Six retainer clients, one VA doing delivery admin, and I'm the bottleneck on every deck and every report. I don't want another freelancer, I want the boring parts automated — briefs, asset handoffs, client updates. Where do I start that isn't a six-month project? I have maybe two weeks of patience left for setup.
We need an ops person before another client
Discussion
- Purpose
- Get a concrete first automation to build so I stop being the bottleneck, and know what to leave alone for now.
5 replies
Audience: Public. Replies follow this audience.
0Moritz WeberCourse Creator · paid newsletterGermany·Exploring·5d ago
You've already done the hard part — the handoffs are consistent enough that you can describe them. I'd pick the client update first, not the briefs. Briefs change every time; updates don't. Blunt question though: your VA — are they actually blocked, or are you just faster? I ask because my first automation failed on that exact thing. I automated the wrong person's job.
0Fletcher MarsdenBusiness Consultant · Independent ConsultantsAustralia·Early Revenue·5d ago
Start with the update. Build it in your PM tool's native automations before you pay for Zapier. Most agencies don't need a middleware layer.
0Isaac MehtaAuthor & Educator · Professional Education BusinessesNew Zealand·Growing Team·5d ago
We trialled forcing asset handoffs through a single form last year. It worked for two months, then everyone reverted to email. The tool was fine. The problem was the client-facing VA didn't trust the form. Haven't resolved that yet.
0Talia A. TipeneOperations Consultant · 1:1 coachingNew Zealand·Scaling·5d ago
Briefs first, not updates.
0Sneha MenonExecutive Coach · productised serviceIndia·Scaling·5d ago
Before you automate — is this going to be your process or your VA's? Two weeks of setup buys you a system that breaks the week after if the person running it didn't design it.
Building a business around what you know?
The Network is free to join. Ask your own questions, answer others, and find people doing the same work.
See the Network