Fergal Connolly’s Post

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴? We talk a lot about marketing effectiveness. ROI. Brand Uplift. Incrementality. But one thing is often missing from the conversation: 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴. I’ve noticed something interesting. Whenever I bring up learning in organisations, people immediately start talking about measurement tools. But learning and measurement are not the same thing. Measurement tells you 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥. Learning helps you understand 𝘸𝘩𝘺 and 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵. The most effective teams I’ve worked with don’t just collect data they 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀. They have a focused agenda with key learning questions. They test. Reflect. Adapt. They make insights visible, discuss them openly, and apply them across teams. Effectiveness isn’t a report you present at the end of a campaign,  it’s a capability you build into the way you work. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗼: 𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲. Because in a fast-changing world, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲. → What does your organization do to make learning part of marketing effectiveness, not an afterthought? #marketingeffectiveness #advertisingeffectiveness #learning #marketingexcellence #marketingstrategy #marketingmeasurement #marketinglearning

𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. The biggest threat to your growth isn’t ignorance, it’s comfort. Many marketers stop learning the moment they get good at what they do. But in marketing, what made you relevant yesterday can make you replaceable tomorrow. Continuous learning isn’t about collecting certificates; it’s about staying curious enough to unlearn and relearn before the market forces you to. And your network? It’s not just people you know, it’s your learning environment. The right network stretches your thinking, exposes your blind spots, and keeps your creativity alive. If you ever feel stuck as a marketer, don’t blame the industry. Check your learning speed and your circle of influence. What are your thoughts on this? ♻️ Repost if you find it insightful and helpful. #MarketingLeadership #Marketing #PersonalBranding #YoungMarketers #MrSocials

Is Chartered Marketer just a title? Absolutely not. It's a commitment that requires continuous professional development (CPD) every single year - even at CIM | The Chartered Institute of Marketing Fellowship level. In an industry that fundamentally changes every 18-24 months, standing still is the quickest way to obsolescence. The requirement to constantly train, learn, and prove ongoing competency is the ultimate professional filter. Through training, I am... + Future-proofing our clients: Our clients trust us to guide them. If we haven't done any training, we're giving them yesterday’s advice. My commitment to CPD means I'm focused on delivering future-proof strategies. + Maintaining our edge: The moment we think we know it all, we start losing. I dedicate time to structured learning—whether it's diving into how AI can support marketing, learning about the newest social updates or understanding the ethical implications of claiming sustainability (all of which I've done this year). This keeps our agency sharp. + Leading by example: As a director, if I'm not actively learning, how can I expect my team to? It sets the standard. Our commitment to growth starts at the top. The Chartered Marketer title is a reminder that competence is a constant journey and it ensures that the advice you get from our agency is always grounded in the most current, evidence-based practices. What is the single most important skill a marketer needs to master in the next 12 months? I’d love to hear your thoughts! #cim #cpd #charteredmarketer #andmarketing #digitalmarketing #training #fcim

🧠 Rethinking how we learn Marketing Operations. When the idea for the Certified Marketing Operations Professional (CMOP) certification first took shape, the plan was simple: build a course to go along with the exam. But as generative AI evolved, it became clear that traditional, static courses were no longer the best way to learn. Every platform we tested was moving toward interactive, AI-enhanced learning. So instead of launching a fixed course, we decided to launch our own Custom GPT 🤖. Introducing the CMOP Certification Trainer, a custom GPT trained on hundred of pages of Marketing Operations documentation, frameworks, and best practices. The CMOP Certification Trainer is an interactive study companion that lets you: 💬 Ask questions and get tailored explanations 📘 Follow a structured lesson plan 🧩 Practice with custom exam-style questions ℹ️ Get details about the certification and key concepts The goal: to make certification prep dynamic, personalized, and truly engaging 🎓 Available now with the official CMOP bundle → https://certifiedmop.com/ #CMOP #MarketingOperations #Marketing #Certification #Learning #GPT

📊 If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it. Training isn’t just about delivering content. It’s about proving impact. Here are 4 ways to measure ROI in training (and why they matter): ✅ Track Completion Rates → A basic metric, but it shows whether employees are engaging with the material and finishing courses. ✅ Monitor Learner Progress → Go deeper by tracking scores, module progress, and knowledge retention over time. This reveals who’s excelling and who needs support. ✅ Compare Pre- & Post-Training Performance → Look at real workplace outcomes. Are employees faster, more accurate, or more confident after training? That’s true ROI. ✅ Evaluate Cost Savings vs Outcomes → Smart training reduces wasted time, travel costs, and turnover. Compare these savings against what you invested to see the bigger picture. ✨ The real value of training isn’t just in knowledge shared, but in business growth achieved. 👉 Curious how your organisation can measure ROI more effectively? Comment “ROI” and we’ll show you the tools and strategies to get started. ... #TrainingROI #CorporateGrowth #CoursesForYou #LearningAndDevelopment #SmartTraining #CorporateTraining #WorkplaceLearning #Upskilling #EmployeeEngagement #FutureOfWork

📊 If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it. Training isn’t just about delivering content. It’s about proving impact. Here are 4 ways to measure ROI in training (and why they matter): ✅ Track Completion Rates → A basic metric, but it shows whether employees are engaging with the material and finishing courses. ✅ Monitor Learner Progress → Go deeper by tracking scores, module progress, and knowledge retention over time. This reveals who’s excelling and who needs support. ✅ Compare Pre- & Post-Training Performance → Look at real workplace outcomes. Are employees faster, more accurate, or more confident after training? That’s true ROI. ✅ Evaluate Cost Savings vs Outcomes → Smart training reduces wasted time, travel costs, and turnover. Compare these savings against what you invested to see the bigger picture. ✨ The real value of training isn’t just in knowledge shared, but in business growth achieved. 👉 Curious how your organisation can measure ROI more effectively? Comment “ROI” and we’ll show you the tools and strategies to get started. ... #TrainingROI #CorporateGrowth #CoursesForYou #LearningAndDevelopment #SmartTraining #CorporateTraining #WorkplaceLearning #Upskilling #EmployeeEngagement #FutureOfWork

You know the song - I’ve got 49 tools and this book is 1. I just finished 49 Tools for Learning & Development by Prof. dr. Nick van Dam and Jan Rijken published by CrossKnowledge, and I must say – I’ve rarely, no, I’ve never seen so many useful L&D models, tools, frameworks, and ideas in one book. Van Dam and Rijken have really pulled something off here. The topics covered span everything from L&D Strategy, governance and operating models, design and delivery, to L&D enablement, measurement, impact and life-long learning models. Each tool is presented in a concise 3-part structure – 1) introduction to the topic and why it is important, 2) explanation of the tool and 3) application - in less than 4 to 5 pages total. While these brief sections are not enough to become an expert, of course, for experienced learning professionals, it's just enough to wet your learning appetite and assess if the tool is useful or not for your context. Then, using the very complete reference section, you can dig deeper if desired. The standout sections for me were : How can L&D measure the Strategic Impact of its Efforts? How can L&D build an Effective Learner Marketing Strategy? How can L&D Develop a Compact Business Case for its Investments? How does L&D Acquire the Capabilities it Needs? How can L&D Find the Best Global/Local Balance? To name a few! So – looking for a great resource to keep on your desk at work to help you expand your thinking, challenge or bring some structure to your ways of working ? Look no further. #learninganddevelopment #Learning #HR

“Training’s just a cost centre though, right?” Mmm… not quite. When budgets are tight (and let’s be honest, when aren’t they?), it’s easy for learning to slip into the ‘nice to have’ pile. But here’s the thing: Bad training has a cost too. One example that stuck with me: A hospital had developed an online life-saving training programme… that no one finished. Not because it wasn’t relevant, but because the design was so poor. Broken links. No progress bar. Confusing layout. The kind of experience that makes you throw your hands up and walk away. One smart internal champion put it perfectly: “If every highly paid medical professional saves five minutes, that’s hundreds of thousands of dollars saved each year. More importantly, the critical message is finally getting through.” That’s the real ROI. Good learning design isn’t about making things pretty. It’s about saving time, reducing risk, and actually making learning stick. We’ve just published a new blog with two real-world examples: one in healthcare, one in corporate, where better design delivered measurable results. Because training shouldn’t just tick a box. It should build confidence, improve clarity, and connect people to what really matters. 📖 Have a read here: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gXRABPkE #LearningAndDevelopment #LND #InstructionalDesign #TrainingThatWorks #HumanCentredDesign #ROI #CorporateTraining #eLearningDesign #ComplianceTraining #PukekoLearning

𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲’𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝, ⤷ Every click, ⤷ Every scroll ⤷ and share shapes the future of a brand. 🌐✨ That’s why 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 isn’t just important It’s one of the most powerful skills to learn in this era of online growth. 🚀 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 ➝ 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞: Learn how to build trust and create visibility that lasts ➝ 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭-𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞: Use smart strategies that deliver impact without big budgets ➝ 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬: Build loyalty through consistent connection and creativity ➝ 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡: Take your ideas global — one campaign at a time ➝ 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐎𝐈: Turn creativity into conversions and data into success 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬? ➝ Keeping up with trends that change overnight ➝ Balancing creativity with analytics ➝ Staying patient while building long-term results 😅 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡: ⤷ Every digital skill you learn today adds value to your tomorrow. ⤷ Each one can be the start of a rewarding career. So if you’re still wondering where to begin Start with digital marketing, Because this skill doesn’t just change businesses—it changes lives. ✨ #DigitalMarketing #CareerGrowth #FutureSkills #LearningJourney #MarketingStrategy #Devaxix

The Power of Unlearning in Digital Marketing Early in my digital marketing journey, I believed success was about mastering every tool, trend, and tactic available. But over time, I realized that growth doesn’t only come from learning more, it often comes from unlearning what no longer works. Unlearning means stepping back to question assumptions, review habits, and refine strategies that no longer deliver impact. It’s a quiet skill, one that demands awareness, humility, and adaptability. In today’s fast-moving digital space, the professionals who thrive aren’t always the most informed, they’re the most flexible. What’s one marketing belief or approach you’ve had to unlearn as the industry evolved? #LinkedIn #MondayInsight #DigitalMarketing #ProfessionalGrowth #MarketingStrategy #ContinuousLearning #Adaptability #LeadershipMindset #LinkedInCommunity