Content marketing remains a vital strategy for engaging audiences, building brand equity, and driving growth. In 2025, businesses ramp up investments, propelled by soaring content production demands and the widespread adoption of generative AI (GenAI).
Table of Contents
Content Marketing Industry Valuation and GrowthContent Marketing Budget AllocationContent Marketing Monthly Spending by Business SizeInvestment Per Content PieceRole of Generative AI in Content ProductionImpact of AI on SpendingContent Marketing Return on InvestmentContent Marketing Future TrendsTakeaways
Content Marketing Industry Valuation and Growth
The content marketing industry is projected to reach $700 billion in 2025.
In 2024, the content marketing industry hit $600 billion, and based on a conservative 16.9% CAGR (Allied Market Research), it’s projected to grow to approximately $700 billion in 2025. This upward trajectory reflects surging digital engagement, multimedia adoption, and AI-driven efficiencies. The industry could climb to $2 trillion by 2032, signaling a robust future. For executives, this growth underscores content marketing’s escalating importance in 2025’s competitive landscape.
Content Marketing Budget Allocation
25% of organizations allocate 50% or more of their marketing budget to content marketing in 2025.
In 2025, businesses are deepening their commitment, with an estimated 25% allocating half or more of their marketing budgets to content marketing, up from 23% in 2024. For B2C marketers, this rises to 33%, per trends. The allocation distribution evolves slightly:
Percentage RangeShare of Marketers75%-99%8%50%-74%17%25%-49%25%10%-24%22%5%-9%15%1%-4%8%0%5%
This shift reflects growing confidence in content’s ROI, with 50% of budgets increasingly common among high-investing firms.
Content Marketing Monthly Spending by Business Size
50% of businesses spend $0–$5,000 monthly on content marketing in 2025.
Monthly budgets in 2025 vary by business size, with slight increases from 2024:
Monthly Budget RangePercentage of BusinessesLikely Business Size$0–$5,00050%Small Businesses$5,000–$15,00023%Small to Medium Businesses$15,000–$25,00012%Medium Businesses$25,000–$35,0006%Medium to Large Businesses$35,000–$45,0004%Large Businesses$45,000+5%Large Enterprises
Key takeaways:
Small Businesses ($0–$5,000): Up to 50% from 48.1%, with 28% under $1,000, leveraging AI for cost efficiency.
Medium Businesses ($5,000–$25,000): 35% invest here, reflecting steady growth and tech adoption.
Large Businesses ($25,000+): 15% spend heavily, with 5% exceeding $45,000 (down from 7.1% as AI optimizes costs), per trends from Forbes Advisor and Proper Expression.
This projection assumes 54.5% of marketers will increase budgets from 2024.
Investment Per Content Piece
Spending per content piece in 2025 ranges from $500 to $1,800 for most businesses.
Due to AI efficiencies, costs will adjust to $500–$1,800 per piece in 2025, down from $550–$2,000. High spenders (over $1,800) maintain 54% success rates, favoring premium outputs like video, while smaller firms benefit from lower costs.
Role of Generative AI in Content Production
40% of marketers use generative AI in 2025, with 80% adoption expected by year-end.
Generative AI dominates 2025 production, with 40% usage now and 80% by year-end (up from 26% and 71% in 2024). It doubles output, cutting creation time dramatically—e.g., Michaels Stores’ 95% personalization lifted SMS clicks by 41%. Deloitte Digital’s frontrunners meet demand 70% of the time, driving scale without proportional cost hikes.
Impact of AI on Spending
Global AI marketing revenue is expected to hit $80 billion in 2025.
AI boosts efficiency (5–15% gains, $463 billion annually), with 2025 revenue nearing $80 billion en route to $107.5 billion by 2028. While small businesses cut costs, 75% of marketers reinvest in AI tools, maintaining or growing total spend.
Content Marketing Return on Investment
Content marketing delivers a $2.80 return per $1 spent in 2025.
ROI edges up to $2.80 per dollar (180% profit), with 93% of marketers valuing its longevity and 65% citing top ROI, enhanced by AI’s precision.
Content Marketing Future Trends
80% of marketers plan to invest in video in 2025.
Video is the dominant focus for marketers, reflecting its power to engage audiences and drive results across platforms. Owned media remains a critical priority, as brands invest in channels they control to build long-term relationships with their audiences. Social media plays a key role in distributing content and fostering community engagement. While still important, UX design tends to be a supporting effort, ensuring that digital experiences are seamless and user-friendly, but often taking a back seat to content creation and distribution.
Takeaways
Boost Productivity Expectations: Anticipate double the content output with AI, enabling faster campaign rollouts and real-time engagement.
Demand Greater Precision: Leverage AI for hyper-personalized content, tailoring messaging to individual preferences with minimal human input.
Build a Robust Content Library: Scale production to create comprehensive, evergreen assets, covering all customer touchpoints with fewer resources.
Shift to Fewer Writers: Reduce reliance on large writing teams, leaning on AI to draft content while humans refine strategy and voice.
Invest in Tools Over Headcount: Prioritize AI platforms and analytics over expanding staff, redirecting budgets to tech that maximizes efficiency.
Focus on Quality Control: Allocate resources to oversee AI outputs, ensuring brand consistency and avoiding ethical pitfalls.
©2025 DK New Media, LLC, All rights reserved | Disclosure
Originally Published on Martech Zone: How Much Are Businesses Investing In Content Marketing (With AI) in 2025?