What is the Future of Marketing in 2025?

Dec 18

It might be time to have a hard conversation. The marketing landscape isn’t “changing,” it’s freaking sprinting. What worked in 2020 already feels outdated. What worked in 2023? You’re probably already seeing that you need to change it now. And in 2025? You’re either leaning into the trends that make sense for your business or you’re playing catch-up (…or you’re giving up).

The future of marketing is about showing up smarter. Whether that means search engines, podcasts, video, or voice-driven content, SEO is your secret weapon to make sure your audience finds you.

It wasn’t always like this. In 2018, we built our first brand, Foxx and Luna, entirely through Instagram. That platform felt like home. We built connections, grew our audience, and it worked- until it slowed down like craaaazy in 2022. Platforms change, algorithms shift, and it’s exhausting to play a game where the rules are constantly being rewritten. Relying only on social media leaves you vulnerable. A solid foundation, like SEO, blogs, and valuable evergreen content, is what keeps your business sustainable when social media burns you out.

1. SEO: Still the Foundation, but Smarter

SEO isn’t dead. It’s not even taking a nap. If anything, SEO is evolving into one of the most powerful ways to make your business findable, sustainable, and aligned with the right people. SEO isn’t just about keywords anymore.

What’s Changing:

User intent over keywords: Google cares less about what you type and more about why you’re searching. Creating content that directly answers your audience’s questions will win out over keyword stuffing.
Voice and AI-driven search: More people are using Siri, Alexa, and voice-to-text to search. This means you need to optimize for natural, conversational questions, not robotic keyword strings.
Helpful, not trendy content: Google is favoring helpful, human-centered content. Write for your audience first, search engines second.

Microdose Marketing™️ Exercise:

Spend 10 minutes answering this:

What are three specific questions your audience is Googling right now? (Think: “How do I price my art as an emerging artist?”)
Write one clear, concise answer to one of those questions. Boom, you’ve got a blog, a social post, or a reel idea.

2. Video SEO: Your Content Needs to Do More

Video content -in 2025, just making videos isn’t enough. Your video content needs to be searchable, snackable, and valuable. That means thinking about SEO for video the same way you do for blogs.

How to Optimize Video for 2025:

Titles and descriptions matter: Use clear, keyword-rich titles and descriptions so search engines and your audience know what your video is about.
Answer real questions: Instead of making a random “Day in the Life” video, create something people are searching for. For example: “3 Simple Steps to Market Your Business as an Introvert.”
Captions and accessibility: 80% of people watch videos without sound. Add captions and make your content easy for everyone to access.

Microdose Marketing™️ Exercise:

Record a 30-second video answering one frequently asked question from your audience. Add captions, include a keyword in your title, and upload it to YouTube and Instagram.

3. Voice Search: Optimize for HOW People Talk

Voice search is on the rise because talking is easier than typing. “Hey Siri, what’s a good lead magnet for my business?” If you’re not optimizing your content for these spoken questions, you’re missing out.

What to Do in 2025:

Think conversationally: Use natural, question-based keywords. Instead of “best lead magnet ideas,” think: “What’s a good lead magnet for my business?”
Answer questions clearly: Include direct, scannable answers in your blog content. This also helps with featured snippets on Google.
FAQ sections win: Add a quick FAQ section to your website or blogs with conversational questions and clear answers.

Microdose Marketing™️ Exercise:

Take your most popular blog or page and rewrite it with voice search in mind. Add FAQs that sound like something someone would ask out loud.

4. Podcasts: The Underrated SEO Power Move

Podcasts aren’t just for thought leaders and influencers anymore. If you’re not showing up on podcasts you’re missing a huge opportunity to connect with your audience and boost your visibility. It’s okay if you aren’t looking to launch your own- try guesting.

Why Podcasts Matter:

They’re evergreen content: Podcasts stick around and keep attracting listeners long after they’re published.
SEO for podcasts is real: Optimize episode titles, show notes, and descriptions with keywords your audience is searching for.
Build authority without burning out: If long-form video content feels exhausting, podcasting is an introvert-friendly way to share your expertise.

Microdose Marketing™️ Exercise:

Reach out to one podcast in your industry this week. Offer to share your expertise on a topic you love… something your audience needs to hear.

5. Social Content That Feeds Your Foundation

In 2025, businesses are realizing they can’t build a sustainable marketing strategy on social media alone. Your website, blogs, and SEO are your foundation. Social is how you invite people in.

What’s Shifting:

Repurposing smarter: Create content that works on multiple platforms. For example:
- Turn a blog into social posts, reels, Pinterest pins and/or Threads.
- Take a podcast episode and turn it into an SEO-optimized blog.
Authenticity matters more than ever: Perfect grids are out. Messy, real, relatable content that connects is in.
Social → Search: More people are using TikTok and Instagram like search engines. Plus Meta content is google searchable. Make sure your content is optimized for keywords.

Microdose Marketing™️ Exercise:

Take a piece of content that performed well on Instagram- like a reel, carousel, or single post- and repurpose it. Write a quick blog post or update a relevant website page using the same concept. Add in a clear call to action that directs people where you want them to go.

The Bottom Line: Build a Foundation, Not Just a Following

Here’s what 2025 marketing comes down to: your business needs to work for you. It’s not about hustling harder, it’s about building a strategy that’s smarter, sustainable, and aligned.

When we started Swoco, we built our entire business through Instagram. It worked for a while, but relying on one platform is risky. It leaves you at the mercy of trends, algorithms, and burnout. We’ve since shifted to building long-term strategies with SEO, blogs, and foundational content that works even when we’re offline.

Social media is great, but it’s not the whole picture. You need a website that converts, video content that’s searchable, and evergreen tools- like SEO- that keep working for you over time.

If the future of marketing feels overwhelming, start small. These microdose exercises add up. One blog post, one keyword-optimized video, one podcast guest appearance. It’s enough.

When you focus on the marketing that aligns with your values and your energy, it feels better. It’s less forced, less frantic, and more you.

So, Where Do You Start?

Pick one thing you can tackle today. Maybe you refresh an old blog, optimize a video for SEO, or brainstorm FAQs for voice search. The future of marketing is here, and you don’t have to do it all at once.

Start small. Keep showing up. And let the growth happen one intentional step at a time. Not sure where to begin? Check out our Microdose Marketing™️ series on Instagram! (Or hire us to market for you lol )