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AI has made content marketing faster, easier, and more scalable. That’s no longer up for debate. It’s now part of everyday work, and it will only keep improving.

What’s becoming clear, though, is that speed and scale alone aren’t enough. As more people default to using AI as a tool for content creation, audiences are getting better at ignoring content that looks and sounds like it wasn’t created by a human. Many have begun referring to this as AI Slop.

The result is a gradual erosion of trust.

This isn’t an anti-AI statement. We’re generally a big fan. But if you care about generating real results and revenue with your content, trust is something that you need to know how to cultivate.

Here are three takeaways marketers and business leaders should be paying attention to right now to increase trust.

Quick Summary | Listen to Our Podcast

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What you need to know:

Holiday Season Online Spending Shatters Records
U.S. online holiday spending hit ~$257.8B with mobile shopping exceeding desktop for the first time and AI tools driving huge engagement. AI-powered options impacted browsing and personalization, signaling a major shift for e-commerce strategies. Read More

Pinterest’s Strategic Pivot to Win Gen Z
Pinterest is prioritizing curated inspiration and safety features to attract younger audiences, pushing new shopping and AI personalization experiences. Vogue

Salesforce CEO Publicly Courts MrBeast
Salesforce signals a bold shift toward viral, creator-driven brand marketing by inviting MrBeast to produce its Super Bowl commercial, potentially redefining B2B tech branding. Read More

Major Retailers Use AI to Transform Shopping Experiences
Walmart, Target, Amazon, Sephora, Lowe’s, and more are deploying AI assistants and tools to personalize product discovery and checkout that signals a meaningful shift in commerce strategy. Read More

Marketing Platform Shifts and Algorithm Volatility This Week
Google completed its December core update; agents and browsers are popping up across search, and new IAB ad framework standards are emerging. Read More

Marketing Experts’ 2026 Resolutions: Search, Data, and Privacy
Industry leaders call out data privacy, search innovation, and creator accountability as top areas to fix and focus in 2026. Read More

Top 10 Digital Marketing Trends for 2026
Conversational search redefines SEO, video commerce surges, privacy-first data is essential, and retail media networks become core media channels. Read More

Social Media Trends You Need to Know for 2026
Fresh social trends shaping engagement strategies, content formats, and audience behavior. Sprout Social

Global Ecommerce Trends and Expansion Strategies for 2026
Shopify Enterprise — A big overview of ecommerce growth, consumer behavior, and global opportunities for digital marketers. Read More

Digital Marketing Statistics You Must Know
Key performance benchmarks on global ad spend, ROI by channel, mobile dominance, and where businesses invest marketing budgets. Read More

More Marketing & Ad Predictions for 2026
eMarketer best practices summary — From optimizing for AI engines to vetting creators responsibly, this outlines what leaders should prepare for this year. Read More

Big Marketing Shifts Actually Moving the Needle in 2026
Coegi Partners analysis — A strong perspective on separating hype from strategy, focusing on human creativity alongside AI tooling. Read More

Things Marketers Need to Know About Search & Discovery
AI is reshaping search; visibility now means surfacing in AI interfaces, not just Google rankings. Read More

SEO Predictions That Will Define Visibility in 2026
The rise of zero-click discovery and GenAI recommendations changes how traffic and search outcomes are measured. Read More

Top Social Marketing Trends Shaping 2026
A candid take on real social evolution and where AI meets quality and audience expectations. Read More

What Is Answer Engine Optimization anyway?
Clear definition of the new SEO paradigm where AI platforms deliver direct answers — critical context for 2026 strategy. Read More

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ADVERTISING

Improving Google Ads Performance

If you’re planning a new website, one of the first questions that comes up is, “How much will it cost?” It’s a fair question, but the answer depends on a range of factors that go well beyond design alone. 

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SEO + E-COMMERCE

E-Commerce SEO Essentials

At its core, e-commerce SEO is simply optimizing your online store so search engines can find and rank your products instead of burying them somewhere around page nine – also known as the digital abyss. 

Read More

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STRATEGY

Grow Your Organization’s Revenue with a Comprehensive Digital Marketing Plan

Do you need a digital marketing strategy but you’re not sure where to start? Or maybe you’re unhappy with the results from your current plan? At Sanctuary, we focus on strategies that get results and help you grow your business. We’re leaders in marketing, and partners in growth. Learn more today!

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