Marketing Industry Trends You Must Look Out For In 2025

Why Do Marketing Industry Trends Matter?

The marketing landscape is subject to constant changes due to the abundance of new technologies, continuously changing consumer behavior, and various regulatory changes. That’s why complacency is your enemy. Companies in all sectors must stay updated regarding marketing industry trends and incorporate them into their marketing plan templates. For example, AI has already taken our lives by storm. Do you know which of the top applications of Artificial Intelligence in your industry is available and how you can leverage it? Having a clear understanding of the latest developments and news helps you craft effective strategies that boost brand awareness and elevate product quality. To discover trending areas, we usually look at digital marketing insights and statistics that show what consumers expect from companies and how the latter react to these demands.

No matter what your goals are for 2025, leveraging online marketing trends will help you expand your brand image quickly and position yourself at the top of your industry. Let’s explore 14 areas that will most probably experience significant growth this year and many businesses will look to adopt.

Top 14 Marketing Industry Trends That Will Dominate In 2025

1. Artificial Intelligence

It’s a new year, and many of you may be filling out your new marketing plan template. One of the top marketing industry trends you can’t and shouldn’t ignore is GenAI. 64% of marketers are already using AI and automation for various tasks, including content topic brainstorms, analytics, and campaign ideas. While many are using ChatGPT and other similar platforms to create content for their blogs, we don’t think this is the best possible idea. Nothing can beat the high quality of an article written by an authoritative figure. However, you may use these tools to discover new blog post ideas, titles, campaign types, and ad copy inspiration. Additionally, among the top advertising trends is creating AI images, which you can also leverage for your promotional campaigns.

Let’s not forget about using AI for analyzing marketing insights. While this is not entirely new or necessarily a “trend,” many companies are starting to utilize smart tools that analyze their email marketing and ad campaign results. For instance, you may upload a spreadsheet with email marketing information, and you will have audience segments and other crucial info within minutes. Lastly, another benefit of AI in marketing is that it can forecast future consumer behaviors and trends.

2. Short-Form Video Content

Short-form videos, including Instagram and TikTok reels, are going to dominate the 2025 marketing trends. A simple market intelligence report will show you that your competitors are targeting technology-proficient generations who consume content and ads through their phones and various devices. Videos already saw a massive increase in 2024, and we believe the increase will be even higher in 2025, as short-form videos have the highest Return On Investment (ROI). It is indicative that TikTok added 200 million more users in the last quarter of 2024. This means that many of those will be tremendously active from the new year.

But why are many B2B and SaaS marketers so reluctant to invest in TikTok? Well, the platform was initially used by Gen Z members, meaning that software creators and vendors couldn’t find any use for it. However, other generations are now flocking to the platform to enjoy short videos and spend hours scrolling. That’s why the digital marketing industry directs its attention to the app’s ad platform, which is competing with Google and Meta. Let’s not forget that TikTok’s engagement levels have skyrocketed.

3. User-Generated Content

The future of digital marketing belongs to UGC content, meaning content your audience creates and posts online. People are tired of looking at fake before/after images and videos overpromising results. The recent development in marketing is that consumers want to see genuine content coming from the users themselves, not the marketer. That’s why influencer marketing has become so successful in the past few years. However, UGC content isn’t equal to influencer marketing, as you are not paying people to use your product and upload photos, videos, or posts expressing their opinions. You simply encourage them to share their thoughts and tag you. This way, you can repost their content and create a database of honest reviews.

It may not be a marketing industry trend, but many companies create their own hashtags on X or Instagram. They encourage users to share their photos or videos using that specific hashtag. There are many marketing campaign examples that became viral thanks to this simple yet effective trick.

4. Augmented Reality And Virtual Reality

The Extended Reality (XR) market is expanding at unprecedented rates, and it is expected to reach $520 billion in the next ten years. Industries like gaming, healthcare, retail, and education are leveraging this technology trend to make their processes more efficient and safe. It’s not only about wearing VR and AR glasses but also about utilizing GenAI tools to analyze complex data and make the right decisions. In L&D and content creation, XR can process natural language and create personalized learning pathways for each employee based on their skillsets. The adoption of digital avatars also bridges the gap between customer service and consumers, allowing bots to talk to people in real time without extreme delays.

Another way you can use XR in your B2B customer acquisition strategy is through live demonstrations. Thanks to high-speed connections, customer service agents can perform live demonstrations quickly and efficiently. For example, if you have created a SaaS company regarding camera lenses, your AI agent may easily showcase the quality while talking to potential customers.

5. Personalization

You can’t start making a strategic marketing plan without keeping personalization in mind. Why? Because the majority of B2B clients are more likely to purchase something when it is catered to their unique needs. This one may not be a brand-new digital marketing trend you’ve never heard of before, but it is surely something you should be acting on as soon as possible. For example, have you segmented your audience and created buyer personas? Doing so helps you create accurate and highly targeted email drip campaigns that speak to your audience’s hearts and increase your revenue. People are now more conscious than ever about personal data. However, they are willing to divulge personal information if that means that they will receive personalized offers.

A bright example of personalization is Netflix. The streaming platform makes suggestions based on people’s watch and browsing history, and 80% of the time is successful. AI tools are once again entering the conversation as they make such an advancement possible. Marketing stats show that 70% of businesses that used AI personalization saw a 200% ROI thanks to it.

6. Social Media Targeting

It’s not breaking news that social media is the number one choice for many B2B content marketing agencies. However, only half of marketers create a social media strategy to accompany their marketing efforts. So, yes, this is a marketing industry trend you should follow this year. Gen Z and millennials may be the two most active generations right now on social media platforms, but Gen X and boomers are getting involved in them more and more. Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook allow you to create stores within their platforms so customers can make a purchase without leaving the domain. While this option may not be feasible for B2B and SaaS businesses, social media marketing is still the perfect tactic to increase brand awareness.

In fact, many people don’t only follow friends, family, and famous figures on Instagram. They also follow brands whose products they like. Instagram shared that at least 200 million users visit one business profile daily. This means that utilizing Instagram for advertising will undoubtedly be an industry trend in 2025. Companies are always on the lookout for ways to differentiate themselves and propel their products online. And there is nothing more effective than engaging content that appeals to people’s needs and approaches them at their preferred location.

7. Building Communities

We told you earlier that we don’t recommend creating content through AI tools. While AI is the top marketing industry trend, it lacks authenticity. You can’t have a genuine brand voice when you’re letting an algorithm create your content and ad copy from start to finish. Maintaining an authentic profile helps your audience connect with you on a deeper level and trust you quickly. That’s why authenticity is one of the top values for US consumers. Being able to build emotional connections is pivotal to generating new leads and turning them into advocates. While AI can write a factual piece of content, it doesn’t have the emotional intelligence to build connections. You have to do that using your human expertise.

So, invest time and effort in joining popular communities, like Reddit and Quora, to showcase your expertise without being overly promotional. Also, you can create your very own community on LinkedIn or even create a section on your website. This way, your software sales marketing plan isn’t all about pushing ads into people’s faces but also about answering common questions and easing pain points.

8. Influencer Marketing

When we’re looking for advertising trends in 2025, we can’t overlook influencer marketing, as it is once again at the top of marketers’ priorities. This effective B2B marketing tactic has a high ROI, convincing most marketing experts to invest a portion of their budget in collaborating with knowledgeable industry figures. In one survey, it was found that influencer marketing has an average of $5.20 profit for every dollar spent. That’s why businesses are not afraid to partner up with mega influencers and pay them big money to promote their products and services. Let’s take as an example Dunkin’, which collaborated with Charlie D’Amelio. They saw a 20% increase in cold brew sales and a 57% increase in app downloads.

However, you don’t have to spend a fortune and partner up with mega influencers. Micro-influencers are also an option, as they have a loyal following and possibly higher engagement rates than famous figures. Choosing your influencers is a delicate task, though. Just because someone is famous and popular doesn’t mean that they will help you increase your revenue. You must identify online figures with decent followings that align with your audience. For example, if you have a SaaS startup about controllers, find well-known gamers who attract thousands of viewers on their streams.

9. Visual Search

One of the most in-demand digital marketing skills is being able to identify marketing industry trends that will dominate the market. Visual search is one of the digital marketing trends for 2025 that was born thanks to AI. Very few brands have incorporated search by image into their websites and apps, something that will change from this point onwards. Why? Simply because consumers ask for it, saying that text-based searches are not enough for them to locate what they’re looking for. Google Lens and Pinterest Lens are two of the most popular visual search tools at the moment, with the latter recognizing more than 2.5 million objects. This way, people can purchase what they need in a few moments without scrolling manually for hours. Amazon, Snapchat, and Asos have also created their own visual search tools.

But SaaS B2B content marketing and purchasing is different. How can someone search for software using images? This feature may not be as popular in this landscape just yet, but we can’t wait to see what the future holds.

10. YouTube Ads

Television ads haven’t been a marketing trend in a long time, and eLearning marketers are spending their budgets on other forms of promotion. While banner advertising is still prevalent, YouTube ads are slowly but steadily becoming very popular among advertisers, with more than 50% of them using the platform while the rest want to implement it into their marketing strategies. One reason why YouTube ads are so popular is because they are cheap. They only cost $0.03–0.30 per impression. Grammarly is a good example. The company invested in a full-funnel ad strategy wishing to build brand awareness in the long run. The results were triumphant, as they saw 9% higher ROI than they did with simple brand awareness campaigns. Also, they increased conversions by 13%.

11. Increasing Diversity

In the HR and L&D world, diversity and inclusion training is becoming more and more vital so all learners feel respected and accepted. Diversity is a new marketing trend that consumers are asking for. In fact, many LGBTQ+, African-American, and millennial consumers have said that the level of diversity brands bring to their ads makes it more likely for them to purchase a product. Gen Z customers say that they trust brands that take a stance and choose diversity and inclusion as their ally.

The current digital marketing trend instructs companies to create ads and social media content that is inclusive and embraces people from various backgrounds. For example, gender-neutral language is very important in a world with non-binary and trans people. Not only that, but neutral language helps you appeal to everyone in our society, regardless of race, gender, religion, or sexual preference. However, staying completely neutral isn’t always ideal. Don’t be afraid to take a stance regarding things that matter to you and your employees. At worst, you may lose a portion of your audience, but you will gain a new customer base that admires your courage.

12. Chatbots

You’ve probably visited a website to be greeted by a happy chatbot ready to provide assistance. This marketing industry trend is expanding as more and more brands incorporate them into their websites. There are many positive B2B customer service examples where chatbots successfully helped customers find an answer to their queries. A chatbot may not be able to close a deal or answer complicated questions, but it is able to direct your audience in the right direction and answer FAQs. They may also provide clients with a description of your products and services and push them down the sales funnel quickly. Also, companies may use bots to upsell and cross-sell based on individual customer behavior.

Many businesses use chatbots on Facebook and WhatsApp to communicate with customers and drive engagement regarding upcoming events or giveaways. For instance, a luxury commerce store launched a chatbot marketing and sales campaign through WhatsApp, achieving a massive increase in click-through rate and sales.

 13. Quality Content

Content will never stop dominating the digital advertising trends list. Successful content calendar examples prove that well-crafted and timely articles and webinars published consistently are a winning strategy. Podcasts are becoming more and more popular in the B2B and SaaS worlds, too; you have the opportunity to showcase your expertise and build trust with your audience. Live webinars allow you to engage in discussions with your client base, offer them personalized advice, and prove why you are the best option in your field. Pre-recorded webinars are also great and can reach audiences all over the globe, no matter the date. In fact, marketers around the globe plan on increasing their investment in creating quality content. Are you going to leverage this new digital marketing trend?

14. Case Studies

Case studies are typically used in content marketing for B2B to generate interest and prove expertise in the field. When customers reach the consideration stage in the sales funnel, they search for proof. Do you do what you promise, and why should they choose your brand? Case study articles and eBooks are the perfect way to inform clients about past success stories and how you approach challenges. While it is not a brand-new marketing industry trend, case studies are becoming even more popular as the years go by.

But how do you even create a compelling document? Start by mentioning the unique problem a company had when they came to you for help. Explain how you approached the situation and your course of action. Mention any hurdles you may have come across and how you overcame them. Don’t forget to add your collaborators’ viewpoints and their honest reviews. Keep in mind that clients want to hear genuine voices and not exaggerated stories.

Key Takeaway

Are you reading digital marketing reports at the end of every year to see which industry trends will take off? If not, here is an improvement you can make. Lead generation techniques don’t stay the same. New ones arrive every year, and some of the old ones may have to be discarded. Technological advancements, like AI and XR, are dominating our lives and the way we market our products and services. Short-form videos and social media are becoming an integral part of digital marketing. Such changes allow us to come up with exciting content marketing ideas that break the mold. Additionally, personalization and communities make consumers feel important and respected. They feel like you are paying attention to their unique needs.

But to promote great content online, you must master search engine marketing intelligence to win over search engines. Once you have them in your pockets, you can add a strong dash of diversity and inclusion to appeal to people all over the planet.