Year-End Business Planning: 5 Strategic Marketing Questions to Ask Yourself

As the year winds down, most small business owners are engaged in year-end business planning.

They are looking ahead, thinking about growth, refining offers, and planning their next moves. Year-end business planning isn’t just about finances and operations; it’s a crucial time to evaluate your strategic marketing efforts and lay the groundwork for meaningful results in the year ahead.

At Oakes Creative House, we believe your marketing should meet you where you are. Whether you’re a solopreneur with a DIY strategy or a growing business ready to scale, asking the right questions now sets you up for stronger marketing results later.

Here are 5 questions to guide your year-end business planning and ensure your marketing strategy is aligned with your business goals.

1. What’s working, and what’s not?

Start with a clear-eyed review of the past year. What marketing tactics delivered results? What felt like a drain on your time and budget?

Whether it’s social media, SEO, email newsletters, or a new website, look at the data and listen to your gut. If something didn’t serve your audience or generate great marketing results, it’s time to rethink or retire it.

💡 Pro Tip: Check your analytics but also consider how each tactic felt to execute. Sustainable strategic marketing starts with a plan that feels right to you and your brand.

2. Is your brand still aligned with your business?

If you’ve evolved as a business owner, your branding should reflect that. Many of our clients come to us after outgrowing their original look and messaging. If your brand no longer feels like “you”—or if you’re attracting the wrong audience—it might be time for a refresh.

As part of your year-end business planning, ask:

• Does your current branding still speak to your ideal client?
• Are your visuals and messaging consistent across platforms?
• Do you have new offers that haven’t yet been integrated into your core message?

3. How strong is your digital foundation?

Before jumping into flashy new tactics, take a step back and assess your core marketing assets: your website, SEO, and email list. These pieces form the foundation of any smart strategic marketing plan.

Ask yourself:

• Does your website clearly explain what you do and who you help?
• Are you ranking for the keywords your audience is searching?
• Are you nurturing leads through email marketing?

If any of these answers are “not really,” start here before adding more to your plate.

4. Are you measuring what matters?

Your marketing efforts should be tied to specific, measurable goals. It’s easy to get lost in vanity metrics—likes, views, followers—but what’s actually moving the needle in your business?

For example:

• Did your blog drive website traffic?
• Did your social media generate inquiries?
• Did your email newsletter increase conversions?

Focus on tracking what leads to actual marketing results so you can do more of what works and less of what doesn’t.

5. Do you have the right support?

You don’t have to do it all alone—and you shouldn’t. Whether you need help clarifying your message, creating content, or building out a full strategy, working with the right team can save you time and drive better results.

At Oakes Creative House, we offer everything from marketing roadmaps and brand strategy to SEO, websites, and content creation—meeting you where you are and helping you grow with confidence.