Every year, at the beginning of the year, I like to peruse the Internet and find out what the predictions are for the year. Where do other marketers and designers think marketing trends are going? What should we be looking out for? Learning more about? Educating ourselves and our clients on?
For the last couple of years all roads have led to relevant, inspirational and interesting content. Not just on your blog, but anywhere someone can find you.
That seems to be the case again in 2015 – Below I’ve created a summary of what I think we’ll see in Marketing and Design in the year ahead.
Marketing Trend #1 – Content Creation
It’s all about the content. Talking to the right audience, showing that audience you CARE about them, not just SELLING, SELLING, SELLING at them. It’s about incorporating the personal/human side of your business into the stories you are telling.
It’s about using clever and funny messaging to attract and engage your customers, getting them interested in what you have to say, and your product, so you can retain them as a customer for years to come. Learn more about what top marketers had to say about content and digital marketing.
Marketing Trend #2 – Value Visuals
It’s time to focus on visual storytelling – with ever-shortening attention spans, how else can you get your message seen and heard? This means huge background images (static or video) that resize based on what device the user is viewing your website on.
It means vibrant, bold, graphical, typography-based design that creates interest and dynamism. Add UI Animation on top of that, think CSS transitions and transformations and JS actions, and you’ve got some killer websites- that can help visually tell your story to your audience. Learn more about design trends on the Creative Bloq.
Marketing Trend #3 – Cards
I can’t tell you how many times I saw this mentioned. Tuts+ talked about it in their blog as did Envato. Cards are coming. Now, we just need to get an industry standard created, so we don’t need to create cards for every platform we’re on, but so we can create 1 card, to use on all platforms. Learn Why Cards are the Future of the Web and the best design patter for mobile devices.
Marketing Trend #4 – Integrated Strategy
If you haven’t integrated your marketing strategy yet, 2015 is the year you need to. Having an Integrated Strategy will help your business lay out a path to create valuable content and visuals. It will help you simplify and streamline your marketing so you have focus. This will inevitably allow you to create more content ahead of time, and keep your focus throughout the year.
It will also allow you to identify your companies’ values and focus on communicating them in unique, but believable ways, to help you become a trusted source of information in your industry. This is the era of the convergence of Marketing, Public Relations and Advertising, They all MUST work together to create a unified presence across both digital and non-digital platforms.
Marketing Trend #5 – The Shift from Globalization to Personalization
I can’t tell you how excited I was to see this called out in this Forbes article. Why? Because I’ve seen this, and believed this is coming since I started Creare Marketing back in 2012. It’s that local community feel people are looking for. They want to support local businesses, work with people they can actually sit down and meet for a cup of coffee or a meal, someone who cares about their business as much as they do.
With the rise of mobile computing and now wearable technology, we’re also seeing how the connection to your physical location is gaining importance in digital platforms (think how your location can dictate what sale notifications you get at local stores). We’ll see this trend continue in 2015 as local business owners look to local marketing/design companies to help put them on the map. The good news is, it’s much easier to infiltrate a smaller market, and much more affordable, so it will be exciting to see where the technology can take us this year.
Here is another good Forbes article talking about the brand and marketing trends for 2015 if you’re interested in learning more. Do you agree with these trends? Would you call out any others? We’d love to know.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top marketing trends to watch in 2025?
In 2025, the key marketing trends include AI-powered marketing, voice search optimization (VEO), community-led growth, and privacy-first design. Marketers are also focusing on personalized experiences and integrating various marketing strategies for a cohesive brand presence.
Why is content creation still one of the most important marketing trends?
Content creation remains vital because it helps brands engage with their audience on a deeper level. It’s no longer just about selling but about telling compelling stories, being authentic, and offering valuable information. The focus is on empathy and building long-term relationships rather than transactional sales.
How does visual storytelling impact marketing trends?
With shorter attention spans and a visually driven audience, visual storytelling has become essential. Bold, dynamic visuals, responsive design, and UI animations help communicate a brand’s message quickly and effectively, especially in mobile-first environments.
What role do cards play in current marketing trends?
Cards, a design trend that focuses on modular and responsive layouts, have become a standard across digital platforms. From Pinterest to Material Design, cards provide a clean and efficient way to display content across various devices, ensuring a consistent user experience.
Why is an integrated marketing strategy important in today’s marketing landscape?
An integrated marketing strategy ensures that all elements of a brand’s messaging—content, PR, and advertising—work together seamlessly. This unified approach helps streamline efforts, reduce fragmentation, and deliver a consistent brand experience across all channels.
