Marketing when sales are slow is like caring for an orchid. Bear with me, this will absolutely make sense in just a moment!
Orchids have a reputation for being really hard to grow and overly sensitive to changing conditions. But in my experience, while their growth ebbs and flows, with gentle nurturing and consistent care, they will give back by flowering in spectacular style… just like your business. See how that metaphor came together? Nice.
Does your business have a summer lull?
For some businesses, August can be rough. Tracking the numbers, watching client work slow down, panicking slightly about cashflow, and wondering if you should be “doing more.”
At the same time, you’re desperately in need of a little nurturing yourself. By this point in the year, you’re probably tired, short on time, and frankly, you’d much rather be somewhere in the sun with an iced coffee.
Good news! You don’t actually need to go gangbusters to make marketing work when sales are slow. In fact, gentle, consistent, intentional action now can quietly set you up for a stronger, more confident autumn.
Visibility matters more than ever
When sales slip, a lot of small businesses pull back completely on marketing. Somehow it feels like the logical thing to do. Why talk to your audience when no one’s buying? But this is where long-term marketing thinking saves the day.
Staying visible through the lull keeps you front of mind for when people are ready to spend again. It’s not about forcing sales. It’s about gently reminding people you’re here, you’re reliable, and you’re still doing great work.
Refresh what’s already working
When you’re low on time, budget, and resources, keep it simple. You don’t have to invent new campaigns or create huge amounts of content to keep your marketing ticking over. Start by looking at what you’ve already got.
3 super quick marketing tricks you can reuse, repurpose, and recycle:
This sort of quiet improvement and gentle pruning makes sure your shop window looks polished when the footfall picks up.
Focus on connection, not just conversion
Marketing when sales are slow is about nurturing and strengthening relationships rather than the hard sell. Talk to your customers and check in to make sure you know what their pain points are right now. Maybe they’re experiencing the same challenges as you.
Show the love in your marketing by:
This kind of connection-building marketing lays the groundwork for future sales without piling on short-term pressure.
Plan (just a little) for autumn
If you have some quiet time in your week, use it! You don’t need a full Q4 marketing strategy today, but it’s worth asking yourself what’s coming up, and how you can use this downtime to prepare.
Even 30 minutes with a notebook can help you spot opportunities you might miss once things get busy again.
You don’t have to “hustle through” the quiet
Don’t panic! If you’re losing sleep and fretting about slow sales, you’re genuinely not the only one. I’m writing this blog post for a reason. Seasonal lulls are a common experience that so many small business owners go through.
Marketing when sales are slow isn’t about throwing everything at the wall. It’s about showing up with purpose, making small improvements, and nurturing the seeds that will grow when the season shifts.
What if you’re not sure where to start or how to keep it sustainable? That’s where I come in.
Let’s make sure your marketing feels calm, doable, and ready to support your next busy season without burning you out now.
Turn your quiet season into a smart season
If your business is in a lull and you’re not sure where to start (or you’re too tired to figure it out alone), I can help.
Let’s look at what’s working, what’s worth tweaking, and how to keep your marketing quietly ticking over so you’re ready for the busy months ahead.
Book a free 30-minute call and let’s make a plan that fits your business and your energy.
