Fresh Start, Fresh Look: Your Guide to Planning Your 2026 Brand Visibility

With 2025 coming to an end and many of us looking ahead to 2026, I was just wondering how do you actually feel about your business?

At this time of year, I find myself reaching for the fairy lights and tinsel — anything that makes the days feel a bit brighter and cosier when it’s dark and cold outside.

The days are shorter, everyone wants everything finished before Christmas, and on top of that, there’s family stuff, lists, and plans buzzing around in our heads. It can all feel a bit full-on. And then, just as you’re trying to get through the week, someone pipes up with “you should really be planning for next year”…

I know that there are some of us that are already creating next year’s plan, while others will just be focused on reaching the next goal. For me, I, plan my year from April to March - which gives me a little more time to enjoy Christmas with family and friends, and an opportunity to rest and reset, with time to mull over next steps, ready for a Spring start.  

Whether this is your season for planning or not, one thing I often hear is how beneficial this time is for reflection. The change of pace and focus we experience as the year ends often gives us an opportunity to consider what has gone well and things we might have done differently. So how can we make the most of that time?

In this blog, I’m going to focus on how we can take insights from 2025 and use them to give ourselves an even better year in 2026. 

Take Time to Reflect on Your Brand Visibility

Firstly, let’s stop… and reflect on the year that’s just been. Talking to clients and peers, I know that 2025 has been a challenging year for many of us, whether that’s due to financial concerns, changing markets, or the continual balancing act of running a business while managing life away from work (not to mention the other lives that rely on us).

Take some time to think about: 

• How do you feel about your business right now? The good, the bad, and the ugly!

• Over the past year, how did your visibility and marketing efforts work? 

• Did your images and brand visuals effectively represent your business and attract your ideal clients? 

• And how do you feel about presenting yourself and your business with them next year?

Measuring Success

So, how do you actually know if your marketing worked? 

It’s not just about likes or followers — it’s about real connections, enquiries, and ultimately, sales. Which strategies delivered results and which didn’t? Did you track your progress? What lessons can you learn from any setbacks or challenges?

This understanding is key, not only in the easy clicks but also in how this supports your sales and what your audience wants from you. Use the information you have, to build an understanding of everywhere you are seen and what your audience experiences as they get to know you.

As well as the data you’ve got available, it’s also worth considering your own gut feelings. How do you feel about the content you're creating? Do you find yourself avoiding using images that you feel don’t reflect you? What do people tell you in conversations?

Understanding what worked — and what didn’t — is the foundation for smarter planning and stronger marketing in 2026.

Creating Your 2026 Strategy

So, armed with those lessons, it’s time to build your strategy for the year ahead. Consider:

• Are you going to stay with the same platforms? 

• The same posting schedule? 

• Thinking about the content that worked and what didn’t? Do you know why? 

  
  

I talked more about how to build your visibility in my post Visibility That Matters, you might find this helpful. 

As well as considering what you know about your own marketing results, consider the wider picture, including the kinds of content you enjoy and the topics your audience shares and talks about. This doesn’t mean you should jump on every viral trend, but if it’s something you enjoy that you could use to add value to your audience, this inspiration can be really beneficial. 

Building Trust, the Key to Marketing

One conversation I’ve had a lot recently is about building trust. Whether it’s because of rising costs or increased competition for services, we’re seeing that business investment has become more considered. 

With people taking longer to make buying decisions, nurturing relationships and building confidence with your audience is key. Visibility isn’t just about being seen; it’s about being known and trusted.

Collaboration can be a powerful tool here. When you need the help and expertise of others, you’ll achieve much stronger results. And where other business owners share your audience, consider how collaboration can increase your reach.

Creating a cohesive, authentic presence that resonates with your ideal clients is key. The best work comes from partnerships, working together to create effective, engaging content focused on your audience. As a photographer, support is fundamental to what I do.

Planning Your Brand Photography and Visual Content

So, do your current images still reflect who you are and where your brand is headed? Your business evolves, and how you present yourself should, too.

It’s also important to think about what messages you have to share this year. We’ve talked about planning your content before, particularly in this post, Planning Power. 

• Will your existing images fit into your plan, or do you need to consider a photoshoot? 

• If you need some more images, would a big photoshoot suit you or would smaller seasonal shoots throughout the year be better? 

  
  

Having fresh, purposeful imagery for your content will help keep your brand vibrant and relevant, so you and your audience are happy and engaged with it.

Please Be Kind to Yourself

Finally, be realistic and kind with your planning. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach — find the timing and rhythm that works for you. It’s okay to plan when you feel ready, balancing your drive with your wellbeing. No one else is running your business or living your life, it’s up to you to set your goals - and to decide when you should do it.

Celebrate the things that went well this year, and be positive about those things which weren’t so great - these are opportunities for learning.

I hope this post has given you some useful ideas about enhancing your visibility and taking control of how you might market your business next year. 

Visibility Shift

One of my highlights of the year has been recording the Visibility Shift interviews, in which 12 experts in their field shared their thoughts on how to ensure you are seen and trusted. To celebrate the festive season, all the Visibility Shift interviews will stay available on my website to watch until Twelfth Night (6 January 2026). 

And because this is the season of giving, I’m also offering my Ultimate Brand Package at a special seasonal price of £997 (until 6 January 2026). The package includes:

• 3-hour Personal Brand Shoot - Craft imagery that elevates your business, strengthens your brand authority, and tells the story only you can tell.

• The Visibility Vault
- A three-session mini-course designed to help you create consistent, meaningful content with simple, repeatable strategies.

  
  

The price returns to £1400 after Twelfth Night—so if 2026 is the year you want to be truly seen, now’s the perfect time to book.

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