Original Research From the ZapTap Labs
We publish data-driven studies so marketers can make better decisions. Every finding below is backed by real data, transparent methodology, and zero sales spin. If we tracked it, we share it.
Featured Research
Each study includes full methodology, raw findings, and actionable implications. No gating, no fluff, no lead-gen tricks disguised as research.
State of AI Search Visibility 2026
We tracked 1,000 queries across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and Claude weekly for six months. The result is the most comprehensive picture of how brands appear — and disappear — in AI-generated search results.
- 1,000 queries tracked across 4 LLM platforms
- 12 industries analyzed over 6 months
- Entity authority scoring correlated with citation rates
- Content freshness and structured data impact quantified
Agency Pricing Benchmark Report 2026
We analyzed publicly available pricing data from 200 digital marketing agencies across the US and UK to answer the question every buyer asks: what should this actually cost? The answer is more nuanced than most agencies want you to know.
- 200 agency pricing pages analyzed
- SEO, PPC, content, and web development pricing mapped
- Hidden fees catalogued across 6 categories
- Subscription vs. retainer cost comparison
The Content Decay Study
We tracked 5,000 pages across 47 client domains for 24 months to measure exactly how fast organic traffic decays without content refreshes — and what separates content that holds its rankings from content that collapses.
- 5,000 pages tracked across 47 domains over 24 months
- Decay rates segmented by content type and industry
- Optimal refresh cadences identified by keyword competitiveness
- Original data vs. opinion content longevity compared
Why We Publish Research
Most agencies guard their data like trade secrets. We think that is backwards. The agencies that share knowledge openly are the ones that attract the clients who value expertise over mystery. Hoarding data does not make you smarter — it makes you less accountable.
Every study we publish follows the same standard: transparent methodology, reproducible analysis, and findings presented without cherry-picking. If the data contradicts our assumptions, we publish it anyway. That is the difference between research and marketing dressed up as research.
We also believe that original research is the highest form of content marketing. The studies below have earned hundreds of backlinks, been cited in industry publications, and generated more qualified inbound leads than any landing page we have ever built. Sharing knowledge is not charity — it is strategy.
Original studies published in 2026 with full methodology and raw data
How We Conduct Research
Every ZapTap Labs study adheres to these principles. We are marketers, not academics, but we believe rigor matters.
Transparent Methodology
Every study documents exactly how data was collected, what tools were used, what the sample sizes were, and what limitations exist. If you cannot replicate our process, we have not documented it well enough.
No Cherry-Picking
We publish findings that contradict our expectations alongside findings that confirm them. Research that only tells you what you want to hear is not research — it is confirmation bias with a PDF cover.
Actionable Implications
Data without application is trivia. Every study includes a section on what the findings mean for practitioners — specific actions marketers can take based on the evidence, not vague recommendations.
Get Notified When We Publish New Research
We publish 2-4 original studies per year. Each one is based on proprietary data from real client campaigns — not surveys, not opinion polls, not recycled industry reports. Join the list and we will send you the full study the day it drops. No spam. No drip sequences. Just research.