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❄️ The December Dilemma
Why Solopreneurs Ghost Their List in Q4 (and What to Do Instead)
💥 December rolls around and your inbox goes... quiet.
Not from your subscribers.
From you.
You’ve spent all year building connection.
Sending emails.
Telling stories.
Building trust.
But once Thanksgiving dishes are done and the Black Friday dust settles?
Many solopreneurs hit... 🧊 inbox silence.
Not because they don’t want to sell.
But because they’re tired. Burnt out. Overwhelmed.
And they don’t want to “bother people during the holidays.”
So they vanish.
Which leads to the worst kind of January...
A cold one.
📖 Lena’s Cold Start
Lena — a client and creative copywriter — crushed it in October.
· She hosted a free list-building workshop.
· Booked 2 new 1:1 clients.
· Grew her list by 120 subscribers.
She planned to “take it easy” in December, then “come back strong” in January.
You know what really happened?
Crickets. ❄️
Inboxes were full.
Her audience felt distant.
And she didn’t know what to say that didn’t sound like yet another promo.
So she didn’t email at all for 6 weeks.
When she returned in mid-January, replies were...
“Wait, who is this?”
“Did I sign up for this?”
And — worst of all — unsubscribes from people she really liked.
Ouch.
🧠 The Real December Dilemma
We tell ourselves this lie:
“Everyone’s tuned out in December. They don’t want to hear from me.”
But the truth is...
✨ They’re not tuned out. They’re tuning IN — just to different kinds of energy. ✨
They’re not looking for fire-sale urgency.
They’re looking for clarity. Calm. Care.
People are opening emails in December.
They’re just skipping the ones that scream, “BUY NOW OR ELSE.”
They’re leaning toward messages that say:
· “Here’s how to reflect and reset.”
· “Want to ease into next year with more clarity?”
· “Let’s slow down together and still stay intentional.”
You don’t need to go silent.
You need to shift your tone.
🔁 December is a trust-building month — not a launch or list-abandon month
Let’s break the myth that December = marketing dead zone.
It’s actually one of the best times to reconnect because:
· People have more mental space (even if schedules are full)
· Reflection content resonates deeply
· There’s a natural craving for next-step clarity
· And inboxes are full of sales-y noise — your voice can be the soft space that stands out
🎯 Three Easy Ways to Stay Present in December (Without Burning Out)
If the idea of doing a full promo feels like too much — don’t.
Instead, try one of these momentum-preserving moves:
✅ 1. The Gentle Check-In Email
Write your list a low-pressure email that says:
“I know inboxes are full right now, so I’ll keep this short. I’m thinking of you. And I’m working on something for the New Year that I think you’ll love. Want a sneak peek?”
It’s not about conversions — it’s about connection.
✅ 2. The Micro-Offer That Builds Warmth
Create a light, December-only offer like:
· A 60-min strategy call
· A digital planning workbook
· A two-part “wrap + reset” session (Dec + Jan)
Keep the price low and the energy cozy.
Market it softly.
✅ 3. The Reflection Invitation
Send an email with 3 questions:
· What felt really good in 2024?
· What do you want more of next year?
· What’s one thing you’d love support with in January?
You’ll spark replies.
You’ll stay present.
You’ll get client intel.
Win-win-win.
📌 If You Remember Nothing Else:
Vanishing in December creates disconnection.
And disconnected lists don’t convert in January.
But when you show up with presence — not pressure —
you become the business voice people want in their inbox.
Not because you’re selling harder.
But because you’re speaking softer.
💡 Big Lesson?
You don’t need a launch. You need a presence.
December doesn’t require a big push.
It just asks you to stay visible, grounded, and human.
🧠 Say it with me:
“My visibility doesn’t have to be loud — just consistent.”
📝 Try this now:
1. Open your calendar
2. Pick 2 dates in December to email your list
3. On one date, send a warm “thinking of you” note
4. On the other, share a simple insight or offer
That’s enough.
That’s momentum.
That’s marketing with boundaries
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