Well, it’s late February. Three cold, dreary months of winter are behind us, and one more to go before spring officially arrives and shatters our dreams with another snowstorm. Or three. If I sound bitter, it’s because…well, I am. As I’m typing this, I have to pause periodically to warm my freezing hands in front of a space heater.
WILL THIS WINTER EVER END?!?
Sorry about that. I don’t know what came over me. (Actually, I do—winter.) After these past few months, I’m sure you, like me, are longing for warmer days. But don’t fret! Before you know it, the daffodils will be popping up through the frozen tundra, and the snowbirds (i.e., robins and retired folks in Florida) will once again be returning from their long winter migration.
These late winter days are always tough to get through. And not just because of the weather. For business owners – small-business owners in particular – this can be a difficult time to find enough new clients and projects to keep the heat on.
But just because work may be a little slow, it doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of this time to get your marketing toolbox in order and make this your best year yet! With that in mind, here are a few tips for using your time wisely and positioning your business for success in 2026.
Do a Little Spring Cleaning Around Your Website
With all the focus on social media these days, it can be easy to treat your website like your redheaded stepchild. (No offense to any redheaded stepchildren out there. It’s just a figure of speech.) But it’s important to remember that your website serves as your virtual home. It’s where potential customers come to find out who you are and how you can help them. Take some time to go through your website with a fine-toothed comb. (Again, just a figure of speech. No comb necessary.) Make sure you don’t have any typos, which can show a lack of attention to detail. Update any reviews with the best, most recent ones you can find. Freshen up your copy and make sure it’s not only SEO-optimized but that it’s readable and accessible to all. Finally, make sure your staff photos portray your team as friendly and professional (i.e., no mullets).
Focus on Prospecting (and not the Yukon Cornelius kind)
Just because things may be a little slow right now doesn’t mean you can’t be proactive in attracting new customers. One way to do this is to reach out to clients you’ve helped in the past and ask whether there’s anything else you can do for them. You can also politely ask them to refer you to anyone else they think might benefit from your services. Never underestimate the power of word-of-mouth marketing! Of course, never underestimate the power of good old-fashioned marketing-marketing (industry term). We may know someone who can help you with that (*wink*).
Fake It Til You Make It
Sure, you may find yourself napping in your office a little more than usual during these downtimes, but that doesn’t mean your potential customers have to know! Instead of mindlessly scrolling through your social media feeds looking at cute puppy memes (not that I know anything about that), use that time instead to post compelling content about all the good work you’ve done and can do for others. Post photos of successful projects from your previous years. Post glowing reviews and quotes from past clients. Post highlights on your team members and the good work they’ve done. And, heck, post a cute puppy meme or two. (I mean, it couldn’t hurt.)
So there you have it! Three easy ways to make the best of these dark, dreary days of winter and supercharge your business for the coming year. Keep the faith! Remember, spring is just a few weeks away. You can do this!
(You, yes! … Me, I’m not so sure.)
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Valentine Brkich serves as Staff Writer for MARQUEE. He also shares his personal essays and humor writing on valthewriter.substack.com and has authored over a dozen books. In addition, Val helps aspiring authors achieve their publishing goals through ghostwriting and editorial support.