4 Tips for the Summer Slowdown - How To Pick Up Sales

You may have heard about the "summer slowdown". You may be experiencing it right now, or you may not be affected. Regardless it's important to pay attention, and do something this time of year.

If sales are slow and weren't in the spring, most likely this means your target market isn't spending as much time online as they were before (this could be due to vacations, spending time with family/children out of school, etc). There are several different options you have now:

1. Do nothing - take a vacation yourself

While not the most practical for a growing business, if you need a break - take one while you can. Collect your thoughts and ideas and get ready for your busy season.

2. Reorganize and prepare for fall

Similar to the first option, except you are still active and preparing. Clean your desk, organize your files, brainstorm new ideas for all, write new ads, research new markets, redesign your website, finish a few marketing books you've been meaning to read, etc. There are lots of things you can do to keep yourself busy that will also help your business.

3. Find where your target market went - and go there

Is your target market the vacationing type? Get offline and go where the tourists hang out. Are there local events near by that you can join (such as business expos, craft fairs, etc)? Sign up! While you're at it, make sure you check into your local Chamber of Commerce and pay attention to local events you can be a part of.

4. Start a new project with a new target audience

While it may be a little late in the summer to start a new project or idea, it's possible to make up a few of those sales within a month or two. Just make sure you are organized, and can handle the extra work once your normal sales begin picking up again.

If your sales haven't slowed down this doesn't mean you aren't completely immune to the "summer slowdown". Your sales may have a different time of year where they drop off, such as Christmas or New Years. Even though you may be just as busy, now is a good time to re-evaluate and see where your sales are headed in the next few months. It's a good idea to make preparations for your slow season right now before it hits. Follow the same ideas as listed above to completely avoided loosing any sales at all.

bout the author: Kara Kelso is a work at home mom of two, and the co-owner of Direct Sales Helpers, which is dedicated to helping mothers succeed in direct sales. For more information, visit: http://www.DirectSalesHelpers.com

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


A Real CRM Strategy or Just Tracking Customers?

Exactly what is CRMThe idea itself is nothing new; its... Read More

T. L. S. Part I: Tier Level Selling ? A Penetration Strategy

A number of sales "Gurus" have promoted the theory that... Read More

All Small Businesses Need to Gather Community Intel

How well do you know your community? As business owners... Read More

Offer Package Deals To Increase Profits And Sales

An effective way to increase your profits and sales is... Read More

How Exhibitors Can Move More Attendees Closer to Buying

Q. What's the single, biggest change exhibitors can make to... Read More

Increasing Business Through Distributors

You're a small company with a good product. You are... Read More

How To Become A Better Sales Manager

YIPPEE! Kendra won, or should I say, "She was hired,"... Read More

Are Your Business Proposals Losing You Sales? 10 Steps to Get the ?Yes? You Deserve

Your ability to write an effective and persuasive business proposal... Read More

Keeping Your Sales Team Motivated

Sales managers frequently approach me for advice on how to... Read More

Whats a Professional Sales Manager?

I was in the depths of a major depression. As... Read More

The ACCOUNTABILITY Challenge for Today?s Business Management

In today's 24/7 driven business word, accountability is becoming a... Read More

4 Tips for the Summer Slowdown - How To Pick Up Sales

You may have heard about the "summer slowdown". You may... Read More

10 Things to Help Your Business When Sales Are Slow During the Holidays

Twiddling your thumbs and waiting for some business to come... Read More

The Effective Executive

What does it mean to be an "effective executive"? Well... Read More

How to Beat the 80/20 Rule in Sales Performance -- Part 2

Another key reason why companies suffer from 80/20 performance is... Read More

Increasing Sales by Using Coupons - Will it Help Your Business?

Increasing Sales by using Coupons. Will it help your business?... Read More

5 Secrets to Managing Your Sales Manager Productively

Many people believe that the main reason for representatives leaving... Read More

Sales Competence Isn?t About Quota Performance!

Compounding the problem are two myths regarding measures of competency... Read More

How Many Salespeople Should I Hire?

One of the most asked questions I get is how... Read More

How to Sell Strategically

If you want to maximize your sales performance, take a... Read More

The Hardest Job Of A Trade Show

You've heard this before: There were four people named Everybody,... Read More

How You Can Raise Your Business Earnings By 50% With An Age-Old Magic Truth

Imagine increasing your business earnings by 30, 40, or 50%.... Read More

Increase Retail Sales With Meetups

I recently attended the monthly Italian language Meetup here in... Read More

How To Have A Successful Retail Sales Event

In the 30-plus years I spent working in advertising and... Read More

Run a Productive Business From Your Car-Office

The way we do business has changed dramatically over the... Read More

Five Steps to Maximize Success in Targeting For Growth

Targeting is the process of selecting high potential customer accounts... Read More

Back-to-School List - 10 Tips for Trade Shows

There's a new year beginning now - the school year.... Read More

The Top 5 Issues Facing VPs of Sales

A recent study of 2,663 sales organizations by Think Training,... Read More

How Your 60-Second Elevator Script Can Transform Your Staff, Your Sales, & Your Business

When attending a Chamber of Commerce breakfast networking get-together, I'm... Read More

Hire A Six, To Consistently Produce Sales Success

For many years as a sales manager, I would only... Read More

Speed-up Your Sales Cycle

This week's article is my response to a question by... Read More

Make Time, Not Excuses

There are four primary activities that successful salespeople engage in... Read More

How Do I Manage Workplace Conflict?

Workplace ConflictConflict is an inevitable part of business life and... Read More