Use the winter doldrums to your advantage.

If you are somewhere outside of the desert or tropics, you may be experiencing the winter doldrums right about now. Before you fall into more of a winter slump, think about getting energized instead. How do you flip the winter doldrums on its head?

Many parts of the U.S. are buried under snow. What does that mean for a lot of people? It means they are inside, at their computers, in front of their televisions, listening to satellite radio, and more. Think of these people as a captive audience. How can you reach them?

If you are restaurant, like many of our clients, this is the time to highlight delivery services, carryout and ways to make life easier for your customers. Likewise, delivery services can be highlighted in other industries also, from office supplies to technology products to beauty products. Talk to your customers via email, via social media, and via your web site. Hold an online contest for someone to win free delivery of product, or even deliver a “party in a box,” using whatever your products are. Create ways to celebrate the doldrums.

People are sick of winter and it is far enough past the holidays that you can think about ways to get people to celebrate. If you have a retail establishment, holding a winter doldrums party for your customers is another idea. Another ideas is to hold an after-hours networking event featuring other local businesses. This can be done in conjunction with your local Chamber of Commerce or other local business association. People look to connect, even in bad weather. We also know that people buy from other people, and not sterile, homogeneous corporations.

When we’re all in the middle of the heat in July, it will be fun to look back on your event, or how you got product delivered to your customers in a blizzard. So take this opportunity to celebrate the winter doldrums, gather your best customers around you, and have some fun.