How social media and email drive small business success in 2026
About this episode
This episode discusses how small businesses can effectively use social media and email marketing to drive success in 2026.
Small businesses are spending more on marketing in 2026, even with inflation worries—but many owners still aren’t confident they’re putting those dollars in the right places. In this episode, Constant Contact’s Dave Charest explains why the most effective “one-two punch” remains social media plus email, and why email delivers more control and more reliable engagement than algorithm-driven social feeds. We talk about the trap of chasing every new platform, how focusing on one channel and building an opt-in audience can drive real revenue, and why retaining existing customers may outperform constantly chasing new ones. Charest also shares practical ways small businesses can use AI to save time without losing authenticity, plus simple automation ideas that keep marketing working even when you’re busy running the business. Finally, he offers clear, actionable priorities for the rest of 2026—and what trends may surprise business owners in the months ahead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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