Reflecting on a Year of Intentional Growth and Connection
At Unita Marketing, we believe that growth—whether for our clients or ourselves—should never be accidental; it must be intentional, clear, and aligned with a greater purpose. As we look back on the past year, we are incredibly proud of the strides we’ve taken to better serve our partners. We haven’t just grown for the sake of getting bigger; we’ve expanded our capabilities to ensure we can continue providing the hands-on, boutique-style support you rely on. From strengthening our internal team to refining our own brand mission, every step we’ve taken has been about one thing: replacing overwhelm with confidence for the businesses we serve. Here is a look at how we’ve evolved to help you navigate the changing digital landscape.
Expanding Our Team and In-House Capabilities
Our client roster has grown, and so have our team and our in-house services! We are thrilled to share a few key updates:
- Katie Promoted to Marketing Manager: Katie, the first member to join our team, has been promoted as our team expanded. We are so grateful for her veteran experience, her supreme communication skills, and her ability to steer the ship on a new course when needed!
- Matt Werner Joins Full-Time: Hosting, domain management, and Google Workspace management are now all handled in-house! We are so grateful to have a tech expert on the team who can modernize our workflow and ensure your digital foundation is secure.
- Zoe Transitions to Full-Time Design: Zoe has transitioned from an intern to a full-time employee! We are thrilled to announce that we now have an in-house designer, which means we are no longer outsourcing logo, web, and print design.
- Local Roots: With these updates, half of our team are now proud alumni of the UNC-CH Hussman School of Journalism and Media!
- Innovation through Investment: After winning a $5,000 grant at the Wake Forest Founders’ Collective Pitch Competition, we are excited to announce that we will be implementing a premium AI search optimization platform into all of our clients’ accounts. We believe this tool will accelerate our ability to increase our clients’ exposure in AI search results!
- In the News: We were incredibly honored to be featured in a recent article from the Wake Forest Business & Industry Partnership highlighting our first-place win at the Founders’ Collective Pitch Competition!
Sharpening Our Vision: Insights from the Wake Forest Founders’ Collective
As 2025 came to a close, Rebekah graduated from Cohort #4 of the Wake Forest Founders’ (WFF) Accelerator Program with the Wake Forest Founders’ Collective. While she went in expecting business education, she had no idea the profound impact it would have on her journey in business ownership.
Her biggest takeaways included:
- Developing an Elevator Pitch: The direct feedback on word choice and learning the impact on the listener was invaluable.
- AI Knowledge & Compliance: What we learned in the cohort directly impacted our everyday processes.
- Project Management (PM): Together, we explored various PM tools, analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of each platform.
- Core Values & Mission Statement: This process led down a “rabbit hole” of strategic thought that defined who we are as a company.
- Nailing Down Growth Strategy: We are forever grateful for the time, space, and support to determine a growth strategy to take into the new year.
- Resources: We were introduced to incredible education and grant opportunities available for NC small businesses.
Feedback and Friendships
We cannot put into words the feeling of camaraderie we received from working towards a common goal without judgment. Thank you specifically to Dr. Tim Flood, a communications professor at UNC-CH Kenan-Flagler Business School, who manages the WFF Accelerator program. Throughout Cohort #4, he promoted a culture of open discourse where we could provide one another with invaluable feedback while feeling supported along the way.
As a direct result of Cohort #4, our company now has improved messaging, a clear mission statement, an HR manual, a strategy for growth, and even a new tagline (thank you, Clark Rinehart!). We cannot recommend this experience highly enough. THANK YOU to the Wake Forest Chamber, Wake Forest Business & Industry Partnership (more specifically, Jason Cannon!), and the Wake Forest Loading Dock for being true champions of small business owners in our community!
Our Renewed Identity: Human Connection Meets Technology
The clarity we gained this year didn’t just change our processes; it refined our purpose. We realized that while tools change, the need for authentic connection remains constant. We wanted a mission statement that reflected our balanced approach—honoring the “art” of connection and the “science” of digital tools.
Our New Mission:
To bring humanization and personalization back into marketing strategy, while staying on the forefront of technology.
Ultimately, this mission is about support. We handle the complexities of the digital landscape so that you have the freedom to focus on running your business. That promise is the heart of our new tagline.
Our New Tagline:
We show up so you can too!
Industry Insight: Navigating the Shift to AI
Data tells a story, and lately, the numbers are showing us a clear shift in how people find information. Three months ago, less than 1% of our clients’ website traffic was originating from “generative agents” (AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity). While that sounds small, that number has more than doubled to over 2% in just ninety days.
In the world of data, a 100% growth rate in such a short window isn’t just a blip; it’s a trend.
What does this mean for your business? It means the definition of “search” is expanding. Traditional Search Engine Optimization (SEO) isn’t going anywhere—Google is still the powerhouse—but the way potential customers ask questions is evolving. They are looking for direct answers, and increasingly, they are asking AI to provide them.
At Unita Marketing, we view this not as a replacement for SEO, but as its next logical step. We are actively refining our strategies to ensure your brand doesn’t just rank in traditional search results, but is also recognized and cited by AI models. We are here to bridge the gap, ensuring you show up wherever your customers are looking for answers.
With the $5,000 grant we were awarded from winning the Wake Forest Founders Pitch Competition, we can cover the entire first year of a premium tool that we believe will help us bridge the gap even faster!
Ready to Scale: Partnering for the Future
We spent 2025 beefing up our operations and expanding our team so we have the bandwidth to serve more service-sector businesses that are looking to scale. If you or anyone you know is the owner of a small business in the service-sector that is looking to take their business to the next level, we’d be honored if you considered partnering with the Unita Marketing Team.
Moving Forward with Clarity and Confidence
Navigating the future of digital marketing—from the rise of AI search to the nuances of organic connection—can feel complex, but you don’t have to do it alone. We are here to simplify that journey, ensuring that your strategy is not only data-driven but also deeply human. Whether you are looking to refine your digital foundation or are ready to scale your service-based business, our expanded team is ready to stand beside you as a true partner. Let’s stop guessing and start planning for a future where your business doesn’t just show up, but truly stands out.
Cheers to a new year filled with growth, development, and change; just the way we like it!