02.04.25
By Lisa Major
Marketers follow trends so consumers and competitors perceive their brands as cutting-edge and relevant. It’s precisely why social media managers look for clever ways to leverage the viral TikTok of the day for brand content. They aren’t wrong to do so, but following trends that stray from your brand values and mission certainly defeats the purpose. You are only relevant if your brand finds a meaningful place in the moment that rings true. So, as 2025 trends emerge in the marketplace, remember to lean on these three marketing pillars in your application of those trends to drive impactful brand experiences in the coming year.
Once an emerging trend, influencer marketing is now a core component of any campaign, and for some smaller challenger brands, the only campaign strategy for its ability to increase awareness and consideration from significant reach. So, it’s no surprise that influencers have crossed into other marketing channels, and experiential marketing is no different. In 2025, expect more influencer and celebrity appearances at in-person experiential events, inviting consumers to connect live and share in the brand experience.
Social media, specifically Instagram, has cultivated consumer expectations and, therefore, a trend of beautiful and visually striking content, all in the name of aspirational marketing. Consumers are more likely to purchase if the brand or product promises it will get them closer to what they aspire to achieve. This strategy aligns nicely with experiential marketing, in which brands are more recently hyper-focused on the aesthetics of the execution, whether it’s an immersive experience or a corporate trade show booth. The visual appeal of the space has a much more significant impact than previously seen, as a brand’s visual cues often win the competition for attention. The food marketing industry has known it for years – you eat with your eyes first. So, in planning experiential marketing events in 2025, make a concerted effort to ensure the visual presentation of your brand inspires your audience to seek you out.
Finally, leveraging 2025 trends that work to amplify your brand message completes the trifecta of building memorable brand experiences. The challenge here is to avoid certain trends, like generative AI, that sacrifice authenticity for efficiency. To counteract that tendency, don’t use trending apps to create content exclusively, use generative AI to enhance content in support of the campaign strategy. Hyper-personalization, for example, is an experiential strategy and trend that generative AI is enabling, and you can look to Spotify Wrapped as the golden example of a successful execution. Consumers have an innate desire to create and share unique and personal content, and brands that find a way to insert themselves into that personal narrative are instinctively amplified.
As marketing continues to evolve with the adoption of new technologies and innovations, it’s important to remember that even though consumer expectations of brands may change, their motivations and drivers to make a purchase decision don’t sway. Staying on top of emerging trends is key to keeping your brand relevant, but don’t lose sight of what your audience ultimately needs from your brand to make an emotional connection.
Since 2002, ATN Event Staffing has worked with top brands and marketing agencies to provide brand ambassadors for experiential marketing activations. Because each campaign is unique, we will work with you every step of the way to ensure that we provide you with the right brand ambassadors based on your needs and expectations. Contact us to learn more about our event staffing solutions and how we can help you reach your campaign goals.
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