As businesses gear up for the new year (and adjust their marketing strategies), 2026 is shaping up to be an exciting year for the industry. Marketing is a beast, constantly evolving, but there are definitely things to look forward to and new ways to connect to your audience in the new year. To stay competitive, companies will need to embrace innovation while continuing to focus on what works best for them.
Here are some of the trends we expect to see next year:
1. AI-Driven Personalization
Generic messaging won’t cut it anymore. In 2026, brands will use advanced AI to tailor content and offers specifically for each viewer. That being said, it’s important for businesses to deliver messaging that makes each customer feel valued and understood.
What You Can Do Now:
- Audit your customer-data systems (how you collect, store, and use data).
- Start testing dynamic content (emails or ads that change based on user behavior).
- Partner with teams who can integrate AI tools into your workflows.
2. Authenticity
On the other side of the coin, the rise in AI content will cause consumers to crave real human connection and authenticity. Marketing in 2026 will need to be real. Brands that embrace authenticity and build trust with their audiences will lead. This may look like collaborating with other local businesses, sharing behind-the-scenes content and stories, and showing your human side through creative messaging and design.
What You Can Do Now:
- Create content that highlights local success stories or client testimonials.
- Engage in local community events, then share those stories with your audience.
- Make sure your brand voice is genuine. It’s great to show behind-the-scenes content, employee stories, and team culture.
3. Short-Form Video and Immersive Content
Attention spans continue to shrink while demand for authentic, quick content keeps rising. Short-form video (TikTok, Reels, YouTube Shorts) will remain critical. Beyond that, immersive and interactive content like AR experiences, 360-video, and live commerce events, will break through. Brands can benefit by making “quick tips” and “day in the life” videos, which help to make your story relatable and visually engaging.
What You Can Do Now:
- Choose one platform where your audience is active and start producing regular short content.
- Explore interactive formats: polls, ask-me-anything, live Q&A sessions.
4. Search Beyond Google
The future of search is no longer just typing queries into Google. In 2026, search will be everywhere: voice (smart speakers), visual (images, camera search), and social media (platforms like TikTok).
What You Can Do Now:
- Refine your local SEO and claim/optimize your Google Business Profile.
- Make sure image alt-text, captions, and video descriptions are optimized, and add voice-friendly FAQs or an AI assistant to your website.
- Explore being discoverable on social platforms where your local audience spends their time.
5. Omnichannel Experience and A Unified Customer Journey
Consumers expect seamless experiences whether they interact with your business via website, mobile app, social media, or in-store. In 2026, having a unified, cross-channel, consistent brand experience will be key.
What You Can Do Now:
- Map your customer journey across channels: how do they find you, how do they buy, how do they stay engaged?
- Identify gaps or inconsistent messaging and design between channels and fix them.
Marketing in 2026 will be less about trying every brand new tool and more about doing the right things better. If you’re ready to make your 2026 marketing strategy effective and on-trend, we’d love to help you and your business. Our team of experts will map out a strategy and execute campaigns that get results.
Contact us today to learn more about our marketing services!
