What to Do When Business is Slow (That Actually Helps You Grow)

Slow seasons are completely normal in business, but they can feel frustrating when your inbox is quiet or projects aren’t moving. The good news is that a slower pace doesn’t have to mean standing still.

This is actually a great time to check in on your systems, clean up the back end of your business, and prepare for the next wave of growth. Here are six ways to use this time intentionally so you feel more organized, confident, and ready when things pick up again.

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1. Ask past clients for reviews

If you’ve had great client experiences, now is the perfect time to turn that into social proof. Testimonials help build trust, validate your work, and show potential clients what it’s like to work with you. They can also be reused across your website, social media, proposals, or email marketing.

Most people are happy to share their experience. They often just need a little guidance. Keep your request simple and easy to respond to. Here’s an example you can use:

“Hi [Client Name],
I really enjoyed working with you and would love to feature your feedback on my website. If you're open to it, would you be willing to share a few quick thoughts about your experience?

A few questions to guide you:

What made you decide to work with me?

What was the experience like?

What results or impact have you seen since working with me?

Totally fine to respond casually or in your own words. I’d really appreciate it!”

Having a collection of strong, thoughtful testimonials helps new leads feel more confident in reaching out. If they can see that others have had a great experience, they’re more likely to trust that you can help them too.

2. Fine-tune your marketing strategy

When you’re busy, marketing often becomes reactive. You post because you feel like you should, or you send an email without really checking what’s working. A slower season gives you the time and space to step back and look at your strategy from a bigger picture.

Check your analytics and ask yourself:

• What content or offers are getting the most traction?

• Where are your leads actually coming from?

• Are there channels or strategies that no longer make sense?

Understanding what’s truly working allows you to focus your time and energy where it matters. This can lead to better results with less effort moving forward.

3. Plan your content ahead of time

Staying visible online is important, but it can be tough to keep up with content when you’re deep in client work. Use this quieter season to map out blog posts, emails, or social media content that will help you stay top of mind.

Start small. Even planning a few evergreen topics or outlining your next few posts can help. Think about what your audience needs to hear from you right now and what content will continue to be useful throughout the year.

The goal here is not perfection. It’s about setting yourself up to show up consistently when your calendar gets full again.

4. Update your portfolio

Have you done great work recently that isn’t reflected on your website? Now is the time to show it off. Updating your portfolio helps you stay current, attract the right clients, and show your range of experience.

You don’t need to create full case studies right away. Instead, you can:

• Add a few strong project images

• Write a short description of each project’s goals and outcome

• Refresh the layout or look of your portfolio page

• Feature recent work on your homepage

Your portfolio is one of the first places potential clients go. Make sure it’s sending the right message about who you are and what you can do.

5. Get a free website audit

If it’s been a while since you reviewed your website, this is the perfect time. Take a moment to look at your homepage, service pages, and navigation. Ask yourself if your site feels clear, helpful, and aligned with where your business is today.

Small updates to layout, messaging, or calls to action can make a big difference in how people experience your site.

Need a second opinion? I’m offering a free website audit for business owners who want personalized, actionable feedback on their Squarespace website. You’ll receive 3 to 5 suggestions to improve clarity, design, and function.

It’s completely free and takes just a few minutes to request.

6. Revisit your services or pricing

When was the last time you looked at your service offerings and pricing structure? A slower season is a great time to make sure everything still aligns with your goals, skills, and ideal clients.

If you do make updates, don’t forget to reflect those changes on your website. Clear and current service descriptions help potential clients know exactly what to expect.

If you need support updating your site, I’m here to help.

A slow season doesn’t mean something is wrong with your business. In fact, it can be the perfect opportunity to work on the things that get left behind during busy times.

Take this time to reflect, update, and prepare so that when new opportunities come your way, your business is ready to grow.

If you need support updating your website or figuring out what to improve, feel free to reach out to me here or request a free website audit. I’d love to help you make your next season your strongest one yet.