27Dinner on Liquid Fuel

by Carlos Menezes

Maybe it was the Stormhoek wine. Maybe it’s the fact that I finally felt as if I’ve acclimatised to this chaotic world known as eMarketing. Or maybe I sensed that eMarketing in itself has matured beyond what was once a fledging, clumsy puppy-dog industry into an adolescent youth full of promise for the future.

At the end of the day, what I know is that I walked away from last night's 27Dinner a lot more content than I have done before. Dave’s work really seems to have paid off and the dinner itself has evolved. The last time I went there were plenty of ramblings about how the marketers were taking over and how the geeks should take the event back. Today, despite there still being an obvious divide (yes Henk, many of us marketers realise that we are indeed evil :)), the atmosphere was casual and there was no specific feeling of cliqueness, that I could detect at least.

Perhaps this is due to the fact that I knew a few more of the attendees, or that so many of the attendees were so much more approachable this time around. I had good chats with Linda, Rafiq, Eric, Andrew, Deirde, Michael, Ian, Chris, and Vinny along with the lads from MyVideo to name but a few. Names that may mean little to the casual GottaQuirk reader, but that belong to people that are providing the fulcrum for a burgeoning industry that’s beginning to find its feet.

At times I feel that South Africa has an online scene that is bordering on a village community. At other occasions I sense that this country is reaching so far beyond its scope that we are all guilty of dismissing it far too readily.

The wealth of talent and drive that collected at Relish on Monday evening truly struck me, a sceptic in every sense of the word. Many of these people are ahead of the curve in their own country, but their persistence will inevitably see dividends paid back in far distant regions of the world.

I must emphasise persistence here. It is the key. eMarketing, more so than most other commercial disciplines, often finds itself held in common disregard or casual neglect. It is the continued drive of those who persist with a course that they believe in that will hold open a lucrative path that the rest of us would ignore all too easily.

And now, after being the last to stumble out of the restaurant with Chris and Claire, I’m going to struggle to get through today - but hell, it was worth it.

2007/08/28 | permalink | comments (3) | trackbacks (0)

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Recent Comments

Anthony on The Democratic Alliance's Online Plan

Thanks for the article Kat, and you were spot-on in response to Shaun: my resources comment was not so much about being able to afford an online presence (most political parties in SA - all the ones you've heard of - have one); it was more about the fact that you need to have the human resources to sustain what you initiate. As an example, we started SA Today in response to ANC Today, and we've sustained it week in and week out (as has the ANC, even if its President has decided not to continue where his predecessor left off). Both the ID and the IFP have started similar initiatives, but they find it difficult to sustain, so it ends up being occasional, rather than weekly.
In response to Nic, providing strong principled opposition and defence of the constitution is a key part of the DA's brand, and one of the key things our supporters and potential supporters want from us. But the second important thing potential DA voters want (most important for many) is for us to offer solutions to the country's problems. We do that through a comprehensive policy platform which is effectively a manifesto of what we undertake to do if elected to government. That doesn't mean we don't recognise the enormity of the challenge ahead of us.
Kat on Can You Put the eMarketing Textbook in the Hands of Someone Who Needs It?

@Hilary, you can actually already order a hard copy directly from the website, just follow this link www.quirk.biz/emarketingtextbook/buy
we'll definitely let you know when it's in book shops as well though :)
@mike Less tree killing is always a good idea. The cd idea is intriguing, and would probably be great for people who have limited connectivity but are keen to learn.
Hilary Cross on Can You Put the eMarketing Textbook in the Hands of Someone Who Needs It?

Hi Kat, please let us know when the hard copy is out, I'd definatley like to purchase one for myself.
Thanks,
Hilary
Mike Metelerkamp on Can You Put the eMarketing Textbook in the Hands of Someone Who Needs It?

Kat, this is proving to be quite a mind bender...
How about creating those mini cd's and trying to get them inserted into some marketing/business/IT text books - or give them to universities to hand out in lectures?
Really cheap and less tree killing :)
Mike
Kat on Friday Fact Box - Social Media Statistics

We do a Friday Fact Box every week, so check back for more useful info, and let me know if there's a particular topic you'd be interested in getting some stats about. ;)

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27Dinner on Liquid Fuel

by Carlos Menezes

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