Are you worried about your current B2B marketing strategy in the new year? The landscape is shifting rapidly, dominated by AI search and a tightening focus on efficiency. If you're still relying on old SEO tactics and gated content, you're falling behind. On this episode of FiredUp!, we dive into the most critical marketing predictions for 2026. We break down the rise of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), the shift in PR spending to executive thought leadership, and the urgent need to use signal-based advertising to combat ad fatigue. We also tackle the growing problem of AI slop and how to ensure your AI-generated content doesn't dilute your brand's unique value. This week, episode 117 of the FiredUp! podcast is about tech marketing predictions for 2026!

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In this episode of the FiredUp! podcast, the Firebrand team shares the importance of SEO in the face of AI search and actionable steps you can take right now to prepare your marketing strategies for 2026.

Morgan and Nicole discuss:

• The Rise of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO): The future of search isn't just about SEO; it's about optimizing for AI search tools. Marketers must now focus on GEO to monitor and manage how LLMs summarize their brand, requiring new AI visibility metrics.
• Gated Content is Dying: The strategy of hiding valuable information behind forms is failing. The trend is moving toward making all content ungated and easily consumable by both human prospects and AI-generated content aggregators to gain maximum brand presence.
• PR Spending Shifts to Executive Visibility: Instead of broad announcements, PR spending is increasingly prioritizing executive visibility and thought leadership. This is driven by the need for authentic, human perspectives that cut through the noise of generic AI slop.
• Signal-Based Advertising Replaces Retargeting: With buyers experiencing ad fatigue, the new focus is on using signal-based advertising to reach prospects at the exact moment of high intent. This requires sophisticated personalization of the web experience without resorting to "creepy" over-customization.

How are you preparing your marketing strategy for 2026? Let us know!

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