Tips for keeping focused on your business this summer.
Can you believe that the kids are already on their summer holidays? Where has this year gone?? We have already experienced some lovely warm temperatures and hopefully, there will more long warm summer days ahead of us during August.
It is the time of the year when we want to be outside and many of us will be taking our annual holiday whether here in the UK or abroad.
However, as a sole trader or small business owner, it is often difficult to take the time out of the business or to focus on the tasks at hand when the sun is shining, the kids are demanding our attention and also many of our clients are away.
So here are some business tips to help keep some focus but also have some fun!
Set yourself realistic targets. Acknowledge that you may have time when you are less focused or away so don’t set yourself up to fail. Remember, if you achieve your targets then reward yourself. We often forget to do this. How about:
- Write 3 blogs so you have new content to post from September onwards
- Create a new digital offering that could generate passive income
- Gain xx customers.
Get out and about networking in the great outdoors. The summer is a great time to catch up on 1-2-1s. There are lots of lovely venues that have gardens which make a perfect setting for a meeting. Do you have a local country park, a nearby lake or river, or a nice hotel that you have been meaning to visit? You could even treat yourself to afternoon tea!
Do you enjoy reading? Why not ask your network for recommendations of a good business book or one focused on personal development? You can easily read while sitting on the beach, in the garden, or during a long flight. If you are travelling light think about downloading an audible book instead. Once you have read it don’t forget to share a post on social media about it so that your network can benefit from your recommendation.
Don’t stress over your social media if you are going away. You can schedule posts on Facebook and Instagram for free in Meta Business Suite. There are also lots of management tools out there that allow you to schedule on other social media platforms – most have a free trial period that you could take advantage of initially. However, don’t forget about your community – remember when your posts are going out so that you can set aside a small amount of time to check comments and respond accordingly – if people have asked a question don’t leave them hanging.
Obviously, I must include reviewing your marketing plan. You did write one, didn’t you? Well, we are now over halfway through the year and it is essential you take a look a good look at it to make sure that you are on track and if not, you can make any necessary tweaks. The summer is the perfect time to do this. If something isn’t working, there is no point in doing more of the same. If you don’t have a plan, don’t panic, you can use the next few weeks to draft a plan for the remainder of the year to really make sure that you hit the ground running in September. I offer mini planning sessions over zoom so if you would like more information, please contact me on 07988 676219 or email me at karen@littleacornmarketing.co.uk or click here.
One final thing tip – don’t forget to put an out-of-office message on your email to help set expectations. There is nothing more frustrating than sending an enquiry and not hearing back because someone is away but hasn’t thought of letting anyone know. Alternatively, think about hiring a VA who can manage your inbox whilst you are away.
Hope you have a great summer!