Top branded content trends to watch in 2025

New Delhi: Brands are no longer just sponsors; they’re storytellers, influencers, and cultural catalysts. Now, the audience wants entertainment with a side of brand value, and they want it served seamlessly. 

Brands have officially entered the era where every brand is a potential Netflix show, a trending reel, or even the plot twist in your favourite web series.  

As consumers scroll, swipe, and binge like never before, brands are tapping into the goldmine of creativity, crafting content that doesn’t just sell but resonates. 

So, what’s next? Hyper-personalised narratives, immersive experiences, community building, quality content and content partnerships will shake up traditional storytelling. 

While the last story highlighted trends that shaped branded content in 2025, BuzzInContent.com now dives into the biggest branded content trends poised to dominate in 2025!

Trying before buying

Consumers are already gulping down on a spoonful of ‘future’ when trying on what frames look good on their face or what apparel suits their “vibe.” This immersive experience is the building block to the branded content edifice of the year 2025.

As Sudeep Subash, Co-founder & Chief Revenue Officer, Collective Artists Network, explained, “With advancements in AR and VR, branded content will become more hands-on. In 2025, brands will create experiences like virtual product trials and gamified interactions to engage audiences more deeply.” 

Subash believes that such approaches will exist more glaringly in industries like fashion, automotive, and travel, where the physical and digital will immerse together. 

Shradha Agarwal, Co-founder and Global CEO, Grapes Worldwide, added, “Advanced technologies such as AI, ML, etc. have already made a strong inroad into the sector; in 2025, it is very likely that industry players will take it to the next level.”

AI: Sidekick or Superhero?

Industry experts are yet to define the character arc of the ‘mighty AI.’ Will it be a sidekick or crash down the traditional walls of marketing like a superhero, only time will tell. 

Pratik Gupta, Co-founder, FoxyMoron & Zoo Media, quipped, “ From real-time customer support to tailored recommendations, AI will make interactions feel human and meaningful. Chatbots and virtual assistants will evolve into sophisticated, brand-aligned tools that can engage with customers on a much deeper level. And the result is incredible.” 

While according to Gupta, AI and ML are powerful tools for brands to deliver campaigns and experiences that feel personal and intuitive, Ashiish V Patil has a slightly different outlook towards it all.  

Patil, a director, producer, writer, author, and currently heading ‘Isspeshal,’ said, “AI’s everywhere. Your Happy Diwali messages, Cousin Pinky’s wedding invite, even your dad’s jokes. Which is why brands will start zigging where others zag.” 

To substantiate, Patil talks about Dove. The brand has already pledged no AI-generated women in its communications. “Expect more brands to go for raw, unfiltered, and gloriously analogue vibe,” Patil stated. 

Patil’s statement comes on the back of a broader consumer craving for “slowing down,” “dumb phones,” and “silent retreats.”  

He wittily remarked, “If it looks like a human struggled over it, people will pay double. Welcome back, sweat equity; you’ve been missed.”

Sabka Content, Sabka Vikas

It was in the times of yore when you needed not worry about “Log Kya Kahenge?” In this day and age, brands care about exactly that and are steering towards more community-driven and values-centric content. 

Throwing light on the matter, Subash commented, “People increasingly support brands that reflect their values. In 2025, more brands will focus on stories that address social, environmental, and cultural issues. For example, initiatives like Terribly Tiny Tales’ Men in Love showed how storytelling can challenge norms and build strong communities.”

According to him, brands will prioritise purpose-driven stories and encourage audiences to join and amplify their messages.  

Chiming in on this, Gupta said that the era of one-way communication is over. “Brands will increasingly focus on building communities where customers can feel a sense of belonging and connection. “Whether through participatory campaigns, user-generated content, or exclusive groups, brands will aim to foster interaction and engagement.”

Gupta continued saying that this will go hand in hand with a more evolved approach to influencer partnerships. 

“Rather than short-term endorsements, brands will collaborate with influencers over the long term, co-creating content that feels authentic to the influencer’s style and audience. This authenticity will drive deeper connections and higher engagement,” he articulated. 

Size matters!

Taking a strong stance for long-form content, Patil stated, “Let’s kill the myth that attention spans are dead.” 

“If Barbie taught us anything—besides the fact that Ryan Gosling Ken, er, can do anything—it’s that long-form content slaps. No wonder Nike, Cheetos, Blackberry, Tetris and Kellogg’s Pop Tarts followed,” Patil argued. 

He suggested, “Whether it’s a feature-length film, a binge-worthy miniseries, or a music video packed IP, brands will ditch or HAVE TO look beyond the 30-second TVC for stories that let audiences lean in for hours.” 

He wraps up, saying, “It’s not the length but the strength of the content.”

As far as technology goes, according to Agarwal, a more niche approach is expected in 2025, “where programmatic advertising, predictive analytics, hyper-personalisation, etc. will be driving the optimization of ads or campaigns for effective performance.”

Summarising aptly, Shrenik Gandhi, Co-founder & CEO, White Rivers Media, said, “Personalisation and video content emerged as key drivers of engagement. In 2025, hyper-personalisation powered by AI and shoppable video content will further revolutionise the industry, creating seamless and immersive consumer experiences.

All in all, brands will have to find a perfect balance between efficiency, creativity, and technology to make a mark on the minds of the consumers. The industry believes these trends will shape the future of branded content, making it more meaningful, personal, and impactful than ever before.