By: Josh Brewster
An intriguing benefit I’ve enjoyed throughout my career at Trozzolo is being exposed to and working alongside such a wide variety of clients, on a wide range of challenges, with a wide spectrum of marketing solutions in play. It’s refreshing and reassuring to be a part of timely and relevant discussions while surrounded by such smart, strategic and innovative client partners and Trozzolo colleagues.
With the first quarter of 2025 now in full stride, I’d like to take a moment to give you all a peek behind the curtain on some crucial topics being discussed among the amazing business leaders we work with as clients here at the onset of the year:
First and foremost the question I am asked most often is simple:
“Hey Josh, maybe it’s time you let the adults at the table take it from here, sound good?”
Hey, I know my place. I’m just happy to have a spot at the adults’ table surrounded by an amazing team. But on the occasion when I am allowed to stick around and listen in … Here are a few recurring themes that keep popping up around the boardroom tables this winter:
1. The Economy Is Creating a Marketing Budget Tightrope Act: Everyone’s feeling the pinch, so marketing budgets must adapt. Suddenly, “ROI” isn’t just a buzzword; it’s the survival kit. Marketers will be (and should always be) asked to justify every penny. Oh, and that big, bulky ad production? Forget it. But that doesn’t mean creativity has to go out the window. Check out my buddy and colleague Matt Blume’s piece on that here.
2. Consumer Attention Spans are … (You Are Already Too Distracted to Finish This Sentence): Consumers are scrolling through content at supersonic speeds. Capturing their attention is becoming almost too difficult. Create content that has stopping power. Consumers are tired of being sold to. They want genuine connections, not another influencer hawking teeth whitening strips. Be real. It works.
3. Data Privacy: The “Creepy or Cool” Line We’re All Trying to Avoid: We want personalized ads, but we also want our privacy. It’s like wanting a delicious cake but not wanting the calories. Walk the fine line between “helpful” and “Big Brother.” Collecting first-party data is now crucial, but let’s be honest, it’s a little like online dating. You gotta be charming, not creepy, and offer something valuable in return.
4. Content Overload: Can You Hear Me Now? (Probably Not): The internet is a screaming match, and your brand is just trying to get a word in edgewise. Forget subtle; we need bold. But most of all, we need RELEVANCY.
5. Martech Mayhem: Too Many Tools, Not Enough Time (or Brainpower): We’ve got CRM, SEO tools, analytics dashboards … it’s like a tech explosion happened in the marketing department. Integrating it all is like trying to assemble IKEA furniture without the instructions. Sometimes, the easiest solution is to buy all the tools. Just kidding. The real challenge is figuring out which tools actually work together and which ones are just adding to the chaos.
Our team can help you with this … and we can help you navigate the other four points, too. Why else would I be writing this article?
So, there you have it. That’s the inside scoop on what’s keeping the C-suite up at night in Q1.
You probably stopped reading a while ago. But if you didn’t, I’ll offer the first person to send me an email a free … just kidding. The kids gotta eat, am I right? I’d really love to hear from you though. Tell me what’s on your mind – we’d love to help you out. Thanks for hearing me out … and for the adults in the room for letting me listen in.
