Summer tends to be a quiet period for a lot of freelancers. Your clients are taking their yearly vacations, slowing down their business and holding off on new projects. Similarly to the winter holiday slump, the summer slowdown just happens and there is not much you can do about it.
You can, however, make use of your free time and be ready for the time when the freelance projects start flowing in at a faster pace. Here are five of the most productive things you can do when business slows down in the summer:
1) Expand your skillset
First and foremost, keep learning. This is essential for any freelancer in any field – times change and you must be able and willing to adapt. Do research on some of the newest software and/or techniques available in your field and consider learning how to use them. Constantly bettering yourself is how you succeed as a freelancer and manage to retain that success. Complacency, on the other hand, will eventually cost you dearly.
2) Start a personal project
Have an idea that you always wanted to work on in your spare time but never had the chance to? Use your summer time for that. Instead of sulking about the lack of clients, practice your skills while doing something for yourself. Explore new venues and be daring. The experience you get will come in handy when you work for someone else, too. A personal project carried out with passion is great for showing off as a part of applications or on your blog as well!
3) Work on your online presence
When did you last work on the website design, blog, LinkedIn profile or even the things you post on Facebook? If it has been a while, summer can be the perfect time to catch up. Keeping your online presence updated and dynamic is a great way to show everybody that you’re still in business and don’t plan on going anywhere.
4) Make a mid-year evaluation of your business
Many freelancers create an outline for their business at the end of the year. Earnings, potential investments, milestones and planned projects. All these things are great, but they usually tend to get forgotten by March. The summer downtime period offers you the chance to re-evaluate those plans and adapt them accordingly. A lot has probably changed. That is quite normal and shouldn’t scare you. Rethink, adapt and plan again. Know what you did right and where you mistakes lay, as this is the best way to avoid doing them again.
5) Take a break yourself
If you feel like you’re on top of your business and have done as much as you think is enough in the above areas, don’t start feeling down. The clients are still out there and will come eventually. In fact, not having a lot of work to do can be a blessing in disguise. Live a little yourself and take a break or vacation. Recharging your batteries can be equally as important as anything else, so go out and get that energy for the following months.
How do you deal with the summer slowdown? Share your ideas in the comments below and learn new tricks from your fellow freelancers!
Pic: © Stevebidmead_Pixabay
