9 things to do when things are ‘slow’.

If you feel like things are a bit ‘slower’ than usual, you are not alone. A lot of my recent chats with fellow business owners have been on this. I can 100% recommend on not freaking out, and just accepting that it is what it is, and relax with the knowing that the next amazing opportunity is just around the corner.

What you should be doing is taking advantage of this ‘quiet’ time and use it to focus on elevating your personal brand and visibility. My advice to you…

1. Review and Refine Your Brand Message

Use some time to revisit your brand story and key messaging, and ensure it aligns with your current goals and positioning. Update your website, LinkedIn profile, and social media bios to reflect your current focus and strengths. Revisit your "About Me" section on your website and tweak it to be more impactful and aligned with how you want to be perceived.

2. Content Creation & Thought Leadership

Write blogs or articles that position you as an authority in your industry. Share insights, tips, or reflections on recent trends. Better still, do some DIY PR (ahem! Topknot Insider can help with this!) and secure some editorial that will position yourself as the industry expert.

Record short, valuable videos for social media, like Instagram Reels or TikTok, sharing your expertise or answering common questions in your field.

3. Engage with Your Audience

Spend time genuinely engaging with your community on social media—commenting on posts, joining conversations in industry or Facebook groups, or hosting live Q&A sessions. Create polls, ask questions, or start discussions on LinkedIn or Instagram to learn more about your audience's pain points and interests. This also keeps you visible.

4. Network & Collaborate

Reach out to peers or other business owners for coffee chats. Building these relationships can open doors to future collaborations or opportunities. Offer to collaborate on a webinar, podcast, or Instagram Live with someone whose audience aligns with yours. Attend local business meetups or online networking events or groups to maintain visibility and meet potential new clients or partners. My fav’s include LMBDW (Like Minded B’s Drinking Wine) and Business Mums Hub.

5. Sharpen Your Skills

Take advantage of online courses, webinars, or workshops to level up your skills—especially those that will enhance your brand (e.g., public speaking, digital marketing). Scope YouTube for free tutorials and education. Share your learning journey with your audience, which demonstrates your commitment to growth and staying on top of your field.

6. Share Client Testimonials & Case Studies

Use quiet periods to collect and showcase client testimonials or case studies that highlight your expertise. Post these on your website, social media, or even create short videos sharing the impact you’ve made for past clients.

7. Audit & Improve Your Digital Presence

Perform an audit of your website, social media profiles, and SEO. Make sure everything is up to date, and improve where necessary. Refresh outdated photos, and add new portfolio pieces or highlight recent projects. Focus on optimising your LinkedIn profile and sharing updates there, especially if your audience is on the platform.

8. Give Back & Share Value

Host a free workshop or webinar for your audience. It’s a great way to keep engaged and potentially attract new clients. Share useful resources, tools, or tips that have helped you in your business – better still, create a free download to capture email addresses that can be added to your database.

Engage in online communities or forums where you can offer help or advice without expecting anything in return—it’s a great way to build trust and position yourself as the go-to.

9. Dust the Cobwebs off your Email Database

Email marketing is such a great way to remind people who you are, what you do and how you can be of service to them. Develop an email marketing strategy where you send out emails on a regular basis, but remember that you need to provide value and not be too ‘salesy’ in every email outreach.

Remember, your "quiet stage" is often the perfect opportunity for behind-the-scenes growth. Doing some or all of the above is a great start!