With 2026 right around the corner, it’s time to think about your marketing strategy for the new year. Embracing proven concepts and practices is a great way to spark success. For example, have you leaned into paid search? Or you may have fully considered the power of customer referrals. And it may be time to determine which social media platforms are showing the most promise for your organization.
Let the Customer Speak
It’s difficult to build a solid list of new leads to gain new customers. Most small businesses cite this as their biggest challenge. But why not let your current customers do the heavy lifting?
Did you know customers are four times more likely to make a purchase if they heard about the company via word of mouth than they are any other type of marketing content? That’s because consumers trust fellow consumers more than anything, which is why roughly 65% of new business comes from referrals.
The perks go beyond that one-time buy. Referred customers are more loyal and longer-term than those acquired through other means.
Paying for Search
An organic marketing strategy is often the priority for most marketers because it doesn’t cost much, but success can be defined by return on investment, too. That’s why more marketing strategies are focusing on paid search.
The budget-minded appreciate that they can measure their ROI with paid search. It’s easy to see what’s working, what’s not and make changes as needed. If you’re looking for immediate traffic, paid search is a proven method. Also, you can fine-tune your paid search for targeted visibility, which is part of the reason this tool offers such an impactful ROI.
Social Media Platforms
Turning back to organic outreach, your social media platforms are powerful tools for engaging with consumers and making lasting connections. When you want to drive conversions, social media is your ally.
You can establish a community here for free, but for organizations with extra room in their budgets, investing in ads on social media can also pay off.
Brands see stronger results on some platforms than others, but statistics show that Facebook reigns supreme as a marketing tool. Instagram and LinkedIn come in second and third, but where you get more value depends on your audience. You need to know where they lurk before you make the investment in energy or ads.
Marketing strategies will differ from one organization to the next, but it always pays to have an expert assisting you with yours. At SJC Marketing, clients in many industries trust us to build plans and create content that significantly moves the needle for them. Need assistance with your plan? Contact us and build a solid foundation for your marketing efforts in 2026.