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How to stay across marketing trends (without falling down a doom scrolling rabbit hole)
In the first blog of this series, we looked at what keeping up with marketing trends actually means and made sense of the difference between useful trends and distracting fads. In the second blog, we tackled how to decide which marketing trends to follow so you're not wasting time on things that won’t move the needle in your business.
This third one’s for those of you who still want to know what’s going on out there… but don’t want to spend your nights doomscrolling LinkedIn, Insta, or YouTube.
Because staying across marketing trends shouldn’t require hours of research, 42 open tabs, or a content overload headache or fuzzy eyes.
So here’s how to keep an eye on what’s happening, without falling down the rabbit hole of doom scrolling).
1. Pick just a couple of trusted sources
You don’t need to follow every marketing podcast, blog, trend report, or influencer account out there.
That will totally lead you to the overwhelm.
Instead, choose 2–3 sources that you find easy to understand and aligned with your business. Look for people or brands who talk about real results, not just hype. Although beware of the wealth signallers – their income is you handing over money and their results are often an exaggeration.
Some good places to start:
- Industry newsletters (like Marketing Brew or SmartCompany if you like Aussie content)
- LinkedIn voices you trust (or enjoy reading)
- One good podcast or YouTube channel that doesn’t make you feel like you’re already behind
And no, you don’t have to read everything. Even scanning headlines once a week can keep you informed enough to have a feel for what’s going on.
2. Set a time limit
This one’s simple but makes a big difference.
Give yourself 15–30 minutes once a week to check in with your go-to sources. Not daily. Weekly. Add it to your calendar if you need to.
The goal isn’t to read or learn everything. It’s to spot what’s popping up consistently and decide if it’s relevant to your business or ideal clients.
If it’s not, scroll on. No guilt needed.
3. Talk to real people
This one’s underrated, but it’s one of the best ways to keep your finger on the pulse.
If you’re networking, chatting with clients, or hanging out in business groups, you’ll often hear what other business owners are trying, what’s working for them, or what they’ve ditched.
And those conversations? Way more helpful than reading another “top 10 trends” list.
Just keep in mind that what works for someone else might not work for you. Especially if their ideal clients aren’t the same as yours. Take it as insight, not instruction. So, use those chats to spark ideas, not to second-guess your own strategy.
It’s also a good way to get a sense of whether a trend is sticking or just a short-term experiment everyone’s tired of already.
4. Use social media (intentionally)
If you're using social media for your business, you’re already exposed to marketing trends, whether you mean to be or not. But that doesn’t mean you need to get sucked into doom scrolling
Instead of mindlessly scrolling, try this:
- Use the search function to explore how others in your industry are posting
- Save posts that stand out or feel doable for your brand
- Follow a few creators who consistently post content that feels relevant and helpful (not just trendy for the sake of it)
Social can be a goldmine for spotting trends. But it’s also full of noise. Keep it strategic, and keep it limited.
5. Let someone else do the trend-watching
You don’t have to stay across every new trend yourself.
I’ll say that again. You don’t have to stay across every new trend (or update for that matter) yourself.
Seriously, it can be a full-time job just trying to.
So, you can outsource that part to someone who actually likes doing it (like, say… me).
I keep across what’s working and what’s shifting so my clients don’t have to spend their time deciphering which trend is worth it and which one’s just a flashy distraction.
Whether it’s through strategy, content, or digital campaigns, I keep your marketing focused and relevant without the overwhelm.
Next up: using trends without losing your voice
In the final blog in this series, I’ll share how to use marketing trends in a way that fits your brand and without turning into a copy of everyone else on the internet. Because following a trend should never mean losing what makes your business unique and successful.
And if you’re reading this thinking “I don’t have time to stay across trends or decide what to do with them,” I get it.
That’s exactly why Starfish Marketing exists, so your marketing just happens and you can get on with running your business. Let’s chat if you want marketing off your plate.
