How to see if someone has fake followers

Ever heard of the saying; women lie, men lie but numbers don’t lie? Well, in the case of fake followers the opposite is true. Have you ever wondered how some people’s following on Instagram, Twitter and more recently SnapChat has just exploded into thousands? There’s a high chance that those people bought followers. Buying followers for your Twitter or Instagram is as easy as buying a book from Amazon. You can buy 1000 followers by a click of a button for less than R100 (depending on the Rand/Dollar exchange rate).

People buy followers for various reasons: Leigh Van Den Berg notes that because of the “influencer” craze, brands are putting a lot of money behind influencer campaigns. The first thing that brands look at when choosing influencers is the number of followers that a person has. If the number of followers is high then they are more likely to select that person. A high number of followers gives the impression that the reach will also be high: It is a numbers game. The truth is, a social media account that is infested with fake followers makes no impact. It is like performing in-front of empty chairs, no one is watching. However, there are ways to discover whether the followers are genuine or not. Below are the two main ways to identify social media accounts with fake followers:

1. Drastic increase in the number of followers

Growing genuine following takes time and hard work. Unless, you are a famous celebrity and you’ve just joined a social media platform you may be able garner a following in a short period of time. Otherwise, there’s a high chance that the followers have been bought. If the number of followers are steadily increasing but the user is not posting anything this could be an indication that the followers were bought.

2. Low engagement, if not zero.

Chances are, you have once came across a social media account that has 10 000 followers, but the engagement is so low that their posts only get about 10 likes and zero comments. However, I must emphasise that this point is quite tricky because users can also purchase likes and comments. For example an Australian Travel Instagrammer once posted a black and white picture and received a comment that read “great colours”. This was clearly a bot making the comment.

Brands need to be cautious of the fake followers phenomena. In an article by Hadlee Simons on BizCommunity, Leigh van den Berg and Candice-Lee Kannemeyer share their experiences with buying followers for the fake Instagram account that they have created. The duo said they found the process to be shockingly simple. Naming their fake account fake_fake_fake1981 and making a declaration that it was fake on the account profile wasn’t enough to stop them. Read full article here

My advice to brands would be to rather invest an influencer with a small but authentic following and grow with them instead of having someone with many bots following them.
If you know someone who you suspect has fake followers or have any thoughts on the topic leave a comment below. If you like this post, please share it. Remember to also get in touch with @PatOnBrands on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram .

Brands and products that Black South Africans found other uses for.

If there is one thing that you got to give to black South Africans is their ability to reposition brands and products in the market. Brands produce products for specific purposes then they find other uses of the products to suit their unique needs. In this article I am looking at some of the popular products and brands that black South Africans found different uses for.

1. Dish washing liquid (Sunlight) – Hair Shampoo
When the Lever Brothers launched the world’s first packaged, branded laundry soap, Sunlight in 1884. What they had in mind was to launch a dishwashing liquid they promised consumers “that a little goes a long way”, not a shampoo that will be used to wash off a relaxer.

2. Matchsticks – Earbuds
Instead of being used to start fire, someone in the township thought maybe I can use this clean my ears. Then the matchsticks became popular as an earbud. To make the matchsticks softer on the ears some people cover with toilet paper.

3. Light Brown Shoe Polish (Kiwi) – Makeup
According to Busisiwe Ntsamba, back in the days when most black women couldn’t afford to buy make-up, they resorted to using the light brown shoe polish such as Kiwi as make-up to put a “matt” finish to their faces. To this day, some women still use it.

4. Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline) – Lip Gloss
The petroleum jelly is probably one of the most versatile products. There are many uses for it. One of the famous uses for the petroleum jelly is it being used as a lip gloss, to make their lips shiny.

4. Jeye’s Fluid – Bad Luck Remover
Jeye’s Fluid is a disinfectant fluid that is for outdoor use only. It can be used to kill bacteria in your garden and to get rid of bad odour in sewages. In the townships some people use it to bath with the belief that it will eliminate bad luck in their lives. Others also the Jeye’s Fluid to heal stomach bugs.

5. Fabric Conditioner (Sta-Soft) – Air-Freshener
The fabric condition is made to make clothes soft, while leaving them with a long lasting fragrance. Because of that some people use it in their cars as an air freshner particularly the Sta-soft fabric conditioner tube.

6. Telephone Directory (Yellow Pages) – Toilet Paper
The purpose of the telephone directory is to help find contact details of local business and institutions. Because of the softness of the paper, you will often find the Yellow Pages in many toilets in the townships.

7. Sunlight Green Bar – Toothpaste and Deodorant
The Sunlight green bar was voted as South Africa’s iconic brand. Regardless of your background, one way or the other, you have an encountered this product. It is one of the multi-purposeful products in the market, some people use it as a toothpaste or deodorant. For children, it is used to clear stomach and for those with dreadlocks, it is used for moulding.

The underlying reason for people to find other uses for these products and brands is the socio-economic conditions of our societies. Someone people cannot simply afford some of the products, hence they end up using them for something else. Other people also like experimenting with the products and if the outcome is good they stick to them, or they find it hard to get the products in stores.
If you know other brands or products that are used for what they were initially intended for, please feel free to leave your comments below. Also do remember to get in touch with @PatOnBrands on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and SnapChat

How to become a social media influencer in South Africa

The revolutionary emergence of social media has provided ordinary people with an easily accessible platform to voice their opinions and become thought leaders in their areas of interest. These thought leaders are often referred to as influencers. They tend to be well-connected individuals and are perceived to be influential and in-the-know in certain topics. Their followers, on the various social media platforms, look up to them for advice, knowledge, direction and opinions.

For many brands, the use of influencers has become one of the most effective strategies to drive brand messages in subliminal ways. Instead of pushing their own message, brands can leverage the ‘attracting power’ of online influencers to get their message to the consumer.

In developed countries, such the Unites States and the United Kingdom, influencers are making lots of money. Some people end up leaving their jobs to become full-time influencers. In 2015, Business Insider reported that one of the most popular YouTube channels, PewDiePie made about $7.4 million. Converting this amount into Rands, that’s closer to a whopping R100 Million depending on the Rand/Dollar exchange rate. In SA we have people like Boity, Kefilwe Mabote, Karabo Mokgoko and Tshepi Mvundla just to name a few, who have become formidable influencers in their own unique ways.

We at patonbrands.com believe that by following the 6 guidelines below, you can become an influencer in your area of interest.

1. Identify a topic or area you are most passionate about

In the famous words of Georg W.F Hegel “Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion”. To be a phenomenal influencer, you need to be passionate about the topic/area you want to be influential in, whether it’s sports, fashion and lifestyle, cars etc. If you are not as passionate you won’t do great and your followers will pick it up.

2. Choose a platform to share your thoughts

There many platforms that you can use to communicate your passion on. You need to choose the one(s) that will allow you to reach your audience effectively and efficiently. You can have your own blog and presence on social media sites such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram. This is, however, dependent on the type of content that you will be producing.

3. Be consistent

In the influencer marketing space, consistency is vital. If you don’t release content on a regular basis, your audience will forget about you (Out of sight- Out of mind).

4. Provide value

Give your audience a reason to consume your work. There are various ways to provide value, whether you want to entertain, educate and inform your audience or simply just to share on your inner thoughts. The choice is completely yours.

5. Network

An African Proverb states that “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others”. This is true to becoming an influencer, engage with those that are already in the space to broaden your reach and scope. Also find a way to add value to what they are doing.

6. Be patient

Like any other thing worth achieving, you need to have patience. It takes time to build an audience. Again, if you are passionate about your chosen topic/area it will be easier for you to be patient.

I hope you find this guideline useful to start your journey as an influencer and make a positive impact in people’s lives. Please leave your comments below and as usual don’t forget to share! Don’t forget to in-touch with @PatOnBrands on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

 

The impact of xenophobic attacks on South African brands.

You are probably wondering what the xenophobic attacks have to do with brands. Well… the answer is EVERYTHING, because in this world nothing ever works in isolation. The impact may be direct or indirect and its magnitude may differ but the bottom line is that there is an impact. According to Otto Sterlik founder of the Protea Group, xenophobic attacks not only have an effect on the tourism industry but the entire South African economy.

A report by Ernst & Young states that Africa is an important growth market that no consumer products business can afford to ignore. More and more global companies are establishing business in Africa. South Africa, being one of the largest economies in the African continent, is often used as a “gateway” to Africa. The companies first set up base in South Africa before penetrating other African markets.

South African companies are also making inroads to the entire African continent as part of their growth strategy. The spell on fellow African brothers and sisters is therefore not only detrimental to the foreigners but to the companies that have already established themselves in other African countries and those that have plans to enter other African countries.

Over the weekend I received a very disturbing voice note from a friend. The man speaking on the voice note (whom I assume is a Nigerian national) is calling on all other African nations to “bomb” South African businesses in foreign countries if the South Africans don’t stop attacking foreigners. Last week, the MTN Head Office in Abuja, Nigeria had to shut down after they were invaded by anti-xenophobic protesters.

Nigeria is MTN’s largest and most profitable market. In 2013, MTN Nigeria reported more profits than MTN South Africa.

MTN is not the only South African brand that could be adversely affected by the wake of the xenophobic protests. Shoprite, a leading retailer in South Africa has about 7 stores in Nigeria compared to the 600 store in South Africa. The giant retailer sells more bottles of Moet and Chandon Champagne in Nigeria than in all liquor  South Africa. This is an indication of how significant the Nigerian market is.

Nigeria is not the only market that South African brands have successfully established business in. Countries such as Angola, Tanzania, Botswana, Mozambique and so forth, have also opened their boarders for South African brands that are doing quite well.

If the xenophobic attacks continue, the growth of brands such as Standard Bank, DSTV, Woolworths, Tiger Brands and many others will be impeded. The brands will lose out on the investments already made in other African countries.  South Africa’s GDP will drop and ultimately more people will become unemployed. The consequences are just undesirable.

South Africans need to unite against the few culprits of the xenophobic attacks to prevent South African brands being attacked in other African countries.  I would also like to urge the South African brands to use their influence in their respective industries to educate and help curb the xenophobic attacks.

Kwame Nkrumah was famously quoted as saying “the forces that unite us are intrinsic and greater than the superimposed influences that keep us apart”. Unemployment, corruption and drugs are all global problems. It is time for Africa to unite, because we are one!

Remember to leave your comments below about your thoughts on how the banks acted on the budget speech. And if you like this article, please SHARE IT! Don’t forget to get in-touch with @PatOnBrands on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and SnapChat.

How the banks took advantage of the 2017 budget speech

Yesterday was one of the most important days in the land. The Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan presented the budget for the 2017 fiscal year. The budget speech sets the tone for the year, as to how government will spend money and aim to address socio-economic challenges such as high-unemployment rate, education amongst others. Above all, how the changes will have an impact on an average consumer’s pocket.  Experts in the finance industry also made speculations prior to the speech as to what the minister will say about various economic factors. Some were on point and some completely missed it. There are already missed reactions on the actual budget speech as usual. Be it as it may, we can only remain positive as a nation and move forward.

In the midst of the budget speech, some brands particularly the banks saw an opportunity to increase brand awareness online. Here is how the four major banks in the country leveraged on the budget speech:

1. ABSA – The bank owned the #Budget2017 by promoting the hashtag on Twitter.  The hashtag trended number one on Twitter for the whole day. If you were to search #Budget2017 you will see an ABSA ad at the top.

AbsaT

2. FNB – Instead of promoting a hashtag, FNB focused on pushing of FNB branded images around the budget speech from the beginning to the end of the Minister’s speech. The aim was to highlight the key points in the budget speech.

Presentation1

2. Nedbank – They ran a Budget Speech competition in partnership with Old Mutual. The competition was aimed at economics students registered at recognised institution of higher learning in South Africa either studying full-time or part-time. The winners were announced yesterday.

OMCOM_Sponsorship_BudgetSpeechCompetition_Op1_592x312

4. Standard Bank – The whole News 24 site was painted blue yesterday, all thanks to Standard Bank. On the popular news site, the bank put up digital banners highlighting the budget speech and also a call to action for the visitors to site learn about budgeting and the investment and savings packages that Standard Bank offers.

standard bank

It is important for brands to start targeting major events such as the Budget Speech to boost brand awareness particularly on social media as it is cost effective. The banks get a Pat for taking initiatives to leverage on the budget speech as it is aligned with their industry. Even though the banks got brand awareness, consumers also benefited from the initiatives as they get informed.

Remember to leave your comments below about your thoughts on how the banks acted on the budget speech. And if you like this article, please SHARE IT! Don’t forget to in-touch with @PatOnBrands on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and SnapChat.

Pat on UJ FM

Dear #PatOnBrands followers.

I come bearing some good news. Pat On Brands will be on the airwaves.  Starting today (Thursday, 16 February 2017), #PatOnBrands will be joining the #TheUrbanBrunch team on UJ FM every Thursday from 10am to 10:30am. The feature will be very informative and entertaining as the articles we post here. Brands, will still be getting “Pats” and “Slaps”. And will also be adding new elements such as weekly giveaways . Its going to be fun! Please do tune into UJ FM 95.4 and watch live on Instagram (@PatOnBrands) and Facebook (Pat On Brands).

Thank You,
#PatOnBrands

5 South African Brands That Will Win Her Heart

On occasions such as Valentine’s Day it is easy overlook South African brands, when looking to buy a gift for your African Queen. This article contains some of the South African brands to consider this Valentine’s Day. The brands offer quality products that will make your lady feel extra special. It also important to note that, by buying locally produced products we are boosting the South African economy. Therefore by making a purchase, not only will your lady be happy but you will be making a meaningful contribution addressing some of the economic challenges of this country. (It doesn’t sound romantic, right? But it’s true). Below are the five brands to consider:

  1. Nto Zinhle

nto zinhle

Nto Zinhle means “beautiful things” in isiZulu. This brand makes stunning African accessories for women. Their catalogue includes earings, leather belts, neckpieces and bags.  If the woman in your life is a liker of all things beautiful, Nto Zinhle will definitely win her heart this Valentine’s Day. Their shop is located at Vilakazi Street, Soweto. However you may also shop online via ntozinhleaccessorise.co.za.

  1. Keke Beads

Dipo-K-Creations_690x450_crop_7

This brand is for the woman that oozes with confidence, knows her style, not too shy but wants to stand out from the rest. If your better-half embodies these characteristics, then Keke Beads is a definite winner. The brand uses bright colours to illustrate the vibrant, colourful and diversity of South Africa. You may checkout their products on Instagram @KekeBeads and to make a purchase email Keke on dipokreations@gmail.com.

  1. Era by DJ Zinhle

Dj-Zinhle-ERA

If your lady loves beautiful watches and DJ Zinhle then look no further than Era by DJ Zinhle for her Valentine’s Day gift. This dynamic brand produces stylish watches and accessories for her.  The brand has a home in Newtown Junction, Johannesburg and their products are also available at selected Legit Stores across the country.  You may also shop online via djzinhle.com.

  1. Signature Restaurant

wininganddining.co.za

As the famous quote by Maya Angelo goes “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”.  If you are that guy wants to give your lady a unique experience or looking for a place to wine and dine. Signature Restaurant may be the best option for you.  The restaurant boasts an exquisite lunch and dinner menu, with a local and international wine menu for even the most discerning palate. You may visit either one of their two outlets; Morningside, Johannesburg and Brooklyn, Tshwane. Make that reservation now!

  1. Pichulik

pichulik

Pichulik is a bespoke range of accessories designed by Katherine-Mary Pichulik. Each piece is handcrafted in Cape Town using locally manufactured ropes and interesting found materials. The brand draws its inspiration from African and middle Eastern ornamentation.  If your woman is bold and courageous, Pichulik is the brand to consider. You may shop online via pichulik.com or visit their store at 44 Stanley, Milpark, Johanesburg and Watershed, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town.

Now that you know what your options are. Go ahead and get that perfect gift for your African Godess. If you have other local brands in mind, please leave a comment below. And  if you like this article, please SHARE IT! Do get in touch with @PatOnBrands on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and SnapChat.

Top 5 International Brands That Will Win Her Heart

Finding the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your lovely lady could be a challenge, especially when there are so many brands to choose from. If your lady is into international brands, then look no further than these brands as they are a guaranteed win.

  1. PANDORA

If your lady loves elegant and quality jewellery, then PANDORA is the most desirable brand to consider this Valentine’s Day. PANDORA offers a wide range of charms, bracelets, bangles, earrings, necklaces and pendants and rings. Their Jewellery comes in sterling silver, 14k solid gold, leather or textile that will give your lady a unique expression. Visit any of their 80 stores across the country or their online store for their Valentine’s Day special.

  1. Lindt

Gents, you can never go wrong by getting your lady a nice box of chocolate no matter the occasion. Ladies loooove chocolate, more so if it’s by Lindt. This Swiss brand produces the finest quality and delicious chocolates that will leave your lady craving for more. The good thing about this brand is that it has more variety and it’s accessible. You can get Lindt Chocolate any major groceries retailer.

  1. Michael Kors

Any item by Michael Kors has the potential to win your lady’s heart.  This luxury brand offers a variety of products namely; designer handbags, watches, shoes, clothing, fragrances and more.  In SA the brand has become popular with their handbags and watches.

  1. Victoria’s Secret

It is no secret that ladies like lingerie. Good lingerie can make a woman feel sexy no matter what she is wearing outside. While gents on the other hand often enjoy seeing their woman in beautiful lingerie.  If you enjoy seeing your woman in beautiful lingerie, then the Victoria Secret brand is the one. The interesting point about this brand is that, it was founded by a man who wanted to buy lingerie for his wife without feeling embarrassed about perusing the womens’ underwear department. So gents don’t be ashamed, get your girl some lingerie.

  1. Paco Robanne

Fragrances always make good gifts. However, not just any fragrance can make the cut. You have to carefully select the one for your woman. If there’s one fragrance brand that has managed to win most ladies’ hearts, has to be Paco Robanne, particularly the Lady Million. This fragrance is a definite winner.

Gents, at least now you have ideas of which products and brands to consider for your significant other. You may visit the shops and get that perfect gift that will win her heart.

10 brands that black South Africans use as generic names for products

There are some brands that grow in popularity to an extent that the brand name is used to describe a specific product. However, this does not happen overnight. The brand needs to be correctly positioned in the market and the necessary investment be made in advertising the brand. Advertising and promotions are said to be the key elements to creating brand awareness. The more consumers see your brand the more likely to remember it and associate it with a specific product category.

If you grew up in the township or a predominantly black community, you may relate better with the following brands as they were commonly used as generic names for products.

  1. Colgate

According to Icon Brands Survey, the Colgate brand is one of the iconic brands in South Africa. The brand was founded in New York City, America by William Colgate in 1806 producing starch, soap and candles. Colgate first produced toothpastes in 1873 and they were sold in jars. Colgate toothpastes have become so popular in South Africa to an extent that most township people use Colgate toothpaste as the generic term for toothpastes. Instead of saying “please add the Aquafresh toothpaste on the shopping list”, most South Africans would say “please add the Aquafresh Colgate on the shopping list”.

  1. Happy Socks

This is the youngest brand on the list, founded in 2008 in Sweden by two friends Viktor Tell and Mikael Soderlindh. According Hype Beast, Happy Socks was created with the simplest of intentions — to inspire happiness in the lives of its founders and those around them. Before Happy Socks, there was no sock brand that had affordable colourful socks. Therefore the founders saw a gap to penetrate that market. In South Africa, the brand has become so popular that colourful socks are called Happy Socks even though they are not by Happy Socks. You will hear most South African say “he rocked a tailored navy suit with Happy Socks by Skinny Sbu Socks”.

  1. Checkers

Checkers is one of the largest retail brands in South Africa, founded by Norman Herber. It was acquired by the Shoprite Group in 1991.  Unlike Shoprite, the Checkers brand is targeted at the upper class and you will not find a single shop in the townships. However, Checkers is a popular term used for plastic bag in the townships. Ironic, right?

  1. Dawn

Dawn lotion is a Unilever brand, launched in South Africa in the 1960s. According to the company, Dawn is one of the biggest brands in the hand and body lotion market. Its reputation in the townships has led the brand to be used as a common word for hand and body lotions. In a typical conversation between two friends, it will be used this way; “Busi, your skin is so beautiful, what lotion do you use”? And the response would be something like “I use the Nivea Dawn”.

  1. Rama

Rama Margarine (also a Unilever brand) is one of the most trusted margarine brands in most South African families. The Rama brand has become so popular that margarine is referred to Rama. You will hear the aunties say “the Sunshine D Rama makes delicious cakes”.

  1. Coke

Coke is a short name for Coca-Cola. It is the world’s most recognisable word after “hello”. Invented by John Pemberton in the 19th century and was originally intended as a patent medicine. Coke was bought out by Asa Griggs Candler whose marketing led the brand to dominance of the soft-drink market. South Africans use Coke to refer to any soft drink, you hear them say “please buy the Pepsi Coke”.

  1. Sta-Soft

Sta-Soft is another Colgate-Palmolive brand. Sta-Soft is the most popular fabric conditioner in South Africa. This has led the brand to be used as basic name for fabric conditioners. You will hear South Africans saying “the Comfort Sta-Soft makes clothes smell fresh”.

  1. Simba

Simba (pronounced Zimba in the townships) is a product of the PepsiCo Group. This brand that roars with flavour was as born out of the vision of an old lady from the Eastern Cape, Mrs Greyvenstein in 1957. We can safely say this lekker chip brand is proudly South African. You will hear a South African saying “I am craving for amaZimba Chips we Lays”.

  1. Chappies

Did you know that the Chappies brand was introduced in South Africa in the late 1940s by Arthur Ginsburg? And that the brand has become synonymous with the word bubblegum? Chappies was sold to Cudbury in the 1970s, which still owns it today. You will hear people in the township saying; “The Stimorol Chappies has long lasting fresh taste”.

  1. Vaseline

In the vocabulary of most South Africans the words “petroleum jelly” are completely non-existent. Unilever’s Vaseline is to be blamed for this. Vaseline is the No. 1 skin care brand in South Africa. It was discovered by a 22 year chemist, Robert Chesebrough back in 1859 in Brooklyn, New York. The name Vaseline is a combination of two words- one being German (Wasse for water) and the other being Greek (Oleon for oil). Most black mothers would say; “the Johnson & Johnson Vaseline is good for my baby’s skin”.

If you know of other brands that are used as generic names for products, please do not hesitate to leave a comment below.  And  if you like this article, please SHARE IT! and do get in touch with @PatOnBrands on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and SnapChat.

#Patonbrands – Top 5 Marketing Trends 2017

Trends come and go; however, very often some trends tend to be more durable than others and become the norm. The brands that ultimately succeed are those that are able to spot new trends and adapt to them before other brands catch on.  Identifying the synergy between the brand and the trend is where the real challenge lies. It is therefore important to make an in-depth analysis of the trend before adopting the  it.  In this post, Pat On Brands will take you through some of the biggest marketing and branding trends for 2017.

 Content Marketing

As the adage goes, “content is king”. This saying is still relevant in 2017. In order for the content to have an impact, it needs to be in context. In case you are wondering what content marketing is? The Content Marketing Institute describes content marketing as a strategic marketing approach that focuses on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly-defined audience. Content marketing speaks to the phenomenon where, instead of brands informing customers how great their products are, they educate consumers. The ultimate goal is to have more loyal and informed customers that are profitable.  Brands can also use traditional (TV, Radio and print) and new age media (social media, blogs, podcasts) for content marketing. An example of content marketing done right would be a bank teaching consumers about financial literacy, instead of telling consumers how fantastic their 32 days savings account is.

Big Data

At the peak of the information age is big data. Still without a universally adopted definition, big data can be broadly described based on the 3Vs; Volume, Velocity and Variety. There are large amounts of data that are generated on various digital platforms at a very rapid rate of different forms (structured, semi-structured and unstructured).  IBM (2016) estimates that 40 zettabytes (equivalent to 43 trillion gigabytes) of data will be generated by the year 2020 globally.  Big data marketing applications include market and customer insight and predictive analytics. Using big data, companies can better understand the consumer and tailor-make their marketing messages and increase sales.

Marketing Automation

Marketing automation is a category of technology that allows companies to streamline, automate, and measure marketing tasks and workflows. The purpose of marketing automation is to increase operational efficiency and grow revenue faster. It helps marketers to streamline their lead generation, segmentation, lead nurturing and lead scoring, customer lifecycle marketing, cross-sell and up-sell, customer retention, and marketing Return On Investment (ROI) measurement.

Mobile Marketing

Mobile penetration is on the rise in South Africa and mobile phones remain the primary device for many South Africans to connect to the internet. In actual fact, there are more mobile subscriptions in South Africa than its entire population. Marketers cannot afford to miss out on the opportunities that mobile presents. Brands need to have sites that are mobile friendly to take advantage of the benefits that mobile is offering.

Social Media and Influencer Marketing

If there is one marketing trend that has stood the test of time it has to social media marketing. The growth in mobile penetration increases usage of social media. Social media marketing trends are often controlled by the efforts of the social networks to monetise their platforms. In order for brands to be able to get the most out of social media brands  now need to ‘pay to play’. . . Aligned with social media marketing is influencer marketing, through which companies use influencers to drive their marketing messages. Influencers are people who usually have a large number of followers on various social media platforms.

With the above mentioned marketing and branding trends, 2017 promises to be an exciting year for marketers. Of course not all marketers are familiar with all the trends; however, there is an opportunity to learn. As stated in the introduction, the brands that jump on the wave of trends the soonest will enjoy the long-term rewards. Please share your views on the trends by leaving a comment below. Again, if you like this post, SHARE IT.

Also do remember to get in touch with @PatOnBrands on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and SnapChat.

#PatOnBrands – Top 12 South Africans in 2016

2016 was an exciting year that was marked with the victories of a few South African personality brands that dominated the world stage. These stars flew the South African flag sky high and assisted in changing the perception that is held by other nations of South Africa and the African continent at large. The list of these game changers ranges from, musicians, comedians, actors and actresses that became ambassadors of South Africa in the global arena.

In this post Pat On Brands gives “Pats” to those trailblazers that gave the world a wakeup call on South Africa’s talent.

Black Coffee – DJ

According to Times Live, 2016 belonged to Black Coffee. The renowned Disc Jockey has been making strides in the international music scene though the world took note of this in 2014 when he publicised his very own international tour. To many house music fans, Black Coffee is a living legend and to many aspiring DJs, he is a role model. Black Coffee performed at some of the world’s biggest music festivals such as the Coachella Music Festival in California, Ultra Music Festival in Miami and Coachella Ibiza to name a few. He rubbed shoulders with international stars such as Sean “Didi” Combs, Paris Hilton and Swizz Beats.  Black Coffee also compiled a remix of Alicia Keys’ hit single In Common, which most fans confirmed as one of the best versions of the song produced. What makes Black Coffee number one on this list is his victory at the 2016 BET Awards where he won the Best International Act: Africa Award which made him the first South African music artist to win the BET Award. President Jacob Zuma congratulated him for the accolade, saying he is an inspiration to the South African youth.  A big fat Pat on Black Coffee!

pat-on-brands-11

Trevor Noah – Comedian and Talk Show Host

From being born of a crime to hosting one of the biggest television shows in the world and being New York’s best-selling author, 2016 was definitely a great year for Trevor Noah. According to The Guardian, Trevor Noah’s life is about achieving the impossible. Of course, who would have ever thought that a boy from the dusty streets of Soweto would go on to interview one of the world’s most powerful men? In 2016, he had an interview with the outgoing President of the United Stated of America, former President Barak Obama. Trevor is definitely one of the greatest celebrity exports of South Africa and a true ambassador for the nation. A big, amusing Pat on Trevor Noah!

pat-on-brands-noah

Wayde van Niekerk – Athlete

If there is another individual that had a fantastic 2016, it is Wayde Van Niekerk. He won a gold medal in the 400 metre race in a record time of 43.03 seconds, breaking a 17 year record by the famous Michael Johnson of 43.18 seconds. The Daily Maverick proceeded to name Wayde the Sports Person of the Year, breaking a world record of the greatest achievement ever attained by a South African athlete. This accolade saw him being named the Male Athlete of the Olympics at the Association of National Olympic Committee’s awards in Doha. It is without any doubt that he made South Africa proud, with the Minister of Sports, Fikile Mbalula saying his performance at the Olympics put South Africa on the map. A big, sportman’s Pat on Wayde.

pat-on-brands-8

Pearl Thusi – Actress, Model, entrepreneur and Presenter

The name Pearl Thusi has been echoed on the corridors of most South Africans for various reasons. Pearl Thusi is that “girl” that Emtee goes on about in his hit single, entitled Pearl Thusi. She is a pure combination of beauty, talent and brains. Pearl Thusi is an actress, model, entrepreneur and a presenter. She has her own brand of hair products called Black Pearl, however that is not the reason why she is on this list. On the 25th of September 2016, Pearl Thusi made her debut on Quantico, an American hit crime drama series. According to You Magazine, her acting on Quantico is world class. This made her brand global and raised the South African flag high. A big Quantico Pat on Pearl Thusi.

pat-on-brands-3

Bonang Matheba – Radio and TV Personality

Affectionately known to her fans as “Queen B” and to the media as Mzansi’s “it girl”, Bonang Matheba is probably one of the most successful female entertainers of our time. She hosted the MTV Music Awards red carpet experience on her own, which in her view gave credence to the effort that she has been putting in her work. Bonang was called in to host the MTV Africa Music Awards show promptly after Trevor Noah called in sick and her brilliant execution had tongues wagging even weeks after the show. This was an event that got Somizi saying “Bonang was born ready”. She also bagged an endorsement deal for Ipanema (a Brazilian shoe brand) which made her the first African ambassador for the brand. At this rate, Bonang will definitely continue to be a true ambassador for South Africa. A big celebrity Pat on Queen B!

pat-on-brands-5

Cassper Nyovest – Rapper

Cassper Nyovest had a successful year. From being the first South African ever to be a guest on Sway In The Morning breakfast show to being nominated for the BET Best International Award: Africa. Known to his fans as “Abuti Fill Up”, Cassper went on to fly the South African flag in Germany where he performed in multiple locations. A big fill up Pat on Cassper!

pat-on-brands

AKA – Rapper

AKA, one of the most controversial but talented celebrities in South Africa took to the global stage and represented South Africa before multitudes. AKA was the first South African musician to have one million followers on Twitter and was also the first South African rapper to appear on the popular American show 106 & Park. AKA was nominated for the BET Awards for Best International: Africa. He was also the only African artist to perform at the BET Experience where he shared the main stage with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Nick Cannon, Rae Sremmurd and Designer just to mention a few. A Big BET Pat on AKA!

pat-on-brands-aka_lrg

Terry Pheto – Actress

Terry Pheto has been making great strides in the international film industry. Amongst other films, she starred in the Academy Award winning film, Tsotsi. In 2008, she became the first South African to be the face of global cosmetics brand L’Oréal. Terry went to become the first South African to star in one of the world’s popular soapie, The Bold and The Beautiful in 2011. What puts her on this list are her accomplishments  in 2016 where she was nominated for the British Independent Film Awards for her role as Naledi in A United Kingdom alongside Naomi Harris and Gemma Arterton in the category of best supporting actress.  A Big Motion Picture Pat on Terry!

pat-on-brands-9

 Carol Tshabalala – Sports Anchor

Carol Tshabalala has over the years proven why she is the undisputed First Lady of Sport with her work being globally recognised and respected within the sporting fraternity. This year she raised the bar and became the only African and one of the few ladies to join the English Premier League sport casters. She is a true ambassador for South Africa. A big soccer Pat on Carol.

pat-on-brands-4

Tlhompho Kekana – Soccer Player

Based on a FIFA report Tlhompho Kekana has never scored a goal before for South Africa until this year when he scored at the CAF qualifier against Cameroon. For his first goal, the Mamelodi Sundowns defender had the courage and skill to shoot and score from inside his own half. This goal put him in the league of David Beckham and Xabi Alonso. It is for this reason why he got nominated for the prestigious FIFA Puskas Award. Tlhompho Kekana is not only representing South Africa at the FIFA Fuskas America but the entire African continent. He is the only African footballer to be nominated for the award this year and he is competing with Lionel Messi, Nayma and others. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place next year in Zurich, Switzerland on the 9th January. You can vote for him here. We wish him well and a big Legend’s Pat on him.

pat-on-brands-2

Ntando Mahlangu – Athlete

At the tender age of 14, Ntando Mahlangu has set world records. This year, he set the 400m T42 World Record (53.19s) to add to his African records in the 100m (13.34s), 200m (26.20s) and, unofficially, the 800m (2:14.00s). At the 2016 IAWS U23 World Games in June/July this year, he won gold in the T42 200m (25.89s) and  in the 800m (2:06.70s), beating his own world record. He also won gold in the 100m (13.13s), and beat his own world record in the 400m (52.61s). Most people learned about him when he won the Silver medal at the Paralympics in Rio de Janerio, Brazil. This achievement is the one that made him a recognised ambassador for South Africa.  Antoinnette Muller wrote that, Ntando is not the next “so and so” in the international Paralympics stage. “He’s just the first Mahlangu and he has the world at the tips of his blades”. A lightning speed Pat on this young man.

pat-on-brands-12
Caster Semenya – Athlete

Another Athlete that had a fantastic 2016 and made South Africa proud is Caster Semenya. Caster won an Olympic gold medal in the 800m final and set a new national record in a time of 1:55:28.  A performance, as reported by some media houses saying she cruised through to victory. The Government of South Africa through the GCIS also issued a statement saying  “Caster Semenya gave the world a sterling performance as she broke the national record and breezed through the finish line in the 800m final at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and took gold”.  A big vitality Pat on Caster!

pat-on-brands-7

If you like this post, SHARE IT.

Also do remember to get in touch with @PatOnBrands on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and SnapChat.

Brands and racism: A Pat On Brands perspective

Racism is one of the most sensitive topics in the world, and more often than not, many people would prefer not to talk about it. According to Sipho Hlongwane, blogs editor at Huffington Post South Africa, racist acts occur daily in South Africa. When a racial incident involving a high-profile individual or a brand takes place; people are quick to take it to social media while brands, on the other hand, keep the distance.

For many years, brands have been accused of racism; whether through statements (online or offline) that were made by executives and/or producing “racist adverts”. For example in 2006, the MD of Cristal champagne Frederic Rouzaud  made a statement that Hip Hop artists (mostly black) used the champagne in a way that could be detrimental to the brand. This statement saw Jay-Z calling for the brand to be boycotted.  In South Africa, earlier this year (2016) Standard Bank’s economist Chris Hart was suspended by the bank  after he tweeted that “25 years after apartheid ended, the victims are increasing, along with a sense of entitlement and hatred towards minorities ”.  The tweet offended many people and some political parties marched to bank’s head offices. Standard Bank distanced itself from the statement by tweeting that they do not endorse such.

chrisharttweet

A classic example of a racist advert would be the TV commercial produced for a Chinese laundry detergent brand, Qioabi. The commercial shows a black man and a young Chinese woman are flirting, as he leans in for a kiss she thrusts a detergent capsule in his mouth and bundles him into a laundry machine.  She sits atop the machine as the man spins and screams inside until, to her apparent delight, out pops a handsome Chinese man dressed in a clean, white t-shirt. The advert caused an outrage all over the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X27dvuBSyXE%20

Source: YouTube

Brands are driven by people and how a brand “behaves” is a result of the people who run it. If a brand is perceived to be racist, it means the people behind it are sadly racists. In most cases, when a brand is associated with racism, the executives of the brand are quick to put blame on the individuals working in the brand. Let’s take The Bungalow , Cape Town restaurant racial profiling incident, where two black patrons were labelled “2 Blacks” on their receipt . The patrons took offense of being labelled according their race and accused the restaurant of being racist. When they asked the restaurant manager why they were labelled according to their race and they were not satisfied with the response. They then took to social media and that caused a huge uproar on social media and most major news  wrote articles about it. Some people who visited the restaurant vowed to never set their foot at the restaurant again. The owners of The Bungalow came out in their defence saying it was the waiter’s fault and they have a clear policy of non-discrimination on the basis of gender, race or religion or sexual orientation.

pat-on-brands_2blacks

Here is  the thing, as a brand owner you need to be aware of what your brand is associated with and what is  on everything that carries your brand name even receipts. It is  understandable that one cannot control who buys and uses your brand and in what way. However, brands need to make their stance on certain issues clear before they even occur. This can be done by having company core-values that every employee working for the brand will be familiar with and lives by. Some people would argue that a brand cannot be held accountable for how its employees behave. The main thing is that, the brand has influence over their employees and that matters.

According to Bruce Crutchfield, brands have a bigger role in fuelling democracy.  This means that, brands have a moral obligation to stand up for basic human rights and the protection of the environment in which they operate. It is therefore important for brands to take a proactive stance when it comes to issues of race than being reactive because the impact can be very detrimental. As the adage goes, people are more likely to forget the things you say to them but they will never forget how you make them feel. If your clients feel that there are elements of racism in your establishment, they are more likely to avoid visiting it regardless of what you say because 80% of purchase decisions are influenced by emotions.

Please let us know about your thoughts on brands and racism and share your experiences around the topic by leaving a comment below.

Also do remember to share and to get in touch with @PatOnBrands on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and SnapChat.