Brendan Gahan

With over 18 years of experience, Brendan Gahan is a renowned leader in social media advertising, influencer marketing, and the creator economy. As a former Partner & Chief Social Officer at Mekanism, he significantly contributed to the agency’s growth and innovation, playing a key role in its acquisition by Plus Co in 2022.

Gahan has been a pioneer in influencer marketing, leading one of the first YouTube/influencer activations in 2006. He also founded Epic Signal, a prominent influencer marketing agency, which was acquired by Mekanism in 2015. 

He is an active investor/advisor in the creator economy and advertising sectors, contributing to companies such as Stan, Little Chonk, Orca, Glystn, and Trendpop (acquired). Additionally, he serves as a scout for Bessemer Venture Partners and Lunar X.

His industry involvement extends to his role as a VidCon Advisory Board member and as a co-host of the Creator Economy Live podcast. He was named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 list in 2012, and his agency was recognized as Digiday’s Digital Video Agency of the Year in 2017.

Recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice, Gahan's deep understanding of social media and influencer marketing has not only earned him a following of over 125k on TikTok but has also led to features in major publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, The Guardian, Ad Age, and CNBC.

Advisory Board Member  

𝗜 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝘁 𝟱𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀. 

That's a lot of new faces. So let me reintroduce myself.

I've been in the creator space for nearly two decades. My first brand deal with YouTubers? 2006.

Since then I've worked with the Olympics, Pepsi, Unilever, Chevy, and even the Obama administration. For most of my career, I was behind the scenes.

Then in 2020, I posted to LinkedIn every day for a year. What I saw reminded me of the early YouTube days. This is still a nascent creator ecosystem with massive untapped potential.

So I scratched that entrepreneurial itch again.

A little over two years ago, I co-founded Creator Authority. We were the first influencer marketing agency really focused on LinkedIn That's probably how I first came onto your radar.

20 years after my first YouTube brand deal, I'm doing the same thing here on LinkedIn. Different platform. Similar opportunity.

And we're just getting started.

Thanks for the follow. 🙏

CEO/Co-Founder Of Creator Authority (Influencer Marketing Agency)

𝟵𝟰% 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝘀. 𝗬𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗕𝟮𝗕 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟱.

The answer? Most haven't caught up to where the trust actually lives.

I've spent nearly two decades in influencer marketing. The opportunity in front of us on LinkedIn right now is unlike anything I've seen since the early days of YouTube.

𝟭) 𝗕𝘂𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀. 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀.
• 87% of B2B buyers prefer content from trusted industry voices over brand messaging
• 82% say creator content directly influences their purchase decisions
• 52% discover new brands specifically through creator content

𝟮) 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗽 𝗜𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲.
• Creator content drives 20x the Earned Media Value of brand channels for Fortune 100's
• Thought Leader Ads deliver 252% higher CTR than conventional single-image B2B ads
• Cost-per-lead drops 23% with creator-led campaigns

𝟯) 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗜𝘀 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱.
• Investment is up 143% over four years. But we're still early.
• 78% of organizations plan to increase creator spend in the next two years
• The total market hits $7.7 billion by 2025

LinkedIn is the platform where all of this converges. It's the most trusted social platform. Its audience has 2x the buying power of the average web user. And unlike platforms that became Million Follower Factories, it rewards expertise over reach.

Creators here are wildly undervalued.

That won't last.

----
Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network & follow Brendan Gahan for more.

The window is open. If you want to explore LinkedIn creator partnerships before the market catches up, reach out to Creator Authority.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱'𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀?

Keith Bendes and I sat down with Jessica Dove, Director of Social Media and Influencer Marketing at MGM Resorts, for the latest Creator Economy Live episode.

Jess has been with MGM for over 10 years. She runs influencer programs across Aria, Bellagio, Cosmopolitan, Mandalay Bay, Luxor, and more.

That's not one brand. That's a portfolio of properties. Each has a distinct audience, different voice, nuanced set of expectations from creators.

We got into the operational realities of running creator programs inside a massive organization:
• How to handle influencer partnerships across a diverse portfolio?
• What does creator selection look like at scale?
• How have the strategies evolved over a decade?
• What role do experiences and events play vs. everyday content?

We also caught up on some of the biggest creator news from the week:
• MrBeast + Salesforce at the Super Bowl
• The NFL hosted 160+ creators during Super Bowl week
• The mystery behind BoyThrob, the viral TikTok boy band 
  
If you're building or scaling an influencer function inside a large organization, this one's worth your time.

🎧 Link to the full episode👇

Open article: The Strategy Behind MGM’s Influencer Empire with Jessica Dove by open.spotify.com

The Strategy Behind MGM’s Influencer Empire with Jessica Dove

Lead Pronto - Lead Generation Experts

Responsible for developing multi-channel marketing strategies for all clients, while managing Paid Social & Native budgets of up to £150,000+ a week. Oversee the creation, building, implementation, and optimisation of our national and International advertising campaigns.

We are responsible for generating consistent, high-quality leads in the following sectors:

Solar (Commercial & Residential)
French Solar 
Boilers (ATP + Free)
Insulation
HDR
Remortgaging & Mortgaging
ECO4
Business Energy Claims
Window & Doors
Data Breach
Flight Delays
PCP & HP
Diesel Emissions
UDC
Home Security
Photography 
Models
Debt
PPI Tax
Tax Claims
Driveways, Patios & Pathways

Responsible for spearheading Pronto’s introduction, growth & dominance into TikTok & Native advertising - becoming one of TikToks & Taboolas ‘Go To’ Lead Generation agencies. 

I play a vital role in the development and implementation of the creative strategy processes, working with creators and outlining UGC briefs, scripts, and the video creative execution process. Alongside, creating UGC creatives that convert at scale in-house.

My ability to analyse and interpret data allows me to identify trends and patterns that are leveraged to create effective and engaging content that converts at high levels. Additionally, my attention to detail and problem-solving skills allows me to adapt to changing client and business needs and priorities, making me a valuable asset in the implementation phase of our campaigns.

If you are looking for high-quality leads in any of the listed sectors, or any other sector, then feel free to reach out!

Lead Paid Social & Native Manager

Castle International

As the Digital Growth Manager of Castle International, it was my role to lead the creation, building, implementation, and optimisation of our national and global advertising campaigns for both our clients, including some of the UK’s biggest household names and in-house brands. 

As a key member of the team, I played a vital role in the development and implementation of the creative strategy processes, working with creators and outlining UGC briefs, scripts, and the video creative execution process. 

My ability to analyse and interpret data allowed me to identify trends and patterns that were leveraged to create effective and engaging content that converted at high levels. Additionally, my attention to detail and problem-solving skills allowed me to adapt to changing client and business needs and priorities, making me a valuable asset in the implementation phase.

I directly reported to and worked alongside the Castle International CEO on a day-to-day basis to ensure that business objectives were being achieved for both our clients and in-house brands. 

Overall, my contributions were essential in driving the success of our creative efforts and achieving our business objectives for both Castle and our clients.

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐀𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬:

- £13.5+ Million in Client Revenue Made
- £400,000+ in Retainer Revenue Made
- £5+ Million in Ad Spend Managed
- 1.2+ Million Leads Generated 
- 39% Average Conversion Rate
- 8:1 Average ROAS
- Paid Social Lead on multiple national & global campaigns.
- Spearheaded Castle’s introduction, growth & dominance into TikTok advertising, eventually turning Castle into a TikTok Marketing Partner.
- Successfully partnered with TikTok & created a joint business case to change their company stance on advertising for the debt industry and removing it from the prohibited industry list.

Digital Growth Manager

As the Paid Social Manager at Castle International, it is my role to create, build, implement and optimise our lead generation and eCommerce client's advertising through platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, Reddit, and Quora.

Key Achievements:
- £10,000,000+ in revenue generated 
- Average ROAS of 8:1
- 200,000+ leads generated 
- £7 average CPL
- 34% average lead conversion rate 
- Highly commended - Performance Agency of the Year
- Increased Castle clients retainers due to highly successful campaigns

Paid Social Manager

As the Paid Social Account Manager at Castle International, it was my role to create, build, implement and optimise our lead generation and eCommerce client's advertising through platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, Reddit, and Quora.

Key Achievements:
- £10,000,000+ in revenue generated 
- Average ROAS of 8:1
- 50,000+ leads generated 
- £7 average CPL
- 28% average lead conversion rate 
- Highly commended - Performance Agency of the Year
- Increased Castle clients retainers due to highly successful campaigns

Paid Social Account Manager

As a paid social assistant, I played a key role in increasing our client's revenue and leads through the use of social media advertising across multiple social media platforms.

Paid Social Assistant

My apprenticeship with Castle International was the perfect introduction into the digital marketing world. 

I worked on all our clients as a paid social apprentice to help the paid social department to elevate our lead generation and e-commerce clients social media results & presence through the use of paid social advertising.

Paid Social Apprentice

Saint Louis Clothing

Saint Louis is a brand new, premium menswear and boys wear brand, with a strong focus on encouraging men to invest in quality, high-end clothing that can be worn in all seasons. 

Founded in 2021, we officially launched our first collection of quality, casual and smart wear clothing that makes you stand out for all the right reasons.

Founder

The Venmore Group

My short internship at The Venmore Property Group was spent with the owner of one of the Liverpool city branches, researching possible ways that the business could be expanded through partnerships with other property groups and businesses in the local region and nationwide.

I was responsible for researching, collecting data, and building out reports based on ways that The Venmore Property Group could enhance its presence and establish itself as the go to property group.

Researcher

Digital Growth Manager @ Castle 🏰 Scaling eCom, Lead Gen, & PPL brands through creative social media marketing ⚡

Hi, I’m Louis 👋 

I’m a creative & data-driven marketer with many years of experience in managing and overseeing Paid Social & Native campaigns, helping to ensure high performances are achieved. 

I have experience delivering successful advertising campaigns in major global countries such as the UK, USA, UAE, Canada, Spain, France, Germany, South Africa, Australia, Switzerland, China, Malaysia, and Singapore.

My ability to analyse and interpret data allows me to identify trends and patterns that can be leveraged to create effective and engaging content that converts. Additionally, my attention to detail and problem-solving skills allow me to adapt to changing needs and priorities, making me a valuable asset in the implementation phase. 

With all digital campaigns, I play a vital role in the development and implementation of the creative strategy processes, working with creators and outlining UGC briefs, scripts, and the video creative execution process for both external and internal UGC creation. I use top level data to make informed decisions, which helps to ensure the success of our digital campaigns.

My client portfolio spans across 20+ industries, while having worked on projects with some of the largest household brands, including Amazon, Swan Brand, Steven Brown Art, Supreme CBD, DAM Health, Liverpool FC, Celtic FC, and Rangers FC. Furthermore, I've led on multiple major social campaigns in projects such as the Diesel Emissions Scandal, the launch of the world's first Alexa Kettle through Swan Brand and their partnership with Amazon, and OOH campaigns for Swan Brand. 

If you want to learn all things Paid Social & Native, see some useful ad hacks, and fun stats then make sure you follow me! 🙂

taplio

The Battle

Brendan Gahan

Louis Melia

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreBrendan Gahan's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Brendan Gahan

Louis Melia

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Brendan Gahan's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreBrendan Gahan's LinkedIn Performance