Pondering Panda CEO slams research industry

In his opening speech at today's session of the South African Market Research Association's (SAMRA) conference, Butch Rice, co-founder and CEO of market research company Pondering Panda, criticised the local research industry. The conference is being held at the Thaba Ya Batswana, Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve in Johannesburg from 16-17 May 2013. 16 May 2013 13:50

Digital, traditional media go hand in hand

[Noëleen Bruton] It's been exciting watching the phenomenal growth of digital media both locally and globally in the past say two decades. This, of course, has given marketers a whole new category of media in which to spend our advertising budgets. 13 May 2013 11:27

Joburg criminals cash in on Bieber, Bon Jovi millions

NEWSWATCH: According to IOL, on Sunday evening after the Justin Bieber concert, thieves collected themselves what is suspected to be millions of rands from a strong room at FNB Stadium in Joburg. This is apparently not the only money that went missing recently, as Mail & Guardian reports that Jacaranda FM has suspended a DJ due to missing charity funds. IOL also reports that bus drivers are finally back at work after weeks of striking. 14 May 2013 12:32

GetSmarter

UCT and GetSmarter launches first of its kind short course in graphic design

[Issued by GetSmarter] With the rise of content marketing and social media, marketing has become a lot more visual. As such, the ability to create captivating and enticing graphics, and to optimise graphic design within a business context, is now a competitive advantage for almost every business. To meet this need, employees who possess the skills to effectively manage outsourced design projects or complete basic design work on-demand are now favoured. 15 May 2013 13:11

Talent: Why we are willing to bleed for it

[Douglas Kruger] When I was 11-years-old, I won the South African Skateboarding Championships. That's the press-release version of the story. The behind-the-scenes version, however, goes like this: Between the ages of 8 and 11, I skinned my shins and knees so many times that I now have permanent marks. My bruised and bloodied hips would have had any social worker hell-bent on removing me from an obviously abusive home. (video) 13 May 2013 10:12

[Online presence 1] Out of sight, out of mind

[Luke McKend] As the number of internet users in South Africa continues to rise from the reported 8.5 million in 2012 (World Wide Worx), it's been inspiring to see many businesses utilising the web to market their goods and services by taking advantage of a host of online tools (including Google's), and even more inspiring to see how these business are benefitting from increased revenue and exposure, both locally and internationally. 13 May 2013 09:18

Why metal is precious

[Jonathan Stilwell] Why are most agency creatives so obsessed with metal? Why do we covet these birds, lions, pencils, medals and cubes so much? To many of our client services friends, they may as well be bookends or doorstops. 14 May 2013 11:29

All the South African CLIO Awards winners

The CLIO Awards is a recognized international awards competition for advertising, design, interactive and communications. Herewith the South African winners of the 2013 CLIO Awards. 14 May 2013 14:08

Guptagag

[Rod Baker] NEWSWATCH: The Gupta family isn't going to talk to the media until the report on its guests landing at Waterkloof is finalised, reports Mail & Guardian, and BD Live reports the DA is urging Zuma not to sign the secrecy bill. The ConCourt has reserved judgment on media's access to the Krejcir hearing, reports Mail & Guardian, and IOL reports that a Sun reporter has been charged in the UK hacking probe. 15 May 2013 07:29

Value of segmentation models in marketing

[Amanda Cromhout] Sounds easy doesn't it? But how do you start such a strategy? Do you even know who your most profitable customers are?

MediaMind

Traffic Light: Conversion Tag strategies

[Michael Lamb, Issued by MediaMind] Third-party ad serving has many advantages that agencies can leverage. One of these is the ability to record a user's journey from ad impression through to purchase. This journey is called the path to conversion. In order for the agency to mark milestones on this path as well as the conclusion, it is important to place conversion tags on the advertiser's site. 17 May 2013 12:39

Trends in branded broadcast content

[Sara Butchart] Oh how I love my PVR! After years of being in the advertising and communications business, my husband and I delight in zapping the rubbish ads and moving on to what we really want to watch - the programme! It's a global trend which is resulting in more and more interest being placed on AFP's (Advertiser Funded Programmes) with some really interesting results. 18 May 2013 08:04

SHM magazine to launch in Q3

SA Sports & Health Monthly (SHM), a new generalist, multi-sports magazine title aimed at the sports crazy South African spectator and serious amateur, will be launching in the third quarter of this year, Chapel Lane Media has announced. 19 May 2013 19:59