How to get ahead of a summer slowdown

Seasonal planning for freelancers

Author

Diana Kelly Levey
May 14, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

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If you’re new to freelancing, you might not be acquainted with the term “summer slowdown.” (I’m talking to Northern Hemisphere folks for this post but it might apply to those of you in the Southern Hemisphere next December through February.)

Based on my professional experience in the States, work might quiet down over the coming months.

Historically, I find it’s more challenging to get approval on assignments (because those who have to ‘sign off’ are away), your editor or client might only be focused on doing only the absolute necessary tasks they have to do to take off for their vacation (and assigning you an article isn’t one of them), or, there are simply delays in email responses and people miss emails and there might even be smaller budgets.

In one instance, I work with a public relations agency whose clients tend to slow down spending in the summer, so they, in turn, don’t have as flexible a budget to give me work.

I don’t say all of this to scare you. I point it out so IF it happens to you, you’ve been warned and you know it isn’t you.

AND, you know there are things you can do to increase revenue during this time.

I’ve said it before to my audience but it’s worth repeating: Let your steady clients know if you’re going away and when those dates are. RIGHT NOW is a great time to mention you have an end-of-June vacation but you’re available to turn in assignments before then.

You can also offer additional services to clients who otherwise decrease the frequency with which they’re publishing these months. Let them know of other freelance skills you offer.

The slow season could be an excellent time to offer a content audit and help them with their strategy for the rest of the year.

It might be a great time to offer ghostwriting services for the CEO who wants to become known as a thought leader on LinkedIn.

Maybe you’re creating brochures and pamphlets for their busy conference season that hits in the fall.

Explore new ways you could help clients.

Remember to take this time to work on YOUR business, too.

Perhaps you’re writing and scheduling blogs for the next few months. You’re getting ahead with your newsletters. You’re scheduling Pins on Pinterest through the fall.

Or, you can use this time to take off and chill, of course.

Remember WHY you’re freelancing. If it’s because you want to take three months off or have the flexibility to go to the beach on a random Wednesday or stay up late midweek because it’s light out and you’re enjoying reading your book at dusk.

May is an excellent time to think about what you want from the next few months.

Yes, there are also opportunities to make headway with your freelance business and be available when other freelancers aren’t.

Decide what you’re aiming for and make it happen.

Diana

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What’s Happening in Business and Life This Week

Nominations for the Women in Content Marketing Awards are still open. If you have someone to nominate for one of the categories or want to nominate yourself for an award, check them out.

I just launched 12 Freelance Article Pitches That Sold. This is a NEW guide with pitches I sent within the past two years or so to clients, including responses to “calls for pitches,” “cold emails,” and more. (Features 15 total pitch examples for <$10.)

If you’re interested in a self-updating writing portfolio page, check out Authory. I like that they pull in recent articles and send me an email notifying me as soon as they’re published. I don’t have to spend time looking for them.

I’m rereading How to Get Past Writer’s Block by Jennifer Della’Zanna.

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