Two global webinars will unveil new findings on how brands build trust and influence across regions, industries, and digital channels — with sessions timed for audiences in EMEA, the Americas, and APAC
The Public Relations Global Network will present the results of its 2026 Influence Insights survey during two live webinars on May 13, 2026. The second annual Influence Insights survey gathers data from communication practitioners and industry leaders on global trends and challenges when it comes to brands building trust and gaining influence.
Because this is the second year the study is conducted, attendees will see year-over-year trends, regional comparisons, and breakdowns by key industry sectors — giving communicators a clear view of how brand influence has shifted in the past 12 months.
The original 2025 survey of marketing and business leaders across 40 countries highlighted a fundamental shift in branding strategies, with trust, reputation and digital engagement emerging as the most important drivers of brand influence. PRGN partnered with research firm Researchscape International to survey marketing, communications, and business leaders worldwide. Building on that foundation, the 2026 edition tracks how those priorities have evolved over a year of rapid change in digital strategy, audience expectations, and market conditions around the globe – based on more than 1,300 responses globally.
Frédéric François
“The first Influence Insights survey showed us that brand influence is no longer just a marketing function — it touches every part of an organization,” said Frédéric François, president of PRGN and managing partner of Two cents in Brussels, Belgium. “This year, with comparative data in hand, we can show business leaders exactly where the shifts are happening and which strategies are working in their regions and sectors.”
Two webinar sessions have been scheduled on May 13 to serve audiences across all time zones:
- PRGN Influence Insights Launch Event — EMEA and Americas
May 13, 2026, 8:00 a.m. Arizona time
Register here. - PRGN Influence Insights Launch Event — Americas and APAC
May 13, 2026, 6:00 p.m. Arizona time
Register here.
Each session will cover the same findings, so attendees can choose the time that best fits their schedule.
Abbie S. Fink
“Year-over-year data gives communicators something they rarely get — proof of direction, not just a snapshot,” said Abbie S. Fink, chair of PRGN’s Marketing Committee that led the network’s global survey program and president of HMA Public Relations in Phoenix, Arizona. “When you can compare results from one year to the next, you move from guessing to knowing what works.”
The inaugural study found that 89% of business leaders view brand influence as “extremely” or “very” important to organizational success, with 67% expecting its importance to increase over the next three to five years. Influence, once treated as a byproduct of visibility, has become the metric that defines long-term relevance, and the shift is being driven by rising expectations and a growing demand for authenticity. The 2026 survey examines whether those trends have held, accelerated, or changed course, providing new data points across digital engagement, consumer trust, and stakeholder relationships in markets worldwide.
“The communications profession is moving fast — what mattered to brands 12 months ago may look very different today,” François said. “That’s exactly why we built Influence Insights as an annual study. Our member agencies and their clients need current, reliable data to make smart decisions.”
The Influence Insights initiative reflects PRGN’s broader role as a global thought leader in the communications profession. PRGN President François has identified the fast pace of change in communications as both a chance and a risk, noting that fake news hurts trust in media, institutions, and brands, while going digital is now a must for agencies that want to serve clients well. The survey delivers the kind of evidence-based thinking that helps agencies and brands respond to those challenges with confidence.
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About PRGN:
Founded in 1992, the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) is one of the world’s largest international networks of independent public relations and communications agencies, with approximately 900 professionals in more than 60 locations globally. PRGN members are independent, local, owner-operated public relations and marketing communications firms that share expertise and resources while providing broad-based, comprehensive communications strategies to clients worldwide.
Companies or organizations interested in the services of PRGN’s worldwide agency network can visit its Agency Directory section for more information.
Independent agencies interested in joining the network can visit the member recruitment section of the PRGN website for more information.
