Latest Marketing & Advertising News
Digital Marketing in 2026: Creativity + Data Beats Pure Performance
Audiences are scrolling past optimized ads faster, leading to engagement flattening and creative sameness from AI tools. In 2026, brands relying solely on performance metrics will struggle, while those blending creativity, emotion, and data-driven storytelling will stand out.
Platforms advance automation into creative production, but human-centered narratives are resurging for memorability.
CDMO Marketing Trends: SEO and AI Search Lead Lead Generation in 2026
Organic SEO and AI-driven search were top channels for qualified leads in 2025, with 36% of CDMO marketers citing them as most effective. In 2026, 36% plan largest budget share for these, prioritizing lead gen and brand awareness.
11% allocate most to marketing tech for analytics and AI efficiency; agencies outsource SEO, martech, and paid search.
Dentsu CEO: 2026 Defined by AI-Reshaping Discovery, Commerce, Creativity
AI becomes an invisible companion in consumer journeys for watching, buying, and trusting, shifting brands to AI-mediated pathways. Gaming, live events, retail media rise for Gen Z/Alpha; non-metro India drives growth with privacy-safe targeting.
Dentsu achieved double-digit growth and ₹500–600 crore in media wins via integrated creativity, data, and tech.
Digital Transformation: AI Displaces Search Traffic, Enables New Models
Organic search declines as AI assistants intercept intent, turning websites into fulfillment layers over discovery. AI-enabled models deliver faster, cheaper products with higher quality, disrupting legacy processes via compounded productivity.
Companies must redesign marketing and interactions for AI-mediated engagement.
Content Marketing 2026: Shift to 'Meaning Economy' Over Volume
Organic reach declines amid ad saturation; audiences demand relevance, usefulness, resonance in a post-AI content flood. Brands build ecosystems with educational, timeless content via intentional presence across platforms.
Strategies focus on goals like traffic growth, leads, with guidelines for voice, distribution on social, email.
2026 Marketing: Scale to Precision with CTV, Programmatic Dominance
Programmatic hits 85%+ of digital ad revenue; CTV/video spend exceeds $110B with 4B users. AI drives hyper-personalization at scale and generative content revolutionizing production speed.
Shift accelerates from experimentation to execution amid privacy, AI, economic pressures.
IPA Welcomes ASA Final Guidance on UK LHF Advertising Rules
ASA publishes statutory guidance incorporating new Less Healthy Food (LHF) rules into CAP/BCAP Codes, effective January 5, 2026. Industry complied voluntarily since October; guidance aids compliance for restricted media ads.
Joint webinar by AA, IPA, ISBA, IAB explains enforcement changes.
Digital Advertising Faces 'Perfect Storm' of Disruption in Late 2025
Digital ad sector hit by disruptions extending into 2026, amid ongoing industry challenges. Example: Red Wing Shoes launches global campaign with billboards and contests.
Branded Residences: 50+ New Brands, Non-Hospitality Growth in 2026
Over 20 countries launch first branded residences; 50+ brands enter, non-hospitality increases market share. Marketing strategies adapt to this expansion in luxury real estate sector.
AI Adoption in CDMO Marketing Delivers Efficiency Gains
AI and LLMs near-universal in CDMO teams; 50% seek agency expertise for speed, outsourcing martech (45%), SEO/AI search (43%). Focus on digital shift enhances campaign efficiency.
Gaming, AR Emerge in 2026 Advertising for Gen Z Engagement
Gaming, live events, retail media as core engines; AR try-ons visible in auto, beauty. Privacy-safe targeting and India AI progress reshape brand experiences.
Generative AI Transforms Marketing Production in 2026
GenAI produces content from prompts, cutting timelines/costs; human refinement key for edge. Frees teams for strategy amid high-volume needs.