How we’re planning our 2026 at The Content Emporium

Time to pull out the fresh new notebooks (just us?), open up the empty calendar, format those blank spreadsheets and lay down a plan for the year ahead.

At The Content Emporium, we know that 2026 isn’t a new year, new us’ moment’. Nope, we’re doubling down on what works, being honest about what doesn’t, and continuing to build thoughtful, effective content that audiences can’t help but engage with.

Here are some of the things we’re leaning into this year:

People before platforms

Always. Algorithms may change (and change, and change), but audiences don’t stop being human. In 2026, we’re continuing to prioritise understanding people over chasing the latest platform rumour and we’re building content strategies rooted in their behaviour and interests.

We do this by combining performance data and audience insight with social listening and strong industry networks. The result is content that reflects how people think and feel and resonates so much with our audiences that they are compelled to engage with it.

AI helping hand

There’s no doubt that AI will play a role in our content and marketing, but in 2026 it won’t replace our thinking. Lazy slop? Errr, no thanks. We’re focused on using it where it adds value, not where it dilutes quality.

We’ve had a custom automated trends radar built, pulling in trending topics 24/7, so we have a constant eye on the social zeitgeist. We’ve also crafted custom GPTs to streamline our processes and we’re utilising scrapers to sift through our data, mining only the sparkliest content gems.

Search, but smarter

In 2026, SEO for us is less about gaming algorithms and more about building search strategies that actually work for humans across both web and social.

We’re prioritising intent-led content, strong technical foundations and smarter use of data to understand why people search, not just what they search for. With AI changing how results are surfaced, our focus is on clarity, usefulness and authority, helping clients show up in search by being genuinely valuable, not loudly optimised.

Avoiding the pile on

Not every idea deserves airtime. In 2026 we’re continuing to be selective, cherry-picking the ripest ideas for our clients and giving them our trademark creative spin.

This is backed by insight, experience and a sharp sense of what audiences actually care about. We have a constant eye on what matters to our audiences through data and social listening. We track what's trending on a daily basis and align this with the vision from our clients to create content that resonates and remains on-brand.

Human-focused CRM

CRM remains a key part of our offering, but now more than ever, CRM needs to combine solid data with human interpretation.

We’ve learned that real magic happens when data is combined with human judgement. Numbers can tell you what happened – people help you understand the why.

In 2026, our CRM team will be spending more time interpreting behaviour, spotting patterns and working closely with the wider team to shape smarter journeys. The aim isn’t to send more messages, but to send better ones.

Honest introspection

Not every campaign lands perfectly. Not every test delivers results. We’re committed to examining errors openly, with regular feedback sessions and using those insights from performance data and lived experience to lead us to smarter outcomes.

All hands on deck

Teamwork really does make the dream work. We perform best when strategy, content, design, CRM and delivery are all aligned. We’ll continue to collaborate, communicate and share our expertise in our award-winning content team.

Snappy words

From commissioning and writing, to design and production, editorial thinking is at the heart of what we do and always has been. In 2025 we delved deep into our tone of voice and drew up some firm editorial rules to ensure consistency for each of our clients.

In 2026, we’ll keep polishing our content until it sparkles. No filler, all killer.

People first

The people behind the work are the heart of the company and in 2026, we’re expecting our 70-strong team to grow. Plus, we’ll be continuing to train, mentor and progress as the year moves on.

2026 isn’t about chasing trends or ticking boxes. It’s about building on what we’ve already learned and applying it with confidence. We’ll be continuing to create slamdunk content that is powered by a team of truly excellent humans.

Bring it 2026, we’re ready for ya.

Find out our big social media predictions for 2026 and note down marketing awareness days for your 2026 content hooks