2026 Marketing Predictions: What Really Matters for Small Businesses


Hi, Reader!

The internet is noisier — and a lot less human — than most people realize. Bots now make up more than half of all web traffic, and even Google admitted in court that AI is driving some of the growth in search queries.

So what does that mean for you as a coach, consultant, or small business owner?

That’s what I tackled in my latest post: 2026 Marketing Predictions: 5 Trends That Matter (and What to Do About Them).

👉 Read the full predictions here.

I’ll give you the highlights now:

  • Traffic ≠ trust ≠ sales
  • Presence matters more than clicks
  • Build communities, not vanity metrics
  • Original content at your capacity will stand out
  • And the overlooked dark horse: measurement

But I want to hear from you, too.

Which of these predictions hits closest to home for you right now?

  • Are you already seeing signs of them in your own business?
  • Or is there one you feel most skeptical about?

You can leave a comment on the post here to join the conversation — or just hit reply to this email and let me know. I read every response.

Here’s the link again to dive in:
👉 Read the full 2026 predictions.

More on this and other things happening in the online marketing space soon,

Ashley Clayton
CEO | Owner | Founder
Iterateology LLC
ashley@iterateology.com
iterateology.com

P.S. I’m also curious — what other trends or questions are on your mind as you head into 2026? Hit reply and tell me what you’d love a straightforward answer on (or at least enough context to cut through the hype). I want this newsletter — and my articles — to help you feel confident making decisions without having to wade through endless “proven system” pitches online.

Options to Work With Me:

Done-With-You - Mini-Ecosystem Design Lab™

Done-For-You - Marketing Measurement Sprint™

Get the Core Framework - The Measurable Marketing Ecosystem™ Workshop

Iterateology

Ashley Clayton is the Founder and Marketing Measurement Expert at Iterateology, where she helps six-figure coaching CEOs build thriving, data-driven marketing ecosystems that grow sustainably. With 15+ years in tech, marketing, and analytics, she specializes in turning insights into strategies that attract, convert, and retain ideal clients. Ashley is also a Google Women Techmaker Ambassador, committed to empowering businesses with smarter, measurable marketing.

Read more from Iterateology

Hi, Reader!Here’s something I believe with my whole heart: You are a steward — not at the mercy of algorithms, and not dependent on gurus and bizfluencers. Stewardship is about tending what you’ve been entrusted with — your time, energy, relationships, and business — so it thrives, compounds, and blesses others. Stewardship means you’re not a victim of shifting algorithms or a slave to playbooks. You are the one who gets to guide, tend, and grow what you’ve been given. It’s not just...

Hi, Reader!If you've ever found yourself wondering: Where are my clients actually coming from? Which parts of my marketing are doing the heavy lifting? What’s working—and what’s just noise? Then this workshop was built for you. 🛠️ The Measurable Marketing Ecosystem Workshop is happening next week, and it’s designed to help you stop flying blind and start building a system that actually listens back. You’ll walk away with: A map of the 5-part Ecosystem Cycle I use with private clients to...

Hi, Reader!What does marketing without burnout look like in real life? Picture this: it’s Monday at 9:10am. No twelve-tab panic. A simple dashboard shows three clear signals; you make two small, high-leverage moves; you take a mid-morning walk. That’s the vibe I want for you, and it’s the focus of a new series I’m kicking off today: Marketing Without Burning Out: Building a Marketing Strategy That Honors Your Capacity / Why So Many "Proven Systems" Fail. In this first piece, I dig into why so...