🎙 Episode 259 — The One Marketing Strategy You Need in 2026

The marketing world is shifting faster than most businesses can keep up with. AI-driven search, answer engines, channel fragmentation, rising ad costs, and evolving consumer habits are creating a landscape where old marketing playbooks no longer work. In this episode of the Marketing Guides for Small Businesses Podcast, the team tackles the single most important strategy every business must embrace to grow in 2026: an AI-informed, strategy-first, omni-channel marketing system.

Ian, Ken, Paul, and Jeff break down why random marketing activities—social posts, blogs, scattered ads, or dabbling with AI tools—are no longer enough to compete. Instead, businesses need an approach that blends strategic clarity, AI-powered insights, and consistent execution across multiple channels.

You’ll hear why AI is no longer optional, how it can accelerate planning and content creation, and how to “train” AI tools to write in your brand voice. The team explains why human oversight is still essential, but also why ignoring AI now puts you at an immediate disadvantage in visibility, relevance, and speed.

This episode explores the elements of a modern marketing system, including customer journey mapping, ideal customer profiling, content pillar development, and the importance of showing up everywhere your audience is—search, social, email, long-form content, and more. The hosts reveal how an omni-channel presence increases trust, supports higher rankings, and reduces dependency on paid ads or referrals.

You’ll also learn about AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) and why preparing for AI-driven search now will give you a decisive advantage as platforms shift from traditional search results to AI-generated responses. The team emphasizes that the businesses who act early will win—not because the tactics are new, but because the underlying strategy becomes more important than ever.

If you’re tired of unpredictable leads, overwhelmed by channel choices, or frustrated by marketing that feels unclear and inconsistent, this episode gives you a practical roadmap for building a system that actually works in 2026 and beyond.

⏱ Timestamped Table of Contents

00:00 – Welcome Back

Ian introduces the episode and invites listener participation.

00:27 – The Big Question

What is the one marketing strategy businesses must embrace in 2026?

00:52 – The Shift Toward Real Growth Systems

Why small businesses need focus—not more noise.

01:04 – What Businesses Must Embrace

The foundation: an AI-informed, strategy-first omni-channel system.

01:23 – Why AI Can’t Be Ignored

AI isn’t going away—businesses must learn to use it effectively.

01:41 – The Role of AI in Content & Strategy

How AI helps with ideas, research, structure, buyer profiles, and brand voice.

02:27 – Human Vetting Still Matters

AI amplifies your voice—but you must guide it.

02:38 – Why Omni-Channel Is Essential

Relying on a single tactic or channel is too risky in 2026.

02:50 – The Danger of Single-Source Strategies

Paid ads and referrals alone won’t sustain growth.

02:56 – Local Search Is Changing Too

AI search hasn’t fully hit local SEO yet—but it will soon.

03:11 – Why Preparing Early Matters

AEO preparation positions you ahead of competitors.

03:25 – The Benefits of AEO

Your optimization becomes the high-quality work you should have done anyway.

🌐 Connect With Your Marketing Guides

• Ian Cantle — Outsourced Marketing & Dental Marketing Heroes
• https://outsourcedmarketing.ca
• https://dentalmarketingheroes.com
• Ken Tucker & Paul Barthel — Changescape Web
• https://changescapeweb.com
• Jeff Stec — Tylerica Marketing Systems
• https://tylericasystems.com/