Does this time of year equal a bit of a downtime? If it does, we have some small business downtime tips for you!
So, the kids have broken up from school, the sun is (meant to be!) shining, people are off on their hols, and the hustle and bustle of daily business life (& traffic) seems to slow down a bit for some of us, doesn’t it? This is why it is the perfect time to share some downtime small business tips with you.
Before September arrives (with a jolt!) why not use this time to get prepared and follow our small business downtime tips? Here you go, just for you!
Review and Refresh Your Website
Your website is often the first point of contact potential customers have with your business. Is it looking its best? Use this downtime to:
- Update Content: Ensure your website content is current, relevant, and engaging. Add new services, update team bios, and refresh old blog posts.
- Enhance SEO: Optimise your website for search engines. Conduct keyword research and update meta tags, titles, and descriptions.
- Check for Broken Links: Make sure all links are working correctly and direct users to the right pages.
- Improve Load Times: Speed up your website by optimising images and using caching tools.
It might help you to know we are offer a Free Website Audit where we will check all the above for you (for free!) and give you a personalised report and recommendations if this saves you some time.
Polish Your Brand Identity
Take a step back and look at your branding. Does it reflect your business accurately? Is it consistent across everything? Is what you do/offer clear? Does it appeal to your target audience?
- Update Your Logo: If your logo looks dated, consider a redesign. A fresh, modern logo can make a big impact.
- Create Consistent Visuals: Ensure your brand visuals are consistent across all platforms. This includes social media, your website, and printed materials.
- Design New Marketing Materials: Use this time to create new brochures, business cards, and banners that align with your updated branding.
Why not take our 60-Second Brand Quiz to see how your brand fares and to give some things to focus on during your downtime?
Review and Refresh Your Website Copy
Remember visuals attract but copy seals the deal! So take advantage of any quiet time to reflect on and refine your website copy. Does it talk to your ideal customer, does it say how you can help them and what you offer in an engaging way? Your website is often the first impression potential customers have of your business, and compelling, clear copy is crucial for converting visitors into clients. Here are a few tips from us to help you get started:
Is your copy clear? Review each page of your website to ensure your messaging is clear and consistent with your brand identity.
Does your copy speak to your ideal customer? Take time to optimise for SEO and incorporate relevant keywords and phrases that your target audience is searching for to improve your search engine ranking.
Are your CTAs compelling? Ensure the copy you are using and your CTAs are compelling and guide visitors towards taking action, whether it’s contacting you, making a purchase, or subscribing to your newsletter.
We have even more copywriting tips in our Free Copywriting Guide. Click here to download (and just scroll down until you see it!
Engage with Your Audience
Even if business is slow, maintaining a connection with your audience is crucial.
- Email Marketing: Send out a newsletter updating your customers on what’s new, any upcoming events, or special offers or maybe even keep it fun and just share your holiday snaps! People love personality so don’t forget to inject some!
- Social Media: Schedule engaging fun content, run polls, and share behind-the-scenes and again why not share some of your holiday snaps ?!
- Marketing: Take the downtime to think about ways you can reconnect with past customers. Flyers or postcards are a cost-effective solution (and think of an enticing offer too!)
If you need any ideas or help with content and messaging we love nothing more than a good old brainstorming session so do please get in touch. No obligation at all!
Plan for the Future
And finally spend some time planning for the upcoming busy season:
- Set Goals: Define clear, achievable goals for the next few months. This could be increasing sales, launching a new product, or expanding your service area.
- Review Analytics: Analyse your business data to understand what’s working and what’s not. Use these insights to make informed decisions.
- Develop a Content Calendar: Plan out your blog posts, social media updates, and email campaigns for the next few months.
- Start thinking about Christmas and Christmas marketing. It might only be August but September is the month to start talking about Christmas offers/products etc.
Yes, we did mention the ‘C’ word! Before you know it though, it will be October/November and you’ve missed the boat for another year. Here’s a good #HashtagDay resource to help you plan in some future content.
This is why the summer can be the perfect time to follow our small business downtime tips.
It’s a chance to rejuvenate and set the stage for a successful end to the year. By focusing on these areas, you can ensure that your business is not only ready to meet the demands of the busy season ahead but also positioned for growth.
So, take a deep breath, embrace the quieter days, and get to work on boosting your business.
Need help with your website or branding? Contact us for a friendly chat and don’t forget to take our 60-Second Brand Boost Quiz to give you a starting point (it does honestly only take 60-seconds!).
And if you are looking for simple, low cost marketing ideas this blog will be of interest to you; Inexpensive Marketing Ideas for Small Business: 7 Ideas.
