Happy New Year!

Did you have a good holiday season and get some much-deserved R&R?

I know my team and I did.

But now it’s time to get back to it, so we’re here with the first Dear Katie of 2026. 

The question I received today is one that I’ve gotten so many times over the years: What’s the best marketing strategy for me?

I’m sure you’ve already seen the posts saying things, like:

• This is the best marketing strategy for 2026.
• If you’re not doing this one thing, you’re falling behind.

And honestly, these posts are often a bunch of BS.

Why?

Most any marketing activity works if you do it consistently and do it well. That’s the truth.

• Email works
• Meta ads work
• LinkedIn works
• Speaking works
• Referrals work

Marketing is less about the tactic and more about execution.

That said, there are some tactics that may get you results quicker than others. 

What are those?

Before I get into one of them, I want to say: It’s not that the strategy I’m going to share is the only one that works, but it’s one that is often overlooked.

Plus, it can get you results fast, regardless of your marketing experience.

And the strategy is: call your stalled prospects.

The Right Way to Call Your Stalled Prospects

Wait. Before you jump in, I want you to take a moment and hear me out. Don’t pick up your phone and call someone with a hard pitch of your services.

When I say, “call your stalled prospects,” I want you to do this:

• Check-in on these past prospects
• Take a natural, non-pushy approach

Here’s what I would say, “You mentioned last fall that you wanted to revisit this in the new year. Now that it’s January, is it a good time to reconnect?”

Or, you can say something like:

“We talked a while back about [service/solution]. Is that still something you’d like to explore?”

You want to keep it:

• Light
• Personal
• Genuine 

The goal? Remind your stalled prospect that the door is still open.

I want to be clear here though.

I intentionally said to call your prospects.

No emails. No text messages.

Calling is really the most effective way to reconnect because it’s on a more personal level. You might even say that the best marketing strategy in 2026 is to be personal. 

There’s something about hearing another person’s voice on the other end of the line that cuts through all of the noise of the day. Your voice helps you connect on a deeper level.

But there are other steps you can take to kick it off right.

I’ll explain.  

Know Your Audience and How They Communicate

Now that you’ve reconnected with stalled prospects, let’s talk about what if you want to attract new better-fitting clients this year?

Then it’s time to meet your audience where they are. Get to know them. 

If your audience is younger, message them on TikTok, Instagram or even Snapchat. It likely feels more natural for them to communicate on these platforms.

What I really want to remove you from is your inbox. 

Truth be told, what I’ve seen produce the least results is emailing.

Why?

It’s so easy for your message to get ignored or buried in the sea of messages people receive. 

Now if email is your only option, go for it. But I strongly recommend against it if you have alternative routes.

Low-Lift Wins to Start 2026 Off Right

Looking for other quick, low-lift wins this month?

Here are some ideas:

• Reconnect with past clients. One simple “How did your year end up?” call can reignite your relationship.
• Share a client win from last year. Highlight the outcome and the transformation you created. People remember stories, not service lists. 
• Audit your website contact flow. Does your contact form still work properly? What about your scheduling links and CTAs? If not, get them back up and running ASAP. I also recommend adding your pricing or minimum pricing to your website so that people know what to expect before they schedule a meeting.
• Start creating a bank of content. I shared this strategy in my post about how to market your firm in 30 minutes a week. Record all of your meetings. Keep all of your Loom videos, client Q&As and emails in an easy-access place to use as marketing content throughout the year. In the future, you can transform this valuable content into short video clips, carousels and text quotes that you can post on social media and in other marketing materials.
• Send a “New Year” email to your list. Keep it short and sweet. Wish everyone a happy new year, share one insight and invite your subscribers to reply.
• Ask for 1-2 reviews or testimonials. Now is the perfect time to gather feedback from clients that you can use all year.
• Pitch 2-3 speaking opportunities or podcasts. Event planners and hosts are locking in guests at the start of the year.
• Start building a “wins” file. Keep track of the clients you help, problems you solve and great feedback you receive. Better yet: Take it a step forward and ask for a review or if you can do a case study. Every testimonial you collect or case study you produce can serve as marketing material in the future.

The bottom line? Don’t overcomplicate your marketing in January. 

• Focus on the people you already know. 
• Take a few small steps to refresh your presence. 
• Give yourself a quick win to build momentum for 2026.

And, that’s a wrap on this Dear Katie question.

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Now I want to hear from you. Do you have a question? 

Submit it here

Until next time, cheers to your success!

Katie