This past year was an exceptional one for GigSalad, capped off by record-breaking numbers in the back half of the year. Between a full-scale rebrand and a series of marketing investments, we saw meaningful momentum across the marketplace. Read on for a more detailed account of product updates from 2025, followed by a preview of what we’re building in 2026.
Introduced a brand-new look
On July 1, we officially launched the GigSalad rebrand! This was a monumental undertaking that touched nearly every corner of the site. It wasn’t just a fresh coat of paint; it was a robust redesign built to better reflect who we are today and where we’re headed next.
Some of the highlights included:
- A new logo and logomark (hi, Herb 👋)
- A fresh color palette and modernized fonts
- Custom graphics featuring unique shapes and patterned backgrounds
- Fresh designs and improved UX across the entire site
The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and we couldn’t be more excited about how the new brand is setting the tone for the future. If you’d like a behind-the-scenes look at the process, check out The Debrief podcast, where some of our team rehash the rebranding experience with our design partner Focus Lab.
Expanded our marketing efforts
We shared in the 2024 update that we had started ramping up social media and commercial advertising. In 2025, we built on that momentum and made more marketing moves than ever before. We even hired a new VP of Marketing (say hi to Dave 👋) with decades of experience to steer the ship. And guess what? It’s all working!
📰 Advertising
We reintroduced more targeted Google ads and expanded into new social channels, reaching event planners through platforms like Reddit and Pinterest. We also started exploring more retargeting efforts to recapture planners around the web. These efforts will continue to be refined over the next year.
📱 Social media
We began our series of “Mark Learns How” videos in 2024 and continued through 2025, even taking the show on the road to New York City and Los Angeles. Our talented CEO, Mark Steiner, learned the art of everything from caricature drawing and drumming to fire performing and belly dancing. What will he try in 2026? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to find out!
📺 Commercials
We maintained our commercial advertising presence throughout 2025 and introduced a brand-new spot designed specifically for brides and grooms. We also aired video ads, starring our leading man and CEO, before several feature films at the Cucalorus Film Festival.
Launched lead insights
After spending a long time testing to ensure its value, we finally launched lead insights in March 2025. This feature is exclusive to paid members and gives helpful info about competitor activity on each lead.
With lead insights, you can see:
- How many other members responded
- How many members have sent quotes
- How many of those quotes are active and bookable
- If no other members (but you!) were contacted
These details are designed to help you respond more strategically and prioritize the leads most likely to convert. For tips on making the most of this info, check out our blog post on using lead insights to close more bookings.
Added chat support
In addition to phone and email support, chat is officially back. When our Customer Happiness agents are online, you can reach them via the message bubble in the bottom right corner of our contact pages. Pop in and get fast answers to any questions you have!
Coming soon in 2026…
While 2025 brought you one of our biggest launches in a decade, 2026 is shaping up to be a year of refinement, testing, and continued investment in the member and planner experience.
🧪 Testing design and UX improvements
Some pages were reskinned during the rebrand rather than fully redesigned. In 2026, we’ll be testing new designs, layouts, and user flows to see what drives the strongest results.
Some planned tests include:
- Profile redesigns that better showcase media and highlight member achievements.
- Quote request form updates with improved, modal-based UX.
- Onboarding improvements to help new members create stronger profiles from day one.
With redesigns on the horizon and new joins creating better profiles from the jump, make sure yours is ready to compete. Update your photos, add videos, request reviews, and refresh your text. For extra guidance, check out our post on creating great profiles (with real examples).
✨ Improving leads and communication
Helping members receive quality opportunities and communicate effectively with clients remains a top priority, year after year. Two ways we’ll do this in 2026 are through refined category settings and new messaging tools.
Category-specific preferences – In 2025, we tested category-specific preferences with costumed characters, allowing providers to identify their offerings and planners to request them for better lead matching. In 2026, we’ll continue expanding per-category customization across more services.
Messaging app for iOS and Android – While a full GigSalad app is a larger lift than we’re ready for, we are actively developing a new messaging app. This app will allow you to receive and respond to client messages and get push notifications for faster replies.
👉 Want to beta test the app when it’s ready? Let us know, and we’ll put you on the list!
✅ Booking through GigSalad
In 2026, we are putting focus on using the GigSalad booking platform. Our terms require that all leads that begin on GigSalad be finalized on the site. Enforcement has been relaxed in the past, but we are reining that in moving forward.
Our goal isn’t to add friction; it’s to make the booking platform the best possible experience for both sides of the transaction.
For members – Expect continued improvements to messaging and quoting, including a possible exploration of package options and multiple-quote functionality.
For event planners – We’re working on updated copy, a redesigned checkout experience, and additional payment options. We’ve already begun testing Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Venmo, and we’ll be monitoring usage to determine which options are most useful to keep.
Please note that failure to complete bookings through the platform may result in profile removal, though adequate warnings will always be given first.
As we step into 2026, our focus remains simple: build tools that help planners book with confidence and help talent win more of the right gigs. Everything on the roadmap is rooted in real feedback and real results, and we’re excited to keep refining the experience together in the year ahead. 🤗
Not a member of GigSalad yet? Create a free profile today and get more gigs this year.
Heather is the Content Manager and a GigSalad veteran of 15+ years. She loves helping event planners create unforgettable celebrations and talent make a living doing what they love. When not at work, she enjoys reading romance and fantasy books, bingeing TV shows, playing board games, and spending time with friends.
looks good 2026 should be even better with Gigsalad, with all of the new updates .
Thanks, Arlethia! We think so, too. 😎