In this episode of the Digital Marketing Podcast, hosts Ciaran Rogers, Louise Crossley, and Daniel Rowles dive headfirst into a topic that’s reshaping the way brands grow online: creating brand advocates vs. hiring influencers.
Are influencers losing their shine?
What makes a true brand advocate?
How do you build authentic loyalty that actually moves the needle?
You’ll learn why genuine, passionate brand fans are now more powerful than ever and how their voices cut through the cynicism surrounding traditional influencer marketing. From the rise of Reddit and forum-based recommendations, to the impact of AI-generated summaries and Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO), we explore why building trust and community beats buying attention every time.
Expect plenty of insight, some dubious banter, and even a few host mishaps (including a missing Daniel edit!) that prove just how engaged our audience really is.
Also covered:
Micro-influencers, creators, and the blurry lines between fame and influence
Practical strategies to encourage advocacy (without bribing people with mugs… or maybe with them)
Real-life stories from Liz Earle Beauty and other brands who nailed word-of-mouth
Why being a great friend might just be the best marketing strategy of all
Whether you’re growing a startup or managing a global brand, this episode will get you thinking differently about influence, advocacy, and how to win hearts - not just clicks.
Listen now and discover why your biggest brand win might be sitting quietly in your DMs.
Useful Links:
100 True Fans - Kevin Kelly on the Time Ferris Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py43k-mSG7s
The Liz Earle Story:
https://www.lizearle.com/content/our-founding-brand-story.html
Lessons from Liz Earle MBE (Barclays Interview):
Digital PR Podcast Episode:
Listen, subscribe or get in contact
Join us for our latest podcast episode where we talk about the state of digital skills across analytics and data, usability, content marketing, digital strategy and more.
In this episode of The Digital Marketing Podcast, Daniel dives into the world of agile marketing, exploring how a new methodology is helping marketers launch strategic, high-impact campaigns at pace, without compromising on quality.