5 Ways to Beat the Summer Business Blues

By Ashlei Jackson, Qlixite

Many business owners feel the stagnant summer drag, not only from the heat but from the steady slowing of clientele who are out enjoying the warm weather activities rather than buying or booking. How do you cope? Change your attitude and change your strategy! Summer is a change of pace for everyone every year, so make the most of it and better your business. While we grownups don’t get to take this time to lay around and do nothing until fall approaches here are some equally fulfilling things you can be up to:

1. Get some “me time” in - Now that you’re not rushing around to take care of clients, you can look inwards, to take care of your brand and other internal systems. This is the perfect time to figure out what is working and what needs to be tweaked. Summer is a great time to re-group and test some new policies, or get that big marketing campaign started.

2. School’s IN for summer - Summer’s a great time to get in the business education that you had no time for the rest of the year! Go to a convention, take classes, connect with other business owners and learn from them.

3. Motivate & Team Build - If you’re feeling the summer slow down, odds are that your employees are too. This is a great time to throw in some motivating sales contests and team building exercises to get your staff to pump up the energy and connect. Even if you only have a few employee, don’t negate the value of this.

4. Summer Make-over - Re-vitalize your office with a new picture, new paint on the walls or clear out the clutter. Most of the time, the summer blues come from the fact that we don’t want to be inside while the weather is nice. Take a lesson from this and make the ‘inside’ more inviting and welcoming. Freshening up the office will make you and your clients happier just by walking in the door.

5. Do something crazy! - If you’ve been tossing around a few marketing ideas in your head, now is your chance to try it out.  Try out a new coupon or promotion, host an event (indoor or outdoors), volunteer or amp up your networking. If you’re feeling the slow-down, odds are other business neighbors are as well. Take some time to connect with other like-minded people and you might even get inspiration of new ways to increase business.

BONUS: Take a Break - Yes, I know you’re self-employed. Yes, I know that money doesn’t grow on trees. Yes, your company might be your whole life but that doesn’t mean you don’t need to step away once in a while. Whether you take a formal vacation or just avoid the office for a few days - be proactive and take a break. You’ll find that when you stop thinking about all of the things you HAVE to do, you’ll think of things you WANT to do including positive ways to improve your business. Trust me. Your business will survive in your absence.

Once again, your down season, whether it be summer or another, is nothing to worry about! All businesses have their ebb and flow. So use that ebb time to prepare for a rush of business, better than ever!