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Ahead of the Game

Digital Marketing Institute
Ahead of the Game
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  • 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 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!
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  • 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 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!
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  • 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 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!
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  • 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.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!
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  • The Rise of Sustainable Marketing
    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!
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About Ahead of the Game

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
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