In August, I spent two days with intensely bright people discussing digital marketing at DigiMarCon. COVID struck some key talent, so I became emcee at short notice. It was an honour to introduce so many great speakers.
Here, in brief, is what was discussed on Day 1:
1. AI & Marketing: The Signal and the Noise
66% of marketers are worried that AI will take their job within five years…. but 61% use AI as part of their practice. I had the privilege of opening the day with a keynote focused on practical frameworks and real-world case studies, cutting through the hype. Representing Section, the premier AI upskilling platform, and our mission to move 100k people into the “AI Class” within two years was an honour. Big ups to hero Kiwi brands using AI to go global – JOURNEY and Motomuzi.
2. Finding Emotion Island – The Hybrid Strategy
Harry Dalton from Academy Agency introduced us to his hybrid strategy, advocating for a balanced approach with a 60% focus on brand building and 40% on acquisition activities. In a fantastic presentation, Harry delved into prospect/customer acquisition models with clarity, which is a hallmark of a grand strategy that works.
3. The Power of a Community, But Not as You Know It
Hunter Haines from Spark New Zealand Labs energised the room with a dynamic session on how influencers and brands use communities to enhance and curate product development. It was an upbeat discussion that involved Hunter’s musical flair onstage, somewhere in the States.
4. Panel Discussion – Digital Marketing Trends: Experts Insights on How to Gain a Competitive Edge
The panel, convened by me, brought together B2B expert Sobia Mughal ☕ from Serko Ltd. and B2C expert Amy Laing from King’s Plant Barn. We covered everything from AI, personalisation, and video content, all the way through to stakeholder engagement.
5. Empowering Your Marketing Resource: How I Use Automation as my Personal Assistant
Amelia Hooper from Tax Traders delivered a fascinating session on the role of automation in marketing, particularly within fintech, and cross-platform integration.
6. Group Discussion: Digital Marketing Challenges & Solutions
Andrea Long from Longevity Media wrapped up the day by leading an interactive group discussion on key challenges that we’re facing as digital marketers – and some impactful solutions. From the floor, Michael (Mike) Johansson, MA led a conceptual discussion on the five c’s: Creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and curiosity.
By Dave Hayward
When he’s not public speaking and acting as a super-sub emcee, Dave, the founder of Europa Creative Partners, is a sales and marketing leader with over two decades of experience. He’s held senior roles at ARL, Journey Digital, and Datacom, and is the ANZ Ambassador for AI upskilling platform Section. He reserves the right to network shamelessly in search of new opportunities for us and our clients.