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Mastering the Art of the Brief: A Guide for Getting the Best from Your Marketing Partner

The significance of a well-crafted brief cannot be overstated. It is the blueprint that shapes the foundation of any successful campaign, bridging the gap between vision and execution. This guide delineates the essential components of a digital marketing brief, designed to maximize results and ensure your marketing efforts resonate deeply with your intended audience. Introduction…

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The #1 Winery Website Trend for 2025

Every time I see a wine marketing agency gush about how the future of winery websites is all about flashy animations, bold colors, and maximalist design trends, I can’t help but cringe. The internet isn’t a toy—it’s a tool, a tool that needs to work as hard as you do. At 5forests, we’ve spent the…

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How To Find a Wine Marketing Company You’re Sure to Love

Here’s a familiar scenario: a winery hires a marketing agency, months of work go by, and then the project falls flat. That’s where we often come in—called in to untangle what went wrong and set things back on track. And let me say, we’re sympathetic to both sides. Agencies generally want to do great work,…

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PESTEL Factors and Their Impact on Business: An In-Depth Analysis

The PESTEL framework—which stands for Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal factors—is a comprehensive tool for analyzing the macro-environmental influences that affect business operations. A PESTEL analysis helps organizations identify external factors that could impact their performance both negatively or positively. By systematically examining each element, businesses can develop strategies to leverage opportunities and…

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Why PESTEL Matters (Yes, Even in Wine)

The wine industry loves a good acronym, and today, I want to talk about one that gets tossed around in strategy circles and LinkedIn comments but often overlooked when things get “real”: PESTEL. Politics, Economics, Social, Technology, Environment, and Legal factors—each one capable of changing the course of our business with a single policy announcement…

Young blond woman with bright red lips, wearing an orange strapless dress. She is looking up at camera and surrounded by glasses of wine.

The New Rules of Influencer Marketing for Wineries

As influencer marketing for wineries evolve, brands face high stakes in balancing authentic engagement with strict compliance. Here’s what every winery needs to know.

Ideas Are Cheap

We live in a time when everyone’s got an idea. Scroll through LinkedIn or sit through any conference, and you’ll hear countless grand visions and brilliant plans of how to change the world of wine. I see people get caught up in the fantasy of what could be—building castles in the sky with no foundation.…

Common Email Marketing Mistakes (and How Wine Brands Can Avoid Them)

In this episode of Headtraining, Polly talks about the common mistakes wine brands make with their email marketing campaigns and how to avoid them. From prioritizing social media over email to missing mobile optimization, she dives into practical tips and strategies that can transform your email marketing game. If you’ve been struggling to make the…

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How Do I Find the Best Wine Marketing Agency for My Winery?

If you’re in the wine business, you know that creating exceptional wine is just half the battle. Getting it into the right hands? That’s where a wine marketing agency comes in. But with so many agencies claiming to be wine marketing experts, how do you find the best wine marketing agency for your needs? Obviously,…

What Makes a Great Winery Website?

What makes a great winery website? If only we had a dime for everytime we were asked that question! The truth is, it’s a moving target—we are constantly learning, revising, and improving our own knowledge of websites as platforms change, capabilities, change, heck, even the internet changes! A great winery website isn’t a static thing;…

Glass of white wine with background of yellow and orange leaves for autumn

What Do I Think About Come Over October?

I’ll begin by saying, I appreciate the sentiment behind “Come Over October.” On paper, it’s a beautiful idea—leaning into the communal aspect of wine, encouraging people to come together and celebrate, and emphasizing that wine has historically been about more than just the liquid in the glass. It’s about connection, friendship, and those moments that…

Podcast cover reads Marketing Moderation, text atop funnel pouring into spirits bottle

Marketing Non-Alcohol Beverages: Strategies For Success

In this episode, Polly dives into marketing non-alcohol beverages. Discover the secrets behind successful integration of non-alcohol options, understanding your customer base, and enhancing the overall experience for non-alc consumers. Join us as we explore how to make your non-alcohol offerings an integral and celebrated part of your brand. The Transcript How do you market…