Hi Reader!

Happy New Year - and welcome to 2026!

January always arrives with a strange mix of pressure and possibility, don't you think? Everyone telling you to “start fresh”, “go bigger”, “post more”, “sell harder”… while your nervous system is still recovering from mince pies and end-of-year exhaustion.

So this month, I want to do something different. Rather than overloading you with even more actions to do at a time when (clearly) our bodies want to be slowing down and hibernating, I'm going to focus my January newsletters on some of the main marketing trends I expect we'll see in 2026 and how you'll be able to use them.

I don't want growth this year to be about doing more - not fo any of us. I want to help growth driven by doing the right things, on purpose.

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2026 marketing trend #1: authority beats attention

Here’s the shift I want you to understand early:

In 2026, authority will outperform attention every single time.

We are officially past the era where posting constantly, chasing trends, or being “visible everywhere” is enough. Algorithms are saturated. AI has flooded the internet with competent-but-forgettable content. Everyone is “showing up”.

The businesses that will win this year are the ones that are:

• known for something specific
• trusted, not just seen
• clear in their point of view
• consistent in their messaging

Authority looks like:

• teaching instead of performing
• depth instead of volume
• being remembered for your thinking, not your posting frequency

If you want to grow your pipeline in 2026, ask yourself:

That’s the lens I’ll be using all month.

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A quick note on LinkedIn (because it has changed)

If LinkedIn has felt… different lately, you’re not imagining it.

Recent algorithm shifts have made one thing very clear: LinkedIn is prioritising authority over activity.

What’s working now isn’t:

• posting for the sake of it
• “vibes-based” content with no substance
• generic hot takes that could belong to anyone

What is working is clarity, consistency, and depth.

If you want to build authority on LinkedIn in 2026, focus on three things:

1. Your golden thread

Your content should clearly ladder back to one core idea — the thing you want to be known for. If your posts feel disconnected, the algorithm (and your audience) can’t place you.

That doesn't mean you can throw in posts that are a bit different, but it does mean that you should always have a clear idea of the "so what?" - i.e. when you post you should have in your head WHY your particular audience would find this interesting or useful. And if you can't answer that, then it's either because you don't know your audience well enough, or because you're posting for YOUR sake rather than theirs.

2. An About section that actually does its job

Your About section should reflect:

• who you help
• what problem you solve
• how you think differently
• and why your experience matters

It’s not a CV. It’s your positioning statement.

3. Depth over “vibes”

LinkedIn is rewarding content that teaches, explains, and makes people think. Fewer emojis. Fewer platitudes. More insight.

Posts that show how you think, not just what you feel, are the ones that build trust, reach, and inbound opportunities. There are going to be a lot of "gurus" telling you that visibility and authority is going to come from telling people you're an expert, but the algorithm will actually be prioritising people demonstrating the depth of their experise.

If LinkedIn is a core platform for you, 2026 is the year to stop dabbling and start positioning.

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In-person authority still matters (maybe more than ever)

Which brings me very neatly to this…

On January 15th, I’m hosting my first Socially Shared meeting in Sutton Coldfield​
📍 Lea Marston Hotel
🎯 Your 2026 Marketing Strategy - From Scratch

This isn’t a theoretical “new year motivation” session. This is isn't a passive talk. It’s a hands-on workshop where I’ll walk you through the building blocks of a marketing strategy that:

• builds authority
• supports visibility
• and feeds your pipeline consistently

If you’re local (or fancy a trip) I would love to have you in the room.

​You can book your place here
​​

And because it’s my first meeting as a host, I’m adding a little thank-you bonus:​
I'm running a competition for everyone who registers. Every gorgeous person who comes along to my first meeting will go into a prize draw to get free access to my 5 Day Event Funnel Challenge - so you can turn networking into real leads and clients, not just nice conversations.

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Another authority play: the podcast 🎙️

The other big thing landing this month?

My new podcast with Nic Mooney launches on January 20th.

This has been designed very intentionally as an authority channel — not a “pump out content and hope” project.

It’s for business owners who want:

• honest conversations
• smart strategy
• less hustle, more intention
• and someone to say the things you’re already thinking

If you like my newsletters, workshops, and general “say the quiet part out loud” approach, this will absolutely be for you.

I’ll share the link as soon as the first episode goes live.

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If you want a January jump-start…

If you're entering the new year at a loss for what to focus on... if you’ve spent too long doing all the things — posting, networking, talking, showing up — but it doesn’t yet feel like it adds up to something coherent, this is where the 5 Day Strategy Sprint comes in.

This isn’t about adding more activity - you don't need MORE - rather, it's your kick to align what you’re already doing into a clear, authoritative narrative.

Over five focused days, we take all those scattered actions and turn them into a strategy that:

• positions you clearly as an authority in your space
• connects your content, conversations and offers into one story
• makes your visibility intentional rather than reactive
• ensures every action feeds the same pipeline, not five different ones
• and fills any gaps in your funnel where you're leaking good leads

The result isn’t just better marketing, it’s recognition. People understanding what you stand for, what you’re known for, and why you’re the obvious choice.

It’s how you move from “busy and visible” to strategic and trusted.

Next live sprint is 26th-30th January and there are already some POWERHOUSE women booked on. I'd love to see you there.

Get your 2026 strategy sorted

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That’s us for week one.

Next week, we’ll dig into another 2026 trend (depth over volume) and how to use it without drowning in noise.

Here’s to a year of intentional growth.

​
​Ro x

P.S. My rebranded, evolved signature programme, Create Your Own Category, is coming back very soon. This one is for women who want to step up and away: away from comparison, competition, and commoditisation, and into authority, clarity and being the obvious choice. More on that next… 👀