They can be scary times, when not enough work is coming in and those bills need to be paid. There are many factors that can impact a lull, some beyond our control. However, during these down times, there's plenty that you can do to whip up a bit of activity and hopefully new work. I am a firm believer that worrying doesn't help. The energy used for worry can be put to better use.  

Don't wait for opportunity to knock the door... go and get it! Don't panic and make a commitment to do something each day that will help get you new customers/business during lean times.  Keep this list close to hand so that those down times can be put to better use to strengthen your business.

Get on the phone!
Pick up the phone to existing customers. Sometimes a general chat can stimulate a number of things, a sense of caring from you for one and quite repeat business and/or a referral.

Create a newsletter
Regular newsletters help keep your existing customers informed of what's happening in your business and share new services or products.  Keep it consisent. 

Offer Freebies
Everyone loves a freebie. Customers love to feel valued and important. Market freebies to attract new customers as well.

Open doors
Got a new product to show off? Invite valued customers to your property, few glasses of wine, bit of music – the social aspect of it won't seem as thought it's business but fun.

Business cards
Don't leave home without them. You never know who you will bump into.

Email signature
Use your email signature to signpost back to offers on your website or key message – you can be creative without coming across as desperate.

Get Social
If you are not using social media to amplify your messages and seek out potential new business, now might be a good time to set up and get savvy with social media.

Find business related Facebook groups and communities
There are dozens and dozens of communities and groups to join and share information about your business. Groups are great for recommendations too.

Get collaborating
Look for relationships with other business who are not in direct competition but sell to the same people as you. This is a great way of sharing costs too.

Write blogs
If you have a website, do you have a blog/news page? Add one and start writing content. This is great for website seo.  

Get Testimonials
If you have been doing awesome work throughout this year, get feedback from your clients. You have evidence to share online or off to potential new customers. Great for earning trust and credibility.

Adopt a cause
There are many great causes and organisations that need help. Not just financial, sometimes it's just helping getting the word out there. What are you passionate about outside of your business and how can you help? Share it in your newsletters, your website.

Branding
Is it time to get some vehicle signage? Time to get that t-shirt with your logo? Is your logo on everything from business cards, letterhead, advertising, t-shirts. Make sure it's consistent across everything that you do.

Review your current advertising
What advertising avenues have you pursued – have customers come from these channels? If so, repeat. If not, could you freshen up your advertising? A new image or wording refresh can make a huge difference.

Take a well earned break
You need to recharge those batteries, particularly if you have been working for long periods of time without a break. If you know when your business is going to slow down, take advantage of it and come back re-energised.

We are all bound to experience naturally quiet times within our businesses and we must appreciate and adapt to the natural flows of our business and welcome them. Promoting and marketing your business an essential ongoing process throughout the year. Doing so means that your business is out there and helps attract new customers and win more work from existing ones.

What marketing activity have you done that has helped grow your business during lean times?

Yours socially
Micala 

I have had the good fortune of meeting a fabulous coach - Rebecca Pintre 'on line'.  Sometimes, even on line, perception skills can still hone in on those you know you can gravitate to without meeting. I like her style, I like her approach professionally and personally.

Our paths have crossed and lately I have had a couple of coaching sessions with her, which I have to say were absolutely FANTASTIC. I have been receptive to coaching in the past and found them to be beneficial. Lately, I have had a few blocks... well I didn't know that, but my body did and very recently lost my 'mojo' all of a sudden. It was as if the switch to the joie de vie, the effervescence of life, finding the good in everything, glass ¾ full approach had been switched off. It was instantaneous. I acknowledged it and was aware of it. The thing is I very rarely share outwardly to others but I chatted with my husband and just went with the lethargic flow.

For the first chat with Rebecca, losing my mojo was the focus of the conversation. I am usually pretty much full of life, see things from a positive angle... with a recent house move, renovations and garden and the 'day' job I hadn't realised just how far I had pushed myself, despite thinking – mustn't stop, the hamster wheel needs to keep going' Says who? No-one apart from a self imposed inner critique saying, don't stop.

The more I pushed myself physically and mentally, the more 'inner push backs' were rearing their head. Won't say ugly head, because your body and your mind have a great way of telling you to take note. I had been putting off dealing with a lingering chest issue... something I suffer from every year living in rural France. It arrived late this year, thanks to mild months toward the end of 2015 and a wet start to 2016 and with Spring allergens doing their annual thing, it had crept up slowly and was taking a grip.

Having talked through some of my thoughts... some off tangent, some of the moment... they all have a place, it became clear how I could work through, not fight through activities that were causing a bit of a bottle neck. The conversation flew by and resulted in a commitment to take action. I like lists, I like action and to be fair, they were achievable. I left the call buoyed up and ready, not – “I have enough on my plate and now I have another list of things to do”.

I have to say I felt much better for just 'getting it off my chest' I am that kind of person, I need to internalise, assess, deal with it and move on. Illness, odd moods, all have a short shelf life in my world. Those 'inner' blockages had a sense of release and the inner equilibrium was enjoying a more normal flow. I also took myself off the doctors and explained the symptoms and succumbed to the use of man made substances to help shift a lingering infection.

By the time my second session arrived, I had actively and enjoyably dealt with my new task list as well as dealing with the procrastination pile. Mojo had returned. It's amazing how life can create layers, some good, some bad, some you just can't put your finger on. During our discussion, I talked about a business related issue that I had a stumbling block on and on airing my thoughts it transpired that an 'incident' that had occurred some months ago was also adding to the loss of mojo, but I hadn't realised it. It had actually caused a 'confidence knock'. With all other activity going on, it was just sitting there layering up. I have to admit the incident did cause a great deal of angst at the time but I am guessing because of my need to air and share with a group of trusted and loyal confidantes it was not doable at that time. Pre France I would have been able to have a girly chat with trusted friends, chew the fat, get it off my chest, move on and it would have by now been something to laugh at. Alas, being an expat in another country, it takes longer to build those kind of relationships, the choices are much more diminished and to be honest, there are times when trust is not something that sits high on an expats lists of requirements. We all seek it, want it, but being that trustworthy person is a little more difficult to be, for some.

Having acknowledged the 'confidence knock' coupled with layering of life over recent months, it was easier to see it for what it was. What was even more refreshing was being able to talk about personal and professional concerns that I felt in the current circumstances, were best aired and shared with a set of professional ears. Working solo, and giving your all to your client work, your home life, your personal life, life in general can be exhausting. If the pause button is not pressed frequently it can become and emergency stop. Those layers become too thick and could lead to real de motivation and loss of joy in personal and professional arenas. The recent coaching experience reminded me, we are all human, we are not robots or super heroes. We are allowed to feel wobbly. We are allowed to explore avenues that put our mind, body and spirit back on track.

Business owners should definitely consider working with a coach. No one is immune to the fall out of doing too much. We all experience times when there is simply too much on the plate. A coach will ask questions to help you think deeper, so that action and decisions you make and commit yourself to work in your best interests.

I for one will be booking in again with Rebecca again in the future. There are times when your own life map is somewhat blurry, it's comforting to know that there's someone who can help you read it and ask questions that you had not thought of. Those questions get you thinking for yourself and get you ready to enjoy your journey.  

For more information about Rebecca, visit her website http://artemismindsetcoaching.com/ or her Facebook page 

Yours socially