In this episode of the Digital Marketing Podcast, hosts Ciaran Rogers, Louise Crossley, and Daniel Rowles unpack the latest insights from Hootsuite's 2025 Social Media Trends Report.
The discussion kicks off with an exploration of the shift towards entertainment-driven content. Over 60% of organisations are creating content designed to entertain, educate, or inform rather than promote directly. The hosts debate the pros and cons of pushing creative boundaries, citing examples of effective emotional engagement. They also warn of the risks of losing brand consistency and highlight strategies to stay innovative while staying true to your brand identity.
The team discusses the growing trend of proactive engagement, where brands interact directly with creators and audiences in real time. With statistics showing that proactive engagement can drive 1.6 times more interaction, they explore how brands can add value to conversations without appearing intrusive or opportunistic. This segment is packed with insights on building meaningful connections while avoiding common engagement pitfalls.
The hosts delve into how brands can use advanced social monitoring tools to identify trends, refine their strategies, and increase ROI. They caution against the dangers of "trend-jacking" and the race to viral content, urging marketers to focus on creating authentic, original campaigns that align with their brand values.
With 83% of marketers using generative AI to accelerate content production, the episode highlights how AI is reshaping the industry. The hosts stress the importance of leveraging AI for quality rather than quantity, emphasising the value of thoughtful, well-crafted content over sheer volume. They also share examples of using AI tools for planning, customer analysis, and segmentation to enhance campaign effectiveness.
Useful Links:
Hootsuite Social Media Trends Report
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In this first episode of 2025, Ciaran, Daniel and Louise discuss some essential new years resolutions for marketers in 2025. Covering the impact of generative AI, junk content, aggressive social media algorithms, never ending brand desperation to go viral and much more, they explore the essential techniques to help your digital marketing succeed in 2025.