The Heart of V5 Digital: How Being Namibian Fuels Our Global Impact

While we provide digital marketing worldwide, there's nowhere quite like where the mighty Atlantic meets the oldest desert!

At V5 Digital we count being Namibian as one of our greatest strengths. While our eyes are set on global horizons, our roots run deep in the sands and savannahs of this beautiful country rich with possibilities for exploration, innovation, and growth.

We’re Namibian. We snack on Apfelstrudel in Solitaire, sip Oshikandela on the way to work, and enjoy kapana on nights out. We play volleyball on the beach and soccer in the streets. We catch sunsets from sand dunes and dream big for a population so small.

An Oktoberfest guest embracing the beauty of cultural appreciation

We’re Namibian. Our unique digital ecosystem connects farms in the Kalahari, startups in Walvis Bay, and industry-leading institutions from Windhoek to the global stage with marketing strategies, as diverse and vibrant as the many cultures of this great land.

We’re Namibian. We freely offer help and fiercely support a worthy cause! V5 Digital likes to do well by doing good, integrating the Pledge 1% principle to enhance our impact as we expand. As our business grows so does the time and resources we commit to uplifting our communities.

"We are the first generation to feel the effect of climate change and the last generation who can do something about it." – Barack Obama

We're Namibian. We understand that our breathtaking landscapes and rich biodiversity are not just treasures but responsibilities. The dangers of climate change loom large over the horizon, threatening our way of life and the natural heritage we hold dear. This is why we support sustainable businesses that inspire prosperity and economic growth while protecting our environment.

We’re Namibian, we share our country with busy meerkats, wild horses, mighty lions, and majestic Oryx and it shows in the stories we tell, the designs we create, and the captivating campaigns we launch that resonate locally and intrigue internationally.

It's our privilege to create and showcase Namibian content to the world

We're Namibian. We're Namibian. Flying over our beautiful landscapes ignites a deep desire to make a meaningful impact on our stunning homeland. Coming from a heritage of aviation, our founder Armin Wieland knew he wanted to build a business that captured the spirit of freedom, exploring new horizons and reaching new heights in digital marketing, appropriately naming us V5 Digital.

V5 Digital's name was partly inspired by the awe of early morning flights over Windhoek

We’re Namibian. We’re thankful for our thriving democracy but advocate for less corruption and inequality. We honour those who helped shape our country and wish to inspire and empower the next generation of community, industry and innovation leaders as they build a brighter future for all.

And so as we celebrate our 34th Independence Day, we feel proud to say, we are Namibian.

Discover the secrets of WhatsApp Push Marketing for your Business or Brand

Few people can resist opening a WhatsApp message, especially if it's personalized to their data and preferences

WhatsApp, Africa's go-to messaging app, offers a unique opportunity to engage with your audience on a platform they already trust and frequently use. 

Imagine your message landing amidst daily work updates from colleagues, school schedules from your child's teacher, and weekend plans with friends. 

This integration into everyday life not only captures attention, think how hard it is to ignore a WhatsApp message, but fosters a deeper connection with your audience, leveraging the familiarity and trust inherent in the app to enhance your business communication impact.

WhatsApp Push Marketing has emerged as a game-changer and V5 Digital, a leader in innovative marketing strategies, has harnessed the potential of this platform to drive remarkable results for brands and businesses.

WhatsApp is quick, direct and personal with all messages together in easy-to-search threads

What are WhatsApp Push Notifications?

WhatsApp notifications are messages that are being exchanged between private users and businesses on the WhatsApp Business Platform.

This platform can be used by an unlimited number of users and send messages to an unlimited number of customers at a time. The free app, on the other hand, can only be used on a maximum of 5 devices and broadcast messages to a maximum of 256 contacts at a time.

From broadcasts to customer service messages to automated chatbot replies, the feature is exceptionally versatile and offers businesses many opportunities to communicate with their customers and consumers.

You can send:

1. Updates: Notify customers about the delivery status of their online purchases through timely WhatsApp push notifications.

2. Announcement: Alert your target audience about in-stock high-demand products or new collections.

3. Appointment Reminder: Reduce missed appointments in service industries by sending WhatsApp notifications one day in advance, saving costs and increasing customer engagement.

4. Account Updates: Use a WhatsApp ChatBot to inform customers of account setting changes and membership plan updates, ensuring prompt awareness of unauthorized activities.

5. Payment Request: Communicate order details, invoices, and payment status changes via WhatsApp, including post-auction updates.

6. Promotions and Offers: Enhance your promotional strategies by incorporating Facebook and WhatsApp push notifications to increase effectiveness.

At V5 Digital, we specialize in crafting compelling messages and designing effective WhatsApp marketing strategies. Our focus is on personalization, timeliness, quality, and trust, ensuring your brand stands out in the crowded digital space.

A Success Story with Heineken

Our campaign for Heineken is a testament to the effectiveness of WhatsApp Push Marketing. Through targeted and timely notifications, we were able to keep the audience entertained and informed, leading to increased brand awareness and customer engagement.

Heineken WhatsApp Push Marketing Campaign - created by V5 Digital

Transforming Surveys with WhatsApp

Our Post Oktoberfest Survey is another shining example. By utilizing WhatsApp Push Notifications, we saw an immediate spike in website traffic and an astounding 300 survey responses from attendees. This approach not only simplifies the feedback process but also enhances customer interaction and data collection.

Oktoberfest Windhoek WhatsApp Push Marketing Campaign - created by V5 Digital

Why are more businesses joining WhatsApp in 2024?

WhatsApp push notifications can be a powerful tool for businesses, primarily aimed at boosting customer retention. While many companies focus on attracting new clients, retaining existing ones is equally vital, and WhatsApp notifications offer an efficient way to keep customers engaged.

These notifications can be used to update customers about new products, services, and important news. They allow for targeted messaging to specific customer groups and can be automated for optimal timing, ensuring relevant and timely communication. This strategy is an effective method to maintain a continuous connection with your target audience. The App is perfect for:

⭐️ Customer Experience Focus:

Enterprises see WhatsApp as a low-effort tool to enhance customer experience, directly impacting revenue growth.

📈 Proven Results:

With matured usage, businesses are seeing significant returns on WhatsApp campaigns, with high average revenue per recipient indicating strong customer engagement.

🌟 Compelling Revenue and ROI:

The combination of high revenue potential and low risks makes investing in a WhatsApp channel a smart move.

✋ Growing Demand:

There's a shift away from impersonal communication methods like email (that can have low open rates) towards more personal interactions. Consumers increasingly prefer messaging apps like WhatsApp for business communications.

🤖 Advanced Tools:

The development of sophisticated automation, analytics, and commerce integration tools on WhatsApp enhances revenue opportunities and optimizes resources.

💪 Competitive Advantage:

Since most enterprises haven't adopted WhatsApp yet, early adopters can gain a significant competitive edge.

Are you curious about unlocking the potential of WhatsApp Push Marketing?

Discover the power of personalized, direct engagement with your customers. This effective marketing strategy offers a unique opportunity to foster lasting relationships through dynamic, two-way conversations. Ideal for those aiming to deepen customer connections and elevate their marketing approach.

Don't just read about success – be part of it with V5 Digital!

Click the button below to start your WhatsApp Push Marketing journey.

Contact Us

State of Email - 2024 Email Marketing Predictions

As we journey into 2024, expect email to not just survive, but thrive!

A new year brings new email trends! Working in a constantly evolving industry requires keeping a finger on the pulse. This is especially true after an eventful year of AI updates, BIMI advancements, Apple’s Link Tracking Protection, and record email volumes.

Are you prepared for 2024?

We watched the State of Email with Guy Hanson to learn more about email trends we’ll see in 2024—and how to prepare.

Validity's Email Analytics

• Email remains a high performer in terms of return on investment.

• Many increase email campaigns towards year-end to boost conversions.

• Caution: Increased volume can lead to neglect of best practices, risking inbox rejection.

• Common issue: Sending emails to non-existent addresses.

• Solution: Utilize an email list validation service before ramping up volume.

• Action Step: Remove unknown or invalid addresses from the list.

• Recommendation: Enhance segmentation criteria based on the recent engagement history of the email addresses.

Spam Trap Trends from Validity

• Increasing email volume often leads to hitting Spam Traps.

• A rise in recycled and pristine traps indicates issues with sunset policy or segmentation.

• Sending to non-engaged addresses is a common problem in such cases.

• This scenario is a definite indicator that the email volume strategy needs reassessment.

Email Rejection Data from Validity

• Mailbox providers analyze all available data about senders and their messages to establish a sender reputation.

• Each mailbox provider operates independently in evaluating sender reputations.

• A positive sender reputation enhances email deliverability, ensuring messages are accepted and likely delivered to the inbox.

• Monitoring email rejection metrics is crucial as it directly reflects how mailbox providers perceive and treat your messages.

• Increased email rejections suggest a potential decline in the sender reputation.

Valuable Spam Complaint Insights from Validity

• Increased email volume typically results in more complaints.

• In December, a noticeable decrease in complaints is observed.

• Possible reasons for fewer complaints in December:

• People may be more lenient due to the holiday spirit.

• Reduced email checking frequency during the holiday season.

• Higher likelihood of people being away and less engaged with emails.

Average Validity Client’s Test Results

• Inbox goes down in November/December

• Missing rates (waiting for a message that never arrived) go up in those same months

What Predictions Can We Make From This Data?

Email Value Is Going Up!

• Rapid Growth in Users: From just 55 million email users worldwide in 1997, we're expecting an astonishing rise to 4.73 billion by 2026, according to Statista.

• Increasing Email Volume: Daily global email volume is projected to swell from 306 billion in 2022 to over 393 billion by 2026, as per Radicati's findings.

• Rising Email Revenue: The global email marketing sector, valued at $9.2 billion in 2022, is set to soar to $26.7 billion by 2028, reports Market Growth Reports.

About 15% of global email volume constitutes personal emails. The remaining 85% is commercial, with approximately two-thirds of these being unsolicited. However, when we analyze the 100 billion permission marketing emails sent daily and compare them with the revenue figures, we find an average value of 12.9 cents per email. This figure is expected to increase to around 17 cents by 2026.

Validity predicts that the value of email is growing by an impressive 15% every year.

Four Key Reasons Behind the Growth

1. New Privacy Laws: Robust consent and greater transparency are having a positive effect on marketing efforts.

2. New Email Standards: Regulations introduced by Yahoo and Gmail are set to boost subscriber trust significantly.

3. Advancements in AI: The ability to send more effective triggered emails is a major revenue driver, aiding in one-to-one hyper-personalization.

4. Shift in Ad Spend Due to 3rd Party Cookie Restrictions: With Google Chrome planning to ramp up restrictions on 3rd party cookies, there's a likely shift in ad spending from search ads to email marketing.

VIP Treatment Is the New Personalization 

• Identifying VIP Subscribers: Understanding what elevates a subscriber to VIP status is pivotal. Assess whether your email program is finely attuned to the unique needs and behaviours of these valued customers.

• Loyalty Through Experiences: Consider the foundation of your subscribers' loyalty. Often, it's rooted in the great experiences they've had with your brand. Enhance this connection by offering engaging experiences that deepen their commitment.

• Engagement-Boosting Strategies: Interactive experiences, such as scratch-offs, have been proven to ramp up engagement. Hickory Farm recently created a lot of engagement with a scratch-off campaign. You can also use experiences instead of discounts.

Hickory Farms' Scratch-Off Campaign

• Data-Driven Personalization: Employ preference centre data to personalize communications effectively. Quality data is essential to understand customer behaviour, anticipate their next purchase, and suggest complementary items that show you're paying attention to their likes.

• Intelligent Segmentation: Group customers by their preferences and purchase history. For instance, if a segment predominantly buys shoes, tailor your emails to feature footwear. Similarly, respect lifestyle choices by not sending a vegan client advertisements for steak.

• Communication Is Key: Maintain regular communication with your customers to stay informed about their preferences. This consistent engagement not only provides valuable insights but also reinforces their VIP status.

Accessibility Standards Awareness Increases

Validity predicts and hopes that marketers will increase accessibility awareness and functionality for their email programs.

They think marketers will become increasingly aware of accessibility standards in 2024, and develop a holistic accessibility strategy for email by:

1. Investing in robust accessibility tools

2. Soliciting feedback directly from subscribers

3. Establishing a standard operating procedure for accessibility quality assurance for email campaigns

4. Sourcing technology and consultants that specialize in improving accessibility in marketing channels

5. Working across teams to ensure cross-channel accessibility

Email Will Get Political

This year 70 nations including Namibia will be having elections! This will touch email in a big way! We will need to:

Monitor customer behavior

• Understand the impact of increased political and economic uncertainty on engagement

Understand customer expectations

• Will your target audience expect your brand to make a clear stand on political issues, or to stay out of the conversation?

A study by Edelman found that 64% of GenZ say they buy from brands based on their beliefs.

Stay on brand

• Now is not the time to change your message to be relevant to the election.

Be flexible and willing to pivot

• Incorporate trendspotting and social listening into campaign planning. Be aware of – and responsive to key political events and dates.

Bulk Senders Prepare For Yahoo and Gmail Updates

As we step into February 2024, significant changes in email authentication practices are on the horizon, especially for those using Gmail and Yahoo. Understanding these changes is crucial for businesses and email marketers aiming to maintain high deliverability and a strong sender reputation.

New Sender Requirements from Gmail and Yahoo: Ready or Not, Here They Come!

Definition of a Bulk Sender

• 5000 messages per day to Gmail accounts

Authentication for sending domain

• Required: SPF, DKIM and now DMARC

• DMARC policy can be set to “none”

Easy Unsubscribe

• Bulk senders must have One-Click List Unsubscribe

• Visible opt-out link in the message body

Spam Complaints Threshold 0.3%

• Gmail: Use Postmaster Tools

• Yahoo: Use FBL data

Validity feels this could lead to a "report illegal content button" or a "mass unsubscribe" button.

Minimalist Email Design

Targeted Marketing

• Using segments created from preference centres and shopping habits, design shorter and more targeted emails

Quicker Browsing

• No more long scrolling emails with every possible product, keep it simple and encourage quick click-throughs to the website

Better Designs

• Minimal designs are cleaner and easier to see on all devices

Clearly Defined Purpose

• What is the goal of your email? Minimally designing an email means better planning and a clear strategy

A great example of clean design in email

Huge rise in e-receipts to combat waste

• France has banned the use of paper receipts.

• V5 Digital has you covered with SmartSlip™.

• Or you could use, email, QR codes, or SMS.

Artificial Intelligence Will Eat Itself

Cycle of Inputs

• If AI relies on itself for fresh inputs, we're missing the mark. Remain (or get) personal with customers to fuel your AI data, and use it wisely

AI & Laziness Become Synonymous

• AI has become lazy! Use it for ideas and inspiration but utilize subscriber data to enhance content and engagement

Go with what you know

• Conduct A/B testing, use preference centre data, lean on things you know that spark the interest of your subscribers

Keep it legal

• Watch for new laws that will encourage transparency when AI is used. Ensure you're staying within boundaries to avoid potentially costly fines

Stay on brand

• Subscribers (and mailbox providers) expect brand consistency, which fosters trust in the legitimacy of your messages

Focus on Sustainable Email Marketing

Marketers will put sustainability at the forefront of email communications to:

• Align with consumer values and retain customers

• Achieve business and government objectives

• Stay competitive and retain customers

Depending on the type, emails can release between 0.3 and 26 grams of C02 emissions says Validity.

So making your email campaigns more efficient can help the planet!

If a customer can choose between two brands why would they choose the one with a lesser commitment to our environment?

V5Digital recommends the following

Back to Basics

MarTech Reduction

• Brands are reducing their MarTech stacks, and only the most critical solutions remain

Email Program Audits

• Infrastructure, triggers, etc. will be up for review

Retention vs Growth

• More focus on keeping loyal customers over increasing file size

Email "plus"

• Due to staffing cuts email marketers now have SMS and social channel responsibility. This could lead to more seamless customer experiences across channels

Automation & Efficiency

• Brands looking to maximize spend and do more with less. (e.g. use of AI and no-code platforms)

We all know the big four, Gmail, AOL, Yahoo and Microsoft but is it time for a new contender?

Where is the Next Big Email Provider?

MAGY – Microsoft, AOL, Gmail, Yahoo

• Launched between 20-30+ years ago

As technology changes, mailbox providers adapt and grow

• Auto-complete; app versions; tags; spam algorithms; etc.

Many other mailbox providers exist

• And new ones are launched regularly

• Are we due for another major contender?

Many integrations exist that can be added to your inbox to suit your needs

• But first, you need to know what you need!

• There could be integrations that you don't even know to look for

Gen Z has entered the workforce with the oldest in their early/mid-20s

• Not known for being an email-heavy generation

• But Email isn't going anywhere

• How will they change things?

• We predict they will bring something new to the table

Possible Priorities:

1. Include SMS number processing through the MBP

2. Auto tl;dr summary

3. Exclusivity

4. Social Media integration, or part of the platform

5. MBP created a preference centre (how often do you want to see emails from us)

6. Gamify emails

7. Privacy focused

Going Forward

As we transition into 2024, the landscape of email marketing is poised for significant transformations. The insights gained from the Webinar, State of Email alongside the evolving trends and statistics, highlight the critical need for businesses to adapt and innovate.

Are you ready to embrace these changes and elevate your email marketing strategy?

V5 Digital is here to guide you through these dynamic times. Our expertise in harnessing the latest email trends, combined with our commitment to sustainable, efficient, and highly personalized email marketing, ensures your business stays ahead of the curve.

Reach out below for a no-commitment consultation with a member of Team V5 Digital below.

Contact Us

Watch the full Validity Webinar for even more insights: Here