Your 2026 Marketing Self-Assessment: The Questions We Ask Every Client First

Plan smarter with this quick 2026 marketing self-assessment. These are the 29 questions we ask every client to uncover what’s working—and what’s missing.

You finally carve out a quiet afternoon to plan your 2026 marketing. You shut the door, refresh your coffee, and open a blank document titled: “Marketing Strategy Ideas (???)”

The intention is there. The motivation? High.

But 45 minutes later, you’re staring at a mess of mismatched ideas—last year’s leftover goals, a few half-baked content themes, and a marketing calendar packed with posts… but missing the point.

It’s like trying to finish a puzzle with pieces from three different boxes—none of them complete. And the image on the front of the box? You’re not even sure it reflects where you’re going anymore.

The pieces are all there. But the bigger picture? That’s what’s missing.

And that’s exactly why we created this checklist.

It’s not about doing more. It’s about turning scattered ideas into a strategy—before the year even begins.

Your 2026 Marketing Self-Assessment

Need to get a clearer picture of your marketing puzzle? Here are 20 simple but telling questions to help you reflect on where you are—and where you want to go. If you feel stuck on more than a few of them, don’t stress. That’s exactly what a Strategic Planning Session is for.

This isn’t a quiz with a score. It’s a guided reflection—to help you see what’s working, what’s not, and where clarity is waiting for you.

Vision & Growth

This is where we zoom out to see if intention and reality align. 

• Are you running a business you’re proud of—or one you’re surviving?
  
• When you picture your business a year from now, what’s changed—and what’s finally working?
  
• Are you growing in a way that builds toward your vision, or just keeping pace with demand?
  
• Are you building something scalable—or something that depends entirely on you?
  
• What’s something you’ve outgrown but haven’t let go of yet?
  
• If you weren’t so busy keeping things running, what would you finally create?
  

Audience & Offers

This is where we make sure you’re speaking to the right people—with the right message—at the right stage of their journey.

• Are you creating content for your dream clients… or your default ones?
  
• Are you marketing what feels safe—and selling what’s easiest to explain?
  
• Would your ideal client feel seen, understood, and confident clicking “Book Now”?
  
• Can you point to a piece of content from last month that actually drove revenue?
  
• Is your social media generating leads—or just likes?
  
• Can you track how someone goes from follower to paying client?
  

Brand & Message

This is where we make sure your brand doesn’t just look good—it speaks clearly, connects deeply, and stands on its own.

• Can your brand messaging stand on its own—without you there to explain it?
  
• If someone read your last three posts, would they understand who you serve and why it matters?
  
• Does your visual presence match the level of service you currently provide—or the level you started at?
  
• Have your services evolved—while your messaging stayed the same?
  
• Does your audience trust you… or are they still trying to figure you out?
  
• Would you follow your own brand if you weren’t the one behind it?
  

Systems & Strategy

This is where we make sure your goals are more than ideas—they’re backed by a plan that works.

• Are you setting goals—and setting up systems to actually reach them?
  
• Can you break next year’s goals into quarterly action steps and monthly KPIs—or are they buried in a doc on your desktop?
  
• Do you have a plan that connects this week’s content to this year’s revenue targets?
  
• Do you have a clear, documented process for consistent content creation?
  
• Is your content strategy built to convert—or just built to look good?
  
• Are you tracking what actually drives revenue—or just what gets attention?
  

Team & Execution

This is where we make sure you’re not carrying the whole thing yourself—and that your team can execute with clarity and confidence.

• What kind of support would give you breathing room to lead—instead of manage?
  
• What’s one piece of structure or support you’ve been avoiding—but know you need?
  
• Do you have the right people in the right seats, or are you still carrying too much?
  
• Is your team just getting through the quarter—or do they feel invested in the bigger picture?
  
• If you stepped away for a month, would your marketing stay consistent—or would your leads dry up?
  

Feeling Stuck? You’re Not Alone

If you hesitated or felt unsure on more than a few of these questions, take a deep breath. That’s not failure—it’s a signal. 

And we get those signals, too. That’s why we want you to know:

You’re not behind. You’re just ready for more.

More structure. More strategy. More reliable results. 

And that’s exactly what our Strategic Planning Sessions are designed to give you.

Together, we’ll walk through these questions, uncover the blind spots, and build a clear, doable strategy that works for your business and your team.

No more scattered goals. No more duct-taped ideas. Just clarity, direction, and a plan that finally fits together.

One Session. Total Clarity.

Let’s make 2026 the year your marketing picture finally falls into place.

Book Your Strategic Planning Session Now

About Our Business & Marketing Planning

Struggling with your 2026 marketing self-assessment? What if your marketing plan started with your revenue goals—and worked backwards? At SchlickArt, our Business & Visual Marketing Planning service helps you create a clear, story-driven strategy designed to deliver real results. We begin by identifying your ideal income goal, then break it down into monthly targets and a detailed content plan that maps out exactly how to achieve them. Every step is intentional—crafted to support your bottom line while telling the authentic story of your brand. From brand messaging and campaign strategy to visual content that truly connects, we guide you through a marketing approach that feels as good as it performs.

Whether you’re a business owner, executive, or marketing professional, you’ll walk away with a focused plan and the confidence to put it into motion.

Let’s build a marketing plan that’s tailored to your goals—and designed to help you reach them.
Schedule your complimentary consultation today.

About SchlickArt 

SchlickArt, a luxury visual marketing company based in Santa Clarita, started in March 2012 with the simple idea that empowerment creates a kind of authenticity that shines through every camera lens. Built on a philosophy–rather than a product, service or person–SchlickArt has rapidly evolved, meeting fractional CMO, business and strategy planning, professional portraiture, business photo and business video needs as diverse as the community we capture. It’s the desire to take care of you, the client, that drives us at SchlickArt. 

Kirsten Quinn

A lover of strong coffee and yellowed pages, Kirsten Quinn-Smith is a professional content writer and owner of WordSmith Content Marketing here in Santa Clarita. She believes great content can forge a loyal, authentic and beneficial relationship between you and your audience – and grow your business. With each piece of writing, Kirsten's goal is to position you in the content spotlight through audience-centered, strategy-based writing that actually sounds like you. Why? Everyone has a story, and every story deserves to be heard.

See Full Bio