Retailers face an uphill battle when it comes to loyalty and enticing repeat customers in 2026. Customers challenged by high prices are searching for the best deals wherever they can find them. And compared with practical considerations like convenience and customer satisfaction, brand love isn’t as effective in influencing customers as some marketers think.
This FAQ discusses how the holiday marketing season is evolving into a longer, leaner, and more competitive period, driven by economic headwinds, earlier shopping behavior, and the growing importance of retail media. It outlines why marketers must plan earlier, prioritize measurable and omnichannel strategies, and avoid overconcentrating spend around the Cyber Five to capture demand across an extended season.
Social media tops the priority list for 84% of US digital media professionals, outpacing influencer marketing (61%) by 23 percentage points, according to an October survey from Integral Ad Science and YouGov.
1,500 layoffs and budget cuts at Reality Labs signal a shift toward AI glasses and real-world ad integration.
Amazon’s silent rollout sparks backlash as users question privacy and ad motives.
Our analysts (or “bakers”) compete in a Great British Bake Off–style episode, discussing why lawsuits and regulations will begin to fundamentally shift how kids use social media and how brands are going to use creators to figure out generative engine optimization (GEO). Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Senior Analyst Minda Smiley and Principal Analyst Max Willens. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
Omnicom’s IPG deal reshapes agency power dynamics, causing CMOs to eye independent agencies and new talent.
As genAI assistants play a more prominent role in shopping, retailers and brands will have to rethink how their loyalty programs support direct consumer relationships, and how loyalty benefits can be surfaced in AI conversations.
Cost, not brand, fuels genAI growth in emerging markets—marketers must rethink influence channels.
A 229,000-square-foot superstore may help Amazon boost offline share and strengthen its ecommerce fulfillment.
Uber is expanding premium storytelling through Journey Takeovers, which turn entire rides into narrative canvases—and delivering unusually long, high-quality attention.
As streaming services capture an increasing share of both viewership and subscription revenues, this FAQ will help marketers understand the terminology and dynamics shaping video advertising in 2026.
Gemini creates targeted offers mid-chat, pushing brands to meet users where intent is forming
This FAQ examines in-game ad formats, audience demographics, and emerging opportunities like rewarded advertising that are reshaping how brands connect with gamers across platforms.
Our analysts (or “bakers”) compete in a Great British Bake Off–style episode, discussing why Google may overtake OpenAI in 2026 and how the AI boom could get a reality check this year. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Principal Analyst Nate Elliot and Analyst Jacob Bourne. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
Even if tariffs ease, their effects on consumer behavior will linger into 2026, redefining how consumers evaluate value, loyalty, and where they spend.
AI search advertising is growing, but lingering problems mean overindexing risks wasted spend before ad formats mature.
China’s ad rebound remains narrow; Q4 spending stabilized, but concentrated in low-risk, performance-driven channels—signaling a cautious market entering 2026.
Wellness is now a full-year play, not just a January focus.