By Evan Vitale
Does your business have a “slow” season?
Some businesses slow down during the holidays or right after Christmas. Others say summer is the worst months for their business as clients and prospects go on vacation.
Either way, you need to plan for a potential slow season, ride out the tide and head into the busy time of the year financially strong.
Now, this isn’t to say that when business slows down that you should slow down too. This is a time for you to be creative, initiate some marketing ideas, step out of your comfort zone and, yes, you should also consider taking a vacation so you can recharge your brain and your body.
Let’s consider:
- Be creative. Pull out your idea folder (you have one of those right?) and polish something that’s been sitting on the back burner for a while. Now might be a good time to introduce a new product or service that you’ve been considering.
- Marketing. While marketing your business should never end, you may find that if you pick up the pace a little here, you might be able to generate some new business during your slow season. Try something new such as online advertising, an advertisement in a local publication, a press release, etc. Now is also a good time to update your website with new content and plenty of updated photos. Give strong consideration to creating a staff page with photos of your team and your office. Create and write a blog about how your products and services can solve a problem.
- Step out of your comfort zone. What do you NOT like to do with your business? Now is the time to work on that area. For example, attend a networking event, go to a trade show and meet prospects, have lunch with a difficult client or vendor, meet with your attorney, banker, accountant, etc.
- Recharge. If your business “really” shuts down during the slow season, it might be a good idea for you to lock your doors for a week (if you don’t have staff to cover for you) and take a much-needed vacation. Disconnect from your phone and laptop. Travel. Hit the beach. Enjoy some family time.
A slow season doesn’t mean you’re waiting for the phone to ring. As you can see, there are plenty of ways to make it productive and enjoyable.