What to Do When Business Feels Slow: Encouragement and Ideas for Small Businesses

If you’ve ever hit a season where inquiries slow down or sales feel quieter than usual, you’re not alone. Every business has its rhythms, and in a tough economy those dips can feel even sharper. It can be stressful, but here’s the good news: there are plenty of small, intentional steps you can take to boost bookings, support your clients, and even strengthen your systems for the long run.

This isn’t about doing everything or hustling harder. It’s about choosing the right strategies that fit your season and help you serve well without burning out.

1. Lean Into Smart, Strategic Marketing

Slow seasons are an opportunity to double down on content that works for you long-term. This is where sustainable marketing really shines.

• Refresh or repurpose a blog post into new formats (see 30+ Blog Post Ideas That Actually Drive Traffic).

• Schedule ahead with a free all-in-one tool like Metricool.

• Create content that answers the real questions your clients are asking. This builds trust and brings traffic back to your site.

2. Tap Into Your Community

Your connections are one of your greatest assets (one of the core pillars I shared in my life-first marketing workshop).

• Partner with another business for a bundled offer or workshop.

• Host a community event or pop-up.

• Highlight fellow small businesses in your content (see How to Feature Local Businesses in Your Marketing).

3. Circle Back to Past Clients

Can you serve your past clients in a new or refreshed way? Sometimes your next booking is closer than you think.

• Send a personal check-in email to past clients thanking them and letting them know about your current offerings.

• Offer a repeat-client discount or loyalty perk.

• Share a referral program where they can pass along your info to a friend.

4. Strengthen Your Foundations

Use this time to refine what supports your business long-term.

• Improve your SEO by updating old blog posts and making sure your site is connected to Google Search Console.

• Make sure your website is up to date (see A Fall Website Audit Checklist).

• Add fresh testimonials or case studies that highlight your unique value.

5. Reduce Booking Friction

When business is slow, don’t let potential clients slip away because it’s hard to book you. Look for places where you can remove extra clicks or confusion:

• Add clear “Book Now” or “Work With Me” buttons to your homepage.

• Keep your contact form short—just the essentials.

• Link directly to your booking page from social bios, blog posts, and your Google Business Profile.

• Make sure your process is mobile-friendly, since many people will find you on their phones.

6. Experiment with Offers

Sometimes a small tweak in how you package your services can spark new interest.

• Introduce an add-on or up sell for your current offers.

• Run a seasonal special or limited-time bundle.

• Test a new service or product that fills a gap you’ve noticed in client needs.

7. Expand Your Reach

Slow seasons can be a time to experiment with new channels without the pressure of being “too busy.”

• Claim or update your Google Business Profile.

• Add Pinterest pins that link back to your services or blog posts.

• Test a small paid ad campaign to increase visibility. If you need some help with paid online ads, check out the freebies that my friend over at SocialEllaments offers! Radio and printed ads are always great as well.

8. Protect Your Time and Energy

A tough economy and slower season can feel heavy. This is a good time to simplify and focus on what matters most.

• Cut expenses that don’t directly support your growth or client experience.

• Outsource tasks that eat up time but don’t need your personal touch.

• Lean into storytelling and client-serving content to remind yourself (and your audience) of your unique “why.”

Final Encouragement

Slow seasons don’t mean failure—they mean opportunity. This is the time to get creative, refine your systems, and lean into the community and connections that make your business strong. Even one small action, like sending a client follow-up or refreshing your website, can build momentum that carries into your next busy season.

If you’d like to keep this list handy, I’ve created a free checklist of 20+ ways to boost bookings in a slow season for those who love a good printable. Download it, print it, and work through the ideas that fit your business right now—it’s meant to encourage, not overwhelm.

And if you’d love a steady stream of encouragement and practical marketing ideas in your inbox, I share fresh insights every week in The Friday Mix. Click here to sign up and join me there.