Marketing Media Toolkit: Must-Watch, Listen, and Read for Every Marketer
Staying on top of the latest trends and insights is key to thriving in the ever-evolving world of marketing. But where should you turn for inspiration, education, and the best industry practices?
On this page, I’ve curated a diverse list of must-watch movies, channels, podcasts, books, and TV shows that every marketer should check out. Whether you’re looking to spark creativity, learn from industry leaders, or dive deep into case studies of marketing success and failures, this collection has something for every interest and level of expertise.
From iconic documentaries revealing the power of branding to insightful podcasts that keep you updated on the latest digital strategies, this list is designed to help you grow both personally and professionally.
No matter if you’re an aspiring marketer, a seasoned pro, or simply a curious learner, exploring this range of media will inspire new ideas, provide practical tips, and keep you informed in a fun and engaging way.
Enjoy!
Movies Every Marketer Should Watch
This movie is a “must-see” for all marketers. The movie takes a closer look at a family of four and their seemingly normal life in an affluent suburb in the US. On the surface, they seem like the perfect family. They have everything you could ever want. In reality, they are not even a real family. They are marketers and actors that are working with what the movie coin as “self-marketing” or “hidden marketing”. The family members and their lifestyle are meant as inspiration for others who want their lifestyle and then buy the products successful families have. The movie provides a fascinating insight into how people think and act when faced with this type of marketing. It takes a unique look at peer pressure and how we influence each other, especially those we are close to.
This is a slightly older movie about a male marketer who one day experiences electroshock and starts hearing everything women are thinking. The movie looks at how he then learns to listen to the women’s voices and adapt to their wishes. Both in his profession and in his private life. Watch this movie to get insight into how you can market in a way that appeals to those you are trying to reach. It is not enough to just know, you need to understand as well.
“Thank you for smoking” is about a lobbyist trying to keep people smoking. Why? Well, it’s their job.
The main character makes smoking look cool, and is, therefore, marketing it without knowing. One of the peak moments in the movie is when he is observed at an elementary school telling children it is not actually that bad to smoke. You are probably not trying to get your kids to start smoking, but this story is more about how people want to believe what people are telling them. It is a great lesson in how “anything” can be marketed.
You might already have seen this film? Were you thinking like a marketer at the time? The film is about a man that is planning to get a woman to fall for him to win a competition. The argument is that he can sell anything – even himself. The plot twist is that the woman he tries to convince also has a little project going – to get him to hate her, on purpose. The movie highlights how you can nudge people’s thoughts and emotions by pushing the right buttons.
Did you catch this film about Steve Jobs? It’s all about his highs and lows at Apple and in particular his very successful return to the company. A movie showing that things don’t sell themselves. You have to show people that they cannot live without your product. As a marketer or salesperson, you can learn a lot from how Steve Jobs identified what people really wanted by thinking as his persona.
Based on a true story, this is about a baseball team without much money. Using maths and data, the manager changes their strategy for how they buy players. It is not always the first players that come to mind that are of the highest value. The new strategy brings the team amazing results. Similar to inbound marketing, it is the analysis and data-driven action that will bring success. The movie is a great example of how your marketing can bring a significant return on your investment, even if you don’t have the biggest budget. Analyze the key data and you can beat the competition.
A stressed-out adman is fed up with telling lies. He ends up in a psychiatric ward where, with the help of the other patients, discovers that the best ads actually tell the truth. Long story short: Always be truthful.
Based on a true story, this movie looks at a quiz show scandal that changed the advertising industry as we know it. When the interest increased for quiz shows back in the day, the producers of these shows started “paying” contestants to take part by promising to ask questions the contestants already knew the answers to. Soon, people started to wonder if the competition could be rigged, and chaos ensued. The movie teaches you about money and morals. How money affects your actions, as well as how different people actually are. Lastly, maybe not all things are as black and white as they seem.
A popular movie is set during a fictional presidential campaign in the US. It is about a campaign manager that allows his extreme pride and confidence to get in the way of ethics and morals. In his own words “I’ll do and say anything if I believe in it, but I have to believe in the cause”. The film shows how easy it is to color outside the lines if you think you can get away with it. Important lessons can be learned when it comes to how to act in the “heat of the moment”.
It is about a woman who gets a job with a tech company in Silicon Valley, becoming a part of their experiment to eliminate all private life. It is not hard to compare the company in this movie to real-life equivalents such as Google, Facebook, and Apple. Maybe this storyline is not far from the truth in some areas. It is an interesting movie considering GDPR that comes around in May 2018. What will the future bring?
The Social Network tells the gripping origin story of a website that moved tectonic plates in the digital marketing world — Facebook. As a marketer, it’s fascinating to get an inside look at what inspired the creation of Facebook, the founders’ thought processes when they built it, the steps they took to develop it, and all the ups and downs Facebook experienced as it evolved into the social media giant it is today. From its humble yet promising beginnings to its rapid growth, The Social Network shows you that Facebook’s rise to tech stardom wasn’t void of any obstacles.
Nowadays, it seems like everybody strives for a more balanced life. But not Ryan Bingham, George Clooney’s character in Up in the Air. Ryan works for an HR consultancy firm that helps companies conduct layoffs. He flies almost every day to fire his client’s employees, so he doesn’t have a permanent address or a family. And he absolutely loves it. Ryan believes that relationships with people and things aren’t worth it — they’re too taxing. He even gives motivational speeches to get people to follow his life mantra.
Steve Jobs, the man behind Apple, was arguably the most visionary product designer and marketer of our generation. In his biographical film, Steve Jobs’ notorious personality is always on full display. The movie delves into the complex reasoning for Jobs’ poorly made psyche, which provokes sympathy for Jobs despite his ruthless treatment of his diligent employees, meticulous micromanagement, and bitter coldness towards his loved ones. And, more importantly, you learn how much he impacted Apple, technology, and the world as we know it today.
The Founder tells the story of Ray Kroc, a 52-year old milkshake machine salesman who discovers McDonald’s, a small yet remarkably efficient burger joint, and transforms it into the largest fast-food empire in the world. But even though Kroc’s grit and determination to catapult McDonald’s into the chain restaurant hall-of-fame is admirable, his broken moral compass and conniving methods are despicable. Throughout the movie, you learn the McDonald’s empire is built upon a heap of controversial business moves. It makes you question where you yourself should draw the line between doing whatever you can to fulfill your dreams, and being morally good.
Chris Gardner has one of the most inspirational life stories out there. While watching his biographical film, you experience the euphoric highs and heartbreaking lows of his life as a homeless, unpaid intern raising a 5-year old son on his own. But his ambition, perseverance, and love for his son ultimately drive him towards success, giving this movie a very happy ending.
TV Shows Every Marketer Should Watch
Set in New York in the 1960s this is the story of Don Draper, an advertising Creative Director at Sterling Cooper one of New York’s most prominent ad agencies. The ongoing storylines are mainly centered around the implementation of engaging advertising campaigns but also delves deeply into Mr. Drapers’ relationships with his friends, work for colleagues, and family.
A group of tech-nerdy friends creates a piece of technology that is the envy of all of the other competitors in their space, including a Google-like fictional counterpart named Houli. They soon learn all about the cutthroat world of being first to market with the desired product in the world’s foremost tech hub, Silicon Valley.
From the makers of Entourage, How to Make it in America was originally pitched as Entourage New York and stylistically this comparison is certainly an accurate one. However, from a story perspective, it is very different. How to Make it in America is centered around the lives of Ben Epstein (Bryan Greenberg) and his friend Cam Calderon (Victor Rasuk) as they struggle to launch a fashion label in New York City’s bustling street fashion scene.
Panel show from the Australian Broadcast Corporation (ABC) featuring comedian Will Anderson and a panel of guests from Australian Advertising Agencies discussing the concepts and tactics behind current television commercials.
Advertising Genius Lee Tae-Baek
South Korean drama following the life of Lee Tae-Baek as he climbs the ladder of the competitive advertising world. The show is said to be based on the life of advertising designer and social activist Jeseok Yi (a.k.a. Jetski), author of the book Ad Genius Lee Je-seok. I personally haven’t come across Jeski myself, but anyone who pens an autobiography with the word genius in the title probably deserves their own TV show.
This 2014 sitcom only lasted a single season and was the final role from comedian Robin Williams before his tragic death. Created by David E Kelley of Boston Legal, Alley McBeal, and The Practice fame (amongst many others), the show is centered around the life of an advertising executive, Simon Roberts, played by Robin Williams. The show is said to be loosely based on the life of John R Montgomery who was an Advertising Executive at mega-agency Leo Burnett in Chicago.
A bored advertising executive played by Steve Coogan questions his entire existence after a lifetime spent in adland is turned on its head by a new generation of Gen Y ad execs.
Not strictly speaking anything to do with marketing or advertising, but makes it onto this list for two reasons. 1. It’s aired on AMC (the network behind MadMen) and should immediately appeal to anyone who loved that series. And 2. it follows the personal computer revolution from the early 1980s into the early years of the internet, a period that undoubtedly led to today’s modern marketing and digital advertising world.
A group of young entrepreneurs endeavors to create and launch an online dating app in the competitive world of the Silicon Valley start-up. Sadly, this television series, produced by Amazon Studios was canceled after the first series, so be warned if you start watching this show there is every chance you will get hooked, only to be left disappointed. But that said the series is well worth watching, it is extremely similar to Silicon Valley although in many ways it is arguably superior to the HBO dramedy.
Don Cheadle and Kristen Bell lead a group of shallow, manipulative management consultants with a flimsy ethical compass as they generally cheat their clients. This is another show that technology isn’t set in the world of marketing and advertising, but should appeal to anyone who has enjoyed any of the other shows on this list. It could just as easily be set in a shady marketing consultancy.
WebSites Every Marketer Should Visit Regularly
- HubSpot Blog
Specialty: Inbound Marketing & Sales
HubSpot’s blog is a comprehensive resource for marketers of all levels, covering topics from content marketing and social media to sales strategy. It provides actionable tips, templates, and insights into the latest industry trends. - Moz Blog
Specialty: SEO & Search Marketing
Moz is a go-to resource for all things SEO. The blog covers search engine optimization strategies, keyword research, and algorithm updates to help marketers optimize their sites for search engines. - Neil Patel
Specialty: Digital Marketing & Growth Hacking
Neil Patel is a marketing guru who shares practical advice on various aspects of digital marketing. His blog covers actionable strategies for SEO, content marketing, social media, and email campaigns to help drive traffic and conversions. - Content Marketing Institute
Specialty: Content Marketing Strategies
The Content Marketing Institute provides comprehensive resources, articles, and guides on creating and distributing valuable content. It’s perfect for those looking to build and implement a robust content strategy. - AdAge
Specialty: Advertising Trends & News
AdAge is a leading source for the latest news in advertising, media, and digital trends. It covers a broad range of topics including campaigns, branding strategies, and advertising technology, making it ideal for staying informed on the industry. - Social Media Examiner
Specialty: Social Media Marketing
As the name suggests, Social Media Examiner dives deep into social media marketing trends, platforms, and tools. It’s perfect for learning about new techniques, platform changes, and case studies on social media campaigns. - MarketingProfs
Specialty: Marketing Strategies & Education
MarketingProfs offers a wealth of information on B2B and B2C marketing, including insights on content strategy, digital marketing, and customer experience. Their focus on practical strategies makes them a valuable resource for actionable learning. - Copyblogger
Specialty: Copywriting & Content Strategy
For marketers looking to improve their copywriting skills, Copyblogger provides high-quality articles on creating compelling content, improving storytelling, and generating leads through powerful copy. - Seth Godin’s Blog
Specialty: Thought Leadership & Marketing Philosophy
Seth Godin, a renowned marketer and author, shares short but insightful posts on marketing, business, and life. His blog challenges conventional thinking and inspires marketers to think creatively. - Marketing Land
Specialty: Digital Marketing News & Updates
Marketing Land covers all facets of digital marketing, including search, social, email, and analytics. It’s an excellent source for staying up-to-date on the latest trends and breaking news in the marketing world. - Buffer Blog
Specialty: Social Media Strategy & Tools
Buffer’s blog provides insights into social media marketing, including platform-specific tips, analytics, and case studies. It’s especially helpful for those looking to grow their social presence and improve content scheduling. - kissmetrics
Specialty: Analytics & Marketing Metrics
Kissmetrics focuses on marketing analytics and data-driven strategies. It provides actionable guides and tips for using analytics to improve customer acquisition, engagement, and conversions. - Think with Google
Specialty: Marketing Insights & Consumer Behavior
Think with Google provides marketers with data-driven insights, industry trends, and consumer behavior studies. It’s a great resource for understanding how to utilize Google’s tools and understand global market dynamics. - Smart Insights
Specialty: Digital Marketing Planning & Strategy
Smart Insights offers expert advice on developing marketing strategies, from campaign planning to performance optimization. It’s particularly useful for marketers looking to create detailed digital marketing plans and improve their ROI. - Sprout Social Insights
Specialty: Social Media Marketing & Analytics
Sprout Social Insights covers a range of topics in social media marketing, with a strong focus on analytics and best practices for growing and engaging an audience across platforms.
YouTube Channels Every Marketer Should Check
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Neil Patel Specialty: Digital Marketing Strategies & SEO
Neil Patel, a renowned marketer, shares practical and easy-to-follow tips on SEO, content marketing, social media, and email campaigns. His videos are geared towards helping marketers drive traffic and conversions effectively. -
HubSpot Specialty: Inbound Marketing & Business Growth
HubSpot’s YouTube channel features tutorials, expert interviews, and actionable tips on inbound marketing, sales, content creation, and customer service. The content is useful for all marketers, from beginners to experts, looking to enhance their inbound marketing strategy. -
Gary Vaynerchuk Specialty: Social Media Marketing & Entrepreneurship
Gary Vaynerchuk (GaryVee) shares insights on branding, social media strategies, and entrepreneurship. His channel is full of motivational advice, practical social media tactics, and honest discussions about business growth and personal branding. -
Ahrefs Specialty: SEO & Content Marketing
Ahrefs provides in-depth tutorials on all aspects of SEO, link building, and content marketing, using their own tools and data. It’s great for marketers wanting to improve their organic traffic and understand the technical aspects of SEO. -
Moz Specialty: SEO Insights & Best Practices
Moz’s channel focuses on SEO strategies, algorithm updates, and search marketing. With Whiteboard Fridays, they offer visual and easy-to-understand lessons on complex SEO concepts, perfect for both beginners and advanced marketers. -
Social Media Examiner Specialty: Social Media Marketing & Platform Insights
Social Media Examiner’s channel provides tips, news, and tutorials on using various social platforms for business growth. They focus on how to maximize marketing on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, keeping marketers informed on the latest trends and platform updates. -
Marketing 360 Specialty: Digital Marketing Tools & Tactics
Marketing 360 offers practical marketing tips, growth strategies, and tools for small to medium businesses. Their videos cover a broad range of digital marketing topics, from PPC to SEO and social media, making it an excellent resource for business owners and marketers alike. -
Think with Google Specialty: Marketing Trends & Consumer Behavior Insights
Think with Google provides a wealth of information on marketing trends, consumer behavior, and data-driven insights. Their videos focus on how marketers can leverage Google tools and data to understand market dynamics and create effective strategies. -
Video Influencers Specialty: Video Marketing & YouTube Strategy
With a focus on video marketing, Video Influencers covers topics like growing a YouTube channel, creating engaging video content, and leveraging video to build a brand. It’s particularly useful for marketers who want to harness the power of video marketing and storytelling. -
Chris Do (The Futur) Specialty: Branding, Marketing Strategy & Design Thinking
Chris Do, founder of The Futur, offers insightful videos on branding, marketing strategies, and design thinking. He often discusses topics like positioning, creating value, storytelling, and how to grow a business creatively through marketing.
Books Every Marketer Should Read
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“Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” by Robert B. Cialdini Specialty: Understanding Consumer Behavior & Persuasion Techniques
Cialdini explores the principles of influence and how marketers can use them to persuade and drive action. The book is a must-read for understanding consumer psychology and applying the six principles of persuasion to marketing strategies. -
“Contagious: How to Build Word of Mouth in the Digital Age” by Jonah Berger Specialty: Word-of-Mouth Marketing & Virality
Berger dives into why certain ideas, products, and behaviors become popular. The book breaks down the principles of creating shareable content, making it ideal for marketers looking to harness the power of word-of-mouth marketing and build viral campaigns. -
“This Is Marketing: You Can’t Be Seen Until You Learn to See” by Seth Godin Specialty: Purpose-Driven Marketing & Storytelling
Seth Godin redefines marketing by focusing on creating meaningful connections, understanding customers’ worldviews, and telling authentic stories. This book is great for marketers who want to go beyond traditional strategies and build impactful and sustainable brands. -
“Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen” by Donald Miller Specialty: Brand Messaging & Storytelling Framework
Miller offers a seven-step formula for simplifying brand messages and telling a compelling story that resonates with customers. This book is essential for marketers who struggle to communicate their value proposition clearly and effectively. -
“Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die” by Chip Heath & Dan Heath Specialty: Crafting Memorable Messages & Communication
The Heath brothers explore what makes ideas “stick” and how marketers can craft messages that are memorable, meaningful, and influential. This book is perfect for anyone looking to enhance their storytelling, content creation, and overall communication skills. -
“Marketing Rebellion: The Most Human Company Wins” by Mark Schaefer Specialty: Human-Centric Marketing & Customer Experience
Schaefer argues that the future of marketing is about human connections, transparency, and authenticity. This book provides insights into the modern consumer’s expectations and teaches marketers how to create meaningful and human-centered experiences. -
“Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products” by Nir Eyal Specialty: Product Development & Customer Engagement
“Hooked” focuses on the psychology behind user habits and provides a practical model for creating habit-forming products. It’s highly recommended for marketers who want to understand the power of customer behavior and build products that engage users over time. -
“Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant” by W. Chan Kim & Renée Mauborgne Specialty: Market Positioning & Differentiation
This book teaches marketers how to break away from intense competition by creating unique market spaces, or “blue oceans.” It’s ideal for those seeking ways to innovate, stand out from competitors, and redefine their market strategies. -
“Permission Marketing: Turning Strangers into Friends and Friends into Customers” by Seth Godin Specialty: Customer-Centric Marketing & Building Relationships
Another classic from Seth Godin, “Permission Marketing” argues for building relationships with customers based on trust and relevance. The book introduces marketers to the concept of gaining permission before marketing, which is fundamental to inbound and content marketing. -
“Killing Marketing: How Innovative Businesses Are Turning Marketing Cost into Profit” by Joe Pulizzi & Robert Rose Specialty: Content Marketing & Monetization Strategies
This book challenges traditional marketing models and explores how content marketing can be a profit center rather than a cost. Pulizzi and Rose provide practical strategies for creating valuable content and generating revenue, making it a must-read for content marketers.