Six Ways to Make the Most of Summer Downtime
By Janet Barclay
Although summer is the peak season in many industries, for others, business seems to come to a grinding halt. Whether this is due to your customers being on vacation or other factors, there are many ways to fill your time that will bring benefits over the months to come. You've probably thought of a number of things you could do to build your business, if you only had the time, but if not, here are a few ideas to get you started.
Add new content to your website.
If your website hasn't been updated since it was launched, you probably offer products or services that aren't advertised on your site, and you may be missing out on potential business as a result. Even if you haven't made any significant changes, it's a good idea to update your site from time to time, as fresh content gives both website visitors and search engines a reason to return. Updates may include information about recent or upcoming projects, new testimonials you've received, or helpful tips related to your area of expertise.
Write articles.
You're good at what you do, and writing articles is a great way to show the world what you know. Articles you've written can be an excellent addition to your website, and can also be submitted to article directories such as OrganizedArticles.com, where they may be picked up by other websites, featured in newsletters, and sent out in ezines, creating additional traffic and more exposure for your business. This will also enhance your search engine ranking, by increasing the number of links pointing to your website.
Check your website for broken links.
Websites come and go, and pages may be deleted or moved, causing some of the links you've placed on your site to no longer work. As the presence of broken links really gives away the fact that your website is out-of-date, it can cause visitors to move on very quickly, so it's important to take the time to verify the links on your site. There are a number of online tools available to assist with this process, or you may use the link checker included with Dreamweaver or Front Page.
Look into affiliate programs to supplement your income.
There are hundreds of affiliate programs available that allow you to earn commission for promoting certain products and/or services on your website. You may already recommend books or other products to your website visitors, so why shouldn't you make a little extra money for doing so? Just make sure that you select programs that complement what you do, and don't clutter your website with so many affiliate ads that it looks junky or that visitors are distracted from your main content.
Update your filing systems.
If you can't locate a document in your filing cabinet or on your computer in less than a minute, it's time to do something about it. Get rid of everything that's out of date or that you no longer need, and archive documents you may or may not need, as well as those you never look at but are required to keep for tax or legal purposes. This should leave only current, useful information, allowing for easier sorting and faster retrieval.
Take a well-deserved break.
If you have a home-based business, you never truly leave work unless you go somewhere else, so try and get away for a week, a weekend, or even a day! Taking some time for rest and relaxation is one of the best gifts you can give yourself, reducing stress and renewing your energy for the busier days ahead.
About The Author
Janet Barclay, Organized Assistant, offers a variety of professional quality services to support entrepreneurs and other individuals who are overwhelmed by the demands and technology of the 21st century. For further information or to request a subscription to her monthly ezine, The Organized Assistant Resource, please visit her website at www.organizedassistant.com
Permission is granted to use this article, as long as proper credit is given and you link back to this site. An email letting me know which article you have used and where would be appreciated.
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