“Marketing is no longer about the stuff that you make, but about the stories you tell.” — Seth Godin

Before we all blink and suddenly it’s 2026, I wanted to take a moment to stop, reflect, and share something a little different – your 2025 Authentically Social Roundup.

Now, I don’t have Spotify’s animation budget, but I do have a handful of nerdy newsletter stats, a few of your favorite topics from the year, and some honest thoughts on what we’re all walking into in the new year.

So let’s get into it – your year in marketing, recapped.

🎧 THIS YEAR, YOU SHOWED UP

Over the course of 2025, you read more than 2,400 words of marketing insights, stories, and the occasional Ferris Bueller quote.

You didn’t just open emails – you actually read them, clicked on stuff, and stayed curious.

Across all nine newsletters:

• You clicked 972 times – that’s nearly a thousand moments of action, exploration, or “ooh, that looks interesting.”
• And 812 of you clicked over to check out my book on Amazon.

That last one? Truly humbling. Thank you. That kind of support doesn’t go unnoticed.

More than anything, these numbers tell me you’re not just showing up – you’re engaged. You care about building your brand with purpose and authenticity. And I’m honored to be along for the ride.

🥇 YOUR FAVORITE SUBJECT LINES

Here’s what caught your eye the most this year:

🥇 Your Instagram Posts Just Became Google-Friendly

👉 Re-read it here

🥈 What an Action Figure Trend Taught Me About Branding

👉 Click to revisit

(Also the most-clicked email of the year – 217 clicks!)

🥉 🚨Instagram Shake-up! 🚨 What You Need to Know

👉 Catch up here

🎬 COREY-ISMS WE PROBABLY OVERUSED (SORRY, NOT SORRY)

According to my team’s unofficial count, this year I said…

• “Motion moves the needle” – a lot
• “Don’t be a Cameron” – enough times to worry about Matthew Broderick
•  “The algorithm changed again…” – 8 times (because it did. It always does.)
• And we definitely referenced the 80s more than necessary (but never too much, right?)

💬 YOUR BIGGEST QUESTIONS IN 2025

Across webinars, DMs, Q&As, and hallway chats, you asked a lot of great questions this year. A few came up again and again:

❓ What’s the best platform to focus on right now?

→ The one your audience actually uses—and the one you’ll commit to showing up on consistently. For most of our clients, that’s Instagram and LinkedIn.

❓ What content actually works?

→ Story-driven > stock. Personal wins > polished fluff. If it looks like it came from your real life or your client’s, people will care more.

❓ Is AI ruining the feed or making my life easier—or both?

→ Both. You can use AI to spark ideas and save time—but your voice still needs to show up. No bot is going to replace you.

❓ How much should I be spending on marketing?

→ You don’t need a massive budget—you need a smart strategy. Even $200–$300 a month can move the needle if it’s focused on what already works.

❓ How do I market without sounding like everyone else?

→ Talk like a real person. Share what you’re learning. Stop chasing the trends. The more you you bring to your content, the better it performs.

We tackled all of those (and will keep doing it). But one thing stayed true in every answer: clarity, consistency, and authenticity always win.

🔮 WHAT WE SEE COMING IN 2026

I’m not a trends guy for trends’ sake. I care about what actually moves the needle (see, said it again). So here’s what I’m betting on for the year ahead:

✅ People are craving real over robotic.

We’ve all seen the AI slop flooding our feeds. The content that will win next year? Real, unpolished content that feels relatable to your audience.

✅ Serialized content is going to win attention.

The best-performing brands aren’t posting randomly – they’re telling ongoing stories. People need a reason to come back. Signature Series. Part 1 of 3. “This week’s tip.” That’s where we’re headed.

✅ It’s all about next steps.

If your content doesn’t show your audience what to do next – click, book, DM, refer – you’re leaving opportunity on the table.

✅ Community matters more than ever.

Connection will always beat complexity. Show up for your audience like a real human, and they’ll keep coming back.

🙏 A BIG THANK YOU

Seriously – thank you for reading these newsletters. 

For replying. For sharing. For telling me when something helped move your business forward. That’s what keeps this whole thing worth doing. 

And if we haven’t worked together yet, maybe next year is the year we change that. Until then, keep showing up. Keep being you. Keep telling the story only you can tell. 

Here’s to more clarity, better content, and stronger connections in 2026. 

– Corey (Still quoting Ferris Bueller. Still writing long newsletters. Still here for you.)

🗂️ Catch up on the top newsletters of 2025 

🎤 Book Corey for your next keynote or workshop