This latest launch from the publishers of
Business Day incorporates a refreshed website, mobisite and applications for iPhone and iPad, allowing the fast-moving business and political elite to consume the news when and how they prefer.
From an advertising perspective, the site promises added benefits on a variety of fronts, ranging from better website analytics and more advertising opportunities to new ad placements, ad sizes and better audience segmentation.
Perhaps more exciting, however, is the launch of new functionalities, such as my console, which allows the audience to customise the site according to personal preference; my news, which allows for the pre-selection of sector related content; and my clippings, which enables users to clip articles for reading at a later stage.
General Manager of BDFM Digital, Bronwen Auret explains, 'The registration process will enable users to customise the console. This combined with improved analytics have been implemented to improve both user experience and advertising solutions'.
BDLive, which replaces both BusinessDay.co.za and BusinessLive.co.za, offers in-depth local and international news relating to business, companies and markets, alongside insightful opinion, analysis, and multimedia. There is also a new personal finance section, expanded African news coverage and a range of old and new columnists, as well as a new online-only column entitled BDAlpha which will see top analysts and captains of industry dissect the issues of the day. Also available will be sport reports, book reviews, travel and food writing, and arts and entertainment articles and reviews.
And because the news is delivered by
Business Day, and backed by a "digital first" editorial pledge to publish 'what we know, when we know it', readers can rest assured that anything they read on the site will not only be of the high quality standard that we have come to expect from
Business Day, but that it will also be up to the very minute.
The social media functionality on the site has also been upweighted, allowing for easier sharing of news via sites such as Facebook, ultimately bringing more users onboard.
According to Wayne Bischoff, MD of Habari Media, the advantages for potential advertisers are clear: "An improved digital offering leads to a more entrenched and loyal audience. The convenience factor of consumption 'on the go' coupled with fresh content leads to a more engaged audience, who will log in more often. And the ability to customise and personalise the news allows for better targeting."
Bischoff has no doubt that the site will make good on its promise to become the 'country's premier live business platform', and urges potential advertisers to get on board.
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Business Day already boasts a premium audience, 45% of whom have a total annual household income exceeding R400 000, 77% of whom have a degree or diploma, 40% of whom have a post grad degree, and 25% of whom hold executive or managerial positions. According to Effective Measure, the previous site clocked over 300 000 unique users each month, and just over 50 000 app downloads. The launch of
BDLive will build this audience to even greater heights - and your brand in the process."