Is your Q1 marketing strategy on track? - Davison and Brain Digital Ltd

The first quarter of the year is a pivotal time for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Q1 sets the tone for the rest of the year, so it’s essential to have clear business goals and really get your marketing strategy on track.

Yes, it’s an exciting time, full of possibility and potential. Who doesn’t love the process of generating ideas? But how do you know if your plans are working or if adjustments are needed?

Here are 3 quick checks to ensure your Q1 marketing strategy is on track with solid goals that are aligned and achievable.

3 quick checks to ensure your Q1 marketing stratgety is on track

1. Are your goals clearly defined and measurable?

Setting clear, measurable goals is the foundation of a successful marketing strategy. Vague objectives like “increase sales” or “get more leads” make it difficult to track progress or evaluate success.

If you find goal setting challenging, it doesn’t have to be! We can walk you through the process so that you set real, achievable goals that make sense for your business.

Quick checks:

Have you set specific targets for Q1, such as “gain 15 new customers” or “boost website traffic by 20%”?
Are your goals tied to your overall business objectives, like revenue growth or brand awareness?
Do you have tools like Google Analytics or a CRM in place to measure progress?

If your goals feel too broad, refine them into SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

2. Are you reaching and engaging your target audience?

Your marketing strategy should be 100% centred on your audience. If you’re not focusing on your existing or potential customers, then you’re wasting breath shouting into the wind.

If engagement is low you need to find out why. It could mean your message isn’t resonating or your campaigns aren’t reaching the right people. Once you know the problem, you can go about finding the solution to fix it.

Quick checks:

Are your campaigns focused on addressing your audience’s pain points or interests?
Which marketing channels are driving the most engagement—social media, email, or search?
Are you seeing meaningful interactions like clicks, comments, or shares?

If your engagement metrics are falling short, consider tweaking your messaging, testing new formats, or adjusting your targeting. Try not to change too many things at the same time so you can track what works and what doesn’t.

3. Are you tracking your ROI effectively?

Marketing is an investment, and knowing your return on investment (ROI) is the key to making informed decisions. Many small businesses fall into the trap of “spray and pray,” spending on campaigns without knowing which ones deliver results.

Quick checks:

Are you monitoring campaign performance regularly to identify top-performing efforts?
Can you connect leads or sales directly to specific marketing activities?
Are there opportunities to streamline costs by focusing on high-performing strategies?

If you’re unsure about ROI, reviewing your budget allocation and focusing on cost-effective channels like email marketing or organic content may help maximise impact.

Let’s ensure your Q1 success

Assessing your Q1 marketing strategy doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By focusing on clear goals, audience engagement, and ROI, you can stay on track and make meaningful adjustments where needed.

At Davison & Brain Digital, we specialise in helping small businesses and entrepreneurs refine their marketing strategies to deliver results. From setting measurable goals to making sense of marketing data, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.