TikTok, WhatsApp & AI in 2026: What Works, What’s Dead, and What’s Next

Everyone’s broke—or are they? The biggest marketing names are quietly stacking millions while others complain the market’s dead. What gives?

Perry & Emma takes you on a no-fluff dive into the real 2026 marketing landscape. In this episode, Perry drops his top 5 predictions for what’s working, what’s outdated, and what’ll leave your business wrecked if you don’t pivot now. From ugly influencers and AI backlash to WhatsApp sales funnels, the duo dissects why most marketers are missing the mark—and how to play the game like it’s actually played today.

We cover:

1. Why human branding beats AI avatars (for now)
2. The power of short-form video to build hot lists & retarget
3. Value-first funnels that print money without a pitch
4. How DMs are closing multi-million dollar deals
5. The Octopus Follow-Up method that outperforms email alone

Timestamps:

1. (0:00) Welcome back + why 2026 is a marketing reset
2. (1:45) The trust crisis online and what that means for sales
3. (4:02) Human branding vs AI avatars: who wins in 2026?
4. (7:18) Can avatars work for founders who hate the camera?
5. (9:35) Why short-form video is your new funnel front-end
6. (12:10) Retargeting warm traffic using video view data
7. (14:45) The rise of value-first funnels (and how to use them)
8. (17:30) DM sales: why it’s beating click-to-buy in high ticket
9. (20:00) WhatsApp: Meta’s secret weapon for 2026 marketing
10. (22:15) Perry’s “Octopus Follow-Up” and multi-channel campaigns
11. (24:30) Final thoughts: The 2026 great separation is here

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Resources:

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