10 Business-Building Activities for Unexpected Downtime

Stormy weather may have shut down your office, but that doesn't mean your productivity has to skid to a halt. Quite the opposite: A day or two free of meetings, chatty office mates, and other in-office interruptions offers the opportunity to focus on business projects and tasks you want or need to do but always put off until later. So instead of picking up the remote and settling into the couch, try one or more of the following activities. Your business will thank you.

1. Start Tweeting. If trying out Twitter still ranks at the bottom of your to-do list, today's a perfect day to get started. Once you've set up an account, check out how companies you admire use it and research the basics, best practices, and ways to build a following. If you already have a Twitter account but log in less often than you'd like, take a few minutes to introduce yourself to some followers and spark some conversation.

2. Analyze your website. When you work long days and weekends, it's easy to let certain things slide, like updating your website. But dead links, outdated information, and other oversights can leave site visitors wondering about your attention to detail, or worse. Take some time to click around your site, making sure links go where they need to and info you posted months ago is still accurate. Ask yourself if the site still feels modern and competitive -- if not, brainstorm .

3. Read -- and no, not People magazine. Curling up with a great book, or even a stack of industry periodicals, can be rewarding, especially when what you're reading is packed with business-boosting insights, trends, and ideas. Take note of anything you find inspirational and see how you can apply what you learn to your business. If you have a Kindle, even better: Download that business bestseller you've been meaning to read, like Rework by Jason Fried and David Hansson or Business Stripped Bare: Adventures of a Global Entrepreneur by Sir Richard Branson.

4. Write. Whether it's a blog post, a press release, a pitch letter to your local radio show, or next month's e-newsletter, writing is a great way to spend these precious golden hours of uninterrupted work time. If the muse can't find you in the storm, research and plan topics you can delve into next time inspiration strikes.

5. Build your network. Being stuck at home provides a great opportunity for staying in touch with those most important to your business. Follow up with the clients and referrals you've been meaning to; a simple email, phone call, or even handwritten note will help you nurture that relationship and open opportunities that didn't exist before. If you're on LinkedIn, make new contacts by getting involved in business-relevant discussion groups.

6. Research your competitors. Take a look at their websites, Twitter feeds, Facebook pages, and so on. Is there anything they're doing that you could do better?

7. Learn something new. Maybe you need to learn how to make snazzier Excel graphs, take a crash course in social media, or figure out how to conduct an online meeting. Whatever your goal, a host of webinars and video tutorials are available to get you up to speed, fast. A quick search on YouTube or Google will get you started.

8. Make a video for your website. Ross Andrew Winery in Woodinville, Wash., has used Animoto's professional-quality video slideshows to market products to customers. It takes less time than you think: Simply upload photos or videos of your business (Ross Andrew used images of corks, vineyards, bottles, and tasting room events), and Animoto does the rest, seamlessly setting the resulting slideshow to music. A 30-second video is free; the Pro Plan costs $39/month for unlimited full-length videos. If your budget allows, consider offerings from Pixability. However you go about it, keep in mind visitors spend 9 percent more time on sites with videos, according to Internet Retailer.

9. Focus on Facebook. Just having a page isn't enough. It must engage, interest, interact, and be current. Take a hard look at your business's Facebook presence and make sure you can answer "yes" to the following: Does it show true personality, with self-promotion taking a backseat? Do you interact right away with "friends" and customers when they post comments or questions on your wall? Do you share photos? Do you find creative ways to keep visitors engaged? A single "no" answer means you have some work to do. If customer engagement seems lacking, try posting a giveaway -- just make sure it's something valuable that fits with your business.

10. Beat the weather. What could be more inspiring than booking a trip to a sunnier locale? Depending on your industry, there may be upcoming events or conferences held in cities like Miami, San Diego, or even Honolulu. If there's an event you've always wanted to attend but never have, consider today if you can make it happen. You'll get the chance to make new contacts and potentially meet up with colleagues you've only dealt with over email. Bonus: It's a tax write-off, too.