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Small Business Marketing Trends for 2026


Marketing trends for 2026.


Let’s face it: as busy small business owners, it can be challenging to find time to think ahead. What’s in front of us often takes priority over time to focus on the future.


The end of the year is a great time though to take stock of where your business has been and where you want it to go. It’s also an opportunity to look at any trends that could impact your business next year, and the skills and resources you need to keep growing.


As a brand and marketing agency for small businesses and startups, we’re always trying  to stay up to date on the latest marketing trends that can help us best deliver the services and knowledge you need to grow. That’s why we thought we’d share what we’re thinking about as we look ahead at small business marketing in 2026. 


Read on to learn more about the top marketing trends in 2026 and how you don’t need a big staff or budget to get started.



What's New and What's Not for 2026


A man creating a social media video. A woman talking into a microphone. Many hands in a stack.

While there’s a lot to keep tabs on when it comes to new marketing tools and technologies, the strategies themselves haven’t changed. AI-powered marketing tools have been flooding the market this year, for example, but looking for ways to streamline our processes isn’t new. Other trends like short-form video for marketing, leveraging public relations to boost awareness, and establishing a strong community for deeper customer connections have been in the mix for some time, but are now rising in importance as they are ways to connect authentically with customers, a goal many businesses already have in place.


What WILL be new for small business marketing next year will be the amount of coordination and consistency you’ll need across so many channels and platforms. Keeping your business messaging and touchpoints aligned while remaining human will set you apart, no matter which of the trends you follow.

 

What to watch for 2026 small business marketing

  • AI-powered tools to enhance your marketing capabilities

    • Design tools like Canva Magic Studio are leading the way for enabling non-designers to easily create social media graphics, ads, videos, and more.

    • Content tools abound, from Jasper AI for copywriting help to ChatGPT. We’re not fans of using AI-generated content as much as the help it provides getting the ball rolling or synthesizing information quickly (but still check those sources!)

    • Email automation tools like Constant Contact and MailChimp are also adding AI to their platforms, to help with content generation, design, and automated messages. For small businesses, this can mean setting up templates quickly and easily, and keeping your business front of mind with ongoing touchpoints.


  • Short-form videos for showing the REAL you

    • The key to video marketing in 2026 is creating authentic content that works for TikTok, Reels, or YouTube Shorts. These don’t have to be polished as much as genuine, and give your audience a look at the real people and stories behind your brand.


  • PR and reputation management to build your credibility

    • Customer reviews, customer stories, and testimonials are more important than ever as a means to spread the word and validate your brand.

    • Press releases and media coverage are increasingly important not just to boost awareness and build credibility, but also to gain traction with your SEO  and help you rank in AI search results. Look at tools like Qwoted to get access to relevant media contacts, inquiries, and press release distribution.


  • Community to deepen customer loyalty and connection

    • Interactive local events are a great way to get people in the door if you have a storefront and build buzz about your business. Offering something unique only available at the event, featuring live entertainment or giveaways, etc., are ways to draw people in, and then offering loyalty/rewards programs can encourage them to keep coming back.


How to Test Small Business Marketing Trends on a Budget


If any of these trends sound appealing, the best way to get started is to test them out. While it may feel daunting to start something new, it can also provide insight into whether it’s worth your time and maybe an investment if it produces results.


  • Sign up for a free account with any of the AI-powered tools and start small. Try working with low-risk content generation like a social caption or even just a catchy headline for a blog. Get familiar with writing prompts- Hubspot has a great list of marketing prompts to get you started.

  • Play around in the design tools to see what you can do with a basic template for a social post. Upload your brand’s logos and colors so you can update for your specific identity. 

  • Ask a happy customer or two if they would be willing to provide a short video testimonial, or provide an online review (Google is the ideal). You can then post the video on your social channels and use the testimonials on your website too.

  • Collaborate with other local businesses on a small pop-up event. You can share the costs, and both gain new customers.



Getting Started and When To Get Help

There’s no doubt that there are plenty of ways to expand your business using any of the above tactics. Finding the time to experiment and starting small is important to getting comfortable with trying new approaches to marketing. 




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We're here to help.

If you’d like help with making a plan or learning how to best leverage marketing tools for your business, contact us today.

 
 
 
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