As the year comes to a close, now is the perfect time to celebrate your achievements, tidy up loose ends and set the stage for a successful start to 2025.  

We’ve put together a marketing checklist to help you wrap up the year and get your business ready to thrive in 2025. 

 

1. review your marketing strategy

Every business should approach their marketing in 2025 with a ‘strategy first, tactics later’ mindset. But before starting on your strategy, take a close look at your marketing activity over the past year. What yielded the best results? What didn’t quite hit the mark? Use these insights to sharpen your focus for 2025. 

Key questions to consider: 

  • Are your current strategies meeting your business objectives? 
  • Have your customers’ needs or preferences changed? 
  • Are there new opportunities that could give you a competitive edge? 

Tip: Use analytic tools such as Google Analytics or HubSpot to identify top-performing campaigns and channels. 

 

2. understand emerging trends

Staying ahead of emerging trends is essential to remain competitive in 2025.  

Key trends to watch include: 

  • The growing use of AI for writing blogs and website content will mean an overlap in mass-produced content and a big shift in terms of SEO strategies and reporting. 
  • The growing importance of video content for engagement as audience preference moves towards visual storytelling.  
  • The shift from B2B to Human-to-Human marketing. By 2026, 90% of B2B decision-makers will be Gen X and younger. These groups care [more] about brand personality, brand values as well as being engaged and understood. 

Quick tip: with the rise of AI, authenticity and personality in content is going to be even more important. Whilst AI can guide your content creation, to retain the ‘human touch’, we strongly recommend that it’s you or your team that’s editing and fine-tuning the content that’s published. 

 

3. evaluate your website

Your website is often the first touchpoint for prospective customers. With Google’s ‘Core Web Vitals’ set to be a major focus in 2025, it’s important for businesses to prioritise an optimised website with good UX [user experience]. Not only does this help people to find your business online, but also drives leads, conversions and revenue. 

Take some time to: 

  • Check for broken links, outdated information or slow-loading pages. 
  • Improve visibility by optimising your site for on and off-page SEO. 
  • Ensure your design and navigation has good UX and is accessible. 
  • Review your CTAs, landing pages and forms to ensure they are optimised for conversions. 

Quick tip: Test your website’s speed using Google’s PageSpeed Insights. 

 

4. does your brand need a refresh?

Your brand goes beyond your logo, tagline and colours. It’s how all the little things add up in the mind of your audience to create trust and recognition  in your market. Brand [should] affect everything you do – from your business strategy to communicating with customers to closing deals. Now is the perfect time to ensure your branding still resonates with your audience. 

Ask yourself: 

  • Does the current look and feel reflect who your business will be in 2025? 
  • Are your visuals and messaging consistent across all channels? 
  • Could a fresh approach give your business the edge it needs? 

Pro tip: A brand refresh doesn’t have to mean a complete overhaul. Sometimes, small strategic tweaks to your visuals or design can have a big impact.  

 

5. map out your 2025 marketing calendar

Planning ahead allows you to prepare for the ‘big bang’ moments that will make the most impact.  Map out your major campaigns, product or service launches, and other key dates now to give yourself time to prepare for these activities.  

Consider including: 

  • Seasonal promotions and industry events that matter to your audience. 
  • Content themes or topics to drive engagement for the first quarter. 
  • Budget allocations for paid advertising, collaborations, or new tools. 

Tip: Embrace omnichannel marketing to give your audience a consistent and seamless experience across all brand touchpoints, from email and social media to in-person events.  

 

6. set new goals for the year ahead

After you’ve spent some time analysing the performance of your previous [or current] marketing activity, it’s time to set clear and impactful goals for 2025. All too often we see businesses putting time and money into marketing tactics that don’t move the needle. Establishing SMART marketing goals [specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound] that support your business objectives is the best place to start.  

Focus on: 

  • Growth areas that align with your business’ long-term vision. 
  • The evolving needs and preferences of your target audience. 
  • Key performance indicators [KPIs] that reflect your top priorities. 

Quick tip: tie your goals to measurable KPIs such as lead conversions or website traffic, so you can clearly see the impact of your marketing efforts and adjust strategies as needed. 

 

ready to make 2025 your best year yet? 

Whether you’re just starting or have clear goals in mind, planning now gives you a competitive edge. With the right preparation and support, you’ll set yourself up for success in the year ahead.  

 

we’re here to help 

From strategy and planning to brand refresh and website updates – our marketing team is here to help. Reach out to us at marketing@businessdepot.com.au or give us a buzz on 1300BDEPOT!

 

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