Green Scooter Is Moving At Electric Pace

Founded by Fezile Dhlamini, Green Scooter is the safest and first electric motor-tricycle for the African market. We chat to to him about his brand that has been in business for 6 years. Green Scooter won the Technology category sponsored by MTN Pulse at the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards.

The Green Scooter Journey

How has the journey been for Green Scooter?

Fezile: Green Scooter has been around for 6 years now. Formally, in the market for 4 or 5 years now and it has been a rollercoaster. The has been a lot of learning and unlearning. There has been a lot of super highs and super lows. You are trying to do something, you are trying to build something; you are creating this entire market in South Africa that is not really familiar.

How do you feel about the nomination?

Fezile: It moves away from how I feel rather how we feel as a company. It reaffirms that we are doing something right. It’s all about building something that people love. It allows young people to dream through you. For the company, it brings excitement, it enhances our vision. I was never a person of awards but getting your award [Top 16 YOBA] changed my perspective.

The Business After The YOBAs

Green Scooter with Award and MTN Pulse Hamper

Are you in talks with MTN Pulse after winning a category they sponsored?

Fezile: The award itself and it being sponsored by MTN Pulse it enabled us to have much higher level conversations with the team of decision makers. There are certain discussions we are having that focus on youth because I am also very youth driven when we talk about entrepreneurship.

Insider dubs you as South Africa’s Tesla, how does that make you feel as a team?

Fezile: Compliments like those are very important as how the market perceives you. I say this in a PR level, because if we said we are building something better than Tesla, it really has no impact. We are the Tesla of three wheels.

You can watch the full interview on our Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CgT7-ztDkEz/

A new online bartering platform, CirculateIt launches in South Africa

New online bartering platform, CirculateIt launched on the 4th of July 2022. CirculateIt is a platform created to make life easy and convenient for people to exchange goods and services without using money in the process. The brand name says it all “Circulate it” – encouraging people to ‘circulate’ their pre-owned goods/services for their desired goods/services.

Bartering Explained

Bartering is a cashless exchange system that dates back to 6000 BC – where 2 parties trade goods and/or services directly, without the use of money. Bartering has been practiced for years, even before the existence of money, people used to trade and exchange items. The whole concept of bartering is to save money and avoiding waste by trading what you may no longer want for something you really want.

Image: Supplied

CirculateIt

CirculateIt is the modern bartering platform, because it uses technology to bring 2 parties together with a mutual agreement to exchange/trade items.
“CirculateIt aims to unlock the latent potential of bartering to give frugal consumers access to more goods, services and reduce waste” says Frank Ogagba – Chief Executive Officer

Instead of discarding goods you no longer need or want, rather trade them in for goods you really need or want. CirculateIt is currently launching the platform for people residing in the Gauteng province, and as time progresses, they are willing to expand to other provinces. The public is always keen on trying new things, especially new technology – hence CirculateIt sees the idea of bartering as a great fit into the market. The platform is new, it’s fun, it’s convenient and most importantly it’s cost-effective.
“Price hikes and the cost of living are trends that make it difficult for most South Africans to make ends meet. Ways to save money are more pertinent than ever. CirculateIt.online gives South Africans a new way to save money, and even better, get what they need without paying. The platform enables people to barter trade products and services for what they need”, adds Frank Ogagba

Image: Circulate It Logo Supplied

Going into the month of July [savings month] the platform educates the public on not only saving money, but saving and preserving the environment. CirculateIt cannot wait to be the go-to bartering platform in South Africa and it cannot wait to switch things up in the market – #letsswitch.

MTN Pulse becomes the official category sponsor of the inaugural Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards

We are delighted to announce that the inaugural Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards (YOBA) have agreed on sponsorship with MTN, a South African multinational mobile telecommunications company. MTN will be sponsoring the technology category, through its division called MTN Pulse, a platform developed on the basis of boosting and empowering the youth of Mzansi.

MTN is a popularly known and developed mobile network in South Africa. It was recently announced as one of the Top 10 Most Admired Brands in Africa during the 12th Annual Brand Africa 100 report that was held in Lagos, Nigeria by Brand Africa.

MTN offers a wide range of tariff plans and deals with bundles that suit all tastes and budgets, MTN Pulse is no exception. It is currently one of the most efficient and advantageous mobile tariffs with incredible deals for the youth.

MTN Pulse is focused on empowering young people of South Africa through our offers and initiatives that celebrate young people and their passions. “We believe that all South Africans deserve the benefit of a modern connected life and that’s why it is our greatest honour to be the Technology category sponsor for the Top 16 Youth Owned Brands Awards. We fully support the efforts of young people and wish all the entrants well.” says Mirriam Mathebula, Senior Manager -Youth Segment

MTN Pulse allows young people the freedom to express themselves better and freely in the cyberspace and put in their hands’ a world of unlimited possibilities. Subscribers to the Pulse plan get access to an exclusive experience and great offers. It gives them the opportunity to enjoy the unlimited streaming data bundles, giveaways, and rewards at greater rates.

Image: Supplied

Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards

The Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards, an initiative by Pat on Brands aims to give recognition to proudly South African Brands that are owned and run by the youth. This is the first initiative of its kind in the country and over 400 nominations were submitted.

“MTN Pulse is no stranger to the Pat on Brands’ platform. Last year they supported our Women’s Month edition of the Pat on Brands Dialogues. This shows that they are a brand that is committed to upliftment of the youth. We are truly grateful for their continued support,” said Pat Mahlangu, Founder and CEO of Pat on Brands.

The awards ceremony is scheduled to happen on the 15th of June 2022 at The Capital: On the Park in Sandton. Tickets to these exciting awards are available on https://patonbrands.com/eventer/top-16-youth-owned-brand/

Introducing 12th Gen Intel Core Mobile Processors in South Africa

Intel announced the world’s fastest mobile processor, bringing its performance hybrid architecture to mobile platforms for the first time with new 12th Gen Intel Core mobile processors that are up to 40 percent faster than the previous generation mobile processor. Intel introduced 28 new 12th Gen Intel Core mobile processors that deliver a feature-rich suite of capabilities to create laptops for people to compute whenever and wherever they need – without compromise.

Word From Nitesh Doolabh

Nitesh Doolabh, Country Lead for Intel in South Africa comments,” The South African Gaming community have been eagerly awaiting the much-anticipated Intel 12Th Gen Core Mobile Processors launch. Intel 12th Gen is a brand-new Core architecture with the biggest change in x86 in over a decade with Intel’s new Hybrid Technology with both Performance and Efficient cores. This exciting new Hybrid approach allows us to bring together two different architectures via the Intel Thread Director Software. We are delighted to partner with local Gaming Specialists, Evetech, to showcase and make available the world’s fastest mobile processor to South African Gamers”.

Image: Supplied

Built For Next Generation of Gaming

Intel continues its introduction of industry-leading mobile performance processors with the 12th Gen Intel Core H-series mobile processors.

By pairing Performance-cores (P-cores) and Efficient-cores (E-cores) with intelligent workload prioritization and management distribution through Intel® Thread Director, the new Intel Core i9-12900H improves system performance across single and multi-threaded applications.

Based on the Intel 7 process, new 12th Gen H-series processors offer:

  • Up to 5 GHz frequencies, 14 cores (6 P-cores and 8 E-cores) and 20 threads that give the 12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900H. It delivers performance leadership over Intel’s previous generation and the competition.
  • The performance extends for unparalleled gaming experiences across top gaming titles and content creation tools. The new 12th Gen Intel Core H-series delivering up to 28% faster.12th Gen Intel Core H-series is more than up to the task for content creators. For example, users may see up to 43% higher performance in 3D rendering gen-over-gen.
  • Broad memory support for DDR5/LPDDR5 and DDR4/LPDDR4 modules up to 4800 MT/s – a first in the industry for H-series mobile processors.
  • Nearly three times faster connectivity on exclusive high-speed channels without legacy Wi-Fi interference. Using integrated Intel® Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+) gives users the freedom to work and learn from home and relax with smooth, high-quality streaming.
  • Thunderbolt™ 4 support that delivers transfer speeds up to 40Gbps and PC connectivity to multiple 4K monitors and accessories.

Designed for enthusiast gamers, creators and engineering professionals who want to push their laptop performance to the next level, the new 12th Gen Intel Core H-series mobile processors deliver desktop-caliber performance on the go.

MTN Group Enters the Metaverse with Land Ownership

There have been a lot of changes in the digital space. It is without a doubt there is still more to come. With artificial intelligence, it is a lot to figure out. Brands are looking at how they can get into the space that has taken the internet by storm.

Set in Ubuntuland, Africarare is a 3D virtual reality experience. Moreover, it is the first Virtual Reality metaverse in Africa. Ubuntuland can be bought, traded or kept as well as used for various experiences such as art exhibitions, games, and social experiences. $UBUNTU Token is the currency used on Africarare.

Source: Africa Tech

MTN Purchase

MTN became the first African company to enter the metaverse by purchasing land in Africarare. This purchase will see MTN owning 144 plots of virtual land with an overall area of 12x12m.  Through its presence in the metaverse, MTN intends to increase its customer attractiveness through a series of experiences merged with consumer passion points, like gaming and music. Furthermore, MTN Group said its presence on the metaverse demonstrates its commitment to supporting African innovation.

In the metaverse, not only do users get to interact with the computer-generated environment, they also interact with other users and engage in typical daily activities such as going to school, going to work, watching concerts, shopping at stores/malls, playing games, etc.

The question that remains is which brands in Africa are going to be tapping into this market soon?

Understanding The Emerging Trend; NFTs.

Someone in the metaverse

A lot of people have been confused about what NFT is. It’s hard to pin point what it does, is it a crypto currency? Is it BitCoin? Can I exhange it for cash? Well, I hope I some it up well.

What is NFT?

The acronym stands for Non-fungible token. Basically, non-fungible means it can’t be exchanged for cash or replaced for anything else. NFT is something only you can have…not completely. An NFT can be duplicated or rather copied. One person or more can have the original piece of an NFT if multiple original copies are made and the rest aren’t the original piece. Think of it as art collection. One original Picasso painting (worth a lot) and millions of replicas for close to nothing. Non-fungible tokens can be anything digital. It can be art, drawings or painting, a voice recording or music and more.

Hennessy’s NFT

Earlier this year Hennessy released their NFTs on BlockBar a spirits-focused NFT platform. To clarify, the NFTs include actual bottles of Hennessy. The digital bottles correspond with physicals bottles that customers can order and drink. Original owners also have the option to engrave a personalised message on the carafes and visit the Hennessy estate in Cognac, France. In addition, designed into each NFT and physical bottle is an engraved carafe, cork holder, pipette, authentication plate, and other trimmings. The Hennessy NFTs retail for $226,000, that’s about R4000.

Source: Business Insider South Africa

Nike Acquires RTFKT

Last year December, Nike acquired a virtual shoe company that makes NFTs and sneakers for the metaverse. As a way to tap into the virtual and gaming world. John Donahoe, President and CEO of NIKE, Inc. said “This acquisition is another step that accelerates Nike’s digital transformation and allows us to serve athletes and creators at the intersection of sport, creativity, gaming and culture.” Nike did not disclose how much the deal was worth.

Source: Hypebeast

NFT might be the growing trend for creatives to sell their work with the emerging metaverse. It is interesting to see how brands will tap into the the digital world in 2022.

Social Media Trends To Look Out For in 2022

The beginning of a new year ushers in new beginnings for many. Year planners have been purchased and planning has began, iIt is important to have insights to inform your goals. The social media landscape is one of constant change, keeping up with trends is the only way to stay afloat

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically increased the amount of time that people spend on social media. With more people creating content, it’s not only marketers who need to know social media trends, it has become important to the average joe too. Lets have a look at some forecasted social media trends for 2022.

tik tok logo witth airpods and laptop

TikTok is the place to be

TikTok has taken content creation by storm. The platform went from being ‘an app for kids’ to the next best social media app. According to an article published by Tech Crunch, TikTok is predicted to reach 775.0 Million monthly users in 2022. The increasing number of active users means more eye balls, and that is good for business and advertising. Businesses, marketers and content creators need to keep that in mind when trying to reach more people. Tick ock, the time is ticking… you better get on TikTok.

Drawing of a computer

The use of social media for meaningful customer connections

As the world is getting more and more open to the use of social media by businesses and brands, things begin to shift. We are used to brands using social media as just another form of advertising, and that’s set to change. Stricter privacy rules mean that it will be harder to get information on customer behavior. This means that the best way to connect and get to know the customer is by creating meaningful connections via social media. This year, marketers will be using social media to get to know the customer better.

Phone on a selfie stick

Video content is king

Video content keeps people glued to their screens for longer, its the best way to grab your audience’s attention. According to Pop Up Smart, video content is predicted to take up 82.5% of all web traffic. This comes as no surprise, we have seen a high introduction of video features on most platforms. Its time to hit those record buttons in order for your content to reach more eyeballs.

Phone open on photo galary

Influencers continue to influence

The rise and rise of influencer marketing continues. We have seen a lot of brands going the influencer route and this year will be no different. The reason for this growth is that influencer marketing costs less than running paid ad campaigns. Working with influencers also allows brands to work with more people, reach more consumers and thus getting a higher return on investment. I guess we can safely say that influencers are not just a trend, but a type of marketing that is here to stay.

People of different races holding hands
Image: Jaluch

Inclusivity remains important

In the age of social media, consumers have become more and more vocal about social issues. Over the past few years, we have seen a stronger pull towards brands that care about customers and general social issues. Inclusivity will continue to be an important factor for customers. This will push brands to stay on the pulse and represent the communities in which they operate.

By standing next to tv with a carton character that looks like him
Image: Pop Sugar

Just a few weeks ago, there was an image of a young boy who was so excited to see a cartoon character that looked like him. It is with such small impactful particles that we change the world, and ensure inclusivity by age, gender, race and sexual orientation. We can all agree that social media has the power to make a change.

In the age of digital, it is important for people and brands to keep up with social media trends. Anyone who wants to grow on social media, for personal or business reasons needs to understand that its all about adapting. The social media streets are a place to adapt, and keep up with the times, or die.

A look back at 2021’s social media landscape

Social media icons

We have seen a lot of sudden changes since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The digital space has been one place where a lot of change and growth took place. There are quiet a number of social media platforms that benefited from people being home for longer periods of time.

South Africa’s population is just under 60 million, and according to the CEO of World Wide Worx there are approximately 38.2 million social media users in South Africa. This means that over half of our population is on social media.

Iphone with social media icons

2020/2021 social media rocket

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a spike in the number of social media users. The number of active social media users has increased from 22 million users in January 2020 to 25 million users in January 2021, this is a 13.6% increase. Marketers and advertisers need to keep a close eye on these trends, as these inform budgets.

Audience

Top 5 social media platforms

Many people paint social media as a platform for the younger generation only, this is not entirely correct. Here are some of the most popular social media networks amongst people aged between 16 to 65 years old:

  1. Whatsapp at 93.2%
  2. YouTube at 92.4%
  3. Facebook at 86.7%
  4. Instagram at 70.2%
  5. Messenger at 64.7%

There are a number of learnings one can take from the top 5 social media platforms in South Africa. The pattern tells us of how people like to receive information.

Top 5
Image: True Cable

Top 3 learnings from the top 5

  1. Affordability

The prices of data in South Africa is ranked 136 globally, this pushes people to find more affordable means to communicate. Whatsapp and Facebook messenger allow for a much more affordable day-to-day conversation. These are the platforms where people are able to send instant messages at an affordable price.

2. Keeping in contact

Instagram and Facebook are platforms where people are able to keep up with their old friends and family. This platorm allows people to stay in the loop even though they do not communicate much.

3. Short format videos

Instagram introduced short format videos in July of 2021, this came as a way to compete with TikTok. TikTok has become one of the fastest growing social media platforms. Platforms like YouTube and Instagram Reels keep us glued to our screens for longer and this works for brands and advertisers.

According to an article published in Orlando Sentinel, the average human attention span is 8 seconds. This is a dramatic decrease from 12 seconds in the year 2000.

YouTube on phone

Video content that is able to keep people engaged for longer periods of time is definitely a breakthrough for marketing. It is important for marketers to keep up with the different social media trends, this will guide strategy as well as budget. A marketer that is always on the pulse is always on the money.

Top Albums and Songs Streamed on Spotify this year in South Africa

spotify logo

Since being introduced in Mzansi in 2018 , Spotify has exposed talent in the country to different parts of the world. Spotify Wrapped shows users the most streamed albums, songs and artists. There are a lot of international artists streamed in the country, however Amapiano is the country’s biggest genre.

DJ Maphorisa and Kaabza Da Small
Image: The Face

Most Streamed Local Artists

Chart topping duo, DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small took the 1st and 2nd spot respectively. Their joint venture into the Amapiano genre, the two have kept the country vibing during the toughest lockdowns. DJ Maphorisa has featured in 4 albums this year alone. Meanwhile, Kabza De Small released Pretty Girls Love Amapiano 3. Busta 929, sits at number 3 and his hit song Umsebenzi Wethu which was released last year is still in the top 5 of most streamed songs in SA this year. De Mthuda and Mr JazziQ take the 4th and 5th place respectively.

Drake
Image: Rolling Stone

Most Streamed Albums

Drake’s Certified Lover Boy was the most-streamed album in South Africa on Spotify. However, Blxckie’s B4Now took the second spot in the South African Most Streamed album. Recently, Blxckie took the number one spot as the Hottest MC in the country, as listed by MTV Base. A-Reece’s Today’s Tragedy, Tomorrow’s Memory: The Mixtape is at number three while Busta 929’s Undisputed Vol 2 and Makhadzi’s Kokovha at number four and five, respectively.

Mpura and Busta929
Image: Fakaza News

Most Streamed Songs

In this list, it is a bit surprising that there is only one South African song. Although, Spotify creates a list specifically for the artists in South Africa, in the overall songs streamed the one present from Mzansi was released in 2020. Taking the top spot is The Kid LAROI with his single titled Stay ft Justin Bieber. The Business by Tiesto is number two. Ed Sheeran comes in at number 3 with his single ‘Bad Habits’ from his 4th full length album. The only South African song on this list is Umsebenzi Wethu by Busta 929 and it take the fourth position. Olivia Rodrigo takes the fifth spot with the single ‘drivers license’.

Spotify is a great platform to discover new artists, songs or genres. Furthermore, Spotify Wrapped is one of the coolest ways to find out what you listen to without noticing.

A celebration like no other, with an animation studio to look out for

mollo launch

Tshimologong Innovation Hub celebrated 5 years of making dreams come true this past week. It was only fitting that the night is kickstarted with a word from the man who started it all. Prof Barry Dwolatzky, who is now the Director Innovation and Strategy at Wits.

Prof Barry D
Prof Barry Dwolatzky

Prof Barry shared a story of where it all started. His story was one of passion, will and determination. We can now safely say that those three are a combination of success tools. Prof Barry took his passion and went knocking on doors to bring his dream of a digital innovation hub to light. The University of Witswatersrand assisted him with an old building which used to be club. It is quiet interesting that the main stage at the precinct has footprint that symbolize that the space was once a night club

Dance space to a creators space

From a mere night club to a place where many young people continue to innovate and meet their dreams. The precinct invited some of the people who went through their programs and managed to build reputable businesses and innovations. Four brave innovators shared their businesses with the audience, here are two stories that stood out.

Lucia Nunu S
Lucia Nunu Shabangu

Lucia Nunu Shabangu is one of the ladies who were part of the Ya Basadi program. Her events and marketing business, Complit Events took a hit when the lockdown was first announced in March 2020. After going through a rigorous skills and development training session and also learning about programming, she developed Complit Swing. Complit Swing is a golfing game that uses virtual reality, allowing golfers to engage with people from different parts of the world.

Zuko - founder of Sensor
Zuko Mandlakazi

Senso is a company founded on ensuring that everyone has a fair chance of escaping danger by creating awareness of danger. The founder, Zuko Mandlakazi share a story of a family if five, with only one hearing person in the house. Mandlakazi said that people in the neighburhood knew this and they would wait for the family to sleep and then break into the house.

These unpleasant events made him create a solution that allows the parents, who are both deaf, to feel the potential danger. The Sensor band is a two part device, in the case of the family, one part is placed on the door handle while the other is worn as a wrist band. The device placed at the door sends a signal to the wrist band when it detects movement on the door handle, this then causes a vibration which will wake the individual up.

This can work on anything from keeping your car safe, monitoring a sleeping baby as well as ensuring that you do not burn those scones in the oven.

Unveiling South Africa’s latest animation studio

Mollo Animation Sudio unveiling

The event was beautiful, from the set up to the food, the unveiling of its latest offering was the cherry on top. The Mollo Animation Studio was unveiled on Friday the 26th o November 2021. Mollo is a Setswana name that means “fire”, when we remove one ‘l’ the word reads ‘Molo”, which means “warm greetings” in isiXhosa. With this unveiling Tshomologong greets and invites all young aspiring animators to gather around the fire to tell great stories through animation.

This studios is not a win for the precinct only, but for the African continent as a whole. The studio already houses people from different parts of Africa.

A place of new beginnings for digital creatives

Lungelo Makhatini

You may be asking yourself if there is a place for you at Tshimologong. The question is, do you have a digital idea that you feel like will make a mark in the digital space? if yes, then Tshimologong is is the right place for you. Lungelo Makhathini, who is part of the marketing team at the precinct said “All you need to have is a digital idea or solution”, if you are that person, head over to Tshimilogongs website for more details.

Tshimologong celebrates 5 years milestone of developing Africa’s digital entrepreneurs.

Tshimologong precint

Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct has reached an impressive milestone. This year marks five years of the precinct providing innovative and technology-based solutions to problems affecting the South African and the greater African economy.

Tshimologong meaning “new beginnings” in Setswana, a fitting name that the University of Witwatersrand chose for its Digital Innovation Precinct. Tshimologong is not only a catalyst hub that bridges the gap between South Africa’s digital skills shortage and youth unemployment. The precinct is also a place of new beginnings for many young tech enthusiasts, entrepreneurs and professionals in South Africa. In celebration of this milestone, the Precinct will be hosting an event on the 26th of November to give thanks for the continuous support.

Image: Quicket

Digital skills are vital in building a strong, competitive and sustainable economy. The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has demonstrated its ability to transform various industries and drive innovative change. The Precinct commercializes world-class African digital innovation by helping the youth solve local problems with global appeal. This is achieved through its accelerated skills development program, Digital Skills Academy and the Youth Incubation programs. It builds strong relationships with partners, stakeholders, sponsors and communities. Over 500 young people and entrepreneurs have experienced positive growth since the beginning of the Precinct in 2016.

digital skills lab
Image: Tshimologong.joburg

South Africa’s youth unemployment rate is currently at a record high, in October the country’s unemployment rate amongst youth aged between 15-24 years was at 74%. The only solution to this problem is through entrepreneurship and digital transformation. With an understanding of these issues, being equipped with digital skills is crucial in South Africa. The primary mandate of Tshimologong is to empower, educate and upskill the youth to be creative, innovative, competent while contributing to the country’s economy. Some of the important success stories the Precinct has seen over the years is from one of the program beneficiaries, Lesego Vorster. He is currently the Co-founder of Hidden Hands Studios which will be producing an original Disney Plus film to be released in 2022.

Animation student
Image: tshimologong.joburg

The Precinct has been in constant effort to transform youth, entrepreneurs and professionals to grow and thrive in this digital age. “The five years milestone is an ideal amount of time developing a track record of delivering our products and services. Like all initial startups, we tested and tweaked our offering and now have data to support the experience of our interns and entrepreneurs telling us that our methodology works”, says Lesley Donna Williams, CEO of Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct.

“Our purpose of the Precinct is to develop world-leading digital entrepreneurs, and we have both entrepreneurs and staff turned entrepreneurs who have excelled in doing so. We are proud to be the platform that catapults the success of our community. Now we need to mainstream African excellence around the globe”, Lesley adds.

South Africa and the broader African region has incredible talent. It may take us doing things differently to fully activate its greatest potential. This means being clear about our role in the value chain from investing in emerging talent to procuring from local digital entrepreneurs. Our nation has no shortage of problems, we have an abundance of unsupported skilled problem solvers that are hungry to make a difference and build businesses doing so.

How to setup TikTok for business

Phone with TikTok emblem on screen

What is it that your brand wants to achieve? Is it engagements, brand promotion, or sales? Whatever the case may be, TikTok has the best solution to help achieve these goals.

Since its launch in 2016, TikTok has taken the social media landscape to the next level. With over 1 billion active users globally. Users create cool content and interact with each others posts to reach a common goal. Creating fun experiences and showcasing their creative talent through videos. TikTok users are very youthful, energetic, and innovative in content creation.

What is TikTok for business?

TikTok For Business Image
Image: TikTok

Tik Tok for business is a type of account designed specifically for businesses.  On this account, businesses can advertise and sell their products and services while creating cool content… awesome right!

TikTok and other social media platforms

The difference between TikTok and other social media platforms lies heavily in the content shared on the platform. Most social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn use images and text to engage with the audience. TikTok on the other hand, uses short and impactful videos. A study by Hub Spot shows that 54% of consumers want to see more video content from businesses or brands that they support.

This study proves that consumers are more likely to engage in content that fascinates them, and Tik Tok is here to make that dream a reality.

Phone open on TikTok
Image: Business Insider

How businesses can do good with TikTok

We all want to be unique and stand out. The most interesting thing about Tik Tok is that it helps brands to stand out from competitors. Isn’t that what every brand desires?

To achieve that, brands need to be on top of their game when creating content. They need to be genuine and straightforward. They need to avoid using the same content throughout and engage with their audience.

Brands need to unleash their creativity and think outside the box. They need to ensure that their marketing strategies are in line with their targeted customers and speak the same language as them. Being creative is the best way to get your brand being discovered by your customers

How to set up a TikTok for business account

tiktok business account
Image: quintly.com

Here are 5 easy steps to start promoting your brand. 

1. Download the TikTok App on your smartphone either on Google Play Store or Apple store and follow instructions. 

2. ‘Clicking’ on Manage Account on the app and select Business Account. 

3 Your Business Account will then be created  

4. Select the category that suits your business. 

5. Start creating awesome content and engaging with your brands’ key targeted customers. It’s that simple. 

Digital is the future of marketing

In today’s world, where almost everything is going digital. Businesses need to take advantage of marketing opportunities through digital platforms like TikTok. Social media platforms present extraordinary marketing opportunities for businesses of all sizes. To create content, promote and sell their services and products, as well as engaging with their customers.

Here is what you can expect from the iPhone 13

iPhone 13

Everyone is talking about the new iPhone 13. The Apple event took place recently and sent social media abuzz. This is not unexpected because everyone has one burning question, to buy or not to buy?

There are a few updates on the new phone and here is what is on offer:

Iphone 13
Image: BizCommunity

Camera

Debates about the iPhone 8 having the best camera in iPhone history is not a rare topic. A lot of people didn’t think the iPhone 12 range compared to the iPhone 8. So, what’s new?

The new Photographic Styles feature personalises the look of images. Both models include Night mode on all cameras. The Wide camera has up to 2.2x improved low-light performance.

The Video option has the Cinematic mode which allows depth-of-field transitions, macro video, time-lapse and Slo-mo, and better low-light performance. All three rear cameras have new sensors and lenses that are powered by an image signal processor in the A15 Bionic chip set.

However, It is yet to be determined f the new camera updates are a big improvement in comparison to the 12 models.

Design

The look hasn’t changed much from the iPhone 12. “The all-new Pro lineup features a premium flat-edge design, crafted with exceptional materials, including the surgical-grade stainless steel band, with an elegant finish that is resistant to abrasion and corrosion, and a textured matte glass back.

They changed new design of the rear camera system has a stainless-steel trim surrounding each lense. The one feature that matters the most is water resistance and the Pro has an IP68 rating for water resistance.

iPhone13
Image: YoMzansi

5G performance

The customised hardware design in the iPhone 13 Pro lineup features more 5G bands, allowing it to work in more places on 5G for greater coverage and performance. By the end of 2021, support for 5G on iPhone will double around the globe, with over 200 carriers worldwide in 60 countries and regions.

Battery life

All-day battery life6 for both Pro models, with iPhone 13 Pro Max offering the longest battery life ever in an iPhone. iPhone 13 Pro will last up to one and a half hours longer in a day than iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max will last up to two and a half hours longer in a day than iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Pricing

The iPhone 13 Pro is expected to be priced R14,400 in South Africa with the iPhone 13 Pro Max at R15,800. However, there is no confirmation on the official pricing yet. The phones will be available from 8 October. Now the big question, is it a pat or a slap on the purchase?

HUAWEI nova 8 and HUAWEI nova Y60 now on sale

HUAWEI NOVA 8

Everyone wants wants a phone that makes them stand out from the crowd. Huawei has two of the best affordable phones coming in hot right. The nova 8 and nova Y60 are the new exciting plug.

The HUAWEI nova 8 and HUAWEI nova Y60 are here with impressive specs of the things you would need for your phone.

Huawei nova 8
HUAWEI NOVA 8

Fast charging power

Forgot to plug the charger? A smartphone that offers a long-lasting battery is important. Fully charged in 35 minutes? Yes, the new HUAWEI nova 8 charges to 100% in 35 minutes. This means you can do multiple thing on your devices in just a few minutes. The battery also charges to 60% in just 15 minutes!

The HUAWEI nova Y60 has two amazing features like the 5000mAh large battery and Hauwei’s power-saving AI Algorithms. These features allow you to use the phone with no worries about the battery dying. The Ultra Power Saving mode makes sure the battery lasts longer even when it’s low.

Picture perfect

For all Instagrammable moments, you need a phone that will give you the clearest pictures. The HUAWEI nova 8 has the best camera features, without breaking the bank. The 64MP high-resolution rear camera that lets you take vividly sharp photos. Night out? HUAWEI nova 8 Super Night Mode makes sure that you still capture your best angles. The Main Camera and Ultra-Wide Angle Camera on the back of the HUAWEI nova 8 work together to enable Dual-View Video, which is perfect for taking group selfies and fun videos.

The HUAWEI nova Y60 has no exception for picture perfect moments, with a solid AI Triple Camera, allowing users to capture clearer photos of everyday moments with ease. The 13MP Main Camera has an f/1.8 large aperture which is essential for great quality pictures.

Stunning aesthetics

The HUAWEI nova 8 comes in a spectacular Blush Gold colour and has a thin and light body that weighs only 169 g.  The HUAWEI nova 8 comes in a Blush Gold colour and only weighs 169 g. The universe-inspired Nebular Camera System sits at the back and has an exquisite glass panel.

On the other hand, the HUAWEI nova Y60 is available in two classic colours – Crush Green and Midnight Black. The 3D design with smooth, rounded edges ensures a comfortable grip and the handy on-screen navigation makes it better.

HUAWEI NOVA Y60
HUAWEI NOVA Y60

Pricing

The HUAWEI nova 8 is on sale on the Huawei Store (Online) for R12 999 which comes with a bundle deal of HUAWEI FreeBuds 4i for R12 999. For R3 099 you can get the HUAWEI nova Y60 and comes with a free Blueetooth headset valued at R699.

Both these smartphones come with a two-year warranty, one-time free screen guard service, free unboxing service at store and 50-days screen insurance. Also available from Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, Cell C and Takealot. 

4 Cool things you must know about MTN Pulse

Uncle Vinny MTN Pulse

Affordable data has always been a challenge for many people to access. Young people, especially students struggle with this a lot. Cheaper bundles are usually not available for them to go through their schoolwork, communicate with loved ones and keep up with trends.

Fortunately, MTN has a platform called ‘MTN Pulse’ that gives discounted data offers, weekly prizes, benefits, and experiences for people under 25 years. Be part of the squad by switching to MTN and sign up online.

Besides getting away from data struggles, MTN Pulse has these cool perks for its members:

 1. Rewards

For being part of the MTN Pulse squad means that there are some cool rewards for you. You qualify for there is #PulseThursdays with giveaways ranging from devices, accessories, and travel vouchers to cash vouchers and you earn 500 MyMTN YelloBucks when you join or buy any of their bundles.

2. Competitions

MTN Pulse Uncle Vinny


MTN Pulse is constantly looking to upskill and empower SA’s freshest, upcoming talent through nationwide competitions. One of the latest competitions that ran during June and July 2021 was The Go Show: MTN Pulse Takeover that was all about providing under 25s with a digital boost for their hustle. A digital boost included a smartphone, laptop, 12-month Wi-Fi connection, 12-month masterclass voucher, and more.

3. Great rates

Free yourself from the data struggle and enjoy discounts on MTN Pulse bundles so you can browse online for as long as you like. There are different bundles like the student bundle that offers 10GB (5G night express and 5GB anytime data) for a week. The different bundles include data only, social pass, and combo bundles that make it possible to connect to the internet from as little as R5.

MTN Pulse Rates

4. Empowerment

MTN Business App of the Year awards is all about recognising and rewarding app developers in different spheres and MTN Pulse is part of it! MTN Pulse sponsors the MTN Business App of The Year ‘Best Campus Solution’ category. This category is specifically open for 18 to 24-year-olds who are passionate about app development. They could enter individually or through their university, FET Colleges, or any other Institution of Higher Learning. They stand a chance to win their share of R100 000 in prize money, courtesy of MTN Pulse towards their app enhancements or anything else they may need.

We live in a digital age and access to the internet means access to a lot of information to educate, entertain and empower ourselves. MTN Pulse is the perfect plug for young people.