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5 Content Marketing Trends That Actually Matter in 2025

Posted at Jul 27, 2025 12:43:09 PM by Harry Tessenholtz | Share

The world of digital marketing keeps changing, and content marketing trends are moving faster than ever. Every day, 7.5 million blog posts go live on the internet. That's a lot of competition for your audience's attention. But don't worry - we've got your back. These five content marketing trends are the ones that really matter right now. They're the difference between brands that grow and brands that get forgotten in 2025.

AI and Humans Working Together: The Perfect Team

Artificial intelligence isn't just a cool tech toy anymore. It's become a real part of how content teams work. 90% of content marketers plan to use AI to help with their content in 2025. That's a huge jump from just a few years ago. But here's the thing - the magic happens when AI and humans work together, not when AI tries to do everything alone.

Here's why this matters: content created by AI and humans working together ranks 24% higher in search results than content made by humans alone. But pure AI content? It gets 41% fewer shares on social media compared to human-written content. This tells us something important - people still want that human touch.

Smart content creators use AI to do the heavy lifting. They let AI handle research, create outlines, and write first drafts. Then humans jump in to add personality, check facts, and make sure everything sounds right for their brand. 71.7% of content marketers use AI for outlining, 68% use it for brainstorming ideas, and 57.4% use it for writing drafts. But the best teams know AI is like a really good assistant - helpful, but not the boss.

How to Make AI and Humans Work Better Together

Start by letting AI handle the boring stuff. Use it to research competitors, find keywords, and create content outlines. This frees up your team to do what humans do best - add unique insights, share personal experiences, and make sure your brand voice shines through.

Think of it like cooking. AI can gather all the ingredients and even suggest a recipe. But you're the chef who adds the special seasoning, adjusts the flavors, and makes sure the final dish tastes amazing.

Short Videos Are Taking Over Everything

Video content has become the king of engagement, and short videos are leading the charge. Short-form videos have the highest ROI of all social media content. TikTok ads are 21% more likely to start trends compared to ads on other platforms. This shows just how much influence these quick videos have on what people watch and buy.

But here's something that might surprise you: 84% of people say they've been convinced to buy a product or service by watching a brand's video. That's massive! Plus, search engines like Google absolutely love videos. If your website has good videos, it's much more likely to show up higher in search results.

Why Short Videos Work So Well Right Now

What makes short videos so powerful? They give people exactly what they want in today's busy world - maximum value in minimum time. Think about how you use your phone. You're probably scrolling through content while waiting in line, during commercial breaks, or between meetings. People, especially younger ones, love content they can watch quickly between other activities.

This shift has completely changed how brands tell stories. The old days of long, drawn-out marketing videos are mostly over. Now you have to be creative and get to the point fast. But don't worry - this actually makes your content better because it forces you to focus on what really matters.

Here's what's driving this trend:

  • Attention spans are getting shorter: The average person's attention span has dropped to about 8 seconds
  • Mobile-first consumption: Most people watch videos on their phones, making short content perfect for small screens
  • Algorithm preferences: Social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts actively promote short-form content
  • Snackable content culture: People prefer bite-sized information they can consume quickly and easily

The Numbers Don't Lie About Video Performance

Let's talk about why this matters for your business. The statistics around short-form video are pretty incredible:

  • 93% of businesses gain new customers through social media videos
  • Video posts get 48% more views than other types of content
  • 55% of people watch videos online every day
  • Short-form videos are shared 1200% more than text and images combined
  • 72% of customers prefer learning about products through video rather than text

What's really interesting is that video isn't just popular - it's becoming essential. Platforms are changing their algorithms to favor video content, which means if you're not creating videos, you're fighting an uphill battle for visibility.

How Smart Brands Are Using Short Videos

The smartest blog content strategy now includes video as a core component, not just an add-on. Here's how successful brands are doing it:

Content Repurposing Strategy: Brands take their blog posts and turn them into multiple short videos for different platforms. This way, one piece of content works harder and reaches more people. For example, a 2,000-word blog post about "How to Start a Garden" might become:

  • A 60-second TikTok showing the basic steps
  • Three Instagram Reels focusing on different aspects (soil prep, planting, watering)
  • A YouTube Short highlighting common mistakes
  • LinkedIn video clips with professional gardening tips

Platform-Specific Adaptations: Smart brands don't just post the same video everywhere. They adapt their content for each platform:

  • TikTok: Fun, trendy, often music-driven content that feels native to the platform
  • Instagram Reels: Polished but authentic, often behind-the-scenes or how-to content
  • YouTube Shorts: Educational or entertaining content that provides clear value
  • LinkedIn: Professional insights, industry tips, or thought leadership content

Common Questions About Short-Form Video

Q: How short is "short-form" exactly? A: It varies by platform, but generally:

  • TikTok: 15 seconds to 3 minutes (though 15-30 seconds perform best)
  • Instagram Reels: 15-90 seconds
  • YouTube Shorts: Under 60 seconds
  • Twitter videos: 15-45 seconds for best engagement

Q: Do I need expensive equipment to make good short videos? A: Not at all! Your smartphone is probably enough to get started. Good lighting (even just natural light from a window) and clear audio matter more than expensive cameras. Many successful brands create their short-form videos entirely on mobile devices.

Q: What if I'm not comfortable being on camera? A: You don't have to be the star of your videos. You can create successful short-form content using:

  • Screen recordings of your computer or phone
  • Product demonstrations without showing your face
  • Text overlays on relevant footage
  • Animation or graphic-based videos
  • Customer testimonials or user-generated content

Q: How often should I post short-form videos? A: Consistency matters more than frequency. It's better to post one quality video per week consistently than to post daily for two weeks and then disappear. Most successful brands post 3-5 short-form videos per week across all platforms.

Making Short Videos That Actually Work

The first three seconds of your video are absolutely everything. That's when people decide to keep watching or scroll away. Research shows that 65% of viewers will watch at least 75% of a video if they make it past the 3-second mark.

Here's how to nail those crucial opening seconds:

Hook Strategies That Work:

  • Start with a question that your target audience is asking
  • Begin with a surprising statistic or fact
  • Show the end result first, then explain how to get there
  • Use pattern interrupts (unexpected visuals or sounds)
  • Address a common pain point immediately

Visual and Audio Elements:

  • Use bright, high-contrast visuals that stand out in a feed
  • Include captions since 85% of videos are watched without sound
  • Keep text large and easy to read on mobile devices
  • Use trending music or sounds when appropriate for the platform
  • Maintain consistent branding with colors, fonts, or logos

Building a Sustainable Short-Form Video Strategy

Try creating video series that go with your written content. Break down big topics into small, easy-to-digest pieces. This approach has multiple benefits:

For Your Audience:

  • Easier to understand complex topics
  • Can watch at their own pace
  • More likely to remember information presented in segments
  • Creates anticipation for the next video in the series

For Your Business:

  • Gets more engagement across multiple posts
  • Helps your content show up when people search for videos
  • Builds a library of content around important topics
  • Establishes you as an expert in your field

Content Ideas That Work for Any Business

Wondering what to actually create? Here are proven short-form video formats that work across industries:

Educational Content:

  • Quick tips related to your industry
  • Common mistake explanations
  • Step-by-step tutorials
  • "Did you know?" fact-based videos

Behind-the-Scenes Content:

  • Day-in-the-life videos
  • How products are made
  • Team introductions
  • Office or workspace tours

Customer-Focused Content:

  • Testimonial highlights
  • Before-and-after transformations
  • Customer success stories
  • User-generated content features

Trending and Timely Content:

  • Industry news reactions
  • Seasonal tips and advice
  • Holiday-themed content
  • Trending audio or hashtag participation

Measuring Success and Improving Performance

Don't just post and hope for the best. Track these key metrics to understand what's working:

Engagement Metrics:

  • View completion rates (what percentage watch to the end?)
  • Likes, comments, and shares
  • Save rates (people bookmarking your content)
  • Click-through rates to your website

Growth Metrics:

  • Follower growth after posting videos
  • Reach and impressions
  • Profile visits from video viewers
  • Website traffic from video content

Business Impact Metrics:

  • Lead generation from video content
  • Sales attributed to video campaigns
  • Email sign-ups from video calls-to-action
  • Brand awareness surveys or polls

The key is to test different approaches and double down on what works for your specific audience. What works for one business might not work for another, so pay attention to your own data rather than just following general best practices.

Remember, short-form video isn't just a trend that will fade away. It's become a fundamental part of how people consume content online. The brands that master this format now will have a huge advantage as the trend continues to grow.

Real Experience Beats Generic Advice Every Time

With so much AI-generated content flooding the internet, people are hungry for real, authentic stories. Experience-based content that shows what you actually did and what happened is the best way to build trust with your audience. This is a big shift from generic, researched content to real experiences and proven results.

Businesses that share their actual processes, real results, and behind-the-scenes insights build stronger connections with their audiences. This works because it gives people something AI can't copy - genuine human experience and honest perspective.

The best experience-based content includes specific numbers, real screenshots, actual outcomes, and honest talk about what worked and what didn't. This honesty builds trust and helps establish you as a leader in ways that generic content just can't.

Creating Content Based on Real Experience

Document what you're doing as you do it. Take screenshots of real results. Share both your wins and your failures. People appreciate honesty and learn more from real experiences than from theoretical advice.

Think about creating case studies that follow your actual projects from start to finish. Include the problems you ran into and how you solved them. This type of content becomes incredibly valuable for people facing similar challenges.

Personalization That Actually Feels Personal

Personalization has gone way beyond just putting someone's name in an email. Personalized content is expected to boost online sales by 40% by 2028. This makes it a must-have part of any successful content strategy. But here's what's really exciting: 91% of consumers are more likely to shop with brands that provide relevant offers and recommendations.

Modern personalization uses smart data analysis to create content that feels like it was made just for each person. Think about how Netflix recommends shows you actually want to watch, or how Amazon suggests products you're genuinely interested in. That's the level of personalization people now expect from all brands, not just the tech giants.

Why Personalization Has Become Essential

The days of one-size-fits-all marketing are over. Today's consumers are bombarded with thousands of marketing messages every day. The only way to break through that noise is to make your content feel personally relevant to each person who sees it.

Here's what's driving this shift:

  • Information overload: People see 5,000+ ads per day and have learned to ignore generic content
  • Higher expectations: After experiencing personalization from major platforms, consumers expect it everywhere
  • Better technology: AI and data analytics now make sophisticated personalization accessible to businesses of all sizes
  • Proven results: Personalized campaigns consistently outperform generic ones by significant margins

The numbers tell a compelling story about why personalization matters:

  • 80% of consumers are more likely to purchase from companies that offer personalized experiences
  • Personalized emails deliver 6x higher transaction rates than non-personalized ones
  • 74% of customers feel frustrated when website content isn't personalized
  • Businesses see an average increase of 19% in sales when they personalize their marketing

What Real Personalization Looks Like Today

The best brands use information about their customers, how they behave online, and AI-powered insights to create content that feels custom-made while still being produced efficiently. This requires a blog content strategy that thinks about different types of customers, where they are in their buying journey, and what kind of content they prefer.

Beyond Basic Demographics: Advanced personalization goes way beyond knowing someone's age or location. It looks at:

  • Behavioral triggers: What actions does someone take before they buy?
  • Content engagement patterns: Do they prefer videos, articles, or infographics?
  • Communication preferences: Do they want daily updates or weekly summaries?
  • Purchase history: What have they bought before, and when?
  • Browsing behavior: What pages do they spend time on?
  • Device usage: Are they primarily mobile or desktop users?

Dynamic Content Examples: Here's how sophisticated personalization works in practice:

  • Website content that changes based on how someone found your site
  • Email campaigns that send different content based on past purchases
  • Social media ads that show different products based on browsing history
  • Blog recommendations that suggest articles based on reading patterns
  • Product suggestions that consider seasonality, location, and preferences

The Different Levels of Personalization

Not all personalization is created equal. Here's how to think about the different levels and what each one can do for your business:

Level 1: Basic Segmentation

  • Group customers by simple categories (age, location, purchase history)
  • Send slightly different messages to each group
  • Easy to implement but limited impact
  • Example: Sending winter coat ads to people in cold climates

Level 2: Behavioral Personalization

  • Track what people do on your website and apps
  • Customize content based on their actions
  • More effective but requires better tracking systems
  • Example: Showing different homepage content to first-time vs. returning visitors

Level 3: Predictive Personalization

  • Use AI to predict what someone might want next
  • Proactively suggest content or products
  • Highly effective but requires sophisticated technology
  • Example: Netflix suggesting shows based on viewing patterns

Level 4: Real-Time Personalization

  • Adjust content instantly based on current behavior
  • Respond to what someone is doing right now
  • Maximum impact but most complex to implement
  • Example: Changing website content while someone is browsing

Common Questions About Personalization

Q: Isn't personalization creepy? Won't customers feel like I'm spying on them? A: It's all about being transparent and providing value. People are happy to share information if they get something useful in return. Always:

  • Be clear about what data you're collecting and why
  • Give people control over their preferences
  • Use personalization to help them, not just to sell more
  • Focus on being helpful rather than intrusive

Q: Do I need expensive technology to personalize content? A: You can start simple and build up. Basic personalization can be done with:

  • Email marketing tools that segment by behavior
  • Google Analytics to understand visitor patterns
  • Social media insights to see what content resonates
  • Customer surveys to understand preferences
  • CRM systems to track customer interactions

Q: How much personal information do I actually need? A: Less than you might think. You can create effective personalization with:

  • Website behavior (what pages they visit, how long they stay)
  • Email engagement (what they open, click, or ignore)
  • Purchase history (what they've bought, when they bought it)
  • Content preferences (videos vs. articles, topics of interest)
  • Communication frequency preferences

Q: What if I get the personalization wrong? A: Start small and test everything. Wrong personalization is usually better than no personalization, but here's how to minimize mistakes:

  • Test with small groups before rolling out widely
  • Ask for feedback and adjust based on responses
  • Monitor metrics to see what's working
  • Have fallback content ready for when systems don't work perfectly

Building Personalization That Actually Works

Start by mapping out your customer's journey and figuring out the key moments where personalized content can make the biggest difference. Think about it like this: when is someone most likely to need specific information or make a decision? Those are your personalization opportunities.

Step 1: Identify Your Personalization Opportunities

Look for moments in your customer journey where the right content could make a big difference:

  • First website visit: What brought them here? Show relevant content based on their source
  • Product browsing: What are they looking at? Suggest related items or helpful information
  • Cart abandonment: Why didn't they buy? Address common concerns or offer assistance
  • Post-purchase: What did they buy? Provide relevant tips, accessories, or support
  • Return visits: What did they do last time? Pick up where they left off

Step 2: Gather the Right Data

You don't need to know everything about your customers, just the information that helps you serve them better:

Essential Data Points:

  • How they found your website (search, social media, email, etc.)
  • What pages they visit and how long they stay
  • What content they engage with (downloads, shares, comments)
  • Their purchase history and patterns
  • How they prefer to communicate (email frequency, channels)

Nice-to-Have Data Points:

  • Demographics (if relevant to your product)
  • Geographic location (for local businesses or shipping)
  • Device preferences (mobile vs. desktop)
  • Time of day they're most active
  • Seasonal buying patterns

Step 3: Create Content Variations

Set up systems that can show different versions of your content based on how users behave, what they prefer, and how they've engaged with you before. Start with simple variations and build complexity over time:

Website Personalization:

  • Different homepage content for new vs. returning visitors
  • Product recommendations based on browsing history
  • Content suggestions based on past reading behavior
  • Location-specific information (store hours, local events)

Email Personalization:

  • Subject lines that reference past purchases or interests
  • Content that matches their engagement level (new subscriber vs. long-time customer)
  • Send times optimized for when they usually open emails
  • Product recommendations based on purchase history

Content Personalization:

  • Blog post recommendations based on reading history
  • Resource suggestions that match their business size or industry
  • Case studies featuring similar companies or situations
  • Educational content that matches their experience level

Tools and Technologies That Make Personalization Easier

You don't need a huge budget to get started with personalization. Here are tools that businesses of different sizes can use:

For Small Businesses (Under 100 customers):

  • Email marketing platforms with basic segmentation (Mailchimp, ConvertKit)
  • Google Analytics to understand visitor behavior
  • Social media insights to see what content performs best
  • Simple CRM systems to track customer interactions

For Medium Businesses (100-1,000 customers):

  • Marketing automation platforms (HubSpot, ActiveCampaign)
  • Website personalization tools (OptinMonster, Sumo)
  • Advanced email segmentation based on behavior
  • Customer data platforms that combine information from multiple sources

For Large Businesses (1,000+ customers):

  • Enterprise personalization platforms (Adobe Target, Optimizely)
  • AI-powered recommendation engines
  • Real-time personalization systems
  • Advanced analytics and machine learning tools

Measuring Personalization Success

How do you know if your personalization efforts are working? Track these key metrics:

Engagement Metrics:

  • Email open rates and click-through rates by segment
  • Website time on page for personalized vs. generic content
  • Social media engagement rates for targeted content
  • Content downloads and resource requests

Conversion Metrics:

  • Sales conversion rates for personalized experiences
  • Lead generation from personalized landing pages
  • Email subscription rates for targeted opt-in offers
  • Cart completion rates for personalized shopping experiences

Customer Satisfaction Metrics:

  • Customer surveys about content relevance
  • Net Promoter Score improvements
  • Customer retention rates
  • Support ticket reduction (better content reduces confusion)

Getting Started: Your First Personalization Project

Ready to dive in? Start with one simple personalization project that you can implement quickly and measure easily:

Option 1: Email Welcome Series Create different welcome email sequences for different types of new subscribers:

  • Customers vs. prospects
  • Different product interests
  • Different company sizes or industries

Option 2: Website Homepage Show different homepage content based on how people found your site:

  • Visitors from Google search see SEO-focused content
  • Visitors from social media see social-proof content
  • Returning visitors see new products or updates

Option 3: Content Recommendations Add "You might also like" sections to your blog posts based on:

  • Related topics
  • Similar reading levels
  • Complementary subjects

The key is to start small, measure results, and gradually expand your personalization efforts based on what works best for your specific audience and business goals.

Remember, personalization isn't about showing off how much you know about your customers. It's about using that knowledge to provide more value, solve problems faster, and create experiences that feel genuinely helpful rather than just sales-focused.

Building Communities That Create Content for You

Community-driven content represents a big shift in how brands think about content creation. User-generated content (UGC) is taking center stage as brands realize their customers often create the most authentic and convincing content.

This goes beyond just asking for reviews or social media posts. The most successful brands build real communities where customers become active content contributors. They share experiences, insights, and recommendations that carry more weight than traditional marketing messages.

Community-driven content works because it bridges the trust gap between brands and consumers. When real customers share genuine experiences, it creates social proof that no amount of polished marketing content can match.

Building Communities That Create Great Content

Focus on creating platforms and opportunities for your customers to share their experiences naturally. This might include customer spotlights, campaigns where users create content, or community forums where customers help each other.

Engage authentically with community content by responding, sharing, and amplifying customer voices. Your goal is to become someone who facilitates conversations rather than the only voice in your content world.

Putting It All Together for Real Results

Understanding these content marketing trends is just the beginning. Success comes from strategic planning and consistent execution. The brands that will succeed in 2025 are the ones that can adapt quickly while staying focused on what their audience really needs.

These trends work best when you combine them rather than use them separately. For example, AI-human hybrid content becomes more powerful when you mix it with real experience and community insights. Short videos get more impact when you personalize them for specific audience groups.

The secret to success is testing, measuring, and improving your approach based on real results, not guesses. 74% of the most successful marketers say their content strategy works extremely well, compared to just 2% of the least successful ones. This shows how important strategic implementation really is.

Measuring Success and Making Things Better

Set up clear ways to measure each trend you try. This might be engagement rates for video content, conversion rates for personalized content, or how much people participate in your community content.

Use data to understand which combinations of trends work best for your specific audience and business goals. The most successful content strategies keep evolving based on what the numbers tell you and how your audience's preferences change.

Building Your Future-Ready Content Strategy

These five content marketing trends are more than just temporary changes. They show fundamental shifts in how people find, consume, and engage with content. Businesses that embrace these trends while focusing on providing real value will build stronger relationships with their audiences and get better results.

The future belongs to brands that can balance new technology with human authenticity. They create personalized experiences efficiently and build genuine communities around their content. By putting these trends into action strategically and measuring results consistently, your business can stay ahead of the competition while delivering real value to your audience.

Ready to put these cutting-edge content marketing strategies to work for your business? THAT Agency specializes in creating comprehensive digital marketing solutions that combine the latest trends with proven strategies to drive real results. Contact us today to discover how we can help transform your content marketing approach and accelerate your business growth.

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