I'm sure that like many people who run small businesses, when things get slow we tend to mope. Slow business time is the PERFECT opportunity for you to get creative and do things that will help boost and grow your business. Not to mention allow you to gain a little more street cred in the process.
1. CREATE AND HOST A GIVEAWAY OR CONTEST
This can be anything from a free blog design or flyer to a $25 gift card to your business store. Offering incentives to current or even potential customers and clients really shows you WANT to give to others. Don't be stingy!
2. TAKE AN ONLINE CLASS TO EXPAND YOUR NICHE KNOWLEDGE
Never stop learning is what I live by. It's always best to keep up with what's going within your niche and business. Why not learn how to better your social media engagement? I highly recommend checking out Saylor Academy or SkillFeed if you want to learn and teach.
3. ORGANIZE YOUR DESKTOP AND COMPUTER FILES
Clean that baby down to near perfection! I have a BAD habit of accumulating 100s of files, images, and other things on my desktop home screen. No bueno. I even had to force myself to get more organized when it came to other things not on my desktop. The cleaner your work space, the better. Try it! My computer is currently in the greatest "clean" state of it's life WITH ONLY 6 main folders to show for it.... after some hours of serious clean up.
It also doesn't hurt to create your own desktop wallpaper to keep your brand and your vision for it in mind.
4. CREATE A FREE GUIDE OR RESOURCE FOR YOUR CLIENTELE
I love being a resource to so many people who trust me to share the best and most helpful with them. Try sharing a free resource to help solve a problem in your niche. If you want to get an idea, check out my color psychology guide. Feel free to share!
5. GIVE TO RECEIVE...
Being a giving person is always nice! Do something cool every now and then and give to a charity, or even offer to do free, pro bono work. This looks great in your portfolio and will make you feel even more accomplished.
6. MAIL OFF SPECIAL "THANK YOUS" TO YOUR CLIENT FRIENDS
I don't know about you but I love when I'm sent an unexpected "notecard" or gift for simply being me. I once received tickets to the Universal Soul Circus last year, yay! Things like this can inspire, empower, and even put a smile on others' face just because. I love to personally customize mines with handwritten notes!
7. GIVE YOUR WEBSITE A NEW LOOK
I recently did this a few months ago because I figured the more easy it is to navigate, the better. If you feel your site needs a tune up.... get to tuning! A fresh coat of paint is always the start of something great.
8. GET YOU SOME FRESH BUSINESS CARDS
Continue to promote your business wherever you are. I highly recommend using the awesome peeps over at PrintingForLess, they're great! They'll give you 500 FREE UV Gloss-Coated cards and you save $40. Just pay shipping. Use Referral code: RP1OBF6ND - Let them know I sent ya!
9. READ A NEW BUSINESS BOOK + FINISH IT!
Reading has always been a love of mines. Check out what I'm currently reading... again! First Steps to Wealth: A Revolution to Increase Your Income, Improve Your Relationships and Expand Your Influence by Dani Johnson.
10. UPDATE YOUR AUTO-RESPONDER EMAILS
You can't always be around to respond each time you receive a new inquiry or order. Why not make life easier and outsource the emails to something that'll do it for you? A great auto reply email is a great way to say thank you and to even let the recipient know you'll get back to them shorty. Make it fun and engaging.
11. WRITE + PRESCHEDULE BLOG POSTS OR TWEETS
Use Hootsuite or any other social media syndication platforms to auto-share and promote your latest sale, blog post, giveaway, and more to any social media profile you're on!
12. NETWORK ONLINE WITH OTHERS
You never know who you may come across and its a great way to promote and build business relationships. I recommend using IBO Toolbox or Empire Avenue.
13. CATCH UP WITH PAST CLIENT FRIENDS
It's a nice gesture and let's them know you're thinking about them. Ask how they're doing, if what you did for them is going well, if they have any questions, or even share what you may be up to. Being thoughtful is universal!
14. TWEET A FEW TESTIMONIALS
Share with the Twitterverse what others are saying about you. Great social proof! You could even request clients to share something nice about you and your work via your website, social media, and more.
15. ANALYZE YOUR EFFORTS
How has that new promotion or sale been helping to grow your business? Always be sure to audit or go over what works and does not work for your business. Try using Google Analytics to learn the popularity of your web pages, or even Genius to discover what links to promos or campaigns are being referred to most.
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