My Spin on Marketing Technology (MarTech): Kyle’s Lecture at Auckland University of Technology

Recently, I had the awesome opportunity to head back to my old uni, Auckland University of Technology. Bit of a blast from the past! It was a real honour to give a guest lecture to the next generation of digital marketers. Massive thanks to Dr. Jessica for inviting me back to my old stomping ground, and cheers to the students – you lot were super keen and asked some cracking questions.

Diving into the MarTech Maze

Alright, let’s get stuck into MarTech. It’s pretty much baked into how businesses run these days, yeah? As marketers, we’re navigating this ever-growing ocean of tools designed to make our lives easier and help businesses grow.

During the lecture, I really hammered home that just picking a tool isn’t enough. The real challenge? Getting it set up properly and making sure your team actually uses it effectively. We’ve all got different people in our businesses, right? Some are tech-whizzes, others might find it a bit daunting. That’s why good training and solid support are absolutely crucial when you bring in new tech. No point having fancy tools if they’re just gathering dust because nobody knows how to use ’em properly.

How to Pick the Right Gear

So, how do you choose the right MarTech platforms without getting lost? Here’s what I reckon you need to focus on:

1. Does it Fit Your Goals? Start with what you’re actually trying to do. Need to streamline your sales process? Want to nail your email automation? The tool has gotta line up with your business objectives. Simple as that.
2. Is it Easy to Use? This one’s huge. The platform needs to be pretty intuitive. If it’s a pain to navigate, especially for folks who aren’t super techy, it just won’t get the use it should.
3. What’s the Real Cost? Keep an eye on the dollars and cents. Dig into the pricing – are there hidden costs like paying per user, or limits on data? Make sure you understand the full picture before you commit.
4. Does it Play Nice and Can it Grow? Your tools need to talk to each other. Check if it integrates smoothly with the systems you’re already using. And think ahead – will it scale up as your business gets bigger?

A Couple of My Go-To Platforms

I shared a couple of platforms I’ve had a good run with: High Level CRM and HubSpot.

• High Level CRM: This one’s a bit of an all-rounder. What I really like is that agencies can white-label it – basically, put your own brand on it and bundle it into your service fees. It packs a heap of features like email marketing, CRM, and automation into one spot, making it a pretty cost-effective option.
• HubSpot: Most people have heard of HubSpot. It’s known for being really user-friendly and it’s brilliant for inbound marketing. It starts off free, which is great for getting started, but just be aware that the costs can ramp up as you add more features or your team grows. Something to factor in.

You Gotta Know Your Numbers: Analytics

Knowing if your tools are actually pulling their weight is key. For keeping track of performance and churning out reports without spending hours doing it manually, I’m a big fan of Agency Analytics. It connects with most of the big advertising platforms and automates a lot of the client reporting. Honestly, it’s a massive time-saver.

What’s Trending?

We wrapped up the session looking at what’s making waves right now. Personalised email marketing (like, really personalised, not just sticking a name in), the way SEO is leaning more into video content (think YouTube), and using AI smartly – these are some of the big shifts changing how we market and connect with our clients and audiences.

Wrapping Up: Tools Are Just Tools

So, what’s the main takeaway? The MarTech world is huge and it’s always changing. The trick isn’t just using tools, it’s about picking the ones that genuinely fit what your business needs. Focus on usefulness over hype.

And honestly, never underestimate the value of networking and learning from others in the game. Having mentors or even just mates in the industry you can chat with can give you a massive leg up navigating all this stuff.

Hope these insights give you some food for thought on your own MarTech journey. If you want to dive deeper or chat about any of this, feel free to hit us up here at Social Geeks Digital.

Catch you on the next post!

Cheers, Kyle