The Marketing Rules Podcast

Most recruitment businesses spend money on marketing. Far fewer know exactly how much they're spending, what it's delivering or whether it's supporting their wider business objectives.In this episode of The Marketing Rules Live, James Whitelock joins Fiona and Chris to discuss how recruitment businesses should approach their marketing budgets for 2027.Key discussion points include:What should actually count as marketing expenditure?How can recruitment businesses measure marketing ROI?Why should founders put a value on their own marketing time?Where should additional marketing investment go?How do you balance brand building with lead generation?Why should business strategy determine marketing spending?A practical discussion about moving away from reactive marketing expenditure and building a budget that supports sustainable business growth.Download Own The Conversation Here: https://thinkincircles.com/#ebook#MarketingRules#TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketingLearn more about James and ThinkinCircles:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.themarketingrules.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Employer branding has become an industry of polished campaigns, expensive EVP exercises and carefully crafted promises. But how much of it reflects the reality of working for an organisation?In this episode of The Marketing Rules, James Whitelock is joined by Amit Parmar, CEO of Cliquify, to challenge the traditional approach to employer branding and explore whether the industry has lost sight of what really matters.In this episode, they discuss:Why employer branding has become too focused on recruitment campaigns.Whether employer branding belongs in HR, talent acquisition or marketing.Why traditional EVPs often fail to reflect the reality of employee experience.The difference between building a strong employer brand and simply promoting one.How employee sentiment and real-time feedback could reshape employer branding.It's a conversation about moving beyond the marketing promises and understanding what actually makes an organisation somewhere people want to work, and stay.Download Own The Conversation Here: https://thinkincircles.com/#ebook#MarketingRules#TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing⁠To connect with Amit:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/parmar79/Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.themarketingrules.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Everyone tells recruiters to work harder, move faster and do more. But what if the real solution isn't putting in more hours, but protecting your time better?In this episode, Tayla Veenstra speaks to Sarah Higgs, Founder of Recruitment Angel, about why time has become one of the recruitment industry's most valuable assets. They discuss burnout, how virtual assistants are changing the way recruiters work, relationship-led business development, and why creating a more sustainable way of working is becoming increasingly important for recruiters and business owners alike.The conversation also explores Sarah's journey from recruiter to founder, what she has learned building a successful business as a female entrepreneur, and why genuine relationships continue to outperform hard selling in today's recruitment market.If you're looking to grow your recruitment business without sacrificing your wellbeing, this episode is packed with practical advice, honest insights and ideas that could change the way you think about success.In this episode we discuss:Why recruiters need to protect their time more than everHow virtual assistants are changing the way recruiters workThe link between time, burnout and long-term successBuilding Recruitment Angel and the lessons Sarah has learned as a founderGrowing a business through relationships rather than hard sellingWhat it's like being the only female founder of the Recruitment Curry ClubPractical advice for recruiters who constantly feel overwhelmedWhy working smarter creates better long-term results than simply working harderDownload Own The Conversation Here:https://thinkincircles.com/#ebookTo connect with Sarah:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahhiggs01/Learn more about ThinkinCircles:https://thinkincircles.com/https://www.themarketingrules.com/

Recruitment technology is moving fast, but that does not necessarily mean recruiters need more tools.In this episode of The Marketing Rules Podcast, Moh Mehrabani, co-founder of Tavi, joins the conversation to explore how AI agents could change the way recruiters work, why search and sourcing are far from commoditised, and what happens when technology starts working alongside recruiters rather than simply giving them another platform to manage.Moh brings an interesting perspective to recruitment. He has built and exited a technology business, worked across consulting, policy and brand strategy, and only relatively recently entered the recruitment industry. That outsider perspective has shaped how Tavi has been built and how he thinks about the future of recruiter workflows.The conversation covers:Why recruitment does not need another disconnected toolHow AI agents can fit into existing recruiter workflowsWhy better search and sourcing still create competitive advantageThe importance of recruiter input and feedback when working with AIWhether AI will replace recruiters or simply change where they add valueWhy candidate experience should improve as targeting becomes more accurateHow recruiters can cope with an increasingly fragmented technology stackWhy changing recruiter behaviour may be harder than building the technology itselfThe episode also finishes somewhere slightly different, with a discussion about Moh’s other life as experimental musician Saint Abdullah, creativity, music production and why creating something genuinely distinctive still matters.Another conversation about where recruitment is heading, and the ideas shaping what comes next.Download Own The Conversation Here: https://thinkincircles.com/#ebookThe Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by Smart Sifty⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠smartsifty.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#MarketingRules#TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing⁠To connect with Moh:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammad-mehrabani-26b0b914/Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.themarketingrules.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Everyone is creating content. AI can write a month's worth of LinkedIn posts in minutes. So how do you stand out when everyone is trying to build a personal brand?In this episode, James is joined by Rhona Barnett-Pierce, founder of Workfluencer Media, to explore what actually builds authority today. They discuss why conversations matter more than impressions, whether LinkedIn has become too noisy, how businesses should think about founder brands versus company brands, and why AI should amplify your thinking rather than replace your voice.If you're looking to build influence, strengthen your brand or create content that leads to real commercial conversations, this episode is packed with practical insights.In this episode we discuss:Has LinkedIn become too crowded?Why impressions are the wrong metric to chaseFounder brands versus company brandsThe role of employee-generated contentHow AI can support content creation without sacrificing authenticityWhy human expertise is becoming more valuable, not lessHow leaders can encourage visibility across their organisationsDownload Own The Conversation Here: https://thinkincircles.com/#ebookThe Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by Smart Sifty⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠smartsifty.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#MarketingRules#TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing⁠To connect with Rhona:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonabarnettpierce/Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.themarketingrules.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, James is joined by Adam Gordon, founder of Poetry and one of the recruitment industry's leading technology entrepreneurs. Together they explore the rise of recruiter enablement, why AI is changing the way recruitment teams operate, and what the recruiter of the future might look like.In this episode, we discuss:What recruiter enablement is and why it's becoming a major focus for talent acquisition teams.Why recruitment has more to learn from sales enablement than most people realise.How AI should improve consistency, governance and quality, not just productivity.The hidden tasks that consume recruiters' time and how technology can remove them.Why influence, communication and consultancy will become even more valuable skills.The balance between automation and the human side of recruitment.How recruitment technology is evolving beyond point solutions into complete workflows.What recruitment leaders should be thinking about as AI continues to reshape the industry.Key takeaways:AI is most valuable when it supports recruiters, not replaces them.Recruiters create the greatest value through influence and relationships, not administration.Consistency and governance are becoming just as important as speed.The future belongs to recruiters who combine technology with human expertise.Recruiter enablement could become one of the defining trends in recruitment over the next few years.Whether you're running a recruitment agency, leading an in-house talent team or simply trying to understand where AI is taking our industry, this episode is packed with practical insights and plenty of food for thought.The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by Smart Sifty⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠smartsifty.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#MarketingRules#TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing⁠To connect with Adam:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamwgordon/Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.themarketingrules.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the Marketing Rules Podcast, James is joined by Theo Smith, one of the leading voices on neurodiversity, inclusion and workplace design.Theo has spent more than 17 years working across recruitment, talent acquisition, recruitment marketing and HR technology. Today, he helps organisations understand how hiring processes, workplace systems and company cultures can unintentionally exclude talented people.They discuss:Why recruitment processes often lose great candidates before they even applyThe problem with "culture fit" hiringHow organisations can create more inclusive hiring experiencesThe impact of AI on recruitment and talent attractionWhy neurodiversity has become such an important workplace conversationThe difference between fixing people and fixing systemsHow employers can attract talent in an AI-driven worldWhether you're a recruiter, talent acquisition leader, hiring manager or business owner, this conversation will challenge how you think about hiring and workplace performance.The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by Smart Sifty⁠⁠⁠⁠smartsifty.com⁠⁠⁠⁠#MarketingRules#TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing⁠To connect with Theo:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/theosmithuk/Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.themarketingrules.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week on The Marketing Rules Podcast James is joined by Andy Dunn, Managing Director of TEAM, the UK’s largest network of independently owned recruitment businesses. They dive into something that almost everybody talks about, but very few people genuinely understand: networking and community building. They discuss what separates networks that create real opportunities from those that simply look good on paper, why giving value first matters, and how to stay visible without becoming just another voice in the noise. Andy also shares what it really takes to build and manage a thriving community, the mistakes people make when trying to grow one, and why face to face connections still matter in an increasingly digital world. They also get into:Why networking is not about what you can takeBuilding your own “team within a team”Online communities vs face to face relationshipsCommunity management lessons at scaleCommon networking mistakes to avoidThe ROI of community and collaborationWhy human connection could become even more valuable in an AI driven worldWhether you run a recruitment business, work in talent acquisition, or are trying to build stronger relationships in your market, there are plenty of practical takeaways in this one. The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by Smart Sifty⁠⁠⁠smartsifty.com⁠⁠⁠#MarketingRules#TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing⁠To connect with Andy:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyedunne/Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.themarketingrules.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Most people in recruitment think burnout is just part of the job.Long hours. Constant pressure. Always “on”.But what if the real problem isn’t workload… it’s how we’re operating?In this episode of the Marketing Rules Podcast, James is joined by recruitment leader turned performance coach Michelle Flynn to talk about sleep, stress, burnout, breathwork and why so many recruiters are running at 100mph with no recovery.This is one of those episodes that will probably make you stop and rethink how you work.They cover:Why “work-life balance” doesn’t really existThe hidden signs you’re heading towards burnoutWhy recruiters struggle to switch offHow high performers recover properlyThe importance of sleep and routineWhy small changes beat dramatic life overhaulsBreathwork, performance and controlling stressThe problem with being “busy” all the timeWhy recruiters are basically office athletesHow to improve performance without sacrificing your lifeIf you work in recruitment, run a business or constantly feel switched on, this episode will probably hit home.The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by Smart Sifty⁠⁠smartsifty.com⁠⁠#MarketingRules#TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing⁠To connect with Michelle:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleflynn/Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.themarketingrules.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This episode flips one of the biggest assumptions in recruitment on its head.We spend so much time defining people by job titles, CVs and neat career paths. But what if that is exactly what is limiting performance, creativity and growth?In this conversation, I sit down with Daen Fox to unpack why labels in recruitment are becoming less relevant, and what actually drives high performance in today’s market.We get into the reality of modern recruitment. Why generic processes are creating average results. How curiosity is becoming a real competitive advantage. And why the people who step outside their defined role are often the ones who win.We also talk about identity beyond work. From building a career in recruitment to performing as a DJ, Daen shares what happens when you stop trying to fit into one lane and start leaning into what makes you different.This is not a conversation about theory. It is about how people actually operate, perform and grow in a market that is changing fast.If you are building a team, growing a recruitment business, or just feel like you are being boxed in by your role, this episode will challenge how you think about work.What you will take away:Why job titles are becoming less useful in modern recruitmentHow to unlock better performance without rigid role definitionsThe link between curiosity and commercial successWhy most recruitment businesses suppress innovation without realising itHow to operate beyond your job title without causing frictionWhat it really takes to stand out in an AI-driven marketThis one is about thinking differently, operating differently, and ultimately winning differently.The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by Smart Sifty⁠⁠smartsifty.com⁠⁠#MarketingRules#TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing⁠To connect with Daen:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/daenjafox/Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.themarketingrules.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠