Future of Advertising: 9 Key Trends to Watch
Adverising and our customers and changing. Today we are driven by technology, shifting consumer behaviors, and emerging platforms. What worked five years ago may no longer be relevant, as trends like AI and immersive digital experiences demand brands adapt faster than ever.
Staying ahead of these changes is no longer optional—it’s a necessity. To capture attention and drive meaningful engagement, businesses must remain agile and future-focused. As digital channels multiply, those who fail to innovate risk being left behind.
Good Kids: Leading the Charge in Advertising Innovation
Good Kids, with our teams in Los Angeles, New York, and Toronto, is at the forefront of these changes. Specializing in digital marketing, paid media, and brand strategy, we help brands not only keep pace with industry trends but lead the charge. Whether it’s leveraging AI or crafting immersive experiences, Good Kids is your partner in navigating the future of advertising.
1. The Rise of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Advertising
AI and machine learning (ML) are reshaping the advertising industry, offering brands more efficient, personalized, and data-driven strategies.
🚀 TL;DR: AI Boosts Efficiency and Personalization
- By 2025, the global AI market is projected to reach $407 billion.
- 80% of digital marketers already use AI to enhance their campaigns.
- AI tools can increase ad targeting accuracy by up to 30%.
AI is a game-changer for advertising, allowing brands to process vast amounts of data quickly and make informed decisions in real-time. Tools like ChatGPT and Jasper help brands craft better content and manage entire campaigns with ease.
🤖 AI's Role in Ad Creation and Targeting
🔹 AI tools can write compelling headlines, optimize ad creatives, and target audiences more effectively.
📅 By 2024, more than 30% of marketers will rely on AI to create and manage campaigns.
💥 RedBalloon saw a 1,100% return on ad spend (ROAS) using AI to test 6,500 variations of Google ads daily.
AI-powered targeting boosts accuracy, helping brands reduce wasted spend and improve conversion rates. For example, Bayer Australia used AI-driven trend forecasting to optimize ad targeting, reducing cost-per-click (CPC) by 33%.
Good Kids Uses AI to Maximize ROI
At Good Kids, we use AI tools to enhance ad targeting and improve engagement. Whether you’re aiming for real-time optimization or precise customer segmentation, we ensure that your campaigns reach the right audience.
Good Kids tip to stay ahead of AI and Machine Learning in Advertising: Focus on hyper-personalization by integrating AI into your customer journey mapping. Use predictive analytics to anticipate customer needs and craft dynamic ads that evolve based on real-time behavior. Test AI-driven tools like Dynamic Yield to enhance personalization on your website, ensuring tailored recommendations and content suggestions for each visitor.
Learn more about the Future of AI in Digital Marketing.
2. Immersive and Interactive Content: AR, VR, and Gamification
As consumers crave more engaging digital experiences, immersive content—such as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and gamification—is becoming essential in marketing. Brands that integrate these technologies see higher conversions and increased audience engagement.
🌟 Augmented Reality (AR)
AR lets users interact with products virtually, making it easier for customers to visualize how a product fits in their life. The AR market is forecasted to hit $85 billion by 2025.
🎮 Virtual Reality (VR)
VR transports users into immersive environments, enhancing engagement. Campaigns like Mountain Dew’s Court Vision combine AR and VR for interactive fan experiences.
🎯 Gamification
Gamification increases engagement rates by up to 47%. Turning ad experiences into games keeps customers engaged longer and boosts interaction.
Case Study: Mountain Dew's Court Vision
Mountain Dew’s Court Vision campaign used both AR and VR, allowing fans to engage with the game virtually and physically. This increased brand loyalty and customer interaction.
Good Kids' Expertise in Immersive Marketing
At Good Kids, we specialize in bringing brands to life through immersive content. Whether through virtual activations or interactive experiences, we seamlessly integrate AR, VR, and gamification into campaigns that drive results.
Good Kids tip to stay ahead of Immersive and Interactive Content (AR, VR, and Gamification): Invest in creating hybrid AR experiences that blend physical and digital worlds seamlessly. For example, consider using AR for virtual product try-ons combined with physical in-store pickups. Also, explore developing a branded AR lens on Snapchat or Instagram to encourage user-generated content and engagement.
3. Influencer Marketing Evolution: From Celebrities to Micro-Influencers
Influencer marketing has shifted from celebrity endorsements to a more authentic, targeted approach—enter the era of micro-influencers. These influencers may have smaller audiences but are more engaged, which resonates with consumers seeking real, relatable connections.
🌟 Celebrities
- ❌ Expensive to hire
- ❌ Less personal connection with followers
- ❌ Often seen as less authentic
💡 Micro-Influencers
- ✅ Trusted by 82% of consumers
- ✅ More cost-effective (10K–100K followers)
- ✅ Build genuine, personal connections
Case Study: VON D Shoes
By leveraging micro-influencers, VON D Shoes built strong trust and dramatically boosted brand visibility. The campaign, shot entirely in Kat Von D's Los Angeles home, drew inspiration from old Hollywood and haute couture, bringing elegance and allure to the forefront.
The influencers shared personal stories about the campaign's creative process, including the underwater photography that featured models posing in VON D Shoes’ top-selling products like the Swoon and Coven Buckle shoes. This authenticity resonated with their audience, resulting in higher engagement and a significant increase in sales.
Results:
Garnered over 10M organic digital interactions, with an additional 5M in paid social media.
The brand's annual revenues skyrocketed by 500%, solidifying VON D Shoes as a cult favorite in the fashion industry.
Featured in major outlets such as Newsweek, LA Times, and TMZ, the campaign generated massive buzz
Good Kids' Tailored Influencer Campaigns
At Good Kids, we tailor our influencer campaigns to meet your brand’s goals. Whether working with macro or micro-influencers, our strategies are authentic and data-driven, ensuring genuine connections with your audience.
Good Kids tip to stay ahead of Micro-Influencers in Marketing: Create a "micro-influencer ambassador program" where you engage smaller influencers not just for one-off campaigns but for ongoing collaborations. Offer them early access to products or exclusive behind-the-scenes content, allowing them to build authentic storytelling around your brand over time. Use tools like AspireIQ to track and manage these relationships effectively.
Our experiential marketing projects, such as pop-up shops, are especially effective when paired with influencer campaigns. Events like H&M’s in-store pop-ups and the Staktd market experience offer influencers a chance to connect both online and offline, creating longer-lasting impressions.
4. Social Commerce and Shoppable Ads
Social media is no longer just for content—it’s a thriving marketplace. Social commerce allows consumers to buy directly through platforms like Instagram and TikTok, and this trend is expected to reach $8.5 trillion by 2030.
🛍️ The Impact of Shoppable Ads on Advertising
Shoppable ads embed product links directly into posts, making it easy for users to buy without leaving the platform.
Social media users spend over 2 hours daily on platforms, giving brands ample opportunity to drive conversions.
Platforms like TikTok Shop and Instagram Checkout allow for seamless purchasing, encouraging impulse buys.
Good Kids' Expertise in Social Commerce
At Good Kids, we don’t just follow social commerce trends—we help shape them. By integrating shoppable ads with creative content, we design campaigns that increase engagement and maximize ROI. Our tailored approach ensures that your brand not only reaches its target audience but also converts them into loyal customers.
Good Kids tip to stay ahead of Social Commerce and Shoppable Ads: Pilot interactive live shopping experiences on platforms like Instagram Live or Facebook Live, where influencers or team members demo products in real-time, allowing customers to shop instantly. Partner with micro-influencers to host these events, adding a layer of authenticity and direct engagement.
Read more in our article: Social Commerce: The Fusion of Social Media and E-Commerce.
5. Data Privacy and the End of Third-Party Cookies
With growing privacy concerns and laws like GDPR and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), brands must now navigate the world without third-party cookies, which are being phased out by 2024.
🔐 TL;DR: Data Privacy Changes
🚫 Third-Party Cookies Disappearing
Third-party cookies are being phased out, forcing brands to shift to first-party data collection strategies.
✅ The Privacy-First Approach
Brands are now focusing on first-party data for more reliable and personalized marketing.
- 🎁 Loyalty programs that incentivize users to share data.
- 🔒 Transparent data collection builds consumer trust.
Brands must now focus on first-party data, which comes directly from consumers via website interactions, email sign-ups, and social media engagement. This data is more reliable and permission-based, allowing for more personalized marketing.
Key strategies include:
Loyalty programs that encourage users to share their data in exchange for exclusive offers.
Transparent data collection practices that build trust with consumers.
Good Kids' Privacy-First Solutions
At Good Kids, we help brands develop compliant and effective first-party data strategies. We focus on building trust while delivering personalized marketing solutions.
Good Kids tip to stay ahead of Data Privacy and First-Party Data: Offer a "privacy-first loyalty program" where users actively opt in to share data in exchange for personalized offers or unique experiences. Promote transparency by hosting webinars or content series explaining how your brand handles and protects consumer data, increasing trust while remaining compliant with GDPR and CCPA regulations.
Learn more about our. data-first strategies.
6. Short-Form Video and Visual Dominance
With platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, short-form video has become the dominant form of content, offering quick, engaging visuals that resonate with modern consumers.
📱 Why Short-Form Video Is Effective
Short videos (under 60 seconds) cater to the 8-second attention span of the average consumer.
85% of businesses now use video as a marketing tool, with short-form being the most popular format.
By 2024, video content is expected to account for 82% of all consumer internet traffic.
Good Kids' Video Expertise
At Good Kids, we excel in creating engaging motion graphics and short-form content for digital marketing campaigns. Our H&M Mother’s Day campaign is a perfect example of how short-form video can drive significant engagement.
Good Kids tip to stay ahead of Short-Form Video Content: Develop a series of “bite-sized brand stories” on TikTok or Reels where your team or customers share quick, personal stories about your products. Focus on high-volume posting to keep up with rapid consumption, and leverage TikTok’s trending audio for brand-friendly challenges that customers can participate in to extend your reach organically.
7. Hyper-Personalization in Advertising
Consumers expect personalized experiences tailored specifically to their behaviors and preferences. Hyper-personalization allows brands to create customized content and ads that reflect individual customer journeys.
Why Personalization Matters
A study by Epsilon shows that 80% of consumers are more likely to make a purchase when offered personalized experiences. Personalization boosts engagement, conversions, and loyalty.
Key benefits include:
Tailored content feels more relevant to users, increasing engagement rates.
Personalized offers lead to higher purchase rates, driving more conversions.
Good Kids' Personalized Strategies
At Good Kids, we integrate AI-powered personalization into our paid media strategies, delivering campaigns that connect on a deeper level.
Good Kids tip to stay ahead of Hyper-Personalization in Ads: Leverage geo-targeting and time-sensitive personalization in your ads. For example, show dynamic ads that change based on local weather conditions or regional events, offering highly relevant promotions. Explore partnerships with platforms like AdRoll or Criteo to create hyper-local, personalized campaigns that feel unique to each user.
8. Programmatic Advertising and Real-Time Bidding
Programmatic advertising is revolutionizing how businesses buy and sell ad space. By automating the process and using real-time bidding (RTB), brands can target audiences more efficiently, ensuring ads reach the right users at the right time.
Key Benefits of Programmatic Advertising
Precise targeting with real-time data
Automated adjustments for better campaign performance
Cost-efficiency by eliminating manual processes
By 2023, over 90% of digital display ads were bought programmatically, and this figure continues to grow as brands adopt data-driven ad strategies.
How Major Brands Are Benefiting
Brands like Procter & Gamble have cut ad costs by 30% while improving reach and engagement through real-time bidding. Programmatic advertising’s ability to adjust in real-time maximizes ROI and ensures audience relevance.
Good Kids tip to stay ahead of Programmatic Advertising and RTB: Focus on contextual programmatic advertising by utilizing AI tools to serve ads that are placed in highly relevant content environments (e.g., articles or videos related to your industry). This reduces ad fatigue and enhances brand trust. Incorporate real-time adjustments for creative elements to ensure ads feel timely and dynamic.
Good Kids’ Expertise in Programmatic Advertising
At Good Kids, we specialize in programmatic media buying, ensuring your ads are optimized for efficiency and impact. Let us help you fine-tune your campaigns for maximum results.
9. The Importance of Experiential Marketing
Experiential marketing gives brands a unique opportunity to build personal, memorable connections with their audience. By creating immersive, hands-on experiences—like pop-up shops and live events—brands can foster deeper customer loyalty that traditional advertising can't match.
What’s New in Experiential Marketing
The resurgence of pop-up shops and live events is a major trend, offering real-world experiences that leave lasting impressions. According to EventTrack, 91% of consumers are more likely to purchase after a brand experience. With the integration of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), brands are enhancing these interactions, blending digital and physical experiences.
Examples of Successful Activations
Brands like H&M have leveraged experiential marketing, as seen with their Isla Hennes pop-up, which blended sustainability with engaging interactions, strengthening consumer relationships.
Good Kids' Expertise in Experiential Marketing
At Good Kids, we specialize in creating brand activations that drive engagement and build buzz. From Toyota to Reebok, we’ve designed immersive experiences that boost foot traffic and deepen customer connections.
Good Kids tip to stay ahead of Experiential Marketing: Integrate wearable technology into experiential campaigns—such as NFC-enabled wristbands at events—that allow attendees to interact with digital content, participate in contests, or share on social media instantly. This offers an additional touchpoint and creates a digital footprint that lives beyond the physical experience.
Learn how Good Kids can elevate your experiential marketing and create lasting customer loyalty.
Adapting to the Future of Advertising with Good Kids
As the advertising and customers evolve, brands need to stay agile and embrace emerging trends such as AI-driven personalization, immersive content, and experiential marketing. These trends represent the future of advertising, where data-driven insights and creative execution combine to deliver the most effective and engaging campaigns.
Key Areas Where We Can Help
📊 Programmatic Advertising & Shoppable Ads
Reshaping how brands engage with customers and optimize ad spend.
🤝 Hyper-Personalization & Influencer Marketing
Helping build stronger, more authentic relationships with consumers.
🎉 Experiential Marketing
Creating real-world connections that extend beyond the digital sphere.
How Good Kids Can Help Brands Lead
At Good Kids, we help brands lead these trends, ensuring that your campaigns are both data-driven and creatively impactful.
Our expertise in emerging technologies, AR/VR, and influencer-driven campaigns means your brand will stay ahead of the curve.
Let Good Kids be your partner in crafting innovative solutions that defy expectations and help your brand create unforgettable marketing experiences.
Learn more about our creative process and how we can help here.