done, and sends out reminders for me!
If you are thinking to yourself that even what I mentioned above won't work, there has to be SOME sort of basic general starting point that you can create a template for and then edit for each client before sending. THAT is still a form of automation! THAT will still save you time and keep your project on track!
Offboarding and/or Nurturing:
The same thing goes for offboarding. You most likely have the same, or similar, Thank You email, maybe a client survey, testimonial request, or gift that you send. Again, every little bit helps! Even if you have a skeleton workflow built out, or have an approval button on everything because you need to edit/customize it before it goes out, it will help keep your processes consistent, ensure you don't drop the ball on a project, and save you time.
Just because you offer customized services, doesn't mean you can't integrate at least SOME automation into your process. Utilize what your CRM has to offer in regard to workflows to create a process that you can both automate and customize to your needs. Dubsado’s workflows are perfect for this! They have so many actions and triggers to choose from, you can put an approval button on anything, and schedule things to trigger when you want them to.
Automation is your friend. Every little bit helps to save you time, and money, and keep your projects on track.
