2025 Trend Forecast: As predicted by our Brand Team
As Timothée Chalamet says, “The Times They Are A-Changin.'
AI assistants and e-commerce have been rising and rising, so what can we expect from 2025? Our Brand Team has gathered the top 6 trends they see popping off this year. Dive into the upcoming digital marketing trends below and discover how to integrate them to help grow your brand.
Livestream Shopping
Melissa, Senior Account Executive
This isn’t grandma’s QVC. Picture this: You’re watching a live video on your phone where a charismatic host enthusiastically shows off products—like gadgets, clothes, or cookware—answering questions and interacting with viewers in real-time. This emerging trend began in Asia and has generated billions for e-commerce brands. Livestream shopping can be a significant growth strategy for e-commerce brands because it fosters direct engagement with audiences, builds trust through authentic, unscripted interactions, and significantly boosts sales by creating a sense of urgency and exclusivity during these live events.
The Rise of Social Clubs
Gabby, Account Executive
Social clubs and IRL hangouts are rising and set to continue in 2025. As people crave more authentic, in-person connections after years of digital saturation, these real-world events offer a refreshing way to engage. Brands are jumping in by partnering with content creators to host/sponsor in-person events like run clubs, board game nights, and creative workshops. To connect with your community on a deeper level and create excitement, consider that excitement on social to create FOMO and recruit for the next one.
Niche Networks in the Digital Space
Ayoko Djisseglo, Account Manager
Gabby noted the rise of shared community spaces IRL, and they’re also building online. We can think smaller to see the more significant evolving trend: micro-communities. Think online book clubs for specific reads, accounts, and threads dedicated to a favorite item in a brand’s product line-up and how-to accounts for individuals trying to learn a particular skill. These focused communities foster genuine connection, deeper discussions, and a sense of belonging, and brands showing up in these niche spaces (which live across platforms including Reddit, Discord, Facebook, etc) can show support or even create their own for consumers to interact.
The Rise of Employee-Generated Content
Iman, Account Manager
The content is coming from inside the house! With a rise in consumers wanting to feel good about the brands they're supporting, the role of employee-generated/featured content takes on new power in 2025. Leaning into your employees' personalities and skills while avoiding heavily scripted videos will make this content more compelling. Tap into your employees' power to help you reach your goals and craft a more authentic brand presence online in 2025.
Brand Experiences in the Comfort of Home
Tara, Account Associate
It's been five years since the lockdown in 2020, and elaborate brand experiences at home are back on the rise. At-home-based brand experiences can replicate the "warmth" of hospitality from the service industry, offering comfort and connection in familiar settings. Brands can harness this for at-home experiences by tailoring meal kits, virtual cooking classes, or curated dining sets based on consumer preferences. By creating personalized, tangible experiences, brands can foster deeper engagement and lasting loyalty…and perhaps some fire UGC.
The Return of the Blog…? Enter: Substack
Olivia, Account Director
2024 saw a meteoric rise of long-form written content on platforms like Substack-- and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon, with 35 million users and counting. The antithesis of the short-form-focused Threads platform, the likes of public figures, journalists, influencers -- and people who just want to exercise their writing or reading muscles-- are flocking to the platform to put pen to digital paper while fostering engaged communities who voraciously devour their latest posts. Substack isn’t the only place long-form content is making a comeback: Instagram is recommending longer reels (up to 3 minutes now!) for higher engagement-- and is something they’re pushing on the platform’s explore page.
Looking to dive in? Here are my favorite Substacks for a brain break:
