Whether it's the 2010 FIFA World Cup or awards, the world is looking at us. So last week Thursday we had the Apex Awards here in Johannesburg and the Clios in New York, and the CNN MultiChoice African Journalists Awards in Uganda. Congratulations to all the South African winners, but especially to Ogilvy for its Apex Grand Prix for its Finger Lickin' Great campaign KFC; to TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris Johannesburg for its two Grand Clios [South Africa's second and third Grand Clios ever] and Apex Special Award for its Trillion Dollar campaign for The Zimbabwean; and to Sam Rogers of e.tv, who has twice now been crowned African Journalist of the Year. The Apex Awards reward effectiveness and ROI. According to the Apex Awards winners booklet, Ogilvy has been using a new marketing-led approach for KFC that, for the last six years, has resulted in a year-on-year growth of approximately 20% for the brand. The Trillion Dollar campaign has "generated a 45% increase in revenue and delivered a resounding 8270% return on marketing investment [at the time of entry submission for Apex, one supposes, since it is continuing to garner more media attention with all its recent international wins] - but most importantly, it made the world sit up and experience firsthand the plight of a nation." There's one more major ad award ceremony to go before the new cycle starts end of June 2010 with Cannes Lions, and that's D&AD in London this Thursday 3 June. Representing Bizcommunity.com at the awards will be Sue Northam, editor of SA Promo magazine, a positively South African A5 monthly glossy magazine distributed for free and aimed mostly at South Africans abroad, as well as those with an interest in all things SA. Will Trillion Dollar continue to make advertising history and win SA's first Black Pencil? Internet connectivity depending, follow @sapromomagazine on Twitter on Thursday night to find out! Ke nako! Simone Puterman (@SimoneBiz) PS For those of you who may have missed it two Fridays ago, the first interactive Google Doodle - in honour of Pacman's 30th birthday - has found a permanent home at www.google.com/pacman/. But shhh, don't tell anyone I told you... PPS Anyone committing Facebook Suicide today? PPPS In this week's Ornico Ad Showcase, we feature TV ads for KFC Streetwise, Sony Bravia, VW Polo Vivo, MTN and Nampak Bevcan, and radio ads for Dodge Journey, Vicks, FNB, Loaded Smoothie and Renault Megane Hatch.
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