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October is almost here, and if you’re anything like most overwhelmed entrepreneurs and small business owners, you’re starting to feel the pressure of the holiday season creeping up fast. It’s the time of year when everything from holiday sales, content planning, and system overload is on your mind. But here’s the truth: October is your golden opportunity to get ahead and prep your business for the holidays without the stress spiral.
Whether you’re juggling social media management, handling client work, or trying to streamline your operations, these tips will help you crush October while setting yourself up for a smooth, profitable holiday season.
1. Set Crystal-Clear Goals for October
I know—goal-setting is nothing new. But how often do we set vague goals like “make more money” or “get organized”? This October, take a moment to be super specific. Set goals like “grow email list by 15%,” “launch new Black Friday promo,” or “batch create all holiday content by mid-month.”
Use SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to keep yourself on track. Breaking big goals into weekly milestones can help you avoid overwhelm and get more done without feeling like you’re chasing your tail.
Action Step: Write down 2-3 major goals for October and list out the baby steps to hit them. Keep this list in a place you can easily see (whether it’s on a sticky note by your desk or in a project management tool like ClickUp).
2. Batch Your Content for the Holidays
Holiday marketing is a beast, but you can tame it by getting ahead of the game. Think about the big holiday sales days: Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and even Small Business Saturday. Now is the time to start crafting social media posts, email campaigns, and landing pages for your upcoming promotions.
Batching your content not only saves time but also reduces last-minute panic. Plus, when you’re organized in advance, you can ride those holiday trends while staying consistent across your channels.
Action Step: Block off a couple of mornings or afternoons this month to map out and create your holiday content. Use a tool like Canva to design visuals, or even better, reuse templates that have worked for you in the past.
3. Automate and Delegate Before the Madness Hits
If you haven’t already embraced automation, October is your wake-up call. Systems like Dubsado, Zapier, and FloDesk can help you streamline your workflows and give you back precious hours. Need to follow up with clients or schedule content? Automate it!
Now’s also a great time to evaluate where you can delegate. Is your inbox out of control? Can someone else handle customer service for the next few months? Outsource to a VA (virtual assistant) or use scheduling tools to free yourself up for high-priority tasks that only you can do.
Action Step: Identify one or two tasks you can automate or delegate this month, and start putting those systems in place.
4. Prepare Your Holiday Offers
October is the perfect time to craft irresistible offers that will be ready to go when holiday traffic spikes. Think about what products, services, or bundles you want to promote and how you can position them as must-haves during Black Friday and beyond.
Not sure what will sell? Survey your audience or review your past sales data to figure out what’s worked in previous years. Your holiday offers don’t need to be complicated—sometimes a simple 10% off or bonus item with purchase is enough to drive those sales.
Action Step: Finalize your holiday offer and create a landing page or email draft promoting it. Be ready to tweak or finalize the details by mid-October.
5. Tidy Up Your Systems
Yes, the “organization” talk is coming. If your business systems are a bit messy or you're trying to juggle everything in your head, October is the month to clean house. Whether it’s updating your client onboarding process, fine-tuning your project management software, or organizing your inbox—doing this now will save you SO much time later.
Take a step back and ask yourself: What bottlenecks are slowing me down? What processes need tweaking to help my business run more smoothly? You want to be running efficiently before things get chaotic with the holidays.
Action Step: Pick one system in your business that feels a bit clunky (maybe it’s your task management, client follow-ups, or social media scheduling) and give it a revamp this month.
6. Boost Your Visibility Now
October is prime time to start boosting your visibility and growing your audience ahead of the holiday season. The more people who know about your business in October, the more potential customers you’ll have ready to buy in November and December.
Amp up your social media presence by posting regularly and engaging with your community. Consider running a small paid ad campaign to test the waters before Black Friday madness hits. Or, invest in building up your email list with a lead magnet that directly appeals to your audience’s holiday needs.
Action Step: Dedicate time this month to engaging with new followers, posting value-driven content, and perhaps running a small visibility campaign.
7. Plan for Self-Care
The holidays are stressful enough—you don’t need to burn out before they even begin. If you haven’t prioritized self-care yet, this is your sign to schedule it in. Whether it’s taking a weekend off, booking a massage, or even just setting boundaries with your screen time, taking care of YOU is just as important as managing your business.
When you feel good, you perform better. Your creativity flows, and you make decisions from a place of clarity rather than panic. So make sure your calendar includes time for you.
Action Step: Block off a couple of hours each week this month for some self-care. It can be as simple as a walk, a lunch with friends, or time to binge-watch your favorite show.
8. Evaluate What’s Working (and What’s Not)
October is also a great time to reflect. What’s been working well in your business so far this year? What hasn’t? Take a few moments to review your metrics—whether that’s your sales, social media growth, client feedback, or even personal satisfaction.
The holidays tend to amplify whatever systems you have in place, so now’s the time to fix any weak spots. This reflection helps you make strategic decisions about what to focus on before the holiday season and what can be cut or streamlined.
Action Step: Look at your Q3 numbers and results, and set your intentions for Q4. Focus on what you can improve and what you can let go of.
October can be your most productive and profitable month yet with just a little prep. By setting clear goals, batching content, automating tasks, and planning for the holiday rush, you can hit November and December with ease—while still maintaining a sense of balance.
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