5 ways to market your business during the slow season

Business during the slow season is enough to drive any entrepreneur bonkers.

Less work usually means less money coming through the door, which can even lead to a slight panic mode in business owners; scrambling to find ways to make some extra cash and have their wallets feel a little more fat.

But, there is always a positive side to being less busy.

For one, it’s an excellent time to take a step back to reflect on business, gain new ideas, and see where you stand.

Secondly, it can spark some creativity into finding new and different ways to gain more business.

Constantly evolving and pivoting your business with the world around you will only benefit it in the long run.

Do the most successful companies advertise and market their products and services the same way they did 50 years ago?

Of course not!

They have conformed to more modern ways and have kept on top of changes and trends to meet the needs of the people.

And your business is no different!

So if you’re scrambling around trying think of ways to get new buyers in the door or how to expand your reach, let’s run through 5 ways to market yourself during this slow time and keep your business alive!

Disclaimer: Affiliate links may be used in this post, so that means if you purchase anything through these links, we will get a small commission which helps keep this blog running. We only promote and share products that we personally use, trust, and love!

 

Network with others

If you don’t have business buddies, then this is the perfect time to make some!

Building a business by yourself is incredibly challenging, but having other complimentary businesses at your side, you’ll be able to gain more traction quicker than you could alone.

One way to do this is simple: set aside some time to visit other businesses in your area and introduce yourself (in a non-slimy way). If your business is based online, then seek others out by sending complimentary messages and email to introduce yourself.

Another way to meet others is to join a local networking club such as a chamber of commerce or private networking organization.

This is probably the quickest way to meet many others in business in your area and to see who you can see yourself collaborating with and sending referrals to.

In my experience, networking groups are an amazing resource full of ambitious business owners with a common goal: to help others achieve success.

If you surround yourself with positive business owners, the sky’s the limit with potential business opportunities and relationships.

If you aren’t rubbing elbows with others in your niche, now’s the time to remedy that!

Read next: How to connect with professionals in your niche

 

Host a giveaway

Nothing creates more excitement and buzz than a giveaway, so why not give it a shot?!

You can reach new potential leads as well as giving back to your trusted customers with a simple giveaway that highlights your business and adds value to your following.

And to kick it up a notch, how about inviting some of your new business buddies to team up and join you in this giveaway?

The more the merrier, and the bigger the results will be if you decide to work with others.

Just keep in mind that proper planning and organization is a MUST when it comes to collaborating with other businesses.

Don’t forget to be creative & have fun too!

If you’re having fun giving stuff away, imagine how your entrants are feeling as well!

 

Become a sponsor

Sponsoring a sports team, a local event, or a club is another great way to market yourself and put your business into the spotlight.

If you run a storefront, it could even be as simple as giving a portion of your proceeds to an organization that is raising money for a cause.

This can be a powerful motivator for people who are wanting to support the organization, plus they also get something out of it too!

As a photographer myself, I like to work with non-profit groups to give a portion of my sales to their charity. They help me promote a special photo session event, and in return, they get a percentage of the profits that are made.

This works for both of us because I get a new stream of revenue and new clients in the door, and the charity gets an easy kickback.

Don’t be scared to put yourself out there and be inventive with how you can help support non-profits and charities in your area!

 

Start a project

Now this is the fun part where you can get your creative juices flowing!

A project that blends with your business and serves your community will not only be a great attention-grabber, but it will certainly keep you busy during your downtime.

If you run a clothing boutique, you could start a project to help clothe those in need.

I have seen a company start a suit drive for veterans who need a nice outfit to wear for job interviews. The suit drive helped the community by providing free attire to veterans and the company gained a valuable reputation for it.

For myself, I run an annual tween photo project that focuses on building self-confidence in tweens and having them participate in an experience that’s full of excitement and joy.

What tween do you know who doesn’t love a positive morale boost?!

No matter what your business is, you can use your skills and expertise to help serve others and put a fun twist on your business when things are a little on the slow side.

 

Start or write a newsletter

One way to keep your past clients and customers thinking about you is to give them a reason to!

Newsletters are a great way to connect with your ideal customers and share with them on a more personal level.

While I am not going into the specifics of why you need a newsletter and how to start one, I will say that utilizing one in your marketing plan will only be beneficial to your business when approached correctly.

Emails are a cheap and easy way to allow your following to keep tabs on you, know about your latest news, and reach out to you one-on-one.

I cannot tell you how many times I have been compelled to buy something because of a well-written email.

And not only just an email, but a relationship that had been built on for many months of receiving emails from said business. This is where marketing and sales get to a very personal and emotional level – which is an AMAZING asset to your business!

There are plenty of newsletter providers to choose from these days, but I personally use Aweber for all their amazing features and user-friendly interface (because let’s face it, do you really want to spend half a week learning a new program?!)

Whatever service you choose, having a newsletter is gold, so get that ball rolling and start now!

If you decide to try one of these things on the list or put out all the stops and do them all, you’ll only be glad that you did!

How do you keep yourself & your business busy during the slower months?! Comment below & let’s share our ideas!