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:

• Get Started on Your Marketing Plan
• Get Your Marketing Plan Ready
• Business Success: Now is the Time to Plan

Pro Marketing Tip: Strong Branding

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.

• Harness the Power of Branding
• Begin with Branding: Do You Have a Solid Foundation?
• The Evolution of Your Brand’s Visual Identity

Your Brand’s Voice Has Power — Channel It!

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:

• Brand Messaging: How Strategic Word Choice Builds Trust
• The Impact of Brand Storytelling
• Brand Voice: The Importance of Consistent Communication

Tame the Tactics: From Email to Social Media

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:

• Engage Customers With These 3 Smart Email Marketing Strategies
• Using Scroll-Stopping Content to Hook Your Audience
• How to Increase Traffic to Your Company Blog

For More Helpful Marketing Tips, Check Our Blog

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.

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.

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.

Looking back at Q3, we feel very fortunate to have talked to more small to midsize businesses and nonprofits than in Q1 and Q2 combined — there have been a lot of marketing questions asked. However, some of it isn’t good news for them.

Some prospects are seeing a decline in revenue vs the first part of the year. Others are not seeing the return on their digital ad spend they saw in the first part of the year.

And, then there are some of our favorite conversations. We love meeting new entrepreneurs ready to rock their next business venture. This audience has a different set of questions.

For those that fall into the categories above, here are some insights of our conversations, that might help you, if you are experiencing similar opportunities. Even for those business owners and leaders who aren’t in the middle of one of these scenarios, there may be a nugget to learn or ponder here.

Marketing Questions for 2025

Why are my Google fill in the blank ads not performing?

Overwhelmingly, prospective clients are coming to us because of this and asking relevant marketing questions. Note to all: Business leaders and consumers alike are now starting their searches with AI platforms like ChatGPT. Generative AI is taking over the discovery phase.

Whereas consumers used to start with a keyword search on Google, 68% of shoppers across the world have used AI tools like ChatGPT to shop, according to a report published by creative agency VML. So, now the lines are blurred between search as a brand marketing function and a performance marketing one.

Also, if your Google Local Service Ads (LSA) are not working, why did you notice this and not your current agency? There are a myriad of reasons why they are not performing. And your agency should fix this problem. Not you. Ask them this marketing question.

Are your clients seeing a decline in revenue this year vs. last year?

This marketing questions is an important one. This is where you get the open, direct conversations that happen on the Front Porch. The U.S. economy has been in the s*&^ for quite a bit. Longer than most will admit. (Time to take off those orange-colored, not rose-colored glasses, which is a tip of the hat to Taylor and the release of The Life of a Showgirl.)

About a third of our clients have seen a decline. Of that third, the decline has been less than others in their industry. Why? Our clients market onward. These business owners and leaders haven’t cut the marketing budgets. And it’s showing!

Reality check, people. The spending on all the things: consumer goods, professional services, hospitality, travel, etc., after the pandemic was fabulous. But, as hopefully most of you have realized, it is time we normalize. And now, driven by macroeconomic uncertainty, tariffs and other factors, businesses and consumers are holding on to their cash.

How do I distinguish my business in an oversaturated category?

Recently, a prospect launching a business consultancy emailed this marketing question to us — after our initial meeting and several discovery calls.

My response, thank you for asking, was this: We take you through a branding process to ensure that your brand is both differentiating and emotionally relevant to your best target customer or client in this case.

As a famous person recently said, “I’m in the business of human emotion.”

All of us as business owners, leaders and champions of our brands are in the business of human emotion. Human connection, along with clarity and conviction of your brand will make you rise above. Even in an oversaturated category.

At the end of the day, automation and AI are happening whether you want them to or not. However, if your brand isn’t defined, your business is way behind the curve. And if it is and you are not delivering on it at every touchpoint, we can help you get there.

Want Your Own Answers to These Three Marketing Questions?

Whether your marketing questions are about ads, revenue or branding, or something else entirely, you deserve to have someone help you find the answers. Knowing is the first step down a new, more successful journey on your company’s marketing path.

Recently, I heard a successful business entrepreneur speak. His audience of almost 100 business owners was comprised of some who were familiar with his business and others who were not.

This business leader owns a Construction General Contractor business. He described that his company’s role as General Contractor is to project manage a construction job. From start to finish, his company project manages jobs big and small, so the owner does not have to do so.

How a Construction General Contractor Business Parallels an Ad Agency

I noticed right away that the job components included in managing projects as a Construction General Contractor mirror ours as a branding and marketing partner. In order to execute a successful project, these four components must be happen for us at Front Porch marketing:

1. Create and manage the timeline — Along the way, make sure all tasks are on time and timelines are updated.
2. Develop the budget — Estimate all costs, agency fees and out-of-pocket expenses, to ensure no surprises during the course of the project.
3. Hire the crew — The right crew is critical. With us, our crew is already on board. We engage them as needed and they deploy their expertise and skills for each part of “the job.”
4. Manage communication — Front Porch Marketing account managers are the primary liaison with the Client. They manage the team executing the work, so our Clients don’t have to do so.

The Right People for the Job

This is where the rubber meets the road for Construction General Contractors as well as Advertising Agencies. They both require the right people to do the job who are focused on results. The cost for both construction and advertising is higher sometimes, because we both want to get the right, skilled experienced experts to execute the work. We also want to be able to hold them accountable for executing at the highest level. By doing this, the results meet or exceed clients’ expectations.

As a business or nonprofit leader or owner, if you have time and team members to manage the above. rock on.

Managing Your Time Effectively as a Business Leader

Think about whether the way you’re doing it now is the right way to spend your time.  Are you managing or executing your own marketing? For me, I create the annual plan for Front Porch. I review it. Our team weighs in and embraces their roles. I check in with team members along the way.

However, for me, I know my business and the team benefits when I work ON our business not IN our business. Does yours?

Manufacturers are a sweet spot for us. In addition, we love business owners and leaders who share their expertise and learnings with other. Hence, that is where the inspiration for this blog came from for me after seeing this business owner speak. Connecting the parallels of agency business and Construction General Contractor business reinforced for me that we are driven when we work with like-minded business leaders. Let me know what you think.

Cheers to business success!

This fall, we are welcoming Sophie Leos, our newest intern rocker, to the team. So as we always do, we asked her a few questions to get to know her better! She’s a student at The University of Arkansas studying marketing and management. Sophie is eager to further build her skills and learn more about marketing, client relations and strategic writing on the Porch.

What is the biggest misconception about marketing today?

That the only goal of marketing is to sell a product or service. Marketing is so much more than that, it’s about building a personality, message and values for a company that resonate with its audience and foster real connections.

What advice would Sophie Leos give to her younger self?

I would tell her to always trust her gut. This is something I try to live by in life, making decisions that feel right for me rather than relying on the approval of others.

What is one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned so far at school?

That communication is one of the most valuable skills a person can have in every aspect of life. It is the foundation for understanding and for building meaningful connections with the people around us.

What does good brand strategy look like?

Good brand strategy focuses on differentiating your brand from competitors while creating a strong brand identity. A successful strategy ensures people recognize your brand while also connecting with its values, message and personality.

If you could be anywhere in the world right now where would it be?

Venice, Italy. I had the opportunity to study abroad in Paderno del Grappa last summer, just an hour outside of Venice. My time in Italy was one of the most enriching experiences of my life. I loved immersing myself in a new culture, exploring beautiful cities and gaining new perspectives.

If you could go to dinner with one person living or dead who would it be?

I’d choose Selena Gomez. I think she is such an inspiration for women around the world. She comes from a humble background and became incredibly successful from acting and singing to having her own beauty brand.

If you could describe Sophie Leos in three words what would they be?

I would describe myself as curious, motivated and creative.

Tell us about a major milestone in your life?

A major milestone in my life was coming to college at the University of Arkansas. Being from St. Louis, I moved five hours away from home and did not know many people at the school. It has been an incredible period of growth for me and I’ve learned so much about myself as well as the world around me!

From your perspective, how does Front Porch Marketing differentiate itself from other marketing companies?

Front Porch stands out from other marketing companies by emphasizing story-telling and building long-term relationships. Front Porch takes the time to understand their client’s specific needs and then implements marketing strategies that drive results and form meaningful connections.

What is a fun fact about you?

I grew up doing competitive dance my whole life!

This summer, we’re once again welcoming high school interns from Ursuline: Emma Gomar and Sophie Stewart. We love paying it forward every summer by sharing the wonderful world of marketing with the next generation. As we usually do, we asked Emma and Sophie a few questions so our readers could get to know them a little better.

Emma Gomar:

What makes you want to have a career in marketing?

I consider myself a creative person and I am very interested in studying business in college, marketing seems like a perfect combination of the two!

What is one of the biggest lessons you have learned so far in your life?

One of the biggest lessons I have learned is to never give up, even when things get tough.

If you could describe yourself in three words what would they be?

I would describe myself as musical, friendly, and hard-working.

What are your goals for your time at Front Porch Marketing?

I am hoping to learn about and explore the world of marketing as well as develop useful life skills. I am also Excited to be working on projects and learn more about working with clients!

If you could go to dinner with one person living or dead, who would it be?

I would go to dinner with William Shakespeare. I would ask him about his plays and his thoughts on how they impacted current plays.

What is a fun fact about you?

I play piano and sometimes I like to compose my own music!

Sophie Stewart:

What makes you want to have a career in marketing?

I am a very creative and an extroverted person who loves social media. I find it extremely interesting the different ways to engage others to make content and products more valuable, and I want to learn more about understanding customer behavior.

What is one of the biggest lessons you have learned so far in your life?

One of the biggest lessons I have learned in life is the extent to which your attitude can impact not only yourself, but also your circumstances and the people around you. Keeping a positive attitude and an open mind can allow you to get way farther in life in terms of overcoming problems and will improve your life in all aspects!

If you could describe yourself in three words what would they be?

In three words, I would describe myself as outgoing, positive, and diligent.

What are your goals for your time at Front Porch Marketing?

I am looking forward to exploring my interests and getting a hands-on experience in the marketing field. I have always been fascinated by business, so I am excited to leave this fun experience with a stronger foundation in marketing and a better idea of my strengths!

If you could go to dinner with one person living or dead, who would it be?

I would go to dinner with Suni Lee because I have always loved watching gymnastics, especially in the Olympics, and I find it so inspirational how she not only bounced back from a serious injury, but then went to the Olympics after she was told she wouldn’t be able to.

What is a fun fact about you?

I lived abroad in Asia for almost 6 years growing up, living in China and Singapore, which gave me an opportunity to travel to so many new places and be immersed into different cultures!

We hope Emma and Sophie learn a little more about their future professions at Front Porch Marketing. We’ve certainly enjoyed working with them!

The words around us constantly influence our decisions. For example, seeing a bold “SALE” sign in a store window might pull you inside. A coffee shop promoting a seasonal drink as “limited time only” could tempt you to try it over your usual order.   

In crowded, competitive markets, how you communicate your message matters more than ever. Clear, compelling copy is a powerful tool for standing out—whether it’s through humor, surprise or helpful information. But it’s equally important to know how to adapt your message to the platform you’re using and the audience you’re speaking to. 

Social Media Messaging

Social media is one of the most powerful branding tools available. While these platforms offer freedom and reach, they also come with challenges. Without understanding how users engage—keeping in mind their attention spans, trends and algorithms—your posts may miss the mark.  

Instagram: As one of the most visual platforms, Instagram prioritizes imagery. Keep tile copy minimal and visually cohesive. Captions should be concise and easy to skim—emojis, line breaks and short sentences go a long way. Avoid long paragraphs that cause viewers to scroll past. 

LinkedIn: LinkedIn calls for a more professional and educational tone. Long-form posts are encouraged, but you still need to grab attention in the first two lines due to the “See more” cutoff. Think of your copy as a mini article: lead with value, avoid being too casual and support your credibility with relevance.  

Website Copy

Website copy often requires more depth, but that doesn’t mean more words. Online attention spans are short, and walls of text can overwhelm visitors. Prioritize clarity, hierarchy and usability.  

Your website should:  

• Guide users toward a clear call to action.  

• Speak in plain, compelling language.  

• Use SEO strategically—integrate relevant keywords naturally without sacrificing tone or flow.   

The goal is to help visitors understand who you are and what they should do next, quickly and confidently.  

Print Communication

While digital media dominates, print still plays a key role in branding. Unlike online content, print doesn’t allow for clickable CTAs—so your message must make a strong impact.  

Focus on:  

• A strong, clear headline.  

• Supporting copy that’s scannable and organized.  

• Thoughtful layouts and information hierarchy.  

Remember that your flyer, brochure or postcard might end up pinned to a bulletin board, sitting on someone’s desk or even hung up on a fridge. Make every word count—it might stick around longer than a digital post.  

Before writing your next piece of copy, consider two things: who you’re talking to and where they’re seeing it. The more you tailor your message to the platform and the audience, the more effective it is. Start with a clear core message, reinforce it across formats and make your call to action easy to find—and even easier to follow. 

Are you an online researcher like me? One of the first things I do when considering a new purchase is read what other people have to say. Real people, real experiences. For full transparency, before 8 AM the day I wrote this post, I’d already read customer reviews for an eye cream, a dog groomer, and an activity for my kids… priorities! 

What people say about your small business matters. Before buying, booking, or signing a contract, most customers look for proof they’re making the right choice. That external validation is where client testimonials shine — and why they’re such a powerful marketing tool for small business growth. 

Testimonials Build Trust and Credibility 

Polished marketing materials, slick content, beautiful photography — all great. But none of it carries the same weight as a real customer sharing their experience. When potential clients see others speaking positively about your small business, it builds trust. For your existing customers, it reinforces their decision to work with you again. 

Bringing Your Brand to Life 

Client stories give your business a face. They help people connect to your mission and vision by showing how your work impacts real people. It makes your brand feel approachable and relatable – qualities that help your small business stand out from the competition. 

Encouraging Client Engagement

Often, customers who’ve had a great experience are happy to share it — they just need to be asked. Testimonials give your clients a chance to engage with your brand and feel like part of your success story. In turn, you strengthen those relationships by showing their feedback matters. 

Social Proof in Action 

Testimonials are firsthand accounts from people who have nothing to gain by recommending you. That outside perspective holds weight with potential customers and validates their own decisions. We all like feeling confident that we chose the right CPA, dentist, real estate broker or dog groomer. Client testimonials help deliver that reassurance.

Testimonials Grow Online Visibility 

Positive interactions with your brand across the web boost search engine marketing rankings and make it easier for people to find you. Incorporating client testimonials into your online marketing presence — website, social media, directories — expands your digital marketing footprint and strengthens your credibility. 

Fueling Content Creation 

Client testimonials are ready-made content. They can be shared in so many ways — on your website, social media, in proposals, case studies, videos, presentations — adding authentic, relatable proof of the work your small business does.

Boosting Internal Morale

Lastly, testimonials aren’t just good for marketing — they’re good for your team. Positive feedback reminds everyone their hard work is appreciated. It’s easy to focus on challenging projects or the occasional hiccup; hearing directly from happy customers can be the boost everyone on your team needs. 

At home and at work, we’re making decisions every day about where to spend our money — and we’re influenced by what others say. Client testimonials give your small business the chance to showcase those positive experiences, build trust and strengthen your brand.