2025 Marketing Trends + Priorities for 2026 Across Industries

Over the past year, we’ve watched the following patterns emerge across seemingly unrelated sectors: rising consumer expectations, demand for authenticity, growing complexity, and the tension between automation and human connection.

We interviewed multiple marketers from an array of industries in our blogs below, and we discovered consistent trends across the board. Check out all of our industry blogs throughout 2025 from leaders at Blackbaud, Hiscox USA, Mimedx, MONPURE, Kimberly-Clark Professional, and more.

Industry Blogs, Marketing Industry/TrendsSetup - marketing matchmakersDecember 12, 2025industry blog, marketing trendsComment

Marketing in the Nonprofit Sector: Lessons from Blood Cancer United’s Chief Experience Officer

Marketers are grappling with how to make their strategy feel more impactful and human in 2025, but in the nonprofit world, that challenge comes with the added pressure of limited budgets and expansive missions. For Lynn Godfrey, Chief Experience Officer at Blood Cancer United, the solution lies in staying intentional, deeply segmenting audiences, and adapting quickly in a constantly evolving landscape.

Industry BlogsSetup - marketing matchmakersOctober 15, 2025healthcare industry, nonprofits, non-profitsComment

Navigating Marketing as Fintech Advances

Private wealth marketing is built on personal relationships, which can make the advancements in technology more and more challenging. In an industry where discretion and relationships reign supreme, marketers must learn how to integrate data, automation, and innovation without losing trust.

To explore this balance, we spoke with Cathy McLagan, Managing Director of Growth Enablement at CIBC Private Wealth US.

Industry BlogsSetup - marketing matchmakersOctober 1, 2025fintech, financial industry, financial services industryComment

Best Data-Driven Media Strategy Practices

“Data-driven” marketing is about proactively leveraging insights to make strategic decisions. But what defines a truly data-driven media approach?

Industry Blogs, Marketing Industry/TrendsSetup - marketing matchmakersSeptember 16, 2025media company, media, MPA CampaignComment

How Top Brands Are Fixing Media Complexity on Multiple Platforms

If your media strategy feels tangled and unclear, you’re not alone. Here’s how smart brands are simplifying the chaos and getting real results.

Marketing Industry/Trends, Industry BlogsSetup - marketing matchmakersSeptember 8, 2025media company, media, MPA CampaignComment

Media Strategies That Drive Results: How Marketing Leaders Measure + Maximize ROI

Whether you’re managing campaigns for a national brand, a franchise QSR, or a B2B tech company, the challenge is the same: how do you build smarter media strategies that actually tie back to real business outcomes? We spoke with top experts from Sagepath, Goodway Group, and Look Listen to dig into what’s working, what’s changing, and where media performance and analytics are headed next.

Industry Blogs, Marketing Industry/TrendsSetup - marketing matchmakersSeptember 2, 2025paid media, brand media, mediaComment

Winning Moves Retail Marketers Are Making in 2025

Retail marketing is entering a new era where value, trust, and operational excellence matter more than volume, visibility, and trend-chasing. As shopper expectations evolve, smart retail marketers are embracing personalization, AI, and brand positioning that aligns with customer values. We spoke with Kaylin Staub, the Chief Marketing Officer at SupplyHouse, and a leader we believe to be leading the pack in these efforts. Check out her interview.

Industry BlogsSetup - marketing matchmakersAugust 5, 2025retail, retail marketingComment

Winning Moves Retail Marketers Are Making in 2025

In the midst of change and new tech, Marti Walsh, VP of Customer Experience and Marketing at Kimberly-Clark Professional, brings us back to what really matters: showing up with purpose. In this conversation with Setup, she shares how her team builds trust through consistent omnichannel messaging, thoughtful use of AI, and a commitment to authenticity that connects with real people.

Industry BlogsSetup - marketing matchmakersJuly 28, 2025retail, retail marketingComment

A Strategic Guide to Building Modern Media Plans That Perform

Media is about delivering results that are meaningful. Your strategy should be about more than impressions. But with siloed data and rising expectations, it's hard to prioritize meaning under pressure to perform.

That’s why we’ve brought together three powerful blogs filled with insights from industry experts at the top of their media game to help you rethink your media planning, simplify execution, and activate smarter strategies that drive growth.

Marketing Industry/Trends, Industry BlogsSetup - marketing matchmakersJuly 28, 2025media, paid media, MPA CampaignComment

What “Data-Driven” Media Strategy Really Means Today

“Data-driven” marketing is about proactively leveraging insights to make strategic decisions. But what defines a truly data-driven media approach?

How Marketers Can Simplify Media Complexity + Double Results

Marketers today juggle numerous platforms, overwhelming data, and competing internal demands, creating a complex media landscape that clouds performance clarity. What drives this complexity, and how can brands effectively navigate it?

Smarter Media, Better Results: How Marketers Are Rethinking Media ROI

Today’s marketers face immense pressure to justify media spend and measure tangible impact. But fragmented data, inadequate tracking, and unclear KPIs often cloud visibility. How can brands build smarter strategies that truly connect media spend to real business outcomes?