Welcome to 2026 — where intentionality, escapism, and actual human creativity take center stage.
If 2025 was the year we flirted with “being human,” 2026 is when we fully commit. The age of algorithm-chasing content is over.
The trend?
Unshittification
A (delightfully blunt) term for detoxing from cheap, soulless marketing. We’re done tolerating content that feels like a knockoff of a knockoff, made by a bot, approved by a committee, and forgotten by everyone.
Let’s be honest — audiences are tired. Scroll fatigue is real. Social media now feels more like passive TV than a connection. Comments are down, attention spans are micro, and engagement? Practically a ghost town. But content itself? Still in demand — just not that kind of content.
This piece is a summary of key takeaways from the full article on 2026 marketing and content trends. For more context, background, and all the juicy details (plus sources and case studies), check out the original post here
What’s actually working in 2026?
Brands that behave like creators. People don’t want ads; they want entertainment, inspiration, and information. That means showing up with value — and not being afraid of a little rawness. Perfect = boring. Imperfect = human.
Long-term brand building is back. Forget short bursts of paid campaigns. What wins is consistency, trust, and being helpful, even when someone’s not ready to buy. Think: fewer gimmicks, more substance. 60/40 still holds — 60% brand, 40% performance.
Tech is everywhere, but it’s not your differentiator. Everyone’s using AI. What sets you apart? Creativity. Wild ideas. Human instincts. And yes — ethics. Responsible marketing isn’t just a nice-to-have anymore; it’s how you earn (and keep) trust.
Simplicity wins. Everyone’s overwhelmed. Complex campaigns that feel like homework? Hard pass. Simple, memorable ideas stand out. Even if they’re backed by the most complex stack, they should look — and feel — effortless.
Web content is in trouble. AI search, zero-click platforms, and social search are gutting traditional traffic. There’s no magic fix. But the one thing that’s still growing? Email newsletters, but only when done right. (Hi. You’re reading one.)
The gap is growing fast. Traditional marketers are lagging. Teams experiment with AI tools, but few actually integrate them. The ones who do? Faster, sharper, and way more attractive to top talent.
So what now?
Get real. Get weird. Get strategic.
Make content that feels like it came from someone with a pulse. Use AI to scale, not to sterilize. And if you’re still thinking short-term? Your competitors aren’t.
Read the full piece for breakdowns, brand examples (Vaseline, Dove, Penny,), and how to actually pull this off: https://www.thinklikeapublisher.com/marketing-and-content-trends-2026-unshittification/
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