Latest / Online Business Uncovered: Simple Strategies for Female Entrepreneurs / 58: How to use quiet periods in business to supercharge your success

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58: How to use quiet periods in business to supercharge your success · Online Business Uncovered: Simple Strategies for Female Entrepreneurs

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Hello and welcome to the Ditch Lee She Does It Show.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: This is episode 58, and in today's episode, I'm going to be talking about how to make the most of a quiet period in business.
• 0:13
  SPEAKER_00: So let's jump right in and get started.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Digitally She Does It Show.
• 0:25
  SPEAKER_00: I'm your host Karen and I'm here to lift the lid on what it actually takes to create a successful business.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: If you are an ambitious creative ready to build a business on your own terms and without compromise, then this podcast is perfect for you.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_00: With my award-winning approach to marketing and expert knowledge in creating online courses, this show will leave you feeling inspired, energized, and ready to bring those big dreams to life.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_00: Join me each week for a dose of motivation and marketing know-how, along with actionable step-by-step strategies to help you accelerate your business's growth.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_00: So let's dive in and don't forget to subscribe to all my upcoming episodes, which drop every Wednesday.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: Now, as I record this episode, we are moving towards the end of July, and here in the UK, the kids have now finished school for the summer, which means six weeks of disturbed routine and keeping the kids entertained.
• 1:47
  SPEAKER_00: Now, for those of you who don't know, I've got two girls aged 9 and 11, and so for me this year feels a little bit more important because my eldest is off to secondary school in September, which is crazy because I feel like it was only five minutes ago that we were preparing for her to go to junior school.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: So we've been spending the past few months getting her ready, attending her new school, figuring out how that new routine is going to be looking, buying uniform, getting her ready because it's going to be a massive shift for her.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_00: And so this summer I just feel like I want to really spend time with the girls because I just feel like time is running away, and I want us to have a really good summer and make some really good memories as well.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_00: And so I will be taking a break over August, and I will be releasing a new episode on the 6th of September.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm going to be taking August off.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_00: But before I do, I just wanted to talk about what happens through a quiet period in business because in my space I do notice that there are key times of during the year where things go quiet.
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this might not be relevant to everyone because different people experience different things, but with my audience, most do take time off to spend time with their family, to go on holiday, and so around the summertime it does go quiet.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_00: Now it isn't just in the summer that slow periods can happen.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_00: There are many reasons for a business to experience slow periods, even if your company is not a seasonal business.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe you have high or low seasons, it could be down to industry trends, or it could be down to a post-holiday slump.
• 4:01
  SPEAKER_00: However, slow periods in business shouldn't be viewed as a negative because they can be both a blessing and an opportunity, and that's what I want to talk about today.
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_00: Now, the one thing I do think is key though is maintaining a level of productivity and of course motivation because it can be really easy to fall into a trap of negative thinking, and so in this episode, I'm going to share some tips with you so that you can make the most of a slow period so that you can set yourself up for success when things pick up.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_00: So my first tip is about taking the time to review.
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_00: Now, life is busy, and we don't always have the time to sit back and review our performance, and so this is a great time to be able to look in at certain metrics to see how things are going so that you can get an accurate picture of what your business is looking like.
• 5:13
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this could be in the way of reviewing your financial figures, it could be that you are taking the time to look at marketing metrics, it could even be your website analytics.
• 5:25
  SPEAKER_00: I think mid-year is a really good time to review and audit how everything is going because then you can identify areas that need improvement, and then you can develop strategies on how you're going to improve those areas.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_00: So taking the time to carry out an audit to review where you are willing to make decisions that's going to help the business move forward.
• 5:53
  SPEAKER_00: My second tip is about taking time to plan.
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_00: So when we have a slow period in business, it's a really great opportunity to take time out to plan for the future success of your business.
• 6:11
  SPEAKER_00: Take the time to reconnect with your vision, get clear on your goals for the remainder of the year, and then set measurable objectives of what you're going to achieve, and then take the time to brainstorm new ideas and then figure out how you're going to achieve them.
• 6:34
  SPEAKER_00: When we have a downtime in our businesses, because everything is often so busy, that time to just simply plan and get creative doesn't always happen, but that's where the magic happens because that's where you can get innovative and you can start to develop new ways of doing things.
• 6:57
  SPEAKER_00: So if your business is slowing down and you are being affected by the summer period, then take that time to plan ahead and think about new things that you can create.
• 7:11
  SPEAKER_00: Is there something that you've been thinking about creating for a while but you've not had time for?
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_00: Could it be that online course that you've been thinking about?
• 7:23
  SPEAKER_00: If so, this is the perfect time to start mapping out that idea so you can start working on bringing it to life.
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_00: Now, Trello is a really great tool to use in the planning process.
• 7:38
  SPEAKER_00: I've spoken about it before on the podcast.
• 7:40
  SPEAKER_00: I really love Trello, it's easy to use, easy to manage, and it's free.
• 7:46
  SPEAKER_00: And what I really enjoy about Trello is that you can make it look as creative and visual as what you'd like it to be.
• 7:54
  SPEAKER_00: So, for example, you can add images, colours, all of that stuff that can help bring that idea to life.
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_00: So if you're not using a project management tool and you need a tool to support you in planning for what you're going to be creating in the future, then I really do recommend Trello.
• 8:17
  SPEAKER_00: So do go and check it out.
• 8:19
  SPEAKER_00: My third tip is about spending time enhancing your online presence.
• 8:25
  SPEAKER_00: So this could be in the way of optimizing your website, going through making sure all your keywords and descriptions are up to date and still relevant, and then adding any new keywords that you want to add to make sure that you're going to be found on Google.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_00: It could be that you spend some time updating your social media profiles, making sure that everything is consistent, up to date, they all reflect how you want to be seen online, and then creating engaging content.
• 8:59
  SPEAKER_00: So creating content that your audience are going to want to see.
• 9:05
  SPEAKER_00: Creating powerful content online is what helps us to build a deeper relationship with potential customers, and it also helps us to solidify our brand online.
• 9:16
  SPEAKER_00: So it's really worth taking the time to really plan out what content your audience are going to want to see, and then creating that content for them.
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_00: It's also a great way to engage in conversations with your audience as well.
• 9:31
  SPEAKER_00: Because here's the thing: social media is about being sociable, it's not just about releasing content and then doing nothing with it.
• 9:40
  SPEAKER_00: We want to be social with our audience and engage in those conversations because it's those conversations that builds trust.
• 9:48
  SPEAKER_00: Now, in a slow period, you can take the time and really plan out what that content looks like so that you can start to create content that maybe answers the questions that your ideal clients are going to have.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_00: So I would really recommend utilizing this time to just map out ideas that you have.
• 10:12
  SPEAKER_00: You can then start to create content that your audience want to access.
• 10:19
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, so my fourth tip is about reviewing and streamlining systems.
• 10:25
  SPEAKER_00: So in business, systems are integral to the efficiency of how your business is being run.
• 10:31
  SPEAKER_00: So we need to make sure that we've got the right systems in place that is going to support us.
• 10:37
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this could be in the way of having a CRM that captures our clients' details, that gives us the information we need as and when we need it, or it could simply be the way in which you engage with your clients.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_00: But you need to have efficient systems in place that are so going to support you as you run your business, it's what's going to maximize your productivity.
• 11:05
  SPEAKER_00: So this is the perfect time to really sit back, review what it is you're using, and whether or not those systems can be improved.
• 11:16
  SPEAKER_00: So first and foremost, identify the systems that you have in place, and then you want to really get clearer on what your goals are.
• 11:26
  SPEAKER_00: So, what is it that you want to achieve, and then you can make a plan to achieve in it.
• 11:34
  SPEAKER_00: So, for example, just going back to my CRM idea.
• 11:37
  SPEAKER_00: So, for example, if you have a CRM system, but maybe you're using Excel to house all of that data, then this would be a great time to really look at other products out there on the market that you can use and integrate in your business.
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_00: This is going to work so much better for you because it's going to help you streamline your approach.
• 12:02
  SPEAKER_00: So now is the perfect time to look at what systems you have in place and to see what you can automate to give you time back as well.
• 12:14
  SPEAKER_00: So if you are doing things in a manual way that you know is taking a lot of time, then again, now is the time to really look at what is out there on the market to see if you can bring something on board that can support you better.
• 12:31
  SPEAKER_00: So create an action plan, get clear on what it is you need, and then spend the time researching to see what options are available to you.
• 12:44
  SPEAKER_00: But when you have a slow period in business, I would always recommend have a look at the systems you have in place because if you are struggling with time, then it will be the systems that will help you to claw time back.
• 13:00
  SPEAKER_00: Now is the perfect time to have a look at what that looks like, have a look at what you need and research what's out there because I guarantee whatever need you have, there will be a solution out there on the market.
• 13:15
  SPEAKER_00: So take the time to review, audit, and streamline, and that'll make such a difference to you when things get busy because it means that you're spending less time doing things manually because you'll have set things up to support you better.
• 13:33
  SPEAKER_00: During lockdown, when things slowed down, I spent some time looking for a CRM system to support me.
• 13:43
  SPEAKER_00: I'd researched CRM systems prior, and there was nothing that I'd come across that really delivered the solution that I was looking for.
• 13:53
  SPEAKER_00: I was looking for something that was going to help me automate a proportion of my business so that I didn't have to spend time being so manual.
• 14:05
  SPEAKER_00: And I came across a tool called Dupsado.
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_00: Now, Dupsado is an American tool, it's a CRM system designed specifically for coaches and creatives.
• 14:18
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this tool is amazing, it's what helped me to really streamline my onboarding and offboarding process in my business.
• 14:29
  SPEAKER_00: So when I take clients on, I take them through a specific system that is automated, and DOPSado has enabled me to automate processes in my business that before were taking me a lot of time.
• 14:46
  SPEAKER_00: Now, one of those processes was when I send contracts out, I was doing it really manually, and then I was having to rely on clients to print off the contract, sign it, and then send it back.
• 15:00
  SPEAKER_00: Now, what the PSADO did was it helped me to automate that process so that clients could digitally sign the documents that I would then send them.
• 15:12
  SPEAKER_00: Now, I took the time in a quiet period to find this to research what it could do and then to integrate it into my business.
• 15:23
  SPEAKER_00: And then by the time things started to pick up, I was ready to go.
• 15:28
  SPEAKER_00: So I really do recommend if you are having a quiet period where you do have time in your hands and you are looking for a solution to help you streamline processes in your business, then definitely check out Dub Sado because I know for me it's been a real game changer.
• 15:48
  SPEAKER_00: I will link to Dub Sado in the show notes, but it's really worth checking this tool out.
• 15:56
  SPEAKER_00: Now, there are other tools on the market that do similar things, but if you are a coach or a creative and you are looking to streamline and to automate parts of your business, then this is definitely a tool that will help you.
• 16:12
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, so my fifth and final tip is about spending time working on your brand.
• 16:19
  SPEAKER_00: Now, when things are busy, it can be really challenging to find the time to focus on branding activities, such as developing your logo or developing your visual styling, or even working on brand messaging.
• 16:37
  SPEAKER_00: So when you find that you've got time on your hands, this is the perfect time to really go back and reconnect with what your brand is all about and whether or not your visuals are reflecting your brand in the right way.
• 16:53
  SPEAKER_00: So, what I recommend that you do is spend some time evaluating your current brand.
• 17:00
  SPEAKER_00: Go through, look at your logo, look at your fonts, look at the colors, and evaluate whether or not what you have works for you.
• 17:10
  SPEAKER_00: Because whether you realize it or not, it may be that you've evolved your brand, but your current brand identity may not reflect where you are now.
• 17:22
  SPEAKER_00: So it's always worth reconnecting with your original brand strategy to see if it still reflects the business that you are creating, and then make any necessary adjustments to ensure that is aligned with your business goals.
• 17:43
  SPEAKER_00: So conduct a brand audit, analyze your brand, go through, be really critical of your logo, your website, all your marketing materials, how you're appearing on social media, and all of your customer touch points as well.
• 18:01
  SPEAKER_00: So whether you've got leaflets, brochures, marketing collateral that represents your business, take the time to carry out an audit to make sure that everything is still aligned with your business's vision and its goals and that you haven't outgrown it.
• 18:19
  SPEAKER_00: Because sometimes when we're busy in the doing, we can be evolving our thinking and what we're wanting to achieve without realizing that what we're doing is outgrowing what we've created, so you just want to make sure that everything is still aligned and that it represents you and your business in the right way.
• 18:43
  SPEAKER_00: It's worth also taking some time to audit your messaging as well, making sure that everything you're saying in your marketing is still relevant and on point to your target audience and that it still resonates with them.
• 18:59
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, so my bonus tip, which is probably the most important tip of them all, is to take care of yourself.
• 19:09
  SPEAKER_00: Use the quiet time that you have in your business to take time out, to relax, recharge, and invest in your self-care so that when business does pick up, you're ready to go.
• 19:22
  SPEAKER_00: Now, coping with slow periods in business can be challenging, especially if you're not used to it, but I think it all boils down to having the right mindset and the right strategies in place.
• 19:33
  SPEAKER_00: It's so important to stay positive and focused and not to be discouraged or overwhelmed by having a quiet period.
• 19:44
  SPEAKER_00: Keep reminding yourself that this is just temporary and that new opportunities are going to arise going forward, and especially in the summer where people are going on holiday and spending time with their families, it's perfectly normal for things to slow down, but focus on spending time on yourself and your business, getting it into a position where when things do pick up, you're ready to go.
• 20:12
  SPEAKER_00: Slow periods are just a natural part of doing business, but I think by staying proactive, staying focused, and keeping motivated, you're going to emerge so much stronger and resilient so that when business does pick up, you're ready for it.
• 20:33
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to today's episode.
• 20:37
  SPEAKER_00: I hope you found this episode of value and of course that please feel free to share it with others who you may think will also benefit from listening to today's episode.
• 20:47
  SPEAKER_00: If you are feeling inspired and would like to know more about getting started with creating an online digital course, then why not download my free ebook 10 Steps to Digital Course Success by visiting my website www.pink-lemondigital.com.
• 21:05
  SPEAKER_00: I will be back on the 6th of September with another episode.
• 21:09
  SPEAKER_00: But until then, have a great summer.
• 21:14
  SPEAKER_00: I hope you enjoyed this episode of the Digitally She Does It Show.
• 21:18
  SPEAKER_00: Don't forget to check out the show notes for all the links and resources mentioned in today's episode.
• 21:23
  SPEAKER_00: New episodes drop every week on a Wednesday.
• 21:25
  SPEAKER_00: So why not rate and subscribe so you never miss an episode?
• 21:29
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for tuning in today, and I will see you next time.