A new year calls for new marketing trends. Your audience is evolving, and this is our forecast on how we think brands are going to keep up with upcoming changes in 2026. To recap marketing in 2025, we watched artificial intelligence (AI) grow at an emancipating speed, campaigns becoming more impactful than ever before, and consumer personalization reaching a new peak. Marketing will always keep us on our toes, and these are the strategies you’ll want to save for later!
AI Takes the Lead
We are entering an era where AI is no longer going to be used as an enhancement, but instead take over the entire game. Let’s get specific and talk about exactly what AI will and is already being used for as a social media management tool.
- AI in Digital Platforms
- Platforms such as Instagram, Canva, Facebook, Adobe, and so many others are integrating AI tools into their apps, and they are capable of a lot more than you would expect. All of these apps have added AI search engines, AI image generators, and without a doubt, there will be more to come in 2026.
- Consumer Personalization
- AI is capable of crafting customizable content for individual consumers such as emails, offers, and advertisements. For example, have you ever received an email from one of your favorite clothing brands, and they give you a limited time offer for a discounted price, and the code is something like “YOURNAME20”? News flash – that’s the power of AI!
- Work Smarter, Not Harder
- Captions, descriptions, video editing, voiceovers, and much more can now be done at the click of a button. This is not only allowing AI to do work for you, but it is going to save creators a load of time, and time is a gift; which is why we can expect to see more AI generated content in the future.
With all of these social media platforms already having woven AI into their software, the ways brands create content is changing fast. Whether or not you are for AI, it’s time to accept that the brands taking advantage of this new software are going to level up fast.
Loyalty Over Likes
1 million followers means nothing if only 1 thousand are loyal. Due to new features on various platforms such as TikTok and Instagram that truly allow you to engage with the ones who appreciate it the most – it has never been easier to both connect with and reward your loyal followers.
Instagram and TikTok have integrated a subscription feature where accounts can make exclusive content for a monthly charge, but it isn’t just about the revenue the accounts make from this, it’s a way to engage with the ones who do pay. These new features enable you to show appreciation to your small audience by offering rewards. Examples include early access to product launches, exclusive discounts, and content featuring real company employees addressing them directly. As anyone in marketing has known for a long time, your community is what matters the most – and features like this allow brands to truly show their appreciation!
Static Content is Dying
In 2026 we can expect to see a decline in static content; short videos or dynamic content with a good hook within the first few seconds are what is really working right now. Viewers want to see personality coming along with a brand; not just a post that sits there.
The only type of static post that we can expect to do well are carousels, Instagram is pushing carousels more than usual, however as mentioned, a single page graphic is not seeing the same success. As we know, videos have always been in the lead as far as building a connection with your audience compared to a static post, but we are reaching an era where it just doesn’t do the trick anymore.
Transparency Wins
Studies have shown that Gen-Z is more particular than ever when it comes to making a purchase, so in 2026 – they want to see brands that keep it real. The new generation of consumers need to see authenticity coming from the brands that they are spending their money on. They want to see receipts: behind the scenes, real data, real testimonials, and most importantly, real people. We have reached a point where there are brands that have customer reviews on their sites turned off, and it is one of the biggest marketing mistakes to make in 2026. A campaign built on truth and open communication will have better results than any celebrity slapped onto the face of a brand. Simple honesty is going to be a game changer in 2026, and it’s important to integrate that into your marketing strategy as soon as possible.
The Takeaway
As 2026 creeps up on us, both technology and your audience is evolving at a speed we have never seen before. It is important to note that most of this new technology is not just a “trend”, but is the start of a permanent shift that is only going to continue to progress. Save these for later if you want to stay ahead of all that is to come in 2026 in the marketing world!
Want to make sure you don’t fall behind in 2026? Get a head start and request a quote today!