9 Things We Do When Sales Slow (And What You Can Do Too)

When your sales slow and your calendar starts looking a little too open…

Let’s be honest: slow seasons in business can feel alarming. You start questioning everything. You wonder if you’re still relevant, if your offers are too expensive, or if the market has just shifted away from what you do. We’ve been there. (More than once.)

Here’s the truth: business is cyclical. And just like busy seasons don’t last forever, neither do slow ones.

But that doesn’t mean you sit on your hands and wait for the storm to pass. These seasons are an opportunity to get scrappy, smart, and deeply aligned with the heart of your business again. To ask: What do people actually need right now? And how can I meet them there without losing myself in the process?

So if sales are slow, here are 9 things we do (and have done) to refocus, rebuild momentum, and make the most of the quiet.

1. Get Back on That New Business Grind 

When sales slow, we go back to what worked in the early days: doing things that don’t scale.

That might look like:

• Reaching out to past clients with a thoughtful check-in
• Commenting intentionally on social media accounts 
• Responding to DMs with voice notes instead of emojis
• Sending personal emails to potential clients or peers

During the early pandemic days, just about every business owner had to get scrappy. Gosh, as parents we had to get scrappy.

And you know what? That creativity was magical. Business owners were creating new offers, going live regularly, teaching classes, and giving insane value. Yes, many people had to shift their offers and hustle harder for a bit, but for a lot of us, it those scrappy days also helped us reconnect with why they started in the first place.

That same spark? It’s still there. You just have to tap into it.

Just remember – hustle is a season, not a state. 

2. Revisit Your Offers + Add New Options

The goal here isn’t to overhaul everything—it’s to meet your audience where they are.

If your premium offer feels out of reach for someone right now, what’s a more accessible version that still delivers value?

Some examples:

• Offering semi-custom brands instead of full custom work
• Creating mini brand audits or one-hour consulting calls
• Photographers offering seasonal mini sessions
• Designers offering template customizations 

It doesn’t mean your full-service offers go away. But creating a lower-barrier option gives people a way to say YES now—and potentially upgrade later.

3. Rethink Your Pricing (Without Discounting)

Nope, you don’t need to start slashing prices. But you do need to make your pricing feel like a no-brainer.

Ask yourself:

• What can I bundle together to increase perceived value?
• Is there something I can add (that doesn’t cost me more) to sweeten the deal?
• Have I clearly explained why this offer matters in this season?

We’ve added things like short video tutorials, mini courses, Canva templates, and bonus strategy sessions that don’t add cost on our end but significantly increase the value for our clients.

This isn’t about manipulation—it’s about being generous and strategic.

4. Add Value Without Adding Cost

We once worked on a site for a photographer who started including digital files in her print packages for a limited time. It wasn’t forever. But it helped her move clients from indecisive to excited.

You can do the same. Think:

• A bonus email sequence template
• A “Client Prep” PDF you already have sitting on your desktop
• A free 15-minute check-in call

Give them that extra nudge—without it costing you hours or dollars.

5. Shift the Language Around Your Offers 

This one is so subtle but powerful.

In tighter economic seasons, people aren’t looking to “spend more to make more.” They’re looking to save money, cut waste, and get more from less.

So instead of saying, “This brand package helps you raise your prices!” Try: “This brand package helps you stop losing leads who don’t get what you do.”

Same transformation. Different language. One that meets them where they are.

6. Explore New Ideas (But Don’t Pivot in Panic)

Slower seasons can be a great time to explore new ideas:

• That mini course you keep daydreaming about?
• That digital product sitting half-finished in Google Drive?
• That service you love doing but never promote?

Now’s the time to explore it.

BUT—and this is a big one—don’t add something just because you’re panicking. Every new offer adds complexity, client communication, and operational overhead.

Ask: Does this serve my current audience? Will this help move my business forward long-term?

7. Audit Your Expenses

True story: We once saved $1,200/year by canceling software we thought we needed.

Take an hour to:

• Check recurring subscriptions in Stripe/PayPal
• Cancel anything you haven’t used in 3+ months
• Downgrade to a free or basic plan where possible

Don’t go into scarcity mode—just be intentional.

8. Build (or Prioritize) Savings

If you don’t have a 6-month runway in savings yet, you’re not alone. But it makes a huge difference when you do.

Even $500/month adds up. And when things do pick up again, make this a top priority.

Savings = stability. And stability gives you space to breathe, create, and make bold decisions without fear.

The Profit First book outlines a great method for building different pools of money within a bank account to allocate funds for emergencies, taxes, employees and more. And Novo Bank (https://onboarding.novo.co/signup?referral_code=KristaJones3&first_name=Krista)  makes this super easy to set up. 

9. Be Patient + Keep Showing Up

This is the hardest and most important part.

You might be doing everything right and still see slower sales. That doesn’t mean what you’re doing isn’t working. It just means the seeds you’re planting haven’t sprouted yet.

The businesses that win long-term? They keep showing up even when it feels quiet.

Trust the process. Tweak where you need to. Rest when you can. And know that momentum is already building—even if you can’t see it yet.

Bonus: Ideas for E-Commerce and Product Businesses

1. Launch a Limited-Time Bonus
Add a free mini bonus (like a PDF guide or video tutorial) for purchases made in a specific window. FOMO works!

2. Offer a “Bundle & Save” Deal
Encourage multi-product purchases by bundling your top 2–3 offers with a slight discount or added value.

3. Run a 3-Day Flash Sale (with Purpose)
Make it meaningful — like celebrating your business anniversary, reaching 1K followers, or clearing space for new offers.

4. Introduce Tiered Pricing
Let customers choose between Good, Better, and Best versions of a product — each with more support or bonuses.

5 Create a “Starter Kit” Collection
Curate a few products into a starter pack for beginners in your niche (think: “Start Your Photography Biz” or “Launch Your Brand”).

6. Sell a Workshop Replay
Have a recording of a class or workshop? Polish it, add a workbook, and sell it as a self-paced product.

7. Introduce an Affiliate Program
Give customers a discount or cash bonus when they refer a friend who makes a purchase.

8. Create a Limited-Edition Product
Make one exclusive product available for only a short window — perfect for new launches or seasonal offers.

9 Add Upsells and Cross-Sells in Checkout
Offer a relevant “add-on” right before checkout. Example: “Want our email templates for just $9 more?”

10. Send an Abandoned Cart Email Series

If you’re on Shopify or another e-commerce tool, set up 2-3 emails for people who didn’t finish checking out. We use this third-party abandoned cart plugin to set ours up.

11. Add “You May Also Like” Products to Listings
Make it easy for people to keep shopping by recommending other relevant products on each sales page.

12. Feature a Customer Story or Testimonial on Social
Use a past customer success story to promote your product and show how it gets real results. Here’s one way we do this on our accounts.

13. Update Your Product Photos or Mockups
Sometimes a simple refresh can breathe new life into your listings and increase conversions.