It’s about to be Fourth Quarter, so grab your favorite porch chair, pour something warm, or something with a little kick if that is your jam. Let’s talk about the most underrated, over‑complicated, absolutely critical stretch of the year: Fourth Quarter. Side note, anyone else here waxing lyrical because NFL football is back, baby! Let’s goooo!

Q4 is where brands either coast, under deliver or make magic happen. Whether you’re leading a business or a mission‑driven nonprofit, this is your moment to tighten the strategy, amplify your voice and set the stage for a powerhouse new year. Let’s break down what you should be focusing on before the end of the year.

Re‑Center Your Brand Story Before Fourth Quarter Ends

Your brand story is the heartbeat of your organization. But here’s the truth: stories drift. Messaging gets diluted. Teams get busy. Suddenly your brand sounds like a committee wrote it after three cups of lukewarm coffee. Or, you have added new initiatives and events, and all of a sudden, you are off plan. Uh oh. Q4 is the perfect time to:

• Revisit your mission, values and differentiators
• Ensure your messaging still reflects who you really are
• Tighten your elevator pitch so it sings
• Align your team so everyone is telling the same story

For nonprofits: make sure your story is donor‑ready, impact‑forward and emotionally resonant. Year‑end giving depends on clarity and heart.

For businesses: sharpen your value proposition. Buyers are making decisions fast. Your brand needs to sing and sing on key.

Audit Your Digital Presence in the Fourth Quarter Like a Rock Star

Your website, social channels and email marketing are your stage. If the lights flicker or the sound system cuts out, the audience notices. And if you are a real pro, your heel breaks off of your shoe, you rip it off and make the show rock even more. IYKYK. Q4 digital tune‑ups include:

• Website performance and mobile optimization
• Updated service pages or program descriptions
• Fresh photography – no more 2019 stock images
• Social media consistency and engagement
• SEO updates to capture year‑end search traffic

Think of this as your pre‑tour equipment check. You wouldn’t walk on stage with a broken amp. Don’t walk into Q4 with a broken website.

Plan Your Year‑End Fourth Quarter Campaigns with Intention

The zone where ideas ignite, sorry, NFL influencing the language here.

For nonprofits: Year‑end giving is your Super Bowl. Build campaigns that are heartfelt, urgent, and crystal clear about impact. Donors want to know exactly how their gift changes someone’s life.

For businesses: Holiday promotions, customer appreciation and Q4 sales pushes should feel authentic, not desperate. Lean into gratitude, community and value. Across the board:

• Map out your content calendar
• Build multi‑touch campaigns
• Use storytelling, not shouting
• Make your calls to action unmistakable

Fourth Quarter Is the Time to Strengthen Community Connections

Front Porch Marketing believes in showing up where people actually live, figuratively and literally. Q4 is the perfect time to lean into community, authenticity and connection. Ideas that rock:

• Show up at a nonprofit event, host a table, buy a VIP ticket
• Share behind‑the‑scenes stories
• Celebrate your team and clients publicly
• Show your face, your heart, your humanity
• People may not remember ads. They remember how you showed up

Set Your 2027 Strategy Before January

Don’t wait until the new year to plan the new year. Use Q4 to:

• Review what worked and what did not
• Set goals rooted in data and reality
• Build your content and campaign roadmap
• Identify gaps in brand, messaging, or audience

Budget for marketing that actually moves the needle. January should feel like a launch, not a scramble. Even though 2026 has been a long year for small businesses and nonprofits, do not take January off as a month to regroup. Own the month. Engage, inspire and connect. Set the stage for the new year.

Protect Your Brand Consistency Like It’s Your Favorite Vinyl

Brand consistency is the difference between noise and music. The Fourth Quarter is time for you to take stock, make adjustments and get your brand aligned for success. Check for:

• Visual alignment across platforms
• Tone consistency in all communications
• Unified messaging across departments
• Brand guidelines that people actually follow

If your brand feels scattered, your audience feels confused. And confused clients and consumers don’t buy, donate or engage.

Show Up With Heart: It’s the Front Porch Way

At Front Porch Marketing, we believe marketing is an act of care. Behind every decision is a real person:

• A customer trying to solve a problem.
• A donor wanting to make a difference.
• A survivor looking for safety.
• A leader trying to build something meaningful.

Q4 is your chance to show up with authenticity, strategy and heart. Remind your audience why your work matters.

Fourth Quarter isn’t just the end of the year. It’s the moment you set the tone for everything that comes next. Tighten your brand. Strengthen your story. Show up for your community. And rock your strategy like you mean it.

Want to finish out the year with a plan that sings? Determined to line dance right into Q1 2027? We are right here on the porch, guitar in hand, strategy in mind, ready to rock with you.

You’re Growing. You’re Busy. And You’re Wondering if It’s Time for Outside Marketing Help.

For business owners and leaders running manufacturing and professional service companies up to $25 million in revenue, the decision to bring in a marketing and advertising firm partnership is a pivotal one. It usually comes at a moment when growth is accelerating, internal bandwidth is stretched thin, and you know your brand could be doing more — but you’re not sure how to get there with the resources you have.

At Front Porch Marketing, we see the same patterns again and again. There are clear indicators that a business is ready for strategic marketing support, and equally clear keys that determine whether the partnership becomes a true growth engine.

Let’s break down both.

The Key Indicators You’re Ready to Engage a Marketing & Advertising Firm

1. Your Growth Has Outpaced Your Internal Marketing Capacity

You’re adding clients, expanding services or entering new markets — but your marketing team (or single marketing generalist) can’t keep up. Common signs:

• Campaigns are inconsistent or reactive
• Your brand feels fragmented across channels
• You’re missing opportunities simply because no one has time to execute

This is the moment when outside expertise becomes a multiplier.

2. You Need a More Sophisticated Strategy Than “Just Get More Leads”

Businesses under $25M often hit a strategic ceiling. You know you need:

• A clearer brand position
• A differentiated message
• A structured marketing plan
• A more predictable pipeline

But you’re not sure how to build it internally. A firm brings frameworks, market insight, and strategic discipline.

3. You’re Spending Money on Marketing — But You’re Not Sure What’s Working

If you’re investing in:

• Paid ads
• Social media
• Sponsorships
• Events
• Content
• SEO

… but you can’t confidently tie spend to outcomes, it’s time for help. A firm brings measurement, attribution and optimization.

4. You’re Ready to Professionalize Your Brand

This is one of the biggest indicators. You want:

• An elevated brand identity
• A website that reflects true value
• Messaging that resonates with the ideal customer
• Marketing that looks and feels like the size of your business

Elevate your brand to match your ambition.

5. You Need Specialized Skills You Don’t Have In‑House

Most small and mid‑sized businesses don’t have:

• A strategist
• A content team
• A designer
• A digital ad specialist
• A marketing technologist

Hiring all of these roles internally is expensive. A firm gives you fractional access to a full team.

6. You Want to Accelerate Growth Without Adding Headcount

A marketing firm is often the most cost‑efficient way to scale. You get:

• Senior-level expertise
• Execution power
• Strategic guidance
• A predictable monthly investment

No recruiting. Zero onboarding. And there’s no payroll burden.

The Top Keys to Making Partnership Successful

Engaging a marketing firm is a strategic investment — and like any partnership, success depends on how you work together. Here are the factors that consistently create strong outcomes.

1. Clarity on Your Business Goals

Marketing can’t operate in a vacuum. The strongest partnerships begin with clarity on:

• Revenue targets
• Ideal customer profiles
• Market expansion plans
• Product or service priorities
• Competitive pressures

When the firm understands your business goals, they can build marketing that actually moves the needle.

2. A Willingness to Share Data and Insights

Marketing thrives on information. You’ll get the best results when you share:

• Sales data
• Customer feedback
• Win/loss insights
• Product roadmaps
• Operational constraints

Transparency accelerates strategy.

3. Trust in the Process — Even When It’s Not Instant

Marketing is not a switch you flip. It’s a system you build. The most successful clients:

• Trust the strategy
• Give campaigns time to mature
• Stay engaged without micromanaging
• Understand that brand building and demand generation work together

Momentum compounds.

4. Consistent Communication

Weekly or bi‑weekly check-ins keep everything aligned. Strong communication ensures:

• Faster decision-making
• Better creative output
• Clear expectations
• Fewer surprises

Marketing moves quickly — communication keeps it on track.

5. A Commitment to Collaboration

The best partnerships feel like one integrated team. Success comes when:

• Leadership is involved
• Sales and marketing collaboration
• Feedback is timely
• Decisions are made quickly

Marketing firms thrive when they’re treated as strategic partners, not vendors.

6. Openness to New Ideas and Modern Approaches

If you want different results, you need different strategies. The most successful clients embrace:

• Updated messaging
• New digital channels
• Modern creative
• Data-driven decision-making
• Brand evolution

Growth requires evolution.

7. A Realistic Budget Aligned with Your Goals

Marketing firms can do incredible work — but only when the budget matches the ambition. A strong partnership includes:

• Clear investment levels
• Transparent expectations
• Alignment on scope
• A shared understanding of ROI

Budget clarity builds trust and performance.

Partnership: The Bottom Line

If your business is growing, your marketing is inconsistent, your internal team is stretched or you’re ready to elevate your brand — you’re likely at the inflection point where a partnership with a marketing and advertising firm becomes a strategic advantage.

And when you approach the partnership with clarity, trust, collaboration and communication, it becomes one of the most powerful growth levers available to companies under $25 million.

Front Porch Marketing is the right branding, marketing and advertising partner for you.

Those that have been reading our blog for a bit know that what I want on vacation is easy, immersive, escapist readings that let my brain float. Sound of the waves, sand in my feet and mind in a good book. Perfect vacay for me.

This year’s reading list did not disappoint — and, as always, a few provided unexpected sparks of inspiration.

2026 Summer Reading List

This year, I read a mix of fiction, family dynamics, romance, reinvention and two business books that hit harder than expected. My 2026 beach‑bag lineup included:

• Spectacular Things — Beck Dorey‑Stein
• Road Trip — Mary Kay Andrews
• The Shampoo Effect — Jenny Jackson
• For Richer For Poorer — Danielle Steel
• Summer in the City — Alex Aster
• Whistler — Ann Patchett
• Mother‑Daughter Book Club — Susan & James Patterson
• The Night We Met — Abby Jimenez
• The Bookstore Diaries — Susan Mallery
• Chase the Clouds Away — Debbie Macomber
• Weddings — Danielle Steel
• Buy Back Your Time — Dan Martell
• Profit First — Mike Michalowicz

What You Can Get From Summer Reading

Beyond the obvious stress reduction, reading gives me:

Familiar settings, themes and characters that feel like home. This year’s list gave me everything from beach‑town nostalgia to complicated relationships to business strategy disguised as storytelling. Even when the plots were wildly different, there was always something that felt close to my own life.

Characters who make me say, “Yes, you go,” out loud. Every summer, at least one heroine earns a full‑volume cheer from my beach chair. This year, several did — whether they were navigating messy relationships, reinventing themselves, or simply choosing joy in the middle of chaos.

Storylines that blur into my work life and spark ideas I didn’t know I needed. Some books made me think about identity and reinvention (The Shampoo Effect, Summer in the City). Some reminded me how complicated leadership and decision‑making can be (Spectacular Things, Whistler). And a couple — Buy Back Your Time and Profit First — weren’t fiction at all but still delivered the kind of clarity that shows up in my work long after vacation ends.

Truth Be Told: Reading List Insights

All of these books are great. My favorite was Road Trip. The one I have read for the third time and need to read again is Buy Back Your Time.

Spectacular Things provided a ha moments that were not expected. It is better to ask questions than to give directions it reminded me. Also, it asked how do you want to leave the field after the game. Another thing hidden in the novel was: what adversity have you overcome or still grappling with on your quest to become a better player?

The reminders of a winner’s mentality were invaluable. Always be positive. Be poised under immense pressure. There is even more in there. Read the book, it’s so good.

Books as Blessings — Even the “Trashy” Ones

Reading expands vocabulary, reduces stress and boosts cognitive function. But it also does something else: it sparks ideas, reframes challenges and reminds us that inspiration can come from anywhere — even a beach read.

So cheers to the summer of 2026. It was one filled with sunshine, stories and unexpected personal and professional inspirations and learnings. Happy summer reading, y’all.

Artificial intelligence isn’t just transforming marketing, it’s reshaping what it means to be human in a digital world. Over the past several months, I’ve explored AI through the lenses of philosophy, business strategy, and customer experience. What I discovered is simple but powerful: AI doesn’t replace the human role; it sharpens it.

As automation accelerates, the uniquely human skills, empathy, intuition, creativity, and judgment, become even more essential. The marketers who thrive in the next decade won’t be the ones who resist AI, but the ones who learn to orchestrate it.

AI and the Question of What Makes Us Human

One of the most surprising parts of studying AI is how quickly the conversation shifts from technology to identity. When systems become predictive enough to anticipate our needs, preferences, and behaviors, people instinctively push back, a psychological response known as reactance.

As Andy Murray, of Saatchi & Saatchi, emphasizes, AI can scale intelligence, but it cannot scale empathy, nuance, or meaning. It can generate content, but it cannot understand context. It can optimize, but it cannot care.

That distinction matters. Because the future isn’t about competing with AI, it’s about orchestrating it. Humans define the mission, the boundaries, and the values. Artificial Intelligence executes. The real risk isn’t that AI replaces us; it’s that we forget what only humans can do.

AI’s Impact on Modern Marketing

Marketing is undergoing a seismic shift. What used to be manual, content creation, targeting, optimization, is now increasingly automated. As Josh Bruns, of Genesis, shared, brands are already using AI to generate endless creative variations, tailor messaging to micro‑audiences, and build agentic shopping experiences where this tool makes decisions on behalf of consumers.

This doesn’t eliminate the marketer. It elevates the marketer.

AI handles production. Humans handle judgment.

The competitive edge becomes the ability to guide AI, to bring taste, strategy, and emotional intelligence to a world where content is infinite but meaning is scarce.

The Human Advantage

Here’s the truth that kept resurfacing throughout my research:

Artificial Intelligence accelerates the work, but humans elevate the meaning behind it.

As automation takes over research, production, and pattern recognition, the human role becomes more, not less, important. The future belongs to people who can pair machine speed with human understanding to build deeper relationships, make smarter decisions, and create more impactful work.

AI is the engine powering execution. Humans remain the driver, setting direction, values, and purpose.

When you are 15, you have found who you are supposed to be — your strengths are shining. And at 15, you’ve found the clients, team and partners that help you thrive. Not just survive. It’s true!

Front Porch Marketing is so honored to be in business for 15 years. So we are celebrating this month. To that end, we’d like to share some super-secret strengths in the branding and marketing world right now. Maybe some of these will help you move your business forward this year.

Here are five strengths to consider for our Crystal (15^th) Anniversary. And for the rest of 2026. Cue the Mirrorball!

Your Business Strengths Shine in 2026

Branding Strength

Branding continues to give companies a leg up, and even more so. We are so grateful that businesses recognize that brand strategy and a clearly defined value proposition differentiate them. These businesses are seeing results for being strategic and mindful.

AI For Good

Use the strength of AI for good, not as a distraction — Business leaders and owners are spending time researching, building their own tools for their websites, or saying that AI is going to eliminate their company in the future, and other things.

Don’t use AI as a distraction. We have heard from CEOs and Presidents of companies they have spent more than half their day asking Large Language Models (LLMs) all the things. While you are doing this, who is minding the gap of your business, leading your company and inspiring your people?

AI can be an advantage to all of us. We can use it as a tool to free ourselves up to spend time on more strategic, creative work.

Strong Content Marketing

Choose authentic humans sharing storytelling for the win. Want to learn more? We are here to share.

Short-Form Video For The Win

Short form is a strength in 2026. In fact, video leveraged a strong ROI by 93% of marketing firms that used it, according to HubSpot, and its where more marketing teams are going to in 2026. We can help build your strength in video. Think about those that are looking at Instagram stories and YouTube videos.

Benchmarking Your Efforts

It’s important to measure results. Benchmark your marketing and advertising results and your marketing and advertising spending. How? Adopt weekly and monthly KPIs. Quickly understand and benchmark what is working and what isn’t.

Business owners and leaders we work with typically don’t have the bandwidth to do this. So, we do this for them. This valuable information can steer the year. Question your marketing partners if what you are investing in isn’t returning the results expected.

Your Success Is Our Strength

Back to our 15^th year — Hooray! Thank you to our team, clients and advocates past, present and future. We couldn’t do this without y’all. We have had the time of our life fighting dragons with you. Wearing all of the friendship bracelets. Continuing to celebrate the wins and grow our businesses together.

Confetti falls to the ground.

Consumers today are exposed to more advertising than ever before. From TikTok ads to influencer partnerships to sponsored search results, marketing is constant, and so is consumer awareness. Audiences are getting smarter. They can tell what values a brand genuinely believes in and when it’s simply hopping on a trend from it’s promotions.

Because of that, marketing cannot just be creative, it has to be rooted in non-negotiable values.

Values Are the Foundation

Core values should influence everything:

• Product development
  
• Brand voice
  
• Partnerships
  
• Target audience
  
• Campaign messaging

When values are treated as a strategy instead of a company foundation, inconsistency becomes noticeable.

Think about your favorite brands. If you perceive them to stand for inclusivity, inspiration, and connectedness, how would you feel if their newest campaign suddenly excluded entire communities? That disconnect doesn’t just feel off, it feels dishonest.

Trust is fragile. Once broken, it’s difficult to rebuild.

The Real Test of Values

Today’s consumers don’t just buy products, they buy products that feel like an extension of themself. They support brands that reflect their beliefs, identities, and aspirations.

The true test of a brand’s authenticity isn’t during a successful campaign. It’s during conflict. When faced with backlash or financial pressure companies often have a choice:

• Make the decision that protects short-term profits
  
• Or make the decision that aligns with their core values

The brands that choose alignment build long-term loyalty. When companies choose otherwise, consumers quickly realize that their “values” were simply PR statements.

Marketing that Stems from Values

Marketing should not exist separately from company values. It should be an extension of them.

When values are non-negotiable:

• Messaging becomes consistent
  
• Brand voice feels authentic
  
• Loyalty becomes emotional

Emotional loyalty is far more sustainable than short-term conversions. In a world oversaturated with ads, authenticity is a competitive advantage. Brands that lead with what they believe in and stand by that when it’s difficult are the ones that gain customers long term trust. 

Since the start of the new year, I have noticed business owners posting on LinkedIn daily or several times a week. Yay for being more active! Boo for the frequency and overall execution. Double boo for the AI-generated content and visuals. It is riff-raff. Please just stop making mistakes on LinkedIn — you can do better!

Instead, Connect With Other Business Owners and Leaders

Right now, LinkedIn is the only place to connect with like-minded professionals, business owners, industry leaders and potential leads. This is the only social network where you can get updates from your industry’s leaders on what’s happening in their career or company. In addition to that, it is a platform for professional development — hello LinkedIn Learning — and to get the heads-up on industry trends, emerging technologies, the state of the economy and more.

Personally, I love seeing updates from my connections on awards they have won, events they have attended, professional milestones and shout-outs about what is happening in their business or with their people. Please, get back to that.

LinkedIn Builds Professional Credibility

So hey, business owners and leaders: Let’s harken back to the three Cs of successful brands. Conviction, consistency and connection should be your guidance on how to use LinkedIn successfully.

Focusing on connection and the relevancy of your content are the things that matter. If your target doesn’t care about what you stand for and if it isn’t authentic and purposeful, no one will pay attention. The stronger the emotional connection, the more likely your target or your connections will be positively pre-disposed to your organization.

Business Owners and Leaders Build Connection on LinkedIn

Trusted relationships develop into emotional bonds. And this is true for LinkedIn. Loyalty to your brand or to you as a business leader means greater business success for you, and reduced competitive threat.

While you may think staged photography of you behind your computer or with a team member, belongs on your personal LinkedIn timeline, think again. It is not enough to just show yourself working. Let your followers know what you’re thinking. Don’t weaken connections with your professional network you spent decades to build. Keep connecting with your network in ways that help them.

Balance helpfulness, expertise and relatability to boost engagement on LinkedIn without excessive self-promotion. Please and thank you. Again, for the love of Pete, keep your audience interested by providing value. Establish your authority by sharing your expertise.

And above all, build connection.

Front Porch Marketing can help if you need additional thoughts on how to use LinkedIn, how to build and maintain connection with your network, or just some counsel on your LinkedIn brand or personal page. We know you can rock it in 2026!

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.

We’re 14 this year. And I admit it. In addition to being an entrepreneur, business owner, mother, wife, volunteer, brander and marketer, I am a “Swiftie.” However, there are a few things I disagree with powerhouse entrepreneur and musical genius Taylor Swift on. One of those things is that indeed, “At 14 there is so much you CAN do.”

Front Porch Marketing Started Rockin’ 14 Years Ago

As I reflect on the years since founding Front Porch Marketing in March 2011, there is so much in which to give thanks. We have had and continue to have the support of many people, in business and life. Mentors, current and former clients and team members, advocates, friends, family members and I could go on and on. I am so grateful and humbled for each and every person who continues to rock our Porch.

Without further ado, to y’all who have been with us since the beginning, in the middle, jumped on the Porch recently and those to come, I share these things.

14 Branding, Marketing and Business Must-Haves and Guardrails for 2025

1 Branding

Know what your brand should be. How is it relevant to your target? Does everyone within your organization know what your brand stands for? Your internal team should be convicted. Your brand should be creating emotional connections. Consistently communicate your brand at every point of contact with all your audiences. This has been our foundational message to clients for 14 years.

2 Marketing Plan

“Failing to plan, is planning to fail,” said Benjamin Franklin. Have you created your marketing plan? Did you stick to it? Are you reviewing your goals, targets, strategies, tactics, budget, etc. quarterly? How is your ongoing measurement compared to your goals?

3 Client and Customer Insights

Talk to or have an agency partner your current clients. Identify strengths and weaknesses. Gather feedback. Discover new opportunities. Enhance customer experience. Validate marketing and sales strategies. All of this results in stronger relationships.

4 Website

Audit your current website. Is the creative on brand? Are you using SEO to make your site more visible in search? Does your content answer customer questions? Does it have a strong Call to Action (CTA)? Are you monitoring and measuring analytics?

5 Strong Creative

This sets you apart from competitors. When someone within your organization wants to drive creative ideas based on what they like and then another person wants to DIY creative, you are diluting your brand. Show you are established and have professionals working on your brand. This is not the area to bring in-house unless you have a creative director who has a graphic design designer or creative team. Hard stop.

6 Interesting and Personalized Content

Are you listening to your clients or customers? Is your copy concise? Is it compelling? If you have engaged your office manager, or person on your team with an English degree, etc., to write your content, how is that working for you?

7 Organic Social Media

Organic social content is more relatable and real. Consistency on social media is paramount. We know a consistent organic social media strategy drives results.

8 AI

How are you utilizing AI? What drives us crazy about it is when a client says just post this using AI to generate content. Nope. Not. Humans still matter. But there are ways to complement what you are doing and improve efficiencies by using AI.

9 Paid Strategy

How can you amplify your organic social? Want to engage potential clients or customers? With limited budgets over 14 years, we have found multiple ways to leverage paid digital advertising strategies to achieve goals.

10 Sustainability

For long term business success, people, profit and planet must be woven into your business and marketing strategies. Sustainability does matter. Your team cares about it. Your clients and customers will remain loyal to you because of it. How can we help with this?

11 Pivoting and Testing

Marketing isn’t a one size fits all. Try something. Make sure it is on strategy and on-brand. Analyze it. And if it is working, amplify it. Do more of that. This strategy of pivoting and testing has been working for our clients for 14 years.

12 Video

A simple video marketing strategy can cut through the clutter. Video doesn’t have to be over produced or over-thought. You don’t have to necessarily entertain. Be you do need to be helpful, on-brand and meaningful in your video messaging.

13 Sales Support

Sales and marketing go hand-in-hand. What are you or your sales support doing together to drive leads? We have some tried-and-true ideas here — that we’ve successfully deployed over the last 14 years — and would be happy to have a call with you to share.

14 CRM

A simple customer relationship management system (CRM) helps maximize interactions and engagements with all audiences. There are many more benefits. We would love to set up a call to wax further lyrical here. Call us.

14 Years is Just the Beginning

To all business and nonprofit leaders who have considered all these must-haves and guardrails for 2025, kudos to y’all. Let’s keep doing more of that! And, on this our 14^th year, please know Front Porch Marketing folks, “You’re Still the One.”

Here are some marketing questions for business owners and leaders to ponder to truly rock 2025. Start the year off right. First, ask and answer these questions to help your team succeed by aligning your collective efforts. Then, optimize your team’s performance with clarity, collaboration, conviction, consistency and connection — and 2025 will be your year. And finally, don’t forget to regularly track your progress.

Ask Yourself These Marketing Questions

What are my business goals?

To focus efforts and increase success rates, make sure your goals are SMART. SMART goals are specific, measurable, actionable, relevant and time bound. Areas in which to set goals are around your financial target, growth, operations and your team. In addition, set goals for yourself as a business leader. These goals can be around leadership, development, your role, work life balance, fitness, mental wellness, etc.

Does my brand and messaging reflect what my business is today?

Is your brand resonating with your team and your best target? Think about this. You have great clients or customers, a strong, best-of-class team, and a differentiating product or service. So is your brand a garage band? Or have you evolved your brand and messaging to reflect what your business has become?

What is my marketing budget?

Set your marketing budget for next year. This is one of the most important marketing questions for several reasons. Most companies’ marketing budget for 2025 is between 7–10% of revenue. Then you can align your activities and expectations once your number determined.

Who are my best customers/clients?

If you have data gathered, this will be easier. If not, you still need to answer this marketing question. Key metrics to consider include purchase frequency and recency. Also review the total revenue generated by that client or customer for the year. Further, consider customer loyalty — your net promoter score (NPS). In other words, how likely are they to recommend your brand to others?

How am I going to achieve set goals targeted at my best prospects in 2025?

Now you’re asking yourself one of the key marketing questions. From here you can develop your marketing road map. With your ideal customers identified, you can then tailor your marketing efforts to their preferences and needs. In addition, the budget you developed is also in play here, as marketing initiatives must be within that budget.

Do I have the right marketing team in place to rock my business in the new year?

For the most part, successful business leaders realize marketing should be done by professionals. They themselves should not be the marketers. Thus, evaluate your team and identify who is qualified to lead and execute your marketing team efforts to reach your goals. Most small businesses do not have that team internally. And most small business leaders know that an office manager isn’t their Chief Marketing Officer — that position should not be leading or executing marketing strategies and initiatives.

These Answers Will Start Your New Year Off Right

Cheers to a new year. Going forward, we are wishing you even greater business success in 2025. In addition, our wish for you and your team is to achieve optimal mental and physical health and happiness.