Plan Late, Market Great: Your Caffeinated Rescue Guide
Ever realized you need a marketing plan… like, yesterday?
You’re not alone. Tons of businesses wake up mid-December and realize they’ve been posting on vibes and a prayer. But don’t panic. Whether you’re prepping for a new year, a big launch, or just trying to get organized before your coffee gets cold, you can still whip up a strong, intentional marketing plan — even if it’s a little last-minute.
This post is your espresso shot of clarity. We’ll walk through the exact questions to ask, how to build a social-first plan, and how to sprinkle in keywords and SEO that make your biz easier to find (without selling your soul to Google).
☕️ Step-by-Step: How to Brew Your Last-Minute Marketing Plan
1. What’s Brewing?
Define your business goals — short-term and long-term. Know your “why” before you start shouting into the void. Need more sales? Launching something new? Want to grow your audience or stop ghosting your followers? Write. It. Down.
2. What’s on the Menu?
What can you build content around right now? Think:
Upcoming launches
Seasonal promos
Anniversaries or milestones
Customer wins, testimonials, before/afters
These give your content rhythm and relevance — your own calendar of celebration.
3. Who’s Sitting at Your Table?
Your target audience isn’t “everyone.” Narrow it down. What keeps them stuck, broke, overwhelmed, or confused? What do they really want from you? Know your people so you can talk to them, not the algorithm.
4. What’s in Your Competitor’s Cup?
Peek at what others are doing — and how your content or offer can zig when they zag. Study tone, engagement, hooks, and content types. You’re not copying — you’re carving your own lane with intel. I call it "emulating."
💡 Deep Dive: How to Use Keywords and SEO Without Being Weird
Even if you're not blogging every week or running ads, SEO and keywords should still be brewing in your brain and get sprinkled into whatever you say or type. Why? Because they’re the difference between getting found and getting forgotten.
How to Find Keywords You Should Actually Use:
Google Autocomplete: Type in phrases your audience might search. Don’t hit enter. Watch the suggestions roll in. I recommend doing so in Private or Incognito mode.
“People Also Ask”: These are literal blog titles and video topics waiting to happen.
Use Tools: Ubersuggest, AnswerThePublic, and Google Trends are beginner-friendly and powerful.
Stalk Your Own Stuff: Look at your top-performing posts. What words or topics are popping off?
Steal From Your Audience: What are they asking in DMs? In reviews? In emails? Use their words.
Where to Put Keywords:
Social media bios
Instagram and all social captions
Reels text overlays (including B-roll)
Blog titles and subheads
Email subject lines
YouTube descriptions
Pinterest text
👉 If you’re already creating content, SEO is just turning up the volume on what you’re saying.
📲 Social Media Deserves Its Own Roast
Organic reach still works — if you show up strategically. Ask yourself:
Where are your people hanging out (and actually engaging)?
Are you mixing formats? (Reels, carousels, lives, static posts?)
Are you talking with people — or at them?
Start with simple themes: educate, entertain, connect, convert. Don’t overthink it. Just don’t wing it.
📈 Don’t Forget Other Channels
Your email list? Blog? Lives? They all play a role in the larger ecosystem. If social is your espresso shot, these are your slow drip — nurturing connection over time.
☕ Here's a one-pager you can download to guide you through the planning process.
If you sit still, you can get it planned out and on a calendar in 3 hours. It will help to work with someone- otherwise Chad is always an excellent brainstorming partner (ChatGPT).
And the text, if this is easier:
☕ Last-Minute Marketing Plan: Essential Questions One-Pager
Brewed Fresh for Biz Owners Who Forgot to Plan (but Refuse to Stay Invisible)
🔥 STEP 1: WHAT’S BREWING?
What’s the goal of your marketing plan?
Are you trying to sell more, grow your audience, or just stop ghosting your followers?
Is this a pop-up campaign or part of a longer strategy you’re finally getting serious about?
🎉 STEP 2: WHAT’S ON THE MENU?
What’s happening in your biz worth talking about?
Sales, launches, anniversaries, new offers, or milestones?
Any holidays, themes, or events to ride the coattails of?
🎯 STEP 3: WHO’S SITTING AT YOUR TABLE?
Who are you talking to — and why should they care?
What keeps your people stressed, stuck, or scrolling at 2 a.m.?
What do they actually want from someone like you?
🤓 STEP 4: WHAT’S IN YOUR COMPETITOR’S CUP?
What are others doing that’s working (or flopping)?
Where are they showing up?
What’s their tone, offer style, and hook game like?
And how can you do it your way — not copy-paste their strategy?
🔍 STEP 5: WHAT FLAVOR ARE YOUR KEYWORDS?
What words or phrases should be steeped into your content?
What’s your audience typing into search bars or social apps?
What hashtags are relevant and actually active?
What’s trending that fits your vibe?
💬 STEP 6: WHAT ARE YOUR REGULARS SAYING?
What feedback, FAQs, or conversations keep popping up?
What questions are you answering again and again?
What compliments are you downplaying instead of using as proof?
🤝 STEP 7: WHO CAN YOU COLLABORATE WITH?
Who’s in your network that brings a crowd you’d love to serve?
Could you run a giveaway, a co-hosted Live, or a guest blog?
Are you asking for referrals — or waiting and hoping?
📲 STEP 8: WHAT'S YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY?
How are you showing up organically where people scroll?
Which platforms make sense for your people and your bandwidth?
Are you sharing content that educates, entertains, or connects?
Are you engaging like a human — or broadcasting like a robot?
Reels? Stories? Carousels? Lives? Are you rotating formats?
👉 You’re not just posting. You’re building connection and credibility one cup at a time.
💌 STEP 9: WHAT OTHER DIGITAL CHANNELS ARE YOU USING?
How else are you keeping your biz visible and valuable?
Are you using email marketing, blogging, podcasting, or YouTube?
Do your channels lead people to the next step — or a dead end?
Is there any automation helping you keep the coffee hot when you're off-grid?
📊 STEP 10: HOW WILL YOU MEASURE SUCCESS?
If this marketing plan works, how will you know?
What specific results are you hoping for? (Reach, inquiries, sales, bookings?)
How often will you check in and make adjustments?
And what does done well look like in 30 days?
Merry Christmas!
☕ Freshly Brewed Hooks: “What’s Brewing for Next Year” Edition
🔥 Bold + Visionary
“Want a sneak peek of what we’re brewing for 2026?”
“Here’s what’s definitely changing for us next year (and what’s staying strong).”
“We’ve got big plans and bold moves coming — want in?”
“2025 was the espresso shot — 2026 is the whole damn café.”
👀 Curiosity-Driven
“You’ll never guess what’s coming to [product/service name] next year.”
“The ONE thing we’re doing differently in 2026 — and why it matters.”
“If you’ve been waiting for the right time to work with us, keep your mug ready…”
🎯 Audience-Focused
“We asked what you needed… and next year, we’re delivering.”
“What can you expect from us in 2026? Let’s just say we heard you loud and clear.”
“You told us what you’re craving — and it’s brewing.”
✅ Transparency + Relatability
“Here’s what worked this year — and what flopped. Let’s talk real biz.”
“Behind the scenes: what we’re changing, ditching, and launching next.”
“We’re not just setting goals — we’re building a better experience for you.”
🎁 Tease Your Offer
“Next year’s offer is simpler, stronger, and built for real results.”
“Our 2026 packages? Streamlined, affordable, and wildly effective.”
“What if I told you we’re launching something just for [target audience]?”
🧭 Planning + Direction
“Here’s the plan. Here’s the vibe. Here’s where we’re going.”
“The next chapter of our business is already written — and you’re in it.”
“Less noise. More intention. That’s the energy we’re pouring into 2026.”
