Brands Are Betting Billions on Social. Here's What It Means for Your Media Career

Social media has become one of the biggest commercial opportunities in UK media, with brands spending billions across platforms and demand growing fast for sellers. Learn how to build a career in this space from Phoebe Bright, who is shaping it at one of the UK's leading social-first businesses.We're planning season three now! If there's something specific you’d like us to cover, whether that's a media channel, a specific career path or guest you'd love to hear from, let us know at [email protected] OverviewIn this episode of It's A Yes! Making It In Media, Debra Sharron and Jo Wood unpack what "selling social" actually means today, from the platforms themselves to the data, talent and creative businesses that sit behind them. They're joined by Phoebe Bright, Director of Client Partnerships at Jungle Creations, who shares how one of the UK's original social-first publishers builds brand partnerships, what makes a career in social genuinely varied, and why resilience matters more than ever in a crowded market. Whether you're weighing up a move into the media industry or already selling and wondering where social fits in, this episode offers a clear, practical view of the opportunity.What This Episode CoversWhat social media actually includes, from platforms to data, talent and creative agenciesWhy social commerce is changing how brands measure return on investmentWhy delegate sales remains the best starting point before moving into socialThe rise of customer success and activation roles alongside front-line salesHow a brand partnership brief moves from pitch to delivery at a social agencyWhy community depth is beating mass reach as a commercial propositionHow AI is changing the job without replacing the people doing itThe skills and mindset employers look for when hiring into social salesYES ListDebra and Jo recommend Bounce by Matthew Syed, which challenges the idea that top performers are simply born talented. Syed draws on stories from sport, music and beyond to show that success comes from deliberate practice, the right environment and learning from setbacks. It is a valuable read for anyone in media sales who has faced rejection and wondered whether they have what it takes.Top takeout: Every pitch, every no and every piece of feedback is information that moves you forward, not proof that you are not cut out for the job.Available at major retailersGet In TouchSend your questions to [email protected] from Jo & DebraSubscribe to Jo and Debra’s newsletter, to get the key insights and takeaways from each episodeJoin one of Debra’s upcoming media sales workshopsFollow the show on YouTubeFollow the show on SpotifyFollow Jo on LinkedIn hereFollow Debra on LinkedIn hereDisclaimerThe views shared on this podcast are for general information only and reflect personal experience. They should not be taken as specific career, legal or financial advice.