
Pundit
Jasmine Enberg
4 receipts • Tracked since Apr 2026
EMARKETER principal analyst; social media advertising.
Affiliations
No firm affiliations on record.
— Filed —
4 receipts
2026
1 prediction- Jan 5, 2026Called it.“Influencer marketing becomes more performance-driven – As the market matures, brands will prioritize measurable outcomes over vanity metrics, with creator marketplaces proliferating across platforms, media companies, and even retailers... Growth is going to be slower, and we think brands are going to be more intentional about how they’re spending their dollars... There’s going to be a lot more conversations about measurement.”
By 2026, influencer marketing firmly shifted towards performance-based deals, measurable outcomes, and robust analytics, with creator marketplaces becoming prevalent, aligning with the prediction.
2025
3 predictions- Dec 30, 2025Called it.“We’re also expecting, you know, some big M&A this year and more… So, I think [it’s a] big year for M&A and I think it’s also going to be a big year for these hybrid business models.”
Independent analyses confirm the rise of professionalized, diversified 'hybrid' creator business models. Consolidation and M&A activity were also notable in the creator economy in 2026, validating the 'big year' prediction.
- Dec 30, 2025Partially right.“I think there’s a big chance that static content could start to make a comeback in 2026.”
By mid-2026, text and image-based formats did re-emerge as a way for creators to stand out and reduce production costs, with platforms emphasizing these alongside video. The 'comeback' was moderate but directionally correct.
- Oct 14, 2025Called it.“I think we’re going to continue to see more investment coming into influencer marketing... I still think there’s a lot to be worked out. But overall, I think the sentiment toward influencer marketing will remain strong and the dollars will continue to follow.”
Influencer marketing investment and sentiment remained strong through 2024-2025 and into 2026, with continued budget increases and maturation of the category, leading to a focus on performance and measurement. This aligns with the prediction.
