How to Prepare for the Slow Down in Business During the Holidays
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Or is it?
For our personal lives, the holidays are likely filled with parties, family, food, and (if you’re lucky) some gifts. We see retail businesses exploding this time of year and they can’t seem to hire enough people. But, as a sleep consultant, you likely experience a massive slowdown in business.
But, don’t panic! Most businesses experience lulls at points throughout the year. Here are some strategies to get through these times.
Reflect and Set Goals
We don’t necessarily mean daydreaming about busier times. Look at your schedule throughout the rest of the year. If applicable, even the last holiday season from the previous year. Did you see any slumps in business then? This might give you some relief knowing that it’s a trend. Every holiday season might be slower. Likewise, June and July might be a bit slower as families adjust to summer break and are often traveling.
Knowing these slow times are coming enables you to prepare instead of panic.
This is also a great time to set benchmarks. Note the trends of your business that naturally happen month over month. That way you can be realistic. For example, if you’ve noticed a holiday “slump” create goals that are internally based such as launching a new guide or creating meaningful content. Not everything has to be directly related to your clients.
Tackle Your To-Do List
Not having an influx of customers doesn’t have to be a terrible thing. You know all those things piling up on your “when I have time” list? Now is that time. Consider the following:
Update your website: Whether you need updated content or to change your entire brand, slower times offer a great opportunity to make these changes without hurting business.
Solicit Reviews: Reviews are a great way to show your clients how much you value their opinion, to show future clients why they should choose you, and improve your SEO. Slower times are likely slower for others too. Don’t be afraid to ask former and current clients to give you a solid Google review. This may even present an opportunity for testimonials that you can use on your site.
Uplevel your social media- Your business should be on social media. Period. It’s a great way to connect with families and position yourself and your brand to be approachable to those that need help. If you haven’t been giving social media the attention it deserves, now is the time. Investigate platforms like Hootsuite, Buffer, and Sprout Social, that enable you to manage your social media in one location. It may also be helpful to create an overall plan for social. Planning a monthly schedule is great for overall goal setting.
Take Time for Self-Care
You deserve time off too. Slowing down during the holidays gives you the space to take time off for yourself and your family. Burnout is a real thing. And, it can be especially hard to take time off when growing a business.
In fact, self-care has been proven to reduce stress, increase productivity and creativity, and improve mental health. And, yet, less than 7% of us do it! Self-care can be in the form of many things like:
Exercising- Go for a walk. Do a 15-minute yoga stretch. Take a class at the gym.
A Spa Day- We know, it’s hard to give yourself permission for a luxurious spa day when business is down… but you deserve it! Get your hair done. Have a massage. Get those nails painted for the holidays!
Go Shopping- Target has never looked so good. We’ve all been there, you go in with a list of two things and come out with a cartful. Embrace it.
Take a Nap- As a mom and business owner, sleep is fleeting. But we of all people know how important it is to our overall health. So, take a nap. Or, sleep in one day. Or both!
Self-care doesn’t mean that you have to stop working altogether (though you can). Maybe work less (think winter hours). Go to your kid’s holiday program, shop by yourself, spend extra time decorating cookies, and take an afternoon to watch a predictable Hallmark movie (we all do it).
Remember, ups and downs are a normal part of business. Taking this time to rest and reenergize now will make it easier to hit the pavement running when business picks up.
