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Marketing & Media South Africa

From fake (April Fools') news to fake followers

It was a difficult week for many, so the few April Fools' Day headlines this past weekend lightened the mood with a few chuckles. Not to worry if you missed them as I conducted a quick roundup.

I also brought our #BrandManagerMonth coverage to a close by exploring the need for everyone to welcome ‘the elephant in the room', based on insights from HumanEdge's recent Crucial Conversations course. Click through to find out why it's important to tackle taboo or tricky topics in all aspects of life rather than sweeping them under the rug, from your home to your office.

Someone who doesn't have a problem with this is Aileen Lamb, new MD of New Media. Jessica Tennant caught up with her for a quick chat on what Lamb's most looking forward to from her ‘dream role' as she takes the reins at such an exciting time in media.

Hadlee Simons also keeps things interesting by investigating the massive problem of fake social media followers, based on the example of two local writers who ran a dummy Instagram account and bought fake followers in the process to highlight just how easy it is to do so.

Lots to read and learn from - have a good week and keep your eyes peeled!

Comment online in our Ed's Column archive. Go mobile with apps and m.bizcommunity.com. Engage with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+. Subscribe to YouTube and via RSS. Send all your African marketing and media news and event invitations to africanews@bizcommunity.com, exclusive opinion pieces to contributors-africa@bizcommunity.com and international news to internationalnews@bizcommunity.com. Read "How to contribute to Biz, from op-ed pieces to news".



BizToday's top stories
Tharun15 © -
Fake news or April fools?
[Leigh Andrews] The nation wasn't in much of a jokey state of mind this past weekend due to the political climate, but there were a few April Fools' Day funnies to brighten the mood... read
Victor Zastolskiy © -
Welcome the elephant in the room

Leigh Andrews

Whether you're interacting with volatile colleagues in the workplace or at home wanting to relax after a long day, chances are you're avoiding raising an important conversation in order to keep the peace, which in turn creates a toxic cycle. Here's what I learned from HumanEdge's Crucial Conversations course... Read

Original image © -
Fake followers are a massive problem, as SA duo proves

Hadlee Simons

It's almost become an unspoken fact over the years that social media has a major problem with fake followers. Now, two writers have brought the problem into the open by running a dummy Instagram account and buying fake followers in the process... Read

Aileen Lamb
Aileen Lamb, New Media's new MD

Jessica Tennant

Aileen Lamb succeeds Bridget McCarney as MD of New Media, of which McCarney is now the CEO, both effective 2 April... Read


Brand Manager Month
#BrandManagerMonth: Rawson, a brand that likes to do things differently
#BrandManagerMonth: Rawson, a brand that likes to do things differently

Sindy Peters

Founded in 1982 by William ‘Bill' Rawson, the Rawson property brand is a familiar one to many... read
Read more
Marketing
A screengrab from the video.
NanoDrop video fools around with Paris Hilton
The SodaStream NanoDrop campaign on 1 April, featured humorous video content starring Paris Hilton, who appeared to debut the latest invention from her ‘Paris Hilton Institute of Plastic Pollution Solutions' (Phipps) - NanoDrop ‘a highly condensed sparkling water.' read
Advertising
Promoted content
YouTube's display ad debacle - What should smart advertisers be doing?
YouTube's display ad debacle - What should smart advertisers be doing?

Issued by Jellyfish South Africa

YouTube's display ad debacle, placing brand ads near dubious content, has brands boycotting the world's second-biggest search engine. Jellyfish shows advertisers how to avert a crisis... read
Branding
Hitchcock Michalski wins pitch to develop new Nigerian bank identity
Hitchcock Michalski wins pitch to develop new Nigerian bank identity

Issued by Hitchcock Michalski

Hitchcock Michalski won the opportunity, in a three-way pitch, to develop a brand-new identity, visual language, collateral and full environmental experience for a new Nigerian bank... read
CRM
Amazon Web Services introduces Amazon Connect
Amazon Web Services introduces Amazon Connect
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has introduced Amazon Connect, a self-service, cloud-based contact centre service... read

Advertisement:

Breakfast Seminar: Implications of new BEE explained for Small Businesses (QSEs)

Leading Verification Agency Empowerdex will highlight implications of the new codes for Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSEs under R50m) and Innovative BEE Investor, Pula Capital Partners, will show how to do a fair and equitable ownership deal. Complimentary attendance to event.

Contact Abongile Silonga on 021 200 6751 | 082 565 1801
abongile@pulapartners.co.za


Digital
Online review management: The secret sauce of successful hotel marketing
Online review management: The secret sauce of successful hotel marketing

Issued by Adclick Africa Media Group

Guest reviews management is an integral part of any successful hotel marketing strategy. The reason for this is simple, online reviews influence booking decisions and ultimately, a hotel's revenue... read
Events & Conferencing
Conference creates dialogue between urban culture, big brands
Conference creates dialogue between urban culture, big brands
The conference, Dope Brands and a Room, designed to bring urban culture together with big brands and the advertising and marketing industry, will now be held on 25 May... read
Mobile
MTN pays $98m part of Nigerian fine
MTN pays $98m part of Nigerian fine
LAGOS, Nigeria: South African telecoms giant MTN has paid nearly $100m of a $1.7bn fine for failing to disconnect unregistered SIM cards in Nigeria... read
OOH
Provantage Media Group launches Mall Ads
Provantage Media Group launches Mall Ads

Issued by Provantage Media Group

Leading out-of-home company Provantage Media Group has launched a new media company that will provide innovative solutions to brands and marketers wanting to target consumers in the mall environment... read
Social Media
(c) Vitaliy Vodolazskyy -
Why your social media marketing strategy isn't taking off

Ryan Kh

Brands in every industry are investing more heavily in social media marketing in 2017. Unfortunately, most businesses aren't tracking their ROI. According to a survey of 1,000 companies, 41% of brands have no idea what impact social media has on their brand's finances... read
Sponsorship
20th Annual BASA Awards partnered by Hollard & Business Day now open for entries
20th Annual BASA Awards partnered by Hollard & Business Day now open for entries

Issued by Business and Arts South Africa

The 20th Annual BASA Awards, partnered by Hollard & Business Day, is now open for entries from business and arts partnerships that were activated between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2016... read
TV
BBC enters into agreement with AFPTV for live video use
SABC launches campaign to highlight TV licence payment benefits
SABC obtains 2018 FIFA World Cup broadcast rights
International
(c) Panithan Fakseemuang -
Twitter makes room for more characters in tweets
SAN FRANCISCO, US: Twitter on Thursday began rolling out changes to let people pack more into tweets, subtracting from the character count names of those being replied to in posts... read
More International
Business
Henk Meintjes, head of risk product development, Liberty
Cancer still tops the list for insurance claims

Nicci Botha

An increase in cancer-related insurance claims might not necessarily be a bad thing... read
New appointments
  • Raj Lalbahadur appointed as GM for Media 24's lifestyle division - more info

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Jobs offered
Digital Business Development Manager - Johannesburg
Ready to take your career to the next level? Are you a digital pro with focus and experience to grow an online agency in SA? If so, we want you! Read more >>

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Bizcommunity is looking for an experienced web developer with excellent C# and SQL skills. Read more >>


New events to diarise
Digital media and public relations workshop
Communications: Diversity Consultancy - 3 Apr 2017 to 7 Apr 2017, Johannesburg


Creative writing courses
SA Writers College - 3 Apr 2017, Countrywide | 24 Apr 2017, Countrywide | 1 May 2017, Countrywide | 29 May 2017, Countrywide | 5 Jun 2017 to 26 Jun 2017, Countrywide | 26 Jun 2017, Countrywide | 3 Jul 2017, Countrywide | 31 Jul 2017, Countrywide | 7 Aug 2017, Countrywide | 28 Aug 2017, Countrywide


Photography 1
PRISA - 23 May 2017, Randburg, Johannesburg


Media law and ethics
Institute for the Advancement of Journalism - 29 Aug 2017 to 31 Aug 2017, Johannesburg


Creative writing and editing corporate publications
Institute for the Advancement of Journalism - 20 Nov 2017 to 24 Nov 2017, Johannesburg



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Upcoming events
Creative writing for the media
PRISA - 4 Apr 2017 to 6 Apr 2017, Johannesburg


Grammar skills for beginners
SA Writers College - 4 Apr 2017, Countrywide | 25 Apr 2017, Countrywide | 2 May 2017, Countrywide | 30 May 2017, Countrywide | 6 Jun 2017, Countrywide | 27 Jun 2017, Countrywide | 4 Jul 2017, Countrywide | 25 Jul 2017, Countrywide | 1 Aug 2017, Countrywide | 29 Aug 2017, Countrywide


NAACAM Show
Inkanyezi Event Organisers - 5 Apr 2017 to 7 Apr 2017, Durban


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"A smile is the universal welcome."

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