How to Get Youth Marketing Right

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 marketTop 3 Tips for Job SeekersHumanize 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 Sections0:00:51 – 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

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 LearnWhy 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 FaisalKnow 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 Sections01:28 – 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

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 marketingHow to ethically and legally engage under-18sThe importance of cognitive development in content designWhat platforms kids really use – and howWhy screen time post-COVID is evolving againHow to balance messaging across kids, parents, and platformsWhere influencer marketing fits – and where it doesn’tWhy creativity must thrive inside tight guardrailsTop 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.Timestamps01:00 – How brands stay in touch with kids’ realities02:30 – Meme trends, masculinity, and parenting shifts post-COVID05:15 – How brands act on research and insights07:44 – The challenge of ethical creativity in marketing to kids11:30 – Why guardrails make for better creativity13:49 – Breaking down under-18s into real audience cohorts16:38 – Running global research with very young children19:14 – Sharing vs. owning insights: what gets published20:50 – Developmental personas vs. traditional marketing personas23:00 – The Venn diagram of kids, parents, and platforms26:43 – Creating immersive brand experiences in Roblox30:07 – Influencer marketing and where to draw the line32:10 – Marketing ethics in YouTube content for kids34:04 – How Maurice parented with a marketer’s mindset36:25 – What metrics really matter in this space39:48 – The rise of co-viewing and why it’s good news41:55 – Maurice’s early career from Leo Burnett to Disney47:51 – What’s changed most in 20+ years of marketing53:39 – AI in research and creativity: risks and realities59:00 – Maurice’s 3 must-do tips for youth marketers

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 agentsHow agentic AI can help marketers handle unstructured, real-time dataWhy personalization over long buying journeys is the killer use caseWhere AI fits into customer interactions — and where it doesn’tPractical advice for marketers looking to experiment with AITop 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 now02:39 – Dikshant’s journey from a supplements startup to AI-powered sales05:11 – Why personalization beats automation in complex sales07:23 – Tackling hallucinations: reliability and transparency of agents11:58 – The shift from structured to unstructured marketing data15:30 – Real-time decision-making and customer intent detection18:12 – Automation vs. agents: what’s the real difference?21:18 – How Zigment builds agentic customer journeys24:47 – Why long buying cycles are ideal for AI agents26:16 – What parts of marketing to keep human28:08 – Which roles are most at risk of being replaced29:38 – How to stay relevant as a marketer in the AI era32:27 – The “duct tape” problem in marketing stacks35:24 – Why AI is a multiplier, not a workforce reducer38:28 – How to start: small, smart use cases and tools to try40:19 – 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!

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 TipsNominate an AI ChampionFocus on Today’s Practical Use CasesUpskill with Free ToolsTimestamps00:00 – Intro & State of Marketing Today01:08 – The AI Adoption Curve03:30 – How AI Is Actually Used Today05:01 – 4 Common Approaches to AI in Enterprises08:42 – Creating an AI Strategy in Marketing10:27 – Understanding AI Agents vs. Assistants13:27 – What Marketers Should (and Shouldn’t) Focus On16:15 – The Human Side of Marketing & Creativity20:12 – AI-Generated Ads & the NBCU-Waymark Deal24:33 – “We’re an AI-first company”: Why Leaders Say This27:02 – How AI Will Affect Marketing Jobs32:31 – Career Advice by Level36:12 – What’s New in The AI Marketing Canvas (2nd Edition)40:17 – How Jim Used AI to Build His Course45:02 – Reframing AI as a Reasoning Engine, Not a Chatbot46:12 – Job Hunting with AI48:33 – 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!

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 formatsBen'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 strategyTimestamps: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!

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 campaignsTimestamps:00:00 – Introduction to Sarah Adam and her role at Wix02:27 – What is Wix Studio and how it differs from classic Wix04:10 – The branding challenge: shifting from B2C to B2B07:21 – Why influencer marketing is a long-term game08:36 – Metrics that matter: brand awareness vs. acquisition10:24 – Choosing the right platforms based on marketing goals13:00 – How to budget and benchmark for influencer campaigns18:14 – Finding the right influencers: tools vs. organic discovery22:28 – The rise of B2B influencer marketing on LinkedIn29:40 – Platform breakdown: what each one does best35:51 – Reposting and ad usage of influencer content40:49 – Advice for aspiring full-time creators47:11 – 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!

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.Timestamps0:00:25 – What is People-First Go-To-Market (GTM)?0:03:02 – Common challenges: Positioning and Ideal Customer Profiles0:06:54 – The importance of ecosystems and partnerships0:09:47 – Distribution leverage and marketing in noisy environments0:12:31 – Channels vs. Networks: A mindset shift0:18:24 – The role of AI in GTM strategy and marketing careers0:23:56 – Why build a community? The power of owned audiences0:27:58 – Using free tools to deliver value and collect data0:34:00 – Real-world client scenarios and solutions Tack provides0:36:38 – The over-reliance on paid media and what to do instead0:41:23 – What product metrics reveal about GTM effectiveness0:42:27 – Mark’s GTM checklist: ICPs, messaging, networks0:45:45 – 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!

In this episode of the DMI podcast, host ⁠Will Francis⁠ speaks with ⁠Laura Costello⁠, Head of Sustainability and Planet Services at youth agency ⁠Thinkhouse⁠, as well as Ireland lead at ⁠Purpose Disruptors⁠. Starting with having Ben & Jerry's as her first client, Laura shares her deep understanding of how marketers can embrace sustainability, avoid greenwashing, and build authentic connections with, especially, younger audiences. She explores what B Corp really means, how brands can shift from consumer focus to community impact, and why storytelling is key to driving meaningful change. Laura’s top 3 tips:1. Sustainability starts with long-term thinking2. Storytelling should focus on values, not just products3. Avoid greenwashing by collaborating with other teams, including legal-----------ResourcesRead about Greenwashing on the DMI blogWARC - Future of EffectivenessThe Good Life campaignUN Pact for the FutureAdGreenClimate Communications--------Timestamps0:00:51 – What Laura is working on now0:03:51 – The meaning and challenges of B Corp certification0:08:30 – Why youth and sustainability are deeply connected0:11:26 – Embedding sustainability without tokenism0:15:30 – Changing consumer expectations and community building0:22:45 – Creative global campaigns that make an impact0:31:54 – Using social media to promote long-term behavior change0:36:06 – Making climate storytelling specific and relatable0:40:53 – Where to start with sustainability in your business0:44:56 – How to measure effectiveness and real impact0:47:25 – The future of responsible consumption marketing0:50:26 – Laura’s career path into climate communications0:52:30 – Lessons learned from the front lines of sustainable 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!

In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis⁠⁠ speaks with Elizabeth Greene, co-founder of Junglr, a specialist agency for Amazon advertising. As someone who works in a niche world of Amazon ads, Elizabeth breaks down how they actually function within the wider Amazon ecosystem, and provides insightful tactics on how to use them effectively for business growth on the platform.Elizabeth's top 3 tips:1. Focus on sponsored products2. Understand and master bid management3. Fit your products to the right relevancyTimestamps0:00:51 - What are Amazon Ads? 0:02:13 - Where do Amazon Ads Appear? 0:03:59 - How are Amazon Ads Unique? 0:10:24 - Order Velocity, Conversions, and Relevancy 0:13:38 - Trend Watching and Product Differentiation 0:23:48 - The Impact of TikTok Shop on Amazon 0:31:47 - The Perception of Amazon-Centric Businesses 0:38:04 - Scaling with Amazon Ads, with metrics like TACOS 0:43:48 - The Interplay of Ads and Organic Growth 0:49:25 - Consumer Behaviour and Search Specificity 0:55:54 - Top Three Tips for Amazon Advertising Beginners -----------------------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!