As we step into 2026, one thing is clear: 2025 was a breakthrough year for digital marketing, driven by the rapid evolution of AI. At seoplus+, we’re energized by this momentum and excited about the possibilities ahead.
To start the year, we asked two of our own industry leaders, Brock Murray, COO of seoplus+, and Kyle Turk, VP of Marketing at seoplus+ and Founder of Meerkat Marketing, to share their digital marketing predictions for the year ahead.
- Leadership Predictions: Winning brands in 2026 will lean into authentic, human-led content and embrace AI search-first strategies to stay discoverable and relevant.
- Video-Commerce: Video is now a direct path to purchase. Marketers should focus on interactive, shoppable formats that drive real actions.
- Community & Authenticity: Building genuine community and empowering internal voices will set brands apart in a market that values trust and connection.
Click, watch, buy: How video became a sales channel
Short-form, live, and interactive video are no longer just emerging trends. They are reshaping how consumers engage and make purchases. Social platforms have evolved. Video is no longer just about engagement; it has become a key driver of transactions.
A recent IAB study found that 86 percent of advertisers are already using or planning to use generative AI to produce video ads. By 2026, nearly 40 per cent of all video ads are expected to be AI-generated.
At the same time, social commerce continues to grow. Live shopping, shoppable posts, and in-stream checkout are turning passive views into active conversions.
What this means for marketers: Video is now a direct path to purchase. To stay competitive:
- Embrace interactive features, product overlays, live shopping formats, and shoppable end cards.
- Ensure your video content integrates with your ecommerce platform.
- When measuring performance, prioritize real actions, such as add-to-cart and checkout, over surface-level metrics like views and likes.
At seoplus+, we offer paid ads and video marketing services to help you turn views into conversions, both strategically and creatively.
Lead with community: Building trust through internal voices
In 2026, authenticity and community are now key to meaningful brand engagement, driven by real voices and a clear purpose.
Transparency, ethical messaging, and two-way interaction are no longer optional. As a result, forward-thinking brands are investing in:
- Owned spaces such as forums, apps, and micro-communities
- Peer-to-peer strategies that tap into existing customer networks
- Employee advocacy that amplifies authentic, internal voices
At seoplus+, we embrace this shift. Our team regularly creates fun, authentic internal content that showcases the people behind the work. We believe your team should be part of your story.
The takeaway: Build community, empower internal voices, and measure authenticity through engagement, retention, and referrals.
In 2026, the brands that will win on social media will lean into authentic, human-creator–centric content to stand out in an increasingly AI-generated landscape. Distinct brand personality, real voices, and lived experiences will become key differentiators, helping brands build trust and emotional connection where automation alone falls short. Personality will matter more than polish.
The bottom line: How to win in 2026
In 2026, success in digital marketing will come down to three things: showing up authentically, embracing the power of AI, and creating content that drives meaningful connection and action. Whether it is through shoppable video, community-building, or AI-driven discovery, the brands that lead will be the ones who adapt with purpose and keep the human element at the centre.
2026 will mark the shift to ‘AI search-first’ strategy, as ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s AI Overviews fundamentally change how consumers discover brands. The winners will be companies that optimize for AI-generated answers while leveraging these same AI tools to deliver hyper-personalized content experiences at scale, making one-size-fits-all marketing a thing of the past.
Looking ahead
These are just a few of the trends digital marketers should keep an eye on in 2026. Want to dive deeper or explore how these insights apply to your strategy? Get in touch with the seoplus+ team. We are here to help.
What trends are you watching in 2026? Share your predictions with us.
