How to Use Slow Season to Strengthen Your Marketing Strategy
We’ve all been there. It’s mid-January (or July, depending on your industry), your inbox is suspiciously quiet, and you start to wonder if everyone forgot your business exists. Welcome to slow season, where the panic creeps in and you start googling, “Do I run ads or just cry?”
Take a deep breath—and maybe a shot of tequila if you’re feeling extra. Slow seasons are not a sign of failure. In fact, they’re a goldmine of opportunity if you know how to use them.
At Rebel Marketing, we believe that downtime isn’t dead time. It’s the perfect moment to refine, refresh, and re-strategize so your business is set up for success when things pick back up.
Here’s how to actually make that happen (without the stress spiral).
Step 1: Don’t Panic—Plan
The first step is to stop freaking out. Easier said than done, we know.
Slow seasons happen in every industry. For some, it’s post-holiday budget freezes. For others, it’s summer when everyone’s checked out and chasing the sun. Instead of worrying, use this time intentionally.
Ask yourself:
When do my slow seasons typically occur?
What do I never have time for during my busy season?
What would make future-me say, “Wow, glad I did that”?
Now you’ve got your action list.
Step 2: Audit Your Marketing (Before It Audits You)
You know that voice in your head that says, “We should update the website”? Or “We need to figure out Instagram someday”? Yeah, it’s time to listen to her.
Start with a marketing audit. That can be DIY or done by a team like Rebel (hi 👋), but either way, take a hard look at:
Your website (Is it current? Mobile-friendly? Not featuring a 2007 flip phone?)
SEO performance
Email automations (Still referring to an old business name? We’ve been there.)
Social media accounts and content
Your metrics—what’s working, what’s flopping, and what needs a glow-up
If you’re not sure how to do this, grab our free marketing audit checklist. It’s a full workbook with videos, and it’s like a marketing glow-up in PDF form.
Step 3: Refresh Your Brand (Yes, Even the Cringe Photos)
Now is the perfect time to fix things you’ve been avoiding:
Outdated brand photos? Schedule a shoot.
Confusing messaging? Time for a copy cleanup.
A website built during your DIY era? Might be time for a revamp.
You don’t need to do a full rebrand, but you do need to make sure your visuals and messaging actually reflect who you are now—not who you were three years ago when you first Googled “how to build a Squarespace site.”
Step 4: Review Your Content Strategy
Slow season is a content creation wonderland. You’re not drowning in client meetings, which means now is the time to:
Write blog posts
Film videos
Create new lead magnets
Design a full quarter of social posts
Record a brand video or welcome sequence for email
If you're DIYing it, batch content now so you can coast later. Trust us—your future self will thank you when things get wild in spring.
Not sure what to post? Pre-write holiday posts, business anniversary shoutouts, client testimonials, and behind-the-scenes content. Bonus points if you actually take pictures at events and save them for later. (Do it. Just take the damn picture.)
Step 5: Get Serious About Email Marketing
If your welcome email sequence hasn’t been touched in 14 months, now is the time to:
Review your subject lines (Are people even opening?)
Update your links, photos, and CTAs
Add fresh content, like videos or links to blog posts
Segment your audience to personalize what you send
And if you don’t have a sequence at all? This is your sign to build one. Start simple. Just a three-email welcome flow is enough to build connection and drive your first conversions.
Step 6: Check in with Your People
Want to know what your customers think? Ask them.
Slow season is a great time to:
Send a survey
Schedule coffee chats with past clients
Ask your audience what they actually want to see from you
Read and respond to recent reviews
These little insights will tell you more about your brand’s perception than any analytics dashboard. And if you get a weird review? Handle it better than Kraft Mac & Cheese did. (Don’t call your customer a liar on TikTok. Just… don’t.)
Step 7: Revisit Your Tech + Tools
Now is the time to ask:
Do we need a new CRM?
Could our email marketing platform be doing more?
Are we wasting money on subscriptions we don’t use?
Should we automate any part of our marketing workflow?
Use your slow season to test tools and refine systems—before you’re buried under a client load and don’t have time to breathe.
Step 8: Get Your Team (or Marketing Partner) Involved
If you have a marketing coordinator or agency partner, don’t leave them guessing.
Tell them:
When your slow seasons typically are
What you want to achieve in the next quarter
What kind of content or campaigns you'd like to run
If you need support for events, launches, or new offers
Give them the heads-up now so they can help you actually move the needle instead of putting out fires. Oh—and don’t send them a request that says “Need this by tomorrow.” Please.
Step 9: Improve the Customer Experience
Marketing isn’t just about getting attention. It’s about keeping it.
Ask yourself:
How are we onboarding clients?
Are we nurturing leads through email?
Are we responding to reviews, both good and bad?
Is our messaging clear across every touchpoint?
Every one of these details is part of your brand. And you actually have the time to fix them now.
Step 10: Try Something New (Because Why Not?)
Finally—if there’s ever been a time to experiment, it’s now.
Host a live workshop. Test out a referral program. Try video content for the first time. Run a flash sale. Collaborate with a local business. Redesign your packaging. Launch a new offer.
Worst case? It flops and no one notices because everyone else is also asleep. Best case? You discover something that changes your business forever.
TL;DR — What to Do During Slow Season
✅ Audit your marketing
✅ Batch content for future months
✅ Refresh your brand and photos
✅ Fix outdated email automations
✅ Review customer feedback
✅ Test new tools and platforms
✅ Communicate with your marketing team
✅ Level-up your customer experience
✅ Get creative and try something new
✅ And yes, enjoy a shot of tequila if needed
Ready to Actually Take Action?
You don’t have to do all of this alone. At Rebel Marketing, we turn slow seasons into strategy sessions. We help you stop guessing, stop ghost-posting, and finally use your downtime to grow.
📥 Download our free Marketing Audit Workbook
📞 Book a discovery call if you want us to handle the plan while you handle the margaritas
Just because your inbox is quiet doesn’t mean your business has to be.
Let’s make your slow season the smartest part of your year.
