At this point, it’s pretty safe to say that technology is more than just a big part of people’s lives, both professionally and personally. It’s truly a dominant force when it comes to just about everything, so it’s no wonder that it’s affected the marketing world to the extent that it has.

In fact, many are saying that digital marketing is supposed to replace traditional marketing. But is this something that will ever actually happen? And if it does, to what extent? Here’s a closer look at what today’s marketing professionals should know.

It’s sort of hard to imagine billboards and print ads just vanishing overnight, honestly. People still flip through the occasional magazine in the dentist’s office or glance up at signage when they’re stuck at a red light. There’s something tactile about holding a brochure or seeing a poster that a screen can’t quite match—at least not yet. Marketers who jump straight to 100% digital sometimes forget that some segments really respond to more “old school” methods, especially in small towns or niche markets. Maybe part of the magic is actually in mixing both worlds, getting people’s attention offline and then nudging them online for the next step.

But even with all that said, there’s no getting around how much budget and creative attention has drifted online. Social media, email campaigns, those little ads that seem to follow you around after you Google something—they’re everywhere because, frankly, that’s where everyone is hanging out. Companies are now able to tweak their messaging in real time, or track results to a weirdly granular level (sometimes a bit intrusive, if we’re honest). It’s both thrilling and slightly unnerving how tailored marketing can get in 2025. Still, the best campaigns probably remember there’s a real person scrolling at the other end, not just a data point to chase.