Ahead of the Game

Digital Marketing Institute
  • 5.0 (1)
  • MARKETING
  • MONTHLY

Want a taste of the real-life digital marketing game? Supercharge your marketing skills and sharpen your mindset with incisive insights from industry experts. The Ahead of the Game podcast is brought to you by The Digital Marketing Institute, hosted by Will Francis. Subscribe to all DMI Ahead of the Game podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or watch on video at YouTube. And check out the DMI's extensive knowledge library and join up for free. https://my.digitalmarketinginstitute.com/auth/register?podcast

  1. Global Marketing Job Trends

    5 DAYS AGO

    Global Marketing Job Trends

    Looking for a new role and disheartened by the job market? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host ⁠⁠Will Francis⁠⁠ chats with ⁠Terry Payne⁠⁠ of Aspire Recruitment and Executive Edge about the findings from Aspire’s recent report on digital marketing salaries across 5 different territories. They get stuck into how the job market has shifted at every level, from the decline in entry-level roles to the boom in senior positions. Terry shares insights on regional hiring trends, salary expectations across markets, and how AI is actually reshaping recruitment. He also gives practical advice for job seekers navigating today’s highly competitive, candidate-driven market.  You can view and download the 2025 Salary Guides on the DMI website. They cover four key regions: the UK, the US, MENA, and APAC. What You'll Learn: How AI is impacting entry-level, mid-level, and senior marketing rolesThe regions and industries driving growth in marketing jobsSalary trends across the UK, US, Dubai, and Asia in 2025How hybrid work is replacing remote-first opportunitiesPractical strategies for standing out as a candidate in a crowded job market Top 3 Tips for Job Seekers Humanize your profile – LinkedIn is your shop window, so keep it sharp, authentic, and supported with testimonials.Practice, practice, practice – Prepare for interviews by rehearsing competency-based answers with real, measurable achievements.Be resilient – Volume is key. Keep applying, networking, and following up—don’t get disheartened by knockbacks.The Ahead of the Game podcast is brought to you by the Digital Marketing Institute and is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube, Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠all other podcast platforms. And if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review so others can find us. If you have other feedback for or would like to be a guest on the show, email the podcast team! Timestamps & Key Sections 0:00:51 – Overview of the job market shifts in 20250:04:23 – How AI is reshaping entry-level opportunities0:08:14 – Growth in senior roles and startup demand for CMOs0:11:51 – Rising demand for SEO, social media, and data roles0:13:27 – Regional differences: Middle East growth, US recovery, UK resilience0:16:51 – The decline of remote roles and rise of hybrid work0:19:34 – 2025 Salary Guide: key trends and rising pay gaps0:24:10 – Which sectors are driving salary increases0:30:05 – Managing unrealistic workloads and setting expectations0:32:55 – How to stand out when applying for jobs0:37:35 – Building a strong LinkedIn profile and showing your “sizzle”0:43:32 – Preparing for interviews and presentations0:46:49 – The importance of communication and leadership “power skills”0:50:43 – Terry’s three top tips for job seekers

    53 min
  2. Practical Entrepreneurship for Marketers

    22 AUG

    Practical Entrepreneurship for Marketers

    In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis speaks with Faisal Laljee, entrepreneur and growth strategist, about the intersection of entrepreneurship and marketing. Faisal shares his insights on risk-taking, growth hacking, customer acquisition, and building brands that last. From the importance of testing ideas early to the realities of startup funding, he explains how marketers and entrepreneurs can think like an entrepreneur to drive meaningful growth. What You’ll Learn Why entrepreneurs need to focus less on perfection and more on getting products in front of customers.How early customers can become your most valuable advocates and growth drivers.Is SEO overrated?Why brand is inseparable from early business strategy.Why not all investor money is good money. Top 3 Tips from Faisal Know your co-founders – Think of it as an “entrepreneurial prenup.” Shared values, commitment levels, and expectations matter more than complementary skills. Double your marketing budget – Customer acquisition costs are always higher than you think. Planning conservatively helps you build a sustainable business. Be selective with funding – Not all investment is good investment. Take money from the right sources, not just anyone willing to offer it. Timestamps & Key Sections 01:28 – From corporate marketing to startups02:54 – The big shift: traditional marketing to digital05:13 – The #1 problem startups face: finding the right customer06:57 – Why entrepreneurs need to test ideas early and avoid perfectionism09:01 – Applying entrepreneurial thinking to marketing11:10 – Are personas outdated? How to approach customer profiling13:42 – Building trust through community engagement15:32 – Overcoming rejection and embracing failure in marketing16:57 – Growth hacking: experiment, measure, adapt19:08 – Paid ads vs. organic growth for startups22:33 – Turning early customers into advocates24:29 – Overrated and underrated digital channels29:33 – Why brand = business strategy33:54 – The importance of mentors and career planning39:03 – Faisal’s top 3 tips for new founders

    45 min
  3. How to Get Youth Marketing Right

    1 AUG

    How to Get Youth Marketing Right

    In this episode of the DMI podcast, host ⁠⁠Will Francis⁠⁠ speaks with ⁠⁠Maurice Wheeler⁠⁠, CEO of We Are Family, a specialist agency focused on research, strategy, and creative work for brands that market to children, teens, and families. Maurice shares how his agency helps household-name brands like Nickelodeon, Hasbro, and Moonbug understand rapidly shifting youth trends – from meme culture to Roblox – while staying legally compliant and ethically sound. This episode digs into how marketing to under-18s must balance creativity with a deep understanding of cognitive development, parental expectations, and platform dynamics. Maurice also explains how his agency conducts global research with thousands of children annually and why “marketing without manipulation” is their north star. What You’ll Learn: Why audience insight matters more than ever in youth marketing How to ethically and legally engage under-18s The importance of cognitive development in content design What platforms kids really use – and how Why screen time post-COVID is evolving again How to balance messaging across kids, parents, and platforms Where influencer marketing fits – and where it doesn’t Why creativity must thrive inside tight guardrails Top 3 Tips from Maurice: Talk to kids constantly: Research can't be replaced by reports. Direct conversations reveal the truth. Learn the rules: Global youth marketing demands obsessive knowledge of local legal and ethical guidelines. Immerse yourself in their world: Play Roblox, scroll YouTube Shorts, and understand meme culture. You can’t market what you don’t experience. Timestamps 01:00 – How brands stay in touch with kids’ realities 02:30 – Meme trends, masculinity, and parenting shifts post-COVID 05:15 – How brands act on research and insights 07:44 – The challenge of ethical creativity in marketing to kids 11:30 – Why guardrails make for better creativity 13:49 – Breaking down under-18s into real audience cohorts 16:38 – Running global research with very young children 19:14 – Sharing vs. owning insights: what gets published 20:50 – Developmental personas vs. traditional marketing personas 23:00 – The Venn diagram of kids, parents, and platforms 26:43 – Creating immersive brand experiences in Roblox 30:07 – Influencer marketing and where to draw the line 32:10 – Marketing ethics in YouTube content for kids 34:04 – How Maurice parented with a marketer’s mindset 36:25 – What metrics really matter in this space 39:48 – The rise of co-viewing and why it’s good news 41:55 – Maurice’s early career from Leo Burnett to Disney 47:51 – What’s changed most in 20+ years of marketing 53:39 – AI in research and creativity: risks and realities 59:00 – Maurice’s 3 must-do tips for youth marketers

    55 min
  4. Inside the Rise of Agentic AI

    11 JUL

    Inside the Rise of Agentic AI

    In this episode of the DMI podcast, host ⁠⁠Will Francis⁠⁠ chats with ⁠⁠Dikshant Dave⁠⁠, CEO of Zigment, about the fast-evolving world of agentic AI — autonomous AI agents that execute multi-step marketing and sales tasks. Dikshant shares how agentic AI goes beyond basic automation to adapt, personalize, and optimize customer engagement in real time. He explains how this shift is affecting marketers today, how companies can start adopting it, and what roles are most impacted. Dikshant brings deep insights from building Zigment, a platform designed to help brands move from patchwork automations to intelligent, contextual customer journeys — especially in industries with long buying cycles like healthcare, finance, and real estate. What You’ll Learn: What agentic AI really is (and what it isn’t) The difference between traditional automation and AI agents How agentic AI can help marketers handle unstructured, real-time data Why personalization over long buying journeys is the killer use case Where AI fits into customer interactions — and where it doesn’t Practical advice for marketers looking to experiment with AI Top 3 Tips from Dikshant  Start small but do start – pick low-risk workflows like unmanned channels to test AI agents. Keep cold outreach human – use AI only where context is already established. Don’t try to control every step – let agents figure out the best path to your goal using LLMs. Timestamps & Key Sections: 00:00 – Intro to agentic AI and why it matters now 02:39 – Dikshant’s journey from a supplements startup to AI-powered sales 05:11 – Why personalization beats automation in complex sales 07:23 – Tackling hallucinations: reliability and transparency of agents 11:58 – The shift from structured to unstructured marketing data 15:30 – Real-time decision-making and customer intent detection 18:12 – Automation vs. agents: what’s the real difference? 21:18 – How Zigment builds agentic customer journeys 24:47 – Why long buying cycles are ideal for AI agents 26:16 – What parts of marketing to keep human 28:08 – Which roles are most at risk of being replaced 29:38 – How to stay relevant as a marketer in the AI era 32:27 – The “duct tape” problem in marketing stacks 35:24 – Why AI is a multiplier, not a workforce reducer 38:28 – How to start: small, smart use cases and tools to try 40:19 – Sneak peek: Zigment’s upcoming agent builder platform ------------------- The Ahead of the Game podcast is brought to you by the Digital Marketing Institute and is available on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Check out the DMI’s extensive digital marketing library of ebooks, toolkits, webinars, guides, templates, and more! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join for free today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review so others can find us!

    42 min
  5. The Next Wave of AI in Marketing

    20 JUN

    The Next Wave of AI in Marketing

    In this episode of the DMI podcast, host ⁠⁠Will Francis⁠⁠ speaks with ⁠Jim Lecinski⁠⁠, marketing professor at Northwestern University, Kellogg and co-author of The AI Marketing Canvas. Together, they explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping marketing — from reducing cycle times and boosting productivity to transforming how marketers plan, execute, and measure campaigns. Jim demystifies emerging tools like AI agents, custom GPTs, and reasoning engines, and shares why marketers need to lead AI strategy rather than passively adopt it. He also offers great advice for how marketers can make the most of AI at junior, middle, and senior levels of a career.Jim's Top 3 Tips Nominate an AI ChampionFocus on Today’s Practical Use CasesUpskill with Free Tools Timestamps 00:00 – Intro & State of Marketing Today 01:08 – The AI Adoption Curve 03:30 – How AI Is Actually Used Today 05:01 – 4 Common Approaches to AI in Enterprises 08:42 – Creating an AI Strategy in Marketing 10:27 – Understanding AI Agents vs. Assistants 13:27 – What Marketers Should (and Shouldn’t) Focus On 16:15 – The Human Side of Marketing & Creativity 20:12 – AI-Generated Ads & the NBCU-Waymark Deal 24:33 – “We’re an AI-first company”: Why Leaders Say This 27:02 – How AI Will Affect Marketing Jobs 32:31 – Career Advice by Level 36:12 – What’s New in The AI Marketing Canvas (2nd Edition) 40:17 – How Jim Used AI to Build His Course 45:02 – Reframing AI as a Reasoning Engine, Not a Chatbot 46:12 – Job Hunting with AI 48:33 – Where to Upskill in AI for Marketing ------------------- The Ahead of the Game podcast is brought to you by the Digital Marketing Institute and is available on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Check out the DMI’s extensive digital marketing library of ebooks, toolkits, webinars, guides, templates, and more! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join for free today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review so others can find us!

    52 min
  6. Influencer Marketing - the Influencer

    6 JUN

    Influencer Marketing - the Influencer

    In the second part of our influencer marketing series, we shift focus from the marketer to the creator. Host ⁠⁠⁠Will Francis⁠⁠⁠ chats with ⁠Ben Kaluza⁠, a former Twitch ad ops professional turned full-time content creator. Ben shares his candid journey into content creation—from gaming streams and OBS tutorials to building a trusted multi-platform presence across TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Ben gets into what creators really need to succeed, how to balance authenticity with monetization, and how marketers can partner with them successfully. With honest takes on influencer compensation, content production, and building trust in a noisy digital space, this episode is a must-listen for anyone working with—or aspiring to become—a creator today. Listen to Part 1 with Sarah Adam who directs the B2B influencer marketing team at Wix Studio.    Ben's top 3 tips for content creators: Prioritize ideas over everythingDon't fuss over the details like hashtags or captionsKeep experimenting with formats Ben's top 3 tips for marketers: Match the content with your product, not just your audience Build great affiliate programs Use creators for unique insights and strategy Timestamps: 03:00 – What Ben learned about value and CPM from Twitch and healthcare display ads06:30 – Starting content creation and streaming on Twitch08:45 – Discoverability struggles on Twitch and why TikTok became his growth engine11:00 – How monetization culture differs across Twitch and TikTok14:10 – Creator fatigue and why streaming isn't sustainable for most16:30 – Pivoting to TikTok tutorials: from opinion to practical value20:15 – High vs. low production content and platform fit28:00 – Creator vs. influencer: defining the roles30:00 – Making a living: how brand deals, pricing, and scheduling actually work38:15 – What marketers should understand when working with creators41:30 – Why paid media should back creator content46:00 – Smart strategies for gifting vs. paid partnerships51:00 – Ranking platforms: TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn58:30 – Tailoring content by platform for trust and reach1:05:00 – Top 3 tips for aspiring creators and top 3 tips for marketers working with them------------------- The Ahead of the Game podcast is brought to you by the Digital Marketing Institute and is available on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Check out the DMI’s extensive digital marketing library of ebooks, toolkits, webinars, guides, templates, and more! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join for free today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review so others can find us!

    1h 16m
  7. Influencer Marketing - the Marketer

    23 MAY

    Influencer Marketing - the Marketer

    On the DMI podcast, we're devoting the next 2 episodes to going deep into influencer marketing. First from the marketer's viewpoint and then from the creator's. In this first episode host ⁠Will Francis⁠ chats with ⁠Sarah Adam⁠, Head of Partnerships and Influencer Marketing at ⁠Wix⁠. Sarah shares a behind-the-scenes look at how Wix has navigated the branding challenge of launching its B2B solution, ⁠Wix Studio⁠, in a market that traditionally sees Wix as a consumer-first platform. From influencer strategy to performance metrics and the role of AI, Sarah offers an unique view into B2B influencer marketing in today’s creator economy. Listen to part 2 with content creator Ben Kaluza. Key tips from Sarah: Pick influencers for their professional relevance, not follower count Focus on organic discovery over so-called influencer toolsInvest in long-term relationships, not just one-off campaigns Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction to Sarah Adam and her role at Wix 02:27 – What is Wix Studio and how it differs from classic Wix 04:10 – The branding challenge: shifting from B2C to B2B 07:21 – Why influencer marketing is a long-term game 08:36 – Metrics that matter: brand awareness vs. acquisition 10:24 – Choosing the right platforms based on marketing goals 13:00 – How to budget and benchmark for influencer campaigns 18:14 – Finding the right influencers: tools vs. organic discovery 22:28 – The rise of B2B influencer marketing on LinkedIn 29:40 – Platform breakdown: what each one does best 35:51 – Reposting and ad usage of influencer content 40:49 – Advice for aspiring full-time creators 47:11 – Sarah’s career journey and advice to her younger self ------------------- The Ahead of the Game podcast is brought to you by the Digital Marketing Institute and is available on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Check out the DMI’s extensive digital marketing library of ebooks, toolkits, webinars, guides, templates, and more! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join for free today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review so others can find us!

    54 min
  8. How to Go to Network (Not Market)

    11 MAY

    How to Go to Network (Not Market)

    In this episode of the DMI podcast, host ⁠Will Francis⁠ speaks with ⁠Mark Kilens⁠, CEO and co-founder of ⁠Tack⁠, a community and consultancy focused on helping companies go to market. Mark shares a fresh perspective on how go-to-market strategies must evolve by putting people, not companies, at the heart of everything. From building trust to leveraging networks over traditional channels, Mark offers plenty of insights that challenge the status quo and equip marketers to thrive in a rapidly changing landscape. Mark's top 3 insights: Focus on People-First GTM built around relationships, storytelling, and partnerships. Build an owned audience through value-led content and free tools, not just blog posts. Prioritize network leverage over channels: think people, places, and brands as your new marketing reach. Timestamps 0:00:25 – What is People-First Go-To-Market (GTM)? 0:03:02 – Common challenges: Positioning and Ideal Customer Profiles 0:06:54 – The importance of ecosystems and partnerships 0:09:47 – Distribution leverage and marketing in noisy environments 0:12:31 – Channels vs. Networks: A mindset shift 0:18:24 – The role of AI in GTM strategy and marketing careers0:23:56 – Why build a community? The power of owned audiences 0:27:58 – Using free tools to deliver value and collect data0:34:00 – Real-world client scenarios and solutions Tack provides 0:36:38 – The over-reliance on paid media and what to do instead 0:41:23 – What product metrics reveal about GTM effectiveness 0:42:27 – Mark’s GTM checklist: ICPs, messaging, networks 0:45:45 – Career reflections and advice for marketers----------------------- The Ahead of the Game podcast is brought to you by the Digital Marketing Institute and is available on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠. Check out the DMI’s extensive digital marketing library of ebooks, toolkits, webinars, guides, templates, and more! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join for free today⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review so others can find us!

    49 min
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Want a taste of the real-life digital marketing game? Supercharge your marketing skills and sharpen your mindset with incisive insights from industry experts. The Ahead of the Game podcast is brought to you by The Digital Marketing Institute, hosted by Will Francis. Subscribe to all DMI Ahead of the Game podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or watch on video at YouTube. And check out the DMI's extensive knowledge library and join up for free. https://my.digitalmarketinginstitute.com/auth/register?podcast

Information

  • Creator
    Digital Marketing Institute
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    125
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Digital Marketing Institute
  • Show Website
    Ahead of the Game

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