11 Marketing Trends Defining the Future of Marketing in 2025

The future of marketing is happening right before our eyes and is evolving as fast as how we scroll on our smartphones. As such, businesses must prepare and adapt—or else they’ll remain stuck in the ways of the past. 

Consumers today are now wiser and pickier. They scrutinize a product or a service and check its benefits and reviews before purchasing. This poses a challenge to the modern-day marketer.

There is a need for smart strategies and innovations that allow companies to dive into changing consumer trends and individual preferences, which will help create campaigns that target the market.

Take the QR code generator, for example. It lets marketers create QR codes to engage consumers and track specific scan metrics to provide insights for stronger campaigns.

Check out these marketing trend predictions for the coming year and see which ones have the highest growth potential in 2025 and beyond.

What is marketing in the future? 

Understanding how marketing works is crucial to the success of every business. 

Marketing trends have dramatically shifted over the past decade, with strategies evolving from broad campaigns, such as telemarketing, TV commercials, and billboards, to more targeted, multi-channel approaches that integrate both the physical and digital worlds.

As we look toward 2025, the future of marketing will focus even more on understanding the specific needs of target audiences, building deeper connections, and using data analytics to create more personalized, customer-centered strategies.

Businesses will seek to refine their performance by embracing innovative technologies, one of which has already made a significant impact: QR codes.

Quick Response (QR) codes are becoming essential for industries, especially in marketing. 

These codes connect offline materials, like print advertisements, outdoor billboards, and product packaging, with online platforms, offering consumers easy access to more details or exclusive promotions via their smartphones.

As we move into 2025, the future of QR codes will continue to expand, playing a central role in how businesses engage with customers. 

This technology will become more integral to marketing campaigns, driving interaction and delivering personalized, real-time experiences.

The future of marketing: How emerging trends will shape 2025 and beyond

Keeping up with the ever-changing market trends is crucial for staying competitive. 

As marketing trends evolve alongside technological advancements, businesses must adapt to stay relevant and effective in their promotional efforts.

To help navigate these changes, we’ve compiled a guide to future marketing trends and explored how integrating advanced technologies like QR codes into your strategy can drive success. 

Voice marketing will make a louder impact

Voice marketing is an AI-enabled solution that optimizes content with voice-activated systems so products and services appear in voice search results.

Virtual reality is on track to lead marketing innovations by 2025. Capitalizing on voice assistant technologies like Google Assistant, Alexa, and Siri empowers brands to refine their approaches for better customer satisfaction.

This spoken-word version of SEO technology creates fresh marketing avenues, paving the way for personalized user interactions. Even without physical stores, voice assistants can provide information about the products and services you sell. 

With this trend, absorbing information becomes more accessible. This reduces customers’ effort to read bulks of content or find solutions to their queries. 

Although this trend is expected to skyrocket in the upcoming years, the promise is loud and clear to assist businesses in offering convenient customer support and facilitating seamless transactions.

Visibility of QR codes on digital and print materials

The versatility of QR codes has saturated the media and advertising landscape. We are now about accessing everything in a snap, hunting ways to pass on information from a business to a consumer efficiently. 

QR code marketing is one trend to harness in future marketing efforts. Big brands like Coca-Cola, Nestle, IKEA, Starbucks, McDonald’s, and more have demonstrated the advantages of these tools. 

Its innovativeness extends beyond product labels and is achievable through dynamic QR codes. 

These editable and trackable dynamic QR codes are developed as a forward-thinking marketing tool encompassing advanced features and multiple software integrations.

This makes them an ideal tool for businesses since codes are one of the most effective marketing techniques, capable of making every marketing campaign successful. 

With its capacity to embed information up to 7089 numeric characters, 4296 alphanumeric characters, and 1817 Kanji characters, you can provide consumers with complete details, leaving no room for confusion.

According to Grand View Research, the QR code market is projected to grow at an annual rate of 16.9% through the decade, reaching $33.13 billion by 2030. 

This reflects the increasing adoption of QR codes across industries as a key component in creating compelling digital marketing strategies, making animated advertisements, sharing business information quickly, and streamlining transactions. 

As businesses harness the growing acceptance of QR codes, they are leveraging this technology to design innovative campaigns, simplify transactions, and create meaningful digital touchpoints with their audiences. 

The QR code revolution is reshaping marketing, making it faster, smarter, and more engaging than ever before.

Emergence of conversational marketing strategies for stronger customer connections

Conversational marketing has become critical for fostering meaningful, real-time customer engagement. 

Using chatbots, live chats, and social media messaging apps, brands can deliver seamless, personalized interactions beyond one-sided advertising.

This shift allows businesses to connect with potential customers across multiple channels, creating dynamic dialogues rather than relying on traditional monologues.

Chatbots have played an important role in making conversational marketing more accessible, simulating natural, casual conversations that engage users. 

Social messaging apps, like WhatsApp, have emerged as the go-to platform for these interactions. 

With nearly 3 billion users, WhatsApp has proven an invaluable tool for businesses, helping them respond to customers quickly and efficiently. 

In fact, WhatsApp was the third most downloaded app on Google Play in March 2024, with 33 million downloads.

As customer expectations evolve, brands realize the impact of simply responding to inquiries. 

According to the 2023 Sprout Social Index, 51% of consumers say brands leave a lasting impression when they take the time to respond. 

Through social messaging apps, businesses can now answer product questions, gather feedback, and engage with customers conveniently and effectively. 

This approach will become even more prevalent in 2025 as businesses seek to build stronger, more personal connections with their audiences.

Social media optimization for more customized and targeted content

Social media optimization (SMO) is a key strategy for businesses looking to enhance their online presence and engagement. 

By refining content, using trending hashtags, leveraging data analytics, and improving search engine visibility, companies can strengthen their impact on social platforms.

In 2025, popular social platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram will remain essential tools for shaping consumer behavior. 

These platforms have already revolutionized how businesses interact with their audiences, and with advanced internet-based tools, companies can fine-tune their marketing strategies to achieve even more precise results.

Kepios analysis from October 2024 shows that social media usage is still rising. There are approximately 5.22 billion social media users globally, accounting for 63.8% of the world’s population. 

This growth continues to accelerate, with 256 million new users joining social platforms in the last year alone—an average of 8.1 new users every second. 

These numbers reflect the vast reach businesses can tap into and the growing importance of SMOs in effectively reaching target audiences.

In fact, 94.5% of global internet users now engage with social media each month, underscoring the critical role these platforms play in modern marketing. 

With SMO, businesses can easily curate personalized, targeted content that speaks directly to individual consumers, ensuring that marketing efforts resonate and drive engagement.

Companies will use first-party data gathering for improved operations and consumer-specific campaigns

The importance of first-party data continues to grow as companies embrace the data revolution. 

Using advanced technology, businesses can collect valuable insights directly from their audiences, offering a clearer understanding of customer preferences and behaviors.

First-party data is gathered through direct interactions with customers, website visitors, or social media followers, providing reliable and relevant information. 

This data, obtained with customer consent, is crucial for shaping personalized campaigns and improving overall business operations.

Compliance with data privacy laws, such as GDPR, remains a priority. Businesses must obtain clear, informed consent from their users, ensuring transparency and trust in the data collection process. 

The credibility of first-party data is undeniable, as it comes directly from the audience, making it both valid and actionable.

Integrating first-party data becomes essential as businesses continue to move away from reliance on third-party cookies. 

Tracking pixels on websites, social media profiles, and products offers a seamless way to gather and analyze data without compromising privacy. This data can include a wide range of information, such as:

• Demographic details
• Consumer behavior and engagement patterns
• Survey responses
• Social media interactions
• Online chat transcripts
• Customer purchase history

According to Forbes, 87% of marketers believe first-party data is critical for delivering personalized experiences. 

Access to this data enables businesses to improve their audience targeting, optimize campaigns based on customer insights, and achieve better business outcomes, ultimately leading to stronger customer relationships and enhanced marketing effectiveness.

Influencer marketing will continue to create buzz for brands 

Influencer marketing remains a dominant force in today’s digital landscape, offering businesses a powerful way to engage with audiences. 

By partnering with influential personalities with large, dedicated followings, brands can create a trusted, engaged community around their products and services.

In recent years, influencer marketing has proven to be a highly effective strategy for boosting brand awareness. 

This is especially true as businesses tap into innovative marketing tactics, including successful QR code campaigns that have expanded reach and engagement.

According to the Influencer Marketing Hub, 71% of influencer campaigns in 2023 saw an improved return on investment compared to previous years. This trend is expected to continue as influencer marketing evolves and shapes the future of digital marketing. 

Engaging target audiences through collaborations with celebrities, public figures, and social media influencers will remain key to successful campaign outcomes.

Today, Facebook, owned by Meta, remains the most widely used social media platform, retaining its crown as the number one social media network in 2024. 

Facebook boasts 3.05 billion monthly active users and 2.09 billion daily active users, underscoring its dominance in the social media space. 

Alongside Facebook are Instagram and WhatsApp (also owned by Meta), which continue to be critical platforms for influencer marketing.

Influencers continue to drive engagement on these platforms through reels, challenges, comedy skits, and user-generated content. 

Sponsored posts and brand ambassadorships have become increasingly common, providing businesses new ways to connect with their target consumers.

For businesses looking to strengthen their digital marketing efforts, collaborating with influencers who align with their brand values is essential to reaching new heights.

Authentic storytelling will enhance brand trust 

Consumers today prefer brands that are real and transparent. Overly polished and curated content is losing effectiveness, with audiences seeking genuine connections. 

Authenticity is vital in how brands communicate and build customer relationships.

A survey by Stackler revealed that 86% of consumers value authenticity when deciding which brands to trust and support. 

This shift highlights the growing demand for brands to be more honest and relatable in their messaging.

Authentic storytelling helps brands connect by showcasing their true values, missions, and challenges. 

Whether about business practices or addressing mistakes, transparency helps build trust and loyalty. When brands share their real experiences, they create stronger, more meaningful connections with their audience.

By focusing on authenticity, brands can stand out and foster lasting trust with consumers, turning casual supporters into loyal advocates.

Augmented video content will aim to influence consumer behavior

Video marketing continues to grow as a powerful tool for engaging consumers, with an increasing emphasis on dynamic, interactive content. 

A 2024 Wyzowl report shows that 91% of businesses now incorporate video into their marketing strategies, and 96% of marketers consider it an essential part of their campaigns. 

Furthermore, 92% of video marketers report a positive return on investment, reflecting its effectiveness in reaching and influencing audiences.

Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube remain central to video marketing efforts, and QR codes in marketing enhance these campaigns by making video content more interactive and easily accessible. 

According to a 2024 Sprout Social report, 62% of users experienced increased interest in products after watching a related Facebook video, while 73% of businesses gained new customers through Instagram Stories. 

Additionally, 70% of YouTube users said they made a purchase after seeing a product in a video.

With augmented video content, brands can create more personalized and immersive experiences influencing consumer behavior, ultimately boosting engagement and driving purchasing decisions.

Sustainability will become a core marketing narrative 

As consumers become more aware of environmental challenges, sustainability is increasingly shaping their purchasing decisions. 

According to PwC’s 2024 Voice of the Consumer Survey, 46% of respondents said they buy more sustainable products, signaling a shift toward more eco-conscious consumer behavior.

This trend highlights how sustainability is becoming integral to the future of marketing, where brands that integrate eco-friendly initiatives and commit to social responsibility will gain a distinct competitive advantage. 

Consumers seek for brands that promise and demonstrate genuine efforts to minimize their environmental impact.

Sustainability-focused marketing resonates deeply with conscious consumers who prioritize ethical considerations in their purchasing decisions. 

Brands that emphasize their commitment to reducing waste, using sustainable materials, and supporting environmental causes can create stronger connections with this growing demographic.

As sustainability becomes a core part of brand identity, companies that authentically embrace these values will build loyalty and attract a dedicated customer base while standing out in a crowded marketplace.

AI will boost workplace productivity and streamline operations

Artificial intelligence is driving a major transformation in businesses' operations, making tasks more efficient and data-driven. 

With growing data volumes, AI technology helps organizations simplify complex processes and enhances decision-making by analyzing historical data, identifying patterns, and predicting future outcomes.

As the future of AI in marketing unfolds, this technology is transforming how businesses engage with customers and understand market dynamics. 

AI analytics give businesses a comprehensive view of customer behavior, market trends, competitors' strategies, and operational performance. 

It enables companies to understand past events, anticipate future trends, and make more informed decisions on potential actions.

A 2024 National University article reports that 77% of devices in use today incorporate some form of AI, and 9 out of 10 organizations leverage AI to gain a competitive edge. 

AI is projected to contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, with 63% of organizations planning to adopt AI in the next three years. 

The AI market is growing rapidly, with year-over-year growth expected to exceed 120%.

AI’s expanding influence is evident across industries as businesses increasingly use it to gain faster insights, streamline operations, boost productivity, and enhance customer satisfaction.

More brands will collaborate to achieve mutual success

The popularity of partnership marketing, or co-branding, skyrockets as more brands form strategic alliances to reach shared goals. 

Companies can extend their market reach, build brand equity, and foster mutually beneficial relationships by working together.

Successful co-branding partnerships continue to offer valuable lessons. Whether through joint promotions, cross-marketing campaigns, or innovative product collaborations, these partnerships can significantly boost a brand's reputation and recognition.

A 2024 study by Impact.com reveals that 55% of businesses consider partnerships crucial for increasing revenue and driving growth, while 50% believe it plays a key role in raising brand awareness. 

Unexpected collaborations often create a buzz in the media and spark social conversations, helping brands amplify their visibility and engage with a broader audience.

Take the successful collaboration between Spotify and Starbucks, for example. 

With their combined global reach, they have created a unique "music ecosystem," offering Starbucks customers access to Spotify’s vast music catalog while giving Spotify access to Starbucks' millions of loyal customers. 

Both brands have enhanced their market presence and credibility by leveraging their strengths.

Collaborative efforts exemplify the power of combining resources to achieve mutual success, making co-branding a key strategy for businesses looking to expand and build lasting partnerships.

Best marketing tools you should try for your future marketing strategies

Dynamic QR code software

You don’t need to search far for the finest dynamic QR code generator online; QR TIGER is your trusted partner in the ever-evolving future of QR code marketing.

With its advanced and all-around solutions and features, you can calibrate your strategies and maximize your marketing efforts. 

Its versatility allows you to create unique QR codes that you can update anytime. This tool can be implemented in almost every marketing campaign and business operation to ensure smooth transactions. 

Also, QR TIGER’s dynamic features, such as UTM tracking and data analytics, enable you to manage the overall performance of your QR code campaigns and access the ROI outcomes.

You do not have to worry whether you run an online or offline campaign. QR TIGER makes everything easy and accessible.

On your end, a QR code test scan is the one thing on your to-do list you must keep in mind.

Social media platforms 

Social media offers a multifaceted toolkit for various business demands. It provides an avenue for brand exposure and customer engagement, allowing brands to reach a diverse audience pool.

These platforms encourage direct customer communication and serve as valuable market research hubs. 

With just a click, businesses can uncover insights into the latest marketing trends and consumer preferences, empowering them to make informed decisions and quickly adapt strategies.

According to Statista, as of October 2024, there were 5.52 billion internet users globally, representing 67.5% of the world's population. Of these, 5.22 billion were social media users, representing 63.8% of the global population.

For businesses looking to run effective ads, BigCommerce highlights the most popular social media platforms: 

• Facebook
• Instagram
• X (formerly Twitter)
• TikTok 
• Pinterest
• LinkedIn
• Snapchat

Use this to your advantage and apply for QR TIGER’s social media QR code to store multiple social media links with a button for each platform. Scanners canteen quickly tap to follow and connect to your socials.

Since this is a dynamic feature, you must use the best QR code generator to know which social media platforms are popular among your audience.

First-party data collection tools 

Shifts in digital advertising have made it difficult to target users with personalized ads. It is just high time to use first-party data to gather information from websites, apps, and services to augment overall marketing strategies. 

Here are some tools you can use to level up your game:

• HubSpot Forms
• Formstack
• LeadSquared
• Hootsuite
• ConverKit
• Privy

These AI tools allow businesses to deliver value to their customers, improve customer satisfaction, supercharge productivity, and tailor products and services that meet their needs.

Businesses and brands can gain valuable insights into their audience and engineer their strategies for high-impact results by focusing on first-party data and using dependable tools. 

This data also serves as a foundation for informed decision-making and drives growth and competitiveness in the market. 

AI tools

A transformative technology like AI is opening up new business possibilities. And this game-changing technology might be one you need to help you with the most tedious elements of your duties.

AI can streamline operations, optimize business processes, and enhance work efficiency. 

This tool can be seen in some business’s operations, such as customer service powered by AI chatbots and data analysis assisted by AI algorithms.

Based on Writesonic’s study, AI enables marketers to increase sales by 52%, and 37% of marketing and advertising professionals indicated that they had used AI in their tasks. 

Here are distinct AI tools that are worth keeping an eye on for your future marketing strategies:

• ChatGPT
• Motion
• Jasper
• Zapier
• Fireflies.ai
• Lavender.ai
• Frase.io

As it continues to evolve, new domains of AI will likely emerge, and existing tools will continue to be refined. 

QR TIGER QR Code Generator: Transforming the marketing landscape one scan at a time

Modern challenges call for innovative approaches. To stay ahead in the future of marketing, it’s essential to be wise and move smartly, adapting to the ever-evolving landscape.

Through digital software tools like QR TIGER’s custom QR code maker, you can lead the pack of businesses in the market. 

With our comprehensive QR code marketing solutions, you can boost your marketing efforts and captivate your audience in ways that keep them coming back for more, setting your business on a path to growth for 2025 and beyond. 

QR TIGER is your trusted ally for boosting your marketing strategies to new heights. 

Frequently asked questions

What is the future of marketing and advertising?

It will embrace personalization, automation, measurability, and experientality, moving away from conventional practices.

Businesses can enjoy technological advancements like the Internet, smartphones, and QR codes as they refine how brands talk and share information with customers. 

Talk about the fast pace of information access, all within your reach.

Is marketing relevant for your future?

Yes, marketing is relevant to your future because it leads to precise plan strategizing, defined techniques, and familiarity with customer needs and preferences—all the reasons to thrive and achieve success in your venture.

What are the key future marketing trends businesses should focus on? 

Businesses should prioritize personalized experiences, AI-powered insights, and sustainable branding.

Using influencer collaborations, short-form video content, and immersive technologies like AR and VR can boost customer engagement.

Additionally, QR codes provide a smooth transition between physical and digital experiences, fostering genuine connections.