33. Your 2025 Marketing Plan Reset: How to Finish the Year Strong

Do you remember the Nicolas Cage movie The Family Man? In it, he wakes up one morning to a completely different life - the life he could have had if he had stayed with his college sweetheart. I’ve always loved that film because I love the idea of do-overs. And I love the idea of do-overs in business too.

That’s why I love the energy of September. Sure, January gets all the hype as “New Year, New You.” But let’s be honest - by the time we get to fall, most of our January goals have either shifted, been shelved, or flat-out exploded. September, with its back-to-school routines, cooler air, and sense of rhythm, gives us that fresh-start feeling all over again. It’s like a second New Year, and it’s the perfect time to pause, reflect, and reset your marketing plan for the rest of the year using my three-part framework.

Step 1: Audit (Without the Judgment)

The first step in my three-part framework - Audit, Architect, Act - is to take inventory. This isn’t about beating yourself up. It’s about clarity. Think of it less like an IRS audit (ugh) and more like a car tune-up. You take your car in so a mechanic can catch little issues before they turn into expensive breakdowns. Marketing works the same way.

When you audit your marketing, you’re looking at your entire customer journey - from awareness to loyalty - and asking:

• Are people finding me?

• Am I nurturing relationships, or jumping too fast to “buy now”?

• Is my sales process clear and easy?

• Am I keeping clients engaged after the sale?

• Do I invite them to come back, leave reviews, or refer others?

It’s not about perfection. It’s about finding the weak spots and spotting quick wins that could give your business a lift right away.

Step 2: Architect (Create a Marketing Plan with Purpose)

Once you know where you are, then you can decide where you want to go. This step is about designing a marketing plan that matches your capacity, season of life, and goals.

Maybe you’ve got the bandwidth to lean hard into lead generation. Maybe your sales process is solid, but your nurture strategy is weak. Or maybe you just need to make sure your marketing budget stretches through December.

Whatever your focus, tie your marketing plan directly to your business goals. If your goal is more discovery calls, then your plan should emphasize awareness and consideration. If your goal is more repeat clients, focus on retention and loyalty.

The key? Don’t try to fix everything at once. Choose one priority that will move the needle and build around that.

Step 3: Act (And Keep Momentum)

This is where most business owners lose steam - but it doesn’t have to be you. Start with a quick win to build momentum. That could be something as simple as improving your email subject lines or creating a two-part welcome sequence for new subscribers. Small, easy changes can spark motivation.

Then, measure everything against a single goal. If your homepage goal is to get more discovery calls, then “Book a Call” should be the clear, repeated CTA throughout the page. Don’t overcomplicate it - keep your focus on one measurable outcome.

Finally, keep the energy alive. Set a recurring 15-minute weekly check-in for yourself (or your team) to review progress and adjust. Marketing isn’t about one big leap - it’s about staying consistent and keeping momentum.

Your Fresh Start Begins Here

No matter how messy this year has felt, September gives you the gift of a do-over. A chance to reset your goals, re-align your marketing, and finish strong.

And if the idea of auditing your marketing feels overwhelming, that’s where I come in. I’ve created Marketing 360, a comprehensive marketing audit that gives you clarity on what’s working, what’s not, and what to fix first. I’ll walk through your customer journey, website, email, and analytics to uncover where you’re losing traction - and where you can grow faster.

💡 Spots will be limited and available at a special introductory rate. Join the priority notification list so you’ll be the first to know when it launches.