Social media has changed in recent weeks. Fuelled by the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, TikTok's potential ban in the US and Meta's removal of fact checkers in the name of "free speech" has raised some eyebrows across the advertising industry.

As a rapidly growing performance marketing channel, the implications of this social upheaval – particularly from a brand safety perspective – are unclear. As such, this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast features our News Reporter Reem Makari (1:58), who alongside host Joe, dissects the state of social media and offers some advice for confused marketers on what to do next.

Following that discussion is a conversation with Perrine Masset (22:14), Marketing Lead at Deloitte Digital, who attempts to put the spotlight on an issue currently bubbling under the surface in marketing – passion vs process. With the age of data-driven marketing overtaking adland, Perrine warns that marketers are getting bogged down in the nitty gritty processes of the job, restricting their ability to embrace their passion and let creativity shine through.

How do we overcome this problem? Joe and Perrine reveal all later in the episode.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(1:58) How should advertisers respond to Trump's influence on social media?

(22:14) Passion vs Process – finding the right balance

(37:26) Is AI here to help or hinder creativity?

(48:12) PMW's famous 'Resell Me a Pen' challenge

~ Further reading ~

Trump signs order to delay TikTok ban for 75 days

The Trump 2.0 era of Meta: What does 'getting rid of fact-checkers' mean for advertisers?

Meta incentivises content creators to join its platform with $5,000 bonus scheme

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Google has been the King of Search since 1998 – but for how much longer can it retain the crown?

Social platforms like TikTok and Instagram have become popular discovery tools and large language models like ChatGPT can serve as search engines in their own right, leaving Google to fight a war on several fronts to maintain its supposed search "monopoly".

But with a looming TikTok ban in the US and Meta removing fact checkers across its platforms, advertisers have every right to feel a little behind all the ongoing changes across the search and social landscapes. To help make sense of it all, this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast features Chris Pearce, Managing Director of Greenpark Digital (21:56), and veteran of search marketing.

Preceding that discussion however, is a chat PMW's Premium Content Editor Jyoti Rambhai (2:10), who opens the episode (and the new season of the show!) alongside host Joe to talk about the industry predictions they think will come to fruition in 2025, as well as some they aren't so sure of.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(2:10) Which 2025 adland predictions will come true?

(21:56) Greenpark's Chris Pearce talks the changing search ecosystem

(33:58) How should marketers be using search and social in 2025?

(47:17) PMW's famous 'Resell Me a Pen' challenge

~ Further reading ~

TikTok ban: US Supreme Court shows scepticism as creators move to other platforms

Why Google has never looked more fragile as an advertising channel

TikTok rivals Google with launch of its own search ads solution

‘AI is emerging from the hype cycle’: 21 marketers on automation and emerging channels

‘CMOs will pivot towards 1-to-few’: 7 experts on how AI will change marketing in 2025

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The year is almost over and you know what that means, it's time to look back on what was and throw out some hot takes for what's ahead.

On the final episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast season 3, the entire PMW editorial team (1:51) is in the studio to talk about 2024's biggest surprises, 2025's most exciting trends, and assess the myriad of opportunities and threats facing adland in the coming months.

It isn't all debate however, we also embrace the festive season by playing a little game that sheds some light on the team's favourite Christmas films.

See you in the new year for season 4!

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(1:51) The PMW team reviews 2024

(21:49) Hot takes for 2025

(46:42) Biggest opportunities and threats facing adland next year

(51:53) Festive fun!

~ Further reading ~

GARM to shut down following Musk's X antitrust lawsuit

‘Anyone else tearing their hair out too?’: Adland reacts to Google’s big cookie comeback

Dentsu forecasts global advertising market to grow 6.8% in 2024

TikTok faces US ban by the new year if it doesn’t sever ties with ByteDance

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.