Winding your business down for the holiday period

With Christmas just around the corner, chances are most of us are starting to wind our businesses down for at least a couple of weeks holiday over the holiday period.

So to make this process a little easier, here are some tips to help you prepare your business for the holidays.

1. Let clients know you are closing over the holiday period

It is important to let your clients know when you will be on holiday and when you will return as early as possible so they can plan around this if need be. Also let them know how they can contact you urgently if need be (provided this is something you are happy to do).

2. Organise email and phone messages while you’re away

Record an appropriate answering message and set a standard email letting new enquiries know you’re on holidays, when you’ll be back and how they can contact you if it is urgent.

3. Pre-write and schedule any updates or campaigns

Schedule your social media posts, blog posts and email campaigns so you still have the benefit of staying in contact, gaining sales and retaining engagement while you’re on holidays.

4. Get everything up-to-date and organised

Finalise any projects, catch up on any paper work, file any documents, clear out and address all emails, pay any bills and bring order to your office so you can fully switch off while you’re on break.

5. Review your plans

Review your business plan, set your goals and refocus your vision and mission in preparation for the New Year.

6. Work on your business before you go on holidays

If you are anything like me, you’ll find it hard to relax when you have tasks you need to be doing or think you should be doing on your mind. So if possible, review your marketing strategy, plan your promotions, campaigns and events, develop your systems and procedures and do any other business development the weeks before you go on holidays.

7. When you are on holidays switch off!

Remember to give yourself a break! You need time to relax, recharge and refresh so you can come back ready to make next year your best year yet.

Happy winding down!