Hey guys! If you are like us and work in a seasonal industry like weddings, then you are all too familiar with the “off-season”. Typically this spans the colder months of the year when less people are getting married. BUT- that doesn’t mean that you should take this time off! Though you may not be physically shooting weddings, now is the time to book weddings and set yourself up to succeed in the off-season.
In this episode, we go over six things that you can (and should!) do during the slower months to exponentially grow your business. And by the way, most of these are either free or low cost!
Network
Making friends in the industry is one of the most important things you can do for continued success. One rule of thumb here is to give more value than you get. If you take the time to add value to someone else, they are more likely to want to work with you and will return the favor by recommending you to their clients.
Search Out A Strong Group of Peers/Mentors
Surround yourself with people that will motivate you to be your best “you”. This does not mean being in constant competition or comparing yourself to others! Find a mentor that you can learn from and then take that knowledge to create your own style.
Education
This may seem like an obvious one, but it can also be the easiest one to put on the back burner. Search for conferences or workshops in your area (or in a destination that you’ve been wanting to travel to as an extra bonus!). Try to look for something that deals with a subject that you are struggling with or want to learn more about. Listen to podcasts, read books, read articles, watch videos…ANYTHING! There is a lot of free information out there. Leaders are not only just readers, but consumers of content.
“Leaders are consumers of content”
Diversify where your information comes from and make it your own.
Try New Things
This can be as simple as playing around with lighting while photographing your dog, or as elaborate as a styled shoot. An environment that allows you to have full creative control will only help you grow and hone your craft.
Update Your Website!
I cannot stress enough how important it is to update your website at least once a year. You want potential clients to be judging you on your best work RIGHT NOW, not your best work a year ago. Aside from your portfolio, you can also update your “about me” section. Make sure it doesn’t include outdated information. A great idea would be to have someone else proofread your website. Make sure it is easy to read and conveys what you want it to.
Innovate/Do Something New on Your Website
What can you do to captivate your ideal client? What might set you apart from someone else? Do something that makes people feel.
Elevate Your Social Media Game
Most of us spend entirely too much time on social media, but what if you utilized it to build your business while mindlessly toggling through your feed? Building relationships by interacting and engaging with potential clients can not only gain you followers, but could eventually gain you clients. This is not something that you will see an immediate return on investment. Sometimes you’re playing the long game and won’t see a return for months or years. However, the small amount of time it takes when it’s something you’re probably doing anyway, is absolutely worth it! Plan out your content and schedule posts during a time that is convenient for you to help keep you on track. Did you know you could curate your Instagram feed?! Archive and un-archive posts whenever you’d like to get your feed looking the way you want it to. Want to learn more about ways to use Instagram? Check out some of our other posts on Instagram stories, pods, and more!
Aaaaand that’s a wrap! We hope that you’ve enjoyed this content and have taken something away from it to grow your business. We love to know who is listening, so let us know and share this podcast with anyone you think would enjoy it!
