Three steps to writing well

[James Hurford] Often when people write, they're afraid to make mistakes and so they edit themselves word by word, inhibiting the natural flow of ideas and sentences. However, professional writers know that writing is a process consisting of numerous drafts, rewrites, deletions and revisions. 24 May 2012 09:50

Content marketing: what it is, and why you should be doing it

[Anna Malczyk] It has become increasingly clear that the most effective way to gain your customer's attention is to earn it. Rather than needing to sponsor 'traditional' media channels, digital distribution channels such as blogs and YouTube have made it possible for brands to become content creators themselves. 22 May 2012 12:16

Mobile engagement: a better way to reach and influence your customers

[Llew Claasen] If you've been hiding under a rock during 2011, then you might have missed predictions from industry pundits that "the year of mobile" had finally arrived. The truth is, we ain't seen nothin' yet. While there has been significant traction and momentum in mobile recently, the potential opportunities for mobile marketing and engagement are immense. 23 May 2012 09:00

Customers' complaints need strategy

[Aki Kalliatakis] Customers have the power to change service levels, performance and product, yet still they feel they are often mistreated. Successful complaining however needs to be focused in order to achieve lasting results. 24 May 2012 09:21

MTN places in BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands 2012

MTN has become the first and only African brand to make the BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands 2012, debuting at position 88 in the annual survey. 22 May 2012 14:11

Most Valuable African Nation Brand 2012 announced

Brand Africa in association with Brand Finance on Friday, 25 May 2012, named South Africa as the Most Valuable African Nation Brand. The event was hosted by Brand Kenya at the Intercontinental Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. 28 May 2012 11:29

CNBC Africa opens office in Mozambique

CNBC Africa, a CNBC International franchise owned by Africa Business News, has entered into a joint venture with Mozambique's state broadcaster, Televisão de Moçambique (TVM), and will open a bureau in Maputo. CNBC Africa's country bureau representative will be Sunnyboy Mshengu. 24 May 2012 11:35

E-mail to be ditched in favour of social media?

According to a Business Live report, some companies are likely to ditch e-mails in favour of social networking sites to forge closer ties with customers and partners, which quotes the IBM CEO study of 1 700 chief executives from 64 countries. 23 May 2012 15:57

Ever-shrinking personal networks and the value of the "inner circle"

[Mongezi Mtati] Our increased usage of social networks has ensured that the word "friend" is used loosely to mean someone you are friends with online, and have met offline. The value of product recommendations by "friends," according to Nielsen, has increased to a record 92%, while our trust in advertising is at an all-time low and the falling advertising spend is the proverbial proof in the pudding. 28 May 2012 11:57

Daily Maverick launches new website 'for people who matter'

The Daily Maverick has announced that it has launched a simpler, better and smarter new website. Following international trends in web design, the improved site's clear layout and fonts are designed to offer an enhanced visual and news reading experience for Daily Maverick aficionados as well as those newly won over. 22 May 2012 14:42

The brain behind Africa's first tablet

Verone Mankou (@verone), is the brain behind the first African tablet to rival the iPad. At the age of 26, Mankou designed the tablet known as "Way-C" in his hometown, Brazzaville, Congo. "Way-C" means "the light of the stars" in a northern Congolese dialect. 22 May 2012 11:09

2012 African Banker Awards shortlist announced

The African Banker Awards has released the shortlist of nominees for the 2012 competition. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on 30 May 2012, which makes its debut in Africa. This year's event coincides with the annual African Development Bank (AfDB) meetings in Arusha, Tanzania 24 Apr 2012 16:14

Banda appoints Steve Nhlane as press secretary

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] Malawian president Joyce Banda has engaged Steve Nhlane, editor of the Malawi News as her press secretary. The country's media fraternity has hailed his appointment, saying he will bring sanity into the president's office because of his level headedness. 24 May 2012 09:21