Getting through the Summer Slowdown - 5 Tips for Freelancers

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FREELANCER TIPS

• Getting through the summer slowdown
• 5 Tips for Freelancers

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Getting through the summer slowdown 5 Tips for
Freelancers

• 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 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

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Getting through the summer slowdown 5 Tips for
Freelancers
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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.

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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!

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3) Work on your online presence

• When did you last work on the design of your
  webpage, 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
  youre still in business and dont plan on going
  anywhere.

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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 shouldnt 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.

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5) Take a break yourself

• If you feel like youre on top of your business
  and have done as much as you think is enough in
  the above areas, dont 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. Recharging your
  batteries can be equally as important as anything
  else, so go out and get that energy for the
  following months.

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