Investing Heavily in Branding

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Neil and Eric break down why AI is quietly killing the marketing channels most businesses still rely on — cold email open rates have dropped over 40%, AI-generated content is getting near-zero engagement, and outreach inboxes are completely flooded. They share exactly where they're shifting their marketing spend in 2026, why branding and in-person events are the new moat, and why Neil basically quit doing podcasts.

Key Takeaways:

• Cold email open rates dropped 40%+ from end of 2024 to Q1 2026 across 11 B2B companies

• AI-generated content gets terrible engagement unless it's specifically about AI topics

• Brand, relationships, and intellectual horsepower are the only real moats left in 2026

Chapters:

00:00 AI Is Destroying the Marketing Channels You Rely On
01:13 The Cold Email Saturation Problem Nobody Is Admitting
02:51 Open Rates Dropped 40% — Real Data From 11 B2B Companies
05:48 Why Branding Is the Only Real Moat Left in 2026
06:44 Why He Basically Quit Doing Podcasts
11:46 The 3 Things That Survive AI: Brand, Relationships, Horsepower
13:23 Why Manual Content Is Beating AI Content Right Now

𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟
Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Hosted by Eric Siu and Neil Patel, recognized by Forbes as a Top 10 Marketer.

🎙️ Learn More About the Hosts
Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial
Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel

📩 Free Resources
Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/
Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/

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