Myth and misunderstanding is leading to digital mayhem in the industry, whereby agencies are being accused by digital behemoth Google of committing fraud or, at the very least, irresponsible accounting with their clients cash online. As a result, Google announced today, Friday, 14 November 2008, that it would be ‘Google certifying' five key agencies leading this space in 2009. 14 Nov 2008 13:35
Probably less than 1% of South Africans online are using the web to its full maximum capability, either for their products and services or for their own personal brands. We are told by the so-called tech-sperts where we need to be online, but how does the ordinary person start? Here's a step-by-step guide. 29 Sep 2008 08:35
South Africa is expected to become one of the cheapest places for internet connectivity in the future, with broadband speed hopefully in place by 2010, “so don't bet against the internet, make it a part of your campaigns”, Google country manager in South Africa, Stafford Masie said last week. 22 Sep 2008 14:30
Marketing innovation in Africa is something that we should be shining a light on for the rest of the world, believes Donovan Neale-May, the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council international founder, who was in South Africa in the past week to launch CMO Africa. Highlighting marketing best practice globally and training up the next generation of Africa's marketers for the global market will be a core competency of CMO Africa. 25 Aug 2008 11:44
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI: Have you heard the one about the sports journalist who called the newsroom of his newspaper to tell them the ballgame was cancelled due to an earthquake and since nothing much was happening, he was pushing off for a beer? That was the '80s, when things like mobile phones weren't around as media tools and citizens weren't also journalists. But a story was still a story and the pressure to deliver daily news is greater than ever - across all media disciplines. 31 Jul 2008 11:15
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI: Business-to-business editors are facing similar issues globally: the relentless pull towards digital editions, fear of print products being cannibalised by online brands, squeezed revenues, shrinking newsrooms and an increasing fight to assert the rights of editorial expertise versus mass content aggregation online. 28 Jul 2008 13:16
What do you do when students know more than their lecturers in terms of new technologies and applications? When ad agencies are reporting up to 40% lost in above-the-line budgets internationally? When the new consumer is a ‘screenager'? You shift direction to ensure that you remain globally relevant. And this is what the AAA School of Advertising is doing in the marketing communications industry to update its curriculum to produce graduates who are also digitally relevant. 23 Jun 2008 11:20
Radio is “so last century”, an old medium which is losing out to the iPod, online radio and cellphones. This is the view of former ‘Mr Radio', Stan Katz, who is aiming to transform the mobile space in South Africa by providing free online access and calls via your cellphone. 19 Jun 2008 10:32
Ad man Mike Bosman was in Joburg last week to launch his new R120 million venture, One Digital Media, officially to the media. His new ‘content' business - his description - is taking in store media up a layer of technological innovation to capture and influence consumers at the brand point of purchase. 6 Jun 2008 09:18
Globally, this is a tough time for brands. As consumers feel the pinch worldwide from rising food and fuel prices, purchasing behaviour will change, impacting on brand campaigns. Rosie Hawkins, new global head of brand and communications research for global market insight and information group TNS, says, however, that there are some things consumers do not give up on. 3 Jun 2008 11:45
BREAKING NEWS: ANC deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe told the International Media Forum in Johannesburg this morning, Thursday, 22 May 2008, that attacks on foreign nationals over the past week was an attack on the values of our civil society in South Africa and needed to be condemned as hate crimes. He called on all South Africans to condemn these barbaric acts. 22 May 2008 09:43
The consumer research industry has been turned on its head in the past decade, having to apply research to new mediums which were not there 10 years ago, and in an environment where marketers have lost a measure of control over their brands to consumers. 12 May 2008 12:10
As a marketer or brand manager you only have about five years to understand the uniquely different ways the youth of today are consuming brands. Because in five years those youth will be your consumers... the most wired, savvy, brand-informed and literate consumers you have ever encountered. Do you even talk their language? 23 Apr 2008 11:02
Popular culture and media magazine Empire, from the Maverick business magazine stable, will continue running columns by David Bullard, Empire joint editor Phillip de Wet confirmed yesterday, 15 April. 16 Apr 2008 08:45
The traditional advertising model based only on reach and frequency is completely outdated. New marketing strategies are needed to engage with the citizens of the digital democracy, said Patou Nuytemans, EAME digital director, Ogilvy One Worldwide, at The Ogilvy Verge conference in Johannesburg this morning, 15 April 2008. She was speaking about the ‘Always-on Consumer' of the 21st Century. 15 Apr 2008 11:28
Controversial columnist David Bullard has been fired by the Sunday Times. The axe finally fell on the ‘Out to Lunch' column after his latest offering published this past Sunday, 6 April 2008, was criticised for being racist. 11 Apr 2008 09:34
Celebrating his 80th birthday yesterday, Thursday, 10 April 2008, and 60 years in the advertising industry, the indomitable John Farquhar has promised to keep the industry on his toes while he is still alive. He has no plans to retire; he loves his work so much, it's become his ‘hobby'. 11 Apr 2008 08:59
When I called John Farquhar this morning to wish him a happy 80th birthday, there was no doubt in my mind that he would be at his desk already, working. And he was – since 5.45am this morning at the ripe old (or in his case, ‘young') age of 80 – as usual. To call him a legend in his lifetime feels like an understatement. 10 Apr 2008 11:20
On Friday, 29 February 2008, we listened to water dripping into an earthen jar in a temple in Tokyo, on the other side of the world – in real time. It was rather calming. One of Design Indaba's most inspirational speakers was Professor Shinichi Takemura, a renowned media producer from Japan, who is trying to get across the message that we are all connected through the Internet and each other to our planet. 3 Mar 2008 09:15
From Big Foot to the worst loo in the world and vampire fish, Ogilvy Johannesburg executive creative director Gerry Human used a ‘mountain' analogy to talk about the best advertising in the world – that peak of excellence, the weird and the wonderful, this morning, Friday, 29 February 2008, at this, the final day of the 11th annual Design Indaba. 29 Feb 2008 10:30
The annual creative industries showcase, the Design Indaba Expo, ended yesterday, Tuesday, 26 February 2008, to make way for the annual Design Indaba Conference, starting today, Wednesday 27 February. With a host of inspiring speakers in the design, advertising, architectural and fashion industry, Design Indaba is known for attracting global talent to the podium. Bizcommunity.com was there too providing a comfy pew or two... 27 Feb 2008 10:05
Here's a newsflash: South Africa does not have broadband Internet connectivity yet. So if you're still under the misapprehension that we do because of misleading adverts, we don't. But here's what you really should note down: when we do get broadband, the behavior of your consumer online will change massively. The question is then: have you any idea how to connect properly with your consumers online? 13 Feb 2008 14:53
A Cape Town client asked how we are coping in Jozi with all these power cuts… My reply was a ‘sense of humour'. When one is done ranting and raving and investigating batteries, gas, generator-powered alternative office space, uninterrupted power supplies (UPSes) and so on, it really is the jokes and viral emails and SMSes that enable us to find the humour in the situation - in true South African style. And of course the thoughtful and clever clients who are already one step ahead of everyone else… 18 Jan 2008 09:29
GLOBAL HEADLINES: Everything she touches turns to sold… or is that gold? Global talk show queen and one of the most influential women in the world, Oprah Winfrey, is launching her own TV network with the Discovery channel. On other global industry headlines this week, rumours in the blogosphere abound that MySpace might be building a gaming portal and big brands turn to the annual sporting showcase, the Superbowl, to make up for loss of opportunity during the Hollywood writers strike. And the annual Darwin Award winners list is out… 18 Jan 2008 09:02
With news blackouts in force in Kenya it is up to the bloggers to keep the world, and indeed many of the media, informed of the terrible atrocities being perpetrated in what was just a week ago a relatively peaceful country in Africa. Mobile phones are being used to update Kenyan blogs and video shot of the violence in Kenya via mobile phone is being disseminated by mainstream news media. 4 Jan 2008 12:27
NEWSWATCH: What with Polokwane, the Bhutto assassination and the current crisis in Pakistan, it's hardly been a quiet Christmas for the news media. Of particular relevance to our industry is the financial pinch that hit consumers this festive season after a long year of interest rate rises and cost of living increases. Retailers are reporting a huge drop in sales this December. In other news this past week, Facebook becomes a rallying point for SA teens to defy the Government ban on underage canoodeling and a detained journalist is freed in time for Christmas. 31 Dec 2007 10:58
Hasn't this been a year? Of highs and lows, nation-pride and change. It went so fast and was so incredibly busy, it's hard to remember everything that happened. So here is Bizcommunity.com's informal (and entirely subjective) list of the good, the bad and the ugly that was 2007. 14 Dec 2007 11:32
With the development of technology such as the 3G card – the mobile success story of 2007 – providing consumers with increasing access to online, banking and other services, mobile communications is at a tipping point similar to that of the Internet a few years ago. This is according to the findings of the Mobility 2007 study released yesterday, Tuesday, 20 November 2007. 21 Nov 2007 09:54
Advertising and communications agency Draftfcb (formerly FCB) launched a new division at an industry media lunch in Rosebank yesterday, Thursday, 15 November 2007, called Social Marketing. It will focus on targeting campaigns to influence the behaviour of target audiences “for the greater good of the individual and society”. Sort of like ‘PR with empathy'. 16 Nov 2007 10:42
The rebranding of the 40-year-old Pick n Pay brand is about more than just a new logo and new colours and fonts. It is about a new business direction for a company that has set benchmarks in retailing, not only locally, but abroad too; a greater focus on customers; and about meeting global retailing challenges in the future… It is an extremely brave step for any brand to take. 13 Nov 2007 10:52
Louise Marsland is editor-in-chief and brand strategist of AdVantage magazine (
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