When revenue growth slows and expectations stay high, how should SMEs rethink their marketing plans for 2026?


Nizwani Shahar, CEO of Havas Malaysia, outlines practical frameworks for allocating limited budgets, balancing brand and performance, protecting margins, and making disciplined decisions when conditions tighten. We examine what to prioritise when cash flow is constrained, how to avoid destructive discounting, what minimum viable measurement really looks like, and what separates short-term survival from long-term resilience.

When revenue growth slows and expectations stay high, how should SMEs rethink their marketing plans for 2026? Nizwani Shahar, CEO of Havas Malaysia, outlines practical frameworks for allocating limited budgets, balancing brand and performance, protecting margins, and making disciplined decisions when conditions tighten. We examine what to prioritise when cash flow is constrained, how to avoid destructive discounting, what minimum viable measurement really looks like, and what separates short-term survival from long-term resilience.

Marketing Mojo examines the dynamic world of branding and marketing strategies. We explore the latest trends, share expert insights, and uncover innovative tactics to help you ignite your brand's spark and captivate your audience. Get ready to drive your brand (and sales) to new heights with Marketing Mojo!!

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Building Marketing Plans For Tougher Conditions

PR teams are being asked to prove ROI, yet many are still measured on placements and reach. Is the industry under-resourced… or under-justified?



Meltwater’s State of PR Report 2026 reveals a widening gap between rising expectations and flat budgets, with many leaders still unclear about what PR truly delivers. As AI becomes embedded in daily workflows and scrutiny from the C-suite intensifies, the pressure to connect communications to business outcomes has never been sharper.



We speak with Mimrah Mahmood, Vice President, Enterprise (APAC) at Meltwater, about the measurement comfort zone, the leadership disconnect, and what it will take for PR in this region to move from activity metrics to enterprise value.

PR teams are being asked to prove ROI, yet many are still measured on placements and reach. Is the industry under-resourced… or under-justified?Meltwater’s State of PR Report 2026 reveals a widening gap between rising expectations and flat budgets, with many leaders still unclear about what PR truly delivers. As AI becomes embedded in daily workflows and scrutiny from the C-suite intensifies, the pressure to connect communications to business outcomes has never been sharper.We speak with Mimrah Mahmood, Vice President, Enterprise (APAC) at Meltwater, about the measurement comfort zone, the leadership disconnect, and what it will take for PR in this region to move from activity metrics to enterprise value.

Has PR Earned Its Seat At The Table?

Search is changing fast. With AI tools increasingly answering questions directly, brands can no longer rely on rankings, clicks, and traffic alone to stay visible.



In this episode of Marketing Mojo, we speak with Alvin Koay, Founder and CEO of Growth.pro, about how AI is reshaping digital discovery, why traditional SEO metrics are losing relevance, and what Malaysian marketing teams must do now to remain credible, discoverable, and competitive in an AI-mediated world.



Image Credit: Shutterstock

Search is changing fast. With AI tools increasingly answering questions directly, brands can no longer rely on rankings, clicks, and traffic alone to stay visible.In this episode of Marketing Mojo, we speak with Alvin Koay, Founder and CEO of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://Growth.pro">Growth.pro</a>, about how AI is reshaping digital discovery, why traditional SEO metrics are losing relevance, and what Malaysian marketing teams must do now to remain credible, discoverable, and competitive in an AI-mediated world.Image Credit: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/ai-search-engine-technology-concept-woman-2648929637?trackingId=859599c1-5f2b-42d7-bf8f-2d381a88f3fb&amp;listId=searchResults">Shutterstock</a>

Is SEO Dead? The AI Search Shake-Up

Rewards programmes are everywhere but are they actually building loyalty, or just training customers to wait for the next incentive? As Malaysian consumers juggle points, tiers, and perks, brands are starting to question what really keeps customers coming back.



Points still work in some contexts, but many rewards programmes quietly underperform. In this conversation, René Menezes, Leader at Kult, examines why rewards alone often fail to build connection, when experiential and tier-based models make sense, why “community” is easier to market than to meaningfully create, and what brands may need to stop doing if they want loyalty to mean more than repeat spend.

Rewards programmes are everywhere but are they actually building loyalty, or just training customers to wait for the next incentive? As Malaysian consumers juggle points, tiers, and perks, brands are starting to question what really keeps customers coming back.Points still work in some contexts, but many rewards programmes quietly underperform. In this conversation, René Menezes, Leader at Kult, examines why rewards alone often fail to build connection, when experiential and tier-based models make sense, why “community” is easier to market than to meaningfully create, and what brands may need to stop doing if they want loyalty to mean more than repeat spend.

Building Marketing Plans For Tougher Conditions

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