The Future of Content, Business, and Blogging: Trends and Predictions for 2026 and Beyond

It’s time for the 2026 industry trends and predictions, and this time, I’ve gathered the lessons and insights from other entrepreneurs.

Let’s dive into what this year (and the next decade) will bring, how we can prepare and what that means for us.

Industry Predictions by Gary Vaynerchuk

#1: Long-Form Content is Back

Here’s what Gary Vee wrote recently in a LinkedIn post:

“Long form written content is a huge opportunity for so so many of you and yet too many just focus on video.”

He also shared a link to his first Substack post, and invited people to follow him there and subscribe for more.

And here are some of the comments fellow entrepreneurs left on this post:

• “I’m seeing a huge uptake in Substack – people are connecting with thoughtfully written long form content, rather than quick bites.”
• “It feels pretty clear we’re watching the flip from legacy media empires to millions of “individual empires.” People are tired of being fed the same narrative on every major channel. They want truth, context, and someone they actually trust.”
• “Substack is quietly becoming a thinking platform, not a trend platform. Writers who commit early will compound fast.”
• “Strong point. Written content compounds quietly while everyone’s chasing views. Long-form builds depth, trust, and thinking, not just reach. Video gets attention—writing earns belief. Excited to see more creators lean into Substack in 2026.”
• “Written word is timeless. Attention may spike on video, but trust is built in paragraphs. Substack is not a trend — it’s infrastructure for thought leadership. Let’s write the future, not just film it.”

Gary Vee and other entrepreneurs are signaling a shift: people are craving depth, context, and trust. 

Short-form video grabs attention, but it rarely builds belief or authority. Long-form writing, like blogs, Substack posts and newsletters, compounds over time. 

A single post can bring readers, leads, and credibility for months or years, unlike a viral reel that peaks in 48 hours.

The comments above highlight a bigger trend: audiences are tired of recycled narratives from legacy media or algorithm-driven feeds. They want thinkers, not just entertainers. 

Substack, in particular, is emerging as a “thinking platform,” where creators can build their empires quietly but powerfully.

#2: The Individual Empire

In this post, he says this:

“In 2008, I said all of you—and this is still real—can make $50,000 to $100,000 talking about ALF and the Smurfs and your passions. Now, what I’m saying in 2026 is you can build an empire…

It’s similar to building your brand on Instagram, but then going and standing up a Patreon or Substack, etc. In those scenarios, social platforms still take some of the action. However, when that’s built on a decentralized sever instead of a centralized server or a platform that owns it, then YOU own all the money. You’re maximizing all of your revenue and not sharing it. Yes, you will share with the places that give you the attention: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, whatever the platform is. But you’re going to be monetizing in a decentralized way where you keep 100% of that dollar, not 80% or 90%.”

The idea is that creators are moving from side income to building real empires. 

Influencing is no longer just brand deals. It’s ownership. 

Individuals can now launch products, media, and brands powered by their audience. Social media becomes the attention engine, not the business. The real money lives in owned channels and products. 

When you own the platform, the list, or the product, you keep more of the revenue. 

The shift is from creator to founder, with individuals building full-scale businesses around their personal brand.

#3: The Monetization of Random Content

Another thing Gary talks about is how starting to post about anything you’re passionate about, will help you win in 2026 and beyond:

“We’re now in the interest graph, not the social graph. We’re now in a place where I, Gary, could tomorrow make my first ever piece of content around surfing… and even though all my followers do not follow me for surfing, the way the AI algorithms now work is when I post about surfing, and why surfboards are good, and why you should buy a surfboard from me, or why this is a good surfboard, or surf chalk, or whatever the hell I learned about surfboards… that content is going to reach people that are in a high propensity interest of surfboards…

If you’re going to go down the random play in social, make sure your bios on your TikTok and Instagram accounts are really tight and awesome—meaning they have your email and phone number listed.”

What’s he’s basically saying is that you no longer need one clear niche or lifelong passion to make money online. 

Algorithms now follow interests, not followers. That means random, genuine content can reach the exact people who care. 

Curiosity content wins. Document what you’re learning, exploring, or laughing at. One random post can unlock unexpected income, deals, or opportunities.

The key is authenticity and a clear profile. Your “random” content can become a career, or a gateway to your real business. 

Post more. Overthink less. Let interest lead, then build from there.

Industry Predictions by Nina of She Knows SEO

Next are some insights related to how the blogging scene will evolve this year. I’ve used content by SEO expert Nina Clapperton. This is part of one of her newsletters.

Long form content is making a comeback.

I know we said this already, and that’s why I’m not counting it as another item on this list, but I can’t stress enough how important and amazing that is. Especially for me as a blogger and writer.

Here’s what Nina says exactly:

“Blogs and Youtube videos are gonna reign supreme in 2026.

Long, value driven emails are going to outpace the short snippy nonsense that just lists a bunch of links.

People are getting back to reading and watching long form content.

BUT they’re gonna be very creator-focused. It’s not about any old blog. It’s about the brand they wan to hear more from.”

So if you missed writing articles, long emails or anything else, get back to it. Get your creative juices flowing and let long-form content do its magic and grow your brand.

#4: Human Storytelling is Back

Here’s another thing Nina states about the industry:

“Everyone who said 2008 was the best time for blogs better get excited.

Cause 2008 blog writing is back!

Old SEO left the building in 2023 (and if you’re still writing the same way as you did then, you’re either not getting traffic anymore or clenching your butt every time an update rolls out).

It’s not about content structure or having the most facts ever.

It’s about writing like an actual person and sharing your personal experience with them.”

#5: Collaborate Like It’s 2008

More good news for bloggers:

“We’re back in the golden era of blogging again!

Where bloggers helped promote each other

Cause they couldn’t rely on an algorithm to do it for them.

I’ve seen word of mouth referrals grow massively this year. And many people won’t hire someone unless they’ve been recommended by someone they trust.

Whether you’re selling something yet or not, collaborating with other content creators and even with businesses (… altho I do think big businesses should be sponsoring you) will help you grow.

This will happen in a number of ways: freebie swaps, mini bundles, mini summits, virtual retreats, co-hosted webinars, and even just sharing your favourite people on your resources page or to your email list.”

How can you use that to your advantage? 

We can have a lot of fun with this one, and naturally grow our business thanks to it.

For me, it looks like more guest posting, as well as continuing to participate in bundles (like this one).

#6: Paywalled Human Content

“We’re seeing it more and more with private podcast feeds, paid Substacks, and even people moving off public platforms to create private apps (a la the Try Guys).

People don’t want to rely on algorithms. They don’t want to have their content scraped and shared by AI without getting a cut.”

You’ll see Substack mentioned a couple times in this post, and that’s for a reason. The platform is growing fast and it’s just one of the channels people can use to create a more private space online, build a community and get paid for it.

That can also happen with any type of membership or paid newsletter, so if you were ever considering it, this might be year you give it a go.

#7: Ad Revenue Dies

I just went ad-free a few months ago and removed ads from my site (after being with Mediavine for many years), so this one definitely hits home for me.

Here’s how Nina describes the situation:

“RPMs are truly dog shite right now. Even in the highest RPM time of year.

Both of the big ad networks, Mediavine and Raptive, dropped their admission requirements massively.

Mediavine went from 50k sessions to a dollar metric (and down to 1k sessions on their entry level Journey network—a 90% drop). Raptive dropped by 75% from 100k pageviews to just 25k pageviews.

I’ve continually seen people complaining about RPMs in Facebook groups of various levels and niches of bloggers, and on socials.

Ad revenue hasn’t been the best way to monetize for a longgg time. And I think creators are finally realizing that.

Paywalled human content is likely gonna replace the need for ads as an income source, anyway.”

Interesting, right? Monetization is moving from traffic-based to relationship-based. 

That means less volume, more depth, which brings us back to the other predictions above, about the comeback of long-form content and human storytelling and private communities. Ads won’t disappear, but they won’t lead anymore. Ownership and paywalls will.

#8: Generic Courses and Ebooks are Dead

According to Nina:

“People keep saying audiences aren’t buying anymore.

WRONG!

…

People want to be sure of deliverables.

They don’t want to open another ebook or $50 course and be like “ughhh they got me.”

In general, generic content doesn’t make a difference anymore, it just creates more clutter online.

It’s better to not post something, if it’s going to be AI content or just another ‘how to’ post that has been published a million times before and which doesn’t really provide any real value.

Instead, tell a story, create your own framework and teach it inside a program. Write about your success from a different angle, or make it really relatable to a specific target group you have in mind so these people can actually experience a transformation from your paid content.

If it’s a course, make it a good one. I teach that inside Bold Business School.

Or create something more interactive, add DIY elements, live coaching, Q&A calls, or a vault of resources that people can grab and use right away to achieve whatever it is that you teach.

Last year, I closed down the doors to my main blogging course (Blog to Biz System). It was outdated, it wasn’t good anymore, and the blogging space had changed way too much. I couldn’t teach the same things anymore.

But I leave programs like The Blog Sponsorship Boss open, and keep updating them with new lessons and strategies, because that’s what’s working. That’s what I know best, that’s what I’m doing in my business every week of the year, and that’s what I have a lot to teach about in a way that no one else out there does.

Industry Predictions by Jenna Kutcher 

The next few trends are by Jenna Kutcher, and you can find them in this post.

#9: Being Searchable Versus Being Sociable

Jenna says that:

“Viral is a moment. Searchable is forever. That reel you spent an hour on gets seen for 48 hours. The blog post from two years ago still brings leads every week.

Search-focused content compounds. Instagram posts from last month are dead. YouTube videos, blogs, Pinterest pins, podcast episodes keep working. Platforms that prioritize search (Google, YouTube, Pinterest, podcast apps, AI) are more valuable than ones that prioritize recency.

Try this: Write one SEO-optimized post this month. Answer the question your ideal client asks most. Use the words they actually say. Link to it everywhere. Stop optimizing for the algorithm. Start optimizing for the person searching for help at 2 a.m.”

This is a reminder that vitality is fleeting, but searchable content actually lasts. Blogs, YouTube videos, pins, and podcasts are where the long-term value lies.

Here’s how we can apply this to our blogging strategy:

• Focus on evergreen questions – Make a list of the top problems your audience has. These are things people will Google months or years from now;
• Create content that compounds;
• Link everything strategically;
• Measure the right metrics – Traffic that grows steadily, leads generated, and search visibility are more important than short-term likes or shares.

#10: Community Over Audience

Every other future insight here leads to this one way or another: the importance of building a community of engaged people.

Jenna describes it very well:

“The shift is from how many followers you have to how many people actually care. From broadcasting to belonging. Ten engaged people in a private community are more valuable than 10,000 passive followers.

Email lists, memberships, private communities are your insurance policies. When Instagram changes the algorithm, your email list doesn’t care. You own your audience. This is about building relationships you control. Spaces where depth is possible.

I’ve helped thousands build businesses. The ones that last prioritized connection over clout. They built communities that feel like gathering spaces, not megaphones.

Try this: Create one insider-only experience this quarter. Early access. Exclusive content. A private group. Loyal beats loud every time. Count true fans, the ones who’d be disappointed if you disappeared.”

So, how are you building a community in 2026 and beyond?

Is it going to be through your email list, is a social platform like Instagram working well for you already, or will you give Substack a try?

Industry Predictions by Creatorland.com

The next trend is from a newsletter by Creatorland – a network for creators and influencers.

#11: Major Restrictions on AI Content

AI is flooding social platforms as you may have noticed, and at this point, the platforms can’t ignore it anymore.

 Here’s what Creatorland predicts:

“The platforms have an AI problem, and 2026 is when they’ll finally admit it.

Here’s what’s happening right now: Clipper accounts are mass-producing engagement bait by stealing and remixing human creators’ content using AI tools. They build audiences of hundreds of thousands, then either sell the account or use it to funnel traffic to platforms like Whop. They’re not creating anything – they’re gaming the algorithm with stolen content at scale.

This breaks the entire creator economy model. Instagram and TikTok need human creators to retain audiences. When creators see their original content getting outperformed by AI remixes – or worse, when audiences can’t tell the difference between real and fake – the best creators will leave.

YouTube already saw this coming and demonetized AI-generated content in July. Facebook just announced content protection tools for Reels last month, with alerts when accounts steal your content. Classic reactionary behavior from META but it’s a response to a coming crisis, and they’re trying to get ahead of it while they’re already behind.

The breaking point comes in 2026 when platforms realize they can’t have it both ways. Either they crack down on AI slop and protect human creators, or they break trust with and ultimately lose the talent that makes their platforms valuable in the first place.

My prediction: Mandatory AI labeling becomes universal. Any content using AI tools in production will be automatically disclosed on the video – similar to how sponsored posts need #ad.”

How do you feel about this if your business relies heavily on social media?

Is AI enhancing your content creation and your own experience on social platforms, or is it disturbing it?

Here are some extra tips for creators:

• Watermark and protect your content now to prevent AI theft;
• Focus on human authenticity – personal stories, voice, and nuance AI can’t replicate;
• Diversify platforms – don’t rely on one social channel, own your newsletter, blog, or Substack;
• Experiment with AI as a tool, not a replacement – use it to save time, research, or draft, but keep final work human;
• Build audience trust – teach your community to recognize your style and value your authenticity.

Long-term, human-driven content will outlast AI shortcuts, especially if you own your distribution.

Final words

So there you have it. Eleven trends to look out for, and which are already happening everywhere around us.

It’s time to re-evaluate everything and decide how to continue doing business from here on.

Let me know which of these industry predictions hit home for you, and which were a surprise.