iAmDigital - Marketing. Innovation. Technology.

Here's a list of 3 startups, which are not only inspiring but why I think they will be mega-important in the coming years. 1. gThrive ( www.gthrive.com ) - Silicon Valley CA The What? gThrive have created wireless sensors that farmers can insert in the soil and it dynamically transmits details about the soil condition to the farmer. The farmer then uses this data to optimise the use of water & energy, in various locations of their crop(s). The Why? This is by far the most excising innovation for farmers in areas where water is scarce, such as much of Australia. With kits starting from only $3K, the investment makes perfect sense for farmers. The developers have evidence to show that the system pays for itself in only 12 months. Just think about the possibilities with all the soil data being collected. 2. Be-Bound® ( www.be-bound.com ) - Silicon Valley CA The What? This innovative cloud technology allows you to connect to the internet...

  Isn't it funny how in the online space, the biggest threats typically comes from the most unlikely sources. Coles and Woolworths have been so pre-occupied with holding market share against relatively newcomer Aldi that they may have fallen even further behind, online at least. Cue Kogan Pantry. In a strike of (what initially looks to be) genius, Ruslan Kogan the independent online king of electrical goods, now seems to be moving in on new territory, tackling our pantries! Ok so 'threat' was maybe a little loosely used earlier and though Kogan has promised to offer half price 'pantry' goods in an attempt to save us money at the till, an initial offering of only 600 products isn't really going to do much as far as market share goes. I just love the fact that the likes of Kogan Pantry , Instacart , GroceryRun and co. are managing to shake things up in this space. What does this mean for the industry? Initially, not a great deal, even global gia...

I'm continuously on the look-out for creative ads on YouTube that inspire me not to choose the 'skip ad' option; more so, those that actually get me to click through and be glad I did. New in 2015, SEEK have partnered with Clemenger BBDO (the mob also responsible for MYER's very fresh 2014 ' Find Wonderful ' campaign) to inspire Australians to reflect on their current career and move closer to that, which inspires them. After all, we only spend about 13 years at work...so make it count. Watch the Full SEEK ad The accompanying interactive tool that's been created, displays the key campaign messaging in an interesting way, have a look, it's pretty cool. Launch the SEEK interactive tool It's a tough gig for agencies trying to tailor an already existing ad for YouTube, especially knowing that people typically use those 5 seconds to position their mouse or finger over the 'skip ad' option ready to pounce.  Though this...

image credit: xcluesiv.com Not since Rocky lined up against the Russian, has there been a bigger East vs West battle brewing, as the online retailers Alibaba and Amazon get ready to do battle. One thing’s for sure, it’s going to be exciting for consumers and investors alike. Based on my recent dealings with Alibaba , they need a serious boost in their communication with clients, to be in the same league as the American giant. So far, the score for me, is 6 – 1 in favour of  Amazon  (it's a soccer/football reference, so 5 goals is a fair drubbing). It will be interesting to see where Alibaba invests, as it moves into a stage of hyperactivity of acquisition. Looking merely at the IPO or potential profits, you might be quick to side with the newcomer, but don't be fooled, to get ahead of Amazon , Alibaba will have to make some changes. Have you tried buying something from Alibaba ...eek! What I believe it will come down to for the two juggernauts: 1. Custome...

In my opinion, educating people about your brand and value proposition at every stage of the marketing experience/funnel, is just as important as conversion, in fact more so. Many B2B and even B2C marketers however, struggle to see past the ' what does this mean for sales'  angle, which is of course the easier measurable to side with. The Funnel In essence 'the funnel' is about: marketing, automation, lead management, demand generation and lastly sales. TOP Attract - to draw potential customers towards you Increased brand awareness Targeted display / banner adverting Delivery of messaging and value proposition (VP) Drive website traffic Educate (brand & VP) MIDDLE Engage & Nurture - a series of communications to help the person know, like, follow and trust you: Drive content engagement Social advertising Boost form conversions & harvesting relevant details Increasing page views & visits Educate (brand & VP) ...

When 3D body scanning technology was first implemented at airports security counters around the world, there was an uproar and many of us kicked up a stink about not really having a choice when it came to giving up our  privacy . The way I see it is, it isn't an issue when we knowingly give it up, the problem is when we're forced to give privacy up, or it is taken without our knowledge or consent.  A little about the 3D body scanners tap to enlarge These 3D body scanning pods developed by  mPort  emerged in May 2014 at Sydney shopping complex after a 12 month trial. The pods require only underwear and take 30 seconds to capture your body measurements, replacing the need for a tailor’s old fashioned measuring tape and mannequin.  The avatar created ( and stored ) can then be used to purchase clothes online, knowing full well that they will be a perfect fit. The benefit Aside from the stored measurement and health tracking; Husbands, boyf...

The Dodo didn’t become extinct when food was a plenty, its inability to plan for the future and adapt in an ever evolving world is the reason it is now extinct. If wholesalers don’t stop being so naive about where manufacturing is heading and at least start trying to evolve, they will meet the same fate as the Dodo. In a time where digital offers tracking and efficiencies and can’t be ignored or where 3D printing is becoming cheaper every day and where machines talk to people, people to machines and machines to machines ( M2M ); in a land where internet rules and where we, as customers are getting back the power; wholesalers better shape up or ship out! Customers are more aware of business behaviour when it comes to purchasing. It’s no secret that wholesalers are essentially in the business of making money as a middle man. Though there is nothing wrong with that, we are just asking you – the wholesaler – to offer us something more. Shape the incentives for people who don...