In this episode of the Digital Marketing Podcast, hosts Ciaran Rogers, Louise Crossley, and Daniel Rowles unpack the latest insights from Hootsuite's 2025 Social Media Trends Report.  Creative Content: Breaking Boundaries Without Breaking Your Brand The discussion kicks off with an exploration of the shift towards entertainment-driven content. Over 60% of organisations are creating content designed to entertain, educate, or inform rather than promote directly. The hosts debate the pros and cons of pushing creative boundaries, citing examples of effective emotional engagement. They also warn of the risks of losing brand consistency and highlight strategies to stay innovative while staying true to your brand identity. Proactive Engagement: Opportunities and Risks The team discusses the growing trend of proactive engagement, where brands interact directly with creators and audiences in real time. With statistics showing that proactive engagement can drive 1.6 times more interaction, they explore how brands can add value to conversations without appearing intrusive or opportunistic. This segment is packed with insights on building meaningful connections while avoiding common engagement pitfalls. Social Listening and Trend-Jacking: Striking the Right Balance The hosts delve into how brands can use advanced social monitoring tools to identify trends, refine their strategies, and increase ROI. They caution against the dangers of "trend-jacking" and the race to viral content, urging marketers to focus on creating authentic, original campaigns that align with their brand values. Generative AI: Creating Better (Not Just More) Content With 83% of marketers using generative AI to accelerate content production, the episode highlights how AI is reshaping the industry. The hosts stress the importance of leveraging AI for quality rather than quantity, emphasising the value of thoughtful, well-crafted content over sheer volume. They also share examples of using AI tools for planning, customer analysis, and segmentation to enhance campaign effectiveness. -- You'll find all links on  Show notes: Have any feedback on the show? , tell us what you love and what you think could be better. And, if you are really enjoying the show, please

In this episode of the Digital Marketing Podcast the team explore five essential email marketing stats to boost your campaigns. Highlights include: Crafting Captivating Subject Lines: Discover the magic of "power words" and how small changes can significantly impact open rates. Learn why overusing certain words, like "discover," can diminish their effectiveness over time. Seasonal and Trendy Keywords: Explore data-driven insights on using seasonal terms like "trends" or "forecasts" to boost engagement. Strategic Capitalisation and Personalisation: Learn how mid-line capitalisation can enhance scannability. Insights into using personalisation effectively without breaking trust. The Art of Invitation: The power of phrases like "You're invited" to increase open rates, with advice on maintaining integrity. Comparison Subject Lines: Why comparisons like "How do you measure up?" spark curiosity and engagement. The team also shares practical tools to test and optimise email performance, plus plenty of tips on maintaining audience trust and balancing creativity with authenticity in email campaigns. -- You'll find all links on  Show notes: Have any feedback on the show? , tell us what you love and what you think could be better. And, if you are really enjoying the show, please

In this first episode of 2025, Ciaran, Daniel and Louise discuss some essential new years resolutions for marketers in 2025. Covering the impact of generative AI, junk content, aggressive social media algorithms, never ending brand desperation to go viral and much more, they explore the essential techniques to help your digital marketing succeed in 2025. You'll also learn about why Ciaran's energy levels should never be at a 10, how much Daniel sounds like Marvin the Paranoid Android and how Ciaran had no idea his face had been printed n 10,000 mugs! The team are also giving away loads of podcast merchandide, sharing the schedule for our free 2025 live sessions, and we have free copies of Daniel's latest book to give away. -- You'll find all links on Show notes:   Have any feedback on the show? , tell us what you love and what you think could be better. And, if you are really enjoying the show, please

In this solo end of year episode, Daniel explores the opportunities and challenges facing digital marketers in 2025 and how to set a strategy for success! From shifting search algorithms to the takeover of generative AI, Daniel shares how to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive environment. He also shares insights into his recent AI panel discussion, highlights key industry trends and offers actional advice for fostering a culture of learning and innovation within your organisation. Tune in today. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and we look forward to seeing you back in 2025! -- Show notes:   Have any feedback on the show? , tell us what you love and what you think could be better. And, if you are really enjoying the show, please

In this episode of the Digital Marketing Podcast, Louise and Daniel discuss the key insights that Louise took away from Semrush's Spotlight conference, their first ever in-person conference in Amsterdam this October. From the future of search to disruptive marketing strategies, content optimisation to the evolving role of authenticity in branding, this episode unpacks actionable strategies and trends for 2025. Tune in today! -- Show notes:   Have any feedback on the show? , tell us what you love and what you think could be better. And, if you are really enjoying the show, please

In this episode of the Digital Marketing Podcast, Daniel is joined by Jay Schwedelson, host of US #1 Marketing Podcast and Founder of Outcome Media and Guru Media Hub.  In the episode, Jay shares with us why being real and showcasing your personality is more critical now than ever, how your email database is your most valuable marketing asset, and why casual 'Lo-Fi' content resonates more with audiences. This is not one to miss! If you're looking for practical insights on the top trends and strategies to elevate your marketing game in 2025, tune in today.   Show notes:   Have any feedback on the show? , tell us what you love and what you think could be better. And, if you are really enjoying the show, please

If you've recently listened to our podcast about new acronym GEO, you might want to sit down for this one. In this episode of the Digital Marketing Podcast, we answer a listener's question about the connection between SEO, GEO and AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation). With search behaviour constantly changing, it's important that marketers rethink their approach to their content visibility online. If you want to know the core principles of the three optimization methods and whether conversational/answer search should impact your strategy, tune in today. Show notes:   Have any feedback on the show? , tell us what you love and what you think could be better. And, if you are really enjoying the show, please

What is digital PR and does it matter? In this episode of the Digital Marketing Podcast, Daniel sits down with Jane Hunt, CEO and Co-Founder of JBH, a digital PR and SEO agency based in Manchester. Jane shares with Daniel invaluable insights into the digital PR landscape and how its reshaping SEO and brand building for both B2B and B2C clients, and the techniques that power brand visbility. If you're looking for a strategy to build quality backlinks, measure campaign impact and blend SEO with traditional PR to achieve results, tune in today! -- Show notes:   Have any feedback on the show? , tell us what you love and what you think could be better. And, if you are really enjoying the show, please

Does the world of digital marketing need any more three letter acronyms? Apparently so... In this episode of the Digital Marketing Podcast, Daniel and Ciaran talk about the emerging concept of GEO, Generative Engine Optimisation and what it means for the future of digital marketing.  As search engines evolve into generative AI-driven models like ChatGPT, Search Generative Experience (SGE) and more, marketeres now face new challenges in optimising content for visibility. Daniel introduces the concept of GEO and highlights some actionable strategies you can use to improve visbility in these AI-powered search environments. Tune in today! -- Show notes:   Have any feedback on the show? , tell us what you love and what you think could be better. And, if you are really enjoying the show, please

Is content marketing still relevant in 2024? In this podcast episode, inspired by one of our listeners and insights from marketing guru Rand Fishkin, we dive into how the content marketing landscape has evolved, the challenges of achieving visibility, and why the concept of 10X content is no longer a guaranteed path to success. We also discuss the impact of zero-click behaviour, social media algorithms, digital PR and and give our practical tips for creating content that still stands out. Listen in today! -- Show notes: Have any feedback on the show? , tell us what you love and what you think could be better. And, if you are really enjoying the show, please