The best marketing isn't chiseled in stone. Apative marketing is alive, responding to new tools, shifting consumer preferences, trends, and real-time data. Changing with the trends gives brands a competitive edge, if marketing teams handle it correctly.

Here’s a (maybe) mildly spicy hot take: Email marketing reporting is the backbone of any performance-focused email strategy. Without it, you’re sending campaigns into a void, unable to see what’s working, what’s falling flat, and most importantly, what’s driving revenue.

The Gap Between Output and Outcomes
Over the past two years, I've had hundreds of conversations with business leaders about AI. The pattern is always the same: initial excitement about what AI can do, followed by frustration about what it actually delivers.

The way consumers search for answers online has changed over the years. Instead of typing a keyword or query into search engines like Google, people are typing their questions directly into engines like ChatGPT to get direct, no-frills answers.

A couple of decades ago, “voice search optimization” sounded like something out of a science fiction movie.

If you‘ve ever wondered why B2B email marketing still dominates as a revenue-driving channel in 2025, you’re not alone. Despite the rise of new marketing platforms and AI-powered tools, B2B email marketing remains one of the most reliable ways to nurture leads, accelerate pipeline, and actually close deals.

At 23, I walked into BlackRock‘s New York office fresh out of Wesleyan University, ready to conquer Wall Street. By 28, I had traded my corporate badge for a ring light and a mission to empower women through content creation. Along the way, I learned that the biggest impact doesn’t always come from the biggest institutions.

Selecting an email marketing automation platform goes far beyond choosing where marketers will send emails. The right tool becomes the backbone of lifecycle marketing — powering personalized workflows and driving revenue. Email marketing automation platforms help businesses send targeted, personalized emails at scale by automating workflows, segmenting audiences, and integrating with CRM and ecommerce tools.

HubSpot’s 2026 State of Marketing report uncovered some good news: 65% of marketers are meeting or exceeding their performance benchmarks. But that success doesn’t happen by accident. Behind those results are clear priorities, rigorous testing, and a sharp focus on the right metrics.

“SMASH that like button,” the host says, and your eyes roll back so far you can see your own medulla. “And don’t forget to subscribe!”

HubSpot’s latest State of Marketing data shows that 65% of companies exceeded their goals last year, and 93.7% improved lead quality. Should the industry celebrate and prepare for a relaxed 2026? Barely.

Marketing funnels aren‘t cutting it anymore, and you’ve probably felt it in the form of declining traffic, scattered buyer journeys, and tactics that worked last year falling flat today. That's why HubSpot introduced loop marketing tactics, a four-stage framework designed to help you adapt and grow in the AI era.