At some point, back in the mists of time you ploughed a whole load of time and money into developing your marketing creative. At the time you probably (hopefully...) loved it, but do you still look at it in the same way? Possibly not. Like anything, creative dates. What looked fresh and full of impact 5 years ago might not stand up so well in 2026. And that's true no matter what business you're in. Even heritage brands need to subtly reinvent in order to stay relevant and maintain their market share. Anything that prides itself on being "cutting edge" needs to be constantly innovating. So what are the signs your marketing creative needs a refresh?
- Your messaging feels dated. Are you using buzzwords that are rarely heard today? Does your tone match the way your target audience actually speaks? If the language sounds "off" your marketing creative is unlikely to resonate and inspire action.
- Engagement has dropped off. If your socials aren't getting the interaction they used to, your emails aren't getting opened and response to your ads has plateaued, we're sorry to say but your audience has got bored.
- Your audience has shifted. Are you tailoring your messaging to the wrong people? If your audience has changed but your marketing creative hasn't, you're creating a disconnect that is difficult for your potential customers to get past.
- People aren't sure what you stand for. If customers are surprised by who you are or what you do when they interact with you, your message is not getting through.
- Your business has changed but your comms haven't. Perhaps you have new products or have pivoted your offering. Maybe you have changed your market position. If you haven't refreshed your marketing to reflect this, it won't be working as hard as it should.
- You cringe at your own content. A big one this. YOU need to be proud of your creative. If you don't love it, it's time to change it.
At Creative Cupboard, we want every client to be proud of their creative. If you've poured your heart and soul into a business, you deserve marketing creative that resonates with your target customer and does your brand justice. See our services to find out more about how we can help.
