Every brand’s marketing deserves a regular spring clean. Your website, social media and email marketing can go stale faster than you think - and the tricky part? You often don’t notice. When you’re deep in the detail of day-to-day marketing, you stop seeing what your audience sees. The things that feel familiar to you are brand new to a prospective customer - and those first impressions matter most. Scheduling time to step back and review your content gives you a fresh perspective. It helps you refocus on what your audience sees first - and whether it still reflects who you are, what you offer and why they should care. Seeing as spring is just around the corner, here’s a practical checklist to prioritise - starting with the channel that usually makes the biggest impact: your website. Your Website Homepage Your homepage is often your digital shop window. It needs to be clear, compelling and conversion-focused. Ask yourself: • Does the first thing that appears on the screen immediately explain what you do and who you do it for? • Is your messaging still accurate, or has your offer evolved? • Do you have a clear call to action - and are people actually clicking it? • Does your main hero image still represent your brand well? Could it be stronger? • Have you collected new reviews or testimonials that could be showcased more prominently? • Have you earned any new awards, accreditations or partnerships that build trust? • Have you created any recent videos that would elevate your homepage? • Are there outdated services, team members or stats that need refreshing? If the answer to most of these is “not recently” - congratulations, you’ve just created your next marketing to-do list. Social Media Social media moves quickly. What worked six months ago might not resonate now. Start with the basics: • Are all your profile bios up to date? • Does your messaging clearly explain what you do and why someone should choose you? • Are your links current (including your Linktree or equivalent)? • On LinkedIn especially, is your Featured section showcasing your strongest, most strategic content? Then dig deeper: Look at the last 30 days of posts. Which ones generated meaningful engagement? Are you repeating formats that no longer perform? Could you test new formats — short-form video, carousels, behind-the-scenes content, educational posts? Who has been liking and commenting consistently? Should you nurture those relationships? Email Marketing Email is one of the highest-ROI channels — but only if it’s well maintained. Review: • Which recent emails performed well? Which didn’t - and why? • Are you sending emails out of habit rather than strategy? • Are your open rates and click-through rates trending up or down? Now the practical clean-up: • Tidy your segments. Can you personalise more effectively? • Remove inactive subscribers if necessary. • Is there outdated information in automated emails? • Could your templates use a visual refresh — new imagery, cleaner formatting, stronger CTAs? Better segmentation alone can completely transform your results. Don’t Just Do It Once A marketing spring clean shouldn’t happen just once a year. Schedule a review once a quarter and it becomes far less overwhelming. Small, consistent refinements lead to: • Clearer messaging • Stronger engagement • Higher conversions • More confident marketing decisions Marketing isn’t just about creating new content. It’s about making sure your existing content is still doing its job. So, Are You Due a Spring Clean? If you need a helping hand gfiguring out what's working and what's not, Explore Marketing can help you. We can audit all aspects of your business - and give you a full run-down of what needs tweaking / what could work better for you. Interested? Get in touch with us today and let's get started!

Short-form video has been “the future” for a while now - and in 2026, it’s still very much running the show. TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, LinkedIn video… wherever people are scrolling, short-form video is what stops thumbs, sparks engagement, and drives action. But while most brands are posting video, not all of them are doing it well. So why does short-form video still work so well - and how can brands use it without burning out or chasing every trend? Let’s break it down. Why Short-Form Video Still Works People scroll fast (really fast!) Attention spans are short, feeds are crowded, and no one’s waiting around for a slow intro. Short-form video fits perfectly into how people consume content now - quick, visual, and easy to digest. If you don’t grab attention in the first few seconds, you’re gone. Simple as that. Platforms Love It Social platforms are still pushing video hard. Short-form content gets more reach, more engagement, and more chances to land on explore or “For You” pages - especially when people actually watch it all the way through. For brands, that means more organic visibility without needing to throw money at ads straight away. It Feels More Real Over-produced, overly polished content just doesn’t hit the same anymore. People want to see real humans, not perfect brand messages. Quick videos filmed on a phone, behind-the-scenes clips, honest opinions, or “here’s what actually works” content often outperform big, glossy campaigns. What’s Different About Short-Form Video in 2026 Short-form video hasn’t gone anywhere - but expectations have changed. • It’s less about going viral and more about being useful • Viewers want quick value, not just entertainment • Storytelling matters, even in 15–30 seconds • Social platforms are becoming search engines, so what you say and write matters Basically: people want content that helps, teaches, or resonates - fast. How to Use Short-Form Video Without Overthinking It Short-form video works best when you get to the point fast. You’ve only got a couple of seconds to stop the scroll, so opening with a clear hook is essential. Calling out a problem, asking a relatable question, or showing the outcome upfront will keep people watching far more effectively than slow intros or branded openings. It’s also important to assume most viewers are watching without sound. Using captions, on-screen text, and strong visuals helps your message land even when audio is off - and makes your content more accessible overall. Keeping each video focused on one clear idea makes it easier for people to follow and remember. Trying to squeeze too much into a short clip often means nothing sticks, so simplicity is key. You can also take the pressure off by repurposing content across platforms. One well-made video can be shared on TikTok, Reels, Shorts, and even adapted for LinkedIn or ads with small tweaks. Finally, showing real people - whether that’s your team, creators, or customers - helps build trust and makes your content feel more human, which is exactly why short-form video works so well. Short-Form Video Ideas That Actually Work If you’re stuck, start here: • “One thing most people get wrong about…” • Quick tips or hacks in your industry • Behind-the-scenes moments • Answering common questions on camera • Customer reactions or testimonials • Myth-busting content • Trend-based content with a brand spin Simple ideas, easy to film, proven results. Final Thoughts Short-form video still dominates because it matches how people actually behave online - fast, visual, and human. You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need expensive equipment. You just need to: • Show up consistently • Deliver real value • Speak like a human, not a brand Do that, and short-form video will keep working for you long after the trends change!