Episode Details

Marketers are fighting on too many fronts. Budgets are tight, algorithms change daily and AI is flooding every feed with low grade content. This episode cuts through the noise and lays out the 2026 social landscape with absolute clarity.

Chris and Will unpack the 12 trends shaping how brands win this year. The conversation covers AI brand bots, the rise of live shopping, the collapse of SEO into AEO, Google Lens changing buying behaviour, micro influencers outperforming big names, and the growing pressure on brands to be authentic rather than everywhere.

Expect blunt truths, practical frameworks and a road map for where to put your time and money.

Key takeaways
• Where social budgets are being wasted.
• Why micro influencers now outperform celebrity campaigns.
• The platforms worth focusing on in 2026.
• Why authenticity and community beat AI slop every single time.

Ideal for marketing directors, social leads and CMOs who want a clear plan for the year ahead.

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