It’s the last post of the year, y’all, time for a round-up of the best marketing tips from our blog. It’s about to be 2026 in a few days, and we’ve accomplished a lot! To move forward to the future of your marketing success, we thought it would be helpful to go back and share some knowledge from the past. Hopefully, this will help you start thinking about what you want your business to be in 2026.
Start the Year With a Marketing Plan
First of all, you don’t know where to start planning for the year ahead? Start with an official marketing plan. Put a document like this together to help guide you through the year. Here are some marketing tip posts:
Next, does your branding stand for the company the way you want it to? Can you strengthen your brand? Will 2026 be the year for a re-branding to more align your business goals? Here are some branding posts to help you evaluate your situation.
To continue this thought, part of your brand is your voice. The words you use, the story you tell. Are you maximizing that voice in every point of contact? Here are some marketing tips on topics to think about when you are evaluating your content:
Finally, need marketing tips on how to do email or newsletter marketing? Social media posting? We’ve got you covered. Get started by checking out these post for information, or advancing your digital marketing prowess this year:
Overall, we might have covered just about every every marketing topic that a small business could use to grow their brand. Because, we’ve been creating content on our blog for over a decade! Find a nugget or two in there to help you get started. If you want to subscribe to the blog and get a tip post every week next year, just subscribe here. If you have questions, be sure to holler.
2025 was a crazy year, to say the least, and the most popular marketing trends of 2025 made that even more clear. With tons of new technological advancements and the fastest-paced media we’ve seen to date, trends came and went like rapid fire. Brands have had to work harder than ever to stay up to date and keep their audience’s attention. Here are just a few ways we saw this play out throughout the year.
Targeting Younger Audiences
The first trending tactic we’ve noticed being used heavily is targeting younger generations. Brands are shifting from the Boomer/Gen X demographic to Millennials and Gen Z, and with that shift brings lots of changes. Gen Z is extremely different from past generations when it comes to purchasing decisions. Prioritization of authenticity, mission driven messaging, and inclusivity is crucial in order to appeal to these younger audiences. Companies have been accomplishing this by creating campaigns that stand out among competitors, using humor to connect, and partnering trusted creators to convey their messaging effectively.
Visual Storytelling Dominates Marketing Trends
With platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, where short-form video content dominates, brands quickly jumped on the opportunity. These video ads can be easily integrated among the endless entertainment content that consumers spend hours watching every single day. Paid promotion through short-form videos and influencers have taken the world by storm, bringing companies huge amounts of success. Leveraging niche audiences through micro-influencers was especially popular in 2025, and we expect to see this trend continue for years to come.
Utilizing user data
Data-driven marketing is one of the most powerful tools a brand can use. Personalization is expected in today’s market, and every year we see it becoming even more individualized. In 2025, consumers were more willing to share their data with brands they trusted, especially when they could clearly see the benefits in doing so. This data helped brands to tailor content and campaigns to the most relevant users. Investing in this strategy was a major trend leading to higher engagement, increased conversion rates, and stronger customer loyalty.
As the year winds down, most marketers are thinking about holiday campaigns, reviewing Q4 deliverables, and tying up loose ends. But there’s one task that can make a bigger impact on next year than any last-minute push: a thoughtful review of the past 12 months.
For marketing and advertising teams an end-of-year assessment isn’t just a nice tradition. It’s a chance to pause, zoom out, and understand what worked, what didn’t, and how to set yourself up for a more efficient, more creative and more rewarding year ahead.
How do you go about conducting a meaningful year-end review and then turn insights into an actionable plan for next year?
Start by Reviewing the Work Itself
Look back at your projects, campaigns, pitches and deliverables from the past year. What felt strong? Did anything fall short? Were there things that surprised you?
Questions to ask yourself as you’re reviewing the work:
Which projects delivered the best results for clients and why?
Which projects were the most creatively fulfilling?
What took more time or budget than expected?
Which deliverables consistently ran smoothly?
What bottlenecks or frustrations came up repeatedly?
Look for patterns here, not one-off issues. These patterns will tell you where your firm naturally excels and where possible tweaks could make a difference next year.
Evaluate Your Processes
Even the best work can feel stressful if the work behind the scenes isn’t efficient. Reviewing your processes helps you identify where extra time can be eliminated, or needs to be added, next year. Put best practices in place. Write down processes that work to share with the team and onboard with new team members.
Questions to ask when reviewing processes:
Where did communication break down?
Did we have the right information at the right time?
Were timelines realistic or chaotic?
Did approvals or revisions slow things down?
Did we use our tools effectively?
When taking a look at your processes, look for repeated snags or bottlenecks, overcomplicated workflows that can be simplified, missing steps that caused confusion, and tasks that always seemed to fall through the cracks. Process updates for next year will mean an easier year and a happier team!
Reviewing Your Team’s Capacity, Skills and Collaboration
A strong team is the core of a strong year. Assess whether or not everyone is working together well. Are there different communication techniques that could be used across the board for stronger connections?
Questions to ask yourself when reviewing your team’s strengths:
Did team members feel overloaded at any point?
Where did people shine, and where did they struggle?
Did cross-discipline collaboration happen naturally or did silos form?
Are there skills the team wants to learn in able to grow?
Look for opportunities to build up strengths and support areas needing more structure, tools or training.
Examine Your Client Relationships
Reviewing the past year in terms of client relationships helps guide you forward and grow your business. Find what types of clients or industries you want to attract next year, and which ones you may need to reevaluate, by reviewing your client base every year.
Questions to ask yourself when reviewing clients:
Who were your strongest partnerships? Why?
Where did expectations misalign?
Were you proactive or reactive in your communication?
Are there clients you’d love to replicate, or ones that weren’t a great fit?
Now Turn Your Review Into Next Year’s Plan
Once you’ve assessed the year, it’s time to transform insights into a strategic plan.
As you look ahead, start by identifying the strengths you want to carry forward. Don’t reinvent what’s already working well. Instead, recognize the processes, tools and team dynamics that consistently support strong outcomes. Maybe that was a solid creative brainstorm structure, reliable kickoff briefs, smooth approvals or content formats that performed especially well.
Equally important is acknowledging what didn’t work and choosing just a few meaningful improvements to focus on next year. You don’t need sweeping overhauls, just simple changes like streamlining intake forms, improving briefs, adding mid-project check-ins, investing in a useful new tool, tightening your revision process or strengthening client onboarding. Choose improvements that will make the biggest impact overall, and implement them for next year.
From there, use the insights gathered in your review to set specific, data-informed goals. These might include reducing turnaround times or launching new services. To make these goals truly effective, involve your entire team in shaping them. Because your team lived the work this year, they can offer invaluable observations, surface opportunities for improvement, suggest fixes, and help you prioritize what matters most. When everyone participates in building the plan, they’re more invested in bringing it to life.
From Reviewing to ReDoing
Finally, turn your insights into a clear “next-year playbook.” It can be as simple as a one-pager or a more detailed document. Both work. What matters is capturing the key takeaways from your review, outlining what will stay the same and what will change, clarifying team goals, identifying tools or training to implement and articulating your vision for the year ahead. It’s a guide your team can reference throughout the year to stay aligned, accountable and focused on continuous improvement.
We’ve all been there staring at a blank content calendar wondering what on earth to post next. Social media moves fast, and staying consistent can feel overwhelming. But here’s the important truth: you don’t need a big idea to show up online. You just need to know where to look when inspiration runs dry and what to post when you have nothing to post.
As marketers, it’s our job to turn even the simplest moments into valuable, scroll-stopping content. Creativity isn’t always spontaneous. It’s built from reliable strategies you can pull from anytime.
1. Repurpose What Already Works
One of the most overlooked content strategies is simply revisiting your existing work. Your old posts, blogs, client questions, or even past presentations can become new content with a fresh angle.
• Turning a long blog into a short tip • Reposting a high-performing graphic with updated context • Sharing a “throwback” post you still use today.
Repurposing gives proven ideas new life and saves you time when you’re drained and don’t know what to post.
2. Share Micro-Wins or Micro-Lessons with your posts
You don’t need a huge story to offer value. Especially when you don’t know what to post. Small moments can be just as powerful. A simple observation, a quick mistake you learned from, or a recent client insight can spark a genuine connection.
• “One thing I learned this week…” • “A mistake we used to make (and how we fixed it)” • “A question clients keep asking us lately…”
These micro-stories feel authentic, human, and relatable — especially on days when you don’t have a bigger narrative to tell.
3. Show the Process, Not Just the Outcome
When you feel stuck, look at what’s already happening around you. Behind-the-scenes content builds trust because it shows the real work behind the brand.
You can share: • A brainstorming snapshot • A before-and-after moment • Tools your team uses daily • A peek at how a project comes together
People connect with processes because they reveal the side of your brand that isn’t polished or staged—it’s real.
Final Thoughts on “Posting When You Have Nothing to Post”
Creative ruts happen to everyone, but they don’t have to break your consistency. Repurposing ideas, sharing small lessons, and showing your process are all strategic ways to keep your audience engaged even when inspiration is low.
There are real, intentional methods behind staying visible online, especially during slow weeks. By focusing on value, authenticity, and relatability, you can create content that resonates, even when you feel like you have nothing to say.
We all know that social media has taken our world by storm and become part of most people’s everyday lives. Mindless scrolling has become something we all do— whether that’s consciously or subconsciously. But here is the important question: What actually gets us to stop scrolling?
As marketers, it’s our job to figure out what grabs people’s attention and holds it. This kind of content doesn’t just happen, it’s built from intentional strategies and tools. One of the most powerful ways to do so is by creating a strong social media hook.
Three-Second Rule
The first few seconds a consumer looks at a post are absolutely crucial. A strong hook determines whether someone decides to pay attention or keep scrolling. Start with a statement that is either bold, relatable, or intriguing. Psychologically, these hooks trigger gut level response before people even realize themselves. Targeting curiosity, emotion, and connection are all effective ways to drive instant reactions.
Bold Statement Hooks
One way to hook your audience’s attention is by presenting a bold statement. This statement can be shocking, thought provoking, or even slightly controversial; anything that makes the viewer stop and think.
Examples include:
“You’ll never believe this…”
“The secret to…”
“You’ve been doing ___ wrong this whole time”
These statements get the viewer wanting to know more and spark curiosity. Your first couple of words set the tone for everything that follows.
Emotional Trigger Hooks
Connecting with your audience goes beyond logic, it taps into the heartstrings. Empathy, joy, motivation, and nostalgia are all reactions that keep people hooked. Making people feel something is far more memorable than simply presenting facts or statistics.
Some examples of emotional hooks include:
“This will make you believe anything is possible”
“This story changed how I see …”
Emotions create messaging that people will remember long after they scroll past.
Visual Messaging Hooks
Having strong visuals is the first step to standing out. People often see your content before listen or read what you have to say. Utilizing bold colors or high-contrast imagery catches viewers’ eyes in a sea of posts.
Using imagery involving real people increases engagement due to the authenticity and relatability it brings. Maintaining a strong brand aesthetic makes your visuals more recognizable and consistent over time. Lastly, using fast paced content and movement is key when attempting to keep up with the short attention spans of today’s audience.
Final Thoughts on Scroll-Stopping Content
Hooking your audience in the first three seconds of your post determines if they will pay attention or scroll on. There are real strategies behind this, based on psychological factors that trigger gut reactions.
Targeting curiosity, emotion, and visual intrigue are three ways to do so. Combining these techniques creates moments that make people stop, look and tune in. Standing out in the ever-changing state of social media is definitely not easy, but with intention, it’s absolutely possible.
Over the past several weeks, many opportunities for expressing gratitude have presented themselves professionally and personally, all of which I am grateful for and humbled by.
“Tis the damn season,” thank you, Taylor, for that lyric in which I probably overuse.
And remember, expressing gratitude provides many personal benefits including improving mood, and physical and mental health overall.
Gratitude for Professional Opportunities
Non-profit organization board position — I am on a board now that is making real differences in lives of others. I was recommended to serve on it. Having conversations with existing board members of that board has me so inspired, and I hope to share more in Q2 2026. There’s a process and I’m practicing patience.
Networking organization board position — An organization in which I have be a member of for a year is redefining its vision and mission. It is shaking up things a bit. Beginning in January 2026, I have been nominated and accepted to serve on this board too.
New client prospects — We have been referred to a growing business that is merging with another company to help them rebrand and develop a marketing plan for their new brand. In addition to this, we are pitching a professional services business in a category we love. Wahoo!
Gratitude for Personal Celebrations
My Daughter — She continues to bring so much joy in my life. She is into the performing arts, and will be on stage in November after a few months of rehearsals and valiant efforts. Her soccer season is coming to an end. And the goalie and leadership skills of this one on the field have made me so proud. “Where did she come from?” I often ask myself, amazed at her skills.
My Son – He has found a job that brings him opportunities for learning that align with an industry he’s passionate about. That’s a win-win. I am so grateful that he shares his work experiences with me. Often, we get to converse over numbers, trends, opportunities and more.
My Neighborhood Community — Coming off such a fun Halloween night where we gathered, added to our tribe and covered another mile or two. It was the best night in a while. So grateful!
How To Express Gratitude Professionally or Personally
Verbally — I hope I have taught my kids this. When someone does something for you, just simply say, “Thank you.” Also, you can elaborate on this and tell them specifically about the thing for which you are grateful.
Handwritten thank you notes — It is a lost art. But the impact is huge for the receiver and for me, the writer.
Cards or notes just because — It doesn’t have to be because someone has done something for you. Just sending a note of gratitude to those that enrich your life in some way means a lot.
Just a Few Additional Things for Which I am Expressing Gratitude
The Front Porch Marketing team — The best!
Our clients — We have the best and smartest.
Our Front Porch advocates — These extraordinary people continue to support our team and business. The tribe sends new connections our way, recommendsing us to make other brand’s rock and so much more.
Our therapists — Times are challenging and each of my family members are coping with things. In addition, my daughter, who is autistic, needs support for communication and social skills in addition to sensory processing and self-regulating.
The Porter pets — I am grateful for Petunia who continues to make appearances on Teams and Zoom calls. And for Cale, the biggest fella, who is so patient and needy at times, but really is the best dog.
What are you grateful for? There are many things we would love to celebrate with you. Remember, “Tis the damn season.”
I’m often asked by small and medium-sized business owners whether email marketing is worth the effort. Many say email marketing feels confusing, overwhelming and hard to keep up with. Here are a few of the questions I hear most often:
Isn’t email just annoying to everyone? I don’t want to spam my customers.
What would I even say on a recurring basis?
Isn’t email just another way to try to sell something?
How do I get started if I don’t have time or resources to build a list, find images, or write a copy?
At Front Porch Marketing, we see email marketing work for small and medium-sized businesses all the time. The key is focusing on connection, consistency, and value. Here’s how we help our clients make email marketing feel more manageable and more effective.
1. Share Something Worth Opening
Think of your emails to stay helpful, authentic and human – not salesy. Your audience wants to hear from you when your content makes their day easier, more interesting or more inspiring. That could be industry insights, community news or stories about people behind your brand.
Email marketing ideas to try:
Welcome series: A few short emails that introduce your brand story and highlight what makes you different; you’re building trust from the start.
Customer testimonials: Share real experiences and success stories that show the impact of your products or services.
Educational content: Offer quick tips, how-tos or behind-the-scenes information that give your audience something valuable to take away.
2. Send the Right Message to the Right People Using Email
Not every customer needs to hear the same thing. By segmenting your list into simple groups, you can tailor messages that feel more relevant. It doesn’t have to be complicated!
Example groups:
Current customers, prospects and vendors
Frequent customers versus first-timers
Customers in different locations, such as like Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin and Houston
3. Be Consistent and Keep an Eye on Email Marketing Results
The best email strategies are the ones that show up regularly. Think monthly newsletters, team spotlights or helpful blog recaps. Over time, consistency builds trust and keeps your brand top of mind.
Lastly, don’t forget to check your metrics; open rates, clicks, and conversions. They’ll tell you what’s working and what might need to tweak.
Ideas to test:
Monthly newsletter: Share updates, events or trends your audience cares about.
Reactivation campaign: Remind inactive subscribers of what they’re missing.
A/B testing: Experiment with subject lines, visuals and send times to figure out what yields the best engagement.
Wrapping It Up
Email marketing doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful, it just needs to be consistent, authentic and tailored to your audience. When you share valuable content, speak directly to your customers and pay attention to what works, your emails can become one of your most powerful tools for growth.
At Front Porch Marketing, we love helping businesses find their voices and turn everyday emails into meaningful connections. Ready to start? Let’s build something great one inbox at a time.
This month, we are welcoming Riley Fry, our newest intern rocker, to the team. We love asking our new employees a few questions to get to know them better! Riley is a student at The University of Arkansas studying communications and journalism. Riley is particularly excited about storytelling, media strategy, and empowering others through effective communication while she sits with us on the Porch.
What is the biggest misconception about marketing today?
One of the biggest misconceptions about marketing today is that it’s only about advertising or posting on social media. Marketing is about understanding people, using research and data to meet their needs, and building lasting relationships. It’s not just about selling a product — it’s about creating real connections and value for customers
What advice would Riley Fry give to her younger self?
No matter what, everything always works out the way it’s meant to. It’s easy to get caught up in the future or dwell on the past, but today is the only thing you can truly control. One day, you’ll look back and wish you had taken a breath and appreciated the moment you’re in right now.
What is one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned so far at school?
Nobody has figured it out. It’s easy to feel intimidated or compare yourself to others, but comparison only steals your joy. True confidence comes from within — and while it may sound cliché, sometimes you just have to fake it until you make it.
What does good brand strategy look like?
I think of a brand strategy as the heart of a company. It defines who you are, what you stand for, and how you connect with your audience. More than just a logo or design, a strong brand strategy combines your mission, values, and understanding of your customers to create a clear and consistent identity. It highlights what makes you unique and tells your story in a way that builds trust and lasting loyalty.
If you could be anywhere in the world right now where would it be?
I’d love to be back in Maui, Hawaii. The summer I spent there with my family was unforgettable — it’s the most gorgeous and peaceful place on earth. The locals are so kind and genuine, and my favorite thing to do there is just sit on the beach and enjoy the calm.
If you could go to dinner with one person living or dead who would it be?
I’d choose Dakota Johnson. I admire her as an actress and love her sense of style. She has an incredible taste in fashion, home decor, and architecture. She’s also worked with so many talented people, and grew up in a famous family, I’m sure she has some amazing stories to share.
If you could describe Riley Fry in three words what would they be?
I’d describe myself as detailed, creative, and optimistic.
Tell us about a major milestone in your life?
A major milestone for me was coming to school at the University of Arkansas. Growing up in Houston, Texas, I had never experienced living in such a beautiful state or meeting so many new people. Moving here pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow both personally and professionally.
From your perspective, how does Front Porch Marketing differentiate itself from other marketing companies?
Front Porch creates a warm, close-knit environment that extends to both the clients and team. Their focus goes beyond delivering exceptional work — they’re dedicated to building lasting relationships with clients who quickly start to feel like family.
Influencer marketing is peaking in the current era of social media rage that we live in. Brands that want to stay relevant and effectively reach their target audience should take full advantage of it. Three key reasons to use influencers are their ability to improve trust, adaptability, and high reach at a low cost.
Improved Trust With Influencer Marketing
One of the most valuable aspects of influencer marketing is its ability to strengthen followers’ trust in a brand. Consumers are far more likely to purchase a product after seeing a genuine review from someone they already follow than from a traditional advertisement. Today’s audiences crave authenticity, and influencer marketing delivers just that. Micro-influencers, in particular, have strong relationships with their followers and hold significant influence when recommending products or services.
Adaptability and Tailored Experiences
Influencer marketing is also highly adaptable and allows brands to create tailored experiences for specific target audiences. With so many social media platforms and content formats available, brands can adjust their strategies to fit current trends and niche communities. This flexibility helps maintain audience interest while ensuring that content feels fresh, relevant, and aligned with the brand’s message.
Use Influencer Marketing for High Reach at a Low Cost
Finally, influencer marketing is one of the most cost-effective ways to reach large audiences. Partnering with micro-influencers or even celebrity influencers can be a more affordable and efficient alternative to traditional advertising. Unlike many physical or digital ads that disappear quickly, influencer posts often remain online indefinitely, continuing to generate engagement over time. These posts also have the potential to go viral, reaching far more people than expected. Even smaller influencers tend to have higher engagement rates than many paid ads; proving that influencer marketing can deliver impressive reach and return on investment.
Brands Tool to Stay Relevant
In an age where social media shapes the way consumers connect with brands, influencer marketing stands out as one of the most powerful tools available. It not only builds trust between brands and audiences but also allows for endless adaptability across platforms, trends, and target markets. Plus, with its impressive reach at a low cost, influencer marketing provides an efficient and resourceful way to grow brand awareness and drive results. By using influencers who align with their values and audiences, brands can stay relevant, credible, and competitive in today’s fast-pace digital space.
In marketing and creative endeavors, no great creative work is the result of a single perspective. The most effective strategies and boldest ideas are born when designers, copywriters, strategists, media planners, and account managers work side by side sharing expertise and building on each other’s insights.
Collaboration on a team isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s the backbone of an efficient process toward a successful outcome. We’re stronger together. Here’s why it matters and some ideas for how to put it into practice.
Different Disciplines, Different Lenses
Each marketing discipline brings a unique way of looking at a problem:
Designers think visually, shaping how a brand feels.
Copywriters shape the voice, ensuring words connect emotionally and persuasively.
Strategists dig into audience behavior and market dynamics.
Media planners understand where and when the message will be most effective.
Practical Tips:
Host a kickoff session for each project with every discipline present, so all voices are heard and all questions are asked early.
Encourage short “discipline spotlights” in meetings to help the team learn how others think, and what others need to do their job.
Keeping Everyone Informed for Creative Work Efficiency
Working in silos often leads to misalignment, revisions, and wasted time. By keeping everyone informed, the team can anticipate needs, adapt ideas on the fly, and avoid costly detours. Including others in input meetings with the client, and in presentations with the client can also offer more well-rounded, on-target solutions.
Practical Tips:
Use a shared project board (like Asana, Workfront or even Microsoft Teams) where all updates live.
Send out weekly recaps or hold quick status meetings outlining progress, road blocks and upcoming deadlines.
Assign a point person (like a project manager) to ensure information flows between disciplines.
Collaboration Sparks Creative Work
Ideas rarely come out fully formed. They grow stronger through conversation and refinement. A strategist’s data might spark a creative twist, or a designer’s mockup could inspire a headline. Notes from a client meeting can provide unique perspective and insight for those creating the work who were not at the meeting.
Practical Tips:
Run quick brainstorm sessions with mixed disciplines, not just creatives.
Use tools like Miro for virtual idea-storming across departments.
Encourage team members to ask “what if?” questions, even outside their area of expertise.
Creative Work with Better Outcomes for Clients and Audiences
Collaboration on creative and marketing work leads to campaigns that feel cohesive, purposeful, and tailored to audience needs.
Practical Tips:
Share drafts with the whole team, not just the client-facing role, before presentation.
Do a quick “audience check” roundtable where each discipline explains how their piece serves the end user.
Build in one joint review session before final delivery to ensure cohesion.
The Human Side: Trust and Respect
When every voice is valued, people feel invested in the work. Respect and trust grow, making it easier to tackle challenges and celebrate wins together.
Practical Tips:
Open meetings with a “shout-out” moment where team members recognize others’ contributions.
Create a culture where feedback is framed as collaboration, not criticism.
CollaborationIsn’t Just About Working Together, It’s About Working Smarter
By keeping every discipline informed, inviting every perspective to the table, and nurturing open communication, you build more than solid marketing and creative work. You create partnerships, efficiency, and results that couldn’t exist any other way.
