Marketing Power Plays: 2025 Trends to Elevate Your Brand

The future of digital marketing is coming in hot, queens.  Our society, our audiences, and our industry are evolving, so it’s important for marketing pros to stay ready; the way things are moving you won't have time to get ready. If you’re not prepared to catch the wave as digital marketing trends pop up, you’re going to get left behind in a world where tech is outpacing… well everything really. 

As we gear up for 2025, it’s time to keep a sharp focus on the trends that sprinted ahead in 2024. This year we got new tech, new consumer attitudes, and a whole lot of new expectations in the digital marketing landscape. 

To set all our industry besties on the path to success next year, we’ve rounded up our top trends that will keep your brand on the brain in 2025. It’s time to boss up babe. Here’s what you need to know heading out of “twenty-twenty-fo’ ”. 

Social Media as Your New Search Engine

Say goodbye to Google. When it comes to search, social media platforms are staging a hostile takeover. Users are bailing on sites like Google and Yahoo in favor of doing more focused searches on other platforms. We’re all heading straight to search bars on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to discover new places, people, and products. HubSpot reports that 87% of social media marketers predict this trend will only grow in 2025.

So what does that mean for you boo? It’s time to optimize those social profiles like the life of your next campaign depends on it (frankly, it does). A pretty feed is fine but make sure your content is shoppable. Social media platforms are leaning hard into eCommerce, and it’s easier than ever for people to shop without leaving their feeds. With GenZ already adopting TikTok over Google, this is one trend you need to hop on like, yesterday.

Video Still Reigns Supreme

Let's talk videos, vixen. Almost 90% of marketers said video helped them directly increase sales and leads, and those numbers are only rising. User-generated content (UGC) has elevated over the years. Today, guerilla-style content has become a foundational building block for most major marketing campaigns. In a word, the influence of influencers is dominating ad space. 

The rise in popularity of UGC highlights a very important lesson: People trust content from people, not brands. Incorporating UGC into your marketing plan for 2025 is going to give you the kind of social proof and credibility that can’t be measured in dollars and cents.

According to Billio UGC video ads have a 400% higher click-through rate than traditional ones. Yes, 400%. (Read it again, because WHAT.) You better come and get you some. From TikToks, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts, video is still the best way to engage with your audience, and consumers are craving more. This year, try to get away from the basics of behind-the-scenes and brainstorm how to bring unique video content into your campaigns. Create content that gives your brand a voice and keeps your people coming back for more.

AI Is About to Run the Show: Here’s What to Expect by 2025

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is about to flip the script on how brands engage their audiences. By 2025, the one-size-fits-all marketing strategies are going to be old news, and instead, AI will be moving towards tailor-made marketing experiences. With AI tracking tools, marketers can study purchasing patterns and see what consumers are most likely to buy before they buy it. AI tools are helping marketers predict buyer behavior so well, that your campaigns will make users feel like you’ve got a crystal ball behind the keyboard.

Next year, position AI to be your e-partner in crime. Leverage back-end tools as a secret weapon to help you make major moves in your niche. Creatively, use AI design tools to brainstorm content pillars or draft engaging content or copy. Get image inspo in a few keystrokes, or create brand kits in record time. For small business boss ladies, AI-fueled chatbots can help you give consumers a 1-on-1 personalized touch in your brand voice to help with simple service needs, with a fraction of the overhead costs.

AR Marketing for Small Businesses

Okay, sis, stick with us here but a little birdie told us it's time to start poking around in the Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) space. As tech companies race to create AR tools that are efficient (and not fugly) it’s looking more and more like smart sistas will use this opportunity to be early adopters of this immersive tech. 

VR and AR may seem inaccessible but were you aware that you might be using AR every day? IG and Snapchat have done the best job of getting us to adopt this new tech without even thinking about it: filters. Ever been to a major conference and used their custom filter to post your adventures for the day? Remember the Pokemon Go invasion a few years back? That’s AR.

Forget the pricey headsets for a second. Picture this: you're a beauty services babe launching a new line of press-ons. You hit Fivver or your teenage techie cousin and together, you create AR filters where your customers can “try on” your latest looks and all you invested was a few dollars and a dedicated afternoon of your time. The potential for engagement is next-level. Retail-first businesses especially should be looking into ways they can give users a cool virtual shopping experience without footing the bill for a physical store.

It’s time to future-proof your campaigns queen! Get your marketing weight up. Digital marketing in 2025 is all about showing up for your audience in ways that fold in their favorite tech. Whether you’re a small biz or a big brand, these trends will help you create campaigns that resonate. 

As your business bestie, we’re here to remind you to stay curious and stay creative. We’re in the midst of an era of experimentation so you have permission to move forward messily. Perfection is passe. It’s a new world out there. 

AI, video, and social media are all going to keep evolving, and if you want to stay in the game, you’ve got to stay nimble. Trends come and go, but your ability to adapt will keep you winning in 2025 and beyond. 

Queens don’t let queens fall behind.

As always, we’re in your corner.

-The Team at TCQ