This week’s guest blog is from industry experts, UK Digital Excellence Awards (they know much more than us!) Let’s hear what they have to say:
Key Digital Marketing Trends for 2026: A simple guide from the UK Digital Excellence Awards
As we set our sights on 2026, the digital marketing landscape continues to progress at speed. For digital marketers across all industries, staying ahead of trends is essential for survival. We’ve taken a look at the key digital trends that we think will define success in 2026.
SEO is getting smarter
Search engines now understand what people really want, not just keywords. To succeed we all need to:
- Create content that answers real questions
- Focus on user intent (are they buying, learning, or browsing?)
- Optimise for voice search and natural language
- Build your brand’s authority with quality content
Data-driven marketing goes deeper
It’s not just about collecting data anymore, it’s about predicting what customers want before they know it themselves.
- AI personalisation can boost revenue by 10-15%
- Use AR/VR to let customers try products virtually
- Map customer journeys in real-time
- Predict customer behaviour with advanced analytics
User experience: simple but engaging
Users want websites that are both easy to use and interesting. The best approach:
- Make every step serve a purpose
- Design interfaces so intuitive people don’t have to think
- Tell stories throughout the user journey
- Aim for “invisible” design that just works
AI is everywhere
AI isn’t coming anymore, it’s already here and getting better every day. It helps with:
- Content creation and personalisation
- Customer service automation
- Predictive analytics
- Campaign optimisation
The key is using AI to be more human, not less.
eCommerce changes
Two big forces are reshaping online shopping:
Sustainability: Customers care about the environment
- Use eco-friendly packaging
- Offer carbon-neutral shipping
- Show your sustainable practices
Technology: New tech makes shopping better
- Headless commerce for flexible experiences
- AR/VR for trying products virtually
- Seamless multi-channel experiences
Social media returns to authenticity
People are tired of fake content and algorithm games. What works now:
- Short videos that teach or entertain (not just sell)
- User-generated content builds more trust than brand content
- Social commerce makes buying seamless
- Smaller, engaged communities matter more than follower counts
- Quality over quantity in posting
Conversion optimisation focuses on trust
Getting people to buy isn’t about tricks anymore, it’s all about earning trust:
- Make voice search work with your site
- Create frictionless checkout processes
- Use genuine trust signals (reviews, testimonials, clear policies)
- Be consistent across all customer touchpoints
New technologies create new opportunities
- IoT devices give you more ways to reach customers
- Extended reality (AR/VR/MR) creates immersive brand experiences
- Connected technologies work together for better customer experiences
Your action plan
- Audit your current setup: Where are you strong? Where are the gaps?
- Pick relevant trends: Not every trend fits every business
- Start experimenting: Test new approaches while keeping what works
- Stay human: Use technology to serve customers better, not replace human connection
What will you be searching for in 2026? We’ll be speaking about all things marketing and tools at our marketingSHOWCASE events. Click here to see all our events next year – which one is nearest to you? https://mktgshowcase.co.uk/