This guide shows how to focus your 2026 marketing strategy by making intentional choices, prioritizing revenue-aligned actions, and letting go of distractions. Learn what to prioritize, what to pause, and how to build a plan that delivers real results.
Why do January strategy decisions matter more than ever?
January brings a familiar rhythm for business leaders. New goals. New budgets. New expectations. And often, a long list of marketing ideas that all feel important.
The challenge isn’t a lack of ambition—it’s focus.
At RB Consulting Agency, we see this every year: organizations start strong in January, only to feel overwhelmed by March. Not always because they aren’t investing enough in marketing, but because they’re investing everywhere instead of intentionally.
A successful marketing strategy for 2026 isn’t about doing more. It’s about making smarter decisions early; so your time, budget, and energy are aligned with real business outcomes.
Here’s a practical roadmap to help you decide what to prioritize this year, and just as importantly, what to pause without guilt.
What are the most common January marketing mistakes?
Trying to do everything at once Launching new campaigns, channels, tools, and messaging simultaneously stretches teams thin and dilutes impact.
Chasing shiny objects Adopting trends or platforms that don’t align with your audience or sales cycle leads to wasted effort and frustration.
Confusing activity with progress More content, more emails, and more ads don’t automatically translate into more revenue, especially without a strategy behind them.
Recognizing these patterns early helps teams avoid burnout and refocus.
What should you prioritize in your 2026 marketing strategy?
Revenue-Aligned Messaging Marketing should clearly support how your organization actually makes money. Messaging must speak directly to buyer problems, decision triggers, and outcomes. Not just features or services.
Customer Lifecycle Marketing Winning the deal is only the beginning. Sustainable growth comes from nurturing relationships before and after the sale through lead nurturing, onboarding, education, retention, and expansion.
Strong Data Foundations You don’t need every metric. You need the right ones. Focus on clean, usable data that shows what’s working, where prospects disengage, and which channels drive meaningful engagement.
Focused, Executable Plans Fewer initiatives done well, with clear ownership and success metrics, will always outperform complex strategies that are difficult to execute.
What should you pause (or let go of) without guilt?
Underperforming channels with no clear path to improvement If there’s no data-backed reason to continue, it may be time to pause.
Content created “just to stay visible” Every asset should serve a purpose in the buyer journey. Visibility without value rarely converts.
Tools that add complexity without clarity If a platform isn’t being used consistently or confidently, it’s likely slowing your team down rather than accelerating growth.
Pausing isn’t failure. It’s focus.
How does the Vision → Focus → Execution framework work?
Vision Clarify what success actually looks like for your organization this year.
Focus Identify the two or three marketing priorities that most directly support that vision.
Execution Bring those priorities to life through consistent, sustainable action.
This framework keeps strategy grounded, actionable, and adaptable.
Where does fractional leadership make a difference?
Many organizations don’t need more ideas. What they actually need is experienced leadership to help them choose wisely.
Fractional CMO support provides strategic clarity, objective prioritization, alignment across teams, and execution discipline.
It allows organizations to move forward confidently, knowing decisions are intentional rather than reactive.
"A clear, focused marketing strategy in 2026 is about making smarter choices, not doing more. Prioritize what drives growth and let go of what doesn’t."
— RB Consulting Agency
What is the key takeaway for 2026 marketing?
2026 doesn’t need to be louder than last year. It needs to be smarter.
When marketing aligns to revenue, leverages the right data, and supports the full customer journey, growth becomes more predictable, and far less stressful.
If your team feels stretched or uncertain about where to focus this year, RB Consulting Agency can help. We partner with organizations to clarify priorities, build strong strategies, and execute marketing that drives results.
Ready to reset your marketing strategy for 2026? Connect with us atwww.rbcgrowth.com
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know what to prioritize in my 2026 marketing strategy?
Start by clarifying your business goals and identifying which marketing activities directly support those outcomes. Focus on initiatives that align with revenue and customer needs.
What are signs I should pause a marketing channel or tool?
If a channel or tool consistently underperforms and there’s no clear plan for improvement, it may be time to pause and reallocate resources elsewhere.
How can I avoid chasing marketing trends that don’t fit my business?
Evaluate new trends or platforms based on your audience, sales cycle, and business goals. Only adopt what supports your strategy, not just what’s popular.
What is the benefit of fractional CMO support?
Fractional CMO support brings experienced leadership, strategic clarity, and objective prioritization to help organizations make confident, intentional decisions.
How often should I revisit my marketing strategy during the year?
Review your strategy quarterly to ensure priorities are still aligned with business goals and market changes. Adjust as needed to stay focused and effective.
What data should I focus on to measure marketing success?
Prioritize metrics that show real business impact, such as revenue growth, customer retention, and engagement on key channels, rather than vanity metrics.
How can I keep my team focused and avoid burnout?
Limit active initiatives to those with the highest impact, set clear ownership, and celebrate progress. Regularly communicate priorities and pause low-value activities.
Rebecca Bormann
About the Author
Rebecca Bormann is the Founder and CEO of RB Consulting Agency, a strategic marketing and business development firm that empowers organizations to clarify their brand, elevate visibility, and accelerate growth.
With over 20 years of leadership experience in sales and marketing, Rebecca blends emotional intelligence with data-driven strategy to help clients connect authentically with their audiences, align marketing and business objectives, and build sustainable pipelines for growth.
Under her leadership, RB Consulting serves clients across Indiana and nationwide in sectors including technology, professional services, healthcare, education, retail, and nonprofit. Guided by its core philosophy—People First. Strategy Always. Success Together.—the agency is recognized for its people-centered, data-informed approach that transforms brand presence into measurable business results.
Rebecca’s leadership and impact have earned numerous honors, including 2025 NAWBO Women Business Owner of the Year, Indianapolis Business Journal’s Women of Influence (2022), Hope Magazine’s Hope 25 Honoree (2022), AOTMP® Insights Women in Tech DEI Advocate (2022), and Junior Achievement’s Indy’s Best & Brightest Finalist (2020, 2021).
She holds Executive Education Certificates in Business Strategy, Financial Management, and Marketing & Sales from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, along with a Bachelor’s Degree in Management and a Certificate in Communications from Indiana Wesleyan University.
RB Consulting Agency is certified as both a Women Business Enterprise (CWBE) by NAWBO and a Women-Owned Business (WBE) by the Indiana Department of Administration.
