20 Experts Share Their Top Digital Marketing Strategies for 2025

Digital marketing in 2025? Oh, it’s going to be a wild ride!

I know keeping up with every new trend can feel like a full-time job.

Lucky for you, I’ve rounded up some of the brightest minds in the industry to share their top strategies for the year.

Think of it as your cheat sheet to stay ahead of the game.

From recession-proofing your marketing budget to leveraging AI like a pro, these experts know what’s coming.

And trust me, you’ll want to take notes.

Forget long-winded predictions – these are quick, actionable digital marketing strategies that’ll help you thrive.

Ready to dive in? Let’s get straight to the good stuff!

TL;DR

• John Rush (24 Businesses): Maximize SEO results with minimal effort by focusing on high-impact tactics like directory domains, viral backlinks, and small tools.
• Tim Soulo (Ahrefs): Stand out in competitive niches by creating high-quality, differentiated content that delivers value over quantity.
• Irina Maltseva (Aura): Shift from traditional SEO to creating unique, expert-driven content that thrives in a zero-click environment.
• Anna York: Build a personal brand through consistent posting and persistence, even when short-term results seem limited.
• Max Roslyakov (Xamsor): View negative reviews as positive signals of quality control, especially when maintaining high content standards.
• Darren Shaw (Whitespark.ca): Boost small business growth through local SEO optimization, improving visibility and lead generation.
• Azmaira Maker (Aspiring Families Center): Recession-proof your digital marketing by focusing on high-ROI, low-investment strategies to navigate uncertain times.
• Patrick Lum (AsteroidX): Prioritize bottom-of-funnel advertising for measurable ROI during periods of economic uncertainty.
• Rengie Arnejo Wisper (Ever Wallpaper): Build community-driven marketing that aligns with consumer values to foster long-term loyalty.
• Vanda Mahas (Code200.io): Share knowledge through community-driven initiatives to build trust and foster growth in niche markets.
• Heather Thomson (Consumer Mindset Expert): Focus on purpose-driven marketing and align your brand with meaningful causes to build stronger connections.
• Eleanor Fletcher (The Best Brisbane): Prioritize equity and intersectionality in marketing campaigns to resonate with a diverse audience.
• Garit Boothe (Digital Honey): Promote diversity in leadership and decision-making roles to drive inclusive marketing strategies.
• Cathal Melinn (Digital Basics): Embrace automation in PPC and AI marketing strategies to optimize efficiency without losing the human touch.
• Tomasz Niezgoda (Surfer): Create inclusive content that resonates with a wide audience, driving long-term engagement.
• Dmitro Sokhach (Admix Global): Balance human creativity with AI for efficient, high-quality content that scales.
• Phelan Gowing-Mikellides (Digital Trails): Adapt your digital PR strategy to AI-driven changes, focusing on authentic content that ranks well with algorithms.
• David Ellis (Teranga): Build trust through authentic, experience-driven content that fosters long-term relationships.
• Jeff Romero (Octiv Digital): Use competency frameworks to reduce bias in hiring and promotion, building stronger and more inclusive teams.
• Stephanie Horton (Google): Leverage augmented reality (AR) to create immersive, engaging customer experiences.

1. John Rush (Founder of 24 startups)

Strategy: Squeeze 99% of results with just 1% effort through unconventional, time-saving techniques.

John Rush recommends mastering a “lazy” approach that focuses on achieving maximum results with minimal time investment.

For example, when it comes to SEO, he specializes in leveraging counterintuitive strategies, such as using directory domains for high-traffic keywords and getting organic search boosts by mentioning, rather than linking, his products.

John’s digital marketing strategies include leveraging viral social media backlinks, which he has proven to be an effective way to quickly boost traffic.

Additionally, he recommends building small tools for niche keywords, automating content creation with AI, and cross-linking articles across multiple domains.

By consistently spending just a few hours each week on these tactics, John demonstrates how even amateur SEOs can achieve substantial success without heavy investment in time or resources.

2. Tim Soulo (CMO at Ahrefs)

Strategy: Focus on creating high-quality, differentiated content that provides VALUE.

Tim Soulo’s digital marketing tip for 2025 revolves around differentiating your content in an increasingly crowded digital space.

He highlights the success of the Ahrefs Podcast, which ranked in the top 10% globally with fewer than 20 episodes.

Tim’s takeaway is that most content – especially in podcasts – doesn’t reach the same level of quality, making it easier for standout efforts to excel.

His advice for marketers is clear: focus on creating high-quality, unique content experiences and offer value and insight rather than following the same playbook everyone else is using.

By doing so, brands can carve out their own space in competitive niches, whether through podcasts, blogs, or other digital channels.

3. Irina Maltseva (Growth Advisor at Aura)

Strategy: Shift from traditional SEO to unique, expert-driven content for the zero-click world.

Irina Maltseva emphasizes that with Google’s AI Overviews and zero-click SERP features, old SEO strategies are losing their effectiveness.

To succeed, she advises creating content that offers new insights, not just rehashed information. Involving industry experts from the start ensures credibility and thought leadership.

Irina also recommends focusing on video and rich media to boost engagement and create content that can be repurposed across platforms.

Her strategy shifts from solely relying on SEO to building a strong brand across multiple channels, with success measured by engagement and loyalty, not just traffic.

4. Anna York (Freelance Senior Digital Marketing Consultant)

Strategy: Leverage consistency and persistence to drive long-term business growth.

With over 74,600 LinkedIn followers, Anna York knows that success didn’t come overnight – rather, it was the result of steady, consistent posting, even when engagement dipped.

Anna shares that it took writing 47 posts before creating the one that went viral, reinforcing that every post, no matter how successful, plays a role in improving content style, learning the platform, and understanding the audience.

Her key takeaway is that drops in impressions are normal, and it’s the smaller, less noticeable posts that often have the biggest long-term impact.

5. Max Roslyakov (CEO, Xamsor)

Strategy: Use negative reviews and quality control as positive signals for business credibility.

Max Roslyakov highlights an unconventional yet insightful strategy – viewing a 1-star review as a positive indicator of quality.

When researching guest posting marketplaces, Max came across a 1-star Trustpilot review for Collaborator.pro, where a publisher complained about their website being removed due to AI-generated content.

Instead of seeing this as a red flag, Max viewed the removal as a strong signal of the platform’s commitment to quality, especially in light of Google’s crackdown on low-quality, AI-generated content after the Helpful Content Update.

His strategy emphasizes that platforms maintaining strict quality control – even at the risk of negative feedback – can be more trustworthy and reputable in the long run.

6. Darren Shaw (Founder, Whitespark.ca)

Strategy: Drive business growth through comprehensive local SEO optimization.

Darren Shaw shares the success story of Anne Kibler, a makeup artist whose business thrived after receiving local SEO support from Whitespark.

Darren’s approach involved several key elements: optimizing her Google Business Profile, creating an SEO-friendly website, and improving her lead management system.

The result? Anne experienced her best July ever in terms of bookings and inquiries.

Darren highlights the tangible impact that local SEO can have, not just on rankings and impressions, but on real business outcomes like lead generation and revenue growth.

His strategy underscores the importance of targeted local SEO efforts in driving visibility and success, especially for small businesses.

7. Azmaira Maker (Founder & Director, Aspiring Families Center)

Strategy: Recession-proof digital marketing with high-ROI, low-investment strategies.

Azmaira Maker, the founder and director of Aspiring Families Center, has a clear message for 2025: recession-proof your marketing strategy.

Her focus is on high-ROI, low-investment tactics that can weather economic storms.

According to her, the key lies in shifting marketing dollars towards efforts that are not only cost-effective but also deliver measurable returns.

Azmaira suggests doubling down on bottom-funnel activities, like targeting high-intent customers, to ensure every dollar counts.

In uncertain times, it’s all about getting the most bang for your buck, and her approach prioritizes stability without sacrificing growth.

Her strategies are perfect for marketers looking to maintain or even boost their performance with fewer resources.

8. Patrick Lum (Co-Founder & President, AsteroidX)

Strategy: Focus on bottom-of-funnel advertising to ensure measurable.

Patrick Lum, Co-Founder and President of AsteroidX, believes in taking a sharp focus on bottom-of-funnel advertising in 2025.

His strategy revolves around targeting high-intent shoppers – those already close to making a purchase.

Patrick emphasizes that, especially during uncertain economic times, brands need to prioritize campaigns that deliver measurable ROI.

By concentrating on bottom-funnel efforts, like keyword targeting on platforms such as Google and Amazon, marketers can ensure they’re investing in ads that convert.

For Patrick, it’s about cutting out the fluff and honing in on what works, ensuring every marketing dollar is maximized.

9. Rengie Arnejo Wisper (Co-Founder, Ever Wallpaper)

Strategy: Community-driven marketing focused on consumer values​.

Rengie Arnejo Wisper, Co-Founder of Ever Wallpaper, is all about building community in 2025.

His digital marketing strategies center on community-driven approaches, where brands build deep connections with consumer values.

Rengie emphasizes that today’s customers want to support businesses that align with their beliefs and make a positive impact.

He believes brands that build authentic relationships with their communities, rather than just selling products, will thrive.

It’s about showing consumers that their values matter and creating campaigns that resonate on a personal level.

Fostering these connections doesn’t just build loyalty – it drives long-term growth by turning customers into advocates.

10. Vanda Mahas (Marketing Strategist, Code200.io)

Strategy: Sharing knowledge through community-driven marketing initiatives.

Vanda Mahas, a marketing strategist at Code200.io, champions the power of community-driven marketing, especially through knowledge sharing.

She believes that today’s marketing community thrives on collaboration, where industry professionals openly share their insights and strategies.

Vanda sees this trend growing in 2025, with marketers hosting webinars, sharing case studies, and engaging in detailed discussions within their niches.

By creating these collaborative environments, brands can not only build trust but also foster innovation.

For Vanda, it’s all about learning from each other and lifting the entire community, helping everyone grow together.

This approach makes marketing not just about promotion but about building a smarter, more connected industry.

11. Heather Thomson (Consumer Mindset Expert)

Strategy: Focus on purpose-driven marketing and community engagement.

Heather Thomson, a leading consumer mindset expert, emphasizes the growing importance of purpose-driven marketing in 2025.

Her approach focuses on brands aligning their values with those of their audience and fostering genuine community engagement.

Heather believes that consumers today are looking for more than just products – they want to support companies that make a positive impact on the world.

By tapping into this mindset, brands can build deeper connections and loyalty.

Heather’s strategy encourages businesses to go beyond surface-level messaging and show authentic commitment to causes that resonate with their audience.

For her, it’s all about creating meaningful, purpose-driven campaigns that not only engage but inspire action.

12. Eleanor Fletcher (CEO, The Best Brisbane)

Strategy: Equity and intersectionality in digital marketing campaigns.

Eleanor Fletcher, CEO of The Best Brisbane, leads the charge in championing equity and intersectionality within digital marketing campaigns.

Her approach focuses on ensuring that marketing efforts fairly represent diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Eleanor stresses that brands must prioritize inclusivity, both in their internal teams and in their external messaging, to resonate with today’s consumers.

By fostering equity and addressing intersectionality, brands can create campaigns that connect more authentically with a broader audience.

Eleanor believes that this is no longer a “nice to have” but a necessity for brands that want to stay relevant and drive deeper engagement.

Her strategy ensures that every voice is heard, and no group is left behind.

13. Garit Boothe (CEO, Digital Honey)

Strategy: Emphasize diversity in leadership and decision-making roles.

Garit Boothe, CEO of Digital Honey, advocates for greater diversity in leadership and decision-making roles within digital marketing.

His strategy emphasizes that diverse leadership teams are key to creating campaigns that reflect the real-world experiences of varied consumer groups.

Garit believes that when companies prioritize diversity at the top, it leads to more inclusive decision-making, which naturally flows into marketing strategies that resonate with broader audiences.

By encouraging diversity in leadership, businesses can better understand and engage with the diverse customer base they serve.

This approach not only builds stronger, more relatable brands but also fosters innovation and growth through a variety of perspectives.

14. Cathal Melinn (Owner @ Digital Basics)

Strategy: Positive attitudes toward automation in PPC and AI-based marketing strategies​.

Cathal Melinn, Owner of Digital Basics, is all about embracing automation in PPC and AI-based marketing strategies.

His approach encourages marketers to adopt a positive attitude toward automation tools that can optimize campaign performance with greater efficiency.

Cathal believes that AI has evolved to the point where it can handle tedious tasks like bid management, audience segmentation, and data analysis – allowing marketers to focus on higher-level strategy.

By leveraging these tools, businesses can reduce manual effort while increasing precision and scale in their advertising.

Automation isn’t about replacing human creativity, but enhancing it, enabling marketers to make smarter, data-driven decisions that boost results.

15. Tomasz Niezgoda (Head of Marketing, Surfer)

Strategy: Create inclusive content that resonates with broader audiences​.

Tomasz Niezgoda, Head of Marketing at Surfer, focuses on creating inclusive content that resonates with a broad range of audiences.

His strategy highlights the importance of understanding the diverse needs and experiences of consumers and incorporating these insights into digital marketing efforts.

Tomasz believes that inclusivity in content creation goes beyond simply avoiding stereotypes – it’s about actively addressing the unique challenges and interests of different communities.

By doing so, brands can foster deeper connections with their audience and build long-lasting trust.

Inclusive content is not only a moral responsibility but also a strategic advantage that can expand a brand’s reach and relevance in today’s global marketplace.

16. Dmitro Sokhach (Founder, Admix Global)

Strategy: Leveraging human creativity alongside AI to maintain content quality​.

Dmitro Sokhach, Founder of Admix Global, advocates for blending human creativity with AI to maintain high-quality content.

His strategy revolves around using AI to handle repetitive and data-heavy tasks, such as keyword optimization and performance analysis, while leaving the creative aspects in the hands of human marketers.

Dmitro believes that while AI is powerful in processing data at scale, it lacks the emotional intelligence and nuanced understanding required to create content that truly resonates with audiences.

By striking a balance between automation and human creativity, brands can ensure their content is not only efficient but also engaging and meaningful.

This hybrid approach allows businesses to scale their content efforts without sacrificing the personal touch that connects with consumers.

17. Phelan Gowing-Mikellides (Business Development Manager, Digital Trails)

Strategy: Shifting online presence strategies due to AI-driven changes in digital PR​.

Phelan Gowing-Mikellides, Business Development Manager at Digital Trails, sees AI-driven changes reshaping digital PR in 2025.

His strategy focuses on adapting online presence strategies to accommodate these shifts.

As AI becomes more integrated into search engine algorithms and content distribution channels, Phelan believes that businesses need to rethink how they approach backlink profiles, SEO, and digital outreach.

He emphasizes that traditional PR tactics may not be enough in a world where AI can evaluate and rank content faster and more accurately than before.

The key is staying ahead of these technological changes by leveraging AI insights while still focusing on authentic, high-quality PR efforts that resonate with both algorithms and audiences.

18. David Ellis (Founder, Teranga)

Strategy: Build trust by creating authentic, experience-driven content​.

David Ellis, Founder of Teranga, believes that the foundation of effective digital marketing lies in building trust through authentic, experience-driven content.

His strategy focuses on creating content that reflects real-world experiences and resonates with the audience on a personal level.

In his opinion, consumers are quick to spot inauthenticity, so brands must prioritize transparency and genuine storytelling.

By sharing meaningful stories, case studies, and customer testimonials, brands can foster trust and build deeper connections with their audience.

The ultimate goal is to create content that doesn’t just sell but builds lasting relationships based on trust and credibility.

19. Jeff Romero (Founder, Octiv Digital)

Strategy: Use competency frameworks to lessen bias in hiring and promoting digital marketers​.

Jeff Romero, Founder of Octiv Digital, advocates for using competency frameworks to reduce bias in the hiring and promotion of digital marketers.

His digital marketing strategies emphasize the importance of structured, objective criteria in evaluating campaigns, ensuring decisions are driven by data and performance rather than subjective opinions.

Jeff believes that adopting these frameworks leads to more diverse and inclusive marketing teams, which in turn fosters creativity and innovation.

By creating a clear, competency-based path for career progression, companies can promote fairness and ensure that opportunities are given to those who demonstrate the most potential.

20. Stephanie Horton (Global Marketing Director, Google)

Strategy: Implement augmented reality (AR) for immersive customer experiences​.

Stephanie Horton, Global Marketing Director at Google, is a strong proponent of using augmented reality (AR) to create immersive customer experiences.

Her strategy emphasizes that as AR technology becomes more accessible, brands should leverage it to engage customers in unique, interactive ways.

Stephanie sees AR as a tool to blend the digital and physical worlds, allowing consumers to interact with products in real time, whether in-store or from the comfort of their homes.

From virtual try-ons to AR-powered product demonstrations, she believes this technology can enhance the customer journey by making it more dynamic and personalized.

For Stephanie, AR is not just a trend but a transformative way for brands to connect with their audiences in a more engaging and memorable way.

To Sum Up

So, here’s the deal: digital marketing strategies in 2025 will focus on smart approaches that deliver maximum results with minimal effort.

We’ve covered everything from automating your PPC campaigns to building personal brands one post at a time.

The experts?

They’ve dropped some serious knowledge, like using viral tweets for SEO boosts (thanks, John Rush) or leveraging AI for content creation without losing that human touch (shoutout to Dmitro Sokhach).

What’s the big takeaway? It’s all about consistency and quality.

You don’t need to hit a home run every time, but you’ve got to keep swinging (Anna York gets it).

Whether you’re optimizing local SEO like Darren Shaw or focusing on purpose-driven content, persistence is key.

Keep learning, stay flexible, and always focus on adding real value. That’s how you win in 2025.