Automate Without Losing Your Personal Touch
Jo Rawald • January 31, 2025
How to Scale Your Business While Keeping It Human
When you hear the word automation, do you picture a cold, impersonal robot taking over your business? If so, you’re not alone. Many business owners worry that automating their processes will make their brand feel robotic. But here’s the truth - automation and personalization can coexist beautifully, and together,
they can take your business to the next level.
Last week, I shared insights about running your business with systems and processes
in my blog The Secret to Working Smarter, Not Harder. If you missed it, click here to read it now. It’s the perfect foundation for understanding how to streamline your operations. This week, we’re taking it a step further by exploring how automation can save you time while maintaining that personal touch your clients love.
Why Automation Matters
Let’s face it - as small-business owners, we wear a lot of hats. One minute, we’re managing finances, and the next, we’re troubleshooting a client issue. Automation is like having an extra set of hands - hands that never get tired, forgetful, or overwhelmed.
Automation frees up our time by handling repetitive tasks like sending follow-up emails, scheduling appointments, and even tracking inventory. It ensures consistency and reduces human error. But here’s the key - automation doesn’t mean losing our unique voice or personal connection.
The Balancing Act Between Automation and Personalization
Automation can feel impersonal if you let it run wild without thought or strategy. But when used wisely, it can actually enhance your personalization efforts. It’s not about replacing the human touch - it’s about amplifying it. Think of automation as the infrastructure that supports your personal connections. It gives you the freedom to focus on meaningful interactions by handling the behind-the-scenes work.
Where to Implement Automation
Wondering where to start? Here are a few areas where automation can save you time without sacrificing that personal touch:
1. Email Marketing
Email is one of the easiest areas to automate. Tools like Mailchimp or ActiveCampaign allow you to set up email sequences that feel personal. For example, you can send a welcome email to new subscribers or a birthday discount to loyal customers—all without lifting a finger.
Pro Tip: Personalize your emails by including the recipient’s name and tailoring the content based on their preferences or behavior.
2. Social Media Scheduling
Posting consistently on social media can feel like a full-time job. Automation tools like Buffer or Later allow you to schedule posts in advance, so you’re not scrambling to write captions every day.
Pro Tip: Use automation to stay consistent, but pop in now and then to engage with comments and DMs. That’s where the magic happens.
3. Appointment Scheduling
If you’re still emailing back and forth to schedule meetings, it’s time to automate. Tools like Calendly or Acuity Scheduling let clients pick a time that works for them, cutting out the hassle.
Pro Tip: Customize your confirmation and reminder messages with a friendly tone to keep things personal.
4. Customer Support
Chatbots can handle FAQs and direct customers to resources, freeing up your time for more complex issues. Platforms like Zendesk or Intercom make it easy to automate support without losing the human element.
Pro Tip: Keep your chatbot responses friendly and approachable. If a query gets too complicated, make sure there’s a clear way for customers to connect with a real person.
Keeping It Personal
Automation doesn’t have to feel robotic. Here are a few tips to maintain that personal connection while automating your processes:
- Write Like You Talk: Whether it’s an email or a chatbot response, keep your tone conversational. Your brand voice should shine through in every automated message.
- Segment Your Audience: Not all customers are the same. Use segmentation to send targeted messages that feel relevant and timely. For example, a first-time buyer might appreciate a welcome series, while a repeat customer might love an exclusive loyalty offer.
- Use Data Wisely: Automation tools often come with analytics. Use this data to understand your customers better and tailor your communication.
Real-Life Wins
Let me share a story about a client who embraced automation without losing her personal touch. She was a solopreneur for a travel-agency and spent hours each week manually responding to customer inquiries and updating her social media.
Together, we implemented a few simple automations:
- An AI-powered chatbot to handle common customer questions
- A social media scheduler to plan posts a month in advance
- A personalized email sequence for abandoned shopping carts
The results? She saved 15+ hours a week, her customer satisfaction scores went up, and her sales increased by 20%. Even better, she finally had time to build deeper relationships with her VIP customers.
Making It Work for You
Automation isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s about finding the tools and strategies that work best for your business. Start small and build from there. Ask yourself:
- What repetitive tasks take up most of my time?
- How can I use automation to support my personal interactions?
- Which tools align with my brand’s voice and values?
Ready to Work Smarter?
Automation isn’t about replacing the human touch—it’s about empowering it. By automating repetitive tasks, you create space for meaningful connections and strategic growth.
If you’re ready to take the next step, check out my Profit Simulator
or schedule a personalized discovery call.
With my Audacious Profits Pathway,
you can:
✅ Explore a Self-Guided Simulator to see the numbers in real-time
✅ Receive a Customized Profit Report showing how small, strategic adjustments—just 1.4% improvements in 12 key areas—can double your profits
✅ Watch an Exclusive Video revealing how the most successful business owners use counterintuitive thinking to earn more while working less.
Looking for a more personalized approach? I also offer a free 20-minute discovery Zoom where we’ll chat about your goals, identify opportunities, and create a plan tailored just for you.
You’ve got what it takes to succeed, and I’m here to help you every step of the way. Let’s create a business that’s as personal as it is efficient!
I went to a networking event yesterday at Rosie’s Bar & Grill in Wilton Manors. Tropical-chic to the max. You know the kind of place - upscale casual, strong cocktails, mandatory valet. Now usually, I’m all about valet. But not yesterday. I wasn’t there to sip martinis or hang around all night. I could only stay for 20-minutes. That means - I was on a serious 20-minute mission: say hi, shake hands, peace out. Then, get back in my car to jump on a Zoom meeting! I certainly wasn’t about to drop $20 just to park my car for 20 minutes. No way! I pulled into the valet area, looked the guy dead in the eye, and said, “I’ll be in and out faster than your last relationship. Can I just park it right here?” And bless his heart - he said yes. Honestly, that should’ve been my win for the night. But then I met Sean Gac-Guerrier. Sean’s the Marketing Director at Excel Title, Inc. We started talking about dogs - and **cue the angels singing. We clicked instantly. Not two strangers meeting, more like two childhood friends who hadn’t seen each other in a decade! Sean showed me a photo of his dog, Dottie. I pulled out pics of my girl, Adelaide. Then he pulled out a photo of Dottie that stopped me in my tracks. Sean had a photo of what Dottie would look like as a human. Not a cartoon. Not a filter. I’m talking AI-generated, fully humanized, real-world, cardigan-wearing, intelligent-and-intimidating Dottie. I was mesmerized! It was as if Pixar and the FBI teamed up to design her. I looked at Adelaide’s pic… then looked back at Sean… and blurted out, “I need to humanize my dog!!” And I did. I went home, found the exact AI prompt, uploaded Adelaide’s photo, answered a few fun questions about her personality, and style - then… BOOM. Human Adelaide was born. Tall, lean, cozy-chic, with that unmistakable “don’t-mess-with-me-but-I’ll-still-hug-you” vibe. She looked like she ran Homeland Security and still had time for tacos and espresso martinis on a rooftop. Honestly? I stared at the image for like five minutes. Because it wasn’t just about making something cute. It was about seeing something familiar - something you know - come to life in a new way. Here’s the AI Prompt if you want to try it yourself:
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Too many women are stuck in the hustle—working nonstop, solving the same problems, and barely seeing the return.
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👉 https://siteeditor.thryv.com/home/site/c8e9f361/blog/if-your-business-feels-like-a-hot-mess-its-costing-you-money#preview
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Let’s fix that.
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💰 Price like a pro
📊 Package for profit
🎯 Sell with strategy
Read it, bookmark it, share it with your business BFFs →
👉 www.jorawald.com/youre-leaving-money-on-the-table-lets-fix-that
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🧲 Attract the right people (without chasing)
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Because your next client isn’t on the fence—they’re just unsure if you are the answer. Fix that here →
👉 www.jorawald.com/the-right-clients-should-be-coming-to-you-theyre-watching-but-do-they-know-what-you-do
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If you’re overcomplicating your client process, trying to “do it all,” or feel like coaching is starting to drain you… this blog is your game-changer.
Inside, I break down:
🔥 The shift that simplified everything
🎯 How I get faster results (without burning out)
💡 What most coaches get totally wrong
If you’re a coach or service provider who’s doing the most and getting the least—read this NOW.
👉 www.jorawald.com/this-one-zoom-call-changed-how-i-coached-forever
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It’s time to change that.
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This one’s a tough-love truth bomb—with the strategy to back it up.
👉 www.jorawald.com/if-your-business-isnt-making-money-you-have-an-exhausting-hobby
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Nope. Not in this business.
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🎯 Making moves that matter
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Here’s what I realized (and what you need to hear):
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Don’t miss this one—it’s a mindset reset wrapped in fur.
👉 www.jorawald.com/the-lesson-i-didnt-expect-at-the-dog-park