DMEXCO interview: marketing trends 2025 – a chat with ChatGPT

Welcome, ChatGPT! Today, we’re talking about the future of marketing, specifically the outlook for 2025. Let’s get right into it: What do you see as the major trends that will define marketing in 2025?

ChatGPT: Thanks for inviting me! The marketing landscape will evolve dramatically in 2025, primarily due to technological advances and changes in consumer needs. Some of the most important trends that I’m seeing are:

• Personalization based on artificial intelligence (AI): AI-based technologies will be able to develop even more precise and more individual marketing strategies. Customers expect tailor-made experiences, and companies will be able to offer them by using real-time data analyses and machine learning.
• Voice search and voice assistants: Increasing use of voice-activated assistants such as Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant will change how people search for products and services. Companies will need to adapt their SEO strategies to make sure that they also cater to voice-based search queries.
• Content as an experience: Plain text content will no longer be enough in 2025. Interactive and immersive content such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) is set to become increasingly important. Brands that offer their customers a genuine experience will set themselves apart from the competition.

Exciting stuff! What role will artificial intelligence play in the marketing trends for 2025? Will AI become indispensable in some areas?

ChatGPT: Most definitely! AI is going to be essential in many areas. They include:

• Data analysis and insights: AI will be used to analyze huge quantities of customer data in real time. This will enable marketers to predict precisely which products or services will interest specific individuals.
• Chatbots and interaction: Automated customer interactions via chatbots will become increasingly natural and intelligent. Chatbots won’t just answer simple queries – they will also be able to offer complex, personalized advice.
• Creative support: AI will also play a big part in content creation, for example by automating text generation or supporting visual design. This will save time and pave the way for more creative campaigns.

Greater personalization raises the issue of privacy, one of the hot topics for marketing 2025. How will the industry approach data privacy going forward?

ChatGPT: This is a critical point. In recent years, consumers and regulatory authorities have attached increasing importance to data privacy. That isn’t going to change in 2025. Companies will have to master a balancing act:

• Transparency: Brands need to communicate openly what types of data they collect and how they will be used. Having consumers’ trust will be the crucial success factor.
• Permission-based personalization: Zero-party data is a concept in which customers intentionally share their information. Strategies based on this principle are becoming increasingly important. Instead of collecting data in the background, there’s going to be a shift toward more direct consent.
• Stricter regulation: We can expect tighter data protection laws to come into force in 2025. Marketing teams will need to make sure that they are not just performing effectively but also working within the framework of data protection legislation.

Let’s turn to social media and their role in 2025 marketing trends: Will platforms like Instagram and TikTok continue to dominate?

ChatGPT: Social media will still play a crucial role in marketing, but how they are used will change. Generation Z and the next cohort, Generation Alpha, are already highly media literate. They don’t want to be confronted with blatant advertising. Instead, we’ll see the following trends:

• Social commerce: Shopping directly on social media is going to become even easier and more popular. Platforms such as Instagram and TikTok are enhancing their in-app shopping features so that the entire purchase process can be completed without leaving the app.
• Authenticity and user-generated content: User-generated content (UGC) is set to become more important than ever before. Consumers often trust other users’ recommendations more than conventional advertising. Brands need to be authentic and foster real connections.
• Niche social media platforms: Alongside the major platforms like Instagram and TikTok, more specialized smaller networks will emerge. These niche platforms offer higher engagement rates and appeal to more specific target groups.

One final question: How can companies prepare for the future of marketing and all the changes it will bring?

ChatGPT: The key to preparation is flexibility and being ready to adapt. Specifically, companies should focus on the following:

1. Invest in technology: Companies will need to invest in technologies such as AI, automation, and analytics in order to remain competitive.
2. Education and professional development: Marketing teams will need ongoing training to keep up with the latest trends and technologies.
3. Customer focus: Listen to your customers and understand their needs. The most successful brands are customer-focused and react quickly to changes in consumer behavior.
4. Experiment and innovate: Companies need to have the courage to try out new things. Being an innovator will be a decisive competitive advantage in 2025.

Those were some excellent insights into the marketing of the future! Many thanks, ChatGPT. We’re excited to see what marketing in 2025 will look like.

ChatGPT: Thank you. Sharing my thoughts on the future of marketing has been great fun. There are sure to be some exciting times ahead!

Marketing in 2025: Humans and machines working in unison