👉🏻 SUM NEWS: 3.19.25

March 19, 2025

In partnership with

Stick with us and in just four minutes you’ll be up to speed on the latest marketing buzz, expert insights, and what’s going on in the SUM community. No need to clear your schedule—just grab your coffee and let’s dive in.

Plus, weigh in on the influx of influencer marketing. Is it part of your marketing plan this year? Scroll down to take our poll.

IN THIS ISSUE

🔥 Marketer Spotlight
🧠 Beyond Your Resume—The Secret to Landing That Marketing Job
🌎 Around the Web: TikTok, Reddit, Influencer Marketing Spend
📌 SUM Community Events
💡 ICYMI: Bite-Sized Insights
😂 In the Meme Time

Marketer Spotlight: Alex Stonehouse

Meet Alex Stonehouse—digital marketing pro, SaaS growth expert, and someone who knows that data alone doesn’t cut it when it comes to crafting great campaigns.

In three minutes, you'll learn why the "art vs. science" debate is back, how SUM helped level up Alex’s marketing game, and the one trend he's betting on for the next 5 years (spoiler: it's AI, with a fun twist!). Meet Alex.

Beyond Your Resume—The Secret to Landing That Marketing Job

If you think landing a marketing job is all about ticking skill boxes, think again. 3x CMO Miriam Kendall spills the real tea on what hiring managers actually look for. From grit and initiative to building a personal brand, learn what will set you apart from the competition.

Interested in sharing your POV on a relevant topic? Submit your pitch for publication on the SUM site.

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SUM PODCAST NETWORK

🎧 SUM Disruptors Podcast

Wade Prince, Chief Market Intelligence Officer at The Gormley Group, shares how he built a marketing strategy from scratch in a niche industry. Tune in for insights on growing a program and the power of client testimonials.

🎧 Brilliantly Wrong

This week, Alex Stonehouse chats with Matt and Chris Vanderlinden, the brothers behind Detonator, about their journey from creative collaborators to masters of brand storytelling. From clever copy and perfect pacing to cinematic visuals and voiceovers, learn how to craft a brand story that sticks.

🎧 Guest Podcast

Tune in to E.B. Moss’ Insider Interviews podcast where Mack McKelvey shares the story behind StartUp Marketer. Tune in to learn how Mack stumbled into tech, why discomfort drives her success, and the key traits of great marketers.

AROUND THE WEB

Buffer's analysis of 1.1 million TikToks indicates that longer TikTok videos (over one minute) outperform shorter ones in both reach and watch time. (Buffer)
A new study reveals that AI-powered search engines provide incorrect answers 60% of the time, raising real concerns about the reliability of these increasingly popular tools for information retrieval. (Ars Technica)
Reddit now lets you block advertisers you don’t like for a year. The feature is set to debut “in the next few weeks.” (yahoo!tech)
Influencer marketing spend in the U.S. is outpacing expectations, with Emarketer reporting it will exceed $10B in 2025—one year ahead of its previous forecast. (MediaPost)

SUM POLL

Do you currently use influencer marketing for your brand?

SUM COMMUNITY EVENTS

Using Tech to Connect Events with Sponsors and Speakers

📅 Thursday, 3/20, at 1 pm ET

Step into the future of event marketing with Erik Caputo, event technology pioneer, as he reveals how technology can be used to create meaningful connections between events, sponsors, and speakers in today's hybrid landscape.

☎️ SUM Office Hours

📅 Thursday, 3/20, at 2 pm ET

We’re launching our first weekly office hours this Thursday! Come chat, share your thoughts about SUM, and explore how our community can support your marketing efforts. Non-members are welcome to join—whether you’re curious about SUM or want some marketing advice.

ICYMI: A BITE OF INSIGHT

FEEDBACK IS A GIFT

“Giving constructive feedback is a gift. Really open and honest feedback is not mean—that’s what helps people to grow.”

Miriam Kendall

BUILDING YOUR AI MARKETING STACK

“Don’t be shy, just jump in and build.”

David Cardiel

THE SUM ADVANTAGE

“It's difficult to sort through all the chaff out there and having it in one place has been incredibly valuable.”

Wade Prince