Ep 250: New Year, New Revenue: Marketing & Branding Strategies Every Business Owner Needs in 2026

What if the biggest financial move you make in 2026 isn’t a Roth conversion or an investment pick—but fixing your marketing?

In the first episode of 2026, Certified Financial Planner™ David Chudyk sits down with marketing strategist Katie Brinkley to unpack practical, non-cringey marketing strategies that business owners can implement right now—without dancing on TikTok or posting 42 times a week.

This conversation is packed with real-world marketing advice, especially for Main Street businesses, professional service firms, and business owners who want more revenue without more chaos.

🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✔️ The real difference between marketing vs. sales (and why confusing them hurts revenue)

✔️ Why posting less—with intention—often leads to better results

✔️ How to market without being “goofy,” awkward, or inauthentic

✔️ What “going viral” actually means for a small business

✔️ Why podcasts are one of the best lead-generation tools available today

✔️ How to use email marketing (the most overlooked asset) effectively

✔️ Non-social-media marketing strategies that still work in 2026

✔️ How consistency—not perfection—wins the marketing game

⏱️ Key Topics & Highlights

1. Why your business is your greatest wealth-building tool
2. The shift toward personal branding after COVID
3. How to choose marketing strategies that match your personality
4. Lunch-and-learns, workshops, and relationship-based marketing
5. Why algorithms shouldn’t control your entire growth plan
6. Repurposing content the smart way (without burning out)

🎯 BONUS CONTENT

Your brand isn’t what you say it is—it’s what other people perceive.

Ask yourself:

1. What do your clients think you do?
2. What does your community say about you?
3. Would your competitors describe you the same way you do?

If those answers don’t align with your goals, it may be time to refine—or rebrand—your message.

👩‍💼 About Our Guest: Katie Brinkley

Katie Brinkley is a marketing strategist, speaker, and founder of Next Step Social. She’s been helping businesses grow through social media since the days of MySpace and has led national strategies for brands like AT&T.

She’s also the host of two podcasts:

1. Rocky Mountain Marketing – expert interviews and practical strategies
2. Marketing Trends Now – weekly solo episodes on what’s changing right now

👉 Learn more and connect with Katie:

🌐 https://www.katiebrinkley.com

📞 Ready to Talk About Your Financial Vision?

If marketing,...