Plus, your 2026 content planning calendar is here!  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ Raptive News JANUARY 7, 2026 By Cristy Posten Content Editor Hi Raptive, Happy New Year! We know that January can bring a lot of pressure to plan, publish, and get everything perfectly mapped out. But here’s your reminder that it’s OK to start slow. RPMs are following a similar pattern. Like clockwork, they dip every January as advertisers reset their budgets, but we’re already seeing signs of a rebound this week. Keep reading for a few key trends we’re watching when it comes to your revenue. In addition, you’ll find other helpful tools, tips, and updates to support you as you start the year: • The 2026 Content and Monetization Planning Calendar • An important 1099 tax reminder • A quick tip on traffic sources What’s new Brand safety, bot traffic, and what it means for your RPMs Our team is always working hard to increase your earnings—and keeping a close eye on external factors that may also have an impact. At the start of the year, here are a few key trends we’re watching closely: 1. Increased scrutiny around brand safety Advertisers are being more cautious than ever about where their ads appear. That means sites with unfiltered comments or content that includes violent or sensitive language may be flagged as not brand safe, which can lower RPMs. What to do: Filter your site comments and avoid language that could trigger false brand safety flags. 2. Spikes in bot traffic Some sites are experiencing traffic surges from non-human sources in countries including China, Brazil, and Singapore. This can hurt RPMs and, if left unchecked, may lead to advertisers blocking your site. What to do: Work with your host to block non-human traffic and protect your performance. 3. Rising demand for premium inventory Advertisers are moving away from what Jounce Media calls “cheap reach” sites—those with overly aggressive ad placements or too many providers. If your site adheres to our recommended 20% ad density or lower, you’re in a strong position and are unlikely to be affected. What to do: Adhere to Raptive’s exclusivity agreement and submit a support request if you need help simplifying your ad layout. Keep an eye out for 1099s for 2025 All eligible creators will receive 1099 forms for 2025 tax purposes by the end of this month. It will go to the email address listed in the Raptive dashboard under the Payments section. You can see what the email looks like and other FAQs answered here. Note that the subject line will read “1099-NEC from AdThrive, LLC dba Raptive,” as that’s where we sent payments from in 2025. The chart above helps you answer: Will I receive a 1099? Top resource Plan with purpose using the 2026 Content and Monetization Planning Calendar The best strategies are built over time with the right tools to guide them. The 2026 Content and Monetization Planning Calendar helps you spot seasonal opportunities, align your top-performing themes with timely trends, and build focused campaigns that work across every platform. Use it to: • Time content around peak demand and ad spend • Prioritize what to update or publish next • Plan across your site, YouTube, email, and social channels • Revisit monthly to stay focused and flexible Build a high-impact content strategy now → Quick tip Focus on traffic sources that drive engaged readers “Not all traffic is equal. The visitors who stick around drive higher RPMs. Check your Performance by Traffic Source report to see which platforms bring in readers who spend more time on your site and generate more impressions per pageview. Then focus your promotion efforts on those channels. That’s where your time has the biggest payoff.” James Baldwin SVP, Creator Performance In the news Why brand building beats short-term tactics With all the hype around AI and answer engine optimization (AEO), it’s easy to feel pressure to chase whatever might “work” right now. But some industry voices are calling for a more sustainable approach. Tom Critchlow, Raptive’s EVP of Audience Growth, made the case in The Wall Street Journal for looking beyond quick wins: “Brand marketing to influence consumers will be more valuable in the long-term than the current swarm of AEO activity, much of which amounts to marketers trying to boost their results on the cheap just as they did in the early days of Google.” Tom Critchlow EVP, Audience Growth See why brand building matters more than ever → What we’re reading Catch up on news from around the industry • OpenAI bets big on audio as Silicon Valley declares war on screens (TechCrunch) • 2026 is AI’s ‘show me the money’ year (Axios | Gated) • Consumers say they don’t trust AI–but can’t stop using it (MediaInsider) Question of the week How are you approaching content planning this year? 🗓 Mapping it all out I’ve got a full editorial calendar and a plan for every season 📌 Focusing on themes I know the big picture—now I’m filling in the details 🧭 Taking it one month at a time I’m planning in smaller chunks so I can stay flexible ✨ Letting creativity lead I’m leaving room to experiment and follow what feels right Was this email helpful? 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