Global Digital Marketing & Retail by Alex 58
Global Digital Marketing & Retail by Alex 58
Inspiration from across the world for retail enthusiasts, e-commerce professionals, marketing lovers and technology fans. Welcome back! I summarized some great links again, I stumbled upon this week.
🇨🇳 Kling AI motion brush makes pictures come to life
Kling AI, from China, has the “motion brush” feature. It’s great fun. You can get a 5 second video from a still image. I tried it here with two examples. The first one, is a picture I made in Japan. There was a convenience store there, that had a bar inside where you could drink a beer or have a snack. Great fun. The girl behind the bar took the picture and therefore some guy is in the left corner also in the picture. I asked Kling to make my beer glass move, but I did not ask to keep the guy on the left still, so suddenly this guy walks behind me like maybe even has happened when I was there 😂. The other picture is from Bangkok, also that one works pretty well, except when you look over my right shoulder you see a car almost crashing, now Bangkok traffic is crazy, but that did not happen 😂. Check it out:⬇️⬇️
Try Kling AI for yourself, for a one time 10 USD you can play with it for a month:
📈 Download the PMax reactivation checklist for- your convenience-
Yeah a checklist -woop-woop-🕺🏻! Everyone who does PMax campaigns often gets annoyed, there is lots of potential but at the same time it is also often used inefficient and Google does not give enough information. Now this checklist might help. The "Performance Max Reactivation Checklist for Lead Generation" By following the checklist, you'll be better equipped to either take control of your campaigns or communicate more effectively with agencies to ensure they align with your business goals.
Source: https://adriaan-dekker.nl/pmax-lead-generation/
Link to dropbox with PDF
🇸🇪 🗺️ Klarna’s ‘Mångata’ Moment: AI Illuminating the Future of Fintech
Hej! Klarna is a company that embraces AI in multiple ways. For that only reason, it is already worth following them. Recently Klarna reached some tech headlines that I wanted to share with you:
For example they highly use AI internally:
The company said in May that its internal AI assistant, Kiki, was being used by 85% of its employees; was answering 2,000 employee questions per day; and had responded to more than 250,000 inquiries since it was launched about a year earlier.
They don’t block AI access, they embrace it.
“We push everyone to test, test, test and explore,” said Sebastian Siemiatkowski, CEO and Co-Founder at Klarna. “As Klarna continues to discover applications for OpenAI’s tech, there’s the potential to take the business to new heights. We’re aimed at achieving a new level of employee empowerment, enhancing both our team’s performance and the customer experience.”
Now, Klarna is adding AI agents to the search and shopping experience of their customers. AI agents give advice on what is the best place to buy a product but it also helps you choosing the right product.
It is said that purchasing agents in the future will negotiate and buy for you. This will massively disrupt, especially marketplaces. It’s also one of Greg’s Eisenbergs predictions you could read in my previous newsletter.
Klarna’s AI Assistant now helps you to:
Search for specific products or brands, and access key product insights—all within a single chat interface.
Example: If you are looking for the best clean shampoo with no sulfates and the highest customer reviews, Klarna’s AI shopping assistant will help you get there. The feature helps you explore customer reviews/ testimonials, price history, and much more. Plus if you like what you see you can buy directly in the app with Klarna’s flexible payment methods.Recommend products based on your preferences, enhancing the relevance and satisfaction of your shopping experience.
Example: The AI assistant will provide recommendations based on your shopping preferences. Do you tend to buy certain products at the same time every year? Do you prefer white sneakers over colorful sneakers? Do you prefer one brand for athletic gear, but another for athleisure? The AI assistant will provide tailored recommendations made for you.Compare products or different categories of products, ensuring that you are always making the right shopping decision.
Example: Looking for the best tablet under $200? The assistant will break down your questions, provide relevant product suggestions with an unbiased, AI-generated summary of the pros and cons of each.Research activities and produce product recommendations. The assistant has access to product specifications and reviews and is able to answer any question.
Example: Do you want to start skiing but don’t know where to start for a weekend in the mountains? Looking for a present for your rollerblading-mad niece? The assistant understands free-flow text searches and breaks down your query into a set of recommendations.Find the right price for millions of products, across thousands of merchants, along with stock, delivery and cashback info.
Example: Looking for new trainers but want to pay a fair price? The assistant is fully integrated with Klarna’s price database of 5.6 million products from thousands of stores to provide recommendations with accurate pricing, availability and delivery information.
Details:
https://www.inc.com/sam-blum/klarna-plans-to-shut-down-saas-providers-and-replace-them-with-ai.html
🇦🇺 G'day, mate! Respect for this ad!
This is an advertisement for Specsavers at Sydney Airport😂
☎️Sacks predicts AI takeover: tech set to slay the call center industry
I listen regularly to the All-In Podcast and not only because of the great intro song (I look forward hearing it every time). The All-In Podcast features a lineup of hosts including Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis, David Sacks, and David Friedberg, all prominent venture capitalists known for their expertise in technology and entrepreneurship. That’s why it is so interesting. What they explain usually makes sense and has a high prediction value.
Now in this recent episode, David Sacks highlighted a significant trend that could disrupt the call center industry over the next two to three years: rapid advancements in AI.
He mentioned that standard open Large Language Models (LLMs) are now capable of handling first-line customer service, which could lead to a major transformation in how businesses manage their customer interactions.
Of course readers of this newsletter, already knew that 😉
The complete pod can be listend to here:
⭐Acquired podcast: Howard Schultz on Starbucks and his personal life
Ok this is truly a great podcast. It takes a whopping 3 hours, but there are so many takeaways and inspirative parts in this pod. I just summarize a few, but there are much more, do listen! Very motivational!
In the early moments of the podcast, Howard Schultz discusses the challenges of overcoming rejection and the persistence required to achieve success. He shares how his initial journey with Starbucks was met with countless rejections (f.e. he was turned down more than 200 times by potential investors), but his belief in the vision kept him going. This story highlights a broader lifestyle often seen in the U.S.—a land where entrepreneurial dreams, seem more accessible. Networking, pitching, and finding funding appear more straightforward when compared to many other parts of the world.
I think there is another key insight here: being open to new experiences, traveling, and meeting people can change everything.
On Internationalization: Starbucks’ first international expansion was into Japan. Despite Howard Schultz's enthusiasm, the board was initially resistant, citing ample growth opportunity in the U.S. They hired an outside consultant who concluded that entering Japan would be a "non-starter." The report highlighted cultural challenges: “No one would walk with a cup of coffee; they would lose face,” and “The non-smoking policy is a non-starter.”
Schultz, however, was undeterred. He believed in Japan’s potential and built relationships, like with a local (Japanese) restaurant owner who supported his vision. These connections were crucial in overcoming the board’s skepticism and the cultural hurdles.
On the opening day in Tokyo in 1996, people were already lined up. Schultz recalls a customer ordering a “Tall Cappuccino”—words he recognized, though the customer didn’t speak English. It symbolized Starbucks’ success in breaking cultural barriers and resonating with Japanese consumers.
Howard Schultz emphasizes the importance of putting employees first, a principle that has been fundamental to Starbucks’ success (as is Costco’s). He believes that when you take care of your employees, they, in turn, take care of the customers.
Howard Schultz shared a pivotal moment when Starbucks was just seven months from bankruptcy. Instead of overwhelming his team with big goals, he made the problem smaller and more tangible: he asked each store to bring in just 10 more customers a day. Speaking to 10,000 employees with honesty (he told them they were heading for bankruptcy) and a clear, simple goal, he turned the severe crisis into something manageable. It’s a great example of thinking locally—breaking down challenges into achievable steps that everyone can rally around and contribute to.
It's very nice to hear how Howard Schultz always gives credit to others, whether it’s his team or partners (staff). I like that very much, it’s great to work with such people who really credit you.
They also discuss the “app” and I think thats very interesting to see things from a different and brand perspective. They mention that while the Starbucks app is convenient, it can break the in-store experience by making the visit feel rushed and transactional. They also realized they got things wrong in app development when they noticed everyone placing /receiving orders via the app at the same time, like 8 a.m., creating chaos at the stores. Technology needs to complement the in-store experience, and it is always good to watch people use digital in real life.
Towards the end, they discuss how the “true Starbucks feeling” is still very strong in Asia. He explains that in countries like Japan and China, customers appreciate the original Starbucks experience—sitting in the café, enjoying the atmosphere, and connecting with others. From experience I know this is (largely) true.
Very happy to have listened to this pod. Very inspiring and motivating! Great job!
🇨🇳 ‘Flying Cars’ Are Part of China’s New Economic Growth Plan
If you want to look the direction the flying economy is going you cannot ignore China. The Chinese flying economy gets started and I see many examples and tests lately, it seems it is taking off.
Just as China pioneered the concept of superapps like WeChat, which revolutionized the digital ecosystem with its mini-programs and integrated services, there’s a similar potential brewing in the "flying economy." The ongoing experimentation and advancements, especially around hubs like Shenzhen, might suggest that we could be witnessing the birth of a new superbooster ecosystem?
Could this lead to a transformative platform that integrates various aerial technologies, services, and commercial opportunities, much like what superapps did for mobile and e-commerce? I don’t know but it is very interesting to think about it.
I haven’t read (yet) of any part of the world that actively is promoting and boosting this flying economy (except maybe Dubai). China will probably lead and set the tech (commercial) standard for it.
Looking very much forward to visit Shenzhen again in december, maybe I can already try a few flying economy activities.
China has the world’s largest e-commerce sector, and according to SF Express, about 1% of China’s annual volume of 100 billion packages could be suitable for drone transport, requiring approximately 100 million flights.
Drone deliveries are a small slice of a nearly hundred-billion-dollar market taking off in China based on new aviation technology — also including small planes and helicopters — which is getting serious support from the central authorities.
In August, tech giant Meituan launched drone delivery services providing tourists in Beijing with food, heat-relief products, and emergency supplies at a section of the Great Wall. The city’s government wants to host 5,000 low-altitude aviation companies in the next three years.
For deliveries, drones make sense where speed is urgent — for instance, carrying blood supplies to hospitals or urgent documents to executives — and where terrain is remote.
The government hopes to replicate its EV success by creating a domestic supply chain for hi-tech aviation, ranging from materials to software for automated flights and safety.
Details: https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1015896
https://www.drivencarguide.co.nz/news/the-flying-car-dream-looks-closer-than-ever-in-dubai/
🇺🇸 Parasite SEO: why you see FORBES in all of your search results
Attention: information valuable for growth hackers or people seriously interested in how SERP takeovers work. (but please do not copy, it is not so good for the average Google user)
You’ve probably encountered it too, just like I have—“Forbes” appearing everywhere in Google search results. That’s no coincidence. There’s a strategy behind it.
I had never heard of the term before: “parasite SEO.” But this strategy is exactly what made Forbes so prominent in SERPs. If you’re into SEO growth hacking, you should definitely read this article. And once you’re done, no matter what you think of it, you have to admit—they did this really smart.
The downside is, that this really hurts smaller publishers, the SERP’s should be much more diverse in my opinion. Nevertheless it’s a very interesting read.
Parasite SEO is when a company abuses the domain of another company. They set up a subfolder or subdomain, then post a ton of content trying to rank on Google. Wow does that sound exactly like Forbes Marketplace.
The worst part about this? I suspect that all this insanity isn’t even a deliberate decision by Google. I believe the search ranking has gotten away from them. That Google isn’t in control of their own rankings or algorithms anymore. Too many subpar leaders in positions with way too much power, way too much complexity in the SERPs, and AI as a massive distraction for the entire search team.
Details: https://larslofgren.com/forbes-marketplace/
😱And his follow up post is about CNN, which seems to be doing something similar: https://larslofgren.com/cnn-usa-today-forbes-marketplace/
🌤️A new type of Marketplace: Cloudflare’s AI model scrape marketplace
Cloudflare is a great company known for providing powerful tools that help website owners secure and optimize their online presence. I used and use it a lot. Their strong stance on internet freedom and privacy also makes me happy. Now they have a new innovative idea that can be used by large and smaller publishers. They launch a marketplace where website owners can sell access to their sites content to AI models. Great idea!
launch a marketplace in the next year where website owners can sell AI model providers access to scrape their site’s content. The marketplace is the final step of Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince’s larger plan to give publishers greater control over how and when AI bots scrape their websites.
But Cloudflare’s marketplace, launching sometime in the next year, aims to allow small publishers to strike deals with AI model providers as well.
“Let’s give all of you the ability to do what only Reddit, Quora, and the big publishers of the world have done previously,” said Prince. “What if we let you set, effectively, a price for accessing and taking your content to ingest into these systems.”
Thanks for reading, subscribing, sharing and liking,
Greetings,