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Be honest… have you actually kept up with marketing this year?

We’re nearly a third of the way through 2026, which may as well be a lifetime when it comes to trends and changes. 

Some updates have been LOUD and in your face. Some have slipped past you in quiet algorithm changes and new policies that creep in in the night. 

Marketing never stands still, but you know that already. 

If you’ve blinked and feel like you’ve missed something, you probably have. Let’s catch you up.

Google had not one, but TWO updates roll out through March. 

Their March 2026 Core Update and Spam Update have pushed things further in one clear direction. Search is now firmly built around intent. 

Content that exists just to rank is getting filtered out faster. We’re talking thin pages, AI-heavy writing with no real insight, sketchy link building. 

What’s being rewarded is originality. Usefulness. Credibility. Content that ACTUALLY answers something properly.

It’s a shift a lot of people saw coming, but now you’re gonna feel it. You can’t game your way to visibility if there’s no substance behind it.

The brands doing well here are building their SEO strategy with the final audience in mind.

Is there a better way to launch 24/7 livestream coverage than with one of the biggest events of the year?! 

Coachella is in full swing and anyone with FOMO is being handed the solution on a silver platter.

Coachella TV is YouTube’s live channel that mixes current moments from the 2026 festival with archive footage of their most iconic moments. Viewers can drop in whenever, crank the heat up in their house, put on a very over-the-top outfit and pretend they’re right there in the desert. 

It’s always on and always relevant. Like watching a Glasto set on BBC1, but reimagined for a digital audience. 

Digital production is the place to be, this is just a drop in the ocean.

All these free platforms aren’t feeling so free anymore…

The quiet testing of “Instagram Plus” is the latest sign. For around £2 a month users are gaining more control, visibility and insight for their stories on the platform. 

This follows years of similar moves from Meta, X, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Reddit and a ton more. Everyone’s building out premium tiers that give users an edge.

It’s subtle, but it’s shifting behaviour and hierarchies on social media. The playing field isn’t as level as it used to be. People willing to put a hand in their pocket get more tools to maximise their presence.

For brands and creators, it adds another layer to strategy. Organic reach still matters, but the ecosystem around it is evolving. The key is knowing where to invest and WHY.

Language barriers are becoming a thing of the past. 

Platforms are now putting translation directly into their programming to avoid a need for plugins and external sources. 

YouTube has officially expanded its auto-dubbing to be available for all creators (and they’ve more than tripled the amount of languages available while they’re at it!) 

X has rolled out auto-translation on their written posts, meaning users can see any post in their native tongue, directly on their timeline. 

Creators can reach audiences they’ve never directly spoken to before, without needing extra steps to make it happen. 

We’re officially in a global, digital age where borders matter less and less.

This one flew under the radar a bit.

ChatGPT started testing ads earlier this year. Their small rollout started in the US, with plans to expand. They’re integrated into conversations, matched to topics and past interactions.

If you’re talking about recipes, you might see meal kits. If you’re researching travel, expect a lovely trip to Barbados to pop up.

It’s a different kind of placement. Less obvious and more contextual. 

It’s early days, but it signals something A LOT bigger. Advertising is becoming more and more integrated into everything we do.

It’s all connected

None of these changes are happening in isolation:

• Search engines are getting smarter. 
• Audiences are using them to find relevant videos tailored to them.
• They’re landing on platforms that are evolving and using monetisation to their advantage.

Everything works together in a beautiful never-ending cycle where marketing gets more and more intentional. 

Noise is OUT, value is IN.

TL;DR: Change happens every day in marketing. The highlights of 2026 so far have been Google Search changes, YouTubes’ Coachella TV, Instagram Premium, Chat GPT ads and content translation breaking barriers. The digital world is more connected and intentional than ever.

What’s next?!

We’re developing original digital content on our Wanderland YouTube channel and are part of the BBC’s Digital Accelerator programme

Hit us up to be ahead of the marketing trends and blow up your brand personality