Does running your own business make you feel isolated?
Being your own boss can be lonely at the best of times and often be accentuated during the winter months and Christmas season. Regardless of your industry and demand for your service, business tends to be quieter for everyone.
Luckily, within the window cleaning business, we can continue to offer our services all year round despite the inevitable dip in demand in December and January.
As the temperatures drop and the light days shorten, the winter season brings challenges for any business owner. As an entrepreneur, how do you handle this? Do you spend time dwelling or will you direct your energy towards a positive outcome?
Whilst we understand and can relate to how you feel, here are some of our favourite tips here at Tidal to make the Christmas season a productive one.
Continuously expand your network
Expanding your network at any time of the year is valuable. However, as an independent business owner who most likely works alone, having a like-minded community to connect with at this time is worth its weight in gold.
Having been there ourselves, we recognise the importance of a community and have an online forum and members area for our window cleaning franchise partners to keep in touch with and offer support.
If you don’t already have a support group that you can reach out to, it’s not too late to find one. From Facebook and LinkedIn groups to Eventbrite and other chat forums, you’ll find an online business community with a bit of time and research.
Make plans
Don’t spend the extra hours that you have between customers twiddling your thumbs and thinking woe is me. Start making plans! Reflect on what has and hasn’t gone well up until now and what steps can you take to improve.
Set new goals for the following months.
Do you want to increase your sales, expand your window cleaning business or spend more time with your family? At Tidal we encourage you to take your window cleaning business to the next level by honing your skills whilst achieving a balanced lifestyle. Identify what’s important to you and plan the route map. You can achieve anything that you set your mind to.
Increase your marketing efforts
It’s easy to get stuck in your responsibilities and neglect your marketing efforts as business goes well. However, you mustn’t rest on your laurels and always think about acquiring new customers. What marketing do you currently do? Are you getting a return on your investment? Could you try something new?
From door-to-door canvassing, social media adverts, online business listings, and community groups, we almost guarantee that there’s a new approach for you.
Think ahead
Do you dread the month of April when submitting your tax accounts is looming? When left until the last minute, gathering your receipts and getting your bank statements together can be overwhelming.
Spend this quieter time wisely and get your accounts in order. As well as the traditional methods, there are lots of accounting technology options to make the process less stressful. A quick search for online accounting software on Google will find you many to choose from.
Connect with your customers
Take this time to ask for customer testimonials and reviews. With festivity in the air and those Christmas endorphins flowing, most people will be more than willing to sing your praises and provide constructive feedback. Remember, don’t be afraid to reach out in case you hear something you didn’t particularly want to.
Reviews are a great way to showcase your strengths as well as find opportunities to improve your service and enhance the customer experience. At Tidal, we use Facebook and Trustpilot to gather this insight and learn more from what our customers have to say.
Enjoy time with the family
Last and most definitely not least, schedule more quality time with family and friends. Running your own business often results in having to sacrifice precious moments with loved ones.
Whether you’re spending extra hours working or there and the ‘lights are on, but no one’s home”, now is a time to be grateful for and to focus on being physically and mentally present.
Surviving the cold winter months as a business owner can be tough, but with our six tips to thrive during this period, you can avoid being down in the dumps.
Sending you positive vibes, you’ve got this!
If you’re a business owner looking for a new opportunity or an independent window cleaner looking for a supportive franchisor, let’s chat.
From all at Team Tidal.
If you’re a business owner looking for a new opportunity or independent window cleaner looking for a supportive franchisor, let’s chat.
Images by @anniespratt @socialcult @kellysikkema