What should be my marketing focus for 2026 as an artist?

Your marketing focus for 2026 should be on authentic storytelling and showing up as a real human. Commit to articulating who you are, why you create, and what you create—then tell that story consistently everywhere. Focus on being real and visible through video content, sharing your process, your journey, and yes, even your flaws and struggles. The pendulum is swinging hard toward valuing human-created work with genuine stories behind it, as a reaction to the flood of AI-generated content. While AI will be useful as a tool to help you work more efficiently, your humanity, your story, and the effort you put into your work are what will set you apart and resonate with audiences. Make 2026 the year you commit to telling your story consistently across all your marketing channels. The tactical techniques and technology matter, but they work best when built on a foundation of authentic, consistent storytelling.

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Asked by implied question from teaching · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2026-01-09