… Marketing Shorts to Remember
August 2026 Newsletter #8: Getting Ahead of the Holidays
It’s that time of year again when we are all preparing travel plans to see our families and spreading gifts and cheer. For others, it is hunkering down in their marketing and advertising seats to attract an attentive audience and make some last 2026 sales. For some businesses, this is the last time to push products and services to a focused, engaging audience and make a profitable close to 2026. Have you gotten ahead of the holidays, or are they leaving you behind?
Put a Shine on Products and Services
With a good Marketing and Advertising Plan at the beginning of 2026 plans were already put in action, moving ahead, and on track at a steady pace. Perhaps you started the business halfway through the year, and things are now just up and running. Either way, there is still time to make an impact in sales and talk up your selling strategy. Let’s address some strategic thoughts!
- What is my purchasing audience comprised of, and am I reaching them?
- What is my analytical data telling me? Have I been tracking it?
- How is employee performance, and am I maximizing their abilities with awards and promises? (Including My Own)
- Who do I need to add in to make it ALL work?
- Where are the most important points of improvement needed in my business strategy?
- How is my Marketing and Advertising Plan? Do I have realistic goals?
There might be more questions than answers here, but pondering and organizing those answers could make the difference between just getting by and a profitable year.
AI Trends and Progress
AI (Artificial Intelligence) has taken off in terms of usability and is an underlying influence. Between seeing and experiencing how integrated it has become with our technology and influence in our working lives, a hat must be tipped and a pause taken. Do you use it as an additional tool, or the maker and creator of all marketing and advertising campaigns? Perhaps you don’t use AI directly yourself, but in what way does it push your customer base? Depending on the industry and uses, it’s time to balance the human and computer equation once again. AI search tools even turn queries into dialogues, forcing brands to change how they win visibility with customers. The AI Advertising Revolution -Advertising mediums utilizing AI are under constant growth and change. (One example that entertains me when I see it is 3D images that pop out of viewed digital ads on the computer, and is rather engaging. The key is ENTERTAIN, but too costly to utilize in the marketing and advertising business unless you have a big advertising budget.) Setting and utilizing your advertising budget is a teeter-totter between AI and creativity. Marketers are in the midst of “testing AI,” but will it ultimately be accepted as the norm?
The HOLIDAYS are a time to connect with the existing and potential audience on a special level. They are a time to feature new products and services. I encourage business owners to try something new and different while still keeping a strong percentage of what has already proven to work.
About Jessica Keyes, Virtual Assistant Extraordinaire: Specializing in Professional Individual and Small Business Support. With over 16 years of experience in Marketing, Advertising, Administrative, Editing, and Special Projects. Visit the website at http://www.virtualassistantextraordinaire.com or her author page at https://www.amazon.com/author/keyesjessica to find out more. CURRENTLY OPEN FOR NEW CUSTOMERS. Contact her at (M)704-746-7248 and/or VAExtraordinaire@aol.com
Wishes of Growth for Your Ideas and Business as we continue through 2026!
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Phone: 704-746-7248 Email: VAExtraordinaire@aol.com
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