Wasn’t it just yesterday we were enjoying mid-year team outings on the golf course or with a beer in hand at the ballpark? How exactly did it become 2025 planning time? As the calendar flip races upon us, it’s time to once again check in on your marketing game plan. Truth be told, pivoting seems to be as prevalent as planning these days as opportunities and challenges come hard and fast. And yet, the end of year remains a good time to pause and take a look around. The ODEA-ites have rounded up their top tips as we all buckle up for what appears to be a wild ride in 2025.
Stay connected. AI is definitely changing how we work – that’s no secret. But as more tech comes into our daily lives, people are really starting to crave those genuine, human connections. Looking ahead to 2025, let AI handle some of those time-consuming tasks we get bogged down with (like data analysis and repetitive work) and use that extra time to actually connect with people. Instead of just pushing out content, take time to share real stories, jump into conversations, and be honest about what your company believes in. It’s kind of ironic when you think about it – we’re using technology to help us be more human. But that’s exactly the point – it’s about using these tools to free up time for building real relationships, not replacing them. – Hassan
“Content is king.” That line is just as true today as when Bill Gates wrote about it in 1996. But in 2025, content looks a lottt different than it did back then. It’s not just blogs and articles anymore—it’s videos, podcasts, interactive experiences, and social media that feel real and engaging. Content is still important for brands but it’s not just about cranking out more stuff. Now more than ever, it’s about making content that feels personal, connects with people, and tells a story they actually care about. So, as you start ramping up for 2025, don’t just create content for the sake of it. Focus on making content that matters – quality over quantity. – Chelsi
Prioritize protection. We all have a password that we use for a lot of our accounts. Or maybe you have a few you switch between. I don’t know how many passwords I have seen that is the company name and then a couple of numbers. This is an extremely dangerous practice. With every data leak we see the fallout gets worse and worse. We suggest password managers like Dashlane or 1Password. They create high security passwords and remember them for you while allowing you to share passwords securely across your team. Your future self will thank you for avoiding the headache of restoring or trying to regain access to your account. – JJ
Why should they care? The start of a new year is a great time to step back and re-commit to best practices. Revisit your target audiences and remind yourself of their needs and communication preferences. Then connect with them in ways that matter using branded content that highlights your product or service in all the places where they access information. – Susan
Use AI for SEO. For 2025, use AI tools to get a better grasp on what people are searching for and why. Tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs and Moz have AI features that can help you find the topics your audience is interested in. Plus, AnswerThePublic can show you the questions people ask through voice search, so you can create content that answers them. Using these tools can make it easier to create content that matches what people are actually looking for. – Sue
Be consistent! Companies’ colors, messaging, and the way they interact with their customers are the backbone for not only building trust, but more importantly maintaining it. We all want to feel connected so be consistent in your tone and voice so that customers can feel connected to you and your brand.– Emily L.
Make sure it’s measurable. It’s important your marketing efforts include measurable goals or KPIs (key performance indicators) and tracking mechanisms or analytics tools. That way, you’ll know what’s working and can tweak things as needed to get even better results. Without that, it’s hard to tell if your efforts are really paying off. – Andrea
Google yourself. We all Google a company or person when we are introduced, referred or are swayed by their content to check them out. But when was the last time you voyeured at your own company via the lens of a new contact? (And if you don’t like what you see, you know who to call for some TLC!) – Patty