Marketing & Selling

Channel partners loyal to your business are the ultimate partners. They willingly and passionately advocate for your brands and products over the many others that they sell, even when there are many competitors vying for their attention and support. That kind of personal and professional endorsement is pure gold.

Getting Google’s “AI Overviews” to highlight your site comes down to three things: the organic strength of your website, the way you label your page and the way you structure your copy. Did you feel that was an abrupt start to an article? Well, buckle up. That style mirrors the kind of writing Google’s AI Overviews might favour.

By 2030, Generation Z (Gen Z) will be the biggest-spending generation across much of Sub-Saharan Africa. Already, South Africa's youngest consumers are transforming how the country pays. I have seen that for Gen Z, speed, choice and digital convenience are not just nice to have. They are non-negotiable.

A new report highlights ethics and digital transformation as key drivers of Africa’s evolving Public Relations (PR) industry. The African Public Relations Association (APRA), celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, partnered with the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) to release its latest annual research.

Traditional marketing channels such as call centres, SMSs and emails are being put on mute by consumers. Many people feel fatigued by the constant and incessant marketing spam they experience every day. There is no logical reason for businesses to continue hammering the dead horse of traditional marketing channels.

Today’s marketers, particularly those working with SMEs, are finding that long-term gains often disappear in the pursuit of undefined "vanity metrics". These metrics are not moving the needle in ways that align with real returns on investment. The world has changed. As a result, marketing must change, too.

Connected TV (CTV) isn’t new. It’s simply the next step in how we watch television. For media planners, that shift unlocks bigger budgets, sharper targeting, and more engaged viewers.The media industry loves shiny acronyms. Over-the-Top (OTT), Advertising-based Video on Demand (AVOD), Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) – and now CTV. But in the rush to label every shift in viewing habits, we often forget something simple.

The much-anticipated Fan Insights Report reveals how live sports consumption is rapidly evolving. Shifts in fan behaviour, expectations and engagement are reshaping the live event experience. These changes reflect broader trends influencing what sports fans want today.

The often-cited and widely disputed claim from a 2015 Microsoft report, that today’s consumers have the attention span of a goldfish, may lack scientific credibility. Still, it remains a compelling metaphor for the fragmented nature of modern attention. Add to that the erosion of trust caused by fake news, exaggerated claims and constant digital noise, and it becomes clear why traditional sales strategies are losing ground.

From TikTok to Instagram, South Africans are increasingly exposed to posts claiming to offer financial tips. However, many blur the line between education and exploitation. As misinformation spreads, financial advisers have a clear opportunity: step in with the credibility, structure and ethics that the public is missing.