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← Back to Ideas2026 Influence Trends You Should Care About
When it comes to consumer and brand marketing, the Creator Economy is no longer optional or experimental — it’s a foundational pillar of modern marketing.
The flood gates have opened to institutional dollars and uncharted growth; but with higher budgets come higher stakes. The next evolution of creator economy investment brings with it unimagined opportunity, and the need to closely manage and monitor risk in equal parts. Influencer marketing can no longer survive on reach and engagement vanity metrics — impact is everything, ROI is mandatory, and earned community growth is the holy grail. Influence has become a trust infrastructure, while simultaneously a suspiciously scrutinizing and demanding taskmaster. Brands need to think about the tectonic shifts happening in the digital landscape and what spaces are right for them to grow authentically and impactfully.
In a landscape of exponential growth, commoditized production, and rising scrutiny, the next evolution of the Creator Economy is clear: the winners will be those who find opportunities to build and protect trust, not just chase attention.
Download and read our in depth look at this new era for influencer marketing, "2026 Influence Trends You Should Care About".
Additional Contributing Authors
RACHEL PORTER
Head of Influence Strategy, EMEA
VICKIE SEGAR
Founder & CEO, Village Marketing
ALESSANDRO FRAGIACOMO
Global Head of Influence, WPP Open X
BRENDA HO
ASP Influence Lead, WPP Open X