Marketing & Selling

Social influencers in South Africa must declare all income, including non-monetary compensation, as clarified by the South African Revenue Service (SARS)! On 5 September 2025, SARS issued a media release. It stated its zero-tolerance position regarding social influencers and undeclared income.

Different kinds of rewards have different behavioural pros and cons. However, when used together, they can produce outstanding results. Almost all employee engagement, channel incentive and customer loyalty programs include some form of tangible, extrinsic reward. While there is a vast middle ground, in general, there are two kinds of rewards. These are micro and macro rewards.

For years, LinkedIn carried the aura of a digital name tag. It was present, but it largely stayed out of the spotlight. Now, in South Africa, corporate engagement with LinkedIn has moved beyond routine activity and into strategic intent. The new SA Social Media Landscape Report 2025, we produced, in partnership with brand intelligence company Ornico, reveals a sharp shift.

For decades, television was the heavyweight of media spend. If you wanted mass reach, you bought primetime TV. Simple. However, audiences no longer consume video in the same way. The living room screen is still central. Yet, it is now connected, streaming, and personalised. This shift is pulling advertising budgets in a new direction.

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.