Category Archives: tactics

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:

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.

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:

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:

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.


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.


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.


I used to think that hashtags were merely used for decoration. I thought that they were just there to make a post look pretty or act as a hook for users. To me, using them didn’t seem as important as the actual post, but then I realized how wrong I was. Throughout my internship at Front Porch Marketing, I have learned three important facts about hashtags and their proper uses in marketing:

Hashtags are more about discovery than decoration

While hashtags may add character to a post, they are meant for more than just decoration. They are there so that users like you and me can search for posts through specific categories and tags. It is important to make use of this when tagging posts so that you can market your content to the right audience.

Make a Cheat Sheet

There is no need to make things harder for yourself. Therefore, keep a list of the ones that have the most reach in relation to your company or brand. This will certainly help you keep track of the hashtags that work best in spreading out your content to the people you want to see it. When you write down your favorite ones, make sure to put the follower count or number of posts. Doing this helps you see what kind of reach each hashtag has before you add it to your post.

Be Smart About Which Hashtags You Use

Hashtags have a tendency to include a multitude of subcategories. So it is important to be mindful of which tags you include in your posts and how they relate to your company. It is also important to check the amount of posts a hashtag has, or the number of people that follow it. This way, you can make sure that your posts are reaching a widespread audience that is interested in what you are offering.

Final Thoughts About Hashtags

I used to not think hashtags were very important. But by working with Front Porch Marketing I realized their importance and how to properly use them to reach the right audience. This internship completely changed the way I look at hashtags. Overall it has taught me important lessons when it comes to using them for social media content.


Most people associate direct-to-consumer (DTC) marketing with eye-catching branding, emotional storytelling, and engaging social media tactics. Meanwhile, B2B marketing often leans on logical arguments, technical details, and dry case studies. But what if B2B brands borrowed some of the best tactics from DTC companies?

By applying DTC strategies, B2B brands can create more engaging, memorable, and impactful marketing. Here’s how.

Build a Brand, Not Just a Business

DTC brands focus on identity and emotion. Many B2B brands focus too much on their product and not enough on their brand identity.

Example: Just think of how some of these companies — like Chewy, Hims & Hers, and Warby Parker — have cultivated strong brand personalities.

Key takeaway: Develop a strong, recognizable brand voice, mission, and aesthetic  — something that resonates beyond just your product or service. B2B customers want to buy from brands they trust and connect with, not just vendors.

Humanize Your Messaging Like a DTC Brand

DTC brands speak to customers, not at them, using casual, relatable language. In contrast, B2B marketing often defaults to corporate jargon and overly complex messaging.

Example: Instead of saying, “Our enterprise solutions optimize workflow efficiency,” say, “We help teams work faster and smarter — without the headaches.”

Key takeaway: Write like a human, not a business textbook. Buyers are still people, even in B2B.

Prioritize Customer Experience, Not Just Sales

DTC brands thrive on seamless, enjoyable experiences—from website UX to packaging to post-purchase engagement. B2B buyers also expect ease and efficiency, yet they often deal with clunky websites, slow response times, and uninspired content.

Example: Slack disrupted the enterprise communication space not just with a great product but with an intuitive design and customer-first mindset.

Key takeaway: Treat every touchpoint like an experience, not just a transaction.

Leverage Social Media Beyond Just LinkedIn, Like a DTC Brand

DTC brands dominate Instagram and TikTok — not just for selling, but for building a community. B2B brands often limit themselves to LinkedIn and corporate blog posts.

Example: Shopify’s playful and engaging social media presence on multiple channels, which makes business content feel accessible and fun.

Key takeaway: Don’t be afraid to show personality and engage where your audience spends time.

Focus on Storytelling Over Features

DTC brands make their customers the hero of the story (e.g., Nike’s “Just Do It” campaigns). B2B brands, on the other hand, tend to list features instead of crafting a compelling narrative.

Example: Instead of “Our CRM software has AI-driven analytics,” say, “Imagine cutting your admin time in half so you can focus on growth.” For our B2B client Integrated Advisors Network, we create on-going stories featuring IAN advisors. These stories are relatable and demonstrate the passion and drive that their advisors have for their own businesses that IAN helps support.

Key takeaway: Lead with the impact your product has, not just its specs. What’s in it for your customer? How are you making their lives better?

DTC Brands Embrace Video and Interactive Content

DTC brands lean heavily on short-form videos, influencer collaborations, and interactive content to capture attention. B2B brands still rely too much on static PDFs and lengthy white papers. Can that information pivot into a more entertaining, relatable format?

Example: HubSpot creates bite-sized, engaging video content for YouTube and social media rather than relying solely on long-form blog posts.

Key takeaway: Experiment with video, interactive quizzes, and engaging formats to make your content more dynamic.

Win Like a DTC Brand

B2B marketing doesn’t have to be dull, robotic, or overly complicated. The best DTC brands win because they connect emotionally, simplify messaging, and create unforgettable customer experiences. By borrowing these tactics, B2B brands can stand out, engage their audience, and drive long-term loyalty. This year, think about: What’s one DTC marketing tactic you think could work for your B2B brand?


First of all, a strong logo is a crucial part of branding, but it’s not the full picture of your marketing communications. Many businesses stop after getting a logo designed, thinking they’re set for success. In reality, a logo is just the foundation of your brand home — it’s what you build up around it that creates a memorable and effective brand.

So, what marketing communications do you actually need to support your brand and ensure consistency across all touchpoints as well?

1. Brand Messaging & Brand Voice Guidelines

Your visual identity is important, but your brand voice is what gives your business personality. In reality, a well-defined brand voice ensures consistency and a cohesive message across all platforms, from social media posts to email campaigns. Overall key elements include:

  • Mission statement: why does your brand exist?
  • Core values: what principles guide your business?
  • Tagline or brand promise: a short, memorable phrase that sums up your brand.
  • Tone of voice: should your brand sound professional, playful, authoritative, or conversational?

2. Website & Digital Presence

Your website is often the first impression people have of your brand. After all, it’s your digital office. Therefore, welcome people in! A well-branded website might include:

  • Consistent typography and color palette: match and support your logo.
  • Clear, compelling copy: speak to your audience’s needs.
  • A strategic homepage: immediately communicates what you do and why it matters.
  • SEO-optimized content: help people find your brand online when they type into a search engine.

3. Social Media Branding

Every social platform is an opportunity to reinforce your brand identity with digital marketing communication. Beyond using your logo as a profile picture (avatar), you could create:

  • Branded cover images & templates: for posts and stories.
  • A defined content style: are your posts inspirational, educational, or entertaining? Are you using video marketing?
  • Consistent brand voice: build recognition and trust over time with captions and responses.
  • Content calendar: plan your posts in advance to leverage business milestones.

4. Business & Marketing Collateral

Next, your brand needs to be cohesive across every touchpoint, including physical and digital marketing materials. Even small details like branded invoices or packaging inserts help reinforce your identity. In this category, some must-haves include:

  • Business cards: still a powerful networking tool.
  • Brochures or one-pagers: great for in-person meetings and events.
  • Pitch decks or presentations: professionally designed slides make an impact.
  • Email signatures: a small but powerful branding opportunity.

5. Email & Advertising Templates

Every ad or email you send is a chance to build brand recognition. Therefore, consider:

  • Branded digital templates: for newsletters, and sales promotions.
  • Consistent print and digital ad creative: again, match your brand colors and tone.
  • Landing pages: continue the look and feel of your website, but for special events, promotions or initiatives.

6. Customer Experience Touchpoints

Looking past marketing materials, your brand should next be reflected in every customer interaction — even how you greet customers in-store or on calls. So in addition, consider branding elements:

  • Customer service responses: Branded email templates and a consistent tone.
  • Packaging design: Unboxing experiences create lasting impressions.
  • Automated messages: Order confirmations, appointment reminders, and follow-ups.

7. Unconventional Marketing Communication Touchpoints

Finally, beyond the usual marketing materials, some of the most memorable brand moments happen in unexpected places. Sometimes, the smallest details leave the biggest impression. In short, the more your brand feels alive across all touchpoints, the stronger the connection with your audience. Hence, here are some unique ways to reinforce your brand identity:

  • Branded Wi-Fi Network Name: If you have a physical location, renaming your guest Wi-Fi to something fun and on-brand (e.g., “Caffeinated_WiFi” for a coffee shop) adds a small but clever touch.
  • Custom Hold Music or Voicemail: Instead of generic hold music, why not reinforce your brand’s personality with a custom message or a carefully chosen playlist?
  • Unique Job Titles: Instead of “Customer Service Rep,” what about “Customer Happiness Hero”? Use titles to reinforce brand personality. Indeed, just ask Julie, our Chief Rocker.
  • Branded Auto-Responses: Even automated out-of-office emails or chatbots can carry your brand’s tone. So instead of “We’ll get back to you soon,” we might say something fun, like, “We’re out on the Porch—expect a reply in 24 hours!”
  • Surprise & Delight Moments: Send an unexpected thank-you note, add a quirky Easter egg to your website, or include a handwritten note in a shipped package to make your brand feel more personal.

Marketing Communications Can Help Build a Cohesive Brand

A logo is just the start of your brand’s identity. So overall, to build recognition and trust, you need a fully developed marketing communications strategy that extends across every platform and touchpoint. By creating consistency in visuals, messaging, and customer interactions, you ensure that your brand isn’t just seen — it’s remembered.


Cheers to February 2025 and the marketing investments our clients are focused on in this new year.

Last year was weird. If it wasn’t for your business or brand, please share. Because this weirdness has been a topic of conversation with our peers, industry leaders and current and prospective clients. From a business to business and business to consumer standpoint, sales were all over the place.

And, not stating lightly, the weather had its impacts in 2024. We are forever grateful to work with amazing leaders and businesses who suffered significant impact from weather disasters. From droughts to fires and hurricanes and everything in between.

Even now in 2025, we have some clients questioning what is happening in their industries and why. Trends are bucking historical performance.

Here’s What We Do Know About Marketing Investments

Starting Front Porch Marketing in 2011 was a calculated risk. The labor market was weak. There was low consumer demand. And unemployment was high. However, this entrepreneur took the leap. If you can do it now, you can make it anywhere was the mantra.

This year is harkening back to that time. Not an economist nor do I play one on TV, but this time and space feels familiar.

Strategic Marketing Investments Our Clients Are Leaning Into in 2025

  1. Brand architecture is the guidepost. This creates internal conviction. Brands must concentrate on this internally before communicating externally.
  2. Brand storytelling is paramount. This builds trust. It builds awareness. It will have a lasting impact.
  3. Evaluating existing star clients or customers. What brought these rockstars to your business services or products? Where did they come from?
  4. Marketing tactics that garnered return in the past. As business leaders and entrepreneurs, it is easy to chase the newest shiny object. But don’t forget the marketing truths. The numbers don’t lie.

Want to sustain or grow your business? Invest more in branding and marketing.

So, I leave you with this dear readers: Creative, collaborative problem-solving has been and continues to be golden. Leaders and the right marketing partner can navigate the most complex of challenges together, making successful marketing investments for growth. With agility and innovation, the sales will follow.

Stay true to your brand and as a business leader, be real. Use your brand architecture as the guidepost. If it isn’t defined — for heaven or the universe or whatever — call us and let us help.

Embrace change. The growth mindset and calculated risk taker will see topline growth. With your eye on the prize and thoughts on what we have shared here, no matter what is going on in our economy, your business will succeed.


We’re hard at work on The Porch — even though its summer — and we wanted to share some of our proven digital strategies so far this year. The summer has flown by, and our team, business and clients have enjoyed many successes balanced with time with family and friends. As we roll into back to school whether it is elementary school, first year of college or next term of an MBA program, we have big goals on our mind at home and work.

With that being said, we are sharing digital strategies and tactics resulting in business success. Here’s what is working for our clients.

We Use These Proven Digital Strategies and Tactics for Our Clients

There are a handful of proven digital strategies that we are using to help build our clients’ brands. Often these strategies work together, and build upon each other. Sometimes they even share assets, which helps marketing budgets go further.

Email Marketing

Consistent communication whether it be weekly or monthly is paramount. Open and click rates for our clients’ email marketing exceed their peers’ average performance. And, their unsubscribe rates are lower than benchmark.

Keys to email marketing success include consistent communication, compelling content and professional creative and visuals.

The results include business growth by referral from existing clients and customers as well as inquiries from prospects and connections.

Digital Advertising

Our clients are spending their ad dollars on digital advertising strategies and tactics this year. The results continue to exceed the norm. LinkedIn and Google ads, geotargeting and retargeting continue to result in business growth.

Social Media

Content calendars are king. Client connections and reach on social media for the companies we work with have been strong — above industry averages. Social continues to be a proven digital strategy YoY.

LinkedIn continues to lead on the business-to-business front. Our clients’ senior leadership are embracing the power of LinkedIn. They are consistently active. This is resulting in broader brand awareness and increased employee engagement among other things.

Hashtag strategies continue to evolve. Less is more is proving successful for our clients. Protip: Utilize free tools to evaluate the relevance of the hashtags you use. We are happy to share our go-to tools. Email us!

Blogging

At least two blog posts per month continue to engage our Clients’ key audiences, their existing customers and new prospects. Google Analytics confirms this on the monthly reports we provide to clients. In addition to this, our clients’ websites’ SEO is benefiting from this proven digital strategy.

Video

Short and long form video marketing is increasing our clients’ SEO. Videos are a proven digital marketing tactic that also provides compelling, engaging content for social media. Repurposing these videos for digital advertising has also been a hit.

Website Refresh

Continuing to add content whether it be through blogging or keeping the look and feel of your company’s website updated has been a win this year as a proven digital strategy in 2024. Have you looked at your website lately? Is it working hard for your business? If not, we can help. If you don’t know how to figure out if it is effective, we can help with that too.

Implement These Proven Digital Strategies and Tactics for Success in 2024 and Beyond

The fall time period is the perfect time to re-assess your marketing plan and add some of these proven digital strategies to your brand mix. Reach new customers. Broaden your brand’s horizons. Share new products. Build loyalty. It’s all possible by starting now, and sticking with it.


Here on the Porch, we create a lot of specialized content for our clients. Websites, social media, newsletters, videos and the like. As their marketing partner, we operate as an extension of their marketing department. We think through their branding, their voice, their business goals and more to make sure that their content is right — every single day. In other words, we work hard to make it rock! And we love what we do.

Our clients trust us to use our expertise to help them grow their businesses. They know that a smart business owner doesn’t try to do everything themselves — instead they surround themselves with other experts who can help them achieve their goals.

How Can You Best Utilize Your Marketing Partner to Make Your Content Rock?

Say you’re a business owner who doesn’t know how to — and honestly doesn’t have the time to — create your own marketing. So you do the smart thing and hire a marketing partner to help grow your business. First, realize that your marketing partner is an expert at creating smart, on-target content for your business and is also in it for the long haul like you are. They want you to succeed.

Helpful Tips for Businesses Utilizing a Marketing Partner

  1. Remember: You are not your audience. What is spoken and written internally in your company, doesn’t necessarily make sense to your client or customer. Trust your marketing partner’s recommendations on brand voice, relevancy of message and content
  2. Your time is a valuable asset so use it wisely. Provide big-picture counsel. Spending your valuable time giving big picture direction up front on content initiatives vs. spending your time editing every post, is time well-spent. Let your marketing partner help you focus on other important parts of running your business by taking the daily detail of marketing content off your plate.
  3. Digital content lasts nanoseconds. Today’s post is forgotten by tomorrow and replaced with another one. This process builds your brand’s personality over time. Each social media post is not precious, it is simply the next stepping stone on your brand’s path.
  4. Trust your content creators. The copywriters and designers on your marketing partner’s team do this day-in and day-out for multiple clients. They are experts. They know your channels better than you do and are creating content using best practices for their industry. Just like you use best practices in your industry.
  5. Work ON your business, not IN your business. You can’t be everywhere at once. Surrounding yourself with experts who know how to do things that you don’t know how to do is the smart move. Marketing, copywriting, and design professionals on your marketing partner team all have expertise and knowledge that can help you grow your business in ways you couldn’t have imagined. Let them do their job, so that you can do yours better.

Our Overall Advice? Trust Your Partners.

Digital content creation is a marathon with no finish line. It is a day-in and day-out process that builds your brand, and your audience, over time. Digital content like social media, blog posts, newsletters, and websites are crafted with your audience in mind. And they’re crafted to build your brand long-term. So don’t over-think every single post. Don’t over-edit every single piece of content. Whether it’s social media, blogging, email marketing, video scripting or any piece of your digital content universe, it all works together to build your brand and make your business a success in the eyes of your audience and potential customers. 


As we move into 2024, video marketing continues to grow and evolve, becoming an indispensable tool for brands to engage and connect with their audiences. Video marketing is affected by technological advancements, changing consumer behaviors, and emerging platforms. Video has evolved significantly in the past decade.

Short-Form Videos Dominate 

Short-form videos are set to continue to reign in 2024. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts have popularized bite-sized content that captures attention quickly. These videos, typically under 60 seconds, are perfect for today’s fast-paced consumers. Brands should focus on creating engaging, succinct content that delivers a clear message quickly and effectively. 

Live Streaming Video Marketing Continues to Grow 

Live streaming offers real-time interaction and engagement and has become powerful tool for marketers. In 2024, we’ll see even more brands utilizing live video for product launches, behind-the-scenes looks, Q&A sessions, and live shopping events. The real time element and authenticity of live streaming helps build trust and create a sense of community. 

Interactive Videos Gain Traction 

Interactive video marketing that allow viewers to engage directly with the content are projected to become more popular. To begin with, these videos could include clickable elements, quizzes, polls, and even branching paths that let viewers choose their journey. Interactive videos not only increase engagement but can also provide valuable data on viewer preferences and behaviors. 

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) Integration 

AR and VR technologies are transforming video marketing by offering immersive and interactive experiences. Brands can use AR for try-before-you-buy experiences, virtual tours, and interactive ads, while VR can be used for immersive storytelling and experiential marketing. In 2024, we can expect more brands to integrate AR and VR into their video strategies to create memorable and engaging experiences. 

Personalized Video Marketing Content 

Personalization is crucial in modern marketing, including video marketing. Therefore, personalized video content, tailored to individual viewer preferences and behaviors, can significantly boost engagement and conversion rates. By leveraging data and AI, brands can create personalized video messages, recommendations, and experiences that resonate with each viewer on a deeper level. 

Enhanced Video Marketing SEO 

As video content becomes more prevalent, optimizing for search engines (SEO) is crucial. Enhanced video SEO involves optimizing video titles, descriptions, tags, and thumbnails, as well as using video transcripts and schema markup. This helps improve video discoverability and drives more organic traffic. 

Sustainability and Social Responsibility in Video Marketing

Consumers are increasingly looking for brands that align with their values, especially around sustainability and social responsibility. Overall, video marketing in 2024 will see more brands creating content that highlights their eco-friendly practices and commitment to positive change. 

As we move through 2024, video marketing will continue to be an essential component of any marketing strategy. So by staying on top of these trends and incorporating them into your campaigns, your brand can engage more effectively with your audience and foster deeper connections.