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MART

Marketing Accelerator Round Table

What You Missed

At our November MART gathering, we asked members to rank their Top 10 Marketing Concerns for 2026 using a live SLIDO poll. The results were eye-opening:

  • Members expressed strong confidence in their value propositions—no surprise, since we continually refine and test them together for immediate feedback.
  • One of the biggest challenges identified was brand awareness. To tackle it, we shared powerful, practical strategies that small businesses can start using right away to rise above obscurity and get noticed.

 

Top 10 Marketing Concerns

  1. Lack of Brand Awareness
    • Many small businesses struggle with obscurity—they’re simply not known in their market.
    • Without recognition, even great products or services go unnoticed.
  2. Limited Marketing Budget
    • Owners often can't afford large ad campaigns or full-service agencies.
    • Every dollar spent must show measurable return, making budget allocation critical.
  3. Unclear Value Proposition
    • Messaging is often inconsistent or vague.
    • Without a clear, repeatable pitch, businesses fail to resonate with target audiences.
  4. Poor Lead Conversion
    • Traffic may exist, but turning interest into sales is a challenge.
    • Weak calls to action, slow follow-up, or confusing funnels hurt conversion rates.
  5. Ineffective Digital Strategy
    • Many owners lack expertise in SEO, email marketing, or social media.
    • They may try everything at once without a cohesive plan.
  6. Overreliance on Word-of-Mouth (WOM)
    • While referrals are valuable, they’re unpredictable and hard to scale.
    • Businesses often delay investing in scalable channels like paid ads or content marketing.
  7. Difficulty Tracking ROI
    • Without proper analytics, owners can’t tell what’s working.
    • This leads to wasted spend and missed optimization opportunities.
  8. Inconsistent Content Creation
    • Blogs, videos, and social posts require time and skill.
    • Many businesses start strong but fail to maintain momentum.
  9. Platform Overload
    • Trying to be everywhere—Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok—spreads teams thin.
    • Owners often chase trends without knowing where their audience actually engages.
  10. Fear of Delegation or Change.
    • Owners may resist outsourcing or adopting new tools.
    • This limits growth and keeps them stuck in repetitive, low-impact tasks.

Here’s The Real Takeaway 

When your business hits a marketing roadblock, where do you turn?  Who gives you honest input, tailored strategies, and education that truly fits your business?

That’s exactly what we do at MART—a trusted community of peers who know your challenges and help you solve them.

If you’re facing marketing challenges in 2026, let’s talk. Schedule a Zoom with me.  

Let’s make 2026 the year your marketing works harder for you. 
Join us for our January 14 gathering. 

On Your Team, Not Your Payroll,
Drew
Tell Drew Your Marketing Challenge