As the year draws to a close, marketers often feel the pressure rising from two opposing directions: the rush to launch aggressive holiday campaigns and the personal need to slow down and recharge.
In this episode of the Powerful Marketing Tips podcast, co-founders Mari-Liis Vaher and Laura Martšenkov sit down to discuss how to navigate this specific end-of-year chaos.
They explore the double-edged sword of holiday discounts, why stepping away from your laptop is a legitimate business strategy, and how to set yourself up for a strong start in 2026.
The Hidden Cost of Holiday Discounts
Holiday promotions are everywhere, and while customers appreciate a good deal, competing solely on price is a dangerous game for brand owners.
Heavy discounting is like “shooting yourself in the leg.” While a 40% or 50% discount might drive quick sales in the short term, it trains your customers to wait for price cuts rather than buying for value. If you cannot sustain that price point year-round, you risk devaluing your brand.
Often, businesses see sales drop to zero immediately after a campaign ends because they have taught their audience that the full price isn’t “worth it.”
Strategies to protect your brand value:
- Differentiate beyond price: Compete on service, product quality, or your team rather than trying to be the cheapest option in the market.
- Be transparent: Don’t inflate prices right before a sale to make the discount look bigger. Customers notice, and trust is hard to rebuild.
- Reward loyalty: Instead of offering massive discounts to strangers, offer special perks to long-term clients to make them feel valued.
Download: Free Marketing Strategy Template + Guide for 2026
Why Rest is a Strategic Necessity
Marketing often feels like running on a hamster wheel: there is always another task, another post, or another deadline. However, constant “busyness” often prevents you from thinking clearly or strategically.
Laura recently returned from a two-week vacation where she left her laptop behind entirely. She explains that taking a real break requires a shift in mindset. If you believe the business will collapse without you, you will never feel safe enough to rest.
Practical steps to disconnect:
- Plan ahead: Inform clients early (even months in advance) that you will be away so expectations are managed.
- Systematize: Use your upcoming time off as a deadline to automate tasks or implement new tools that keep things running while you are gone.
- Trust your team: If you have prepared well, your colleagues can handle the day-to-day operations.
Rest allows you to step out of your daily routine. Often, when you step back, you find smarter ways to work that you wouldn’t have seen while in the middle of the grind.
Preparing for a Strong 2026
The end of the year is the perfect time to clean up your digital workspace. Mari-Liis and Laura recommend going through your Drive or Teams folders, organizing documents, and archiving old files. This reduces the chaotic feeling when you return to work in January and ensures your team can access everything they need.
Reflecting on the past year is also essential. Success is rarely an overnight event; it is usually the result of years of work that people don’t see. As Steve Jobs famously said, it is easier to connect the dots looking backward than forward.
As you head into 2026, focus on aligning your activities with actual sales and outcomes, rather than just filling your calendar with tasks to feel productive.
Also learn: Brand Marketing Strategy Template: A Complete Guide for 2026
Quotes:
“It’s like shooting yourself in the leg. Yes, you can get those short-term sales very quickly… But what happens after the sale is over?” – Laura Martšenkov
“Playing with the price can be a great thing on one side, but it can also be a very dangerous thing to do because that’s the highest price that the brand or the company pays.” – Mari-Liis Vaher
“If you put the responsibility of your worth on your work only… It’s very hard to be happy when things are not working. You have to find your worth elsewhere.” – Laura Martšenkov
“We cannot prove [marketing ROI] by just being busy every day and overwhelmed… We should always think about how to align our activities with sales and with outcomes.” – Mari-Liis Vaher
Timestamps:
00:00 The pros and cons of holiday promotions
02:19 Why sales drop after big campaigns
05:48 Rest is strategy: How to disconnect properly
09:39 Using vacations to improve business systems
12:13 Organizing processes for the new year
14:20 Reflecting on long-term growth and patience
Also check: Smart Marketing on Amazon: Strategies That Actually Work
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