Top 10 Marketing Predictions for 2026: AI and Humanization

AI features, workflow automation, AI integration… as marketers, it seems to be all we hear about these days. Of course, these tools are monumental steps in supporting marketers and promoting growth, but when we look at 2026 industry predictions, it’s not the only thing to pay attention to. On the other side of the coin is the need for human expertise, creativity, and review as we begin to better understand and respond to this AI craze.

As much as AI has become a helpful resource, it has made us crave humanization, personally and professionally. In 2026, we will see these two sides balance out – finding the value in AI assistance without losing ourselves and our companies to it. In this blog, we’ll go over our 10 marketing predictions for 2026, how they weave together technology and humanity, and how unLOCKEd can help you stay on top of it all!

1. AI Becomes a Standard Part of Small Business Marketing

By now, if you haven’t hopped on the AI train, you’re falling behind. Small business marketers may have been hesitant at first, but the time to “wait and see” has passed. Big companies’ investments in AI have made it impossible to keep up without the tools, but not because it’s replacing marketers, because it’s supporting them. The repetitive, time-consuming tasks are what AI does best, so let it! With human review, AI can speed up processes such as writing captions, research, drafting outlines, and even small creative tasks, leaving you with more time to apply your experience and expertise toward strategy and execution. That’s what unLOCKEd’s experts do best.

2. Hyper-Personalized Content (Without Feeling Creepy)

Mass marketing has had its glory days and is now in the past. Personalized content has been the key for some time now. However, AI, automation, and the prioritization of first-party data have ushered in an era of hyper-personalized content. Audience segments and a customer-first tone help break through the oversaturated market and connect directly with your customers. Tailored emails and personalized landing pages are just a couple of ways hyper-personalization can help capture your audience's attention and guide them through the conversion funnel. 

3. “One-Contact Marketing Support” Becomes More Common

Too many small businesses are overwhelmed dealing with too many vendors. When you’re focusing on trying to run your business, you don’t have time to call back and coordinate with your various marketing contacts who have promised to make things easier for you. unLOCKEd offers one-contact marketing support – your one dedicated partner for all your marketing needs. From social media and SEO to branding, signage, and Google Ads, we handle everything so you can get back to running your business in 2026.

4. SEO Will Shift Toward Human Expertise + Helpful Content

SEO has become anyone’s game as companies try to keep up with the rapidly evolving search landscape. From AI Insights taking over the SERPs to Google cracking down on generic AI content, 2026 will be a year of finding what actually works: human expertise and helpful content. Above all, that’s what people are searching for! Businesses need real insights, unique takes, and higher quality. Real-world knowledge and experience outrank keyword stuffing any day.

5. Short-Form Video Remains King — But With Simpler Production

With the rise of TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts, we’ve seen short-form video held high on its pedestal for the last couple of years. In 2026, short-form video will remain king, but not for the high-production, polished projects. Instead, authentic day-in-the-life and staff videos will ultimately provide the relatability that audiences connect with. Show them behind the scenes and talk directly to each of them to build the trust and brand loyalty that companies strive for.

6. Google Ads Will Get More Expensive — So Strategy Matters

Growing algorithm complexity, inflation, and increased competition are nudging up the prices of Google Ads. As they get more expensive, it will be more about strategy than budgets, especially for small companies. Better tracking and analytics data will allow for better targeting and smarter budgets. Collecting more, better-organized data will be the key to personalization at every stage, and who’s better with data than AI?

7. Brand Refreshes Over Full Rebrands

In a landscape where new is better and updates are normalized, brands can feel comfortable implementing a refresh without feeling the need to do a full rebrand and start over. We’ve seen companies as big as Google refresh their logo without losing the trust and reputation they’ve built, so why shouldn’t you? A logo refresh, colour refinement, or website cleanup can be enough to modernize your image without losing the consistency and clarity your audience has come to count on.

8. Local Search Optimization (LSO) Will Be Critical

One thing we prioritize with every client we work with is our local expertise. If your snippet isn’t ranking on the SERPs, your Google Business Profile (GBP) needs to. Reviews, photos, updates, and hyper-local keyword positioning will allow you to actually reach the people near you. At unLOCKEd, we live and work in the Waterloo Region, serving businesses in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Ayr, and beyond. Our local expertise helps us create marketing strategies that connect with our community authentically while driving measurable results.

9. Email Marketing Makes a Comeback

If you’re anything like us, you’re getting tired of deleting the many, many marketing emails that clog up your inbox. We get it. But every once in a while, one catches your attention. Increased automation and personalization are enabling companies to craft compelling, valuable marketing emails that don’t immediately end up in the trash. With higher quality content, less quantity is needed. Sending one email that gets read instead of five that don’t will help build your reputation, especially in B2B and high-trust service industries.

10. Consistency Will Outperform Creativity

Our final prediction has been our biggest lesson of this year: consistency will outperform creativity. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel; you just have to keep showing up with quality content. This is an area where AI’s speed will help drive growth. Building a plan with AI’s quick brainstorming and marketers’ tested strategies will lead to success in 2026. In this sense, marketing will feel more operational and less “inspiration-based,” but that isn’t to say that creativity doesn’t have its value. With more freed-up time, your brain is free to add that human touch, find that creative element, or put your own spin on that trend. Find your consistency and then find a way to stand out.

At unLOCKEd Company, we’ve seen the value of AI in our marketing, but we also know that it would be nothing without us. Our experts have the strategy, execution, and skills to help your business thrive – contact us today to get started.