The Continued Rise of Video Marketing

Video has been a leading content format for several years, but its dominance will only grow in the coming years. By 2025, online video will account for over 80% of all consumer internet traffic. Whether through short-form clips on TikTok and Instagram or long-form content on YouTube, video marketing is a must for brands looking to capture attention in a crowded digital space.

Why Video?

• Engagement: Video content is inherently more engaging, with higher retention rates than text or images.
• Mobile-Friendly: With mobile devices now the primary way people access the internet, video—especially vertical video—is ideal for reaching audiences on the go.
• SEO Boost: Search engines favour video content, particularly when it’s hosted on platforms like YouTube, which is the second-largest search engine after Google.

Future Trends:

• Live Streaming: Platforms like YouTube Live, Instagram Live, and Twitch are seeing massive growth. Live video allows for real-time interaction with audiences, making it a powerful tool for building community and engagement.
• Shoppable Videos: E-commerce brands will increasingly use video to showcase products, with in-video purchasing options to streamline the buyer’s journey.

Start experimenting with different video lengths and formats, from educational tutorials to live Q&A sessions, to see what resonates best with your audience.

The Podcast Boom Continues

Podcasts have become a mainstream content format, with millions of people worldwide tuning in to their favourite shows each week. The rise of voice assistants, smart speakers, and audio-focused platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts has propelled this medium forward. In 2025, we expect podcasting to become an even more critical part of content marketing strategies.

Why Podcasts?

• Convenience: Podcasts offer a way for people to consume content while multitasking—whether they’re commuting, exercising, or doing household chores.
• Audience Loyalty: Podcast listeners tend to be highly loyal, regularly tuning in to new episodes and forming a personal connection with hosts.
• Low Barrier to Entry: With minimal production costs compared to video, podcasts are an accessible way for brands to enter the audio space.

Future Trends:

• Branded Podcasts: More businesses will produce branded podcasts to build authority in their industry and establish thought leadership.
• Interactive Podcasts: With the growing capabilities of voice technology, we’ll see interactive podcasts that allow listeners to ask questions, choose topics, or engage with content in real-time.

If you’re new to podcasting, start by repurposing existing content, such as turning blog posts into podcast episodes or creating interviews with industry experts.

Short-Form, Bite-Sized Content Takes Over

While long-form content like blogs and in-depth videos remain valuable, short-form content is exploding in popularity. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels have demonstrated the power of quick, snappy content that delivers value in seconds. The success of these platforms suggests that bite-sized content is here to stay.

Why Short-Form?

• Attention Span: With shrinking attention spans, short-form content is perfect for capturing attention quickly and delivering a message without losing the audience.
• Viral Potential: Short, highly shareable content often has a greater chance of going viral, especially when combined with trending music, challenges, or hashtags.
• Cost-Effective: Producing short clips requires fewer resources than long-form videos, making it an attractive option for brands with limited budgets.

Future Trends:

• User-Generated Content: Encouraging your audience to create short videos or participate in branded challenges will be a key strategy to boost engagement.
• 360° and Immersive Short Videos: As technology evolves, short-form content will increasingly incorporate immersive elements like 360° videos or augmented reality (AR), offering a richer experience.

Create a content calendar specifically for short-form video to stay consistent and on-trend. Experiment with tutorials, product demos, and fun challenges to keep your audience engaged.

Interactive and Immersive Content: AR, VR, and Beyond

The future of content marketing will move beyond traditional formats into more interactive, immersive experiences. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are becoming more accessible, allowing brands to offer innovative, hands-on experiences that blur the lines between digital and physical worlds.

Why AR/VR?

• Enhanced Engagement: Immersive content draws users in, offering an experience they can’t get from static images or text.
• Personalisation: AR can allow consumers to visualise products in their own environment, offering a highly personalised experience that drives purchase decisions.
• Brand Differentiation: Brands that adopt AR/VR early can differentiate themselves by offering cutting-edge, interactive content.

Future Trends:

• AR Shopping Experiences: Retailers will increasingly use AR to let customers try on products virtually or see how furniture might look in their home before buying.
• VR Events and Experiences: From virtual brand launches to fully immersive VR shopping experiences, expect brands to use virtual reality to create engaging customer touchpoints.

Even if AR and VR feel out of reach for your business right now, start small by incorporating interactive elements like quizzes, polls, or simple AR filters into your social media strategy.

Content Diversification: Multi-Platform Strategies

Gone are the days when a single blog or social media post was enough to sustain your content marketing strategy. The future is all about content diversification, where brands distribute tailored content across multiple platforms to reach audiences wherever they are.

Why Diversification?

• Audience Reach: Different platforms appeal to different demographics, so a multi-platform strategy ensures you’re reaching the widest possible audience.
• Channel Preferences: Your audience may prefer consuming content in different formats—some might like video, others prefer podcasts, while others still engage with written content.
• Maximising Content: Diversifying your content allows you to repurpose ideas and themes across various formats, extending the life of your content.

Future Trends:

• Omnichannel Content: Brands will need to create cohesive content strategies that integrate multiple platforms, from video to blogs, podcasts, and social media.
• Repurposing Content: Businesses will increasingly repurpose core content into different formats (e.g., turning a podcast episode into a blog, video clip, and social media posts).

Invest in a content management system that allows you to track performance across all platforms. This will help ensure your strategy remains consistent and aligned with your brand voice, no matter the format or channel.

Adapting to the Future of Content Marketing

The future of content marketing is full of possibilities, with video, podcasts, and immersive experiences leading the way. As consumer behaviour continues to evolve, brands need to stay flexible, experiment with new formats, and focus on creating content that engages audiences in fresh and exciting ways.

At Big Sound Marketing, we specialise in helping businesses navigate this shifting landscape by developing creative, data-driven content strategies that resonate. If you’re ready to explore the future of content marketing and elevate your brand, get in touch with our team today!