Latest Blogs
Virtual Marketer's Monthly Mashup: April 2024
This month we cover LinkedIn's venture into short-form videos, Google's advanced Marketing Mix Modelling tool Meridian, Meta's integration of an AI chatbot across its platforms, a study revealing how good we are at distinguishing AI-generated content, and optimal YouTube posting times.
The 10 Marketing Podcasts You Should be Listening to in 2024
Try and fit a bit of learning into your week with these marketing podcasts, from the humanity in marketing to increasing website traffic, and everything in between.
The Future of Marketing Careers: Trends to Watch
We uncover the essential trends shaping the industry, from the revolution in customer experience to the groundbreaking impact of AI and the critical importance of sustainability.
Virtual Marketers Monthly Mashup: March 2024
This month we're talking about some significant digital marketing shifts, including the rise of AI-generated videos, Google's comprehensive core update, Meta's advertising enhancements, changes in Gen Z's search preferences, and the implications of a potential TikTok ban in the US.
A Brief History of the Evolution of Marketing
We're walking you through the evolution of marketing from the use of propaganda in Ancient Egypt, through the impact of the printing press during the Renaissance, mass marketing in the Industrial Revolution, the "Mad Men" era of the 1960s, all the way to the transformative power of the internet and social media in today's marketing landscape. It's quite the ride!
Virtual Marketer's Monthly Mashup: October 2023
Learn about the untapped potential of Gen X for marketers, Meta and TikTok considering ad-free subscriptions, and the impact of Google's 'Helpful Content Update' on SEO-reliant sites. Meta's 'broadcast channels' aim to boost user engagement, and Google is testing generative AI image creation with safeguards. It's been a busy month!
Virtual Marketers' Monthly Mashup: September 2023
From TikTok and Google thinking about working together and Snapchat's surprising growth to Elon Musk considering making Twitter a paid service, and Google really stressing the importance of quality in how they decide what to show you when you search, it's all here in our monthly digital marketing mashup.
Virtual Marketer's Monthly Mashup: November 2023
We've covering the latest numbers from X, a new in-app purchase partnership between Meta and Amazon, Chat GPT's latest update, Net-Zero goals for the ad industry and Google's latest review-based content update. Let's get into it.
Virtual Marketer's Monthly Mashup: December 2023
We've got updates from Google, who is turning 25, new visibility for Collaborative Articles from LinkedIn, business help from TikTok and advice for planning for the demise of cookies... Here we go.
Virtual Marketer's Monthly Mashup: January 2024
This month AI dominates with Google's Gemini and LinkedIn's tools, amidst varied ad spend and rising attention metrics.
Virtual Marketer's Monthly Mashup: February 2024
This month we're looking into the significant impact of Super Bowl LVIII in advertising and social media, Pinterest's growth, the formation of an ethical AI coalition by tech giants, and new analytical tools from YouTube and Meta to innovate and enhance digital marketing strategies.
Why AI Skills are Essential for Modern Marketers
Discover how AI is revolutionising marketing, from enhancing customer insights and personalising experiences at scale to optimising campaigns and automating tasks, making AI skills an essential asset for every marketing professional.
The Best Marketing Tools Coming up in 2024
Explore the exciting digital marketing tools of 2024, including AI-powered content creation, predictive analytics, conversational marketing, AR advertising, and more, to optimise campaigns, enhance engagement, and drive success in a privacy-conscious digital landscape.
Must-Attend Marketing Events in 2024
We've compiled a comprehensive guide to the most useful marketing events and conferences in New Zealand throughout the year. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting in the field, these gatherings promise to be a gateway to invaluable industry insights, networking opportunities, and a bit of fun too!
How to Future-Proof Your Marketing Career
I have made a conscious decision to remain on the tools in my marketing career, irrespective of the level of role I have. This decision was the right one and was reinforced by my experience when I returned to the digital marketing landscape after taking four years away to have our children. It genuinely felt like a quantum shift in just four years, so many new tools and processes - AND acronyms. I also had the gender pay gap to tackle, but that’s for another blog!
Digital Marketing Tactics in 2023: What Worked, What Didn’t
Hey there, fellow digital marketers! It’s been a year all right… Let's dive into what's been hot and what's not in the ever-evolving world of digital marketing in 2023.
Creating an Epic Marketing Portfolio
It’s a tough time out there for job hunters, and it can feel challenging to know how to stand out in the crowd. So how about creating a marketing portfolio to showcase your work? Not sure what this is or how to do it? Never fear, we’ve broken it down for you into some tidy steps.
Our Fav Five Free Certifications for Marketers
In the world of digital marketing, professional development is crucial. These five free courses provide essential knowledge, keeping you up-to-date and competitive in analytics, advertising, inbound strategies, content creation, social media trends, and SEO research. Investing in these online learning programmes is an investment in your marketing success.
How to Mentor Your In-House Marketer
We cover off the ways you can be a great mentor for your marketer, no matter what your area of expertise is. From growth mindset to skill building, you'll be guiding your marketer with ease in no time at all.
IWD - Soft skills and how women can help fill the gap
This article got me thinking in the lead up to International Women’s Day - but it’s missing some crucial data. Who typically has the soft skills in today’s workforce? Is it the recent graduates or the end of career employees? Does age or gender typically skew someone’s ability to rate well in soft skills? Or is it completely dependent on personality and individual EQ?
IWD - Acknowledging the firsts, and those who have gone before us
This coming weekend, we celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) #EachforEqual. A global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and an opportunity to accelerate women’s equality all over the world.
The benefits of hiring a "virtual" employee
“Virtual” employment gives you the ability to hire a specialist to come into your business as a fresh set of eyes and help you with specific tasks, goals or just to keep you on track without committing to hiring a permanent employee! It’s a win, win … win.
Does being a ‘virtual business’ make you sustainable?
Businesses the world over have had some enforced downtime over the past few weeks to consider the future of their business: the way they’ve traditionally operated, the potential for pivoting their business model, and whether they’ll return to the status quo as they reopen.
I'm calling BS on this ‘Working From Home Advice’ movement
I’m calling BS on the amount of advice I’m seeing in my social media feed about ‘working from home’ and how to arrange my workspace so the ‘feng shui’ is awesome and I get as much natural light as possible in order to get my creative juices flowing.
Both of my daughters got sick this week, and I was so relieved
So relieved that they could stay home and recover and I could mind them, shuffle a few meetings, charge their iPads (they’re 7 and 10 so it’s easier these days), handover anything urgent to my business partner Martina and team and essentially be there for my family.
A day in the life of a London based Virtual Marketer
Embarking on the quintessential 20-Something-Kiwi Rite Of Passage usually means booking a one-way flight to London, accepting the fact that you must now call chips “crisps” and waving goodbye to your old life.
Meet Martina
When I was a teenager I decided I wanted a job that involved wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase everyday - the obvious next step was a marketing degree.
How to ensure you hire the right marketer for your business
Now more than ever we are aware of our business head counts and costs and it's important to consider what role marketing can play in your business, and the best person to do this.
Returning to marketing from a break
Our Founder and Chief Client Officer, Fran, shares her experience starting her marketing career again after having her family, and how you can do this too.
Meet Fran
Since launching my Virtual Marketing business, I’ve been asked a lot about how I got to the point to have the courage to do it.
FREE online training sources
Just some thoughts on free up-skilling and training for those who have their hours reduced or are currently in the market looking for their new marketing role - enjoy!
How our small service-based business navigated 2020
2020. From amazing highs in the form of meeting some awesome new clients and continuing to work with existing great clients, to the lows of having to say goodbye to some. 2020 has clearly represented challenges for every business. End of.
What's important in a brand to a 13 year old Kiwi
What's important in a brand to a 13 year old Kiwi
How Conversion Rate Optimisation works
Conversion Rate Optimisation (or CRO as it is commonly known), is how you work out how many visitors come to your website, and what you want them to do once they get there.
Why Professional Services firms should outsource marketing
For many New Zealand Professional Services firms, having a dedicated marketer in their firms has never been a priority. They have a Sales or Business Development Team, and use their admin staff to manage occasional ‘marketing tasks’ including social media posting, website content management and adhoc newsletters to clients.
Brown Bag Series with Rahul
In this episode of our Brown Bag Series, Fran chats with Rahul Watson-Govindan, Loomio CEO, Senior Executive, Director and Investor, about the purpose of a business strategy.
Brown Bag Series with Emma
Working from home? We've got some tips for you! Fran sat down to chat with Emma Bell-Norris, Brand and Marketing Manager for Europlan, one of New Zealand's leading suppliers of commercial furniture. They chat about how to set up a productive workspace at home and share work from home tips.
What is Affiliate Marketing in Digital Marketing? Everything to know
It is estimated that only 15 of the top 100 retailers in New Zealand utilise affiliate marketing. While the rest of the world pushes ahead with this bold digital marketing strategy, companies in this country are being left behind. So how can you get ahead of the curve?
Find yourself a marketing mentor
Marketing mentorship or marketing coaching is a broad category and people can be interested in mentorship for lots of different reasons. So let's discuss a few.
The Benefits Of Outsourcing Your Marketing (NZ Businesses)
In recent years, outsourcing marketing has become popular for many Aotearoa New Zealand businesses looking for growth. Why is it so popular?
Our Take on Ad World 2023
I recently attended Ad World 2023 and it felt like near perfect timing for some inspiring speakers to dive into some of the complexities facing marketers of today. From recession-proofing ad spend to the good shining through in a world of AI, here are a few of my highlights from the online event.
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