Marketing in 2026 trends, major changes and what companies need to do to stay relevant
Shari
The marketing industry is undergoing its biggest transformation in 20 years. After the AI explosion of 2024-2025, 2026 brings a completely new stage: total automation, advanced personalization, and a competition in which only companies that adapt quickly will survive.
Classic marketing no longer works alone.
Expensive advertising no longer guarantees results.
Generic content no longer converts.
In 2026, those who integrate technology, data, and AI at a professional level will win.
1. AI becomes the basis of all marketing
It's no longer a question of whether you use AI, but how you use it.
In 2026, AI is present at every stage:
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content generation
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data analysis
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marketing strategy
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ad optimization
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advanced segmentation
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customized automations
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conversion predictions
But the difference between companies will be enormous:
✔ ordinary users use AI as a tool
✔ professionals use AI as a complete operating system
At Marketpy Agency, we integrate AI with internal processes, custom workflows, and automations that a standard user cannot access. This generates much faster results and reduced costs.
2. Eliminating intuitive marketing
"Experience-based" marketing is disappearing.
In 2026, decisions are made exclusively based on:
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DATA
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predictions
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algorithmic scoring
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real digital behavior
Brands will have access to a level of insights that only Big Tech had until now:
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what audience will buy
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when will the conversion be completed?
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which ads will work without testing
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which channels should be eliminated because they are losing budget
3. Short video ads dominate the market
TikTok, Reels and Shorts will control over 70% of the content consumed.
In 2026, content that converts must be:
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short
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vertical
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rapid
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excited
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action-oriented
Brands that migrate to video content as quickly as possible gain massive visibility and much lower costs per lead or sale.
4. SEO is changing: AI searches are becoming standard
Google Search is transforming.
Traditional searches are declining, and AI-assisted searches are increasing.
SEO in 2026 is based on:
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authoritative content
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clear answers
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optimization for AI models
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long and structured articles
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trust and transparency
Sites that are not optimized for the new AI Overviews will lose visibility.
5. Personalization becomes mandatory
Generic marketing is dying.
Users want personalized content based on:
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industry
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behavior
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COVER
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location
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previous actions
Brands that deliver personalized messages will increase conversions by 40–60%.
6. Cross-platform conversions are becoming the norm
The customer of 2026 no longer stays in one channel.
He sees:
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a clip on TikTok
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an advertisement on Google
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an offer on Facebook
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an email
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a remarketing
The correct strategy is cross-platform , not dependent on a single channel.
7. Automation is becoming more important than large teams
Companies understand that:
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an automated funnel
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a smart CRM
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an automated email system
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an AI configurator
It is worth more than 3-5 employees doing the same processes manually.
Automations reduce costs and increase scalability without additional staff.
8. Marketplaces are becoming mandatory for retail
In 2026, retail companies cannot afford to ignore marketplaces.
They bring:
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high exposure
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fast conversions
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access to millions of customers
The biggest trend: marketplace optimization + automation + Ads AI .
Conclusion: Marketing in 2026 is dominated by AI, data and speed
Companies that quickly adopt new technologies will easily differentiate themselves.
Those that remain in classic marketing will pay higher budgets, have poorer results, and lose competitiveness.