"Clutter is not just the stuff on your floor – it's anything that stands between you and the life you want to be living."
Spring is the perfect time to refresh and reorganize—not just in your home, but in your business as well. Over the next few weeks I will dedicating this newsletter to strategies to clean up your business for optimal productivity and growth. Our first target: Digital Clutter
Digital clutter can slow you down, create stress, and make it harder to find what you need when you need it. Just like a messy desk, a cluttered digital space can be overwhelming, reduce productivity and increase frustration. Who has time for that?
A little digital cleanup can make a huge difference in how efficiently you run your business. Here’s how to get started:
- Clean Up Your Inbox – Your email inbox is often the busiest part of your digital life. Let’s clean it up.
- Unsubscribe from Unnecessary Emails – Use tools like Unroll.Me or manually remove yourself from newsletters (not this one!) and promotions you no longer need.
- Create Folders & Labels – Organize emails into categories such as “Clients,” “Invoices,” “Follow-Ups,” and “Marketing.”
- Archive & Delete – Keep only what’s necessary. Archive important messages and delete the ones you’ll never need again.
- Set Up Automated Filters – Let your email platform do the work by sorting incoming messages automatically. (Need help? Check out this guide.)
- Organize Digital Files – A cluttered digital workspace can slow you down and make it difficult to find what you need. Here’s how to take control:
- Declutter Your Desktop – Move files into folders, delete duplicates, and keep only the essentials.
- Sort & Name Files Properly – Use consistent naming conventions so you can easily locate documents. (e.g., “ClientName_Project_2025” instead of “Document1”)
- Back Up Important Data – Use an external hard drive or a cloud storage service like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive to ensure your files are safe.
- Delete Old & Unused Files – If you haven’t used a file in over a year, consider deleting or archiving it.
- Audit & Refresh Your Website – Your website is often the first impression potential clients have – Let’s make it a great one!
- Check for Broken Links – Spend a few minutes testing that everything works correctly.
- Update Outdated Content – Update your services page, pricing and past events and contact information. If your headshot is more than 5 years old, it’s time for a new one!
- Optimize for SEO – Use relevant keywords and follow best SEO practices to help people find your site.
- Streamline Navigation –Visitors should be to find information they need quickly.
- Strengthen Digital Security – Security is just as important as organization.
- Use a Password Manager – Apps like LastPass or 1Password securely store and generate strong passwords. (More on that here.)
- Change Weak or Reused Passwords – Ensure all your business accounts have unique, strong passwords.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication – Add an extra layer of security to sensitive accounts like email, banking, and cloud storage.
Make It a Habit
Digital clutter doesn’t pile up overnight, and it won’t disappear overnight either. Set aside a little time each week to stay on top of things, and soon, you’ll have a streamlined, stress-free digital space.
What’s the first area you’re tackling? Hit reply and let me know! And if you need a hand getting organized, I’m here to help.
As a virtual assistant, I specialize in helping small business owners tackle these digital challenges head-on. From organizing your inbox and managing digital files & security to updating your website and improving online workflows, I can take these tasks off your plate—so you can stay focused on growing your business.
Stay tuned for the next article in my Spring Cleaning series!
