There are days where my plate is 100% full with projects and I’ve got a great flow going with my schedule. But what happens when you happen upon a little lull in business?
It’s expected and happens from time-to-time in a solo-designer’s career which is why it’s important to plan ahead and be mindful of income and business costs. Aside from the financial planning, what should you be doing to keep the flow of your business going during a lull?
You may find yourself in a bit of a rut when business is a bit slow, but here are some things you can do to stay focused on your business while enjoying a bit of it and refreshing your creativity:
1) Take a day trip! Get out of the office for a day and bring your camera along. If you have friends who also run their own business, it may be a good opportunity to spend a little creative time together to get ideas flowing regarding personal projects you’d like to pursue. I call these meetings “create dates” and try to fit them in at least once a month even when I am very busy.
2) Design something for yourself. Keep your mind on design, but open yourself up to try out a new technique or style you’ve been inspired by; totally for fun and experimenting. You never know what you’ll uncover.
3) Do something completely unrelated to design. Sometimes, it’s necessary to take advantage of down time and do something unassociated with work altogether. This can really refresh the mind. Try that video game you’ve been hearing about, go to the movies, or catch up on that major home project you haven’t got around to yet.
4) Marketing, marketing, marketing! Whether it be virtual marketing via Facebook, Twitter, your business blog, or redesign of your print promotional materials, working on your business’ image is always time spent well. Why not put together a newsletter during this time or write-up a few blog posts for your queue? They’ll come in handy during times when you might have to skip a post or two due to your hectic schedule.
5) Update your calendar with design related events. Now is the time to take advantage of those events that you may otherwise have to skip due to your hectic schedule. Look to your local AIGA chapter and/or other design meet-up groups to see what they’re offering regarding upcoming networking events or design/business lectures.
6) Backup your important files! This is something I’m constantly doing to ensure I have multiple copies of my files. You never know when a client you haven’t heard from for ages will contact you asking for random changes to a project you thought was long gone. Make sure you’ve got a good archive going – take advantage of the downtime and backup those files!
7) Take a class! With so many online options (one I’ve enjoyed using: lynda.com), there’s no excuse not to be up to date on the latest design software. Sure, you can fall behind here and there with the constant updates taking place, but now is the time to utilize to keep yourself up to date. Take advantage of it and you’ll be that much more marketable.
Nicola Black Design, L.L.C. is not affiliated with or endorsed by lynda.com, Inc.
Those are just a few things I like to do during my downtime. If you are a solo-designer full time, what sorts of things do you do during your downtime? Do you focus more on administrative tasks or take advantage of the time to focus on taking care of yourself and your creativity?
