[Douglas Kruger] From Amoeba to Icon; where do you currently rank in your industry's natural progression? In this piece, I walk you through the seven stages of development as you strive to position yourself as an industry expert. [video]
13 Apr 2013 06:31
[HKLM Exco Team] No, the concepts of "tribalism", "gamification" and "engagement" aren't a promo for the latest computer game, but are in fact the trends that will characterise the way companies and consumers interact in 2013. The branding industry is constantly developing and. while the following trends are evolutions rather than dynamic, short-term changes, we believe there are 10 areas that will define the brandscape over the next year.
31 Jan 2013 12:33
[HDI Youth Marketeers Team] Young South Africa is savvier than ever before. If you are looking for a smart and discerning
prosumer, this group of kids, teens and young adults will give you more kicks than you've ever bargained for. They know just what they are looking for from any brand, and this makes them that much more satisfying to please. Here are a few trends to look out for in 2013.
31 Jan 2013 11:30
[Dave Nemeth] No matter how slow off the mark, we have all come to the realisation that, no matter what line of business we are in, drastic measures are needed in order for us to not only increase market share but also to survive. It is not, however, all doom and gloom and for those who are embracing innovation and prepared to experiment with new ideas, a lot of opportunity awaits to reconnect with consumers and rise above the negative economic factors.
30 Jan 2013 10:44
[Ryan Williams] I believe this year will be a positive one for cinema in South Africa, with a variety of influential trends taking hold of the industry. Digitalisation, 3D, blockbusters, increased attendance and on-the-mark cinema campaigns are all sure to contribute to a successful year.
29 Jan 2013 12:06
[Mike Silver] It's that time of the year where agencies are asked to haul out the old crystal ball and provide pearls of thumb-sucking wisdom. Before we do so, it would be wise to see how history might repeat itself. Reflecting briefly, for experiential marketing, 2012 was quite a year locally and abroad. Oh, and mazeltov on surviving the Mayan apocalypse - it was touch-and-go for a second there.
29 Jan 2013 11:18
[Doug Mayne] All early indicators seem to confirm that December 2012 was a relatively good year for the mall environment. Certainly not a 'shoot the lights out' result but stable, single digit growth nonetheless. The point now is what 2013 holds in store for us. Here are a few key trends which I think are relevant...
28 Jan 2013 11:56
[Kevin Bassett] "Content, context and customer proclivity" will be the mantra that drives this year's marketing metamorphosis in the arena of mobile technology. I believe that we will see a year of repositioning - of un-automate, de-campaign and game-play - but also of tighten, regulate and measure. In short, 2013 will see the 'mobile moth' turn into a butterfly.
28 Jan 2013 10:52
[Thomas Oosthuizen] I like the number 13. Like with most other things, it is what we
do with it that matters. Great companies never use the excuse of prevailing trends as a reason for them not to perform. They just leverage the circumstances better than their rivals. So, while economists will contemplate economic and social conditions in 2013, it is what
we as marketers do that matters.
28 Jan 2013 10:05
[Gail Schimmel] So here we are in 2013 - the Mayan trend predictions for 2012 having spectacularly failed to materialise, leaving some of us with hangovers and debt that we had secretly hoped would be wiped clean in a Mayan-flavoured apocalypse. Now is the time for us to look into our crystal balls, and see if we can get our predictions for media and advertising regulation a bit more spot-on than the poor Mayans did.
24 Jan 2013 12:05
[Warren Moss] The year ahead is unlikely to see any fantastical new developments in direct marketing; in fact, it's more likely to be characterised by the maturing of existing technologies and a return to more traditional practices.
22 Jan 2013 10:16
[Steve Cragg] As crisis-hit Europe continues to impact economic growth, and projections for the local economy are trimmed, the battle for a share of consumer spend is getting increasingly fierce. Retailers will rely on technology to drive innovative discount models and integrated loyalty programmes by optimising the one device every consumer has access to already - even in-store - the mobile phone.
15 Jan 2013 11:08
[Carole Kimutai] As the battle in Kenya's telecom industry continues to get fierce, mobile operator Safaricom has launched a short messaging service (SMS) promotion aimed at boosting its revenue ahead of a government proposal to increase tax on the mobile money transfer services.
18 Oct 2012 16:33
[Chris Moerdyk] The only possible justification for an event such as the
annual Loerie Awards is that it gives the people who work in advertising agencies an opportunity to escape the daily grind of watching creativity stifled by commercial interests.
28 Aug 2012 12:25
[Gregory Gondwe] Airtel Malawi has reportedly spent K1.1 million in the ongoing 'Yabooka SMS Promotion'. In the third draw, expected to reach a grand finale in October, a lucky subscriber will cart home a grand prize of K5 million.
21 Aug 2012 12:33
[Romy Paull] I couldn't help but be grateful for what the birth of experiential marketing has done for our profession. From a production perspective, there is now global recognition of a specialised multifaceted skillset that allows us to transcend the basic associations of toolkits and tape measures.
15 May 2012 09:28
[Carole Kimutai] The Board of Ogilvy Kenya has reviewed its senior management structure and dropped the position of group chief executive officer following the
resignation of Koome Mwambia who until February 2012 held that position.
23 Mar 2012 10:55
[Vanessa Clark] Viral marketing: the holy grail of the marketing world, where your community does your marketing for you, typically by sharing, enhancing and endorsing your message. It's word of mouth marketing on steroids, thanks to the internet and social networking.
29 Feb 2012 09:31
[Wikus Engelbrecht] Much to everyone's surprise, at the turn of 2012 the runaway-hit social networking site wasn't Twitter, LinkedIn or Google+. it was in fact Pinterest, the latest social media craze that seems to have captured everyone's attention.
28 Feb 2012 17:10
[Vanessa Clark] One thing is certain, nothing stays the same for long in the online world. So what's next for the online banner ad?
24 Feb 2012 12:06
[Gregory Gondwe] Airtel Malawi has partnered with Samsung in a multi-million kwacha promotion where it will award cash prizes, mobile communication gadgets, including handsets and tablets to its subscribers.
8 Dec 2011 10:43
[Charl Thom] It's that time of the year when the inboxes of HR departments and agency execs start overflowing with internship applications. Beginning your career with the right agency is arguably one of the most important decisions you'll make. As a starting point, consider culture, courage, vision and brand as a non-negotiable.
30 Nov 2011 12:42
[Douglas Kruger] Here's your challenge: 120 rural women, all over the age of 40, packed into a community hall in the middle of nowhere. They're hot, they're sweaty and they've gathered to hear another speaker, but your bank is sponsoring the event. Get them excited about opening an account with you. Go!
2 Nov 2011 13:17
[Issa Sikiti da Silva] TV broadcasters need to apply the basic tools when managing their promotional resources if they are truly committed to achieving desired results. Objectives, strategy and tactics would have to be carefully designed to achieve specific goals. This emerged late last week at
PromaxBDA Africa 2011.
1 Nov 2011 12:07
[Carole Kimutai] Brand Kenya Board, the organisation tasked with marketing Kenya has launched an integrated communications campaign dubbed Nitakuwepo, a Swahili word that means "I will be there". The KSh 76 million campaign is geared at raising awareness of the need for national cohesion, pride and patriotism among Kenyans.
11 Oct 2011 09:16
[Walter Wafula] The best public relations brains in Uganda's PR industry will be honoured at the third annual PRAU Excellence Awards, to be held in Kampala at the Kampala Serena Hotel on 14 November 2011.
7 Oct 2011 12:31
[Douglas Kruger] Something wasn't gelling. The corporate presenter on stage was doing all the right things mechanically, and yet somehow, her array of skills refused to coalesce into a gestalt. The delivery looked...clunky.
26 Sep 2011 14:06
[Gregory Gondwe] Japanese ICT giant, Fujitsu, has launched a new range of modern products in Malawi as a drive to expand Malawi's ICT sector.
15 Aug 2011 13:21