Why YouTube has become key for brand GEO strategies

February 25, 2026 Marketers worried about improving their brand's profile in LLM chatbot results or within the concise summaries of Google's Overviews have mostly focused on the world of text: earned media coverage, website copy or user-generated reviews. Lately, they've pivoted to video. TOP STORY Zero-click Future The Rundown: Why YouTube has become key for brand GEO strategies Brands hoping to improve their performance in zero-click search and LLM chatbot results are focusing on the video platform. OTHER THINGS TO KNOW The discussion around brand safety and suitability has matured. The industry is now entering a new phase, where brands expect more control, more extensibility into walled gardens and closer accountability to outcomes. Partner insights from Channel Factory. By adopting a more optimized flighting approach to ad spend, marketers can deliver more marginal ROI on their investments. This strategy ensures that they're not wasting any of their spending. Partner insights from Keen Decision Systems. Fragmentation is no longer an edge case in TV — it’s the operating environment. And marketing strategies have to be built with that reality in mind. Here’s how that might play out during the World Cup. Partner insights from Nexxen. Advertisement MEDIA & PLATFORMS Audio Anywhere In Graphic Detail: Publishers chase video podcast growth, but audio still leads Podcasting may be racing into video, but more listeners still prefer audio — leaving publishers caught between hype and habit. Generative AI Can agencies fix the AI disconnect between the C-suite and marketing teams? Boathouse is trying to As marketing teams struggle with a lack of strategy and tools according to research, Boston-based Boathouse has hired someone to fill that gap. PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM THE WEATHER COMPANY Video: How weather universally drives consumer behavior Weather impacts what people try, buy and how they feel. This powers targeting to predict the moments when weather shifts a consumer's mindset toward purchase, driving sales and long-term growth. Learn more in this video. Advertising around Politics Brands celebrate tariff reprieve, but fresh uncertainty looms After the Supreme Court struck down Trump's tariffs, brands welcomed the relief but say ongoing trade uncertainty and unanswered questions about refunds are keeping business decisions on hold. PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM EXPERIAN How marketers are interpreting context in real time Context takes many forms, often operating beneath the surface of consumer activity. Marketers are increasingly using technology to interpret these micro-signals, enhancing predictive accuracy and creative alignment. Advertisement DIGIDAY+ Member exclusive Future of TV Briefing: Netflix's in-house ad platform launch has led some advertisers to double spend This week's Future of TV Briefing looks at how the streamer's expanded ad targeting and measurement options has resulted in increased advertiser spending. PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM TALON.ONE Unpacking the unified incentives strategy working for Sephora and Adidas This WTF explainer guide covers why brands like Sephora and Adidas are moving away from a siloed approach to loyalty and promotions, and are instead implementing a unified incentives marketing strategy. ICYMI Retail Media Rewritten Walmart Connect's full-funnel ambitions come into focus, with Amazon in its sights Walmart Connect is scaling quickly, with AI investments and the Vizio acquisition shaping its push to rival Amazon's ad business. Written by Jim Cooper and Sara Jerde Were you forwarded this email? Sign up to get it daily. Advertise | Digiday+ | Events | Awards Update your email | Unsubscribe | Privacy policy