Some companies see an unexpected growth in their business during summer, while others slow down during this time. This is when your staff is probably looking for some time off. Equally, as families plan a vacation during summer, they delay the purchases or services until later, and sales may suffer. This is, however, not the case with all businesses. For some companies, summer is their busiest season, with a large number of customers placing orders.
If summer isn’t the season with the best sales for your business, but you can use this time to advance your skills and grow your business. No matter the size or type of your company, summer offers the perfect opportunity for SMEs and large-scale companies to prepare for new challenges and plan for the future. Here’s how you should keep your company ahead of the curve and how to prepare for summer.
1. Get Time-off Requests Now
Most of your employees will be planning to take a vacation over summer. Some of your employees might not be available for a few days, while others may take leave for a month. There is a chance the vacation period of your employees will overlap, which is why it’s important to ask your staff to notify you about their vacation plans well in advance. Early vacation request will help you figure out how long the employees are going to be away so you can coordinate requests, spread leave periods out across the summer, and assign work accordingly.
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2. Explore Your Staffing Options
Once you know the vacation plans of your employees, you can explore staffing options and make necessary arrangements. If your business is usually busy over the summer can hire remote workers or part-time employees under short-term contracts to cover staff leave.
3. Learn New Marketing Skills
Summer is the perfect time to learn new marketing skills. With a plethora of eBooks, online courses, marketing guides, and video content available online, you will never run out of options when it comes to learning advanced marketing skills. You could take this time to learn about video marketing or online advertising to give your business the best online exposure. There’s no doubt that digital marketing is the future, and knowledge and skills in this area is essential for any business’ success. What’s more, the field is rapidly changing and developing so it is important to keep up with the latest developments.
4. Invest Your Time in Maintenance
Employers and managers often don’t focus on property maintenance until emergency strikes, and they end up paying thousands of dollars for the expensive repairs. It is important to check your AC ducts and the heating systems to ensure that your HVAC is in good working condition before the heat of summer sets in. You should also consider installing new and modern safety equipment, such as CSCS fire extinguishers and CCTV cameras, to boost the safety and security of your workplace.
5. Take Some Time for Yourself
If summer isn’t the busiest season for you, take the opportunity plan a vacation with your loved ones. Head to the beach for the weekend or plan a trip to your favorite destination for a few weeks. Just because you are the boss doesn’t mean you don’t deserve some time off. It is important to take some time for yourself to stay motivated throughout the year.
6. Revise Your Business Plans
Now is the best time to revisit your business goals and make changes to your plans if necessary. If you had developed a business plan at the beginning of the year, now is when you should check in to see how well you are performing and if you are on track to meet your goals. You should also have a contingency plan in place that you can implement in an emergency. Summer is also the time to ensure that your confidential information is properly backed up and you have the best equipment in place to deal with emergencies.
7. Update Your Social Media
Take some time to update your social accounts. Check your Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and other social channels to see how well you are interacting with your audience. You could also use this time to improve your social media profiles, update your bio, and change the profile description.
8. Look for Inspiration
You don’t necessarily have to read multiple books or join the boring webinars for inspiration. Something as simple as a gym session or therapy can help release the stress and make you feel inspired. Sometimes, it is worth going out of your comfort zone and taking up a new activity. Join an exercise class or try a new cafe in your area. You never know where you may get the next big idea for your company.
Summer may or may not be the busiest time for your business. Unless you sell seasonal products that have their highest demand in summer, you should consider using your free time to plan your goals for the rest of the year. You never know which idea may attract more sales and grow your business.
