The “digital landscape” (as the gurus love to call it) is noisier than ever. Most small business owners are exhausted by the constant stream of new tools and “must-have” platforms. You don’t need to do everything; you just need to do the things that move the needle.
In 2026, marketing isn’t about having the biggest budget. It’s about being the most human and the most efficient.
AI is Your New Intern, Not Your Replacement
AI has moved past the “cool trick” phase. If you aren’t using it to handle the repetitive tasks that eat your afternoon, you’re essentially paying a “manual labor tax” on your time.
- Smart Automation: Use tools to draft your first-pass emails or summarize meeting notes.
- The Business Benefit: You reclaim 5–10 hours a week to focus on high-level strategy instead of formatting newsletters.
- The Opinion: Stop trying to make AI write your entire blog. It sounds like a robot because it is one. Use it for the structure, then add your own “secret sauce” to the copy.
Video is the New Business Card
If I can’t see your face or your product in motion within ten seconds of finding you, I’m probably going to bounce. Short-form video on TikTok and Reels isn’t just for Gen Z dancers anymore; it’s for anyone who wants to build trust at scale.
- Raw Over Refined: People don’t want a $5,000 produced commercial. They want a 30-second clip of you explaining why your service works.
- The Business Benefit: Video builds “know, like, and trust” faster than a 2,000-word “About Us” page ever will.
- The Opinion: Stop worrying about your lighting. Hit record on your phone, share a tip, and post it. Done is better than perfect.
Voice Search is Changing Your SEO Game
People don’t type like they talk. When someone asks Siri for a “plumber near me,” they aren’t typing keywords; they’re asking questions.
- Conversational Content: Your website needs to answer the specific questions your customers actually ask on the phone.
- The Business Benefit: Higher rankings in local search results means more phone calls and fewer “window shoppers.”
- The Opinion: If your Google Business Profile isn’t updated with fresh photos and reviews, you’re invisible to voice search. Fix it today.
Privacy is Your Competitive Advantage
Big Tech is under fire for data practices, and your customers are feeling it. Being the business that respects privacy isn’t just a legal requirement—it’s a brand pillar.
- Transparent Data: Be crystal clear about why you need an email address and what you’re doing with it.
- The Business Benefit: High-quality leads. People who trust you are significantly more likely to open your emails and buy your products.
- The Opinion: Pop-ups that hide the “close” button are trash. Don’t trick your customers into staying; give them a reason to want to stay.
Hyper-Personalization: Stop Blasting Your List
The “Batch and Blast” email strategy is dead. Your customers expect you to know what they like, what they’ve bought, and what they need next.
- Segmented Lists: Group your customers by their interests or past purchases.
- The Business Benefit: Higher click-through rates and lower unsubscribe numbers.
- The Opinion: I’d rather have 500 highly engaged subscribers than 50,000 people who ignore my emails. Focus on the quality of the connection.
Founder’s Action Item
Pick one service or product you sell and record a 60-second video on your phone explaining the biggest problem it solves. Post it to your Google Business Profile and your LinkedIn today. Don’t overthink it—just start.