A new year brings new opportunities, but if you want to grow your business in 2026, a clear marketing plan is a must. It doesn’t need to be complicated, but it should give you direction, keep you focused, and help turn your goals into results.

Here’s what every small business marketing plan should include in 2026.

If you've ever posted on Facebook or Instagram and seen that tempting little “Boost Post” button, you're not alone. It seems like a quick win… spend a few bucks, reach more people, get more likes. And while boosting a post might give you a temporary bump in visibility, it’s not a true advertising strategy. It’s the fast food of marketing: convenient, but not built for long-term results.

Here’s why boosting posts isn’t enough, and what you should be doing instead if you want your ads to actually grow your business.

In a crowded market, it can feel like every business is competing for the same attention. You offer great service, great value, and great experience, but so does everyone else. The real advantage comes from understanding what makes your business genuinely unique and using that strength to shape your strategy and speak directly to your ideal customers.

Social media is an essential part of modern marketing. It helps you reach new people, build a following, and stay connected to your audience. But even with its power and popularity, social media is not a replacement for a website. Your website is still the foundation of your online presence, and it plays a role that no social platform can fill on its own. Here is why having a website still matters for every small and mid-sized business, even in a social-first world.

A lot of business owners come to us thinking social media help means one thing: “You’ll post for us, right?” And yes—we absolutely do that. But social media management isn’t just about filling your feed with photos and quotes. When you work with a marketing agency (like Seven4), you’re getting more than just someone who knows how to schedule content. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really like to work with a marketing agency for social media—and why it’s so much more than just putting up posts.

You’ve updated your website, added keywords, optimized your titles, maybe even started a blog—and now you’re refreshing Google every other day wondering… “Why am I not seeing any changes?” SEO takes time—and sometimes that’s the hardest part. Let’s talk about why SEO takes time to kick in, what to expect along the way, and why it’s still one of the best investments you can make for your business.

Everywhere you look, there’s buzz about AI taking over jobs, automating everything, and reshaping industries—including marketing. And while it’s true that artificial intelligence is changing how we approach marketing strategy, content, and customer insights… it’s not replacing marketers anytime soon.

Your customers are talking—are you listening? Customer reviews aren’t just a nice-to-have. They’re one of the most powerful (and underused) marketing tools you already have at your fingertips. In a world where people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, the feedback you collect can do way more than sit on your Google Business page. Here’s how to turn your customer reviews into a marketing asset that builds trust, boosts visibility, and drives real results.

If you’re a small to mid-sized business trying to grow, chances are you’ve considered running online ads. But the question we hear all the time is: “Should I advertise on Google or Facebook?” The short answer? It depends on your business goals. The better answer? Let’s break down how each platform works—and when to use one, the other, or both.

When people think about branding, they usually picture a logo, some fonts, maybe a color palette. But your brand is so much more than just how things look—it’s how people recognize, trust, and remember your business. One of the biggest ways to build that trust? Consistency.

If you’re a small business owner, your website isn’t just a digital brochure—it’s your 24/7 sales rep, customer service assistant, and first impression all rolled into one. But not all websites are created equal. Too often, small business sites are missing key features that make the difference between a visitor clicking away… or converting into a loyal customer. Whether you’re building a new site or updating an old one, here are the 5 must-have features every small business website needs to be effective in 2025 and beyond.

The way people search online is changing fast—and it’s being led by artificial intelligence (AI). Tools like ChatGPT, Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE), and Bing AI are reshaping how users find information, products, and services. As a business, that means your website can’t rely on traditional SEO strategies alone anymore. You need to start thinking about AI optimization. Let’s break down what that means, why it matters, and how you can get ahead before everyone else catches up.

You’ve probably heard it a hundred times: “You need to be on social media!” But once you start digging into it, the path forward isn’t always clear. Should you post regularly and hope people find you? Should you pay to promote your business? Do you need to do both? Let’s break down the difference between organic posting and social media advertising, and when to use each one in your marketing strategy.

You wear a lot of hats as a small business owner—salesperson, customer service rep, bookkeeper, manager… and maybe even “marketing director.” At first, DIY marketing makes sense. You post on social media when you can, run a few ads, maybe even built your own website. But at some point, you start to feel stuck—or worse, overwhelmed.