2025 Social Media Trends

A lot has changed in the last 14 years that I’ve been doing Social Media Marketing. To make sure you don’t get left behind, it’s important to keep an eye on the everchanging tools and trends social media has to offer. Here’s what we’ll be seeing more of in 2025.

SOCIAL LISTENING

(especially in marketing contexts) the activity of monitoring and analyzing social media content that is related to or relevant for one's product or brand, as a means of improving customer outreach, product development, etc. (Oxford Dictionary)

If you’re not doing this, you’re missing out big time. Social Media is a two way street, not only do you publish content but you should also be consuming it to learn what’s trending and resonating with your audience and what your clients (and competition) are saying so you can improve your strategy. There are many apps available that offer Social Listening - ex Hootusite - so try them out to find one that works best for you.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Is it even an article about trends if AI isn’t listed?

Now that we all feel more comfortable with AI, marketers are turning to it more and more for content creation like generating topics, creating content pillars, or aiding in writing captions. Similar to using AI as an assistant with design work, use it for social tasks that will help free up some of your valuable time. Remember, when using AI to create content that you're not falling in the pit of false advertising, make sure points (and images) remain factual.

Here's a look at how social marketers have been using AI by role/responsibility:

Many social platforms have all rolled out their own AI tools, so don't be afraid to take advantage of this to find out what works, or doesn’t, for you. And if you’re curious how AI can help you with your design work, check out my 8 Design Trends For 2024 article.

SHORT-FORM VIDEO

In 2024 we saw the return of slightly longer videos - IG Reels at 15 minutes and TikTok at 10 minutes (60 minutes if uploaded) - but for 2025 we’re rolling it back to short-form videos, as in 30 seconds or less.

How do you make sure you’re getting seen and heard? Make your bite-sized videos visually appealing to grab the eye (hooks are everything),  try behind the scenes content (this has always done well on social media), post consistently so you’re staying in your audience’s feed, and try using trending sounds or GIFs (if relevant) to capitalize on cultural moments. Don’t be afraid to play around and test out different tactics to see what resonates with your audience.

If you need more ideas, check out this article I wrote a few years ago with 4 Video Marketing Tips that are still relevant today.

LINKEDIN

When you think of LinkedIn do you think of receiving connections that automatically try to sell you something? Looks like LinkedIn is trying to change this in 2025 by redefining itself as a true social media platform instead of just a B2B networking site.

So ditch the formal, corporate talk and be authentic. Try creating a poll or newsletter, engage with audiences relevant to your business (that means commenting not just liking - share your thoughts), and lose the stuffy posts for more casual vibes to humanize your brand.

If you still aren’t sold on using LinkedIn, check out this conversation I had with Kirby Hasseman about Why You Should Be Using LinkedIn.

USER-GENERATED CONTENT

Who’s more trustworthy; a brand telling you how great they are or a user of the product sharing their experience? Re-enter UGC (we mentioned it in 2003 and earlier this year) - paid or unpaid social media users, that don’t have giant followings, who create organic feeling content (think unboxings, tutorials, lifestyle videos - get ready with me or dish up dinners that utilize products).

This is ideal if you're short on time or not great at creating your own content, UGC is an affordable route to go. Plus it’s more likely to have engagement since it’s user-driven and not heavily branded. If you decide to go this route make sure you provide the creator any details that need to be covered so you’re both on the same page. And don’t forget to disclose all paid partnerships because it’s the law and why wouldn’t you want to be transparent with your audience?

NICHE MARKETING

It’s time to hone in on your client communities. Back when I worked on the Supplier side I maintained closed Facebook  groups for national accounts where we shared exclusive content, events, and sneak peeks at new products. This allowed us to tailor content exclusively for each group while blocking out the noise from the rest of Facebook. Plus, who doesn't love to be a part of something exclusive?

There are so many ways you can create niche/invite-only marketing; Facebook private groups, LinkedIn private groups, Instagram broadcast channels, or even subscription-based content. Whatever you choose, just make sure it’s a format your audience uses/wants and the content is exclusive and relevant for them.