The entrepreneur who wants a clear “recipe” to follow for their marketing in 2026.

One of the biggest complaints I hear about marketing is this:

“It’s overwhelming, and I don’t know where to start.”

And honestly? I totally get it, marketing is overwhelming because it’s layered, and emails, ads, and the 25 social media platforms can make your head spin.

But there’s good news, because this year your marketing will be easier with my cheat code. Think of marketing like making lasagna. If you’ve ever made this pan of deliciousness, you know there are so many different layers of sauce, cheese, noodles, and seasonings.

And once you’ve got the ingredients, you don’t just throw everything into a pan and hope for the best. You layer and bake it strategically to get that yummy, cheese-filled favorite.

So, the problem isn’t that you’re bad at marketing, the problem is that no one gave you the recipe. So for 2026, I’m doing exactly that: giving you the recipe to perfect your marketing.

I’m your marketing chef for the day, just call me Chef Monica, and I’m ready with my apron on to hand you a beginner-friendly recipe you can actually follow.

But before we start, promise me one thing: you won’t get mad if the first batch burns a little… or if you add too much sauce (that part’s usually forgivable).

Marketing is just like cooking your favorite dish; it takes practice, a few tweaks, and sometimes a do-over before it’s just right.

Pinky promise? Cool. Let’s cook.

If we’re being honest, most beginners don’t have clarity on:

And that’s why marketing feels exhausting. Would you attempt a complicated dish with no ingredients list, no instructions, and no idea how long to cook it?
Of course not. So give yourself some grace. You’ve been trying to do marketing with no plan. Once you have a light plan (not a perfect one), everything gets easier. This is the simple version. No Gordon Ramsay skills required.

Nothing works until you get this together. You cannot market to “everyone.”
You cannot speak clearly if you don’t know who you’re talking to.

If you need help with this, read the previous newsletter here. Then read it again.

This layer is non-negotiable if you want to master your marketing this year.

Not five. Not ten. One or two.

If you sell products:

If you sell services:

You don’t need a full launch calendar, just a clear focus on what you want to sell in the first quarter.

You do not need to be everywhere.

Choose one main platform (two max). Focus on the platforms that have maximum reach, like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and/or LinkedIn. Each platform attracts different people and rewards different behaviors.

Need help deciding? → Read the previous newsletter here.

And remember, consistency on one platform beats hit or miss presence on a few platforms every time.

If you’ve been putting email on the back burner, this is your year to stop! Yes, email matters, and no, you’re not annoying if you send out emails about your offers.

Start off by deciding if you want to send emails:

If you want more guidance, → Read the previous email newsletter.

You don’t need anything fancy; you just need to focus on the basics.

You need:

That’s it. The key is to start simple, and then you can evolve later.

This is where most entrepreneurs mess up. You buy the ingredients, you prep everything, and then… never put the lasagna in the oven. Marketing only works if you do it.

Ask yourself:

My suggestion: Block 2–3 hours per week to batch content and schedule it out. Setting aside one block of time weekly or biweekly to create and schedule your marketing is a way to knock it out and make sure it get’s done.

Now that you have your 2026 marketing recipe, you can start taking intentional steps to execute, improve, and attract both loyal customers and new ones.

And remember, progress beats perfection every time.

Most business owners don’t struggle with ideas; they struggle with consistency. This week, we’re fixing that. Instead of posting randomly or creating content day-by-day, batch your content once and let it work for you all week (or all month).

Copy + paste this into ChatGPT:

I am a business owner in the [industry] space. My ideal customer is [describe them]. My main offer is [product/service].

Create a 2-week content batching plan that includes:

For each post, include:

Keep the tone simple, clear, impactful, and not salesy.

Each week, I share one creator whose content has genuinely helped me level up in marketing. This week’s pick is: Jayden Young. I followed Jayden last year to level up my reels… and yeah, it worked. Expect free templates, practical tips, and strategies that grow your social and your pockets.

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See ya next week!