'Strategic planning' and 'human interaction' are two phrases that I believe will become the defining buzzwords of 2026 in the small business sector. We live in a world that has, in many respects, become way too digital. You only have to look at the UK High Street to see the impact.

If you are a small business owner, you will be very aware that there has been a lot of change in marketing, the digital sector, and social media over the past year. This is why I think it’s more important than ever that small business owners think about strategic selling If you want to see success going forward, sales planning is not just an option—it’s vital.

I would define social selling as a term used to describe using social media channels in a sales-focused way. Much like any sales work, the art of 'social selling' revolves around building strong connections and communicating with them effectively.

If you think networking does not work, then I say think again, because I know networking works! A high percentage of my clients come to me through networking, and I find most of my suppliers the same way.