Content isn’t just “marketing collateral” anymore. It’s the front line of how businesses connect with real people in a world of fast scrolls, short attention spans, and endless noise.
In 2025, the challenge for SMBs isn’t just to produce more content—it’s to create content that resonates. At DCC, our approach is simple: human first, AI smart. You need both to stay relevant and build lasting traction.
The Role of AI: Use It, But Don’t Let It Lead
AI has changed how content is made. Tools like ChatGPT, Grammarly, Jasper, and even image generators like Midjourney or Sora can speed up ideation, improve flow, and help clean up a messy draft. But they still fall short when it comes to creating something truly original.
AI images? Still struggling with hands, elbows, and faces.
AI-written content? Still generic—unless it’s grounded in your real insights.
At DCC, we use AI where it makes sense: to tighten paragraphs, improve clarity, suggest variations, and align tone with the audience. But we never rely on AI to generate the heart of the message. Content performs best when it’s rooted in a client’s actual perspective, experience, or offer.
“AI is great at cleaning up a sloppy paragraph of gold. But if you never wrote the gold in the first place, there’s nothing to polish.”
Why Personalization Still Wins
Generic content gets skimmed. Personalized content gets read—and acted on. At DCC, we structure content strategies around what we know about the customer journey: what people care about, where they fall in the funnel, and what they need to move forward.
Whether it’s segmenting email content, tailoring blog recommendations, or customizing CTAs by industry, personalization is built into every layer of the content engine.
This aligns with 2024 research from Social Media Examiner, which shows that targeted, relevant content is a leading driver of engagement and conversion for SMBs.
Short-Form Video: The Format That Keeps Winning
The dominance of short-form video is no longer up for debate. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts are shaping how brands tell stories—and how quickly they have to do it.
DCC’s approach? Show up in person. Onsite visits with clients are one of our favorite parts of the job. We schedule half-day content sessions to capture quick, relevant, high-impact footage. Behind-the-scenes clips, product demos, customer soundbites—they don’t need to be perfect. They just need to be real.
According to SEO.com, short-form video leads in engagement and time-on-platform, outperforming static content by as much as 38% on mobile.
User-Generated Content: Free Referrals at Scale
People trust people. UGC is proof.
Whether it’s a tagged Instagram story, a customer review video, or a product unboxing, user-generated content is today’s digital word-of-mouth. And it works: research cited by SMB Guide shows UGC increases conversion rates by up to 29%.
At DCC, we help clients encourage UGC by running contests, creating branded hashtags, and featuring community content in their marketing. The more your audience sees real people using and enjoying your product or service, the more likely they are to trust—and act.
Final Thought
Content in 2025 is faster, more fragmented, and more competitive than ever. But the brands that win won’t be the ones that churn out AI-generated noise or chase every viral trend.
They’ll be the ones who show up clearly, consistently, and honestly—with stories that reflect real experiences and value.
At Daggett Consulting Co., we use AI to enhance, not replace. We believe in visiting our clients, knowing their voice, and building strategies that feel as human as the businesses behind them.
Because content isn’t just content. It’s connection.
