14 Digital Content Types You Should Use in 2025

Staying ahead of the curve when it comes to content marketing is crucial. With new platforms and tools emerging every year, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the vast number of content types you can leverage. 

However, some digital content types are often overlooked, and integrating them into your marketing strategy can provide you with an edge over your competitors. Here, we discuss 14 digital content types that you should consider using in 2025 to enhance engagement and drive better results.

User-Generated Content (UGC)

User-generated content (UGC) refers to any content created by your customers or audience rather than your brand itself. It includes everything from product reviews, photos, and video testimonials, to social media posts. UGC is highly valuable because it showcases real experiences, making it more authentic and relatable to potential customers.

You can leverage platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to identify and promote user-generated content. For instance, you could run contests encouraging users to create content around your product or service. The beauty of UGC is that it allows you to build trust without relying on paid influencers, which is crucial in an era where consumers are increasingly skeptical of traditional advertisements. Plus, UGC brings your community closer to the brand, amplifying your social presence.

Screencasts

Screencasts are videos where you record your computer or mobile screen while narrating the process. This format is especially effective for tutorials, demonstrations, and product walkthroughs. It’s a powerful way to show your audience exactly how something works.

In 2025, with the increasing need for how-to content and tutorials, using screencasts will help you create highly engaging videos for platforms like YouTube and social media. Tools like Camtasia and Loom make it easy to record and edit these videos, giving your brand a professional edge. Whether you’re explaining a complicated process or showcasing a product, screencasts make content interactive and highly instructional.

Templates

Templates are a great way to add value to your audience’s lives without requiring a massive investment of time or effort. Whether it’s a social media template, a budget tracker, or a project management template, these pre-designed documents can make tasks easier for your customers.

Offering templates in exchange for email subscriptions is a brilliant way to grow your email list while providing your audience with useful tools. Templates are especially popular in industries like design, business, and education, where they help simplify processes. If you can provide useful and easy-to-use templates, you will position your brand as a helpful resource in your niche.

Worksheets

Worksheets are another excellent tool for engaging your audience. These are typically interactive documents that guide the user through a specific process or help them achieve a goal. Whether it’s a worksheet for personal development, business planning, or even a fitness tracker, these resources encourage active participation.

The power of worksheets lies in their ability to provide actionable value. By offering worksheets, you can not only boost engagement but also increase social shares and website traffic. Plus, when users find your worksheets useful, they’re likely to return for more, helping you build long-term relationships with your audience.

Illustrations

In a world saturated with generic stock images, using custom illustrations in your content is a great way to stand out. Illustrations, whether hand-drawn or digital, add a unique touch to your branding and marketing materials. They also allow you to infuse personality and creativity into your campaigns.

Illustrations are perfect for storytelling, as they can communicate complex ideas in a simple, visually engaging manner. Marketers are increasingly opting for custom illustrations over stock photos, as they help differentiate their brand and make content more memorable. Whether it’s for social media posts, blog headers, or infographics, illustrations are a creative and effective content format that should not be overlooked in 2025.

Text Messages (SMS)

SMS marketing is an often-overlooked channel, but it has proven to be highly effective. With a click-through rate (CTR) of over 11%, text messages are one of the most direct ways to reach your audience. SMS campaigns can be used for lead follow-ups, special offers, time-sensitive deals, or appointment reminders.

Compared to email, SMS offers a far more immediate and accessible way to engage with customers. Many CRM tools now integrate SMS functionality, allowing you to automate text campaigns and track their performance. If you’re looking to increase customer engagement and conversions in 2025, consider adding SMS marketing to your strategy.

Web Apps

Interactive web apps offer a fantastic way to engage with your audience and enhance the user experience. Whether it’s a simple quiz, a budget calculator, or an appointment booking tool, web apps are a great way to provide additional value to your users.

Incorporating web apps into your digital content strategy can significantly improve customer retention, as users will return to your website to interact with the tools you offer. Plus, with the rise of gamified elements and interactive content, web apps are an excellent way to make your brand more engaging. In 2025, integrating web apps into your website or app can make your marketing efforts more dynamic and interactive.

Animations

Animations are an exciting and highly effective way to capture your audience’s attention. Motion graphics, explainer videos, GIFs, and even animated logos can breathe life into your content, making it more engaging and memorable.

With affordable animation tools available, creating eye-catching animations no longer requires a large budget. These animations can be used for product demos, infographics, and even social media content. Since they grab attention quickly, animations are perfect for promoting your brand in a visually appealing way.

Op-Eds

While most content revolves around tutorials or informational pieces, op-eds offer a unique opportunity to share your brand’s opinion on a trending topic or industry-related issue. Writing opinion-based content allows you to express your expertise and viewpoint, which can differentiate you from competitors.

Publishing op-eds or opinion pieces on your blog or as guest posts on industry websites can help you gain recognition and build authority in your niche. In 2025, op-eds will continue to be a powerful content type, especially if your brand is known for offering fresh perspectives and valuable insights.

Live Video

Live video is becoming one of the most popular content formats, with platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube offering live streaming capabilities. Live video allows you to engage with your audience in real time, offering an authentic, behind-the-scenes look at your brand.

Whether you’re hosting a Q&A session, conducting an interview, or broadcasting a special event, live video is a great way to connect with your audience and generate buzz. It’s also less polished and more organic than pre-recorded content, making it feel more authentic. With 51% of consumers expressing interest in more live content, this format should definitely be part of your 2025 strategy.

Slides

Presentation slides are often overlooked in the content marketing space, but they can be a highly effective way to share information. Platforms like SlideShare allow brands to upload and share slides that complement other content formats like videos or blogs.

Whether you’re sharing a webinar, a product demo, or a case study, slides provide a visually engaging and easy-to-digest way to convey key messages. Additionally, slides are shareable and can drive traffic to your website.

Timelines

Timelines are a great way to present chronological events in an engaging and visual format. Whether you’re showcasing the history of your company, key milestones in a project, or the evolution of an industry, timelines help simplify complex narratives.

Timelines are especially useful in professional industries such as law, where you might need to demonstrate the progression of a case or legal precedent. They can also work in personal stories, providing a clear and visually appealing way to showcase important events.

Gamified Content

Gamification involves incorporating game mechanics into your content to increase engagement. This could be through rewards, challenges, or leaderboards. Platforms like Duolingo and Fitbit have perfected the use of gamified content to keep users coming back and actively participating.

Gamified content is highly effective because it taps into people’s natural desire for achievement and competition. Whether you create a points-based system, offer rewards for completing tasks, or build interactive games, gamified content adds a fun element to your marketing strategy and encourages long-term engagement.

Immersive VR

Virtual Reality (VR) has rapidly gained traction in recent years, and it’s an exciting way to immerse your audience in a completely different world. VR allows users to experience a 3D, interactive environment that can be used for anything from virtual product try-ons to immersive real estate tours.

As VR technology becomes more accessible, it’s a format that can provide significant value for your customers. Whether it’s creating an interactive tour or offering a unique brand experience, incorporating VR into your content marketing strategy in 2025 could give you a massive competitive advantage.

Conclusion

The digital landscape in 2025 offers numerous opportunities to engage with your audience in creative and impactful ways. By incorporating a mix of these 14 digital content types into your marketing strategy, you can capture your audience’s attention, drive higher engagement, and ultimately grow your brand.

Experiment with these unconventional content formats, and you’ll discover which ones resonate most with your audience. Whether it’s user-generated content, live video, or immersive VR, there’s always room for innovation in content marketing, and now is the perfect time to push your brand’s boundaries.