Marketing Trends That Are Worth Your Time: What to Embrace, What to Skip

In this episode of Kids, Chaos, & Killer Campaigns, we’re cutting through the noise of marketing trend overload. Host Eden Reid—mom of two and digital marketer—breaks down which trends are actually worth your time (hello, short-form video, AI productivity tools, and first-party data!) and which ones to skip. If you’ve ever tried to plan a TikTok strategy while juggling laundry, emails, and toddler tantrums, this episode is your permission slip to simplify. Tune in for practical tips, relatable stories, and a challenge to help you refocus your strategy this week.

Transcript

Welcome back to Kids, Chaos, and Killer Campaigns, the podcast for marketers who are building brands while also building Lego towers, packing lunches, and negotiating with toddlers over snacks.

as a mom of two, a digital marketer, and someone who recently spent 30 minutes trying to explain to my toddler why Alexa doesn't understand your knock-knock jokes.

I'm excited to dive into something every marketer battles with, keeping up with marketing trends.

Every time you scroll linked in or check your inbox, there's a new tactic or must-do strategy.

And while some are game changers, some are frankly just time wasters.

If you've ever felt the pressure to be on threads or launch a TikTok strategy while also folding laundry, implementing a new automation process, and trying to stay on top of your work emails, you're not alone.

So let's talk about how to cut through the noise and focus on trends that actually move the needle.

The truth is, trend overload is real, and you don't have to do it all.

So let's start with a small dose of the truth. You don't have to chase every trend out there.

I remember during the peak of the Reels craze,

I was in the fitness industry at the time

I was trying to film a new reel with a toddler screaming in the background about how her sister wouldn't share her banana when she had just finished the banana I had given her for herself.

And I thought to myself, why am I even doing this?

Before jumping into any new trend, you should ask yourself these three things. One, does it align with your audience? Two,

2. Does it support your goals?

And three, and most importantly, do you actually have the capacity to do it?

If the answer to any of the above questions is no, skip it.

Trends are just tools, and you are still the strategist.

First, we're gonna talk about trends to consider adopting. So, a few trends that actually have staying power.

and are realistic for busy marketers.

The first is short form video. Keep it simple.

You don't need a studio or production-level video equipment or three hours of editing.

One of my highest performing posts to date was one that I filmed on my iPhone while filling out my car for gas

And I had both my kiddos in the car.

One of my absolute favorite marketers, Jay Schwedelson, recently shared in his podcast, Do This, Not That, some interesting LinkedIn stats.

15 to 30 second videos are currently the highest performing video content on LinkedIn. And if you're gonna go over that 30 second mark, it's crucial to stay under the two minute mark.

to optimize the LinkedIn algorithm.

My pro tip on staying on top of short form video content is to batch records.

film two to three videos at a time while your kiddos are occupied.

And keep your videos raw and relatable. Real is what people connect with.

Another trend that I think is around to stay is AI for productivity.

From Chat GPT to Canva's magic write, AI can save you hours.

I've been able to leverage AI to help draft my campaign journeys and even to outline rough drafts of the emails themselves

while my three-year-old watches Bluey sitting next to me as I sip the cup of coffee that I've reheated for the third time that day.

You could try using AI to draft subject lines.

repurpose blog content into social posts.

or brainstorm some hooks or CTAs.

Now, when leveraging AI, make sure you don't replace your voice. Just let it enhance it. You don't want to take out the human element of your content.

You just want to use AI to speed up the productivity of your creativity.

Now, the last trend that isn't going anywhere is first-party data and email marketing.

With third party cookies fading faster than my toddler's attention span, first party data is becoming everything.

This means building your own email list and nurturing it consistently is no longer optional. It's essential.

platforms like Meta and Google are already limiting how much data advertisers can access.

So the more data you can collect directly from your audience, the better.

If you haven't already set up a lead magnet or welcome nurture sequence, now is the time. Start simple. Think a downloadable checklist, a quick quiz, or even a helpful guide.

Your goal is to give people a reason to hand over their email.

And once they do, keep showing up in their inbox with value add content.

Now a quick mom marketer tip,

I was able to whip up a three-part nurture sequence from the bleachers during my girls' swim lessons.

using nothing more than a Word doc and HubSpot.

No fancy graphics, no endless edits.

Just helpful content, a few well-placed CTAs, and a clear, approachable tone that aligns with our brand.

Like I've said before, sometimes done is better than perfect.

It's important to start where you are. And remember.

Your email list is one of the few marketing assets you actually own. Treat it like gold, because honestly, it is.

So, a few trends to be cautious about.

Some trends sound good in theory, but in reality, they're not worth your time.

especially if you're a marketer trying to balance laundry, workflow automations, and keeping up with your working emails

So avoid jumping on every social platform.

Not every platform is worth your energy.

Threads, Be Real, Blue Sky,

If your audience isn't there or your content doesn't fit the vibe, skip it.

My recommendation is to focus on one to two channels and do them well. Once you've mastered those, you can always expand later.

Another trend to avoid is obsessing over virality.

Yes, going viral might feel amazing, but I'd rather have 100 qualified leads

than 10,000 likes from people who will never buy from

Focus on consistent value, not one-hit wonders when it comes to your content.

And the last trend to avoid at all cost is over-automating the human touch.

Automation feels awesome, and anyone who knows me knows I love a good workflow. But if your whole funnel feels like a robot, it's a huge turn off.

With AI taking over so much, people want that real human connection.

So don't forget the importance of genuine connection

when it comes to your content, your channels, your strategy.

It could be personalized replies, voice notes, phone calls, or even handwritten notes from your account executives.

Trends will come and go, but your time, focus, and energy are limited.

especially when you're balancing marketing strategy with toddler snack negotiations.

So before you jump on the next big trend, it's important to make sure it's actually worth the chaos.

So to recap, don't feel pressure to chase every trend. Be intentional with what you

Be intentional with your marketing.

Embrace what works, short form video, AI tools for productivity, and first party data in your email marketing.

And skip what drains you. Too many platforms, chasing virality or over-automating can really drain all the effort that you put into your marketing strategy.

Remember, your sanity matters more than any shiny tactic.

So, your challenge for this week? Pick one trend to test and one trend to stop worrying about.

Give yourself permission to simplify.

And if you're multitasking while listening to this podcast and wrangling your kids or heating up lunch, you are absolutely crushing it.

Thank you so much for checking out this podcast. I'd love to hear the topics you want to hear discussed,

So please drop them in the comments or shoot me a line on LinkedIn.

I encourage you to subscribe to the podcast, leave it a review, or share it with a marketer who you think would benefit from today's trend tips.

I'd love to connect on LinkedIn to stay in touch through this journey. My LinkedIn will be dropped in the show notes so that you can click there and shoot over that connect request.

In our next episode, we'll be talking about morning routines that set you up for success.

In our next episode, we'll be talking about morning routines that set you up for success for both work and family life. In the meantime, enjoy the kids, enjoy the chaos, and I'm wishing you all killer campaign.