5 Steps to Prepare Your Marketing for the New Year

The start of a new year is the perfect time to pause, reflect, and set your marketing up for success.

Whether last year was your best yet or full of lessons learned, taking time to review your results and adjust your strategy will help you start the next year strong. This is your opportunity to celebrate your wins, refine your systems, and set clear goals that align with where you want your brand to go next.

❶ Audit Your Marketing from Last Year

The number one rule of marketing is to measure your analytics and learn from them. The first step in planning for the new year is to conduct a Social Media Audit and Self-Assessment, which you can get a free copy of here.

It only takes a few minutes to review your results from last year and compare them to your goals. Did you reach your goals, exceed them, or fall short? Every outcome gives you valuable insight into what is working and what needs improvement.

Ask yourself these questions:

What worked well last year, and why do you think it performed well?  
What did not perform well, and why?  
What topics were your audience most engaged with?  
Which topics received the least engagement?  
Are your goals aligned with the marketing tactics you used last year?

These can be tricky questions to answer if you are not a numbers person, but they are vital to the success of your marketing campaigns. If you need a helping hand, reach out. We offer Power Hours, one-time consulting sessions that you can use for this exact purpose.

❷ Celebrate Last Year with Your Team

We often get so focused on what’s coming next that we forget to pause and celebrate how far we have come and the hard work it took to get here. No matter the results of your audit, take a moment to celebrate with your team. A simple “good job” can go a long way in boosting morale.

At FWC, we are an all-female remote team, and one of our favorite ways to celebrate is with a virtual happy hour. We meet on Zoom with our drink of choice and play games together. Trivia is a team favorite and a great way to connect and learn more about one another. We also love creating team posts on Instagram to highlight our amazing crew. It’s a fun way for both us and our audience to connect and build stronger relationships. Plus, it boosts your brand’s personal connection with your followers, so it’s a win-win.

❸ Update Your Knowledge and Train Your Team

The new year is a perfect time to update your marketing knowledge and train your team. Marketing tactics are always evolving. Remember when TV commercials were the main way to advertise? Now, short-form content dominates attention spans. The marketing world moves fast, and it’s easy to get left behind.

Take a course, learn about new tactics, study current trends, or consider hiring a professional to train your team. Staying sharp keeps your marketing strategy strong.
Now is also the time to check in with your sources. Do you have experts you can rely on to help you stay informed throughout the year? You already work hard, so let others do the research for you.

One of our favorite suggestions for clients is to sign up for credible email newsletters. Here are some we recommend:

Newsletters make it easy to stay updated on trends and strategies while you wait for your morning coffee.

❹ Update Your Marketing Strategy and Set New Goals

Next, and one of the most important steps, is to update your marketing goals. Your strategy is only as strong as the measuring stick you use to evaluate it. Gather your team and turn your brand’s business goals into clear marketing goals.

Use SMART goal tactics and be as specific as possible. We suggest sticking to three or fewer goals so your team can stay focused and avoid burnout.

Once your goals are set, update your marketing strategy. How will you reach those goals? What tactics will you use to guide your team in the new year? Building a strategy can be challenging, especially if you are more of a generalist. If you want help from an expert who specializes in strategy, we recommend booking a Custom Strategic Roadmap session.

❺ Consider Outsourcing Your Social Media

Based on your audit and goals, it may be time to ask yourself if outsourcing is right for you. Many brands see agencies as a short-term fix, but our long-term clients would disagree. Our team of experts knows how to get real results. We live and breathe marketing every day and stay ahead of industry changes.

Ask yourself these questions:

Do you have a current marketing strategy?  
Do you have the budget to invest in social media marketing?  
Can you stay up to date on all things marketing?  
Do you want to save time or money?  
Did you reach your goals last year?

These questions can help you decide if outsourcing is right for you, but we can also guide you in a Discovery Call. During the call, we’ll learn about your brand and goals so we can create a customized solution just for you.

The end of the year is the perfect time to reflect, celebrate progress, and set new goals for the year ahead. We hope you use the free resources in this blog and reach out if you have any questions. We are always here to support your marketing goals.

Have a Happy New Year!