B2B Marketing Trends 2026: Why Intent Targeting Is Replacing Interests
Introduction B2B marketing trends in 2026 are being reshaped by one powerful shift — campaign planning is moving from interest targeting to intent targeting . For years, marketers relied on job titles, industries, and generic audience interests to reach decision-makers. But today’s buyers behave differently. They research silently, compare vendors extensively, and only engage with sales when they are close to a decision. That’s where intent targeting in B2B marketing changes the game. Interest targeting tells you who someone is . Intent targeting tells you what they want right now . And in modern B2B marketing, timing beats demographics . Why Interest Targeting Is Losing Effectiveness in B2B Marketing Traditional interest-based targeting focuses on: Job roles Industry segments Company size Past browsing behavior While these signals help define ICPs, they fail to identify active buyers . The Core Problems: Buying journeys are non-linear Multiple stakeholders influence dec...