We’re back!

Thanks for tuning in to the first Perceptive Marketer of 2026! You’re pretty awesome if we do say so ourselves. Let’s dive into the digital marketing mania.

• How can you prove SEO’s value when organic search traffic gets miscategorized as direct or unassigned due to cookie consent refusals? We’re glad you asked. It’s all about traffic quality! Get the full download from our VP Marc Engelsman: “SEO Analytics Treasure Hunt: Tracking The Hidden Value of Your Organic Search Traffic.”

• What will matter in 2026? According to 10 seasoned marketers in this Think with Google article, 2026 will be about integrating AI more effectively and efficiently in your marketing strategies. The old stalwart is the importance of ✨Branding✨. “Brand matters more than ever” and “Brand is back as the growth engine, supercharged by tech but differentiated by humanity” are our quote highlights.

• “Google’s Mueller Weighs In On SEO vs GEO Debate” is the headline. The gist? Examine your referral traffic and research your audience to see how they are using AI search platforms. Oh, and Google continues to indicate that AI optimization and traditional Search optimization share similar infrastructures so “you probably don’t need a separate framework, but you do need to understand how discovery is changing.”

• Top 2026 marketing priorities, according to the UserTesting study of marketing professionals, include (1.) strengthening brand authenticity & trust, (2.) driving measurable ROI, and (3.) mastering GEO. They describe their approach to GEO as (1.) actively optimizing content for AI search/discovery and (2.) piloting GEO strategies in select campaigns. Where do your GEO (aka SAIO) priorities lie?

• The next time you post on your brand’s socials ask yourself: “Would someone who doesn’t have a clue who I am share this with a colleague?” Tom Boston, Brand Growth Manager at MySalesCoach, encourages us to ask if the content we’re producing provides enough value. This is one of the quotes from Sprout Social’s Inspiration worksheet.

• I’m not sure you’re ready for this Meta madness.… Meta is testing limiting certain Facebook users to sharing two links per month in organic posts, unless you pay for a Meta Verified account. The truth is… link posts didn’t receive much engagement in the first place. If one of your accounts has been chosen, you have a few options according to Social Media Today: choose the best 2 links per month, try posting links in the first comment, post Reels instead, pay for Meta Verified, or stop posting on Facebook.

• A large corporate brand poking fun at AI slop? Yes, please! Almond Breeze teamed up with the Jonas Brothers to develop a delightfully quirky commercial on the technology’s flaws. How can we add more levity to our content in the midst of AI’s takeover? More importantly, how can we use it to develop the brand authenticity needed to be successful in this era of business?

For farmers, it all comes down to planting technique and the quality of seeds and supplies. One Acre Fund helps small farmers across Africa increase their yields and profits to create thriving communities. Learn more about their work: One Acre Fund.

When was the last time you washed the dishes?

Last night? This morning?

Now here’s a trickier question: When was the last time you washed your dishes without thinking about anything other than washing the dishes?

Thich Nhat Hanh talks about this in his book The Miracle of Mindfulness. When was the last time you were fully present to experience just this moment, instead of mulling over moments previous or upcoming?

Mindfulness seems like a momentous goal, but really it is just practice of steps… steps like washing the dishes and focusing solely on that.

I hope you (respectfully) continue kicking butt and taking names in 2026.

Happy Wednesday,

Natalie

ChatGPT scraped its knowledge base to motivate us in 2026. Here are my favorite lines:

• You don’t need to have it all figured out—you need to stay adaptable.
• Progress matters more than certainty.
• You are allowed to change directions.

The full response is here.