Sync Your Digital Marketing with Inclusive Marketing: A Strategy for the Future

Yasmin Gunathilake

April 9, 2025 3 mins to read

Recently, I had the chance to attend the Marketing Beyond Bias – 2025 event, hosted by The Marketing Club AU/NZ. It was a refreshing experience where marketing leaders from New Zealand unpacked the growing importance of inclusive marketing. Based on the conversations and key outcomes from the event, I’ve put together this quick blog to spark some ideas for the future.

Stu Lees, a well-versed marketing guru in New Zealand kicked off the event with a compelling introduction.

Are You Keeping Up with the Generational Mix?

For the first time in history, five generations — from Gen Alpha to Boomers — coexist in the digital space. Each comes with its own values, behaviors, and expectations. From how they consume content to how they engage with brands, the differences are striking.

If your digital strategy doesn’t embrace this generational and cultural diversity, you risk becoming irrelevant. Inclusive marketing isn’t just about ticking diversity boxes — it’s about being relatable, authentic, and real.

Inclusivity: A Business Necessity, Not a Buzzword

In today’s digital world, inclusivity is a non-negotiable. Consumers expect brands to recognize, respect, and represent them meaningfully — across all touchpoints. It’s no longer enough to feature diverse faces in your campaigns. Inclusive marketing means designing for accessibility, personalizing experiences thoughtfully, and communicating with cultural intelligence.

Inclusivity isn’t about being politically correct. It’s about building lasting brand relationships.

Vivid moments with a diverse and dynamic audience

3 Ways to Sync Your Digital and Inclusive Marketing

Here’s what the event reinforced for me — practical ways marketers can bridge digital strategies with true inclusivity:

Play with content, not just tools:

Target different segments through content, not by over-relying on demographic filters or platform targeting. Trust the AI algorithms on social platforms to do their magic. Focus your energy on creating messaging that resonates deeply with each audience.

Storytelling is your superpower:

Stories connect across generations and cultures. Build narratives that are tailored to different audiences and segments, making your brand feel personal, human, and relevant.

Listen, learn, and evolve:

Great marketing starts with our senses — how we feel about our audiences and respond to them. Dive deep into different communities. Understand their lived experiences, aspirations, and cultural nuances. This depth of knowledge will guide smarter choices across your marketing mix.

The Future is Inclusive

The future of marketing is about more than reach — it’s about resonance. Brands that lead with inclusivity, empathy, and authenticity will be the ones shaping tomorrow’s marketplace.