10 Marketing Resolutions Every Brand Should Make for 2026

A new year offers every brand the opportunity to reset, refocus, and recommit to strategies that drive real results. As marketing continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, the resolutions you make—and keep—in 2026 could define your competitive position for years to come.

The most successful marketers approach January not with vague intentions but with specific, measurable commitments. They recognize that transformation happens through consistent execution of well-defined strategies, not through hoping things will somehow improve.

Here are ten marketing resolutions that will position your brand for success in 2026. Each is actionable, measurable, and designed to create sustainable competitive advantage.

Resolution 1: Prioritize First-Party Data Collection

With third-party cookies now fully deprecated and privacy regulations tightening globally, brands that have not invested in first-party data collection are running out of time. In 2026, resolve to build robust systems for collecting, organizing, and activating customer data you own directly.

This means creating value exchanges that motivate customers to share their information willingly. Loyalty programs, exclusive content, personalized experiences, and genuine utility all provide reasons for customers to opt in. The brands with the richest first-party data assets will have significant targeting advantages.

Start by auditing your current data collection touchpoints and identifying gaps where customer information could be captured with appropriate consent.

Resolution 2: Invest in Video Content Production

Video continues to dominate engagement across every platform. Yet many brands still treat video as an occasional campaign element rather than a core content type. Resolve in 2026 to build sustainable video production capabilities—whether in-house or through agency partnerships.

This does not mean every video needs Hollywood production values. Authentic, well-edited content shot on smartphones can outperform polished corporate videos. The key is consistency: building a regular cadence of video content that educates, entertains, or inspires your audience.

Consider short-form vertical video for social platforms, longer educational content for YouTube and your website, and live video for real-time engagement.

Resolution 3: Personalize at Scale

Generic marketing messages increasingly fall flat with audiences who expect brands to understand their individual needs and preferences. Resolve to implement or expand personalization across your marketing touchpoints in 2026.

This goes beyond inserting first names into email subject lines. True personalization means serving different content, offers, and experiences based on customer behavior, preferences, and lifecycle stage. Modern marketing automation platforms make this achievable even for mid-size organizations.

Start with your highest-impact touchpoints—likely email and website—and expand personalization capabilities throughout the year.

Resolution 4: Test Continuously and Systematically

Too many marketing teams rely on intuition or past performance when making decisions. Resolve in 2026 to implement systematic testing across your marketing programs. Every campaign should include deliberate experiments designed to generate learning.

This means testing headlines, creative variations, audience segments, channel mixes, and timing. Document results rigorously and share learnings across your organization. Over time, systematic testing compounds into significant performance advantages.

Build testing into your planning process from the start rather than treating it as an afterthought.

Resolution 5: Strengthen Your Content Foundation

Content marketing remains one of the highest-ROI strategies available, yet many brands produce content sporadically without a coherent strategy. Resolve to build a strong content foundation in 2026 with a documented strategy, editorial calendar, and consistent publishing cadence.

Focus on creating genuinely useful content that serves your audience rather than thinly veiled promotional material. Invest in cornerstone content pieces that can drive traffic and build authority for years. Update and optimize existing high-performing content regularly.

Quality and consistency matter more than volume. Better to publish one excellent piece weekly than five mediocre pieces.

Resolution 6: Embrace Marketing Automation

If you are still managing marketing tasks manually that could be automated, you are wasting resources and likely delivering inconsistent experiences. Resolve to expand your use of marketing automation in 2026.

Beyond basic email automation, consider automated lead scoring, triggered campaigns based on behavior, social media scheduling, and reporting dashboards. The goal is freeing your team to focus on strategy and creativity while systems handle repetitive execution.

Start by identifying your most time-consuming manual processes and research automation solutions for each.

Resolution 7: Integrate Online and Offline Experiences

Customers do not think in channels—they think in experiences. Resolve to break down silos between your online and offline marketing in 2026. Physical events should connect to digital follow-up. Digital campaigns should drive in-store visits. Data should flow between touchpoints.

This requires collaboration between teams that may have operated independently. Work toward unified customer profiles that capture interactions across all touchpoints, enabling consistent experiences regardless of where engagement occurs.

Resolution 8: Commit to Sustainability Messaging

Environmental and social responsibility influence purchase decisions for a growing majority of consumers, especially younger demographics. If your organization has genuine sustainability initiatives, resolve to communicate them effectively in 2026.

Avoid greenwashing—audiences can detect inauthentic claims quickly. Focus on specific, verifiable commitments and progress rather than vague environmental language. Share both achievements and challenges transparently.

Resolution 9: Build Community, Not Just Audience

There is a difference between accumulating followers and building a genuine community. Resolve in 2026 to shift focus from audience size to community engagement. Create spaces where your customers can connect with each other, not just with your brand.

This might mean private social groups, customer events, user forums, or ambassador programs. The goal is transforming customers into advocates who promote your brand authentically because they feel genuine connection.

Resolution 10: Measure What Matters

Finally, resolve to stop tracking vanity metrics that do not connect to business outcomes. In 2026, build measurement frameworks that tie marketing activities to revenue, customer acquisition costs, lifetime value, and other metrics that matter to your organization.

This requires collaboration with finance and sales to establish attribution models and shared definitions. The effort is worthwhile—marketers who can demonstrate clear ROI earn greater investment and organizational influence.

2026 Marketing Investment Benchmarks

How does your marketing investment compare? Here are industry benchmarks by company size:

Source: Gartner CMO Spend Survey, Deloitte Marketing Benchmark Report.

Marketing Channel Performance in 2026

Where should you allocate your budget? Here are projected ROI benchmarks by channel:

30-60-90 Day Action Plan

Turn these resolutions into action with this quarterly breakdown:

**Days 1-30: Foundation**

- Audit current data collection and consent systems

- Inventory existing content and identify gaps

- Benchmark current marketing metrics for comparison

**Days 31-60: Implementation**

- Launch first-party data collection improvements

- Establish video production cadence

- Implement initial personalization segments

**Days 61-90: Optimization**

- Analyze first campaign results

- Document A/B testing learnings

- Adjust channel mix based on performance data

Track your progress against these milestones monthly. Consistent execution beats perfect planning.

Ready to elevate your brand in 2026? Get a free consultation with our team.