Upskill your digital team or get left behind – the new reality

Finding skilled people in the digital marketing space is a global problem, with some reports citing that most businesses’ digital skills are only at 35%

What ChatGPT means for Digital Marketers

What ChatGPT means for Digital Marketers If you’ve recently heard people talk about ChatGPT you may be wondering what all the hype is about. ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is an artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI and released in November 2022. It is built on top of OpenAI’s GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 foundational large language models and has been fine-tuned using both supervised and reinforcement learning techniques. The potential applications for ChatGPT are huge, from understanding and responding to customer queries, personalized support and assistance to conducting research in super-fast time. But what does ChatGPT mean for digital marketers? Why is ChatGPT important to Digital Marketers? ChatGPT is important in digital marketing because it can help businesses to create content that is relevant, engaging, and personalized. By using ChatGPT, businesses can automate many of their marketing processes and save time and resources. Additionally, ChatGPT can help businesses to improve their customer service and increase customer satisfaction. ChatGPT is also important because it can help businesses to stay ahead of the competition. By using advanced artificial intelligence technology, businesses can create content that is more engaging and relevant than their competitors. This can help them to stand out in a crowded market and attract more customers. Potential Applications of ChatGPT in Digital Marketing Content creation: One of the most significant challenges in digital marketing is creating content that resonates with consumers and effectively communicates a brand’s message. This is where ChatGPT shines. ChatGPT can generate high-quality content that is engaging and relevant to the audience. By inputting keywords and topics it can create blogs, articles, social media posts, and even product descriptions that are optimized for search engines and tailored to the target audience – without human input. Improved personalization: It costs five times as much to attract a new customer than to keep an existing one. ChatGPT can analyze customer data and create personalized recommendations for products and services. By analyzing the customer’s previous interactions with the brand, ChatGPT can suggest products or services that the customer is likely to be interested in thereby upselling and improving customer retention. Email marketing: ChatGPT can be used to generate personalized email content that is tailored to the individual recipient. By analyzing the recipient’s previous interactions with the brand, ChatGPT can suggest products or services that are likely to be of interest. Customer service: Many businesses are already using chatbots to automate customer service, but ChatGPT will personalise the experience even further, which in turn can help businesses improve their customer service and increase customer satisfaction. Social media marketing: ChatGPT can be used to generate social media posts that are engaging and relevant to the target audience. By analyzing social media trends and topics, ChatGPT can generate posts that are likely to go viral and reach a wider audience. Of course, there are two sides to each story. While the applications mentioned above are clearly beneficial and can assist greatly in businesses streamlining their processes and being more efficient, ChatGPT has been criticised in a number of areas. A security breach in March 2023 meant some users on ChatGPT saw conversation headings in the sidebar that didn’t belong to them. Accidentally sharing users’ chat histories is a serious concern for any tech company, but it’s especially bad considering how many people use the popular chatbot. The lack of transparency is also an issue. We simply don’t know the details about how ChatGPT is trained, what data was used, where the data comes from, or what the system’s architecture looks like in detail. Like humans, no technology is without errors. ChatGPT has failed at basic math, can’t seem to answer simple logic questions, and will even go as far as to argue completely incorrect facts. There is also a certain bias built into the system since ChapGPT was trained on the collective writing of humans across the world. Unfortunately, this means that the same biases that exist in the real world can also appear in the model. But perhaps the most controversial topic that has been raised since the public launch of ChatGPT is the fact that it will most certainly take jobs from humans. Among the apps which have integrated GPT-4 are Duolingo and Khan Academy. This could be just the beginning of AI holding human jobs. Among the other jobs that could likely be affected are paralegals, lawyers, copywriters, journalists, and programmers. In conclusion, as digital marketers, it is crucial to be aware of both the risks and the opportunities ChatGPT offers in order to make the most of this new technology as well as mitigate potential problems, while also retaining integrity. Happy selling! Your AdMarula Team All CEO’s Thoughts Interviews and Insights Industry News CEO’s Thoughts Upskill your digital team or get left behind – the new reality 22 May 2023 Finding skilled people in the digital marketing space is a global problem, with some reports citing that most businesses’ digital skills are at 35% of what it should… Read More Interviews and Insights What ChatGPT means for Digital Marketers 18 May 2023 What ChatGPT means for Digital Marketers If you’ve recently heard people talk about ChatGPT you may be wondering what all the hype is about. ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer)… Read More CEO’s Thoughts Never stop marketing 26 Oct 2022 Never stop marketing There’s a LOT going on in the world right now. This is not a political piece, yet it is diffiult to ignore the world-shaping events… Read More Prev123Next

Why Black Friday 2022 will differ from before

Why Black Friday 2022 will differ from before Despite current downturns in the economy, evidence shows that the e-commerce industry is picking up and going back to pre-pandemic levels. The real question then is how to achieve profitable growth and for many businesses, Black Friday sales make up as much as 20% or more of annual sales. Although the trend seems to be going ‘back to normal, Black Friday 2022 will be different from previous years. Here’s how: Sales will be stretched out over a longer period – This is partly due to retailers having so much inventory. It’s also been a trend in recent years for retailers to start their sales much earlier, in some cases as soon as October or early November, and run those sales later. That’s very likely to continue this year. Brick-and-mortar stores will drive growth – Online shopping remains a convenient option for most shoppers. But buying journey is no longer a linear physical vs. digital experience. Buyers interact at multiple touchpoints before completing their purchase. As you prepare to offer competitive prices on your website, buckle up to fulfil this demand in-store by: Using the latest technology to enable digital payment solutions and self-service will help you mitigate health concerns and offer a better shopping experience. Adding signage for sanitation and social distancing instructions and updating customers about any major changes to your store’s flow on the website, social media, and mobile app. Customers will expect value – The early pandemic years saw buyers’ marked preference for a frictionless experience. They gravitated towards online shopping and curbside pickup, but in 2022, they will go a step ahead. Alongside comfort and convenience, shoppers will look for lower prices. In fact, according to Salesforce, nearly half of all shoppers will ditch their regular brands for a lower-priced competitor. Consumers will choose sustainable options – Modern shoppers won’t buy from you if there’s a value mismatch. This Black Friday, ensure you are honest about your carbon footprint and account for emissions. Share your sustainability initiatives and regularly promote sustainable practices. User experience and trust will matter more than ever – Shoppers no longer believe the best prices are on those days. Trust has increasingly become a factor and the best way to fix that is to offer genuinely good prices that aren’t just overly exaggerated sales pitches. In other words, if you promise that these are the best prices of the year, deliver on that promise. Happy selling! All CEO's Thoughts Interviews and Insights Industry News CEO's Thoughts Never stop marketing 26 Oct 2022 Never stop marketing There’s a LOT going on in the world right now. This is not a political piece, yet it is diffiult to ignore the world-shaping events… Read More Interviews and Insights Interview with Sandra Jardim, Blogger/Founder of MammaBearLove 26 Oct 2022 Interview with Sandra Jardim, Blogger/Founder of MammaBearLove Our October profile is Sandra Jardim, mom to twins Gisela and Alaia and blogger/owner of MammaBearLove. She uses her blog as… Read More Interviews and Insights Interview with Kristin Weixelbaumer, Black Betty Design 14 Sep 2022 Interview with Kristin Weixelbaumer, Black Betty Design Our September profile is Kirstin Weixelbaumer, designer and owner of BlackBettyDesign.com. Founded in 2012, Black Betty aims to create unique and… Read More Prev123Next

Never stop marketing

Never stop marketing There’s a LOT going on in the world right now. This is not a political piece, yet it is diffiult to ignore the world-shaping events happening around us when considering economic forecasts and the future business lanscape. While many companies are still reeling in the aftermath of the pandemic, Putin’s war on Ukraine (which has escelated in recent weeks), has left many economists, world leaders, and us wondering, ‘ what next?’. While the data suggest that we may be heading for a global recession, there are things business owners can do to ensure they are in as strong a posision as possible to weather the storm: Manage your cash flow – In easy or difficult economic times, cash is always king. Cash flow can make or break your company. To get a handle on your company’s cash flow, look at your current cash flow statement daily, and start forecasting (if you aren’t already) with trailing three-, six- and 12-month cash flow forecast charts. Manage your costs – With inflation at a 40-year high, costs are up, and an economic recession is only going to make increasing costs more difficult. Do everything you can now to evaluate your operations and trim the fat so you enter the next recession already lean and mean. Stay on top of receivables – During a recession, everyone struggles. This means your customers might too. Make an effort now to evaluate your clients and their paying habits. Be sure to schedule contract renegotiations whenever possible to close up your pay cycles and shorten your sales outstanding figures. Make data-driven decisions – When times are tough, accuracy is crucial. Even if your instincts as a business owner are good, you need to consult your numbers, look at your company’s financial trends and evaluate forecasts before you make any changes in your business. Last, but not least: Never stop Marketing! – You might guess one way to conserve expenses is to cut back on your marketing budget, however continuing your marketing efforts through difficult times projects your company as a true leader, teaches your current customers they are in good hands, and gives new companies confidence to do business with you. Onwards and upwards! Daniel Gross – CEO All CEO's Thoughts Interviews and Insights Industry News Interviews and Insights Why Black Friday 2022 will differ from before 26 Oct 2022 Why Black Friday 2022 will differ from before Despite current downturns in the economy, evidence shows that the e-commerce industry is picking up and going back to pre-pandemic… Read More Interviews and Insights Interview with Sandra Jardim, Blogger/Founder of MammaBearLove 26 Oct 2022 Interview with Sandra Jardim, Blogger/Founder of MammaBearLove Our October profile is Sandra Jardim, mom to twins Gisela and Alaia and blogger/owner of MammaBearLove. She uses her blog as… Read More Interviews and Insights Interview with Kristin Weixelbaumer, Black Betty Design 14 Sep 2022 Interview with Kristin Weixelbaumer, Black Betty Design Our September profile is Kirstin Weixelbaumer, designer and owner of BlackBettyDesign.com. Founded in 2012, Black Betty aims to create unique and… Read More Prev123Next

Interview with Sandra Jardim, Blogger/Founder of MammaBearLove

Interview with Sandra Jardim, Blogger/Founder of MammaBearLove Our October profile is Sandra Jardim, mom to twins Gisela and Alaia and blogger/owner of MammaBearLove. She uses her blog as a platform to share useful parenting advice with her readers, ranging from going through the challenges of an IVF pregnancy to navigating the topsy-turvy life as a parent of twins. Her candid and honest articles give readers a glimpse into what parenthood is really like, with all the beauty, challenges, smiles, tears and unforgettable moments that come with it. Describe yourself in 3 wordsMy immediate response is Mom, Mamma and Mommy, but then I take a minute and know as much as I am all of that I am also so much more. So I would say determined, passionate and patient. When I was little I wanted to be…A teacher. I have been fortunate enough to grow up with so many cousins and growing up I always played ‘School-School’ and was always the teacher. I went as far as doing activities and stickers for when we all met and played. All these years later still something I always wished I had pursued. What made you decide to start a blog?The day I found out we weren’t going to be able to conceive naturally and we needed to look at IVF I wanted to read every article, every experience from other moms to get as much knowledge and info as I could. I then really just wanted to share my experience with everyone – I think we so often feel alone in what we are going through and reading other moms’ experiences help make you not feel so alone. Tell us more about the name? (MammaBearLove)After the girls were born I become instinctively fierce and protective of my babies. My Hubby and Mom would tease and call me Mamma Bear so just felt it was perfectly suited. How do you decide what topics to write about?I try not to over think it so much and force content. I share experiences and thoughts that really affect me and that I feel aren’t spoken of enough. How do you attract new readers?This is truly something I need to focus on more. I aim to manage my ‘mom working life’ better to allow me more time to share more experiences and thoughts. By posting more regularly and engaging more with my following I always see an increase in not only the engagement with existing followers, but also new followers. I love blogging because…I really do believe there is magic in sharing your vulnerability sometimes. Seeing how just sharing my experience can impact someone else reading it is truly everything and why I love this so much. Getting a message from a follower saying how reading the post made them not feel so alone is why I want to keep sharing. Some of your favourite blogs that you read regularly?I love Just A Mamma, she is my all-time favourite blog to read. My 1st choice for a weekend family activity isTotal cliché, but to be together. Gosh, making time for anything is hard, but having those days where we are all together and just having fun is my all-time favourite thing. Follow Sandra’s blog at https://twinmammabear.wixsite.com/mammabearlove All CEO's Thoughts Interviews and Insights Industry News Interviews and Insights Why Black Friday 2022 will differ from before 26 Oct 2022 Why Black Friday 2022 will differ from before Despite current downturns in the economy, evidence shows that the e-commerce industry is picking up and going back to pre-pandemic… Read More CEO's Thoughts Never stop marketing 26 Oct 2022 Never stop marketing There’s a LOT going on in the world right now. This is not a political piece, yet it is diffiult to ignore the world-shaping events… Read More Interviews and Insights Interview with Kristin Weixelbaumer, Black Betty Design 14 Sep 2022 Interview with Kristin Weixelbaumer, Black Betty Design Our September profile is Kirstin Weixelbaumer, designer and owner of BlackBettyDesign.com. Founded in 2012, Black Betty aims to create unique and… Read More Prev123Next

Experience – the teacher of all things

Experience – the teacher of all things Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president of the United States once said that the reward of suffering is experience. September is a special month for us as we celebrate AdMarula’s 11th birthday. The past eleven years have certainly provided us with many challenges and opportunities to learn. We have made mistakes, hussled like crazy, solved problems, adapted, celebrated as we growed, cried as we lost clients during Covid, forged incredible business partnerships, helped companies grow, and done it all over again. Here are some of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt so far: 1.Fear is the greatest stopper – when running and building a business you will often find yourself in unchartered waters, having to do things you’ve never done before. Just do it! The fear of doing it is much worse than the actual doing, and you will figure it out along the way. 2. It’s all about relationships – we may live in a tech-centric world, but behind the tech there are still real people who need real connection. The technology will change and come and go, but strong business relationships survive the ebbs and flows of change. 3. You’re only as good as your team – I know this is a bit of a cliché, but that’s because it’s true. No manager or leader can grow without the team to help make this happen. Keep your staff happy and your clients will be happy too. 4. Doing the right thing gets you farther in the long run, but not necessarily in the short run – all industries have grey areas which some businesses chose to explore in order to gain results quicker, but the damage you do to your reputation, relationships and brand will catch up with you in the long run. Do what is right, always. 5. Are you a problem finder or a problem solver? Most people would rather not solve their problems, it’s sad but true. People would rather ignore them and hope they go away, but by going to the root and solving them you save unbelievable amounts of time, pain, and suffering. So be the guy who solves the problem, not the one who finds them. 6. There is no easy business – at least not what I’ve seen. That said, you CAN make your business simpler,  which will make things feel easier. Businesses naturally increase in complexity as they grow, so it’s important to continually look for ways to simplify. Remember: Less is More! Finally, I wish you all a good Heritage Day and may we all use this day to celebrate what makes our country and its people so special. Onwards and upwards! Daniel Gross – CEO All CEO's Thoughts Interviews and Insights Industry News Interviews and Insights Why Black Friday 2022 will differ from before 26 Oct 2022 Why Black Friday 2022 will differ from before Despite current downturns in the economy, evidence shows that the e-commerce industry is picking up and going back to pre-pandemic… Read More CEO's Thoughts Never stop marketing 26 Oct 2022 Never stop marketing There’s a LOT going on in the world right now. This is not a political piece, yet it is diffiult to ignore the world-shaping events… Read More Interviews and Insights Interview with Sandra Jardim, Blogger/Founder of MammaBearLove 26 Oct 2022 Interview with Sandra Jardim, Blogger/Founder of MammaBearLove Our October profile is Sandra Jardim, mom to twins Gisela and Alaia and blogger/owner of MammaBearLove. She uses her blog as… Read More Prev123Next

Interview with Bianca Huber, Blogger & Founder of Heyboo.co.za

Interview with Bianca Huber, Blogger & Founder of Heyboo.co.za August is women’s month in which we celebrate women from all walks of life, making their difference, doing their thing. Our August profile is Bianca Huber. As Founder of Heyboo.co.za, “a blog of inspiring women, inspiring women“ as she phrases it, she aims to encourage women by providing a platform where they can share and read experiences of influential women in all industries. The blog also features posts about travel, beauty, business, events and more. Describe yourself in 3 words Ambitious, passionate, sassy What inspired you to start Heyboo? I have always wanted to create an “online magazine” but never found the time or resources. Then, in 2020 I decided during the national lockdown when I couldn’t work, to start a blog showcasing women within different industries that were making an impact. My goal was to inspire more women to start their own companies or gain better knowledge about a specific field. Enter: HEYBOO. How do you find and keep your readers? We try to find readers by interviewing women who are making noise in their career, or just being plain awesome – by doing this, we reach the interviewee’s followers and hope they join our community. Once we have gained these followers, we try to keep them coming back for more with interesting blogs, giveaways, and more relevant content. What is the best and worst thing about running your own blog? The best thing I would say is being able to have freedom with how you write, who you chat too, and the connections you make. The difficult part is monetising the blog and little nitty-gritty things like keeping up with trends 24/7 – it’s very tiring. What advice do you have for aspiring bloggers and social marketers? Always take any and every opportunity you have to market yourself/your blog to your target audience. Another thing is to just start. Take the leap. It is very daunting and very time-consuming, but if you put in the work, it is very rewarding. Who in your opinion is the ultimate Boss Babe? I couldn’t say just one person. To me, a boss babe is anyone who is putting their hat in the ring. Anyone who is joining the fight to follow their dreams. Which women have had a profound influence on your life so far? My mom has definitely had a huge influence on me, and is my biggest cheerleader. I also have many friends who are so encouraging and are always around when I need advice – which I’m so grateful for. One other person to mention is pro surfer Carissa Moore, she is so dedicated in what she does and pushes the boundaries in a male-dominated sport – and that is so incredible to me. If you could make 3 changes in the world to help uplift women, what would that be? Place women as leaders and give them decision-making roles. Pay equality throughout every industry. More investments in women’s entrepreneurial ideas. How did you celebrate Women’s Day? I took the day for myself to do exactly what I wanted to do. No disturbances from social networks, just me and my cat. Follow Heyboo! On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heyboo.co.za On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyboo.co.za/ All CEO's Thoughts Interviews and Insights Industry News Interviews and Insights Why Black Friday 2022 will differ from before 26 Oct 2022 Why Black Friday 2022 will differ from before Despite current downturns in the economy, evidence shows that the e-commerce industry is picking up and going back to pre-pandemic… Read More CEO's Thoughts Never stop marketing 26 Oct 2022 Never stop marketing There’s a LOT going on in the world right now. This is not a political piece, yet it is diffiult to ignore the world-shaping events… Read More Interviews and Insights Interview with Sandra Jardim, Blogger/Founder of MammaBearLove 26 Oct 2022 Interview with Sandra Jardim, Blogger/Founder of MammaBearLove Our October profile is Sandra Jardim, mom to twins Gisela and Alaia and blogger/owner of MammaBearLove. She uses her blog as… Read More Prev123Next

Why less is usually more in Digital

Why less is usually more in Digital I often tell clients/marketers/start-ups: “Rather do a few channels well than all of them poorly”. While this statement applies to all areas of life, it is particularly relevant to internet marketing. Of course, if you have an unlimited budget and time, then definitely go ahead and design a new site, set up a pay-per-click (PPC) campaign, search engine optimization (SEO) campaign, content campaign, and blast everything on social media. However, most companies have a finite amount of money and time. Therefore, it is better to grow your marketing plan by starting small and adding on elements. Start with a website and then add-on core social media accounts your users actively use. Then, build your content up and begin to rank higher on search engine results pages. Once you have nailed search, expand to PPC and Affiliate Marketing. Finally, once you have mastered all of this, expand to newsletters, podcasts and videos. If you have a small marketing team, spreading resources thinly across several channels will unlikely yield the results you are looking for and will leave your team feeling frustrated and demotivated. From the user experience point of view, the less-is-more approach is also becoming more and more appealing as users are inundated with messages, ads, videos and emails. Marketers have been going full steam ahead, pressured by C-suite, high customer expectations, and the daunting selection of new innovations and tech tools, to adopt and master more channels in order to reach more customers and to create a more sophisticated multi-channel explosion. Yet research shows that we are seeing a shift towards the compact and minimal in everything from lifestyle to home building. It’s the backlash from too much screen time, always being plugged in, and the personal device addiction. As a result, more people are unplugging, embracing minimalism, and decluttering their life. LESS OVERWHELMING IS IN. So, if your customers are simplifying and downsizing their lives, your marketing messaging will more likely come off as appealing if it is presented in a cleaner, simpler box. For example, instead of creating 20 marketing videos a month to keep your social media channels active and your brand relevant, what if you created 2 really amazing videos that are more likely to go viral. Better quality video, better quality content. Finally, with August being Women’s Month, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the women who have been a part of AdMarula’s journey the past decade and who have made their mark on our business in more ways than I can say. These include our clients, publishers, industry friends, suppliers and of course our staff, from the very first day we pushed the ‘go live’ button up till now. I have been privileged to work with some incredibly talented and smart women and have learned many valuable lessons from our interactions. May you all be celebrated as you deserve to be. Onwards and upwards! Daniel Gross – CEO All CEO's Thoughts Interviews and Insights Industry News Interviews and Insights Why Black Friday 2022 will differ from before 26 Oct 2022 Why Black Friday 2022 will differ from before Despite current downturns in the economy, evidence shows that the e-commerce industry is picking up and going back to pre-pandemic… Read More CEO's Thoughts Never stop marketing 26 Oct 2022 Never stop marketing There’s a LOT going on in the world right now. This is not a political piece, yet it is diffiult to ignore the world-shaping events… Read More Interviews and Insights Interview with Sandra Jardim, Blogger/Founder of MammaBearLove 26 Oct 2022 Interview with Sandra Jardim, Blogger/Founder of MammaBearLove Our October profile is Sandra Jardim, mom to twins Gisela and Alaia and blogger/owner of MammaBearLove. She uses her blog as… Read More Prev123Next

Interview with Jeffrey Galbraith from GarageGuys.co.za

Interview with Jeffrey Galbraith from GarageGuys.co.za This month we chat with Jeffrey Galbraith, serial entrepreneur, family man and Marketing Manager at Garage Guys, a proudly South African business specialising in DIY home and office shelving and storage solutions. With their bold branding, clear no-nonsense messaging, visually appealing ads and clever solutions, Garage Guys are taking their place in the DIY e-tailer space and making happy customers as they go. Describe yourself in 3 wordsDedicated, Passionate and Relentless Where did the idea to start ‘Garage Guys’ come from?The Garage Guys installed its shelving in my home a few years back. I loved the concept so much and immediately saw the enormous opportunity for growth. I just knew I had to be a part of it, so I joined the team and have loved it since. Was the plan always to just go online? i.e. did you ever consider opening a store?Before I joined, online meant lead generation via a Facebook form, just accepting the norm, while e-commerce wasn’t a focus and contributed under 10% of turnover. Today over 60 % of our income is from e-commerce and it is rapidly growing :). What are the biggest challenges in starting an online business at these times?You cannot do it alone. There are so many platforms, publishers and applications that it is near impossible to master them all. Join support groups, partner with experts, cough, wink, nudge like AdMarula which allows you to work ON and not IN your business. How did the past two years (and the pandemic) affect the home improvement industry?Our custom work decreased as people are still awkward about strangers in their homes, but we are very blessed and have seen over 300% growth in our e-commerce division, so we can’t complain. How does Garage Guys differentiate/position itself from already established, brick-and-mortar builder stores?We make DIY Fun, Easy & Affordable. What are the key ingredients for a successful digital marketing strategy?KISS… Keep it Simple Stupid. We found that less is more. Ensure you are marketing what your audience wants and not what you think they need. The most important skills digital marketing managers need nowadays.Patience and forgiveness, as often we first need to learn what NOT to do in order to know what to DO. Mistakes are not the opposite of success, but part of it. How would you describe your management style?In truth, aggressive. I am results driven. I expect the best as I give the best and I will pull my team until we reach our goal. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt in your career so far?Partner with the right people. Just because you’re thirsty doesn’t mean you should drink poison. Follow Garage Guys! On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garageguys.co.za On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garageguys.co.za/ All CEO's Thoughts Interviews and Insights Industry News Interviews and Insights Why Black Friday 2022 will differ from before 26 Oct 2022 Why Black Friday 2022 will differ from before Despite current downturns in the economy, evidence shows that the e-commerce industry is picking up and going back to pre-pandemic… Read More CEO's Thoughts Never stop marketing 26 Oct 2022 Never stop marketing There’s a LOT going on in the world right now. This is not a political piece, yet it is diffiult to ignore the world-shaping events… Read More Interviews and Insights Interview with Sandra Jardim, Blogger/Founder of MammaBearLove 26 Oct 2022 Interview with Sandra Jardim, Blogger/Founder of MammaBearLove Our October profile is Sandra Jardim, mom to twins Gisela and Alaia and blogger/owner of MammaBearLove. She uses her blog as… Read More Prev123Next

A quick update

A quick update It is hard to believe we are nearly half-way through 2022. When I think back to two years ago – still at Level 3 lockdown, not really able to travel, many schools still closed as well as many businesses – things are looking very different now. The Department of Statistics SA recently released an economic update showing our GDP expanded by 1,9% in the first quarter of 2022. The size of the economy is now at pre-pandemic levels, with real GDP slightly higher than what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. The report further shows household consumption increased by 1,4% in the first quarter, while the hospitality sector in particular saw a sharp rise in activity as consumer spending on restaurants and hotels increased by 6,5%. So while many businesses are still struggling to make their way out of the post-pandemic depression, there is reason to be optimistic. President Cyril Ramaphosa recently underlined the importance of growing the country’s digital economy, with the release of new broadband spectrum having been identified as a key reform for driving economic growth. While this process has been delayed, South Africa is undertaking other digital reforms, including the publication of the country’s draft national data and cloud policy which ultimately seeks to put in place a conducive and enabling environment for the data ecosystem to thrive. While the past two years helped some online businesses to thrive, it also unfortunately saw many publishers and merchants closing down. It is therefore encouraging to see a pickup in enquiries coming in from new publishers and prospective advertisers wanting to join the network. International travel, which was essentially dead for nearly two years, has picked up steadily though we are yet to see the numbers reach pre-pandemic levels. I believe this will take some time. For those of you who will be taking some time off for the winter school break I wish you a relaxed time ahead. Safe travels to those heading out to different corners of the country and the world. Let us come back rested and ready for whatever the rest of 2022 has to offer. Onwards and upwards! Daniel Gross – CEO All CEO's Thoughts Interviews and Insights Industry News Interviews and Insights Why Black Friday 2022 will differ from before 26 Oct 2022 Why Black Friday 2022 will differ from before Despite current downturns in the economy, evidence shows that the e-commerce industry is picking up and going back to pre-pandemic… Read More CEO's Thoughts Never stop marketing 26 Oct 2022 Never stop marketing There’s a LOT going on in the world right now. This is not a political piece, yet it is diffiult to ignore the world-shaping events… Read More Interviews and Insights Interview with Sandra Jardim, Blogger/Founder of MammaBearLove 26 Oct 2022 Interview with Sandra Jardim, Blogger/Founder of MammaBearLove Our October profile is Sandra Jardim, mom to twins Gisela and Alaia and blogger/owner of MammaBearLove. She uses her blog as… Read More Prev123Next