Pure SEO Interviews: Josh Comrie And Seeby Woodhouse

Pure SEO is fortunate to have many connections in business and marketing who are doing interesting and innovative things. Continuing with our interview series, we reached out to two highly successful Kiwi entrepreneurs – Josh Comrie and Seeby Woodhouse – to learn a bit more about their motivations, inspirations and predictions.

Josh Comrie

Josh Comrie began his entrepreneurial pursuits by establishing what has become NZ’s leading ICT recruitment brand, Potentia, in 2004. A few years later he started Aspire Executive Search. Most recently he co-founded Ambit AI, where he is currently the CEO. Josh was the recipient of the AUT Excellence in Business Support Award in 2014, a Seek SARA legend in 2011, 2012 and 2013, and the CIO Excellence in IT Winner in 2011. He was also a Deloitte/Unlimited Fast50 Winner in 2007 and 2008.

1. What excites you most about digital marketing?

People now rely on their smartphones. If you’re dubious, recall the last time you were without your phone. It’s anxiety inducing. So, with a device that is looked at, on average, 200 times per day, smart digital marketers have the ability to personally and instantly connect with their customers. In the past, until literally today, the closest we got to this level of personalised marketing was a letter!

2. What do you think is the most important thing a business can do to generate online sales or leads?

If online sales/marketing/lead gen is not discussed as a part of business strategy, you’re missing the boat. This isn’t a ‘marketing thing’, but rather a whole of business opportunity. The board of a company needs to take notice and care about how they can drive their business online.

3. What does a typical work day look like for you?

I’m told I have a “portfolio life”. I’m CEO of a fast growing startup (www.ambitai.com – we’re all about conversational AI), I’m an active investor in startups (19 now), I serve on a few boards and have a bunch of commercial/industrial properties. So, I’m busy. The only way I can get it all done is to chunk my day. That means 4-6 hours per day on Ambit, then 1-2 hours on each other key aspect. I meet a lot of people – either selling or assessing opportunities, writing a bit, speaking at events, or hiring and managing. I then make sure I leave time every day for meditating and exercise.

4. What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?

The knowledge that if I don’t, the day after will be hell! Seriously, my personal purpose is “to connect and enrich”. I love the great majority of what I do, and nearly all of it revolves around making people’s lives a wee bit better. That excites me. Plus I love winning.

5. Who inspires you?

Elon Musk. Seriously – you already know he’s cool. But his single driving purpose is “To give humanity a future”. And he’s actually doing it. Wow.

6. Which three items could you not live without?

Protein. My brain. Stig (my English pointer).

7. How would you describe yourself in five words?

Driven. Focused. Engaging. Amusing. And hopefully, fun.

Seeby Woodhouse

Seeby Woodhouse is a New Zealand based entrepreneur and public speaker. As a teenager, he founded Orcon Internet, one of the first and ultimately largest Internet Service Providers in New Zealand. After selling that company to Kordia, he started a commercial property company called Seeby Properties. He now also runs Voyager Internet – a business and wholesale focussed Internet Service Provider. He is a recipient of both the NZ Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award (in 2004) and the Young Achiever Of The Year award (also in 2004).

You can connect with Seeby on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook.

1. What excites you most about digital marketing?

Being able to reach thousands of potential customers and interested parties without significant cost – especially if you can create content that has viral appeal, rather than just paying for advertising.

2. What do you think is the most important thing a business can do to generate online sales or leads? 

Have an easy-to-follow website with clear information and a consistent message across all platforms.

3. What do you think is the biggest challenge about marketing in 2017?

The digital marketing landscape is getting so competitive, and the price is starting to go up as companies like Facebook become the MAIN way that companies advertise, and not just an afterthought.

4. Which blogs do you read?

TechCrunch, Futurism, Singularity University, and TED talks.

5. Which three items could you not live without?

If I’m in NZ, then sitting in the office doing email and admin. But we have offices in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, so when I’m in NZ, I try to visit each office once a month if possible. But 50% of the time I’m overseas travelling and going to conferences these days, so I’m often on my laptop somewhere remote.

6. What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?

Doing what I love and being alive!

7. Who inspires you?

Tony Robbins (I just did a year of travelling around with Tony Robbins and did 16 of his difference courses over the last year), Richard Branson (was on Necker Island 6 months ago), and Elon Musk (would love to meet him someday).

8. Which three items could you not live without?

My iPhone, my new Sony A9 beast of a camera, and my laptop.

9. How would you describe yourself in five words?

Thoughtful, Spiritual, Inquisitive, Adventurous, Ambitious.