In this episode of The Digital Marketing Podcast, Daniel Rowles and Ciaran Rogers explore one of the most transformative shifts in digital marketing: the arrival of ChatGPT Agent and the rise of agent-based AI.

No longer just about generating content, AI is now taking action on our behalf, logging into websites, filling out forms, analysing data, creating content, and even posting to platforms like LinkedIn. It’s here now, and it’s changing how marketing teams work from the ground up.

Daniel shares his firsthand experiments with ChatGPT Agent, from connecting it to Canva to create and publish carousel posts, to testing its ability to analyse his entire LinkedIn history and recommend strategies for future content. While the possibilities are jaw-dropping, the hosts also explore the risks, security concerns, talent pipeline challenges, and the long-term implications for marketing roles.

What agent-based AI really is and why it’s different from traditional AI chat tools

How ChatGPT Agent combines deep research, web browsing, and autonomous task execution

Real-world test cases, from generating content to posting directly on LinkedIn

Why prompt quality and structure are more important than ever

The security and compliance risks of connecting agents to business systems

How agent-driven automation could replace many junior marketing tasks

Why agility and learning culture are now critical for businesses to survive disruption

The ethical and strategic questions marketers need to face around job design and human oversight

The discussion goes beyond technology to look at the human side of digital marketing. Daniel and Ciaran debate the future of junior roles, how companies can avoid gutting their talent pipelines, and why brands that lean into humanity, creativity, and trust may stand out in an AI-driven landscape.

ChatGPT Agent is a genuine step change, going from AI that suggests, to AI that does.

Marketing teams can gain huge efficiency, but must double-check outputs and guard against overreliance.

Security is now a critical concern, as agents gain access to business-critical systems.

Junior marketing roles are at risk, companies must balance efficiency with long-term talent growth.

Building an agile learning culture is the best defence against AI disruption.

📥 Access the show notes, tools, and links at: https://targetinternet.com/resources/chatgpt-agent-and-the-future-of-digital-marketing

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In this episode of The Digital Marketing Podcast, hosts Daniel Rowles and Ciaran Rogers explore one of the most pressing questions facing marketers today: what does SEO look like in a world dominated by AI search and generative answers?

With Google rolling out AI Overviews and AI Mode, and tools like ChatGPT and Gemini changing how people search, the rules of SEO are shifting fast. Some publishers report traffic drops of up to 60%, while others in e-commerce are holding steady. So is SEO really dead, or just evolving into something new?

Daniel and Ciaran dig deep into what’s happening, separating hype from reality and providing clear, practical advice for marketers trying to adapt. They explain why understanding Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and AI Overviewsn (AIO) is critical, and how you can stay visible when clicks are disappearing.

Why AI Overviews are changing user behaviour, and pushing organic results further down the page

How share of voice and brand sentiment are becoming as important as traditional ranking factors

Why advocacy and positive online mentions may now trump old-school keyword tactics

The growing importance of Wikipedia, Reddit, and forums in shaping AI-driven answers

Why updating and referencing your best content is more powerful than ever

How no-click searches are rewriting what “success” looks like in SEO

Practical ways to benchmark your visibility

Why prompt-like queries and longer conversational searches are the new normal

How to build trust through Google’s E‑E‑A‑T principles (Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)

The Future of SEO Episode Mindmap

The hosts also explore pitfalls to avoid, from snake-oil SEO sales pitches to rushing into poorly thought-out Wikipedia pages that could backfire. They emphasise a smarter, evidence-based approach: focusing on authenticity, advocacy, and quality content that’s updated, referenced, and truly useful.

SEO isn’t dead, but competing for the top three AI-sourced links is tougher than ever.

Building advocacy and brand mentions is critical to visibility in AI search.

Quality and authenticity (with evidence and references) beat quantity every time.

Think conversational: searches are getting longer, more natural, and more complex.

Following Google’s E‑E‑A‑T framework is the best hedge against AI-driven disruption.

If you’re a marketer, publisher, or business owner trying to make sense of the shifting SEO landscape, this episode provides both clarity and actionable steps to future-proof your strategy.

📥 Access the show notes, tools, and links at: https://targetinternet.com/resources/the-future-of-seo

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In this episode of The Digital Marketing Podcast, Daniel Rowles is joined by Brendan Kane, viral strategist and author of One Million Followers, for a deep dive into the art and science of making content go viral.

Going viral often feels like marketing mythology,something bosses ask for, but few can explain or deliver. Brendan, however, has built a career proving that virality isn’t luck. It’s repeatable, measurable, and rooted in storytelling structures that have worked for decades.

Brendan shares the behind-the-scenes thinking that led to his experiment growing an audience of 1 million followers in 30 days, starting from scratch, without a team, celebrity status, or advertising budget. More than a vanity metric, the project was a proof-of-concept for a framework that now helps brands, creators, and entrepreneurs reliably generate massive reach and meaningful engagement.

Why qualitative analysis - not just views and clicks, holds the key to repeatable success

The power of storytelling formats like “Man on the Street” and “Two Characters, One Light Bulb”

How to match your brand’s resources and personality to the right format

Why volume isn’t the answer, and what quality actually means in the age of AI and infinite content

Why originality is overrated, and how proven formats unlock creativity instead of limiting it

How even “boring” industries like tax, insurance, and leather craftsmanship can thrive on social media

The truth about “frequency myths” and how creators burn out chasing quantity over story

Why format mastery trumps trend-chasing—and how sitcoms, Spielberg, and social media are more alike than you think

Brendan also breaks down his format-matching process, built from over 10,000 hours of research and analysis of 300+ viral content structures. His agency works with individuals and brands to identify the storytelling structures that resonate most with their audience, and helps them build repeatable, on-brand content that doesn’t just go viral, but converts.

This conversation flips conventional marketing wisdom on its head, challenging the obsession with originality and encouraging marketers to focus on structure, story, and strategic authenticity.

Virality isn’t random, it’s engineered through proven creative models

Storytelling formats provide containers for creativity, not limitations

Format mastery enables faster growth and deeper audience trust

Business outcomes must be baked into your content strategy from day one

Social media isn't just another channel, it's the ultimate storytelling platform

📥 Access the show notes, tools, and links at: https://targetinternet.com/resources/how-to-go-viral

📩 Join the free newsletter for access to Daniel’s monthly live sessions: https://targetinternet.com/newsletter