TED Talks began in 1984 with the mission of “spreading ideas.” Since then, a single conference has blossomed into a flurry of ideas that inspire and motivate people from all over the world to achieve more and dare to do great things. 

It’s never too late to keep learning, getting inspired, and staying up-to-date with all the latest updates that come up in the digital marketing space. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best TED Talks about this topic so you can quickly and easily have eight exciting bits of information for your day-to-day routine.

We hope you enjoy these marketing TED Talks from experts from all over the world. Knowledge doesn’t take up space and TED makes sure it doesn’t take up too much time! Tuck them in your back pocket to inspire you when you need them next.

How influencers have changed modern marketing

When talking about marketing today, there’s no way that we can avoid mentioning influencers! One of the best TED Talks we’ve found on the topic is from Rachel David, entrepreneur, and CEO of Hashtag Communications. During her talk, she breaks down how influencers are transforming the industry by turning into referential figures for thousands of consumers wanting to buy what influencers recommend. The rules of the game have changed as a result of their entry into the marketing landscape.

Bridging the gap: personalized marketing

In this insightful TED Talk, Dan Pink, a New York Times bestselling author, talks about how incentive design doesn’t spark creativity. Traditional rewards aren’t always as effective as we think. Watch here to learn about what kind of motivation can be most effective in inspiring change.

404, the story of a page not found

We’re sure that at some point you’ve looked up information on the Internet and have come upon a 404 Error page. While it’s a frustrating, dead-end road for many users, what if you turned it into an opportunity? Renny Gleason explains how you can use it to build a brand in his TED Talk.

Why some of us don’t have one true calling

What do you want to be when you grow up? Well, if you’re not sure you want to do just one thing for the rest of your life, you’re not alone. In this illuminating talk, writer and artist Emilie Wapnick describes the kind of people she calls “multipotentialites” — who have a range of interests and jobs over one lifetime. Are you one?

How I became an entrepreneur at 66

It’s never too late to reinvent yourself. Take it from Paul Tasner — after working continuously for other people for 40 years, he founded his own start-up at age 66, pairing his idea for a business with his experience and passion. And he’s not alone. As he shares in this short, funny, and inspirational talk, seniors are increasingly indulging their entrepreneurial instincts — and seeing great success.

There is no luck, only good marketing

We can apply marketing to our day-to-day, and many of its principles can guide us in charting the path that’s right for us. In his TED Talk, University of Amsterdam student Franz Schrep has a fun discussion where he explains that to be successful, we have to forget about luck and start changing the way we present and promote ourselves to achieve our goals. And to be happier, of course.

Be an opportunity maker

We all want to use our talents to create something meaningful with our lives. But how to get started? (And… what if you’re shy?) Writer Kare Anderson shares her own story of chronic shyness, and how she opened up her world by helping other people use their own talents and passions.

The power of believing that you can improve

Carol Dweck researches “growth mindset” — the idea that we can grow our brain’s capacity to learn and solve problems. In this talk, she describes two ways to think about a problem that’s slightly too hard for you to solve. Are you not smart enough to solve it … or have you just not solved it yet? A great introduction to this influential field.

What makes something go viral?

In 2017, the biggest live video BuzzFeed had done to date “involved a fountain of cheese” according to BuzzFeed’s Publisher Dao Nguyen. Rather than think about what made the video a hit, the company read the comments section. These comments – all 82,000 of them – helped BuzzFeed hypothesize the thoughts and feelings of the audience. In this TED Talk, Nguyen explores the question of making something go viral. The answer, Nguyen says, is found less in the something – like a cute animal – and much more in what we are actually thinking about, and where we identify. Is that the job your content is currently fulfilling with its audience, or are you still stuck on the something?

What’s your 200-year plan?

You might have a 5-year plan, but what about a 200-year plan? Artist Raghava KK has set his eyes on an ultra-long-term horizon; at TEDxSummit, he shows how it helps guide today’s choices and tomorrow’s goals – and encourages you to make your own 200-year plan too.

How to get your ideas to spread

You want your audience to take some sort of action, but in order for that to happen, your ideas need to gain traction and spread. In “How to get your ideas to spread,” Seth Godin explains how to make that happen. Each brand has a group that cares about what it has to say. Godin explains that it’s your job to find that group, and then you need to talk to them in a way that makes it easy for them to spread your ideas. This isn’t a difficult concept, but it’s one you can benefit from as a social media marketer.

Hitting that motivational slump can be difficult, which is why we compiled this list of TED Talks to keep your energy up, and even trigger some new ideas. This is just a short list of some of our favorite digital marketing and inspirational TED Talks. If you take some time to search for more on YouTube, you’ll find even more concerning marketing and a whole host of other topics that you’ll be able to learn about in a dynamic format. Immerse yourself in them! 

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