Studies have shown that assessing your prospects and business strategy for the next year is most efficiently performed during Q3 of the current year. Marketing is no different! That way, you have a majority of the year’s data to base some decisions on - while still having some breathing room before the end of the year. As we make our way to the end of Q3, here are some questions you can ask yourself when planning for next year’s strategy.

1. What worked? (And what could be improved?)

At Addison Clark, we know that everything comes back to the data. Being able to interpret the successes and opportunities of your campaigns is one of the single most important things you can do in marketing. As marketers, we have the tools at our disposal to adjust course on a day-to-day basis, if needed. However, planning for a whole year gives you the opportunity to think big picture. So, ask yourself – based on the hard data, what should continue into next year and what should be adjusted?

2. What’s different between last year, this year, and next year?

Even though we can use year-over-year data to get a projection for marketing efforts going forward, it’s important to note that not everything is apples-to-apples. For example, 2024 is a year that has both a Presidential Election and the Olympics – both of which are sure to shake up the television marketing landscape.

Or did your company shift goals in 2023? Did you hire more staff and expect to do more business? Ask yourself if there are real-world differences that may affect your marketing strategies and the context that surrounds them.

3. Can you do it yourself or do you need help?

Biting off more than you can chew or spreading yourself too thin are common pitfalls in marketing, especially for small businesses. We see it all the time – planning for next year with optimistic budgets, multi-avenue marketing efforts, content creation calendars, and more – it all adds up very quickly. Hiring a full-service marketing agency, like Addison Clark, is the best way to take the load off your shoulders and onto the shoulders of professionals.

Ready to start strategizing? Give us a call today!