Do you use checklists in your daily routines to increase productivity?
Checklists are great for many purposes and you can use one to start your online business too. In this article you will discover the possibilities to quick-start your next web business by using a comprehensive, one of a kind, online business startup checklist.
We can not deny the fact that the internet is nothing less than a hotbed for entrepreneurial advice. The vast number of online business gurus and mentors out there is on the rise, but there are hardly any concrete, actionable and freely available directions to establish your business from the ground up, especially if you are a total newbie in this field.
In a situational landscape like this, it becomes difficult for people to take steps to build their own online businesses since they don’t know where to start and what to do.
One approach to start your own online business from scratch is to find a mentor (and/or supportive community), but this usually is the costliest method, it requires time and not always delivers the given promises. Another way is to get educated by reading books, listening to podcasts and/or following web-based guides. If you find the right resources, this method may be very affordable (even free) and comprehensive in every aspect, but it’s time consuming and may deprive your long-term motivation to stay on the track.
The third approach, the one we discuss in this article, is to use a comprehensive checklist to kick-start your online business even if you are doing it for the first time. The checklist won’t be the only resource you would use but will direct your actions, will show you the necessary steps you need to take and will lead you to resources and knowledge in the right time you need them. You don’t need to educate your self first and then act, but you will learn how to do the needed things as you go… and learning by doing is the best way to learn.
What is a Checklist?
A checklist is a very simple concept, and has become increasingly popular in the workplace and in the business. It is essentially a list which helps you achieve what you want. Simply said, a checklist is a list of required items, things to be done, or points to be considered or remembered. The nature of the checklist greatly depends on the purpose you want to achieve. Hence, there are several types of checklists that you can use in your life and in business.
Checklists may be perceived as communication tools for making sure that everyone involved knows where things are headed, but essentially, they are productivity tools meant to improve your efficiency, keep your motivation and save time by ordering, structuring and prioritizing tasks. Checklists may be created by yourself, addressing your particular needs, but can be also adopted/taken from other creators that already went the way you plan to go and are aware of the circumstances and every important step in the process.
Types of Checklists
There can be several ways of categorizing the types of checklists that you can use (or create), but generally, it can be said that there are about five types of lists that you can utilize at any given time.
To-Do List
Perhaps, the most emphasized type of checklist when it comes to productivity is the To-Do list. This is the perfect checklist when it comes to setting goals of any sort whether financial, managerial, physical, spiritual or intellectual.
To-do lists make it easy to follow through on your goals because they essentially break down your path to success into meaningful and manageable steps. These lists are versatile and can always be changed according to your changing situation.
Quick Response
These lists are mostly used in situations that relate to time sensitive scenarios where the target is to resolve a problem as quickly as possible. Best example of a quick response list is the troubleshooting checklist.
These lists are designed to be goal-directed and aim to provide steps that are most likely to solve a problem. The steps are laid out clearly and as concisely as possible which makes this kind of checklist ideal for emergency circumstances.
SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures)
Another common type of checklist that you’ll find being used a lot is the Standard Operating Procedures list. The tasks marked in these lists are supposed to be completed in the order of their arrangement.
These are very similar to troubleshooting lists, but different in the sense that they are not usually put to use in emergency or other time sensitive situations. The aim is to get things done, and done right – the focus is on accuracy here.
Self-Discipline Lists
These lists have become part and parcel of the self-help literature and help in enhancing your self-control. These are meant to self-discipline yourself by creating a checklist which directs your decision making process.
These lists guide your immediate reactions and help you control your emotions, thus barring you from making hasty emotional decisions. So, if you want to stop yourself from making bad decisions, you should have a self-discipline list with you.
Project Collaboration List
These lists are perfect for bigger teams working on projects. They are ideal for multiple teams working on one project too because they organize the project tasks in a convenient manner, easily accessible to all team members. This way each person knows what to do and when to do it.
The Advantages of using Checklists for your business
There are plenty of different advantages when using checklists to start your online business or any other purpose. Some of the advantages are listed below:
- Checklists help you organize your tasks in a structured manner, making sure you have strong sense of what you’re doing.
- They improve your productivity because they provide an outline of what is already done, what ought to be done and what needs to be left for later.
- These lists can be a source of motivation as well.
- They help you visualize your progress and path to success.
- Lists take your mind off things which are brain-numbing and help you focus on more important aspects of your business as solving problems, finding new solutions, developing new ideas, thus improving your creativity in general.
- Delegating tasks becomes easier with checklists because you know exactly what to delegate since the list does a good job of breaking down what needs to be done.
It should also be mentioned here that checklists aren’t only effective when it comes to creating a business. They are also extremely effective in almost every aspect of your professional and personal development. From managing your daily routine, to increasing workplace productivity and, most importantly, when working in technical fields, it is vital that people follow these checklists to get things done correctly.
Why using readymade Checklists?
Well, that’s an interesting question. Making your own checklists is a great approach for addressing the needs of your business, but there are also multiple benefits of following an existing checklist for any purpose, especially when building a new business whether it is online or offline. First of all, these checklists aren’t based on conjectures. They are usually the brainchild of someone’s years of experience, hard work and success story.
Furthermore, these checklists tend to be well-structured. They guide you every step of the way in a chronological sequence which is a real boost to any aspiring entrepreneur. The easy and simple stepwise nature of checklists makes it comprehensive and yet easy to follow.
What is Special about Our Checklist for Starting an Online Business?
We, at Biizly.com, have curated our very own comprehensive online business startup checklist for potential online entrepreneurs and those trying to switch their physical business to a more digital outset. The checklist is free and it’s perfect for all individuals who are looking to start their own online business whether experienced or total beginners.
Our e-startup checklist is truly one-of-a-kind (as we believe). It is very detailed and caters to every aspect of establishing and developing a successful online business in today’s highly competitive market. It is straightforward, intuitive, clickable, resourceful and yet simple to use. It offers the perfect plan for anyone to kick-start their business on the web with a clear-cut strategy. The step-by-step approach is broken into more than four-hundred checkpoints and spans over twenty-one pages. It starts with basic concepts and ends with the minutest details.
The checklist will get you acquainted with the online business basics, will help you generate and evaluate business ideas, will direct you to establish web presence, will teach you to attract customers and so on. As addition, there are clickable links to more resources for you to look into and learn more about the intricacies of the business. By following the links, you will find detailed explanations to any queries you may have about a particular checkpoint. These explanations can help you develop a better understanding of the online business environment and the tasks needed to be done.
To begin with, you can get Biizly’s online business checklist at our website. It’s free, in PDF format, and you can use it on your desktop, tablet or mobile phone. You can save your progress as you go, or alternatively, you can print and use it in a physical copy if that suits you better.
The checklist is not the only free resource for starting an online business on our website but definitely is the most straightforward and unique approach for supporting new web businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs. Do check it out, because it can help you build your own business in a matter of weeks, or days even!
