So, why you would hire me (consultant) vs an agency? I’m cost-effective – I offer all forms of digital marketing at a set fee, which is also lower because I don’t have the same overhead costs that an agency has. Optimal integration and synergy of digital marketing channels across Google Search, Display ads and Facebook, no agency silos. I offer the highest level of personal attention to detail for maximum results. I help get the best results from within[…]

What is Sandmann Digital? It’s all summed up in our logo. The colours signify how we strive to always be creative. The silhouette of a person’s face shows that people (customers) are central to what we do and that my work connects directly with them across various moments to provide effective digital marketing services. Services include paid search (PPC /SEM), SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), content marketing and social media advertising. I, Stephen Sandmann have created my own consultancy, without any[…]

What does it take to be an entrepreneur in South Africa’s digital marketing industry? I’ve taken the plunge at running my own digital marketing consultancy going forward. To quote a friend, “Stephen has spun out his own consultancy but with none of the silly agency overhead.” alphaspirit – 123rf.com Part of this process of figuring what it takes to be an entrepreneur is personal reflection, data gathering, analysis, chatting to the pros and learning from it all. I’m not completely new[…]

It’s been quite a month, my first month as a digital marketing consultant. It has been a refreshing challenge and it couldn’t be more rewarding – you’re doing it for yourself, not for somebody else’s company. Focus and dedication are more important than ever. Bravery and a positive mind are critical. It’s been fun. I’ve met more top marketers in a short amount of time than ever before. I’m steaming ahead, building up my client base. I’ve signed up a handful of[…]

Feel free to get in touch to discuss your brand’s digital marketing requirements:  

(c) eireen – 123RF.com The concept of innovation drives me. I love taking calculated risks. I enjoy doing the associated R&D. Most of all I like to watch it unfold as a campaign. A friend and ex-colleague of mine, Rob Stokes (digital marketing pioneer, founder and non-executive chair at Quirk/Mirum Africa and Red & Yellow School) and I discussed this topic. Rob had this to share, “with artificially intelligent machines poised to take most jobs, the ability to think creatively will[…]

Social media campaigns need to be carefully aligned with traditional advertising, from messaging to timing executions. All digital marketing disciplines need to be in harmony with social media too. Designed by Freepi Facebook ad targeting Get your ad targeting right. Use Facebook’s clever targeting abilities such as custom audiences – once a user visits your site, you can show them your ads on Facebook. Once you have a custom audience, you can expand your ads’ reach with automated lookalike audiences,[…]

Social media, especially Facebook, is an excellent source of highly-engaged website visitors. I’ve studied one of SA’s top 5 online content contributor’s website, over its lifespan at the time, and visitors via Facebook drove high levels of engagement, followed by visitors via Twitter. This is exactly what you want; people engaging with your website or blog content, whether it is to sign up for a newsletter, buy a product via a website. Brand vs Performance Social Media So, a social[…]

To paraphrase David Sable (Global CEO of Y&R agency), social media is nothing new, we’ve been socialising around office water coolers for decades. So, simply put, normal social interaction norms should apply in a different format online as they do offline. Sticking with the water cooler metaphor – if you start a new job you would not try sell your Tupperware goods from your side business at your first opportunity. You would act normal, be friendly, chat about everyday things,[…]

In part three of my exploration of digital marketing in 2017 (part one and part two), I delve into subjects I haven’t covered yet such as apps, B2B and tracking ROI digital marketing trends, and acquired more insight into other trends. I caught up with Lana Strydom (EHOD – Digital, Content and Social Marketing at Vodacom South Africa), Jeanine Ferreira (Senior Portfolio Manager: Digital Marketing at Vodacom South Africa), Justin Spratt (Head of Business, Sub-Saharan Africa at Uber), Michel Holworthy[…]