Digital Marketing & eCommerce Geek

Creativity is getting away from standard Digital Marketing & eCommerce paths

Are you craving creativity has always been one of my favourite questions to ask. Therefore all my Digital Marketing & eCommerce projects are done under the Craving Creativity brand name. But what is creativity?

For me, it is getting results by getting away from the many standard solutions & methodologies out there. Especially in Australia and New Zealand, countries that do have a nice thriving digital mentality and start-up eco-system, there are still too many marketers and agencies that follow standard practices and tools without asking whether there might be a better solution around.

My worldwide Digital Marketing & eCommerce experience combined with an infinite curiosity means that I have my eyes on other markets and see what is happening there. Start-ups and new tools are created everywhere, not just in our own backyard.

Analytics – The Power of Data

Knowledge is power. Data is power. However, why select the first free data analytics tool that comes to mind? Too many brands, especially small & medium, don’t realise that they make their lives so complicated by getting a dashboard that delivers too much info. The info they’re never going to look at or use. And they don’t realise that nothing is free in life. You’re always paying for it, sometimes in dollars and other times by handing over your (customers’) data to Big Tech.

Think before you start asking for random data. Test before you start implementing random (free) tools. There’s often a better and easier-to-use – and more secure – solution out there for you.

Having It Also Means Protecting It

When you have data in your systems you’ll also have the burden to take care of it. To keep it clean and accurate so when it is used, it is accurate and up to date. Too many companies start with a simple mailing list or database that gets polluted as it gets exported and imported in other systems and tools, without making sure there is a way to keep it all up to date. Incorrect data might be even worse than not having any data at all.

Are you aware that the data you consider to be your data is actually your customers’ data? You are simply borrowing it and using it to make your customers’ lives better or make things easier for them. Do you know how to deal with a request to forget from customers? Or do you know where you store your customers’ data? In New Zealand? Are you sure? Many cloud solutions or third-party systems have servers on other continents.

Social Media is Expanding Faster than Ever Before

The first rule of social media for brands and companies is that you don’t have to be active on every social media platform, only the ones that are relevant to your customers. The second rule of social media is that if you do decide to be active on a specific social media platform it MUST be AUTHENTIC and relevant. You’re not that to just post your brand name or products. You’re there to engage with customers.

Even if you know which social media platform is relevant or important for your customers, that can always change. Some social media systems seem to be around forever and don’t seem to be losing popularity, but it is always possible.

The rebranding from Twitter to X and all the changes there have shown that it is possible to upset your fans. New social media platforms are always lurking to steal attention from the Big Tech social media systems. Some are successful while others might be around for a short amount of time.

Make sure you ride the correct social media wave and aren’t stuck on a platform that not many of your customers use anymore. Oh and make sure to target the innovators among your customers as well. They have a keen eye for changes and are often on new systems before the majority of your customer base ends up there.

Keep an eye on all the changes in the world of Digital Marketing and eCommerce. Change is good.

Trust in Digital Marketing & eCommerce

There is no one solution or one answer to a Digital Marketing or eCommerce challenge or issue. The only solution that matters for your brand or your organisation is the one that delivers the best result for YOU.

There’s no point in discussing who is right or what tool or system is better. Use what is there, tweak it and build upon it, add & improve, then let the results speak for themselves.