As we move into 2026, the digital marketing landscape continues to evolve rapidly. What worked even a year ago may now be holding you back. Whether you’re running a local business or leading communications for a church, it’s time to let go of outdated tactics that drain resources without delivering results.
Here are five things you need to stop doing in 2026 if you want to stay competitive and see real growth.
1. Stop Posting Without a Strategy
We’ve all been there — posting on social media just to stay active, without any clear goal or plan. Random posts about what’s happening in your business or church might feel productive, but they rarely move the needle.
The numbers tell the story: people now use an average of 6.83 different social media platforms each month, and they spend over 2 hours daily on social media. With so much competition for attention, random posting simply doesn’t cut it anymore.
Why it doesn’t work:
- You’re creating content in a vacuum with no understanding of what your audience actually wants or needs
- You’re wasting time and energy on platforms or content types that don’t align with your goals
- Without tracking or measurement, you have no idea if it’s working
What to do instead:
Build a content calendar based on your business or ministry goals. Every post should have a purpose — whether it’s driving traffic to your website, promoting an event, building awareness, or engaging your community. Focus on the platforms where your audience actually is, and track what’s working so you can do more of it.
2. Stop Ignoring Your Google Business Profile
If you’re a local business or a church with a physical location, your Google Business Profile (GBP) is one of the most powerful (and free) marketing tools you have. Yet so many organizations treat it like a ‘set it and forget it’ task.
The data is clear: customers are 2.7 times more likely to trust a business with a complete Google Business Profile. Furthermore, 75% of businesses ranking in the top three positions on Google have completed their GBP descriptions, compared to less than 40% of businesses ranking in positions 11-20. That’s not a coincidence.
Why neglecting it hurts you:
- Outdated hours, addresses, or phone numbers frustrate potential customers and hurt your credibility
- Missing photos, posts, and Q&A responses make your profile look inactive or unprofessional
- Unanswered reviews (both positive and negative) signal that you don’t care about customer feedback
- Google rewards active, optimized profiles with better local search rankings
What to do instead:
Make GBP optimization a monthly task. Keep your information accurate, upload fresh photos regularly, post updates about events or promotions, respond to all reviews promptly, and use the Q&A feature to address common questions. An active GBP tells Google (and your customers) that you’re engaged and trustworthy.
3. Stop Running Ads Without Clear Goals or Tracking
Throwing money at Google Ads or Meta Ads without knowing what you’re trying to achieve is like driving with your eyes closed. You might get somewhere, but it probably won’t be where you wanted to go.
Why this approach fails:
- Without clear objectives (more phone calls, website visits, form submissions, event registrations), you can’t measure success
- You’ll waste budget on clicks that don’t convert because you’re not tracking what happens after someone clicks your ad
- You can’t optimize or improve campaigns if you don’t know what’s working
What to do instead:
Before launching any ad campaign, define your goal. Is it phone calls? Form submissions? Event RSVPs? Then set up proper conversion tracking so you know exactly which ads are delivering results. Review performance regularly and adjust your strategy based on real data, not guesswork. For churches using Google Ad Grants, this is especially critical — Google requires proper tracking and performance to maintain your grant status.
4. Stop Letting Your Website Gather Dust
Your website is often the first impression someone has of your business or church. If it’s slow, outdated, hard to navigate, or doesn’t work well on mobile, you’re losing people before they even give you a chance.
The statistics are sobering: 53% of mobile visitors abandon a page if it takes more than 3 seconds to load. When load time increases from 1 to 3 seconds, bounce rates jump by 32%. And with over 60% of web traffic now coming from mobile devices, a slow or poorly optimized mobile experience is a dealbreaker.
Common website mistakes still happening in 2026:
- Slow load times (if your site takes more than 3 seconds to load, most visitors will leave)
- Poor mobile experience (over 60% of traffic is mobile — if your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re done)
- Unclear calls-to-action (visitors should know exactly what to do next — contact you, sign up, attend, etc.)
- Outdated information (old service times, expired event listings, or dead links damage credibility)
- No clear value proposition (people should understand what you do and why it matters within seconds)
What to do instead:
Audit your website monthly. Test it on your phone. Run a speed test using Google PageSpeed Insights. Make sure your contact information is easy to find, your CTAs are clear, and your content is current. If your site is more than 3-4 years old and built on outdated technology, consider a redesign. A clean, fast, conversion-focused website is an investment that pays for itself.
5. Stop Trying to Be Everywhere at Once
There’s constant pressure to be on every platform — Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Threads, and whatever’s new this month. The truth? Trying to maintain a presence on all of them usually means doing a mediocre job on all of them.
According to recent research, YouTube (84%) and Facebook (71%) remain the most widely used platforms among U.S. adults, with Instagram at 50% and TikTok at 37%. Smaller platforms like Threads, Bluesky, and others are used by 10% or fewer Americans. The takeaway? Your audience isn’t everywhere — so you don’t need to be either.
Why platform overload backfires:
- You spread yourself (or your team) too thin, resulting in inconsistent posting and low-quality content
- Each platform has different audiences, content styles, and algorithms — trying to master them all is unrealistic for most small teams
- You dilute your impact instead of building real engagement and community on the platforms that matter most to your audience
What to do instead:
Choose 1-2 platforms where your audience actually spends time and focus your energy there. For local businesses, that might be Google, Facebook, and Instagram. For churches, Facebook and Instagram are often the sweet spot, with YouTube for sermon archives. Do those platforms well — post consistently, engage with your audience, and create content that fits the platform. Quality and consistency on two platforms will always beat sporadic activity on six.
Final Thoughts: Less Busywork, More Results
The common thread in all five of these mistakes? They keep you busy without actually moving you forward. Marketing in 2026 isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing the right things well.
If you can commit to stopping these five habits and replacing them with strategic, focused, and measurable efforts, you’ll see better results with less wasted time and money.
Here’s to a smarter, more effective 2026.
Need help cleaning up your digital marketing strategy for 2026?
AdRize Digital specializes in helping local businesses and churches cut through the noise and focus on what actually works. From Local SEO and Google Business Profile optimization to strategic ad campaigns and conversion-ready websites, we’re here to help you get real results.
Let’s make 2026 your best year yet.
