What to Consider When Building Your 2026 Marketing Strategy
If you’re already planning for 2026, congratulations—you’re officially ahead of a majority your competitors. And, at the end of the day, the brands that grow next year won’t be the ones scrambling in January. They’ll be the ones laying a steady foundation now, long before the “new year, new strategy” frenzy kicks in.
But building a strong 2026 marketing plan requires more than pulling last year’s tactics into a new Google Doc. Next year’s strategy needs to understand your audience, so you can be effectively intentional from day one.
Let’s break it down.
Start With What 2025 Taught You
Before you race toward new ideas, slow down and take stock of the year you just had. A thoughtful audit uncovers the real story behind your marketing—what clicked, what flopped, and what quietly pushed your business forward while you weren’t looking.
This is the time to examine:
Which campaigns actually drove conversions (not just likes)
What slowed you down (approvals, bandwidth, bottlenecks)
Where you saw genuine customer interest or momentum
A smarter 2026 strategy isn’t about adding more. It's about choosing better.
Relearn Your Audience (Because They’ve Changed)
If you’re still relying on the audience behavior from a year ago, you're already outdated. Consumer habits have shifted (yes, again). People search differently, read differently, and trust differently. While AI has sped up gathering (and presenting) information, it’s also led to reduced clicks, lower attention spans, and, for some, increased distrust of content.
Ask yourself:
Where are your customers or patients spending time now?
What problems are they actually trying to solve?
What objections or fears are coming up during sales conversations?
Your 2026 strategy should reflect the audience you have today, not the one you targeted in 2023, 2024, or even 2025.
Let AI Help…But Don’t Let It Lead
AI-powered tools will shape 2026, but the brands that win won’t be the ones replacing their voice with generic AI copy. We’ve seen AI slop, and let’s be honest, we’re tired. The brands that win 2026 will be the ones using AI for speed, efficiency, and structure while keeping the human strategy and personality intact.
It looks a bit like this:
AI to brainstorm content formats
Your team (or agency partner *wink wink*) to refine tone, connection, and accuracy in content and strategy
AI is the assistant. You’re the strategist.
Strengthen Your Organic Foundation
With ad costs rising, privacy rules tightening, and increased market concerns, you can’t depend on ads alone. Organic marketing matters now more than ever, especially for visibility and trust-building. Your customers want to know teh businesses their shopping from and feel connected to them—2026 is the year of community marketing.
Focus on the basics:
A consistent, value-driven social presence
SEO-friendly content that answers real questions
An email strategy that nurtures instead of overwhelms
Paid ads should amplify what’s working, not mask what’s missing.
Give Email the Attention It Deserves
Email is still one of the highest-ROI channels, especially as users crave curated spaces away from social algorithms. Heading into 2026, your list is one of your strongest assets (so, please, clean what you’ve got instead of buying new…like seriously, though).
This is the year to improve:
Segmentation
Subject lines and deliverability
Automated nurture sequences
Personalized messaging
Educational content that actually helps
If your emails only go out when you “have time,” you’re leaving conversions on the table.
Build Connection, Not Just Content
People don’t want to interact with faceless brands—they want personality. They want to feel understood. And they want to connect with businesses that feel human.
Your 2026 content should create moments of connection by:
Showcasing your team
Highlighting values
Sharing real customer stories
Pulling back the curtain on your process
Authority gets attention, but humanity builds loyalty.
Give Yourself Permission to Stay Flexible
If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that digital marketing moves fast. Your plan should give you direction, not limit your creativity. Build in room to test, pivot, and respond to trends without derailing your core strategy.
Your strategy is about carving out the path to a bigger and better 2026, but the actual steps along the way may change (and that’s perfectly okay… Sometimes it’s just what you need).
You Don’t Have to Build 2026 Alone
A strong 2026 marketing strategy takes time, clarity, and expertise. Working with a strategic partner can help you stay consistent, move faster, and focus on what actually creates growth. Start the new year strong with the right support, whether that’s consultation, training, or execution, we’re here to help.