How to Make Money When You’re On Vacation

June 3, 2015 | 2,013 views

How to Make Money When You’re On Vacation

How to Make Money When You’re On Vacation

It sounds idyllic, doesn’t it? Making money while you sip a piña colada and soak up the sun on a beach somewhere. Yet for most business owners, getting that far away from the store sends ripples of panic down the spine.

 

 

  • What happens if someone calls in sick or quits while I’m gone?
  • What will happen to my profits?
  • How can I make sure my team keeps making sales?

 

 

 

Use your Autoresponder Effectively

 

Before you travel, you’ll probably set up an autoresponder to let people know they can expect a slightly delayed response from you. Use this effectively.

 

Instead of just saying that you’re out of the office, make an enticing offer. Give a link to a free report that can be downloaded in your absence. Show off your brand’s personality with a quirky, fun-loving message. You’ll continue to sell your brand, even when you’re unplugged.

 

Download a Few Important Apps

 

Let’s face it. Some problem will inevitably arise when you’re thousands of miles away. Give yourself the tools to feel comfortable enough to make quick adjustments. For example, downloading ScheduleBase will help you make on-the-fly updates to the schedule, so you know that your store is always well-staffed. Or, download Evernote to jot down quick notes to tackle when you return, so you never worry about missing an opportunity.

 

With these, you can keep your business up and running without stealing too much time away from your vacation.

 

Set Your Content Up for Success

 

Do you use content to market your brand? Do you post to your blog? Do you use social media? Set them up for success before you leave.

 

Schedule posts on your blog, and subsequent posts on your social media profile. If you have a trusted social media person in your company, show her the schedule before you go so she knows what’s in the pipeline. Or, if you’re the only one managing the social media posts, hire a virtual assistant to stay on top of customer engagements. The goal is to make it look like you’re still there and everything is running as usual, when in reality, you’ll be on a fun adventure.

 

Set the Expectations

 

Before you go, set expectations among your team.

 

When can they expect to hear from you? If you plan to completely unplug, congratulations! Let them know that before you go.

 

You’ll also want to set up accountability for each team member before you leave. Create a list of what you expect out of each person and go through it line by line.

 

Offer Incentives for Increased Profits

 

After you’ve set the expectations, give your team a little more incentive to keep your business running smoothly. Eliminate excuses for your staff to drop the ball while you’re gone by motivating them with performance rewards. You’ll give your team a reason to work harder for you while you’re on vacation. More importantly, you’ll show your team that you’re still paying attention to what they’re doing, even though you’re enjoying your travels.

 

 

Author Profile

Jon Forknell is the Vice President and General Manager of Atlas Business Solutions, Inc., a software marketing company specializing in employee scheduling software, including ScheduleBase employee scheduling software, and other business software solutions. In the past, Jon has been recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration as a SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Atlas Business Solutions was named as one of Software Magazine’s Top 500 Software Companies in 2004 through 2007 and again in 2010, 2013 and 2014.

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