[2012 trends] Media industry encountering unprecedented challenges

[Angela Quintal] The fragmentation of the media and the mind-boggling range of sources of information available to readers have conspired to cause publishers of print media to re-evaluate their roles. Does that mean that print is dead? No, far from it, but periods of serious introspection are nonetheless the order of the day for publishers of newspapers and magazines across the globe. 27 Jan 2012 14:28

[2012 trends] Getting found in 2012

[Lana Hindmarch] In 2012, businesses will take a more aggressive approach to transforming their marketing efforts and reducing their cost per lead, by focusing more on permission-based, inbound marketing programmes that allow customers to find them. 27 Jan 2012 13:01

2012 Tabbie Awards open for nominations

CLEVELAND, US: The 2012 Tabbies call for entries is now available at the TABPI website, allowing all B2B magazine editors, publishers and art directors the opportunity to have their best work judged by their peers. Tabbies' partners include South Africa's SAFREA, and MPASA. [video] 26 Jan 2012 11:40

[2012 trends] Setting the scene for search-based marketing

[Peter Stewart] Search-based marketing may be broken down into conversion, search engine optimisation (SEO), paid search and performance email information. In setting the scene for the rest of 2012, here are various trends per category. 24 Jan 2012 14:37

AfricaScope purchases Tracklocate

AfricaScope, the decision-makers with strategic information for market and socio-economic development of people in Africa, have purchased TrackLocate, a company that provides a self-tracking solution that uses innovative technologies to track personal assets real time using the internet. 24 Jan 2012 14:15

[2012 trends] Five African digital trends for 2012

[Dawn Rowlands] Africa is a mobile-first digital environment with 55% of the continent's 1 billion people having mobile phones. In South Africa mobile internet penetration is 70%, whilst desktop internet penetration sits at only at 11%, whereas in Nigeria mobile and desktop penetration are both over 20%. 24 Jan 2012 12:27

[2012 trends] Brand purpose to take lead in brand strategy

[Travis Spence] A critical juncture in brand marketing has arrived. It is led by the internet and the technology changes this brings, along with consumers - who, as we all know, have changed forever. The brand now needs not only to represent its product but the people behind the product and why they do what they do for that product's success. 24 Jan 2012 12:26

CNBC Africa launches satellite bureau in Gabon

Business news from Gabon scores an opening goal on CNBC Africa with the official opening of the channel's live satellite bureau in Libreville, West Africa, the same week which sees the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations kick off. 24 Jan 2012 10:11

[2012 trends] The way to customers' hearts is through their phones

[Vanessa Clark] Never before have people had such a love affair with a communications medium as they have with their mobile phones. Now, marketers aren't communicating with consumers via an impersonal one-way device; rather, they are communicating with them through a device people happily carry around 24/7. Here are my top 12 trends for the mobile world in 2012. 23 Jan 2012 14:53

[2012 trends] Whoosh! The year in which nothing happens

[Walter Pike] In 2012, things will stay the same. Everyone still believes that marketing has not changed and that social is a channel. Yes they are starting to understand how important channel is but they have not and will not grasp just how much. 20 Jan 2012 14:18

[2012 trends] Your friend is literally the trend

[Anice Hassim] 2012 will bring fundamental tectonic shifts to the balance of power in technology choices. Many of these will be driven by the people and for the people - in 2012 the trend, literally, is your friend. Smart enterprise will embrace this change but big business will very quickly have to learn to shut up and listen to what the consumer wants. 19 Jan 2012 15:18

Deloitte 2012 media predictions

The 'catch up commuter' who uses smartphones, tablet computers and portable media players will become a force in the competitive 2012 electronics market, predicts Deloitte. 19 Jan 2012 13:00

5 insights we got from Uganda's mobile infographic

[Staff Reporter] A revealing infographic created by Hub Research, which documents the mobile infrastructure in Uganda, is throwing up some interesting insights about mobile use in Africa. 19 Jan 2012 11:22

Saicom reaches into Zimbabwe

While furthering its objective of capturing market share in the field of electronic vending services in Africa, Saicom, the telecommunications company and providers of GSM Community Service Telephones has concluded an agreement with Zimbabwe based Electronic Automation Systems and Integration (EASI). 18 Jan 2012 12:29