Tariffs in 2025: Opportunity or Obstacle for Your Marketing Strategy?

Why U.S.-Based Partnerships Matter More Than Ever

The recent wave of U.S.-imposed tariffs is reshaping the economic landscape in 2025, leaving marketing leaders with tough decisions about budget allocation. According to recent IAB research, 94% of advertisers expect tariff-related budget reductions, with most anticipating cuts between 6-10%.

Current data shows that tariff pressures are expected to reduce U.S. social media ad spending by up to $10 billion in 2025, with traditional and social media channels likely to see the largest cuts.

But here’s the good news: while your product and production costs may be impacted by tariff increases,our agency’s pricing remains fixed.  Not only have our prices not changed, but our value offered is the same or greater.

Turn Tariff Challenges into Tactical Opportunities

We like to see a challenge as an opportunity (glass half full and all that), so here’s what we’re thinking…..

• Focus on channels that offer low (dollar) lift and real-time flexibility for budget adjustments.  Embrace flexible, local advertising channels by targeting high-traffic areas without high costs using:
  • Mobile digital billboards
  • Street decals 
  • Place-based posters

These channels allow you to update your creative messaging rather quickly to react to responses.

• Maximize your budget with bundled savings – we can offer dynamic bundle pricing to help maximize spend as well as visibility.  Check out some of our current bundle offers here.  Whether you're looking to saturate one market or multiple cities, bundled packages deliver value and reach.

Build Smarter Campaigns With Resilient Messaging

Customers are also feeling the impact of tariffs.  At Moderne we can help you

• Use messaging that demonstrates empathy for customers facing uncertainty.
  • We can give a short term, small budget solution that can be scaled and extended if results exceed expectations.
  • Added value – we’re able to offer short campaign cycles with the option of extending based on performance at cost saving rates.

Promote Your U.S.-Made Advantage

Emphasize "Made in America" or Local Sourcing: If your: 

• Product is made in the U.S.
• Campaigns are run domestically
• Agency partner is U.S based - like us!

Local sourcing is red-hot.  If your product is made in the USA, your campaign is launched in the USA, and your agency is based in the USA, you have a win/win/win formula and we can help you promote that message proudly.

Explore Strategic Partnerships and Hybrid Marketing Tactics

• Build Stronger Customer Relationships: Loyalty programs and strategic partnerships are becoming crucial for retaining existing customers and reducing acquisition costs.
• Hybrid campaigns give a broad opportunity to target your audience in multiple ways – digitally, with street marketing, even mobile advertising.  Hybrid campaigns can deliver both immediate returns and brand reinforcement.
• Can you partner with other domestic brands to broadcast the importance and practicality of buying local?

• Plan quarterly instead of annually to maximize flexibility and preserve cash flow.  This will help you gain flexibility and control over spend while staying responsive to real-time results.

Work With a Marketing Partner, Not a Vendor

We’re not here to sell you a one-size-fits-all package. We’re here to collaborate. Our premier differentiator is our ability to partner with our clients to exceed expectations; we don’t tell you what to do (unless you ask!), we listen to your goals and tailor programs to help you achieve them.

Reach out today to discuss how we can help you adapt in 2025.