How to Make the Most of Those Quieter Periods
Don’t fear them — seize them. Lulls in your business are a golden opportunity to fine-tune your skills and operations
The occasional slow season is par for the course when you’re running your own business as an architect, designer, builder or contractor. While it can be frustrating, it’s also a valuable opportunity for personal and professional growth, and it gives you a chance to attend to tasks you may have been too busy to get around to earlier in the year. Silence is golden, as the saying goes. Here’s how to make the most of it.
Update Your Houzz Profile
In today’s world, having a strong online presence is crucial when it comes to presenting your work and reaching new customers. Utilize this time to invest in new project photography, which you can showcase on your Houzz profile and your business website to capture the attention of build- or remodel-ready clients.
If you’re not sure whom to hire to photograph your project, Houzz Pro’s PerfectCapture Photo Service makes hiring a skilled photographer and scheduling a photo shoot easy. The service is available to Houzz Pro Essential and Ultimate subscribers in the U.S.
In today’s world, having a strong online presence is crucial when it comes to presenting your work and reaching new customers. Utilize this time to invest in new project photography, which you can showcase on your Houzz profile and your business website to capture the attention of build- or remodel-ready clients.
If you’re not sure whom to hire to photograph your project, Houzz Pro’s PerfectCapture Photo Service makes hiring a skilled photographer and scheduling a photo shoot easy. The service is available to Houzz Pro Essential and Ultimate subscribers in the U.S.
Having a few light days or weeks ahead means more time to concentrate, giving you the perfect opportunity to create valuable content for your target customers. Tailor content to the season and the services homeowners are looking for now and you might find it leads to new business.
Reviews are another element to look at now — after all, it’s no secret they play a pivotal role in attracting clients. Schedule time to reach out to satisfied customers and ask them to write a review of your business.
With a Houzz Pro subscription, you can display your best reviews prominently on your profile and in your directory listing. Use this link to help your clients leave a review on Houzz.
Reviews are another element to look at now — after all, it’s no secret they play a pivotal role in attracting clients. Schedule time to reach out to satisfied customers and ask them to write a review of your business.
With a Houzz Pro subscription, you can display your best reviews prominently on your profile and in your directory listing. Use this link to help your clients leave a review on Houzz.
Review Your Financials
Roll up your sleeves and take a deep dive into your business financials. While it may not be a task you get excited about, it can lead to better financial stability in the long term, and it can help your business survive future fallow periods.
Delve into your profit and loss statements, scrutinize your cash flow, identify any areas where you can cut back and explore opportunities where you could increase revenue.
Roll up your sleeves and take a deep dive into your business financials. While it may not be a task you get excited about, it can lead to better financial stability in the long term, and it can help your business survive future fallow periods.
Delve into your profit and loss statements, scrutinize your cash flow, identify any areas where you can cut back and explore opportunities where you could increase revenue.
Have a Digital Declutter
Tidying up your computer desktop is one of those pesky tasks that easily gets pushed to the bottom of the to-do list. But a cluttered screen can be distracting and stressful, plus it slows your computer’s performance, so use these calm moments to do a thorough digital declutter.
Clear your desktop of any files you no longer need or want, neatly organize files that are still current into folders, clear outdated bookmarks, perform any software updates and back up all essential data.
Tidying up your computer desktop is one of those pesky tasks that easily gets pushed to the bottom of the to-do list. But a cluttered screen can be distracting and stressful, plus it slows your computer’s performance, so use these calm moments to do a thorough digital declutter.
Clear your desktop of any files you no longer need or want, neatly organize files that are still current into folders, clear outdated bookmarks, perform any software updates and back up all essential data.
If you want to free up time by making your workflow faster and more efficient, take a look at Houzz Pro business software. Not only does it streamline almost every facet of running your business, but it also reduces the duration of pesky admin tasks, leaving you with more time for other things.
Improve Your Tech Skills
Sharpening your technical skills makes you more competitive and efficient, so if this is an area where you or your team are lacking, take the opportunity to remedy it.
If you’re new to Houzz Pro, block out some time to master the ins and outs of the software. This way you know you’re getting the best use of its full suite of features, including creating Mood Boards and 3D Floor Plans, proposals, scheduling, invoicing and Client Das hboard to streamline communications with customers.
Sharpening your technical skills makes you more competitive and efficient, so if this is an area where you or your team are lacking, take the opportunity to remedy it.
If you’re new to Houzz Pro, block out some time to master the ins and outs of the software. This way you know you’re getting the best use of its full suite of features, including creating Mood Boards and 3D Floor Plans, proposals, scheduling, invoicing and Client Das hboard to streamline communications with customers.
If you’re an architect, designer or builder, you might also want to look at enhancing your rendering or presentation skills, learning more about collaboration software, or mastering sustainability and energy analysis software.
15% of Homeowners Are Postponing Home Improvement Projects
15% of Homeowners Are Postponing Home Improvement Projects
Learn Something New
Are there aspects of your business that you’d like to know more about or new avenues that you feel might broaden your customer appeal?
If you’re a designer, for example, are you interested in biophilia or smart-home design? As an architect or builder, are you interested in knowing more about sustainability, passive-house design or energy efficiency? Or are you a contractor with an interest in historical home restoration?
Are there aspects of your business that you’d like to know more about or new avenues that you feel might broaden your customer appeal?
If you’re a designer, for example, are you interested in biophilia or smart-home design? As an architect or builder, are you interested in knowing more about sustainability, passive-house design or energy efficiency? Or are you a contractor with an interest in historical home restoration?
Leverage this downtime with online courses, workshops or certifications related to your area of interest. It not only enhances your knowledge but can improve your professional credentials and allow you to charge higher rates for specialized work.
Network
Connecting with colleagues, clients and industry professionals keeps you in the loop with industry trends and fosters important relationships that can pave the way for future work. To do this, attend industry events, join online forums and engage in social media discussions about issues relating to your sector.
Connecting with colleagues, clients and industry professionals keeps you in the loop with industry trends and fosters important relationships that can pave the way for future work. To do this, attend industry events, join online forums and engage in social media discussions about issues relating to your sector.
Plan and Reflect
When was the last time you had a chance to pause and reflect on what you do, how you do it and whether your day-to-day activities still align with your lifestyle and life goals? With less pressure on your schedule, you can.
Embrace the opportunity to analyze your strengths and weaknesses, craft a plan for improvements that focus on the parts of your work you find the most fulfilling and consider areas where it might be more efficient (and less stressful) to outsource. Additionally, take time to refine and solidify your brand identity.
When was the last time you had a chance to pause and reflect on what you do, how you do it and whether your day-to-day activities still align with your lifestyle and life goals? With less pressure on your schedule, you can.
Embrace the opportunity to analyze your strengths and weaknesses, craft a plan for improvements that focus on the parts of your work you find the most fulfilling and consider areas where it might be more efficient (and less stressful) to outsource. Additionally, take time to refine and solidify your brand identity.
Give Back
Contributing to your community can enhance your reputation and give you a real sense of fulfillment. Look to get involved in community projects, pro bono work or mentorship programs in your local area where your unique skills and experience can be of benefit.
Tell us: How do you make the most of quiet periods? Let us know in the Comments.
More for Pros on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Learn about Houzz Pro software
Talk with your peers in pro-to-pro discussions
Join the Houzz Trade Program
Contributing to your community can enhance your reputation and give you a real sense of fulfillment. Look to get involved in community projects, pro bono work or mentorship programs in your local area where your unique skills and experience can be of benefit.
Tell us: How do you make the most of quiet periods? Let us know in the Comments.
More for Pros on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Learn about Houzz Pro software
Talk with your peers in pro-to-pro discussions
Join the Houzz Trade Program
Use quiet periods in your calendar to acquaint yourself with your industry’s latest innovations and emerging trends, be they sustainable practices, energy efficiency, new products or design shifts. This way, you’ll be well-informed when business picks up again.
It’s a good idea to read stories aimed at both homeowners and professionals on Houzz, since that will give you a 360-degree view on what customers want, burgeoning trends and the important issues affecting design professionals. Other ways to stay abreast of industry developments include attending webinars, exploring design and architectural publications and reading research papers.
7 Popular Home Design Trends Happening Now