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Archive

Year: 2017

  • What’s next for Twitter?

    November 17, 2017

    By Bongani Masombuka, Senior Account Executive Last week Twitter announced it would double the limit for tweets to 280 characters, in a bid to draw in more users and boost engagement for the social network. This comes on the back of the introduction of a number of products that Twitter has rolled out over the past few months, ultimately making the service easier for brands. These include a self-service advertising subscription aimed at small businesses...

  • Authentic leadership as a non-negotiable in modern businesses

    November 14, 2017

    If the news headlines and stories surrounding the South African state capture scandal have taught us anything in the last few months, it is that there is nowhere for companies or their leaders to hide if they are found to have entered into what could be perceived as corrupt practices. Whether these are true or not, the tidal wave of reporting has gained momentum, placing global corporate giants and their leadership teams under severe scrutiny...

  • How can PR professionals remain relevant in a changing landscape?

    October 27, 2017

    As many of you know, the communications landscape is changing rapidly. So rapidly in fact, that qualified professionals sometimes find it hard to stay sharp and keep their skills and information references up-to-date with the latest trends. In a blog from earlier this year our Managing Director Sharon Piehl wrote:  “PR is dead – but what is exciting is how the communications sector is evolving and how the industry is embracing that change by bringing...

  • Call It Magic, Call It True

    October 20, 2017

    One of the best parts of my job is being able to share an insight with a colleague or client. Seeing their reaction and excitement is magical. There have been many occasions where someone asks, “What are the insights?” and the reply was, “Engagements are up 10%.” A great data point, but hardly an insight that will lead to actionable change in any organisation. What are insights? Put simply, they are gained by analysing data...

  • Harnessing the skills of the future

    June 15, 2017

    Whitney Houston perhaps summed it up best when she crooned about the children being our future. It’s not just a catchy lyric either, especially in Africa: with an estimated 50 percent of people on the continent under the age of 25, it is home to the youngest population in the world and what will also be the world’s largest workforce by 2040, 40 percent of which will be young people[1]. What this indicates is that...

  • The shifting nature of communications in Africa

    May 25, 2017

    Africa Day is a celebration of the continent, its people and their achievements since the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) on 25 May 1963. There can be little doubt that there have been significant milestones in that time, economically, politically and socially – none of which we would have been able to share and revel in without the communications sector. Being able to reflect on the pivotal nature of communications through the...

  • Partnering to achieve business success in the digital era

    May 17, 2017

    Today’s dynamic operating environment for businesses and other organisations is characterised by rapid change, technological development, disruptive innovation, as well as increasing hyper-connectivity. To achieve success in this turbulent environment, companies need to partner with the right strategic communications firm in order to create ideas that carry messages across new and traditional channels to reach the right audiences. In addition, they need a partner that can develop crisis response strategies that keep pace with news...

  • A glimpse into our tech-filled futures

    April 24, 2017

    With the first quarter of the year behind us, and the annual trade shows such as  Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and World Mobile Congress (MWC) done for the year, we are able to see what technology trends will shape the year to come for business and consumers. This year, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, connected cities, IoT-everything, 5G, smart/ self-driving cars, robotics and more has cast 2017 as the year of connected technology. Providing consumers with...

  • Why Fake News is a real PR problem

    January 27, 2017

    When the news is the news. Agenda-driven news is nothing new, but the sudden and not so subversive rise of fake news has me stunned. Black Ops, #PaidTwitter and the US Presidential Election have brought to light a deep and dark area floating somewhere between sinister political spin, cleverly crafted click bait, bad PR, and powerful pay-to-play masters who have the scary ability to twist fact into falsehood. Just last month New Balance nearly had...

  • Top 5 Social Media Trends for 2017

    January 25, 2017

    In 2016, there was no shortage of updates and developments in the social media industry. From novel features and platforms to new technologies and brand opportunities, the year proved that consumers are engaging with brands more easily than ever before. Whilst it is difficult to predict exactly how the social media landscape will advance in 2017, we know that it will continue to evolve at a rapid pace. In order for brands to enhance their...

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