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Neil and Eric break down why AI is quietly killing the marketing channels most businesses still rely on β 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:
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Cold email open rates dropped 40%+ from end of 2024 to Q1 2026 across 11 B2B companies
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AI-generated content gets terrible engagement unless it's specifically about AI topics
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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% β 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
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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.
ποΈ Learn More About the Hosts
Eric Siu β Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial
Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel
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