3 Tips and Tricks from Small Business Owners Who Have 'Been There, Done That'

We all know that starting and running a small business is no cakewalk. In addition to being the boss, you're also responsible for sales, marketing, human resources, accounting...the list goes on. It's a lot to handle!

These three small business owners share their best tips and tricks for staying afloat (and sane). From automating social media to taking advantage of free resources, these entrepreneurs have some great advice for anyone who's in the trenches of small business ownership. Read on for their insights!

1. Automate Your Social Media Marketing

"One of my best tips for busy small business owners is to automate their social media marketing," says Ashley Faulkes, owner of Mad Lemmings. "There are so many amazing tools out there that make it easy to schedule and publish content, track who's talking about your brand, and measure your results."

Faulkes recommends Hootsuite and Buffer as two of the best automation tools on the market. "Hootsuite gives you the ability to see all of your social media activity in one place, which makes it easy to keep tabs on what's going on," he explains. "Buffer is great for scheduling content ahead of time—I use it to queue up tweets and Facebook posts for my clients so they can focus on other things."

2. Make Use of Free Resources

"When I first started my business, I was really hesitant to spend money on anything that wasn't absolutely necessary," admits Carrie Williams-Gray, owner of CWG Translations. "Now I've learned that there are so many amazing free resources out there—you just have to know where to look!"

Williams-Gray recommends doing a quick Google search whenever you need help with something related to your business. "For example, when I needed help with my bookkeeping, I did a search for 'free bookkeeping resources for small businesses,' she says. "I was amazed at how many helpful articles popped up."

3. Find a Mentor

"Having a mentor is one of the best things you can do for your small business—but finding the right one can be tricky," says Maura Thomas, owner of Regain Your Time. "I recommend reaching out to your professional network and seeing if anyone has a recommendation."

Thomas also suggests attending local networking events and connecting with other small business owners in your community. "You never know who you might meet!" she adds.

Starting and running a small business takes grit, determination...and a whole lot of advice from those who have been there before! Luckily, I've got you covered with three tips from successful small business owners who have 'been there, done that.' From automating your social media marketing to finding a mentor who can guide you through tough times, these tips will help you keep your head above water—so you can focus on growing your business into something amazing.