by Judah | Oct 24, 2025 | Business Strategy, Content Marketing Tips, Marketing, SEO & Online Visibility
If you are like me and have kids in elementary and middle school, you’ve been hearing the constant repeating of the numbers, “6-7”. Every generation has its thing. For my kids, it’s “6-7.” For me growing up, it was quoting movie lines from Tommy Boy or Happy Gilmore. But now, my kids have turned this nonsense number game into an art form. I can’t even say the number six without them firing back with “seven” and the hand gesture that goes with it. It is so cool and funny when my 10 and 12 yr old do it, but whenever I subtly mix it in to conversation, I get this blank stare from my daughter as if to say, “No, Dad, not cool.”
It’s gotten to a point where I’ve thought, do I embrace and capitalize on this trend by creating some fun and interesting “6-7” t-shirts?
The same impulse that drives kids to repeat viral memes is tempting business owners to jump on every marketing fad. I’ve caught myself doing it: chasing AI for AI’s sake, launching that hot new platform, or copying what someone else’s brand is doing. And it usually backfires.
So how do you spot which marketing trends are worth your time and which ones are just shiny distractions?
The Temptation of Trends
It’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind if you’re not experimenting with every new marketing tool. In fact, Semrush reports that 67% of marketers say they currently use AI for content marketing or SEO (pretty relevant statistic 😊). And according to HubSpot’s 2025 Marketing Trends data, AI tools for content creation and workflow automation are top investments.
But most small businesses don’t have the people, budget, or brand clarity to adopt every trend meaningfully. Blindly chasing fads can distort your budget, distract your team, and dilute your brand. That “must-do” trend might cost you much more than it returns.
When Chasing Trends Costs You Your Brand
Brand consistency matters. According to branding research by Fit Small Business, consistent branding across channels can increase revenue by up to 20%. If your business is switching voices, visuals, and platforms every few months chasing what’s new, you lose memorability.
Imagine your brand as a signature style; something people recognize instantly. If you keep overlaying every new trend, you lose your edge. Your brand becomes bland. When everyone’s chasing the same shiny thing, no one stands out.
Marketing Trends Worth Watching
Let’s call out a few trends that are worth considering, but only if they fit your business:
- AI-assisted content & automation — Marketers increasingly use AI tools to scale content creation and optimize workflows. CMSWire.com
- Visual storytelling & video-first content — Short-form video continues to dominate engagement. CMSWire.com
- Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) / generative search answers — Search engines are delivering answers, not just links. Some queries never result in a website click anymore. TechRadar
These trends are valid. But they should amplify your brand, not hijack it.
How to Evaluate a Trend Before You Dive In
Before you pour time or money into something new, run it through this Trend Test Checklist:
✅ Audience fit: Will this trend help reach your actual customers — not just impress marketers?
✅ Measurement clarity: Can you tie it back to leads, awareness, or conversions?
✅ Brand alignment: Does this trend blend with your brand voice, or does it force you to act like someone else?
✅ Data signals: Use Google Trends, analyze competitor adoption, and review preliminary metrics before full rollout.
✅ Complement vs. distract: Will this support your core marketing or steal resources from your foundational channels?
What to Do Instead
Stop chasing every bright new thing. Start with clarity:
- Define your brand story and positioning
- Invest in a website or audit that shows what’s working and what’s not
- Build foundational tools (email, FAQs, content pillars) before layering in trends
- Use trends as strategic amplifiers, not substitutes
The most lasting marketing trends? Consistency. Repetition. Authentic voice.
How do I know if a marketing trend fits my business?
Start by asking one simple question: Would this trend help me reach and serve my ideal customer better? If the answer is “I’m not sure,” it’s worth pausing. Use a quick test before diving in:
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Audience Fit: Does your audience use this platform or format?
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Brand Alignment: Does it reflect your voice and values, or does it make you sound like everyone else?
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Sustainability: Can you realistically maintain it for 6+ months without stretching your team thin? Trends should amplify what’s already working, not replace it. If it feels like a full pivot, it’s probably a distraction.
What happens when businesses chase too many marketing trends at once?
Think of your marketing like compound interest — it grows through consistent deposits. Jumping between trends resets your momentum every time. The fallout usually looks like this:
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Inconsistent messaging: Customers can’t tell who you are or what you stand for.
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Scattered focus: Your time and money get split across half-baked efforts.
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Weaker trust: Audiences start tuning you out because nothing feels steady.
The cure isn’t to avoid trends completely, but to build a solid foundation (website, email, SEO) first, then layer trends that support your story.
What marketing trends in 2025 are worth paying attention to?
Not all trends are gimmicks. Some represent real shifts in how people find and engage with brands. A few to watch include:
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AI-assisted content creation and automation: Helpful for efficiency, but it only works when you personalize it with human insight.
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Video-first storytelling: Short-form video remains powerful for connection, especially if you show your process or people behind the brand.
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Generative search and AEO (Answer Engine Optimization): Search engines are giving users direct answers now, so your content needs clear, conversational phrasing that matches what people ask.
The key is to adopt strategically, not reactively. Every trend should pass your “brand filter” first.
How can I stay up to date with trends while keeping my marketing consistent?
Consistency isn’t the enemy of creativity; it’s the framework that makes creativity believable. To stay consistent:
- Document your brand voice — What you sound like, what you don’t, and your core story.
- Create content pillars — 3–5 key themes you talk about regularly.
- Batch plan — Dedicate specific weeks or campaigns for trend testing rather than reacting weekly.
- Review quarterly — Look at data, audience feedback, and performance before deciding what to keep.
When you have a clear rhythm, trends become tools you can plug in, not disruptions you chase.
How can a website audit and strategy call help me choose the right marketing trends?
A website audit gives you a clear picture of how your current marketing is performing — things like SEO health, site speed, messaging clarity, and conversion flow. Pairing that with a strategy call turns insight into action. Together, we’ll:
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Identify which channels or trends are driving your traffic and leads.
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Uncover where your messaging or brand story might be confusing visitors.
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Find opportunities to improve SEO so your website shows up better in search results.
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Map out practical next steps based on data, not hype.
It’s the difference between guessing what works and knowing what works. For most small businesses, that clarity alone is worth more than any hot new marketing trick.
Want Clarity Before Chasing the Next Fad?
If you’re tired of trying every new marketing gimmick without seeing real results, start with clarity.
I’m offering a free Website Audit to help you see what’s working, what’s not, and where your site might be holding you back.
From there, you can book a discounted Strategy Call (for a limited time) where we’ll walk through your results, uncover growth opportunities, and outline a focused next step for your business.
No fluff. No pressure. Just clear insights and a plan you can trust.
by Judah | Jul 31, 2025 | Content Marketing Tips, SEO & Online Visibility, Small Business Growth
From Google Confusion to Real Business Clarity
When I started Dynamic Spark, I didn’t have a roadmap or a clear strategy. Honestly, I didn’t even know what questions to ask. Like most small business owners, I spent hours Googling things like “how to get clients,” “small business marketing help,” and “what is SEO and why does it hurt my brain?”
Along the way, I stumbled onto a few game changers.
First, Donald Miller’s Building a StoryBrand and Marketing Made Simple taught me to stop rattling off features and start guiding my clients like the heroes they are. Then I found Web Designer Pro, a community for people like me, solo business owners juggling design, strategy, and sanity. It offered more than courses and tutorials. It gave me confidence, clarity, and answers to the 2 a.m. panic questions I didn’t want to ask in public.
Later, I found SCORE, a free resource that matched me with a mentor and helped me work on my business instead of just in it.
What do these all have in common? They helped me find the right answers faster. Which is exactly why Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) matters so much for your business today. Let’s dig in.
What Is Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)?
AEO is all about getting your business content ready to be pulled into AI-generated answers. Think ChatGPT, Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE), Bing Copilot, or Perplexity. These tools don’t just list websites anymore. They summarize, synthesize, and serve answers, often without showing a single blue link.
If your website is not structured to be the answer, you’re invisible to an entire layer of search.
AEO vs SEO vs GEO: Yes, It’s Getting Complicated
- SEO is about ranking on Google with keywords and backlinks.
- GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) focuses on how AI summarizes or cites your brand in long-form answers.
- AEO is about being the short, clear, trusted answer at the top of the page or AI feed.
Think of it this way: traditional SEO gets you found, AEO gets you featured. And GEO? That’s the cherry on top.
Why Should Small Businesses Care?
Because most small businesses depend on trust and relationships. And when someone types in a question asking who provides what you offer near your location, you want to be the one mentioned.
According to What 2025 SEO Data Tells Us About Google’s Search Shift by Semrush, more than 40 percent of search queries are now resolved without a click. People are getting answers directly from AI summaries, not your site. That means your content needs to be structured to feed the engine, not just rank on it.
AEO for Small Business: How to Show Up in AI Answers
Structure Your Content Like an Answer
- Use questions as headers
- Provide clear answers in the first sentence
- Break up long paragraphs
- Use FAQ schema (a type of structured data markup that helps search engines understand that a page contains a list of frequently asked questions and their answers), bullet lists, and how-to formats
- Add internal links to relevant pages
- Reference reputable external SEO sources like HubSpot, ahrefs, or Semrush
Add Helpful, Human Content
AI doesn’t just reward keyword-stuffed blogs. It rewards relevance. Your content should answer real questions like:
- “How much does a small business website cost?”
- “How do I start email marketing for my business?”
- “What is the difference between SEO and AEO?”
Then you’re speaking the same language as your customers and the AI.
AEO + Relationship Marketing = Actual Growth
If you’re the kind of business that thrives on referrals and word-of-mouth, AEO is just the digital version of showing up with the right advice at the right time.
It’s how you build credibility without constantly posting on social media and wondering why nobody saw your reel. It’s how you land in the AI-powered conversations your future clients are having.
You don’t need to become a tech wizard. You just need to get specific, helpful, and structure your content so it can work harder for you.
External Resources Worth Reading
Will AEO replace SEO?
Not completely. SEO still matters. But you also need to be answer-ready for AI tools so that your brand doesn’t becomes invisible.
What’s the difference between SEO and AEO?
SEO focuses on ranking your website in search results. AEO focuses on structuring your content to be directly used in AI-generated answers.
Do I need AEO if I’m already doing SEO?
Yes. The algorithms are evolving. If you’re only optimizing for search engines and not for AI-generated answers, you’ll be left behind.
Does AEO require advanced coding?
No. You can use FAQ blocks, structured headings, bullet lists, and free schema plugins. You just need clear answers.
How do I measure AEO performance?
Watch for featured snippets, AI overview hits, improved click-throughs. For example, if you ask ChatGPT, “What’s the best pizza in Madison, WI?” and your brand is listed in the top five, that’s a win, even if it doesn’t lead to a click.
What should I do first?
Start by reviewing your blog posts and adding question-based headers, concise answers, and internal links. Add a FAQ section and you’re already halfway there.
Can small businesses still compete?
Absolutely. AEO gives smaller brands a level playing field. If you answer user questions better, you get cited, even over big sites.
Should I change my content calendar?
Yes. Add more FAQ posts, process explanations, how-to pages, and answer-specific blogs. That gives AI engines fuel to cite you.
Ready to Stop Hiding on Page 4 of Google?
If your website is still acting like it’s 2012, you’re probably missing out on the leads and visibility your business deserves. Whether you need a total overhaul or just a smart refresh that aligns with how people search today, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s make your website work smarter.
by Judah | Apr 26, 2025 | Content Marketing Tips, Marketing, Small Business Growth
What Can a 2000s Rapper Teach You About Marketing? More Than You Think!
Before I dive in, let’s get one thing straight: I am not endorsing Mike Jones’ music—unless, of course, you enjoy lyrics that make your grandma clutch her pearls. This post is strictly about marketing brilliance, not questionable life choices.
Ok, let’s talk about Mike Jones. Who? Mike Jones.
No, not your neighbor. Not your accountant. THE Mike Jones. The Houston rapper who, despite having the lyrical depth of a kiddie pool, somehow made his name unforgettable.
I mean, I’ve been dating my girlfriend for several years now, and I still don’t know her phone number. But if you ask me right now for Mike Jones’ digits, I’ll drop 281-330-8004 faster than you can say “flip phone.”
What Made Mike Jones Unforgettable? Repetition.
Mike Jones had a marketing strategy so simple yet so effective it should be in textbooks. He repeated his name and phone number so many times in his songs that it became impossible to forget.
It’s the same reason why jingles like “Nationwide is on your side” or “I’m lovin’ it” are burned into your brain forever. Repetition = brand recognition.
Your Business Needs a “Mike Jones” Moment
If people don’t remember who you are or what you do, it’s not because they’re dumb—it’s because you haven’t told them enough times.
Think about it:
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- You post on social media once and expect people to remember your business? Nope.
- You introduce your brand once and assume clients will call? Think again.
- You explain your services once and think they get it? Spoiler alert: They don’t.
In marketing, it takes an average of 8-12 touchpoints before a customer makes a purchase. (And let’s be honest—if Mike Jones had only said his name once, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.)
How to Be More Like Mike (Marketing Edition)
1. Repeat Your Core Message
What do you do? Who do you help? Say it. Then say it again. Then say it when people are sick of hearing it. That’s when they finally start remembering.
2. Be Easy to Remember
Mike Jones didn’t go by Michael Q. Jones, CPA—he kept it simple. Your brand messaging should be just as catchy. A memorable tagline, slogan, or value statement goes a long way.
3. Make It Easy to Find You
Mike Jones literally gave out his phone number in every song. Are you hiding behind an outdated contact form and a website that loads slower than dial-up. Fix that.
4. Be Consistent Across Platforms
Mike Jones didn’t switch it up—same name, same number, every time. If your brand voice sounds different on Instagram, LinkedIn, and your website, you’re confusing people. Keep it consistent.
5. Show Up More Often Than You Think You Need To
Mike Jones didn’t just mention his name once per album—he said it in every song. You need to show up regularly in front of your audience through blogs, social media, and email marketing.
Final Thought: Will People Remember You?
Mike Jones turned a simple marketing strategy into a lasting legacy (and let’s be honest—he did it without Facebook ads, SEO, or Google Analytics).
So, here’s the real question: If a 2000s rapper can make millions of people remember his name and phone number, what’s stopping your business from being unforgettable?
Want to keep your marketing on point? Subscribe to my newsletter (Or just refresh the page and fill out the info in the popup :).
Need help crafting a brand people won’t forget? Let’s talk.
Now go forth and channel your inner Mike Jones—minus the questionable lyrics.
