Joel Marlinarson is a social media strategist and trend forecaster helping brands understand the future of marketing, creators and internet culture.
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Top rated!Joel Marlinarson is the founder of Coldest Creative, a B2B creator and social media strategist known as "the weatherman of marketing". With a talent for forecasting digital trends and explaining the forces shaping internet culture, he helps brands understand where social media, influencer marketing and the creator economy are heading next.
Recognised as a SXSW Visionary Voice and one of Ad Age's "13 B2B Creators Brands Are Betting On in 2026", Joel combines sharp cultural analysis with hands-on industry experience. His insights reach more than 100,000 marketers, founders and creatives, while his speaking engagements include Cannes Lions, SXSW London and events for global brands such as TikTok, Google and Spotify. Joel delivers engaging keynotes and workshops that turn complex shifts in digital culture into practical opportunities for businesses.
What makes a social media trend take off? Why do some brands become part of internet culture while others struggle to connect? And how can businesses anticipate what's coming rather than constantly reacting to what's already happened?
These are the questions at the heart of Joel Marlinarson's work.
Known as "the weatherman of marketing", Joel is the founder of Coldest Creative, a B2B creator, social strategist and one of the emerging voices shaping conversations around the future of digital marketing. He specialises in social media, trend forecasting, influencer marketing, consumer behaviour, the creator economy and internet culture.
His approach goes beyond identifying what's trending. Joel explores why certain ideas, creators and cultural moments resonate with audiences, helping businesses understand the deeper changes influencing how people discover, engage with and respond to brands.
With an audience of 110,000 on TikTok, 20,000 on Instagram and 8,000 on LinkedIn, Joel shares analysis followed by marketers, founders and creatives looking for a clearer understanding of today's digital landscape.
Joel Marlinarson's career began with an early understanding of how social media could create opportunities.
Educated in branding at University of the Arts London, he secured Chicken Shop Date as his first freelance social media client through cold outreach at just 18 years old. This early experience laid the foundation for his career in digital strategy and eventually led him to establish Coldest Creative.
Since then, Joel has advised global brands on their social media strategies and secured creator partnerships with Meta, Snapchat and Coach. His work combines an understanding of brand positioning with first-hand knowledge of how creators, platforms and audiences interact.
Joel's perspective is shaped by actively producing content and working directly within the industry. Rather than observing social media from a distance, he understands the realities of creating content, developing strategies and responding to the constant evolution of digital platforms.
This practical experience makes his insights particularly relevant for organisations seeking to strengthen their online presence and build lasting cultural relevance.
Joel Marlinarson has earned recognition across the marketing industry and international media for his understanding of social platforms and digital culture.
In 2026, he was recognised as a SXSW Visionary Voice and selected as one of three British official Cannes Lions Ambassadors, representing the UK. He has also served as a juror for the Cannes Lions Creator Fund, contributing his expertise to conversations around creators and the industry's future.
His analysis has attracted attention from major publications and broadcasters. The Guardian described Joel as a "marketing guru" in 2026, while BBC News has recognised him as a "social media expert".
He regularly appears on BBC News as an expert commentator on marketing, with additional media appearances and coverage including BBC Radio 1 and Vogue Business in 2025.
In 2026, Ad Age also named Joel among its "13 B2B Creators Brands Are Betting On", highlighting his growing influence in the creator and marketing space.
These experiences give Joel a perspective that connects everyday changes in online behaviour with the broader direction of the marketing industry.
Booking Joel Marlinarson as a speaker gives audiences access to a strategist who understands both the big picture and the details behind successful social media content.
His presentations combine industry forecasting, cultural observations and practical insights into how social platforms operate. Joel explains the forces driving consumer behaviour, the changing relationship between brands and creators, and the opportunities emerging as the creator economy develops.
His speaking experience includes Cannes Lions 2026, SXSW London 2026, Jupiter Festival Miami, Dentsu's Social Mix Festival and the IAB UK Creator Marketing Growth Summit, where he delivered the opening headline keynote.
Joel has also delivered speaking engagements and workshops for brands and organisations including TikTok, Google, Abercrombie & Fitch, Spotify and Dentsu.
Whether addressing marketing professionals, business leaders or creative teams, Joel brings a perspective informed by direct involvement in the creator economy. His sessions help audiences make sense of rapidly changing platforms while identifying what those developments mean for their own strategies.
Social media is constantly evolving, and the challenge for brands is understanding which changes deserve attention.
Joel Marlinarson helps organisations distinguish passing trends from meaningful shifts in consumer behaviour and internet culture. His expertise covers several interconnected areas:
Joel's ability to explain complex developments in accessible language makes his insights valuable for organisations navigating an increasingly creator-driven marketing environment.
Joel Marlinarson brings a distinctive combination of forward-looking analysis, industry credibility and hands-on social media experience to the stage.
His presentations are designed for audiences who want to understand what's happening across digital culture, why it matters and how businesses can respond.
Available for keynote presentations, corporate workshops, fireside chats, panel discussions, event hosting and moderating, Joel can contribute to a wide range of industry events and corporate programmes. He is also available for television and radio commentary on marketing, social media and emerging digital trends.
From international marketing conferences to internal strategy sessions, Joel offers audiences an informed perspective on the platforms, creators and cultural developments influencing the future of marketing.
Book Joel Marlinarson for your next event to give your audience fresh insights into social media, the creator economy and the trends shaping how brands connect with people.
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“Thank you so much for the workshop, Joel. The team had such a great time. Such great insights! Everyone was raving about the session."
Lily Goh, Social strategy DirectorSephora USA
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“Huge thanks to Joel for speaking at KIOSK. Not only did he deliver a super sharp 2025 socials review and 2026 trend predictions (which our audience found incredibly useful), but he was also just great to work with; warm, kind, responsible, and very professional from start to finish. The feedback was nothing but praise. People were genuinely impressed by how knowledgeable and confident he is, especially at such a young age. We hope this isn’t the last time we host him. We’re excited to watch him grow, this really feels like just the beginning for him.”
Ela Baric, FounderKIOSK Branding Conference
Keynote by Joel Marlinarson:
The creator economy has never been noisier. Millions more creators are fighting for attention. More brands are chasing viral moments, and marketers are under constant pressure to hijack trends while quietly wondering what this is all for. The challenge now is knowing which trends are worth acting on, and most importantly, when.
In this session, creator and strategist Joel Marlinarson lays out the social trend forecast for now and beyond. Mapping the defining recent creator and brand moves, audiences can expect to learn what worked and why. If you've ever been handed a brief with the words 'make it go viral', this talk offers a more practical way of thinking.
Keynote by Joel Marlinarson:
A £200 notebook sells out in hours. A new frozen yoghurt store has queues around the block, with customers ready to snap photos for their followers.
Status has always influenced what we buy, but social media has changed how we signal it, who we aspire to be and the way brands reverse-engineer desire. The rules of status have changed, but many brands are still marketing aspiration as though everyone wants the same things.
This keynote explores the psychology behind aspirational spending, the role of creators in shaping consumer desire, and how brands can build desirability without relying on discounts or chasing the next viral trend.
Keynote by Joel Marlinarson:
A new generation of accidental influencers is emerging from shop floors, office desks and staff rooms.
Your co-worker now has the potential to attract millions of views on TikTok and become a star in their own right. The problem is, most businesses aren't set up to deal with employees becoming creators.
Who owns that influence when they leave, and how can brands encourage employee-created content without losing control of their reputation?
This keynote explores how businesses can spot and support their accidental influencers, the new commercial opportunities and risks involved.
Watch Joel Marlinarson in action
