Media Moves… TheMediaOnline’s weekly round up. Careers24 announces major partnership with global online learning company. Media24 appoints new head of corporate communication. Intact Software Distribution wins Retrospect distribution rights. Blis partners with Mobiclicks to bring location advertising technology into Africa. Paddington Station PR launches Brand Travel. DEKATv returns to kykNET for sixth season. Snapt launches one-click ADC deployment on Amazon Web Services
This week’s BIG move: Careers24 announces major partnership with global online learning company
Careers24 has announced a major partnership with Udemy, a global marketplace for learning and teaching online, that will give the Careers24 users access to thousands of carefully curated, online Udemy courses. Udemy recently announced a strategic investment from Naspers to continue its international growth.
Globally, Udemy offers 40 000 online courses in 80 different languages. The Careers24 team has identified a selection of those courses that are best suited for the South African market, as well as those that relate to the strongest job offering sectors in South Africa. The courses will be available on the Careers24 website under the Courses tab.
“Our strategic partnership with Udemy means that we are able to align their courses to our job offerings. In essence meaning we will be able to advise candidates who lack specific skills for a particular job advertisement on what they need in order to apply successfully for a desired position. This is going to help us focus on providing tools and services that help candidates make informed decisions about their next job application,” says Marc Privett, Careers24 GM.
Udemy is dedicated to helping people around the world build the lives they imagine through online learning.
“Udemy delivers a wide variety of practical knowledge that helps people fill gaps in their skill sets and gain a competitive edge in today’s employment market,” says Richard Qiu, VP of Business Development at Udemy. “Careers24 is one of South Africa’s biggest online job portals so it makes complete sense for us to partner with Udemy,”
Who’s moved where
Media24 appoints new head of corporate communication
Media24 has announced the appointment of Marlene Sathekge (39) as head of corporate communication from 1 October. Sathekge takes over from Anika Ebrahim, who leaves at the end of October.
Sathekge started her own niche communications consultancy, Cherry Blossom Communications, in 2008 and over the past nine years has consulted for big companies such as Absa Foundation, Engen and British American Tobacco.
Sathekge completed her National Diploma in Public Relations Management at Cape Peninsula University of Technology and has 18 years’ experience in corporate social investment, strategic communications, event management and public relations.
She has worked for several well-known PR companies such as Lange Public Relations and Simeka TWS Communications.
Media24 CEO Esmaré Weideman says Sathekge’s extensive experience of brand communications, public relations and corporate social investment makes her perfectly suited for the job. “Marlene’s business drive, passion and professional experience position her for success in her new role.”
Weideman says she is sad to see Ebrahim move on but will be rooting for her all the way as she embarks on the next phase of her career. “Anika has been an incredible asset to the team and has achieved so much in her time at Media24. We will miss her dearly. However I’m excited to welcome Marlene to the team and for her to help us navigate our transition in the most exhilarating time in the history of the media industry.”
Who’s won what
Intact Software Distribution wins Retrospect distribution rights
Intact Software Distribution has won the rights to distribute Retrospect’s backup and recovery complete hybrid data protection for small and medium businesses.
Intact Software Distribution is a dedicated IT security software distributor focusing on providing a full range of security software solutions, coupled with the service performance and know-how of an experienced and specialised solution provider. “We are perfectly placed to grow the Retrospect brand in South Africa, as we have offices and warehouses statically placed to serve all our customers,” says Lutz Blaeser, MD of Intact Software Distribution.
He adds that Intact Software Distribution offers a robust channel network and solid partnerships, making it easy for the company to offer affordable and usable software to the market. “We have a highly efficient distribution network in place, and have become a top security distributor, with well-developed processes, infrastructure and corporate governance.”
“Intact is delighted to have won the Retrospect distribution rights. These products are best in class, and a perfect addition to our stable,” he adds.
Blis partners with Mobiclicks to bring location advertising technology into Africa
Blis, the global pioneer in advanced location data technology, has formed a strategic partnership with leading South African mobile marketing and media specialist, Mobiclicks. This partnership will enable Blis’ industry-leading, mobile location-based advertising products and services, to be available in sub-Saharan media markets for the first time. The partnership will also help Blis service its growing roster of global clients and agency networks looking to target African audiences.
Mobiclicks was founded in 2007 by Shaun Rosen and has grown rapidly over the past nine years to become a leading player in the African media industry. Mobiclicks operates throughout Africa and is one of the largest mobile media buyers on the continent.
While location advertising is relatively new in the African market, approximately 15 to 25 percent of campaigns are location-driven and this is growing fast, according to Rosen. “There is a lack of education in Africa about location and the opportunities and possibilities it offers,” says Rosen. “But the opportunities brands and agencies can achieve by using location is outstanding. Mobiclicks is ready to fulfil this role and educate the market.”
Like many markets, both developing and mature, mobile is the single thread that combines other advertising platforms like TV, OOH and desktop. In Africa mobile is growing exponentially, and is the gateway to the internet for the majority of consumers in all African markets.
Who’s making moves
Paddington Station PR launches Brand Travel
In response to a shift from traditional to post-demographic consumerism that has turned old consumption patterns on their head Paddington PR has launched an innovative stand-alone product called Brand Travel.
Client service director and brand strategist for Paddington Station PR, Paul Reynell, explains: “Our aim is to help brands rise to this new consumer shift and assist them to avoid investing in campaigns that eat up their budgets and yet do not deliver the anticipated results.” Says Reynell: “Those working in our environment are passionate about brands and therefore notice brand behaviour and campaigns out there every day. And more and more, we are noticing how brands are missing the market with regards to the Millennials – who could by now easily make up 50% of their market share or more.”
Reynell says Millennials moving up the generation line are influencers on the path to purchase and consumption and require more than Above-The-Line campaigns to foster loyalty and interest in a brand.
“Brand Travel serves primarily a dual purpose. Firstly it implements a process of evaluation and checks to see if a brand is communicating correctly with its desired consumer segment to gain market share and if not, what needs to be adjusted or implemented to make the strategy more robust. This process is supported by research, cutting-edge tools and a panel. Secondly we identify innovations and opportunities to enable the brand to speak to the heart of the Millennials. Call it Blue Ocean Strategy if you wish.”
Explains Reynell, “We feel as a PR agency it is vital to know how to drive a successful strategy by understanding the consumer segmentation as it has evolved and continues to do so. How we engage and communicate with Millennials and Generation X differs – so an agency should understand these profiles in order to engage successfully.” “
DEKATv returns to kykNET for sixth season
Promising to be every bit as entertaining, inspirational and tantalising as its predecessors, DEKAT’s sixth lifestyle TV series kicks off on kykNET (DStv, channel 144) in a brand new time slot of 17:30 on Thursday 6 October 2016.
Sponsored for the second consecutive year by the international real estate group Fine & Country and Swedish luxury brand Volvo Cars, the series will again be anchored by well-known and much-loved musician and actor Chris Chameleon, with DEKAT editor and owner Elzilda Becker as executive producer.
Consisting of four to five inserts, each of the 13 (30-minute) programmes will take viewers on a journey to some of their favourite ‘destinations’, to enjoy the best the world of books, property, art, style, and food has to offer. The programmes will be repeated on Friday at 11:30, Saturday at 16:00, Sunday at 06:00, Monday at 14:00 and Tuesday at 00:00.
“We are thrilled that DEKATv is back on the small screen in what promises to be yet another season of unconventional viewing. For us at DEKAT, it is exhilarating to select unusual stories for our viewers, invite them to enjoy a peek into our world, and bring our brand right into their homes,” says Becker.
Snapt launches one-click ADC deployment on Amazon Web Services
Snapt, the disruptive, software-based application delivery networking company, has announced that it is now listed on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Marketplace. This is good news for existing and potential customers, as it means a simple one-click deployment for the company’s application delivery controller (ADC) and load balancer solutions.
CEO Dave Blakey points out that Snapt has experienced massive demand from Amazon users, which is what prompted the company to set up a pre-made image on AWS. This, he says, will make it easier for them to deploy Snapt services, which will now be pre-installed and fully supported.
“We have always supported Amazon’s cloud services and many of our clients are already in this cloud. The benefit of having us listed on the AWS Marketplace is that it makes it much simpler for them to deploy our solutions, thanks to the one-click launch facility,” he says.
