You might be well and truly back into the swing of things with projects and jobs galore, but if you’re not, and you’re struggling to get the work flowing in during this time, here are some things you can try.

Get your business online

If your business doesn’t have a website or a social media presence, then you’re already at a disadvantage. Potential clients are more likely to take a look at your business and your work online and base their decision on what they see, especially during times like this when money might be tight and people are at home more.

Make sure your website is clean and easy to read and has clear contact details, previous work examples, and client testimonials.

Make it easy to get paid

If you aren’t getting as much work as usual, you’ll need to make the most of each and every job that comes your way. This means that you need to get paid as quickly as possible, so it’s a good idea to invoice clients immediately before it becomes a distant memory – the faster you invoice, the faster you get paid.

It’s also good practice to have a few different payment options available. You could offer a pay-on-the-spot option with a portable credit card or eftpos machine, or the option to pay invoices via credit card online.

Be the first to respond

More often than not, clients are going to go with the first business that calls them back when they’ve requested a quote or more info. Make sure that you have someone on standby to answer queries as soon as they come through, whether that’s you or an admin person.

If you can’t respond right away, it’s a good idea to have an automated email set up that goes to the potential client letting them know when they can expect to hear from you. Try to also be the first to send through a quote – it’s likely you’ll win the job that way, especially if it’s time-sensitive.

Make the most of your time

Like we said, you need to be making the most of each job during this time. This means that you should be scheduling your time as efficiently as you can, and figuring out which jobs will send the most money your way. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t take on smaller jobs, but make sure you prioritise those that will earn you a good profit as you’ll want to spend the most time on these.

Don’t be afraid to review your current cash flow – where are you spending the most money? Where are you receiving the most money for your time and supplies? See which areas you can cut back in, or put more focus on.

You got this!