Podcast Summary: Automation: Speeding Up Without Slowing Yourself Down

Podcast Information:

• Title: You Can! Inspiring Women In Business
• Host: Sarah Jolley-Jarvis
• Episode: 32 - Automation: Speeding Up Without Slowing Yourself Down
• Release Date: March 7, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 32 of "You Can! Inspiring Women In Business," host Sarah Jolley-Jarvis delves into the strategic use of automation in business operations. Titled "Automation: Speeding Up Without Slowing Yourself Down," Sarah emphasizes the importance of timing when integrating automation into your business processes. She cautions against the common pitfall of prematurely embracing complex technological solutions before establishing a solid customer base and validating business offers.

The Pitfall of Early Automation

Sarah begins by addressing a frequent mistake among new business owners: becoming entangled in technological solutions before making initial sales. At [02:15], she warns,

“Many new business owners get bogged down in tech and automation before they've even made a single sale.”

She highlights that this issue isn't limited to novices but also affects those pivoting their business models or creating new offers. The allure of polished systems—like landing pages, automated emails, and advanced resources—can distract entrepreneurs from the fundamental tasks of testing market demand and understanding customer preferences.

The Importance of Manual Selling

Drawing a parallel to the hospitality industry, Sarah uses the example of opening a café. She asks listeners to imagine investing heavily in high-end espresso machines and an automated ordering system before verifying whether the local community truly craves quality coffee. Instead, she advocates for a "pop-up stall" approach to gauge interest and demand organically.

At [05:45], Sarah succinctly captures this philosophy:

“Sell first, automate second. It's the fastest way to build a business that actually works and actually gets the right people through the door.”

By manually selling the initial offerings—whether it's a course, coaching service, or product—entrepreneurs can quickly start generating revenue and collecting genuine feedback from their early customers. This hands-on approach allows for iterative improvements based on real user experiences rather than assumptions.

Practical Tips for When to Automate

Transitioning from manual operations to automation should be a measured process. Sarah provides a practical guideline: aim to secure at least five sales of your offer before investing in automation. This benchmark serves as an early indicator that your product resonates with the market and justifies the automation investment.

She elaborates further at [15:30]:

“If you can get at least five sales for that offer that you are creating before you start to put things into place from an automation, five sales is a good sign that your offer is worth automating.”

This rule of thumb may vary depending on the size of your audience, but it offers a starting point for assessing readiness. Sarah encourages entrepreneurs to use these initial sales to understand their target audience better and refine their messaging accordingly.

Steps to Automate Effectively

When the time is right to automate, Sarah advises starting small. Implement simple automations that alleviate time-consuming tasks, such as:

1. Automated Purchasing: Set up systems for automatic payment processing using reliable gateways like Stripe. This reduces manual handling of transactions and minimizes errors.

2. Basic Sales Pages: Develop landing pages and sales funnels that can operate without constant personal intervention, allowing potential customers to learn about and purchase your offerings seamlessly.

3. Email Sequences: Automate onboarding emails to welcome new clients, provide resources, and guide them through their initial experience with your product or service.

As automation needs grow, Sarah recommends progressively introducing more complex systems, such as upsells, downsells, and order bumps within sales funnels.

At [18:50], she emphasizes the importance of incremental automation:

“Start with simple automations where you are wasting the most of your time... then from there you can progress.”

Outsourcing Automation

For entrepreneurs who find technology overwhelming or outside their skill set, outsourcing automation is a viable option. Sarah underscores the importance of delegating technical tasks to professionals, especially once you have a steady flow of sales to reinvest in these services.

She advises at [22:10],

“If tech isn't your thing, then outsource it... Look for recommendations, etc. Again, if you're ever confused about that, drop into the UCAN community and ask who would I recommend for such and such? Or drop me an email.”

Outsourcing ensures that automation is handled efficiently without diverting your focus from core business activities. This strategy also allows you to leverage experts' skills, ensuring that your automated systems are both effective and scalable.

Avoiding Common Automation Mistakes

Sarah highlights the risks of automating too early, such as automating an ineffective or misaligned message that attracts the wrong audience. She explains that without proper validation, automation can lead to wasted resources and missed opportunities to connect with ideal clients.

In her words at [25:40],

“Automating at the wrong time... it will slow your launches, it will slow your progress... you are not even going to know who you're talking to.”

To mitigate these risks, Sarah advises continuously assessing the quality of leads and ensuring that your automated messages align with your target audience's needs and preferences. This approach guarantees that automation enhances rather than hinders your business growth.

Conclusion

In summary, Sarah Jolley-Jarvis advocates for a strategic and phased approach to automation in business. The key takeaways from this episode include:

• Start Manually: Validate your business offers and understand your audience through direct sales before investing in automation.
• Set Benchmarks: Use initial sales as indicators for when to begin automating specific processes.
• Begin Small: Implement simple automations initially and scale progressively based on your business needs.
• Outsource When Needed: Delegate technical tasks to experts if automation isn't your forte.
• Align Automation with Audience Needs: Ensure that automated systems resonate with the right audience to maximize efficiency and sales.

Sarah encapsulates the episode's essence by urging entrepreneurs:

“Don’t let automation slow you down. You’re using it to speed it up.”

By following her guidance, business owners can harness the power of automation effectively, ensuring it serves as a tool for growth rather than a hindrance.

Notable Quotes

• Introducing the Topic:
  “Many new business owners get bogged down in tech and automation before they've even made a single sale.”
  — Sarah Jolley-Jarvis [02:15]

• Core Philosophy:
  “Sell first, automate second. It's the fastest way to build a business that actually works and actually gets the right people through the door.”
  — Sarah Jolley-Jarvis [05:45]

• Guideline for Automation:
  “If you can get at least five sales for that offer that you are creating before you start to put things into place from an automation, five sales is a good sign that your offer is worth automating.”
  — Sarah Jolley-Jarvis [15:30]

• Incremental Automation:
  “Start with simple automations where you are wasting the most of your time... then from there you can progress.”
  — Sarah Jolley-Jarvis [18:50]

• Outsourcing Advice:
  “If tech isn't your thing, then outsource it... Look for recommendations, etc.”
  — Sarah Jolley-Jarvis [22:10]

• Avoiding Automation Pitfalls:
  “Automating at the wrong time... it will slow your launches, it will slow your progress... you are not even going to know who you're talking to.”
  — Sarah Jolley-Jarvis [25:40]

Next Episode Preview

Sarah concludes the episode by teasing the next topic:

“Next week, we’re going to be talking a little bit more about referrals and why referrals are your best source of leads and how to get more of them.”

Listeners are encouraged to subscribe, review the podcast, and engage with Sarah through various channels for further support and community interaction.

Connect with Sarah Jolley-Jarvis:

• Email: sarahcanOnline@example.com
• Social Media: Instagram, Facebook

Feel free to share this episode with fellow entrepreneurs and reach out to Sarah with your biggest automation challenges!