As technology advances and consumer habits shift, brands increasingly turn to digital channels to build long-lasting customer connections. As a result, digital marketing is set to reach an astounding £786 billion worth by 2026.
While we can’t precisely predict the future, we can equip ourselves to ensure we’re not left behind. Stick around as we discuss the latest digital marketing trends, from social media to professional translation services, to help you lead the charge in 2025.
Digital Marketing Trends to Look Out for in 2025
Digital marketing trends come and go. However, specific trends stand out for their effectiveness. They drive real, positive change, and marketers can infuse each with a hint of innovation to achieve the best possible outcome.
Below, we explore these solid trends, which aren’t mere flashes in the pan but are shaping the marketing future.
Social Media Marketing
Did you know that social media marketing skills are in high demand, set to be worth £1.5 trillion by 2030? The reason behind this isn’t very complex. First, social media platforms boast billions of active users, which keeps climbing.
For users, it’s a way to stay connected with friends and family. A few also use it to “fill spare time,” as per Statistica. For brands, engaging with their audience and driving growth is a golden opportunity. Currently, platforms like Instagram and TikTok are making waves. Instagram’s visual appeal makes it perfect for brands to showcase their products.
Meanwhile, TikTok’s magic lies in its short, addictive videos. The average TikTok user spends 52 minutes every day scrolling through these videos. We’ve too often seen everyday content turning into viral sensations, from Burger King’s #whopperdance campaign to Bomb Pop’s #notonething.
These platforms are open for businesses to join, set new trends, and make them go viral. Plus, they’re growing daily, implying an even better potential for you to reach a larger audience and capitalise on emerging trends.
Professional Translation Services
Being a global business means you’re likely communicating with people from various linguistic and cultural backgrounds. As such, you must ensure your message resonates across different cultures without losing its meaning or positive impact.
Consider the infamous case of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Their beloved slogan, “Finger-lickin’ Good,” didn’t translate well into Chinese, where it humorously became “Eat Your Fingers.” Similarly, Pepsi’s slogan, “Pepsi Brings You Back to Life,” took a morbid turn when translated literally into Chinese, resulting in “Pepsi Brings Dead Ancestors Back from the Grave.”
As you can see, professional translation services are essential in today’s global business landscape. To gain an expert’s insights into how translations can drive a company’s success in international markets and to fully understand their impact, we spoke with a senior professional translator from Translation Services 24, the UK’s leading specialist translation agency in London.
We asked TS24 to share their insights, explain key challenges their business clients face when expanding globally, and explain how professional translation services can help bridge cultural and linguistic gaps to ensure a concise and clear message that is also culturally appropriate within the new, chosen market.
The translation expert from TS24 told us that “professional translations go far beyond simply converting words into another language. An accurate translation, especially one aimed at potential consumers abroad, must consider other aspects, such as cultural nuances, industry-specific terminology, local dialects, etc. The translated marketing message must create a trustworthy brand image and fully resonate with the global audiences.” They added, “This level of expertise is essential for professional translations of all business materials. One of the key challenges businesses face today is finding a translation provider with an in-depth understanding of their specific sector and the target audience.”
Video Marketing
Digital video advertising is predicted to hit £10.83 billion by 2029. However, the thing is, consumers today have an incredibly short attention span. If your video isn’t engaging right from the start, you might lose viewers in seconds. Studies show that over 25% of viewers will click away after only 10 seconds.
This means short-form videos are the way to go. Instagram videos should ideally be around 30 seconds, and X clips should last 45 seconds. If you intend to post on Facebook, ensure the content maxes out at 1 minute.
With the trend toward ultra-short and high-impact ads, even platforms like YouTube see brands experimenting with snappy content to avoid the unwanted “skip” button. Marketers are all in on video, with most (68%) planning to keep or boost their video budgets in the coming year.
Marketing In Mobile Gaming
Nearly 70% of gamers say they’d ditch TV or social media before giving up their mobile games. And when it comes to in-game ads, players are far more attentive than to traditional online ads.
This hints at one thing: mobile gaming is a significant player in the ad world. You can try different tactics to feature ads in games. It could be an interstitial ad that takes over the screen at natural pauses in the game or reward ads that give players in-game perks for watching.
The latter type of ads, in particular, are a hit. With a 95% completion rate, they make up for better engagement. No wonder major brands like Ford and Unilever are catching on, allocating significant investments in this growing space.
The Rise of AI
AI has taken the global world by storm. According to the Interactive Advertising Bureau, 80% of digital marketers will integrate AI into their strategies soon. The excitement around AI is worth the hype since it’s changing how marketers handle data.
Traditionally, they’d spend several hours a week handling data processes yet yielding little improvement. However, AI changes this by automating several tasks, from content creation to optimising impressions.
What used to take weeks now happens in seconds, thanks to AI’s ability to spot patterns. Take RedBalloon’s experience, for instance. Previously, the company spent £45,000 a month on PPC advertising. Now, with AI, it tests 6,500 variations of Google text ads daily. The result? Its return on ad spend skyrocketed to an incredible 1,100%.
Data Privacy
Online users today are more cautious than ever about sharing their personal details. They expect transparency and greater control over their data. This shift in consumer mindset is prompting a major change in digital marketing.
Apple, for instance, introduced the “Ask App Not To Track” feature in iOS 14.5 to offer a more personalised experience to its users. This change clearly highlights that valuing consumer privacy gives brands an edge.
Sure, adjusting to these changes can be challenging, but by the end of the day, you’ll be prioritising your audience’s preferences.
It’s high time marketers embrace consent-based strategies and don’t see it as mere compliance but as an opportunity to create transparent relationships with their users.
Final Thoughts
As we look forward, it’s clear that digital marketing will be anything but static. Trends are evolving quickly, driven by shifting consumer behaviours and new technologies.
Marketers can experiment with different techniques to connect with their audience in the best way possible. And when we talk about connection, respecting cultural differences comes first. Investing in professional marketing translations can get your message across accurately, no matter where it’s heard.
The times ahead might be uncertain, but we can always stay prepared to meet them head-on.
