Let’s face it—digital marketing has changed. Fast.
If you’re still relying on generic ads or old-school email blasts, you’re going to feel the squeeze this year. What worked even two years ago just doesn’t land the same anymore, especially as platforms shift and buyers get smarter.
Wes McDowell recently dropped a must-watch video, “5 BRAND NEW Digital Marketing Strategies for 2025”, where he outlines what’s working right now—especially for small businesses and solopreneurs.
We broke it down and added a few insights for Genstore users, so you can put these strategies into play immediately, even if you’re working with limited time, budget, or team resources.
Watch the Original Video
Want the full breakdown from Wes himself? You can watch the original YouTube video here:
1. From Ads to Authenticity
The shift: People are tuning out traditional ads. They don’t want to be sold to. They want stories, usefulness, and connection. Especially Gen Z—but it’s not just them. Across the board, we’re seeing fatigue with polished ad creatives and staged content.
What to do instead:
Stop thinking like a brand, and start thinking like a person. Share behind-the-scenes content. Show the messy parts of building your store or creating your product. Make short, useful videos that solve tiny problems your customer might have.
Wes puts it well—educational, relatable, or entertaining content is the new currency.
Real example: Instead of saying, “Here’s our new skincare line,” say, “This is what I wish I knew before switching to natural products.”
Why it works: Trust is earned, not bought. And authenticity scales—because people share content that feels real.
2. No-Fuss Video Still Wins
The shift: Over-produced videos are out. The age of raw, simple, to-the-point content is here—and it's way more effective.
Wes points to Alex Hormozi’s massive growth as proof. He dropped the fancy transitions, stopped adding subtitles, and went with basic camera + value-first talking points. Views skyrocketed.
What to do:
Start recording straight from your phone or webcam. No edits. Just deliver the message.Some content prompts to try:
“3 mistakes I made running my first online store”
“If I were starting today, here’s what I’d do differently”
“Quick tips for converting more visitors this week”
Why it works: People are overwhelmed with content. Direct, useful, and human videos cut through the noise.
3. LinkedIn Newsletters Are Quietly Exploding
The shift: While most businesses are flooding Instagram and TikTok, smart marketers are doubling down on LinkedIn newsletters—and seeing real results.
Why it's powerful:
Unlike regular posts, newsletters show up in inboxes and stick around. You get higher visibility, more credibility, and every subscriber automatically becomes a follower.
What to do:
Start a niche newsletter based on your expertise. Whether you’re into e-commerce trends, niche product advice, or small business growth tips—just commit to showing up weekly or biweekly with useful content.
Bonus: You don’t need a blog or email tool. LinkedIn handles it all for you.
Why it works: You build long-term authority and consistent touchpoints—without paid ads.
4. Custom GPTs Are the New Lead Magnets
The shift: Forget the downloadable PDFs and static checklists. AI has opened the door for lead magnets that are interactive, smart, and genuinely helpful.
Wes highlights how custom GPTs—trained to solve a specific problem—are the future of lead generation. Instead of offering a one-size-fits-all resource, you offer a personalized tool in exchange for an email.
What to do:
Think about your audience’s #1 frustration. Then build a GPT that helps solve it.For example:
A store selling home fitness gear could offer a “Workout Planner GPT”
A fashion boutique might launch a “Style Suggestion GPT”
You could create a “Product Match GPT” to help users find the right product instantly
Add a simple form before access. Boom: lead captured.
Why it works: These tools are not just valuable—they’re memorable. And they create immediate engagement with your brand.
5. ChatGPT 01 Model = Instant Marketing Strategy Engine
The shift: The new GPT-4 01 model isn’t just smarter—it’s more strategic. Wes shares how you can plug in your business info and have a full-blown marketing funnel generated for you in minutes.
What to do:
Tell GPT:What you sell
Who your audience is
What your conversion goal is (emails, purchases, sign-ups, etc.)
It’ll return a campaign strategy, content plan, funnel layout, email sequence, even ad copy options. Tweak as needed and launch.
Why it works: Most small business owners don’t have time to learn marketing frameworks from scratch. This shortcut gives you a 90% done plan you can test and improve.
Final Thoughts
These 5 strategies aren’t hacks—they’re foundational shifts in how people consume content and make decisions online.
If you want to stay competitive in 2025, it’s time to start acting like a media brand: share more, teach more, and build trust with real content. The good news? You don’t need a massive budget or fancy tech. Just the right mindset and a willingness to try something new.
At Genstore, we’re building tools to help you execute all of this faster—with AI agents designed to generate your content, campaigns, and even custom GPTs in just a few clicks.
Try Genstore today and get a $300 voucher toward your digital marketing tools. Start smarter, build faster, and own your space online.
