How to Make Time for Innovation

We know you're an incredibly busy business owner. It's easy to get caught up in the daily tasks and operation of your business. But if you're only doing what must be done, and never making time for innovation, you will fall behind.

But how do you make time to innovate?

For the busy business professional, being told to make time to innovate is like someone critiquing your swimming stroke when you feel like you're drowning. To innovate you must have (or feel like you have) your business under control and very few business owners feel that way.

Something is always coming up that demands time and energy and so innovation takes a back seat to the business’ immediate needs.

It's likely you've heard that AI can streamline your tasks and make you more efficient. While that's true and a lot of businesses are using AI in administrative ways, it can do so much more.

However, even as good as AI is, it cannot oversee your strategic planning and innovation. As the leader of your company, you need to be the one to take that on.

With AI you can get several hours back in your week and that extra time can be used to innovate and strategize.

Here's how:

Things AI Can Take off Your Plate

Here’s a list of ways AI can free up your time as a small business owner, enabling you to focus on innovation and growth.

Please note: these technology suggestions are starts. There are many other options out there. Perform your due diligence to find a solution that works best for the way you work.

Let’s get started…

Automate Administrative Tasks

- Email Management. Use AI tools like Gmail's Smart Compose or apps like Superhuman to prioritize and automate responses.

- Scheduling. Leverage AI scheduling assistants like Calendly or Clara to manage appointments and meetings.

- Document Handling. Use tools like DocuSign or PandaDoc for automated contract creation, signing, and tracking.

But don’t stop there. How much time does your team spend on interacting with your customers, not in engaging ways but answering the same questions over and over. Once when visiting a liquor store on Christmas Eve, I witnessed the employee answer the phone five times within a three-minute span. He answered each time with “Hello, we’re open until six.” Most people hung up after that. All they wanted to know was the store’s hours.

That’s a waste of everyone’s time. Instead…

Streamline Customer Interactions

- Chatbots. Deploy AI chatbots like ChatGPT or Intercom to handle FAQs, basic inquiries, and customer support 24/7.

- CRM Integration. Utilize AI-powered CRMs like HubSpot or Salesforce Einstein to manage customer relationships and follow-ups.

Where else are you spending your time? Marketing? Financial management? Training? Let’s look at a couple of ways to streamline those.

Enhance Marketing Efforts

- Content Creation. Generate social media posts, blog content, and email campaigns with tools like Jasper AI or Copy.ai or personalize your email campaigns based on customer data with MailChimp.

- Ad Optimization. Use AI platforms like Adzooma or Smartly.io to analyze and optimize your ad performance automatically.

- Social Media Scheduling. Automate post scheduling and analytics with tools like Buffer or Hootsuite Insights.

Optimize Financial Management

- Bookkeeping. Employ AI-based accounting tools like QuickBooks or Xero for automated expense tracking, invoicing, and tax preparation.

- Budgeting. Use AI financial tools like Fathom to generate forecasts and identify savings opportunities.

- Payment Systems. Square and Clover integrate AI for tracking sales and managing promotions.

Enhance Team Collaboration

- Project Management. Use AI-enhanced tools like Asana or Trello with smart suggestions to streamline workflows and assign tasks.

- Talent Management. Automate hiring processes with tools like Zoho Recruit or LinkedIn Talent Insights to find the right candidates faster.

- Virtual Assistants. Use Zapier to integrate and automate workflows between apps like Gmail, QuickBooks, and Slack.

Boost Personal Productivity

- AI Assistants. Tools like Otter.ai can transcribe meetings and summarize notes.

- Focus Tools. Apps like Freedom or Serene use AI to help you minimize distractions and improve focus.

Gain Insights for Innovation

- Data Analytics. Tools like Tableau or Google Analytics with AI capabilities can help you gather insights into customer behavior or market trends.

- Competitor Monitoring. Tools like Crayon can track competitor activities and strategies in real time.

Automate Customer Feedback

- Survey Tools. Platforms like Qualtrics or Typeform can collect and analyze customer feedback.

- Sentiment Analysis. MonkeyLearn analyzes customer reviews and identifies trends or areas for improvement.

Train Your Team with AI

- Learning Management Systems (LMS). Use AI-driven platforms like Udemy Business or Coursera for Business to provide personalized learning paths for employees.

For businesses with specific industry needs, we’ve compiled a few additional tools as well.

For Retail Shops

Inventory Management:

Tools like Vend or Square Inventory use AI to track stock, predict trends, and automate reordering.

Customer Loyalty Programs:

Platforms like Fivestars or Loyalzoo personalize rewards and send automated reminders to drive repeat visits.

Visual Merchandising Assistance:

AI apps like Diorama can simulate store layouts to optimize product placement.

Pricing Optimization:

Tools like Wiser analyze competitors and suggest the best pricing strategies.

For Restaurants and Cafes

Order Management:

Toast or Square for Restaurants automates online orders, menu updates, and payment processing.

Chatbots for Reservations:

Platforms like Tock or OpenTable use AI to handle bookings, reducing staff workload.

Predictive Analytics:

SevenRooms forecasts demand and customer preferences to manage staffing and inventory effectively.

Social Media Automation:

Use Planoly or Canva Content Planner to schedule posts showcasing daily specials or events.

For Service Businesses (e.g., Salons, Spas, Auto Shops)

Appointment Scheduling:

AI-powered apps like Booksy, Fresha, or Schedulicity automate booking and send reminders.

Customer Upselling:

Tools like Mindbody suggest related services or products during the booking process.

Review Monitoring:

AI platforms like Birdeye aggregate and analyze online reviews to improve your reputation.

Employee Scheduling:

Apps like Homebase optimize staff shifts based on predicted demand.

If you want more time to innovate in your business, ask yourself where you’re spending the most time and if your skills are really needed there. If not, there’s probably an AI tool for that.

Implementing even a few of these AI solutions can free up significant time and mental bandwidth, giving you the space to strategize, innovate, and lead your business forward in 2025 and beyond.

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Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle, rediscovering the magic within.

_______________________________________

Medium: @christinametcalf

Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking

Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor

LinkedIn: @christinagsmith

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Local Business Partnerships Strengthen Communities and Drive Growth

February 19, 2025

Strategic partnerships expand reach – Small businesses can attract new customers, reduce costs, and strengthen their local presence by collaborating with complementary businesses. Joint events boost visibility – Pop-up shops, community festivals, and charity partnerships create opportunities for cross-promotion and increased customer engagement. Shared marketing maximizes impact – Social media takeovers, email marketing swaps, and joint discounts help businesses reach wider audiences without increasing advertising costs. Co-working and shared spaces reduce expenses – Businesses can lower overhead costs by sharing retail locations, office spaces, or market stalls while enhancing customer experience. Success stories highlight collaboration benefits – Partnerships like breweries and food trucks or bookstores and coffee shops demonstrate how businesses can thrive together by providing complementary services. ~ 507 words / 2.5 min read Small businesses looking to expand their reach and strengthen their customer base are finding success through local collaborations. By forming strategic partnerships with other businesses and organizations, owners can tap into new audiences, reduce costs and contribute to a thriving local economy. Finding the Right Business Partner Successful collaborations often involve businesses that complement, rather than compete with each other. A coffee shop, for example, may partner with a bookstore to host book signings, creating a mutually beneficial arrangement that brings in customers for both. A fitness studio might team up with a health food store to promote wellness programs, offering discounts to each other’s customers. Leveraging Events and Promotions Local businesses can increase visibility and engagement by organizing joint events. Some popular strategies include: Pop-up shops – A bakery can be set up inside a boutique, providing shoppers with refreshments while increasing exposure for both businesses. Community festivals – Restaurants, retailers and service providers can join forces to sponsor or participate in local events, drawing in larger crowds. Charity partnerships – Businesses that collaborate with nonprofits or local organizations not only contribute to a cause but also boost customer loyalty and trust. Such initiatives create opportunities for businesses to cross-promote and introduce their brands to new audiences. Collaborating on Marketing Efforts Marketing can be a significant expense for small businesses, but shared promotional efforts help reduce costs while maximizing impact. Local businesses can work together through: Social media takeovers – Partnering businesses can feature each other on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, increasing engagement. Email marketing swaps – Businesses can promote each other in their newsletters, introducing their products and services to a wider audience. Exclusive discounts – Offering customers a deal when they visit both businesses encourages spending across multiple locations. Exploring Shared Spaces Another effective collaboration strategy involves sharing physical space to cut costs and increase visibility. Co-working environments, pop-up markets and joint retail spaces are becoming increasingly popular among small business owners. For instance, a yoga studio and a wellness clinic might share a lease, offering their clients a one-stop destination for fitness and health. Similarly, food halls that feature multiple vendors allow small restaurant owners to reach new customers without the financial burden of operating a standalone location. Success Stories in Local Collaboration One well-known example of local business partnerships is the collaboration between breweries and food trucks. Many craft breweries lack kitchen facilities, so they invite food trucks to set up outside their establishments. This arrangement brings in more customers, benefits both businesses and creates a vibrant atmosphere for patrons. Independent bookstores and coffee shops have also successfully partnered to attract customers. By allowing book lovers to enjoy a cup of coffee while browsing, both businesses see increased engagement and longer customer visits. The Bottom Line For small businesses, collaboration is more than just a marketing strategy—it’s a way to strengthen the local economy and build lasting relationships with customers. By forming strategic partnerships, hosting events and sharing marketing efforts, businesses can maximize their resources and drive mutual success. --- The Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce is a private non-profit organization that aims to support the growth and development of local businesses and our regional economy. We strive to create content that not only educates but also fosters a sense of connection and collaboration among our readers. Join us as we explore topics such as economic development, networking opportunities, upcoming events, and success stories from our vibrant community. Our resources provide insights, advice, and news that are relevant to business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members alike. The Chamber has been granted license to publish this content provided by Chamber Today, a service of ChamberThink Strategies LLC.

Stop Spinning Your Wheels and Start Seeing Results

February 17, 2025

Has this ever happened to you? A brilliant idea sparks, you meticulously plan every detail, create beautiful spreadsheets, and envision the triumphant launch. Maybe you even practice a little Law of Attraction in your meditative practices each morning. But then… . The plan sits there, gathering dust, because life has gotten busy, you’ve been plagued by self-doubt, or you moved on to the next exciting concept. Sound familiar? Or maybe you’re the opposite. Maybe you’re all about action and no planning. You’re jetting off to the next hottest thing without seeing anything ripen and produce. Many business professionals fall into this trap, leaning too heavily on either the planning or the action phase. We either over-analyze and never launch, or we jump in headfirst without a strategy and quickly burn out. So, how do we bridge the gap and turn those well-laid plans (or exuberant energy) into tangible results? Ready, Set, Go Finding the balance between planning and action is crucial for success. Too much planning leads to paralysis, while too much action leads to a game of chaotic professional ping-pong, bouncing from one thing to the next. Here's how to navigate that middle ground and start experiencing real progress: 1. Define Your "Why" and Set Clear Goals: Before diving into the nitty-gritty details, revisit the core reason behind your plan. Why is this important? What do you hope to achieve? Does it fit into what you’re already doing or is it a new undertaking altogether? If it’s new, do you aim to replace or enhance what you’re currently doing? Clearly defined goals provide direction and motivation, making it easier to prioritize and stay focused. 2. Break It Down: Large, overwhelming plans are often the biggest culprits of inaction. Break your grand vision into smaller, manageable steps. Instead of "launch a new product line," think "research competitor pricing," "develop prototype," "create marketing materials." These bite-sized tasks feel less daunting and provide a sense of accomplishment as you tick them off. Building momentum is a large part of sticking with something long-term. 3. Embrace Imperfect Action: Perfection is the enemy of progress. Don't wait for everything to be flawless (or the timing to be perfect) before taking a step. Sometimes, "good enough" is better than "never done." Remember, even a small step is a step, if it aligns with your goals. That imperfect thank you note you send is better than the perfect note you never write. 4. Resist the Shiny Object Syndrome: In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to get distracted by the next "big thing." Don't be a "shiny object entrepreneur." Constantly chasing fleeting trends and abandoning projects when they don't instantly go viral is a trip to Nowheresville. True success is built on consistency and perseverance. Focus on your core plan, refine it as needed, and stick with it. 5. Build Relationships, Not Transactions: Today's most successful businesses are built on strong relationships. You can't cultivate genuine connections if you're constantly flitting from one project to the next, across multiple disparate audiences, solely focused on quick wins. Invest time in building rapport with clients, partners, and even competitors. These relationships can be invaluable for support, collaboration, and long-term growth. Remember, people do business with people they know, like, and trust. 6. Review and Adjust: Your initial plan is just a starting point. Regularly review your progress, analyze what's working and what's not, and adjust your strategy accordingly. Be flexible and willing to adapt. The business landscape is constantly evolving, and your plan should too. But this is where a lot of people stumble. They confuse new projects with timely adjustments. When things get rough or boring, they think innovation means a completely new undertaking. It doesn’t have to. Sometimes innovation is making changes to how you’re currently doing something and serving your market in a new way. 7. Celebrate Small Wins: Recognizing and celebrating your accomplishments, no matter how small, is essential for maintaining momentum. It reinforces positive behavior and motivates you to keep moving forward. 8. Create Daily Habits: Following daily habits can keep you on track and accountable toward your progress. Bridging the gap between planning and action requires conscious effort and a shift in mindset. Not to mention, walking away from the idea of going viral. You still can, of course, but don’t make it your only goal. It’s too easy to get discouraged. Instead, transform your ideas into reality and achieve lasting success through these steps. ---------- Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle , rediscovering the magic within. _______________________________________ Medium: @christinametcalf Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinagsmith

Embracing Imperfection to Strengthen Your Business

February 10, 2025

What do Han Solo (Star Wars et al), Walter White (Breaking Bad), and Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games) have in common? They’re terribly flawed and we love them for it. Imperfection can also be a powerful asset for businesses when approached with the right mindset. So stop trying your best to be perfect and embrace imperfection as a way to connect with your customers. Here’s how: How to be Perfectly Imperfect You’ve probably heard the adage “finished is better than perfect” or “you can’t edit a blank page.” There’s something to be said for embracing life’s imperfections, especially in business. After all, everyone can relate, and imperfections are bound to happen. So you might as well make the best of them. There’s a popular self-help book called “How to Keep House While Drowning.” It was written by a recovering overwhelmed housewife. It’s funny and terribly relatable, especially if you do most of the housework around your home. But it’s also a book about very boring things like dishes in a sink. You can use this same “common denominator” to relate with your ideal client. Relatability It's hard to identify with a perfect business or person. When someone is busy telling us how perfect they are or only showing us the perfect side of their lives, a distance between us will arise. After all, if your life is less than perfect how do you align with someone who is only showing you the sunny side? Whether it's a fictional character, your best friend, or a business, seeing flaws makes us feel like that person or entity is going through the same things we are. This relatability can be loyalty-building when it comes to business. Transparency You can also turn mistakes into opportunities by being openly honest about your shortcomings. When you acknowledge errors and demonstrate a commitment to improvement, you actually build stronger relationships with customers. In fact, 89% of people believe a business can regain their trust if it admits to a mistake and transparently outlines steps to prevent future issues. Authenticity Companies that show their human side can gain a competitive edge. For example: Domino's Pizza ran a campaign admitting their pizza had its issues , but they were addressing them. Guess what? It increased sales. Netflix publicly apologized for a pricing mistake, demonstrating accountability (and let’s not forget their Tyson debacle—again, they apologized instead of ignoring it). Coke went back to the original and admitted the change was a terrible idea. All of these companies received kudos for their honesty (and listening to customers). Fearlessness From an employee perspective, embracing imperfection can unlock creativity by removing the paralyzing fear of failure. When businesses create an environment that accepts mistakes as part of the learning process, employees feel more comfortable: - Experimenting with new ideas - Taking calculated risks - Thinking outside traditional boundaries Companies that remove the fear of failure can accomplish great innovation. Healthier Work Environment Transparency in leadership can also improve your business. When leaders acknowledge their own flaws it: - Reduces stress among employees - Increases job satisfaction - Boosts overall productivity If you’ve ever worked for a workaholic, you know their flawed views on work can be detrimental to your own. But we’re not telling you to hang all your dirty laundry out on the line for everyone to see. There is a strategy behind using imperfection to build a stronger relationship with your customers and employees. A Strategic Approach to Imperfection The key is not to aim for mediocrity, but to view imperfections as opportunities for growth. Your business is never going to be perfect; but you can be perfectly relatable. Be real, be resilient, and be ready to learn and grow. Our best relationships in life (and on the screen) are not between us and perfect people. Quite the opposite. We embrace flaws and appreciate when those around us do the same. Showing your less-than-perfect side will make you more endearing and solidify a long-term relationship between your business and your customers. ------------------------ Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle , rediscovering the magic within. _______________________________________ Medium: @christinametcalf Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinagsmith

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How to Make Time for Innovation