We’re kicking off this brand new series with an interview with James Delves, Head of PR and Engagement at the CIM (Chartered Institute of Marketing).
While writing my book, ‘Marketing Strategy’, I was lucky enough to interview some of the biggest names in marketing. Their insights, experiences, and anecdotes add incredible depth and value to my book, and I could not be more excited about their contribution.
I didn’t think it was fair to hide all of these amazing people away inside the covers of my book, however. So, I reached out to see if they’d agree to be interviewed again for the Let’sTalk Strategy Youtube channel and Soundcloud playlist.
In this series, I’ll interview some of the best and most experienced marketers in the world, including Victoria Peppiat, founder of Phrasee; Jono Alderson of expert SEO brand Yoast; Kevin Dunkley of HH Global; and many more.
Every one of my interviewees is renowned in their field, and has a wealth of experience to share with you all.
Welcome to Episode 1
My first interview is with James Delves, Head of PR and Engagement at the CIM (Chartered Institute of Marketers). James has worked in marketing/communications for 20 years, and seems to have the golden touch. Everything he turns his hand to quickly becomes a huge success!
James has worked on PR, crisis communications, broadcast relations, speech writing, digital tactics, campaigns, and more for some of the world’s biggest brands, including Netflix, JP Morgan, Samsung, McAfee, Marconi, and Vodafone.
His enthusiasm, dedication, and that golden touch have won him plenty of awards. He’s a regular speaker in the House of Commons, and a familiar face at the most prestigious marketing events.
From using podcasts to upskill to common marketing pitfalls and even the infamous European Super League, we covered a lot of ground! I’ve tried to gather topics/questions under timestamps for you here, so you can easily return to the bits that grab your interest:
Key topics covered include:
- How did you get into marketing in the first place? 0:20
- Why did you decide to study marketing at University? 1:58
- How do you upskill and stay up to date in such a dynamic world? 03:05
- What does your role at the CIM involve? 04:28
- What advice would you give to aspiring marketers? 05:20
- How can organisations build trust with consumers? 06:58
- The importance of consistency 08:17
- How has Covid impacted brand/consumer relations? 10:34
- What are the key ingredients that should be included in a marketing strategy? 12:20
- The discrepancy between what customers want and what boards think customers want (Super League edition!) 14:30
- What do you think are the most common pitfalls marketers fall into? And how can they overcome those pitfalls? 16:58
- If you could go back in time, find yourself when you were first starting out in marketing, and give yourself some advice, what would that advice be? 18:57
If you’re hungry for more of James’ insights and wisdom, you can find a detailed interview with him at the end of Chapter 1 of my book, ‘Marketing Strategy: Overcome Common Pitfalls and Create Effective Marketing’. Order through the Let’sTalk Strategy website for a 20% discount!
You can find James on LinkedIn, and check out his work at the CIM here.
For the next in my series of interviews, subscribe to the Let’sTalk Strategy Youtube channel or if you prefer listening on the go, to our SoundCloud playlist and click that notification bell to view each episode as soon as it drops. Upcoming are interviews with big names like Jeanne Jennings, Tim Bond of the DMA, Henk-Fritz Verkerk of Sports Alliance, and many more!
