5 Things to STOP Doing in Your Marketing in 2026

Approximate reading time 7 minutes (based on approximately 1,550 words at average reading speed of 225 words/minute)

Happy New Year!

While everyone else is telling you what to ADD to your marketing plan this year, I’m going to do something different. I’m going to give you permission to STOP.

Because here’s the truth that nobody talks about on January 1st: Most small businesses and solopreneurs don’t have a “doing too little” problem. They have a “doing too much of the wrong things” problem.

You’re exhausted from trying to keep up with every trend, every platform, and every piece of advice from marketing gurus who’ve never had to run a business solo.

So before you add another resolution to your list, consider this: The best marketing strategy for 2026 might be doing less, not more.

Here are 5 things you have permission to quit right now.

1. Stop Posting on Platforms Where Your Customers Aren't

I know you’ve heard you’re “supposed” to be on TikTok, LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and everywhere else. But let me ask you something: When’s the last time a customer actually told you they found you on [insert platform you’re forcing yourself to post on]? If you can’t remember, or if the answer is “never,” you have permission to stop. Yes, even if everyone says it’s the “hot platform” right now. Even if your competitor is there. Even if some expert said you’re “leaving money on the table.” Your time is your most valuable asset. Every hour you spend creating content for a platform where your ideal customers don’t hang out is an hour you’re not spending reaching the people who actually want to buy from you. One action to take today: Pick ONE platform where you’ve been posting consistently but seeing zero real business results. Pause it for Q1. You can always come back if you miss it (spoiler: you probably won’t).

2. Stop Creating Content You Hate Making

If the thought of filming another video makes you want to fake your own death, stop making videos (I feel this way, and I don’t make videos).

If writing lengthy blog posts feels like pulling teeth, write shorter ones. Or don’t write at all.

Here’s what nobody tells you: Your audience can tell when you’re forcing it. The content you dread making is almost always the content that performs worst, because your lack of enthusiasm seeps through every frame, every word, every post.

You don’t have to be good at every content format. You just need to be good at ONE format that your customers actually respond to.

Love talking? Start a podcast or do voice memos. Love writing? Email newsletters are having a massive comeback.

Great with visuals? Lean into graphics and carousels.

Marketing should energize you, not drain you. If it’s consistently draining you, you’re doing it wrong.

One action to take today: Make a list of your 3 favorite content types to create. Now look at your content calendar. What percentage of your content falls into those categories? In 2026, make it at least 80%.

3. Stop Tracking Vanity Metrics That Don't Pay the Bills

Confession time: How often do you check your follower count? Honestly, I used to be sooo obsessed with this. How much mental energy do you waste wondering why that post only got 47 impressions when last week’s got 312? Here’s the hard truth: Follower counts don’t pay your bills. Impressions don’t buy your products. Likes don’t become clients. I’m not saying metrics don’t matter. I’m saying THESE metrics don’t matter as much as you think they do. What actually matters:

How many meaningful conversations are you having?
How many email subscribers are you gaining?
How many discovery calls are you booking?
How many people are actually buying?

You can have 10,000 followers and make $0. Or you can have 500 engaged followers and build a six-figure business. I know which one pays the mortgage. One action to take today: Delete one analytics app from your phone. Seriously. Right now. You’ll check your stats less obsessively, and your mental health will thank you. Check once a week on your laptop instead.

Consumer Rights: What People Can Demand from You

These laws give residents the right to:

Access their data (“Show me what you have on me”)
Delete their data (“Forget I ever existed”)
Correct inaccurate data (“Actually, that’s not my middle name”)
Port their data to another service (take their ball and go home)
Opt out of data sales and targeted advertising

Some laws also give people the right to restrict processing or object to automated decision-making and profiling (think: algorithms deciding who gets a loan or personalized ads). The kicker? You can’t discriminate against people for exercising these rights. Do not penalize customers for requesting that you delete their data.

4. Stop Saying Yes to Every "Opportunity"

Slowly raises hand.

Guest post invitations. Podcast interview requests.

Collaboration offers. Joint webinars. Instagram Lives with “aligned” businesses.

Not all exposure is good exposure.

Every time you say yes to someone else’s platform, you’re saying no to building your own. Every guest appearance is time you’re not spending on your own content, your own audience, your own offers.

And let’s be honest: How many of those guest posts actually resulted in clients? How many podcast listeners became customers?

I’m not saying never collaborate. I’m saying be strategic. Your time is your inventory. Spend it wisely.

One action to take today: Create ONE simple criterion for saying no. Mine is: “Will this put me in front of my ideal customer, or just in front of an audience?” If it’s just exposure for exposure’s sake, it’s a pass.

5. Stop Copying Strategies Designed for Companies With Full Marketing Teams

You are not Nike.

You’re not even a 10-person startup with a marketing manager, a social media coordinator, a graphic designer, and a content strategist.

You’re one person (or a very small team) trying to do everything.

So why are you trying to execute marketing strategies built for companies with resources you don’t have?

That “complete social media strategy” you found? It assumes you have someone to design graphics, someone to write captions, someone to edit videos, someone to respond to comments, and someone to analyze the data.

That content calendar template? It expects you to post daily across 5 platforms.

That launch plan? It’s designed for a team that can create ads, write emails, host webinars, and run a challenge simultaneously.

You cannot do all of that. And you shouldn’t try.

One action to take today: Look at your current marketing plan (if you have one). Circle everything that requires resources you don’t have—whether that’s time, money, skills, or team members. Now cross them out. What’s left? THAT’S your real strategy.

The Best Marketing Plan Is One You'll Actually Do

This took me a long time to accept. Here’s what I want you to remember as you head into 2026:

Marketing in 2026 isn’t about doing everything. It’s about doing the right things consistently.

Sometimes the best way to move forward is to stop doing what’s holding you back.

You don’t need to be everywhere. You don’t need to create every type of content. You don’t need to hit arbitrary follower counts.

You don’t need to say yes to every opportunity. And you definitely don’t need to copy strategies built for companies 100 (or even 10) times your size.

What you need is clarity. Focus. And permission to do less, better.

So here’s my challenge: Pick ONE thing from this list. Stop doing it for the next 90 days.

I promise you won’t miss it. And I’m willing to bet your business (and your sanity) will be better for it.

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