10 Tips to Keep Your Business Moving in the Slow Season

Many businesses experience slower times during the holidays. Instead of checking out, take the downtime as an opportunity to ready your business for the New Year.

Here are our 10 tips to use your time well while it’s slow:

Revamp your website
Design trends are constantly changing. An out of date website can be a turn-off for potential customers. Start by updating your pictures and content. Consider talking to a web designer (like us!) about a new design and keep your business looking sleek.              

---

Check in with past customers
Use some of your down time to follow up with past customers. They may be contemplating a new project or purchase and a message from you could lead to new business! Send personalized emails wishing your clients happy holidays or even just to say hi.

Organize your files
When business gets crazy it’s easy to let your organizational systems go. If you find yourself with some down time, take a few hours to go through your computer and hard copies to make sure that everything is in the right place. This will help your workflow as you go forward into another busy season.

Study up on a social media
Take some time to get to really know one social media outlet. Take a look at our What to Post Where Guide for a better idea of which channel is best for your business. Once you’ve decided which outlet makes the most sense for your business, dig in and learn how to use it.

Update social media profiles
Speaking of social media, when was the last time you gave your profiles a once over? Kissmetrics put together an excellent guide to follow as you edit and improve your profiles. Remember to make sure your logos match across all channels for the best brand recognition.

Revamp marketing materials
So you ordered 200+ of those handouts. Maybe you’re running low or maybe you haven’t seen the ROI you were hoping for. Update your materials using a professional designer or doing it yourself. If you get stuck, say hi, we love making marketing materials.

Create a style guide for your brand
Having a style guide for your brand will help streamline projects in the future. A basic style guide should include:

• Fonts you use
• Colors in your logo and complementary colors (find your pantone here)
• Logo usage such as what type of logo goes where (mark vs. black and white vs. full color).

Update your office/workspace
Is your space looking drab or maybe just a little dusty? Now is the perfect time for a new paint job or a deep clean. Consider getting some new wall art, or re-framing what you currently have.

Take a webinar, or 5
Take extra downtime as an opportunity to learn. Search for webinars related to your industry or an area of business where you feel stuck. Attend and engage. Ask lots of questions and take a lot of notes. Webinars are usually free and are a great way to get ideas, build relationships and knock out some continuing education credits (if applicable).

Relax
As business slows down for the holidays, use some of the extra time to take an afternoon, or a whole day, off. Spend time with your family, go on a long weekend getaway or stay home and unplug for a bit. Taking care of yourself will get you ready to tackle the next season of business.

Remember, the slow season doesn’t last forever. As work starts rolling in again you’ll be more prepared to help your clients and your business will look nice and sharp too!