In 2026, paid media marketing continues to evolve with AI-driven targeting and personalized ad experiences that boost ROI and audience engagement. Marketers increasingly leverage cross-platform campaigns and automation to optimize spend and reach the right customers at the right moment.Search Engine Journal contributor Brooke Osmundson has published an article suggesting eight changes marketers should make to paid media marketing in 2026.She says, “Paid media didn’t slow down last year. If anything, the platforms made sure we stayed busy.Google rolled out more AI-assisted... [...]

WordPress has grown rapidly to power a significant share of the web due to its flexibility, open-source ecosystem, and vast plugin support. Its ease of use and scalability make it a preferred platform for blogs, businesses, and enterprise websites alike.Search Engine Journal has published a new guide, ’19 WordPress Alternatives: From Simple Builders To Enterprise CMS’. Matt. G. Southern says, “WordPress powers hundreds of millions of websites. But when issues occur internally, the vulnerability of relying on a single platform becomes apparent.WordPress isn’t the... [...]

MarTech is hosting The MarTech Conference on March 4, 2026.The March event will follow a similar format to the September and November 2025 events, which the community voted the highest-rated virtual MarTech events of the series.The program kicks off at 11 a.m. ET on March 4th, and features six live panel discussions with Q&A. Panel topics include:Developing a strategy to end data silos.Identity in a cookieless, compliant world.What happens after your funnel collapses.Building context-aware virtual experiences.Re-thinking marketing workflows.Online visibility... [...]

Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) tools are needed to help content appear in AI-generated answers, featured snippets, and voice search results. They enable brands to structure, monitor, and optimize content for direct answers, improving visibility beyond traditional search rankings.HubSpot has published a new guide, ‘8 best answer engine optimization (AEO) tools for growing businesses that every marketer should know’.Justina Thompson says, “Unlike traditional SEO platforms that measure search engine rankings and keyword positions, AEO tools monitor how AI models such... [...]

SparkToro has published an article by Rand Fishkin featuring five trends that will dominate marketing in 2026.He says, “I find most end-of-year prediction and crystal ball-gazing listicles to be trash. They don’t prove their assertions, use anecdotes rather than data at scale to back up their prognostications, and, worst of all, fail to grade their previous predictions (how the #$%@ else do you know if you can trust their current ones?!). And yes, I’m looking at you, Gartner, Forrester, Inc, and Forbes. None of those publications grade past predictions, yet they somehow receive fawning,... [...]

Microsoft Advertising team has published ‘From Discovery to Influence: A Guide to AEO and GEO’.Jen Myers says, “When a shopper asks an AI assistant for a “lightweight carry-on bag that fits a laptop and doesn’t look corporate,” how does your brand get considered? SEO got you here, but it won’t get you there. AI assistants, browsers, and agents evaluate and interpret your data in new ways, and showing up in their recommendations requires a different kind of readiness.The new discovery landscapeThe goal is no longer traffic. It’s influence.AI... [...]

AI SEO in 2026 centers on optimizing for answer engines, generative search results, and entity-based discovery rather than traditional rankings alone. Success will depend on authoritative content, structured data, and continuous optimization guided by AI-driven insights and user intent signals.Semrush contributor Zach Paruch has published an article featuring seven AI SEO tips to earn visibility.He says, “AI search tools like Google’s AI Mode, Perplexity, and ChatGPT are changing how people find information. Instead of clicking through to websites, users get synthesized answers... [...]

SEO in the AI era focuses on optimizing content for intent, context, and credibility rather than just keywords and rankings. AI-driven search visibility requires structured, authoritative content that can be easily understood, cited, and surfaced by search and answer engines.Search Engine Land contributor Casey Nifong has published a 90-day SEO playbook for AI-driven search visibility.Casey Nifong says, “Answer-first content, structured data, and authority signals shape AI-driven search. This 90-day plan explains how to put them into practice.SEO now sits at an uncomfortable... [...]

User-generated content builds trust and authenticity by showcasing real customer experiences and voices. It boosts engagement, influences purchase decisions, and strengthens brand credibility across digital channels.Digital Marketing Institute contributor Diana Myers has published an article featuring four examples of user-generated content.She says, “User-generated content (UGC, also known as consumer-generated content) is a powerful way for marketers to raise brand awareness. The beauty of UGC is that the content is created by someone else – an advocate, a customer,... [...]

Google contributor Zahra Thompson has published an article featuring 60 of its biggest AI announcements in 2025.She says, “As 2025 comes to a close, it’s only natural to look back on our biggest AI moments of the year. And what a year it’s been — we shared hundreds of AI announcements about products and features meant to make people’s lives easier in ways big and small. Take a look back at some of our biggest AI news this year (and check out our favorite AI tips we shared this year, too.)JanuaryNew year, new AI. We kicked off 2025 with a bunch of updates... [...]