How Marketers Are Spending Their Money

Staying on top of the latest trends influencing your marketing budget is a full-time job. Many marketers started working on their budgets last fall. However, with artificial intelligence (AI) becoming more mainstream and changing consumer behaviors, it can be challenging to determine where business owners should allocate their marketing spend. At Brandtastic, we combed through data from various industry sectors to determine how marketers are spending their money. 

Following the Money

It’s not just how much you spend on marketing, it’s where to allocate those marketing dollars to get the highest return on investment (ROI) that matters the most. So, where is the smart money going in 2025? Based on industry analysis and emerging patterns, here’s a look at how marketers are allocating their marketing spend:

Digital Media 

Unsurprisingly, digital channels are getting the bulk of marketing budgets. It includes established mediums like search engine marketing (SEM), optimization (SEO), social media advertising, and content marketing. The focus is on creating seamless online experiences and attracting customers where they are most active.

 AI-Powered Marketing

With nearly 70% of marketers using AI, according to Influencer Marketing Hub, AI is now mainstream. So, what are marketers doing with AI? They are using it for: 

• Personalization: Delivering hyper-relevant content and offers based on user data.
• Automation: Streamlining repetitive tasks like email marketing, ad bidding, and customer segmentation.
• Analytics & Insights: AI excels at processing vast amounts of data to better understand customer behavior, predict trends, and measure campaign effectiveness.
• Content Generation: AI acts as a virtual assistant to help draft copy, create visuals, and optimize content for different platforms. However, it’s important to note that human oversight remains a critical part of the copywriting process. AI can assist in generating content, but it’s the human touch that brings creativity and originality to the table.

Content, Content, Content 

High-quality, valuable content remains king. Businesses are investing their marketing budgets in blogs, videos, podcasts, and interactive content for SEO to build authority, engage audiences, and improve brand awareness that increases customer lifetime value.

Search Engine Visibility

Appearing prominently on Google and other search engines is still essential even though marketers have to share the space with AI-generated search results. Allocating marketing spend in both paid search (PPC) and organic search (SEO) remains critical for capturing user intent and driving qualified traffic. Hiring an agency like Brandtastic is more important now than ever in developing strategies that take into account AI-driven search results and changing user query patterns.

Data Analytics & Measurement 

With the desire to prove ROI, marketers are doubling down on analytics platforms and expertise. Understanding campaign performance, attribution modeling, and customer journey mapping is essential for optimizing budgets and making informed decisions about where to spend their money.

Navigating these marketing trends successfully often requires the strategic thinking Brandtastic provides its clients. Throwing money at every new medium isn’t the answer. Success is understanding your specific audience, setting clear goals, and choosing the channels and tactics that align with your objectives – while rigorously measuring results.

We Help Brands Maximize Their Marketing Spending

Want to get the most ROI out of your marketing budget? Brandtastic is not just a digital marketing agency but your trusted partner in building an authentic online presence. We utilize a variety of strategies to enhance your brand’s visibility across Google and other search engines to engage your audience, drive business growth, and maximize ROI in every dollar spent. When your website strategy yields measurable results that turn clicks into customers, it becomes your best salesperson. We are committed to helping you maximize your marketing investment and customer lifetime value for your campaigns in 2025 and beyond.

Since 1998, Frank Motola, President of Brandtastic, has been helping clients attract more customers and profits through their websites. With our proven track record, you can trust us to help turn clicks into customers! Contact us today.