The State of GA4 Today

There's a lot going on with search and the effects of AI, and no-one's sure where it's all headed! One voice of reason is this week's guest, Luke O'Leary, who emphasizes the fundamentals of search marketing that won't change: good UX and optimization, understanding your audience, solid content, and testing. Luke and host Will Francis look at how the role of an SEO is changing, the latest E in E-E-A-T, how TikTok works as a search platforms, the partnership between Google and Reddit, where AI might take the search sector and how to prepare for it. Luke O'Leary is VP of Media Strategy & Operations at Neil Patel Digital, EMEA. He also tells us about his career and the interesting differences he's seeing between marketing and the world or work, having moved from California to London. FURTHER READING on the DMI A Guide to Google E-E-A-T Preparing for AI Search with Google Search Generative Experience (SGE) AI in Digital Marketing Google on the Messy Middle ---------- 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 as a video podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. A ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠transcript of this episode⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is available on the DMI website, where you'll also find all our other episodes on our extensive digital marketing library of ebooks, toolkits, podcasts, webinars, blogs, and more! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join for free today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review so others can find us! Want to let us know other topics you'd like to hear us cover, or want to be a guest on the show? Just drop us a line at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 6SycGjxRYkSxVNate9Ow --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dmiaheadofthegame/message

How do you market an organization made up of diverse individuals - in this case a global firm of over 700 legal professionals? We were delighted to have an insightful conversation with Roy Sexton, head of marketing at Clark Hill, on how marketing can be a force for good, the overlap between B2B and B2C marketing, working on a company's personal brand, considerations about putting your marketing behind social movements, and lots of tips for marketers at any stage of their career. Roy tells host Will Francis about his advocacy for LGBTQ+, and how his background in theater has influenced all areas of his marketing skills, including how to manage a team and approaches to using storytelling in 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 as a video podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. A ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠transcript of this episode⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is available on the DMI website, where you'll also find all our other episodes on our extensive digital marketing library of ebooks, toolkits, podcasts, webinars, blogs, and more! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join for free today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review so others can find us! Want to let us know other topics you'd like to hear us cover, or want to be a guest on the show? Just drop us a line at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dmiaheadofthegame/message

In this episode, we get to mine the mind of marketing great, Rand Fishkin, creator of Moz and SparkToro, among other ventures. Rand and our host Will Francis have a wide-ranging discussion covering the state of marketing in 2024, how he created SparkToro to allow marketers a better way to understand their audiences, who’s using the tool to best effect, issues around personal branding, and quite crucially – as we’re heard before on the podcast – why we need to keep the human side of marketing balanced with AI. Stay tuned to the end to find out what the 10-year-old Rand wanted to be when he grew up (and Will’s similar answer) – let’s just say neither of them planned to be a firefighter or a marketing entrepreneur! Watch this episode on YouTube. Check out Rand's latest venture, Snackbar Studio. --------------- 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. A ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠transcript of this episode⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is available on the DMI website, where you'll also find all our other episodes on our extensive digital marketing library of ebooks, toolkits, podcasts, webinars, blogs, and more! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join for free today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review so others can find us! Want to let us know other topics you'd like to hear us cover, or want to be a guest on the show? Just drop us a line at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dmiaheadofthegame/message

AI is now an integral part of copywriting. But how do we consider the line between craft and automation, between efficiency and creativity? How do we balance the human touch? In this episode, DMI podcast producer and today's host, Emma Prunty, is joined by marketing strategist Julie Atherton, and veteran copywriter and AI educator Kerry Harrison. Some of the key points in an insightful, wide-ranging conversation: Which AI tools work best for copywriters How to ensure the 'human' remains part of the strategic and creative process, such as through Kerry's concept of an 'AI sandwich' Ethics in the application and development of AI Transparency between clients and copywriters about AI use and implementing AI policies Gender bias in AI models and what we can do about it... ...the ongoing importance of encouraging girls and women in tech Listen to the end to hear Julie and Kerry's top takeaway tips for copywriters! Contact info: Julie's website Small Wonder Kerry's website and her newsletter, Minds and Machines --------------- 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. A ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠transcript of this episode⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is available on the DMI website, where you'll also find all our other episodes on our extensive digital marketing library of ebooks, toolkits, podcasts, webinars, blogs, and more! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join for free today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review so others can find us! Want to let us know other topics you'd like to hear us cover, or want to be a guest on the show? Just drop us a line at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dmiaheadofthegame/message

Google Analytics 4 (GA4) has been up and running for several months now, and people have plenty of opinions about it. What’s great about it? What’s not so great about it? And how can you make it work for you? We invited experts Cathal Melinn, and Chris Coomer, VP of Data Analytics and Insights at NPAccel, to discuss the present and future of GA4 with podcast host, Will Francis. ---------------- 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. A ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠transcript of this episode⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is available on the DMI website, where you'll also find all our other episodes on our extensive digital marketing library of ebooks, toolkits, podcasts, webinars, blogs, and more! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join for free today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review so others can find us! Want to let us know other topics you'd like to hear us cover, or want to be a guest on the show? Just drop us a line at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dmiaheadofthegame/message

How do you measure success in social media? Is it worth it? And how do you explain it to your non-marketing colleagues and stakeholders. Well, this week we get to talk with a real expert, the founder and CEO of renowned social management management platform Agora Pulse, Emeric Ernoult. Host Will Francis quizzes him about how the platform stands out from close competitors like Hootsuite and Buffer by focusing on analytics and ease of use. Their chat also touches on differences between platforms, what are 'vanity metrics', upcoming trends, Emeric's 4 top tips, and making sure to monitor the tip of the iceberg... ---------------- 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. A ⁠⁠⁠⁠transcript of this episode⁠⁠⁠⁠ is available on the DMI website, where you'll also find all our other episodes on our extensive digital marketing library of ebooks, toolkits, podcasts, webinars, blogs, and more! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join for free today⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review so others can find us! Want to let us know other topics you'd like to hear us cover, or want to be a guest on the show? Just drop us a line at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dmiaheadofthegame/message

Are you looking to change your job role or your career? Do you have a clear vision and a postive mindset to get you there? We invited the Mindful Recruiter Morgan Cummins on the podcast to share more of his wisdom and tips on tackling the job of developing your career. He talks with host ⁠⁠Will Francis about smart networking, working on your LinkedIn profile (and your CV/resume), interview tips, learning to use AI tools, and developing simple habits to broaden your outlook. He also offers some tips to employers who are hiring. ---------------- 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. A ⁠⁠⁠transcript of this episode⁠⁠⁠ is available on the DMI website, where you'll also find all our other episodes on our extensive digital marketing library of ebooks, toolkits, podcasts, webinars, blogs, and more! ⁠⁠⁠Join for free today⁠⁠⁠ 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, drop us a line at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dmiaheadofthegame/message

How do you care for the data you collect from leads and customers? Can you be sure it's secure, especially with the more widespread use of AI-powered LLM systems? In this episode, host ⁠Will Francis⁠⁠ has a fascinating discussion with Sean Falconer about how companies of any size can securely store customer data, how fines from data regulations like GDPR and CCPA are putting increased pressure on companies, and how AI models can be trained on data while still protecting privacy.   Sean is head of marketing at Skyflow, a data privacy vault service, and host of the Software Huddle podcast.  Further reading on the DMI library: GDPR and Marketing and the State of Data Privacy in 2024. ---------------- 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. A ⁠⁠transcript of this episode⁠⁠ is available on the DMI website, where you'll also find all our other episodes on our extensive digital marketing library of ebooks, toolkits, podcasts, webinars, blogs, and more! ⁠⁠Join for free today⁠⁠ 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, drop us a line at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dmiaheadofthegame/message

Yes - it's that time. For our most popular podcast of the year! We've talked to 6 of our experts about what they see as the key things to look out for during 2024 in digital marketing. AI is of course the main focus, but we get to look more closely at it within the realms of social media, paid ads, marketing strategy, careers, and search (SGE). Just some of the other areas they have suggested we watch include Instagram Threads (will it really take off now?), LinkedIn (which is now over 1 billion users), the new E in EEAT (Expertise), as well as learning to be sceptical of Google and paying attention to the priorities of young audiences. The 6 experts our host ⁠Will Francis⁠ chats with are: ⁠⁠⁠Alison Battisby⁠ of Avocado Social, ⁠Cathal Melinn⁠ of Digital Basics, ⁠Nikki Lam of ⁠Neil Patel Digital, Brian Corish of Elemental AI, Morgan Cummins of TalentHub, and our own Ken Fitzpatrick⁠⁠ of the Digital Marketing Institute. Stay tuned to the end to get each of their top tips for diving straight into 2024. Some excerpts for this episode were adapted from the DMI webinar on 2024 Trends, which you can watch back here. ---------------- 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. A ⁠transcript of this episode⁠ is available on the DMI website, where you'll also find all our other episodes on our extensive digital marketing library of ebooks, toolkits, podcasts, webinars, blogs, and more! ⁠Join for free today⁠ 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, drop us a line at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dmiaheadofthegame/message

The AI space is where it's at - so we've launched this series to cut through the noise. We're going to talk about tools and devlopment and what it means for digital marketers and what you can do about it. Our regular host, and digital marketer, ⁠Will Francis⁠ is joined by SEO expert ⁠Danny Richman⁠. In Episode 2:  recent changes to OpenAI, some handy Google sheets Danny has created with the help of AI, ideas on using AI for social media content, and, not least, a very cool product Danny recently built to shake up the world of old-school fabric production called Fabric Genie.  ------------ The Ahead of the Game podcast is brought to you by the Digital Marketing Institute and is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠. 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 us. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dmiaheadofthegame/message