Life can change in the blink of an eye. In the face of an unexpected situation, being prepared could be a lifesaver. As a small business owner, it’s important to know what is going on with your business. Whether that is knowing your social media passwords, website hosting details, or how to access different tools. Not everyone is as invested in your business as you are and in times of change, you should be able to answer these questions. If something were to change in your business, plans should continue without skipping a beat. Without this small business checklist, campaigns, posts, and website updates could be put on hold or lost altogether.
Small Business Checklist
We know how hectic it can be trying to manage all aspects of your business. While keeping track of your social media accounts and website information may seem like the last thing you need to think about, it’s more essential than you think. Keeping detailed notes and tracking your information across the board can come in handy when you least expect it. Whether you work with a marketing agency, a marketing manager, or an in-house team, you can’t rely on others to keep track of those details for you. You could make a switch from one team to another, team members could lose the information, or worst-case scenario, you could lose essential social media profiles or business accounts.
As the year comes to an end, it’s the perfect time to do a digital marketing audit to dive deeper into your business and your goals. Take inventory of your business from top to bottom. Do you know how to access your social media pages? Do you know what you use for website hosting? Here’s a checklist to help you evaluate your business.
Social Media Checklist
Email Accounts: Login information for business email accounts, including those associated with social media accounts.
Social Media Profiles: Credentials for all business-related social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.).
Online Advertising Accounts: Access to Google Ads, Facebook Ads Manager, and other online advertising platforms.
Website Checklist
Email Accounts: Login information for business email accounts, including those for customer website access and hosting.
Website Hosting and Domain Registrar: Access to hosting service and domain registrar for your business website.
E-commerce Platforms: If applicable, log in details for platforms like Shopify, Etsy, or others where products or services are sold.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software: Access to CRM tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, or any other software used.
Analytics Tools: Login information for analytics tools like Google Analytics, used for website and marketing data analysis.
General Business Information
Business Bank Accounts: Know the login details for all business bank accounts, including checking, savings, and credit accounts.
Accounting Software: Access to accounting or bookkeeping software like QuickBooks, Xero, or others used for financial management.
Employee Payroll System: Login details for payroll services or software, such as ADP, Paychex, or a similar system.
Tax Information and Services: Access to online accounts for tax services, IRS, or your country’s tax authority portals.
Project Management Tools: Login information for project management software like Asana, Trello, or Monday.com.
Shared Drives: Credentials for accessing shared company drives on Google Drive, Dropbox, or internal servers.
Vendor Portals and Supplier Websites: Login details for any vendor or supplier portals used for ordering or tracking inventory.
Insurance Portals: Access to business insurance accounts (liability, property, health, etc.).
Legal and Compliance Platforms: Login details for any legal or compliance software or services used.
Subscription Services: Credentials for any subscription-based services (software, magazines, industry resources).
Emergency Contact Information: A list of important contacts, such as IT support, legal advisors, accountants, and key clients or partners.
Backup and Recovery Systems: Access to backup services and know how to recover data in case of a system failure.
Security Checklist
Security is extremely important, especially when it comes to your small business. According to Google, here are the key things you need to do to protect yourself and your company from security risks.
Use unique passwords – Create a strong and secure password. Avoid reusing passwords across different accounts.
Two-Step Verification – 2-step verification can prevent someone from getting into your account if they were able to steal your password.
Add recovery information – Always add your phone number and email for account recovery. If you forget your password, Google can send a verification could if you have recovery information on file.
Get backup codes – If the admin loses access to the method used for two-step verification, they will not be able to access the account. This is why it’s a good idea to use backup codes. Generate and print the codes in case the user loses the security key.
Create an additional super admin account – You should have more than one admin on your accounts. If the primary admin account is lost, or compromised, or the user can’t get in, the other admin will be able to do any important tasks.
Keep information on hand – For super admin password reset, keep the reset information on hand. If the admin has the recovery phone or email, Google Support can help reset it.
Super Admins should not stay signed in to the account – Since super admins have access to all areas of the business, logging out when you are done can reduce the risk of malicious activity.
Enable auto-update – For apps and internet browsers, auto-update ensures that you have all of the latest security updates.
Email Protection
- Turn on enhanced pre-delivery message scanning
- Turn on malicious file and link screening
- Ensure recipients don’t mark emails as spam
- Avoid calendar sharing with people who aren’t in your company
- Limit who can see new files
It’s crucial to keep this information secure yet accessible to relevant team members or stakeholders. Regularly updating and reviewing this checklist is also important to ensure that access remains secure and efficient.
Final Thoughts
It’s important to have insight into all areas of your business, especially when it comes to access, login information, and security. Having access to everything from your business bank accounts to social media and your website means that you are fully prepared and set up for success. When it comes to having this information it’s not just about control or responsibility, it’s about safeguarding the business you worked so hard to build. Lost your marketing manager? Looking to redesign your website? Having the information you need ensures that you can make strong business moves without the lack of access or login information getting in the way. And let’s not forget about security – keeping a close eye on your accounts helps protect your business from cyber threats.
Use this checklist and take a look at your business. Do you know all of this information? Do you have security measures in place? Now is the time to evaluate and set your business up for success. To evaluate your business, contact our Fusion One Marketing Team to schedule a consultation. For more small business tips for success, check out part 1 of our Small Business Owner Checklist Series, “Small Business Owner Checklist for Success Part 1”.