Kantar’s Marketing Trends 2026 report outlines 10 trends set to shape the industry this year. FIX Agency has selected the 5 most directly relevant to tech businesses, mapped to our SEO Website Development, Media, and Digital Marketing services.
1. AI Agents Start Shopping on Behalf of Users
Per Kantar, 2026 marks the mainstream rise of AI agents users increasingly delegate product and service discovery to their AI agent instead of searching themselves. Kantar’s Connecting with the AI Consumer report found that 24% of AI users already rely on an AI shopping assistant. Brands now need to convince both the AI agent and the human behind it.
Under SEO Website Development, FIX Agency now advises tech clients to structure product and service content for machine readability (structured data, clear descriptions, citation-friendly formatting) optimizing not just for human readers, but for the AI agents now shopping on their customers’ behalf.
2. GEO (Generative Engine Optimization): The New SEO for the AI Era
Kantar reports that 74% of AI assistant users regularly seek recommendations directly from that assistant. This is why GEO has emerged: optimizing so that AI models (LLMs) cite and trust a brand, rather than optimizing purely for traditional Google rankings.
Within SEO Website Development, FIX Agency is integrating a GEO checklist alongside classic SEO: clear, well-structured content that accurately represents a product or service so AI models can “understand” it and surface the brand more readily.
3. From Creative Optimization to AI-Powered “Creative Intelligence”
Drawing on Kantar’s Media Reactions data, the report shows most marketers are enthusiastic about generative AI, and the 2026 shift is using AI to predict whether a creative will capture attention, evoke emotion, and drive purchase intent before it ever goes to market.
In Media, FIX Agency applies this by using AI to rapidly test multiple visual/video directions before selecting a final cut helping tech clients cut testing costs while keeping humans in control of the brand story.
4. Creators Must Prove Real Impact, Not Just Engagement
According to Kantar, 61% of marketers (net) plan to increase investment in creator content in 2026, yet only 27% of creator content is genuinely tied to the brand. Data from the Kantar LIFT+ database also shows consistent, cross-channel ideas now matter 2.5x more than a decade ago.
In Digital Marketing, FIX Agency sets clear guidelines when partnering with creators/KOLs for tech clients measuring not just views, but how tightly content ties to brand messaging and its impact on long-term brand recall.
5. Micro-Communities: The New Arena for Genuine Engagement
Kantar notes organic reach for brand pages keeps declining, pushing users toward micro-communities for more meaningful conversation. In China, brands using micro-community platforms to share expertise saw 25% higher marketing ROI ,and nearly 40% of consumers trust micro-community recommendations as much as personal ones.
For Digital Marketing, FIX Agency directs tech clients toward investing in small, well-targeted communities (niche Facebook/Discord groups, LinkedIn communities) rather than broad-reach advertising alone genuine engagement in smaller groups now drives more durable value.
Conclusion
The common thread across all 5 trends: high-quality data and content that’s legible to both humans and machines are now table stakes. Tech businesses that prepare for AI agents, GEO, and micro-communities now will hold a clear edge as search and purchase behavior keeps shifting toward AI in 2026.
FIX Agency can help you audit your website, content strategy, and creator partnerships against these trends. Get in touch for a tailored roadmap.
