Digital marketing doesn’t stay put for long, and here in Sarasota, the pace feels even quicker. People are searching, shopping, and scrolling in new ways, and that’s changing how we all show up online. A digital marketing agency in Sarasota now has to move faster, read trends earlier, and tweak plans more often just to stay in step with what people expect.
We’ve seen some big shifts lately, not just online but in how our clients think and what their customers want. These changes guide how we work each day, from planning content to choosing where and when it shows up. Here are some of the biggest shifts we’re seeing and how they’re shaping the way we build digital marketing plans right now.
New Expectations Around Personalization
People want content that feels like it was made for them. Not in a pushy way, but in a way that makes sense for who they are, what they care about, and where they live. This has made personalization less of a bonus and more of a basic need.
We’re seeing this play out in a few key areas:
• Email campaigns need to sound more like a note from a local shop owner, not a nationwide company
• Ads that match the weather, events, or local habits tend to do better
• Websites that shift their homepage message to match the time of year keep people on the page longer
For businesses in Sarasota and nearby, that might mean talking about the beach in December while people up north are dealing with snow. What matters is keeping messages local and timely, so people feel like you’re paying attention to what’s real for them.
PERC delivers campaigns that use first-party data and contextual cues to personalize email, search, and web experience for Sarasota clients looking to connect on a local level.
The Rise of Video and Visual Search
Scrolling through videos used to be entertainment. Now it’s how people make decisions. Whether someone is looking for a haircut, a dentist, or a lunch spot, there’s a good chance they’ll check out a video first.
Visual content plays a bigger role than it used to and that changes the way we plan. Search isn’t just about Google anymore. People are using YouTube, Instagram, and even TikTok to look things up before making a choice.
That means we’re helping businesses:
• Add short videos to key pages
• Use screenshots to show services or hours
• Tag images clearly so they show up in searches
More people are searching with their eyes, not just their typing. That shift means content needs to be quick, scannable, and useful even on mute.
Our web development and SEO services include support for embedded video, image alt tags, and content structure that increases visibility on visual platforms as well as traditional search engines.
Less Tracking, More Content Strategy
Privacy updates have changed how much we can see about users. Some of the data we used to rely on is now blocked by devices or settings. Instead of guessing who someone is based on trackers, we’ve gone back to focusing on what they need based on behavior and content style.
This shift has pushed us toward stronger, more helpful content over time. That looks like:
• Blog posts and page updates that answer real questions
• Forms that are quick to fill out but still useful for getting first-party data
• Offers that people want to swap their email for, without needing cookies to guess
We’ve had to think harder about how to earn attention and stay top of mind. It makes our planning better, even if it takes more upfront effort. When the right people find the right content at the right time, that connection holds longer than any trackable click.
PERC’s team focuses on building and updating client content strategy, placing emphasis on first-party lead data in line with Sarasota’s privacy expectations and marketing shifts.
Seasonality Feels Different
In Sarasota, winter doesn’t mean heavy coats and frosted windows. But it does bring change. The travel season picks up, snowbirds return, and locals shift their routines. For digital planners, this means the whole rhythm of content has to speed up.
We don’t wait until December. We work on cold-season updates in early November because that’s when visitors start checking local listings and thinking about where to go once they arrive. A few examples include:
• Updating landing pages with winter visitor tips
• Refreshing location info for travelers not familiar with the area
• Planning Google Business Profile changes to reflect actual traffic trends
It’s less about the calendar and more about when people start to plan. If we show up early, we earn that attention before someone else does.
How AI is Changing Everyday Agency Work
Artificial intelligence shows up in our work more than it used to, but not as a replacement. It’s a tool. We use it to speed things up, not to take over.
Here’s how it fits into our daily process:
• We use AI to brainstorm article titles or social blurbs
• It can help flag gaps in content or structure
• When used for trend research, it gives a quick look at what people are asking
But every piece still gets reviewed by people. We double-check, rewrite, and polish what AI suggests. People want content that sounds like it was made for them, not something that came from a machine. AI supports the process but doesn’t lead it.
Staying Flexible in a Fast-Moving Space
The way people search, the apps they use, and even what they expect from a business can all change in just a few weeks. That’s why we don’t rely on what used to work. We have to keep testing, shifting, and adjusting.
For a digital marketing agency in Sarasota, this kind of flexibility isn’t optional. It’s part of how we help local businesses stay active and visible. Sarasota, Florida, doesn’t follow the same patterns as other places, so timing, voice, and delivery need to match what’s real here.
What helps most is staying clear on what matters:
• Show the right message at the right time
• Make it easy for people to understand what you offer
• Focus on local habits, not trends from somewhere else
Too much guesswork slows everything down. When we stay close to how real people are searching and reading, we’re more likely to create something that sticks. Keeping content focused, current, and grounded in today’s habits is how we move forward without getting stuck in old patterns.
Staying ahead of changing digital trends in Sarasota requires quick thinking and the right strategy. Sarasota’s unique seasonal patterns and diverse buyer habits mean your online presence needs to adapt. Partnering with a digital marketing agency in Sarasota means your content stays relevant and continues to reach your audience effectively. At PERC, we focus on what’s getting results now, not outdated tactics. Let’s discuss how we can help your business grow.
