Be a Trend Setter in 2026

I love the beginning of the year to see what the new trends are for marketing. One of my guilty pleasures.

But it is a very mixed bag. Most of the trends are for marketing teams with very deep pockets and entire teams to execute the trends.

Individual Trend Setters are more my style.

The Martha/Snoop collab is ALWAYS on my radar.

I love watching Snoop do his thing, spreading joy at the Olympics.

How many times has Snoop reinvented his Brand?

And what a Trend Setter Ilia Malinin is, redefining what is possible and acceptable in figure skating. The Quad God.

I have been watching the current Marketing Trends come out since the beginning of last December and trying to distill the ones appropriate for Small Firms and Solopreneurs.

Here is what I think you should be considering this year.

#1. AI becomes your micro-team -The Invisible Intern
AI isn’t replacing you — it’s your 24/7 junior strategist, researcher, editor, and analyst.

Think of it as - The One-Person Army Upgrade or The Leverage Multiplier

#2. Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) -The Citation Game
If AI tools are answering questions, you want to be the source they cite.

The easiest way to win this new trend is to add or update the FAQ section of your website. SEO is not working the way it used to. Get on this badwagon ASAP.

#3. Developing a Strong Personal Brand -Building Lasting Trust

If you do nothing else, please do this. Your Brand is the best investment ROI. Make it easy for people to like and trust you. Provide Clarity. Best bang for your buck.

#4. Short video that isn't too 'polished'-Snackable Authority

Bite-sized insight that builds big trust. Still the fastest path to Know, Like, and Trust. And, the largest category of content consumed by decision makers. Algorithm-friendly. What's not to like?!

#5. Participation Marketing -The Co-Creation Effect

I'm giving this trend 5 gold stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Audiences don’t just watch — they engage, remix, and respond.

This one requires some explaining, and I'm really excited to include it. We are done with passive anything. We either ignore things completely or we want to be included.

Engagement is the whole goal of good marketing. It shows interest, it creates trust and familiarity.

Think of it as ways to participate. Polls, responding, comments...

How does it work? Instead of posting:

“Here are 5 estate planning mistakes.” Very passive and boring.

You post:
“Which of these 5 estate planning tensions do you see most often?”

It requires thought. It asks for participation. Involvement is a different level of psychology.

Here's another example - Instead of:

“Authenticity matters in leadership.”

You post:
“What’s one signal that makes you instantly trust a professional?”

I will be writing an entire newsletter on this one.

#6. Better Relationship Architecture -The Integrated Authority Engine

Do you have a CRM, a newsletter, you post occasionally, you speak once in a while, you network IRL, but you don't coordinate those efforts and capitalize on them?

This is the year to spend some time figuring out how to maximize the impact of every touch point.

You do a speaking event? Get attendees to sign up for your newsletter.

Someone emails you about your newsletter? Ask them to have a conversation or coffee.

Once you meet with them, ask them to attend a LinkedIn Live your doing or a networking event you're going to.

Tag them in your CRM with labels that make sense, and you can sort on them for specific engagement.

It really is time we get our systems to work harder for us.

Honorable Mention - Low Level Engagement

Short Webinars, LinkedIn Lives, Ask me anything, Download this checklist... If it doesn't require a huge commitment, these type of events are becoming more effective again.

The value is in the content and the offer. You have to know what people want/need for this to be effective.

I've combed through over 25 articles and gigantic reports to bring you the best of the best for solo practitioners and small firms.

What do you think will work for your business model?

What these trends signal to me is very interesting.

Our taste has become so much more sophisticated.

We want to be respected, seen, heard, and we want the services we purchase to be customized to us.

In a Trust vs. Attention Economy -

Professionals who lead with values win more business.

Trust compounds faster than tactics. Tactics don't win business.

And,Alignment builds authority.

Referral pipelines are built with intention, not hoped for. And, our systems need to be built to amplify ALL of our efforts.

What never goes out of style?

Thought Leadership

Consistency

Add one thing to your efforts this year.

Let me know how it goes. Or, if you'd like to talk about what would work best for your brand, get on my calendar.

Until next time...

Angela

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