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Bokang Sesiane
[Township Marketing]: Brand Communication
I know for sure we as advertisers think of this and even bring it to Client's attention (the brand marketers), which in most cases our ideas and thoughts are brushed off, ending up in placing all communication in towns and if we were lucky enough to place some in townships, we wouldn't be given a opportunity to place any new material Posted on 17 Aug 2012 15:47
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Bokang Sesiane
[Township Marketing]: Brand Communication
nteresting Video to watch, good inside especial for some of us who work with Brands that are targeted at this market. It is so true that there isn't a lot of outdoor advertising in the township and if there is an area that is lucky to have any, the material on the board would have be placed there for centuries. Last week when I was around My neighbour in Bloemfontein Mangaung I came across a Nedbank Cup billboard that was suppose to have been off long time ago. We seem to target this market in different location. Image how successful our campaigns that are target at the township market can be if we get them where they stay and not only provide them with flyers. I remember when Standard Bank introduced their Send Money Ekhaya, this campaign was received well in the market because their activation were in area they knew the target market are. The reach for this campaign was amazing. Posted on 17 Aug 2012 15:45
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Mike du Toit
[Township Marketing]: Brand Communication
Based on my background as an IP attorney with experience in anti-counterfeit work, what Jason has picked up and reported on may also be a major driving force of the counterfeit goods market for clothing and footgear, especially of the well known popular brands Posted on 17 Aug 2012 14:37
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Titi Mabitsela
[Township Marketing]: Brand Communication
Interesting stuff... I doubt marketers think about these things hey. Posted on 17 Aug 2012 14:25
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Rosemary Fowkes
Right Stuff becomes eco-friendly
We are a Voluntary Association in Kleinmond, converting waste paper into conference and gift bags, packets and envelopes. In the process we are creating work for local women who learn their skills on the job. I think our eco-friendly products and people-friendly service may be of interest to you or to Eyako Green? If I am right, please will someone get back to me. Thank you, Rosemary Fowkes, pampiriindaba@gmaill.com, 072 705 6188. Posted on 17 Aug 2012 12:14
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Wandile Nkosi
My dear unemployed communications graduate - an open letter
@ Roxanne Rayners where do you get off? Posted on 16 Aug 2012 16:30
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Colleen Lewis
20 tips for writing well
Nice article Jamie! Simple, basic common sense about communicating in writing. I wish these 20 points could be taught in every high school classroom and to every single tertiary student in their first year at college or university. Posted on 16 Aug 2012 16:26
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Roxanne Rayners
My dear unemployed communications graduate - an open letter
I look forward to the day that people can accept constructive criticism without becoming defensive and turning it into a race or apartheid issue. Posted on 16 Aug 2012 16:13
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Anthony Brown
Right Stuff becomes eco-friendly
Everyone should do eco-friendly activities otherwise we should be ready to face severe environmental problems. Hollywood Superstar Johnny Depp has already started some eco-friendly activities in his private island home in Bahamas. I became fan of him after reading the following article - http://www.rosebudmag.com/music-entertainment/johnny-depp-eco-friendly-island-hideout Posted on 16 Aug 2012 16:07
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Colleen Lewis
Lessons from home-grown "Mandela Story" viral sensation
Great article! Congrats to Gill Moodie. And Prakesh Patel has executed visionary marketing with his brilliant You Tube video. Posted on 16 Aug 2012 15:38
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PJ van Rooyen
Talk radio in danger
I agree with you Lelo. As a sports journalist trying his utmost to get his big break at a radio station, let alone a talk station, it has become one of the most frustrating activities I have embarked on. The problem I have, is that when a young 'unknown' in the industry looks to the market leaders in talk and news, he/she is lucky to even receive a reply from the organisations. Numerous mails and CVs have been submitted but no replies are returned. From a motivational POV, it does not evoke much confidence when the people/organisations one looks to for inspiration, simply does not take one seriously. I am 21 and have wanted nothing more to do the job that you, Lelo Mzaca occupy, yet I have only been shown a closed door. I could be the best choice an organisation makes all year, but that leap of faith, or trace of interest not only falls short, but is not existent. Posted on 16 Aug 2012 13:08
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Lindsay Grubb
When did we stop caring about customer service, client experience?
I've had a similar experience coupled with being given a new card which then didn't work an hour three way conversation between paypal and said bank who denied the problem was on their side. Learned it was the card when also trying to pay for groceries. To top it all off they then sent the new new card to the wrong branch which had me running around again. Wasn't pretty. I was also told I had a new card waiting for me two weeks after having collected it. Posted on 16 Aug 2012 12:24
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Amy Moonsamy
Social media 'experts'... copy that!
Nicely done Sam. I totally agree with you. Posted on 16 Aug 2012 11:49
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Samantha Wright
Social media 'experts'... copy that!
Sally,

Not a personal gripe at all. I handle the marketing for an engineering firm. In my inbox currently sits 22 emails from various companies (primarily social media and SEO) all of which read almost identical.

Fine, so be it.

What irked me though is when you visit their websites or own social platforms they have copied and pasted content. They have directed people to blog posts where they claim to have "written some tips on..." or "I suggest you do this.." and then have plagiarised another company's original post. The few clients they do have - their social media platforms all read identical. There is no brand management but rather a formula being applied throughout no matter industry or the target market. That is not a young entrepeneur starting out nor is that good business practice.

In the piece I did not say DO NOT USE SMALL BUSINESS or STAY AWAY FROM YOUNG ENTREPENEURS. I gave suggestions as to how to spot the charlatans.

Feedback from the industry suggests I'm not the only one who has begun to notice how many of them have popped up.

Saying that, there are a few really GREAT young marketing entrepeneurs who do social media right! The likes of Cerebra, @spillly (who I think may be a private consultant over actual company) are just some off the top of my head. Posted on 16 Aug 2012 10:43
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Sally
Social media 'experts'... copy that!
I found this article to be very ... well annoying. It also sounds like a personal gripe towards someone/a small business that perhaps should be done face-to-face and not by broadly sweeping all small social media/mobile businesses under the carpet. And it's highly ironic. First of all, the social media landscape is a bit like the wild west, noone can claim to understand it in it's entirety. So I do agree with the notion that people calling themselves 'EXPERTS' in social media are not to be trusted - I am very wary of anyone that does call themselves that and avoid them like the plague, but I don't agree with the 'well WE'VE been in the business longer than you, WE are REAL marketers, WE are the experts' implication. And this is where the irony comes in. This country has thousands of incredibly talented entrepreneurs in the making, if they love digital and want to explore digital and have the wherewithal to find and acquire clients then they should be able to do that without being criticised. That is how all small businesses and new industries blossom and small business is the backbone or should be, of our economy. There is plenty of work to be shared. And, you show me an original idea and I'll pay you a million dollars. Those don't exist anymore. All innovation/ ideation is a mash up of existing ideas, so to lay claim to 'owning ideas' puts the writer in an arrogant, naive light. Lastly, the buck stops with the client, a wise marketer will do their homework properly and really, they'll choose whatever suppliers they want... after all, it's their money, stop telling them what to do, and the rest of the industry. Ok I'm off for a coffee and some visionary ideation. Posted on 16 Aug 2012 09:08
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Tim Singiswa
Lessons from home-grown "Mandela Story" viral sensation
he lost his dignity,credibilty and credentials when he accepted clothes from pw botha`s public servants and a warder`s house instead of asking for a tailor to be sent to cut a suit that will make him look like a real future leader!

his was nothing but capitulation and submission since he ceased to talk about end to persecution but about how much they were gonna get out of negotiations!the freedom he says he spent twenty seven years in jail for here is it because its whites that have been liberated and blacks straightjacketted!!! Posted on 16 Aug 2012 09:05
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Brett Levy
Mama Mio... the three-dimension inspiration campaign
Anyone looking to do some cool AR - let me know - check out what we are doing - www.b-ar.co.za Posted on 15 Aug 2012 22:07
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Vusi Thembekwayo
Why 'Stop the NYDA' is worse than the NYDA
Response

In discussing important issues that are or at least ought to be part of the national agenda and discourse it is really important that we take the time to verse ourselves in the subject matter. Equally important is that we neither personalise the substance of the debate nor attack other natural persons (I always knew those hours spent slaving away at my Commercial Law textbook would yield some results) in constructing our argument.

Dear Mongezi,
Apologies for taking this long to respond to you, but I was running a business.
There are a few points where you and I agree. Entrepreneurship has not until recently become synonymous with funding. Funding, fund raising and capital structures were for many years the sole preserve of high paid bankers who were more concerned with leveraging highly cash generative, asset rich businesses for their individual “carry” than developing entrepreneurs. Many entrepreneurs started their business on shoestring budgets, some out of their pensions and even bootstrapping. I should know. I started our business (www.mtv8.co.za) with R35 seed-capital. Yes, just 35bucks.
But you and I cant be so disingenuous as to assert that this ought to be the path of every entrepreneur. Quite the contrary, it is incumbent on you and I to ensure that future “starters” have a better framework of support and guidance to build their businesses. Think about the advent of “tenderpreneurship”. It is nothing more than the manifestation of creativity and entrepreneurship spoilt by the “easy-money” fixation.
Here is the heart of the debate: in a country where the social construct is such that most young black youth leave school unprepared and under-equipped, you and I (the lucky few that have escaped this trap) must ensure that we speak truth to power. It is neither sustainable nor is it viable to hold the view that where the state and its organs are failing or falling short, we must pick up the slack. That sounds noble, but it creates a situation in which those elected to serve don't, and we accept it.

Let’s look at the content of your argument
1. Imagine this: Steve Jobs hosts a launch for a new phone and at the launch proclaims that he couldn’t reach consensus with the board on the colours of the phone, therefore they will no longer be releasing it. Imagine the mayhem that would cause and how the Apple brand would suffer. For Steven (CEO of NYDA) to assert that the resulting inefficiencies are not of his making 3years into the job speaks to one thing: that he is either not the man for the job, or he is not a true CEO empowered with the necessary power to discharge his duties.

I have had the privilege of serving on boards where the company was about the tank (and I was part of the turn-around team) and where the company was thriving. In both cases the CEOs got no respite for the difficulties they faced. The reason they are appointed and rewarded so handsomely – and Steven is no exception – is precisely because they must possess the skill and flair must be deliver results with their contexts and constraints. Academics at local business schools believe that a good manager is responsible for all his team outputs 6-months after his appointed. The argument that Steven inherited inefficiencies doesn't hold.
2. I am not sure how you infer from our raising a grievance that we are “moaning”. If this were the case we would not have sought and confirmed a meeting both the CEO and the CFO of the NYDA. And even where they have cancelled, gone completely silent and even ignored us, we have persisted. If we were moaning we would have accepted the tens of media interviews that wanted us to speak when we have nothing “new” to say. If we were moaning, Steven would not have confirmed to me and the nation that we are raising valid issues. Speaking truth to power is not moaning.
3. I find it cowardly – almost mischievous – for you to ask “where is the action” when this campaign is the action. Would you rather we took to the popular South African pass time and marched? Or maybe we should put more money in the coffers of Southern Sun and host a conference? What is required is discourse and this campaign has achieved that.
4. I don't agree that we are missing an opportunity to impact positive change. This argument doesn't understand and follow the principles of causality: we must question the status-quo so that we can -> discuss and agree on a “future-state” – the form and substance of what we want; this will allow us to -> draft alternatives around how best to get there and the tools required to ensure that we get there so that we -> action.
This is not missing an opportunity, quite the contrary… it’s designing it.
5. You make a valid point around, “create something effective - that will show NYDA what it should be doing” but you dilute it by saying we ought not to recount the past. That is as valid as an Afri-Forum saying apartheid is over so lets move on and pretend it never happened. We must ask that the NYDA account for itself, present and past forms.
6. Entrepreneurship doesn't need more funding to thrive. But this is not solely about entrepreneurship. The NYDA have a mandate and they are measured on eight key deliverables. I would advise that you read our position statement to find out what those are and how the measures this far. When we ask they account, it is on all these counts, not just the entrepreneurship pillar and whilst I understand this is something you are passionate, I would advise that you study our position statement to better inform yourself.
In the 2010 – 2011 year, the NYDA gave bursaries to only 20 youth. In a country where young people cant write CVs, can we be expected to draft business plans? Key to the NYDA mandate is the development and emancipation of youth. 20 bursaries plus young people volunteering at the FIFA World Cup as ushers is what they have to show for themselves. If you can tell me what explicit skill that carries economic value is gained by volunteering at the FIFA World Cup then I may be persuaded.
If you look at the their voucher program (part of their National Youth Service platform): how many youth have they assisted? How many were Umsobomvu assisting before the NYDA? How many needed the help vs how many need the help now? Where is the research – which is part of their mandate – that speaks to the needs on young people in SA? Why does the DA have to raise the issue of the youth wage subsidy whilst it is the NYDA’s job to advocate and lobby for youth?
This is what the campaign is about. Asking the NYDA and all youth to question what is being done and it serves this country.

An aside:
I am quite amused at Ramon Thomas rather feeble defense for the NYDA, that being that they assisted him therefore they must be working. Part of the challenge we face as a generation is this heightened sense of individualism where people believe that because they are better of or can access services then either everyone else can too or nobody else matters. I run several successful businesses. Just this year we launched our incubator – fully funded by each of the partners – and have plans to go to market with a VC fairly soon. I live in a rather plush estate (in-fact Steven lives in the same estate as me) drive a comfortable car, have the offshore property and manage the compulsory 2-overseas leisure trips per year but this not absolve me of my responsibility to speak out where I see injustice.
What is fated to most youth in SA is just that, an injustice.
There is nothing altruistic about Ramon’s argument (they helped me and I am not even black, therefore they must be working) but rather it stinks of the kind of individualism that saw some nouve riche eat sushi of a nude models body. You can’t deduce the realities of all youth from a single personal experience. Moreover this is the same individual who hijacked my and other prominent speakers profiles, purported to represent us (on the web) and then gave his contact details for bookings – which he no doubt kept for himself. This is a documented case and you can contact PSASA for the details. This to me speaks clearly of a person ethical framework. I adjoin that incident with the demeanor he has displayed during this discussion and remain convinced about my conviction. But my convictions are my personal business. Posted on 15 Aug 2012 20:08
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Vusi Thembekwayo
Why 'Stop the NYDA' is worse than the NYDA
Great comments gents. Check my reply Posted on 15 Aug 2012 19:56
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textmessage
Eight mobile technologies that are changing the face of CRM
Mobile Coupons are like text messages which are sent to your targeted audiences or customers to offers latest products, services, discounts, events and upcoming offers to customers. (http://www.txtimpact.com/mobile_coupons.asp) Posted on 15 Aug 2012 19:29
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