2 or 3 years ago, many digital agencies gave strategy away with a pitch in order to win the production business. Now, the field is varied.  Some companies still consider their web presence a channel and relegate it to a project manager to … well, manage.  At the other end of the spectrum however, we are seeing more and more companies pitching strategy out separately and involving many people in their organisation who previously had no insight into marketing activities or their rational.

The question for this panel is, does a company need an overarching digital strategy or is the strategy digital?  Here are a few things to consider:
• Digital is like a retail location.  Even if customers are not wanting to buy right now, if they’re looking at your web presence, they are an opportunity.
• Customers’ expectations are to be able to transact online but delivering this often requires new products and services to be developed.
• Digital initiatives often interface and depend on large scale CRM systems and data warehouses.  Responsibility for these areas crosses many different departments and might require complex political negotiations to get working together.
• When companies start investing big budgets, they also expect ROI. 

Since this is what I do for a living, I have to say that yes, companies do need a digital strategy, but how far should we go? 

Some initiatives in digital marketing are no more complex that promoting something or gathering email addresses … over thinking a simple campaign microsite makes what used to be a cheap and effective use of the internet, prohibitively expensive.  It is interesting to debate just how necessary a digital strategy is.

Strategy also implies something fixed.  However, the ‘always live’, instantaneous digital experience affects how strategies need to evolve, like a living, breathing thing based on feedback and results. How many companies budget for and organise themselves around this kind of effort and how many are still revamping their website every few years and then leaving it alone?

So what makes a good strategy today?  One that the board can understand and ‘buy in’ to, or one that constantly evolves?  Can these be the same thing?  My view is that it is more dependent on organisational culture and less on the PowerPoint but there are times when I have wondered. 

This panel should be really interesting (Tuesday 16th March, 9.45am, Track 3).  Anthony Goldman, Citrus; Ben Dux, theirspace digital; Yvette Mayer, SMV Group Australia; and Mac Walker, Hyro would love to hear what you guys think and any other burning questions you think are worth debate on this topic.
What is the role of a strategist today?
    * What’s the right skill set for a strategist today?
    * Does digital have a role in strategic planning in 2010?

Last year we lauched this - the ad:tech brain - and used the forum to get your suggestions, feedback and direction on what topics we should be programming and which speakers you’d like to hear from. If you take a look through this site you’ll see some of the conversations that took place as we developed the ad:tech 2009 agenda.

We’d like to get things rolling again and invite you to share your ideas on this site through the Voice of the Industry section (look at the tabs at the top of that page!) You can use that section of the site to write your ideas on:

* hot topics that you think MUST be discussed at ad:tech
* questions that you want answers to
* new things in the industry that you think we should include
* work that you’ve done that you think is particularly brilliant!
* work that other people have done that you think is particularly brilliant
* topics from last year that you think we should include again / change / build on
* issues & challenges that are really affecting you and your peers or colleagues

You can also write a post with your thoughts on who should be speaking on the ad:tech 2010 program and asking others what they think. You could write about:

* Experts who you’ve read about but never heard speak
* Companies that you know are doing great work that you’d like to hear more from
* Colleagues or peers that you think would be good speakers
* Suggestions for the ‘type’ of person you think should be on the program
* Excellent speakers that you’ve heard before that you’d like to hear again.

Of course that ad:tech brain can be used for lots of discussions - it’s a forum for the industry to debate as much or as little as you’d like to! We’ll keep an eye on the chat, answer any questions, through some responses in, ask some questions ourselves, but really - this is for you.

We look forward to seeing what you’ve got to share. Enjoy.