Facilitate a movement: the shift from mass marketing

[Mongezi Mtati] In a world where advertising and marketing trends change constantly, it's easy for the larger more established brands to lag behind. They aren't as agile as smaller and newer brands, and are often stuck in the "this is how we've always done things" frame of mind. [video] 20 Mar 2012 11:55

#bankwars: Standard Bank tries to do a Frankies

[Walter Pike] I was speaking at an event on Thursday afternoon, 23 February 2012, about the changing media landscape and the inability of companies to control the conversation, the need to listen and understand the discussion and what is happening in the community, and rather the need to facilitate the discussion. As I took my seat after handing over to the company spokesman, I checked my Twitter stream, as one does, and saw the start of the Standard Bank/FNB firestorm. 24 Feb 2012 10:34

[2012 trends] Reasons not to 'touch that dial'

[Gilda de Araujo] 2012 heralds a brand new chapter for radio advertising and, more and more, savvy advertisers are are acknowledging that successful campaigns demand the time, effort and nurturing of an involved team and more. [multimedia] 26 Jan 2012 14:18

[2012 trends] The year of the phoenix

[Joanna Oosthuizen] Twenty Twelve, year of the dragon, a leap year and the year the world as we know it is meant to end. I believe it will, not in a dooms-day fill-my-bunker-with-canned-food kind of way but in a thinking, progressive, collaborative and connective way. It's a phoenix year, where great ideas and people will rise from the economic ashes and drive informed action. 26 Jan 2012 12:37

[2012 trends] Influencers take to the web and run the streets

[Mongezi Mtati] 2011 saw the rise of more social media influencers and thought leaders; more conversations influenced how brands are perceived; and the fad of a Facebook page became more questioned than ever before. Or did that apply only in conferences and meetings I went to? 26 Jan 2012 11:38

[2012 trends] Generation Y Not

[Jason Levin & Jessica Oosthuizen] South Africa's young consumers are more savvy and demanding than ever before. Not surprisingly, marketers have to work harder and smarter to make their brands compelling to kids, teens and young adults. 2012 stands for pace, progress, challenge and increased 'prosumer' power. Here are 10 whats and hows, ending with some of the hottest youth brands to look out for this year. 23 Jan 2012 13:32

[2012 trends] The cheese has moved for brands and youth

[Banele Rewo] How do you entice or sell to a target market that is hesitant, if not sceptical, about commercial brands, although predisposed to being very loyal and capable of independently fulfilling its own needs? 18 Jan 2012 13:31

[2012 trends] Apocalypse now!

[Matt Rose] 2012 is the year of the apocalypse (thanks, Mayans). But if you think about it, in a way they are right. Every year it ceases to be the end of the world as we know it. The world is in a constant state of revolution and innovation. 17 Jan 2012 15:05

Social media demands brands change their ways

[Steve Cragg] People - your customers and mine - are using the tools provided by social media to great effect in their purchase decision-making process. While consumers have always shared their opinions on products and services, digital amplifies their ability to communicate these to their peers, and not only friends and family, but also to friends of friends of friends. 9 Dec 2011 12:22

What techies are doing with social and what that means for marketers

[Mongezi Mtati] JOHANNESBURG/LONDON: Just when you think you know where social media and its influencers are going, it all changes again. I recently attended two conferences, one in South Africa and the other in the UK, to see just what technologists are working on and where investors are looking. 5 Dec 2011 11:19