The start of a new year comes with big ambitions and carefully crafted marketing plans. But as the months pass and things get busy, it’s easy for marketing to fall by the wayside. Now that we’ve reached the halfway point of the year, it’s the perfect time to revisit your strategy, evaluate progress, and make adjustments to stay on track—or course-correct if needed. Here’s how to do it.
Revisit Your Marketing Plan
Start by assessing where you stand. Taking the time to reflect on your progress allows you to gain clarity and identify areas for improvement. Here’s how to get started:
- Review Your Accomplishments
Look back at what you’ve achieved so far. Celebrate your wins, big or small, and take note of what has contributed to your success. Recognizing accomplishments helps build momentum and confidence to keep moving forward.
- Identify What’s Working Well
Pinpoint the strategies or actions that have been effective. Ask yourself why they’re working and how you can replicate those successes in other areas. Understanding what’s going well ensures you can double down on the positive aspects.
- Highlight What’s Not Working
Be honest about what isn’t yielding the results you want. Whether it’s specific tasks, strategies, or habits, identifying these challenges is crucial for making adjustments. Think about what’s holding you back and how you can address these roadblocks.
- Evaluate What Hasn’t Been Started
Consider the projects or goals that remain untouched. Why have they been delayed? Are they still priorities, or should they be reevaluated? Understanding what’s been left behind will help you refocus on what truly matters.
By taking stock of your progress, you can better understand if you’re on track toward your goals. This process not only highlights your strengths but also reveals areas where adjustments are needed, helping you create a clear and actionable plan moving forward.
If It’s Working, Double Down
When a tactic is proving successful, don’t just keep doing it—consider expanding on it in a strategic way. Can you scale this effort or invest more resources to amplify the results? Lean into what’s driving growth.
If It’s Not Working, Adjust or Cut It
Not every strategy is going to hit the mark, and that’s okay. For underperforming tactics, decide whether they need a tweak to be more effective or if it’s time to let them go. Focus your energy on what’s delivering value.
Adjust for Delayed Starts
If there are initiatives you planned to start but haven’t gotten to yet, take a moment to reevaluate. Align your timeline with your current goals. Sometimes, pausing or delaying a tactic makes sense, especially if your other efforts are gaining traction. It’s okay to prioritize what’s working and push new ideas to later in the year.
Overwhelmed? Simplify the Plan
If you’re not seeing results and the plan feels overwhelming, it might be time to scale back. Ask yourself:
- What small, actionable steps can you take to get back on track?
- Are there parts of the plan you can postpone or outsource?
A leaner, more focused strategy is often more effective than an overly ambitious one that never gets implemented.
Protect Your Schedule
If your marketing efforts keep getting sidelined by other priorities, it’s time to set clearer boundaries. Communicate what’s realistic based on your current workload. For example: “I can work on this, but it will delay that.” If your team is stretched too thin, consider hiring additional support to keep things moving.
Final Thoughts
Marketing is a dynamic process, and no strategy is set in stone. Checking in mid-year allows you to celebrate wins, address challenges, and ensure your efforts align with your business goals. Whether it’s doubling down on what’s working, simplifying your approach, or reallocating resources, small adjustments can make a big impact.
Take the time to revisit your marketing plan today—your end-of-year results will thank you!
