Get Ahead of 2026: Industrial Marketing Moves To Make Now

Posted by:
Category: Industrial Marketing

As the year comes to a close, many industrial companies and job shops focus on finishing strong with production schedules, customer deliveries, and year-end commitments. However, innovative businesses also recognize that this is the ideal time to prepare for the year ahead. Marketing is not something to put off until January; it is a critical investment that helps you enter 2026 with momentum, visibility, and stronger customer relationships.

1.) Review and refresh your marketing strategy

The end of the year is the right time to take stock of what worked and what fell short in your marketing efforts. By evaluating performance now, you can fine-tune your strategy and ensure you are investing in the proper channels for 2026.

Action steps to consider:

Analyze website traffic and lead conversions to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
Compare trade show ROI – did the shows you attended generate qualified leads or just “foot traffic”?
Review email and social campaign performance (open rates, clicks, engagement).
Revisit your sales pipeline – how did marketing support or fall short of your team’s goals?
Align your 2026 marketing goals with your sales and production capacity.

2.) Update your online presence

Your website and digital footprint are often the first impressions that potential customers have of you. Before the new year, ensure they accurately reflect your current capabilities and position you as a dependable partner.

Action steps to consider:

Refresh your website with updated white papers, case studies, new photos of your facility/equipment, new videos, testimonials, and more.
Audit SEO keywords to ensure you are showing up for the services you want to be found for.
Test your website’s mobile performance and page speed (slow sites turn buyers away).
Update LinkedIn and other company profiles with new certifications, capabilities, or awards.
Ensure that your contact forms, RFQ forms, and phone numbers function flawlessly.

3.) Strengthen customer relationships

The holidays are the perfect time to go beyond a generic “thank you” and connect in ways that reinforce your value as a trusted partner.

Action steps to consider:

Send personalized year-end emails or letters highlighting how you have invested in new technology or improved lead times.
Share a recap of success stories or case studies showing how you solved customer problems in 2025.
Offer a short survey to ask how you can better support customers in 2026.
Have sales reps schedule quick calls to check in on next year’s needs and production forecasts.
Deliver thoughtful, industry-relevant holiday gifts or branded items that keep your company top-of-mind.

4.) Plan your trade shows and campaigns early

Locking in your marketing schedule now ensures that you won’t lose opportunities or scramble later in the year.

Action steps to consider:

Finalize which trade shows and industry events you will attend in 2026.
Book booth space and begin planning displays and messaging to avoid last-minute costs.
Develop a 12-month content calendar with topics for blogs, case studies, and email campaigns.
Plan campaigns around customer buying cycles and known industry slowdowns.
Coordinate sales and marketing messaging so every touchpoint is consistent.

5.) Invest in professional marketing support

Many industrial companies lack the internal bandwidth to manage marketing effectively. A specialized partner can keep you consistent and competitive.

Action steps to consider:

Evaluate your internal capacity – what can your team realistically handle, and what should be outsourced?
Seek a marketing partner with industrial and job shop experience, not just general marketing.
Outsource key areas like SEO, website management, trade show materials, and video content creation.
Set measurable goals with your partner (e.g., increasing RFQs, improving lead quality, and growing website traffic).
Ensure your marketing partner integrates with your sales team to support real business outcomes.

Start strong, stay ahead

The end of the year is an ideal time to brainstorm new ideas and set goals for the upcoming year. Review what worked and what didn’t this year, and consider making changes or adding new marketing avenues to help you build your plan (and grow your business) for the coming year. These necessary marketing tasks and reviews may be overwhelming for many industrial manufacturers and job shops, but that is where experts like The Rico Group come in. We take care of all these tasks for you, so you don’t have to worry or spend time figuring it out. You can then get back to doing what you do best – making your customers happy.

Set your job shop up for measurable 2026 growth with our new free marketing ebook

To help you start 2026 with a clear competitive advantage, you can now download Built to Grow: Smart Marketing Strategies for Job Shops at no cost. This new eBook is designed specifically for small and mid-sized manufacturers, providing practical, immediately usable tactics to strengthen your marketing foundation. Inside, you will find guidance on identifying the right customers, increasing your online visibility, generating and nurturing qualified leads, and choosing the tools that deliver the strongest return on investment. It is a focused resource created to help job shop owners position their businesses for steady and measurable growth in the year ahead.

Measure your online footprint against your competition!

Are you interested to see what your current digital marketing efforts are doing for your company? We offer a free comprehensive analysis of your company’s online marketing to give you insights into your digital footprint and how to improve it. The report also comes with an in-depth competitor analysis and a free expert consultation to review the information with you and answer any questions you may have.

All industrial – all the time!

With over 30 years of experience, The Rico Group specializes in helping industrial manufacturers and job shops grow their businesses and diversify their customer base. We are your bolt-on marketing department. Our solutions give you the full capabilities of an in-house marketing department at a fraction of what it would cost you to hire a full-time marketing crew. We know how engineers think and what they are looking for. We understand your processes, equipment, and materials. We also know that you have very little time to take away from your production and getting your customer’s orders delivered.

Our industrial clients swear by our strategies – because they work.

Grow your manufacturing business with better marketing with The Rico Group.

www.thericogroup.com

(805) 497-7401