Marketing predictions for 2026: What businesses need to know! 

With new tools, shifting customer behaviour and more competition for attention than ever, 2026 is already shaping up to be a pivotal year for small and midsize businesses. 

So, as a digital marketing agency that partners with local SMEs every day, we’ve rounded up the five biggest marketing trends that we believe you should have on your radar, and how you can make them work hard for your business. 

AI goes mainstream

AI is no longer an optional extra; it is becoming part of everyday business operations, especially in marketing. The good news is that AI levels the playing field between small businesses and big brands. 

You can use AI to personalise customer interactions without spending hours manually segmenting your audience, automate repetitive tasks, freeing you up for growth-focused work, and speed up content creation, like ad copy. 

AI doesn’t replace your voice; it amplifies your ability to show up consistently and professionally. 

Short-form video and interactive content take the lead

Short form, vertical video is now the king of social content, from Instagram, LinkedIn, to TikTok, but you don’t need a massive production budget, a huge studio or loads of time. As long as you have a smartphone and a spare 10 minutes, you can create informative, fun and knowledgeable content to share with your community, existing and prospective customers. 

How can it work for you? 

• Quick product demos 
• Behind-the-scenes 
• Customer stories 
• FAQs 
• Live videos or live webinars 

Video lets both your personality and your brand personality shine, and that’s what customers really want to connect with. 

SEO shifts to “Answer Engines”

With AI-driven search becoming the norm (missed our blog about AI Overviews? Catch up here!), customers are asking direct questions and expecting instant answers. For local businesses, this means: 

• Ensuring your content is clear, helpful and question-focused. 
• Keeping your business details consistent across Google and other online directories.
• Building content that shows your expertise. 

If you answer questions well, you’re more likely to be found, even in an AI-first search world. 

Privacy matters, and first-party data is king

As tracking tools continue to fade out, your own customer database becomes your most valuable asset. Winning strategies include: 

• Focusing on email list growth. 
• Offering valuable resources or perks for signups. 
• Using privacy-friendly analytics. 
• Being transparent about data usage. 

Businesses that respect privacy build trust, and trust builds loyalty.  

Customers want authenticity, purpose and personality

Customers are increasingly choosing brands that feel genuine and relatable, cue Monzo and Aldi on LinkedIn or Facebook for relatable social media content that resonates with their respective audiences. That’s something that SME’s can naturally excel at. You can stand out by: 

• Sharing your story.
• Showing people behind the business. 
• Highlighting customer experiences.
• Promoting your values.

So, what does this mean for 2026?

Think of 2026 as a chance to sharpen your marketing. In summary, our recommended focus points for SMEs are: 

1. Experiment with AI tools. 
2. Make short videos part of your content mix. 
3. Update your website to answer real customer questions. 
4. Grow your email list ethically. 
5. Lean into your story. 

If you’re looking for support with your website, digital strategy or ongoing marketing efforts, our expert team is here to help. 

We work with local businesses every day to build strong brands, generate leads and create marketing strategies that genuinely work. 

Get in touch, we’d love to support your next steps.