Listrak, the leading person-first marketing platform for retailers, has released its 2025 Cross-Channel Benchmark Report, offering data-driven insights into evolving retail marketing trends. Analyzing 14 e-commerce verticals, the report highlights a significant rise in email and SMS messaging volume, shifts in consumer engagement strategies, and the growing role of AI-driven intelligence in marketing.

As competition intensifies and brand loyalty declines, retailers are adapting strategies to optimize campaign performance and drive higher conversions.

Findings from the 2025 Report

1. Surge in Retail Messaging Volume

• Email volume increased by 43%, while SMS messaging skyrocketed by 93% YOY as brands fought for consumer attention.

• Brands focused on re-engagement strategies, leading to a 163% increase in send volume for dormant subscribers.

• Organic list growth contributed to a 5% rise in email and a 20% increase in SMS subscriber bases.

2. Rising Adoption of SMS for Engagement & Conversions

• The SMS Welcome Series conversion rate (CVR) rose by 26%, reflecting growing consumer preference for mobile-first communication.

• Revenue per send (RPS) for SMS grew by 17% YOY, reinforcing its effectiveness as a high-converting channel.

• While email clickthrough rates (CTR) declined by 25% due to broader targeting, SMS CVR surged by 47%, signaling an engagement shift toward mobile interactions.

3. Increased Focus on Trigger Campaigns & Loyalty Programs

• Brands scaled trigger-based campaigns, with a 15X YOY increase in cross-channel send strategies.

• Loyalty programs gained traction as brands leveraged personalized messaging to retain customers.

• Automated campaign flows, such as welcome sequences, cart abandonment, and post-purchase follow-ups, played a vital role in customer retention.

4. Stronger Performance in Campaign Strategies

• Browse abandonment and post-purchase campaigns saw increased conversion rates across both email and SMS as brands personalized consumer journeys.

• Price drop alerts led to a 6% increase in email RPS, driven by heightened price sensitivity among shoppers.

• The shift toward real-time engagement and AI-driven predictive marketing improved overall campaign performance.

E-Commerce Verticals Analyzed

The 2025 Benchmark Report provides detailed performance insights by campaign type and industry vertical, including:

• Automotive

• Beauty

• Big Box Retail

• Children & Babies

• Electronics & Software

• Fashion

• Food & Beverage

• Health & Wellness

• Home & Furniture

• Pets

• S.H.A.F.T (Supplements, Hemp, Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco)

• Specialty Retail

• Sports & Outdoor

• Travel & Hospitality

Report Methodology & Data Scope

Listrak’s 2025 Cross-Channel Benchmarks are derived from:

• 125 billion email and SMS/MMS messages

• 1,000+ e-commerce brands

• Data collected from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024

This comprehensive dataset equips retailers with actionable insights to refine their marketing strategies and stay competitive in a fast-evolving digital landscape.

The findings from Listrak’s 2025 Cross-Channel Benchmark Report underscore the importance of data-driven, omnichannel marketing strategies. As retailers increase messaging volume and adopt AI-powered personalization, email and SMS remain critical tools for driving engagement and conversions.

For brands seeking to compare performance, optimize cross-channel strategies, and enhance customer retention, Listrak’s benchmark insights serve as an essential roadmap for success in 2025.

Influencer marketing is evolving rapidly, driven by changing consumer behavior and industry dynamics. As digital audiences demand authenticity, brands must rethink their strategies to foster trust, engagement, and long-term partnerships.

Julius by Triller has released its highly anticipated ‘Influencer Marketing Report: 2025 Emerging Trends’, identifying four key trends that will define the future of influencer marketing. These insights provide a blueprint for brands looking to refine their influencer strategies in an increasingly competitive digital ecosystem.

Influencer Marketing Trends for 2025

1. The Trust Factor: Authenticity Above All

• Consumers prioritize genuine, transparent storytelling over overly curated brand messaging.

• Influencers who share real-life experiences and honest product reviews gain stronger audience trust.

• Brands must vet creators carefully, ensuring their values align with authentic storytelling and ethical marketing.

2. Small but Mighty: Micro & Nano Creators Drive Engagement

• Micro (10K-100K followers) and nano (1K-10K followers) influencers generate higher engagement rates than macro-influencers.

• These creators cultivate tight-knit, loyal communities, fostering deep audience connections.

• Brands should prioritize engagement over reach, partnering with smaller, niche influencers for higher conversion rates.

3. Let the Community Create: The Power of UGC

• User-generated content (UGC) is revolutionizing influencer marketing, boosting credibility and engagement.

• Consumers trust peer-driven recommendations more than direct brand messaging.

• Successful campaigns leverage UGC to amplify brand storytelling and encourage organic advocacy.

4. Go Beyond One-Off Campaigns: Invest in Long-Term Relationships

• Short-term influencer collaborations are being replaced by sustained brand-influencer partnerships.

• Long-term collaborations foster deeper trust between influencers and their audiences, leading to higher ROI for brands.

• Brands must co-create content strategies with influencers, integrating them into ongoing marketing efforts for greater impact.

Expert Insights on the Future of Influencer Marketing

"As consumers demand more authenticity and meaningful engagement, brands must shift their influencer marketing strategies to focus on trust, long-term relationships, and community-driven content," said Stefan Mayo, SVP of Sales at Triller.

The 2025 Influencer Marketing Report serves as a strategic guide for brands looking to stay ahead in the evolving digital marketing landscape.

The influencer marketing space is shifting towards greater authenticity, deeper community engagement, and sustainable brand partnerships. By focusing on micro-influencers, UGC, and long-term collaborations, brands can build trust, increase engagement, and drive higher conversions in 2025.

The entertainment industry is at a turning point. While traditional subscription-based streaming services (SVODs) remain popular, younger audiences—Gen Zs and millennials—are shifting towards free, ad-supported content and social media platforms for their entertainment. According to Deloitte’s 19th Annual Digital Media Trends Survey, rising subscription costs, personalized content on social platforms, and the influence of digital creators are driving a new era of media consumption.

Findings from Deloitte’s Digital Media Trends Report

1. Rising Costs Are Driving Consumers Away from SVOD Services

• 47% of consumers believe they pay too much for streaming services.

• 41% say the content isn’t worth the price, a 5% increase from 2024.

• A $5 price hike could cause 60% of consumers to cancel their favorite streaming service.

• The average SVOD subscriber now pays $69 per month for four services, up 13% year-over-year.

What This Means

Streaming services are facing the same affordability issues that once plagued cable TV. Consumers, especially younger generations, are seeking lower-cost or free alternatives, making it harder for premium services to justify price hikes.

2. Free Ad-Supported TV (FAST) Gains Popularity

• Two-thirds of Gen Zs and millennials subscribe to free ad-supported streaming (FAST) services.

• 54% of SVOD subscribers now have at least one ad-supported tier, an 8% increase from 2024.

• Gen Xs and Boomers are also adopting ad-supported models, with 58% choosing these options.

What This Means

Ad-supported streaming is becoming a dominant alternative as consumers look for ways to reduce costs while maintaining access to content. Streaming providers need to balance pricing, content value, and ad experience to retain subscribers.

3. Social Media Overtakes Traditional TV in Relevance

• 56% of Gen Zs and 43% of millennials find social media content more relevant than TV shows or movies.

• 50% of younger audiences feel more connected to social media creators than TV personalities or actors.

• Gen Zs spend 54% more time on social platforms than the average consumer.

What This Means

Younger viewers gravitate toward short-form, algorithm-driven, and interactive content. Traditional TV and streaming services must integrate social-style engagement and personalization to stay relevant.

4. Social Media Drives Purchasing Decisions More Than Streaming Ads

• 63% of Gen Zs and 49% of millennials say social media ads and product reviews influence their purchases.

• In contrast, streaming video ads influence only 28% of Gen Zs and 25% of millennials.

• AI-powered algorithms help social platforms serve hyper-personalized content, making their advertising more effective.

What This Means

For brands and advertisers, social media is now a more effective marketing channel than traditional streaming platforms. Streaming services must enhance personalization and engagement to compete for ad revenue.

5. The “Churn and Return” Cycle Persists

• 39% of consumers have canceled at least one paid streaming service in the last six months.

• Over 50% of Gen Zs and millennials frequently cancel and switch services.

• 24% of consumers re-subscribed to a service they previously canceled within the last six months.

What This Means

Subscription fatigue is forcing streaming services to rethink customer retention strategies. Offering flexible pricing, exclusive content, and bundled services could help reduce churn.

6. AI and Personalization Are the Future of Entertainment

• AI-powered recommendations make social media content feel more personalized and engaging.

• Streaming services struggle to replicate this level of personalization at scale.

• Younger viewers demand tailored content experiences, favoring platforms that deliver highly relevant content efficiently.

What This Means

To compete with social media’s algorithm-driven engagement, streaming services must leverage AI to improve content discovery and ad targeting. Failure to do so risks losing younger audiences permanently.

Deloitte’s report highlights a fundamental shift in media consumption—from paid streaming to free, social-driven entertainment. Younger audiences prioritize affordability, relevance, and interactivity, challenging traditional streaming models.

To stay competitive, entertainment providers must:
Embrace ad-supported models to offer lower-cost or free options.
Enhance AI-driven content personalization to keep viewers engaged.
Integrate social media strategies and influencer partnerships.
Rethink pricing structures to prevent high churn rates.

The future of entertainment belongs to platforms that adapt to consumer preferences—and that means leveraging AI, social engagement, and value-driven content strategies.

Awakened Films, a renowned New Jersey-based video production company and woman-owned business, is expanding its expertise into social media marketing. With a reputation for emotional storytelling and high-quality visuals, the company now offers strategic social media services to help brands grow their digital presence on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Why This Expansion Matters

The digital landscape is shifting—businesses need more than just polished corporate videos. Today’s audiences engage with short-form, authentic, and platform-native content. Recognizing this, Awakened Films now helps brands not only create compelling videos but also strategically distribute and optimize them for social platforms.

"As digital marketing evolves, our clients need more than just great anchor videos; they need a partner who understands how to use the power of storytelling in short-form bites," said Gillian Schuler, Co-Founder and Senior Producer at Awakened Films.

New Social Media Marketing Services

1. Strategy-Driven Campaign Development

• Deep-dive research into target audiences, competitors, and platform trends.

• Strategic content planning for consistent and engaging social media presence.

2. Custom Video Content Creation

• Cinematic, scroll-stopping videos designed for social platforms.

• Content formats include behind-the-scenes, brand stories, and customer testimonials.

• Optimized for high engagement and brand storytelling.

3. Channel Management & Optimization

• Scheduling, posting, and caption creation tailored for each platform.

• Thumbnail design and quarterly performance tracking.

• Optimization for maximum reach and audience engagement.

Why Choose Awakened Films?

With nearly two decades of experience, Awakened Films has built a reputation for high-quality production and storytelling. Their impressive portfolio includes Church & Dwight, TripAdvisor, Summit Health, Columbia University, and the National Kidney Foundation.

"Awakened Films is well known for its corporate and commercial storytelling, but we're more than just a traditional production company," said Jason Schuler, Co-Founder and Creative Director. "As video specialists, we craft content that's not only visually compelling but also strategically built for social platforms—so our clients can show up consistently with minimal investment."

The Future of Social Media Marketing in NJ

For businesses looking to launch a campaign or build a long-term content strategy, Awakened Films is now the go-to social media marketing agency in New Jersey—blending heart, strategy, and cinematic quality in every post.

The Pedowitz Group (TPG), a leader in revenue marketing transformation, has officially reached Platinum-tier status in HubSpot’s Solutions Partner Program. This achievement highlights TPG’s expertise in enterprise CRM and marketing automation migrations, particularly in helping businesses transition from legacy platforms like Salesforce Marketing Cloud and Eloqua to HubSpot.

What This Means for Enterprises

HubSpot’s Solutions Partner Program is a global network of marketing, sales, customer service, and CRM implementation experts. Platinum-tier partners must meet strict performance benchmarks, demonstrating proven success in delivering scalable, high-impact solutions.

"At The Pedowitz Group, we focus on enabling companies to turn their marketing efforts into true revenue-driving engines," said Jeff Pedowitz, CEO and President of The Pedowitz Group. "Achieving Platinum status is a reflection of our team’s ability to deliver transformative enterprise solutions. This milestone underscores our commitment to helping businesses optimize their marketing, sales, and customer success functions with cutting-edge technology."

Achievements That Led to Platinum Status

1. Expertise in Large-Scale Enterprise Migrations

• Successfully transitioned enterprises from Salesforce Marketing Cloud and Eloqua to HubSpot.

• Ensured seamless CRM and marketing automation integrations to support revenue operations.

2. Revenue-Driven Marketing Transformation

• Helped enterprises modernize their marketing strategies to drive measurable revenue growth.

• Implemented data-driven customer engagement and automation solutions.

3. Expanding HubSpot Practice for Enterprise Clients

• Built a specialized team of HubSpot experts focused on complex CRM transitions.

• Developed custom solutions tailored to enterprise marketing and sales needs.

Industry Recognition and Future Growth

"We're happy to recognize The Pedowitz Group for their outstanding achievement of tiering to Platinum and excited to see them continue to grow in the HubSpot Solutions Partner Program," said Angela O’Dowd, Global Vice President, Solutions Partner Program at HubSpot.

By achieving Platinum-tier status, The Pedowitz Group reinforces its position as a trusted enterprise partner for businesses looking to streamline their revenue operations through best-in-class marketing automation and CRM strategies.

Orange 142, a division of Direct Digital Holdings and a leader in digital marketing for destination marketing organizations (DMOs), has announced a strategic partnership with Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company specializing in tourism industry analysis. This collaboration provides DMOs with sophisticated attribution capabilities and economic impact dashboards, allowing them to connect their paid marketing efforts directly to visitor metrics and economic outcomes.

"Destination marketers are under increasing pressure to demonstrate the ROI of every marketing dollar spent," said Lindsey Wilkes, SVP of Business Development at Orange 142. "Our partnership with Tourism Economics transforms how DMOs measure success, moving far beyond traditional metrics. This gives our clients the data they need to optimize campaigns, justify budgets, and secure stakeholder support for their tourism initiatives."

Benefits for Destination Marketing Organizations

Through this partnership, DMOs can access advanced attribution models and economic impact insights that directly tie their advertising and digital strategies to measurable outcomes.

1. Measuring the True Impact of Paid Media

• Total Visitors from Media – Track visitors arriving at destinations as a direct result of media campaigns.

• Total Visitors from Website – Measure real people who visit after engaging with a destination’s website.

• Cost Per 1000 Visitors – Assess marketing spend efficiency in driving actual visitation.

2. Understanding Visitor Behavior and Economic Contributions

• Average Length of Stay – Identify which campaigns drive longer visits and higher spending.

• Point of Interest Visitation – Track the most-visited attractions to refine promotional strategies.

• Economic Impact Data – Validate tourism’s contribution to local economies, including job creation and tax revenue.

The Role of Tourism Economics’ Media Impact Calculator (MIC)

Tourism Economics’ Media Impact Calculator (MIC) is at the core of this analysis, enabling DMOs to:

• Quantify the economic impact of their paid media campaigns.

• Optimize marketing efforts based on real-world performance data.

• Identify opportunities for increased engagement and visitation.

"Destinations must demonstrate returns on their paid marketing investments with increasing precision," said Chuck Davison, Vice President, Attribution Solutions at Tourism Economics. "The MIC unlocks a powerful solution that helps DMOs connect the dots between campaign touchpoints and real-world economic impact. We're proud that this partnership with Orange 142 equips destination marketers with more actionable intelligence to make tailored, informed decisions."

Why This Partnership Matters for DMOs

This collaboration is particularly valuable for tourism boards that rely on tax revenue and local business support. With detailed economic impact data, DMOs can:

• Secure funding by demonstrating tourism’s economic contributions.

• Show the impact of visitor spending on local business growth and job creation.

• Optimize campaigns to attract high-value visitors and increase overall tourism revenue.

"When starting our journey with Tourism Economics, it was exciting to know that Orange 142 was a partner so that we could get the full benefit of their robust offerings," shared Michael Snyder, Director of Operations at Visit South Jersey. "As a smaller DMO, it's nice to have a media partner that can help us walk through the attribution and will go over learnings and how we can best apply them to future campaigns."

By combining Orange 142’s expertise in digital marketing with Tourism Economics’ industry-leading data and attribution solutions, this partnership delivers unprecedented insights for DMOs. With access to more actionable intelligence, destination marketers can make data-driven decisions that maximize marketing ROI and drive sustainable tourism growth.

Wistia, a leading video marketing platform for businesses, has released its 2025 State of Video Report, offering insights from 14 million videos, 100,000 businesses, and a survey of 1,300 professionals. This year’s findings highlight three major trends shaping video marketing:

1. AI’s rapid adoption in video production

2. Shifting engagement and conversion trends

3. Increasing video investments despite economic concerns

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to revolutionize video production, businesses are leveraging it to create high-quality videos at scale. Meanwhile, marketers are adapting strategies to optimize engagement and maximize ROI in an evolving digital landscape.

AI is Transforming Video Creation, Making It Faster and More Accessible

AI is making video production more efficient and democratizing access to high-quality content. Open-source AI video tools are gaining traction, allowing marketers to create, edit, and optimize videos with minimal technical expertise.

AI Adoption Trends in Video Marketing

• 41% of marketers now use AI for video creation, up from 18% in 2024.

• AI-powered pre-production tools, such as scripting and brainstorming, are widely adopted.

• AI-driven post-production features like voice dubbing, captions, and visual generation are helping brands enhance accessibility and global reach.

Top AI-Powered Features Used by Brands

• AI Captions (60%) – The most widely adopted AI tool, with caption use increasing 572% since 2021.

• Voice Dubbing (38%) – Enables brands to scale content across multiple languages.

• Language Translation (31%) – Expands audience reach by breaking language barriers.

"AI is completely changing the game for video," said Chris Savage, CEO and Co-Founder of Wistia. "Now, anyone—not just professionals—can make high-quality videos. AI-driven tools like dubbing and translation are making it easier than ever for brands to reach global audiences."

Engagement and Conversion Strategies for Video Marketing Success

As video marketing evolves, marketers are focusing on engagement and conversion rates to gauge success.

Metrics Marketers Prioritize

• Engagement Rate (34%) – Measures how much of a video viewers watch.

• Conversion Rate (29%) – Tracks viewer actions from interactive elements.

Performance Insights by Video Length

• Videos under 1 minute – 50% engagement rate (highest overall).

• 1 to 3 minutes – 46% engagement rate.

• 3 to 5 minutes – 45% engagement rate, though experiencing a 10% decline due to the rise of short-form content.

• 5-30 minute videos – Strong engagement despite an overall downward trend.

Top-Performing Video Types

• How-To Videos – Short videos under 1 minute reach an 82% engagement rate, while longer versions (5-30 minutes) hold at 58%.

• Company Culture, Educational, and Product Videos – Consistently achieve around 50% engagement rates for videos under 5 minutes.

Optimizing Videos for Conversions

• Lead generation forms within videos have declined, but conversion rates have increased by 11%.

• Call-to-Action (CTA) Placement is crucial—

  • In short videos (under 60 seconds), CTAs in the first quarter of the video convert nearly 40% of viewers.

Despite Economic Concerns, Businesses Are Increasing Video Investment

While many industries face economic uncertainty, video marketing continues to see strong investment and growth.

Budget Trends

• Only 5% of companies are reducing video budgets in 2025.

• 57% of businesses are increasing video investment, seeing strong ROI.

• Primary drivers of video production:

  • Company goals and objectives (60%)

  • Product or service launches (52%)

Challenges in Video Creation

Despite increased investment, some challenges persist:

• Company size and resources (58%)

• Cost constraints (38%)

• Technical capabilities (25%)

Interestingly, idea generation and executive buy-in are no longer major hurdles, indicating that businesses recognize the value of video marketing and are actively prioritizing it.

The 2025 State of Video Report highlights how AI is making video creation more efficient, engagement strategies are evolving, and brands continue to invest in video marketing. As short-form content grows and AI-driven video tools expand, businesses must adapt their strategies to stay competitive and drive results.

RYA™, a leading Creative AI tool for marketers, has announced a strategic partnership with behavioral intelligence experts Qrious Insight and human insights firm Southpaw Insights. This collaboration enhances RYA’s AI-generated campaign ideation by integrating powerful consumer behavioral data with aspirational survey insights.

By combining real-world decision-making behaviors with AI-driven creativity, brands can now execute hyper-personalized marketing campaigns backed by a deeper understanding of their audiences. This unprecedented mix of qualitative and quantitative data enables marketers to develop campaigns that resonate with consumers on a data-driven and emotional level.

AI Meets Behavioral Intelligence: A Game-Changer for Marketing

Traditionally, marketing success relies on a combination of creativity and audience insights. RYA’s partnership with Qrious and Southpaw elevates this process by integrating real-world consumer behavior trends into its AI-powered campaign generation.

How This Partnership Enhances RYA's AI Capabilities

• Qrious' behavioral data integration – Provides first-hand consumer insights, tracking actual decision-making patterns.

• Southpaw Insights' expertise – Ensures the accurate collection and interpretation of audience data.

• Aspirational survey data from RYA – Incorporates billions of consumer desires and preferences into AI-driven ideation.

"Marketing has always been about finding creative solutions that resonate with target audiences. With AI, we can do this better and faster. Our partnership with Qrious and Southpaw takes this to the next level," said Mark Himmelsbach, Co-Founder of RYA.

Hyper-Personalized Audience Insights for Smarter Campaigns

Marketers using RYA now have access to hyper-personalized consumer insights, allowing them to design campaigns tailored to specific audience segments with unprecedented accuracy.

Benefits for Marketers

• Audience-Centric Creativity – AI-generated campaigns now integrate real-life consumer behavior, ensuring greater engagement and impact.

• Data-Backed Decision Making – Marketers can validate campaign concepts with deep consumer insights before launching.

• Accelerated Campaign Iteration – Combines AI-driven ideation with behavioral intelligence, shortening time-to-market for high-ROI campaigns.

"Qrious' advanced consumer data provides rich, first-hand insights into true consumer behaviors, motivations, and decision-making," said Himmelsbach. "Southpaw Insights ensures we collect and interpret this data effectively. This synergy allows us to generate original marketing concepts that deliver measurable results."

By integrating AI-powered campaign ideation with behavioral intelligence, RYA’s partnership with Qrious and Southpaw sets a new standard for data-driven creativity. Marketers now have a powerful tool that bridges the gap between audience desires and real-world decisions, ensuring high-impact, high-ROI marketing strategies.