The End of "Click-to-Web" Ads 🛑
I've been analyzing ads more and more in the past few months, and there's a clear pathway that I'm noticing... I believe that in 2026, if your ad strategy is just "buy a click and send them to my site," you’re overpaying for results that are disappearing. The Reality: Platforms (Meta, LinkedIn, TikTok) and AI search engines (ChatGPT, Perplexity) are now "closed loops." They want to keep users inside their interface. The 2026 Shift: Conversational & On-Platform Ads. - The Death of the Link: Ads that force a user to leave the app are being throttled or carry a "tax" (higher CPCs). - The Rise of the Conversation: The most profitable ads now happen inside the AI chat or through native lead forms. How to apply it: Stop focusing on "Landing Page Views." Start focusing on On-Platform Conversions. Build your ads to solve the user's problem right in the feed or the chat window. Most Important Aspect: Authority is the new currency. If an AI discovery engine doesn't "recommend" you during a search, your ad won't even be seen.