Likely Marketing

Shivendra Lal

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MARKETING
UPDATED WEEKLY

Exploring possibilities in Marketing.

5 DAYS AGO

#117: What I Hope for Marketing in 2026 When AI Meets Trust and Community

Standing at the edge of 2025, this episode begins like a quiet realization rather than a breaking news alert. Marketing didn’t collapse under AI. It was clarified. In What I Hope for Marketing in 2026 When AI Meets Trust and Community, this story walks through a year where AI-powered search rewrote visibility, algorithms exposed empty tactics, and content abundance stripped marketing down to its core. Clicks became scarce, trust became currency, and community emerged as infrastructure—not a trend. As the noise grew louder, one truth became clearer: AI can scale speed, but it can’t scale belief. Brands that survived 2025 didn’t chase reach; they earned relevance. They didn’t automate authenticity; they designed for trust. They didn’t run campaigns alone; they built cultures people wanted to belong to. This episode looks forward to 2026 with intention and optimism—hoping for marketing where AI enhances thinking, visibility goes beyond clicks, trust is engineered into every touchpoint, and communities are treated as long-term assets. Because the future of marketing isn’t about being everywhere. It’s about being meaningful—where it matters most. (00:00) Intro (01:04) The ‘Visibility Crisis’ that brands and marketers faced in 2025 (03:59) Marketers faced email marketing authentication issues (05:42) Social media marketing became more complex (07:29) AI created the paradox of content creation (08:55) Their conversion strategies had to fill the trust gap (10:02) Community-building became extremely important (11:48) 7 ways in which the marketing community coped with these shifts (16:04) What do I hope for marketing in 2026? (20:29) What marketers need to remember in 2026…

22 min
23/12/2025

#116: Visibility Broke. Conversion Changed. Creation Exploded. Marketing Tech in 2026 I’m Excited About

Boy, did 2025 fly by. As the year winds down, marketing finds itself at a strange, electric crossroads. Visibility broke. Conversion changed. Creation exploded. And in the quiet before 2026, everything suddenly makes sense. This episode is a short story about that convergence moment—when search slipped into conversations, when AI answers, creators, communities, CTV screens, and AR quietly replaced the ten blue links. It’s about how brands are no longer discovered, but recognized—inside ChatGPT, Reddit threads, YouTube living rooms, and Gen Z micro-communities. You’ll hear how conversion is shifting from manual targeting to algorithmic persuasion, from individuals to households, from data hacks to creative context—powered by AI ads, climate signals, and immersive AR experiences. And you’ll step into a world where content is no longer the bottleneck. AI browsers, design wars, and cinematic video tools have made speed meaningless. What matters now is meaning, storytelling, and intent. Marketing tech in 2026 isn’t about trends. It’s about execution in a system that finally matured. Grab a cuppa—this is the future marketers need to understand. (00:00) Intro (01:12) How people discover you, or you become visible to them, is actually changing (and fast!) (08:41) How is the process of turning attention into action changing? (11:50) Content creation tools are on overdrive, thanks to AI (15:17) What I expect all this tech to do for brands and marketers in 2026?

18 min
16/12/2025

#115: From Feeds to Inner Circles: Why Micro-Communities Are the Future of Marketing

In 2025, the social web is quietly shifting. Feeds are fading, and “inner circles” are rising. When TikTok launched Bulletin Boards, it seemed like just another feature—until creators realized it unlocked something the algorithm never could: direct, intimate community. Suddenly, platforms everywhere began rebuilding smaller, quieter digital rooms where real connection lives again. This episode dives into the return of micro-communities—why users crave them, why creators are reclaiming control, and why brands must learn to build belonging instead of chasing reach. From VIP groups to thought-leader hubs, the future of marketing belongs to those who can nurture community, not the feed. Step inside the new era where conversations go deeper, relationships get stronger, and loyalty grows in the spaces that feel like home. (00:00) Intro (00:55) Let’s talk about TikTok’s Bulletin Boards (03:19) Bulletin Boards have a nostalgic echo (04:44) TikTok’s Bulletin Boards is similar to what other social platforms have (07:32) Why are social platforms focusing on community features? (10:54) Practical ways B2C and B2B brands can benefit from online communities (13:33) Build an online community, but keep an eye on the challenges, too (14:43) Where is all this headed?

18 min
09/12/2025

#114: The Adobe & SEMRush Deal Is a Signal — Your Brand’s Online Visibility Is About to Change

When Adobe bought SEMRush for $1.9bn, it wasn’t just another tech acquisition—it was a signal. A signal that traditional SEO, Google-first thinking, and old visibility playbooks are collapsing faster than marketers expected. In this episode, we break down why Adobe made this move, what SEMRush brings to the table, and how AI-powered search is rewriting the rules of online discovery. From Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) to AI Overviews and brand citations inside ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s AI, this is the new battlefield for visibility. If you run an e-commerce brand, a B2B company, or depend on organic traffic in any way, this episode will help you understand what’s changing—and how to stay visible when AI systems decide which brands get mentioned next. (00:00) Intro (01:29) Let’s start with a snapshot of the Adobe and SEMRush deal (03:15) Digging a bit deeper into the reasons why Adobe acquired SEMRush (04:50) How is Adobe is likely to fit SEMRush into its marketing toolbox? (07:29) What will happen to the SEMRush brand and product? (09:44) What is the view of the SEO community? (11:16) What the key takeaways for e-Commerce and B2B marketers? (14:22) Parting thoughts…

16 min
02/12/2025

#113: Brands Are Making You Binge Scripted Social Series — Without Knowing It’s Marketing

Social media isn’t just for posts anymore — it’s a binge-worthy streaming platform, and brands are turning into mini studios. In this episode, we dive into the rise of scripted social media series: entertaining, episodic content created by brands like Bilt, Alexis Bittar, Nike, and RedBull. From unbranded mockumentaries to AI-generated stories, discover how these series hook Gen Z and millennials, build communities, and redefine marketing. Learn why traditional ads are fading, how storytelling drives engagement, and why the future of social media marketing may look more like TV shows than commercials. (00:00) Intro (01:19) Why are brands creating scripted series for social media series? (04:22) Who’s engaging with these scripted series and what does the data say? (07:17) Scripted social is bringing the unbranded marketing trend with it… (09:57) … and changing the traditional social media content strategy. (12:52) Community building is the real value of scripted social (13:58) What is the likely impact on B2B marketing strategies? (15:37) Can scripted social series lead to conversions? (17:45) How does marketing look like in the new world of scripted social?

20 min
25/11/2025

#112: Nobody Is Talking About Live Translation Tech — And It Could Change Everything About Marketing

We’ve quietly entered a new era of communication—one that could change everything about marketing. Google, Meta, and Apple have all launched live translation technology, turning phones, glasses, and earbuds into real-time language bridges. And nobody is talking about what this means for marketers. In this episode, we explore how live translation works, why the tech giants invested heavily in it, and most importantly, how brands can use it to reach new audiences, unlock global organic discovery, and prepare for a world where language is no longer a barrier. From first-party language preference data to multilingual ad targeting and global content reach, this shift opens opportunities that were impossible before. The real question is: Will you prepare now—or play catch-up later? Listen to find out how to build marketing strategies for the translation-powered future. (00:00) Intro (00:53) The unraveling of the live translation tech (03:00) How does the live translation tech work? (08:25) How can marketers use live translation for ad targeting? (11:56) How can live translation tech enable organic reach opportunities for marketers? (14:49) What can marketers do to prepare for the opportunities live translation tech brings? (17:22) Taking a look at the bigger picture…

19 min
18/11/2025

#111: Adobe vs Canva & Other Apps: The New Chaos Every Marketer Must Now Navigate

In this episode, we dive into the creative-software shakeup every marketer is feeling. Adobe is no longer the unquestioned king. Canva just made Affinity completely free. Apple grabbed Pixelmator. DaVinci Resolve keeps pushing pro-grade tools at zero cost. And AI is flooding every app. What does this mean for marketers, creators, brands, and anyone who touches design or video? A lot. Costs are shifting. Workflows are breaking. New options look tempting—but also overwhelming. This episode unpacks the Adobe vs Canva battle, the rise of free pro tools, the role of AI in reshaping creative work, and how marketers can navigate this new chaos with clarity instead of confusion. If you’ve ever wondered which tools to choose—or how to future-proof your creative stack—this one’s for you. (00:00) Intro (01:47) Adobe is swarmed with tough competition (08:11) Why are people looking away or switching from Adobe? (11:27) AI is the shared battleground for Adobe and Canva, but with different approaches (13:57) Adobe vs Others: What are their strengths and weaknesses? (17:26) Is having too many options good or bad for marketers and creators? (19:56) Can AI level the creative app playing field? (21:29) And what should creators and marketers do?

25 min
11/11/2025

#110: Inside YouTube’s Masterplan: CTV, Programmatic, and Podcast Domination

Once upon a time, YouTube was just where we watched videos. Now, it’s coming for your living room, your ad budgets, and your favorite podcasts. In this episode, we dive into YouTube’s masterplan—a bold move to dominate Connected TV, programmatic advertising, and podcasting all at once. Imagine scrolling through your TV, seeing shoppable videos, AI-optimized ads, and even your favorite podcasts playing on the big screen. That’s not the future—it’s happening now. We unpack how YouTube is turning CTV into the next big advertising frontier, using PMAX and AI Max to automate campaigns and track results in real time. And while Spotify built the podcast boom, YouTube is quietly taking it over with AI-powered discovery, Shorts integration, and monetization that creators can’t resist. 🎧 Step inside YouTube’s world takeover—where TV meets AI, and the future of marketing begins. (00:00) Intro (01:16) YouTube’s big push towards the (C)TV in your living room (08:37) How does YouTube aim to solve CTV’s measurement problem? (10:33) The not-so-hidden podcast dominance play (14:21) The new YouTube Studio is making AI your co-creator (16:16) The future of marketing and media

21 min

Exploring possibilities in Marketing.

Creator

Shivendra Lal
Years Active

2022 - 2025
Episodes

117
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Shivendra Lal
Show Website

Likely Marketing