Tanja Lategan quits Primedia Online, joins Creative Spark

by MarkLives (@marklives) Former Primedia Online CEO, Tanja Lategan, has joined Creative Spark — part of the M&C Saatchi Group of agencies — as managing director. Before joining Primedia Online in mid-2011, she helped launch sales agency, Dash of Lime, and founded content marketing business, Juice Content.

Creative Spark logoMatthew Buckland, the outgoing MD and founder of Creative Spark, moves into a group role as founder and chief executive: digital, at the M&C Saatchi Group in South Africa, with a focus on key Creative Spark clients and group digital clients.

“In an increasingly complex world, digital has become more than just a medium,” says Lategan. “It has become an enabler. Adopting an omnichannel customer-centric approach, driven by insights, inspired by world-class creative and enabled by digital technology will be a key focus to driving the company’s integrated marketing solutions.”

Comments Mike Abel, founding partner and chief executive of the M&C Saatchi Group in SA, “Delivering powerful ideas for a digital world is core to our strategy as we focus on our vision of becoming the most-desired creative company on the African continent. Tanja is a key hire, bringing both huge depth and breadth of experience, an entrepreneurial orientation and the all-important practical know-how to deliver both to clients and on our vision.”

Creative Spark has offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town and employs 60 people. Clients includes Philips, Kimberly-Clark, EOH,  Gautrain, Medscheme and Danone.

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Yossi Schwartz to leave Y&R Africa

by MarkLives (@marklives) Y&R South Africa has announced the resignation of Yossi Schwartz, group chairman of Y&R Africa, effective end of September 2017. Schwarz, who has been with Y&R since the 2001 acquisition of his independent agency, Gitam SA, will be pursuing other business and personal interests.

“To all my friends at Y&R, past and current — it was a pleasure and an honour,” says Schwartz in a statement released by the agency group. “You are my heroes. Love you all. I look forward to seeing Y&R thrive as the agency network builds on Africa’s momentum.”

According to Schwartz, he will be focusing on building his whisky business: “I have been bottling single malt since 2007. And I am going to be developing the Single & Single brand to be of magnitude. The next expression is being bottled, as we speak. We will only be bottling rare, sherry cask, single malt. I have a passion for real tangible products. Away from virtual. Life is beautiful.”

Schwartz was instrumental in WPP’s acquisition of NATIVE VML, as well as the group’s expansion into East and West Africa.

According to Jason Xenopoulos, group CEO of Y&R South Africa and NATIVE VML, Schwartz’s “deep insights into the African region, his strong leadership skills and his unwavering passion for Y&R has contributed to the extension of the Y&R network and digital partner agencies across the continent.”

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Big Q CMOs: Changing CMO role an opportunity for agencies

by MarkLives (@marklives) Is there a new C-suite executive on the horizon? Is it time to redefine the role of the CMO, possibly by agreeing that the roles of CMO and CTO are aligning and need some level of collaboration? And can this result in more-effective growth strategies for organisations? We asked a panel of key industry executives for their take. Next up is Johanna McDowell of Independent Agency Search and Selection Company (IAS).

Once tasked with managing communications and brand, the modern CMO’s role has been expanding to include technology, data and impact (ie sales and the bottom line). Where this is not the case, anecdotal evidence suggests shorter tenures, and a loss of prominence and clout at board level.

Johanna McDowell

Johanna McDowellJohanna McDowell (@jomcdowell) is managing director of the Independent Agency Search and Selection Company (IAS), which is partnered with the AAR Group in the UK. Johanna is one of the few experts driving this mediation and advisory service in South Africa and globally. Currently she is running the IAS Marketers Masterclass, a programme consisting of masterclasses held in Cape Town and in Johannesburg. Twice a year she attends AdForum Worldwide Summits.

Marketing, along with the role of the chief marketing officer (CMO) has evolved considerably since the earlier days of marketing — and more dramatically so in the past 5–10 years. With the advent of technology and digital capabilities enabling almost everything to be measured in real time, business can expect, and does, far more impact from marketing as a whole. Savvy marketers know how to ‘sell’ a marketing campaign far more strongly in the C-suite boardroom, as they’re now armed with metrics, conversion models, marketing leads’ funnels etc which didn’t exist in the past.

Twenty years ago, an advertising campaign was created, normally with a big TV commercial and all the “attachments” in other media, and allowed to run and run on a few channels that were available then. At best, CMOs could provide brand-health tracking results or awareness and usage results some six months after the campaign had ended. While this was useful to the business, it was always after the fact and couldn’t necessarily be directly related to any sales surge during the period. Return on investment (ROI) could be proved only to a point.

Today’s CMOs are able to deliver results, continuously adjust campaigns and possibilities, test campaigns quickly and at very low cost ahead of roll out, and work closely with sales in order to relate back to actual campaign work. Think about the insurance campaigns that run or any of the retail campaigns that you see now: all provide immediate, trackable leads and results.

And there’s more…

With business problems and challenges looking for better, lest costly results, the role of the chief technology officer (CTO) is becoming more and more important.

The CTO is often very preoccupied with the improving the tech efficiencies of the organisation; it’s easy for the CTO to become mired in day to day issues that come with tech and yet the business needs tech-driven business solutions that might lead to greater growth and profits. Here is where the CMO and CTO may form a partnership within the business that will not only solve marketing issues and deliver ROI but will also solve business issues — with a digital solution possibly born from some inspired thinking from the CMO.

This means that today’s CMOs are everywhere in businesses and therefore of great value to that them. Today’s CMOs don’t spend more than 10–15% of their time with their marketing services providers and agencies. The CMO role is now so important — to finance, to sales. to HR even — that their time is precious and has to be carefully managed.

And what if the CMO is not up to speed with tech?

With no reasonable excuse to not provide hard data, real results and proof of campaign success and budget spend, CMOs who aren’t tech-savvy won’t survive and their younger or younger-at-heart counterparts will succeed faster and faster into the C-suite.

What does this mean for agencies?

Increasingly, agencies are being asked to provide solutions to business problems. If they can’t think that way, then they’re also no longer relevant. It’s no longer about creating a highly visible campaign but rather a highly effective, nimble creative solution which will solve the business problem at every level and achieve the results CMOs needs. This is a huge opportunity for smart agencies — creative AND media — giving them the chance to help the time-poor (but highly rated) CMOs achieve the goals of the business.

I increasingly see this “ask” coming through in pitches and, as I work internationally and am aware of global trends, clients (mainly CMOs) are asked to talk about their business problems to prospective agencies and to brief those agencies to come up with creative solutions — in whatever form that might be — in order for clients to remain relevant and cutting edge in their own environments.

Measurement metrics don’t mean an absence of creativity; on the contrary, the best results will always be rooted in the strongest levels of creativity but, with the measurement tools now available instantly, rewards are amplified and tracked by all levels within the client organisation and the CMO is able to “bask” in the warmth of a strong bottom line delivery. This can only be good for marketing as a profession!

See also

 

MarkLives logoLaunched in 2016, “The Big Q” is a regular column on MarkLives in which we ask key industry execs for their thoughts on relevant issues facing the ad industry. If you’d like to be part of our pool of potential panellists, please contact editor Herman Manson via email (2mark at marklives dot com) or Twitter (@marklives). Suggestions for questions are also welcomed.

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#Loeries2017: Behind the award show’s creative campaign

by Nicola Wielopolski. It was after the 2016 Loeries, while we were still celebrating being ranked fifth among the country’s top 20 agencies, that Loeries CEO, Andrew Human, invited DBB South Africa to take on the 2017 campaign. There was much to consider.

Commitment

The Loeries is a massive campaign that starts very soon after each year’s final awards ceremony. It requires as big a commitment as any other client: a full team, the production of a great many communication pieces above and below the line, hours and hours of detail work especially as Loeries Creative Week approaches, and, above all, a brilliant creative concept. Oh, and it’s pro bono.

We considered it all… for about one second.

From that day to this, our excitement has never waned. Working on the Loeries is nothing but an honour, and it is one we relish.

We presented two concepts. Human loved this one straight away because it’s unequivocal in its support for the big idea.

It celebrates the quirkiness of the creative spirit. Based on insights about the types of people in our industry, it says, honestly and unashamedly, that the Loeries doesn’t care how weird or eccentric you are; it judges only your ideas.

That’s a powerful statement, one which encourages diversity especially across our region and across all the disciplines that make up the creative brand communications industry.

Put a smile on your face

The concept of a non-judgemental judge is designed to put a smile on your face, even if you feel a little sheepish as you recognise yourself or, at the very least, some of your colleagues. Who’re we kidding? Most of your colleagues!

Creating a campaign, for the creative industry, that celebrates and represents itself might be daunting but we all recognise that, if we don’t have the one big idea, we have nothing. And we know that this campaign’s based on a solid and authentic concept.

We had — and are still having — a lot of fun with all the attention-grabbing details.

Has it been worth it? Every single step of the way…

Credits

Agency: DDB South Africa
Chief creative officer: Liam Wielopolski
Creative directors: the late Lawrence Katz — much-missed; Nicola Wielopolski
Designer: Melissa Grundlingh
Business unit director: Edna Brunido
Account managers: Thabi Kgasapane, Mankoe Tema, Thank Kgasapane
Print production: Tanya Lombard, Gideon Mapsanganhe
TV production: Mun–Ying de Lacy

 

Nicola Wielopolski Despite being terrible at spelling and suffering from self-diagnosed dyslexia, Nicola Wielopolski has been lucky enough to be awarded by Cannes, D&AD, New York Festivals, Clios and, most importantly, Loeries. Over the last 16 years, she has worked at some of South Africa’s top creative agencies, including The Jupiter Drawing Room, Ogilvy, MetropolitanRepublic and DDB SA. She’s not just a creative director; she’s also a wife and mother to two gorgeous girls. She wants them to grow up believing, as she did, that girls can achieve anything boys can.

“Motive” is a by-invitation-only column on MarkLives.com. Contributors are picked by the editors but generally don’t form part of our regular columnist lineup, unless the topic is off-column.

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SA TV Ratings: SABC 3 — primetime top 20 for Jun 2017

by MarkLives (@marklives) The hottest primetime television shows on SABC 3 in South Africa revealed: TV ratings for June 2017.

In 2016, the Broadcast Research Council of South Africa (BRCSA) changed its policy about giving away TAMS and now only monthly reports, highlighting the top 20 or 30 primetime shows on several popular channels, are available.

SABC 3 June 2017

BRCSA TV Ratings June 2017 primetime SABC 3

Source: BRCSA June 2017

Broadcast Research Council of South Africa

 

The Broadcast Research Council of South Africa (the BRC) is a non-profit, industry body that was incorporated in 2015 to cater to the audience research needs of the radio and television industry in South Africa.

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Cover Stories: Thoughtfulness in design (11 August 2017)

by Shane de Lange (@shanenilfunct) Let’s delve into great media design from South Africa and around the world:

  • Dada-data — online
  • Dot Zero #2 — iconic
  • Frankie — print
  • iJusi — print
  • Wired — print
  • Zig Zag — print

Find a cover we should know about? Tweet us at @Marklives and @shanenilfunct.
Pinterest icon Want to view all the covers at a glance? See our Pinterest board!

Print

Zig Zag (South Africa), #41.6, August/September 2017

Zig Zag 41.6, August/September 2017

As an establishment in the South African surfing community, one would think that the recent redesign of Zig Zag’s masthead could have gone pear-shaped. But it didn’t. The updated logo, accompanied by a major layout refresh, has made the magazine look a great deal more contemporary. The rustically rendered lettering, superimposed over an energetic action shot, compliments the theme of the issue: Made in Africa. Imbuing a sense of rawness and angst reminiscent of the doodles that teenagers carve into their classroom desks in school, the textured, almost juvenile use of typography is effective, simultaneously suggesting the vibrating pulse of the continent and the ocean, and the free-spirited veneer of surf culture.

 

Wired (US), August 2017

Wired has never been shy to experiment with the left-inclined side of its editorial design sensibility. The latest issue is an example of its culture and its sophisticated design palate, proving that formalism can be contemporary and speak experimentalism. With its orthodox use of typography and colour blocking, contrasted with glitch-inspired abstract forms indicative of the digital age, this cover reminds one of the classic album by British electronic music producers, Autechre, titled “Tri Repitae”. Aside from the music production that set the bar for the time, the 1995 album is famous for its cover designed by Designers Republic, which uses a similar marriage of High-Modernism and Post-Modernism set forth in this month’s issue of Wired.

 

iJusi (South Africa),  iZuma issue, #31

Aptly referencing George Lois’ infamous Mohammed Ali cover for Esquire in 1968, the cover for the 31st issue of independent/niche iJusi magazine is a witty commentary on the current sociopolitical state of South Africa and the man at the helm of it all. From a graphic-design perspective, iJusi is undoubtedly an institution in SA; it’s documented an important visual record of what it means to be African over the past two decades since independence.

Note: Shane de Lange worked on this issue of iJusi.

 

Frankie (Australia), #78, July/August 2017

Frankie, August/September 2017

Australian Fashion magazine, Frankie, is noted for its tasteful, well art-directed covers. Issue #78 is a testament to the refined curatorial sensibility of the editor’s eye, displaying an illustration that is simultaneously child-like and sophisticated. A more-innocent and naïve version of the avant-garde aesthetic propagated by the Fauves in Europe during the early 20th century, this cover illustration is supported by the simple and uncluttered layout, with a masthead that is unobtrusive, effectively framing the vibrancy of colour, gestural mark-making and expressive ability of the artist. Most importantly, it stays true to Frankie’s tone of voice.

 

Online

Dada-data

Dada-data is an online publication celebrating the centenary of the historically influential Dada movement. Embracing the interactivity that the internet brings to the field of editorial design, this publication is a living document, remaining loyal to the conceptual mechanisms and anti-art tactics that were used by the original Dadaists.

The site allows one to participate in Dada-hacktions (staying true to the notion of automatism and the happenings that Dada arguably helped to invent), and to visit Dada-depots to learn about the history of the movement. The bold use of typography, subdued greyscale visuals, and parallax motion of the landing page all play into the zeitgeist of the inter-war, avant-garde period during the early 20th century in Europe.

A Dada tone is instantly struck by the landing page, a homage to the famous 1922 poster collaboration between Theo van Doesburg and Kurt Schwitters — a poster titled “Kleine Dada Soirée” (used during their tour of Holland and their so-called “Dada Campaign”).

 

Iconic

Dot Zero #2, 1966

Dot Zero was a quarterly produced by Unimark International, the firm where iconic Modernist designer, Massimo Vignelli, started out. Five issues were printed between 1966 and 1968, with the second cover arguably being the most experimental for its time.

The magazine dealt with the overall rubric of visual communication, effectively mapping what we now see to be normal forms of communication in the media. Modernist to the nth degree, the highly formal — almost Minimalist — use of black-on-black is still considered sexy today, exhibited by the cover to the new single by Oneohtrix Point Never, titled “Leaving the Park”, which clearly uses the same visual language that Vignelli contributed to over 50 years ago.

 

 

Shane de LangeShane de Lange (@shanenilfunct) is a designer, writer, and educator currently based in Cape Town, South Africa, working in the fields of communication design and digital media. He works from Gilgamesh, a small design studio, and is a senior lecturer in graphic design at Vega School in Cape Town. Connect on Pinterest and Instagram.

Cover Stories, formerly MagLove, is a regular slot deconstructing media cover design, both past and present.

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ABC Analysis Q2 2017: The biggest-circulating consumer mags in SA

by Herman Manson (@marklives) The Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa has released consumer-magazine circulation statistics for the period April–June 2017 (ABC Q2 2017); see our newspaper ABC analysis here. Apart from highlighting several figures that stand out for us, we’ve added a table of web traffic for Q2 and also updated our list of the biggest-circulating consumer titles in SA.

Note: we compare the current figures with the same figures for this time the year before, and not with the previous quarter. Green equals growth; red declined; purple maintained, new entrant or renamed; orange discontinued or resigned; pink no submission or suspended; brown minimal newsstand sales; and grey moved to a new category.

Key insights

Overall, consumer magazine circulation grew to 4 872 398 from 4 738 690 in the previous corresponding reporting period. Single-copy sales stood at 2 562 169 (down from 2 750 146 in Q1 2017) and total paid (which includes subscription figures) at 3 760 586 (down from 3 892 438 in Q1 2017). Paid-for digital copy sales stood at 81 515.

Custom magazines saw an overall circulation decline to 5 703 507 from 7 936 677 in the corresponding previous reporting period; a number of titles were discontinued, while others moved to the consumer magazine category. Single copy sales in this category stood at 30 936, and total paid-for circulation at 1 083 490.

Financial Mail, 1 June 2017The business press

Finweek is up to 17 996 from 11 019 (total free copies = 3 287 plus sales at below 50% of the cover price = 9 123; single copy sales: 2 844). Financial Mail has declined to 13 252 from 15 224 in the corresponding previous reporting period.

Your Business Magazine has grown slightly to 9 367 from 9 359. Entrepreneur has declined to 14 695 from 17 839; Forbes Africa is down to 19 246 from 22 813 (total free = 9 206); Noseweek has declined to 11 974 from 15 307; and Personal Finance has fallen to 9 532 from 11 459.

Landbouweekblad has grown to 29 355 from 28 922 and Marktoe! to 10 741 from 9 900 (total free = 10 741) but Farmer’s Weekly is down to 11 872 from 12 740 and Veeplaas has fallen to 7 715 from 9 381.

Biggest-circulating business magazines in terms of paid-for (sales, bulk and subscriptions) circulation

  1. Finweek: 15 152*  +1
  2. Entrepreneur: 14 695  -1
  3. Financial Mail: 13 252
  4. Noseweek: 11 974
  5. Forbes Africa: 10 040
  6. Personal Finance: 9 447
  7. Your Business: 7 336

Finweek notes: Sales at below 50% of the cover price = 9 123

Biggest-circulating business magazines in terms of total circulation

  1. Forbes Africa: 19 246
  2. Finweek: 17 996
  3. Entrepreneur: 14 695
  4. Financial Mail: 13 252  +1
  5. Noseweek: 11 974  -1
  6. Personal Finance: 9 532  +1
  7. Your Business: 9 367  -1

Position movement relative to Q1 2017.

Entertainment & celeb news

People has decreased to 38 431 from 46 095. TV Plus (Afrikaans) is down to 31 411 from 32 409 and the English edition has fallen to 20 736 from 29 091.

Bona has grown to 67 905 from 67 395 in the previous corresponding reporting period. Drum continues its rapid decline to 44 654 from 59 156; Huisgenoot has dropped to 196 772 from 219 309; and YOU has fallen to 102 992 from 116 560.

The Big Issue has fallen to 10 141 from 11 537. Taalgenoot is down to 68 427 from 69 023.

Woolworths TASTE, July 2017Home & gardening, leisure

Condé Nast House & Garden has declined to 32 590 from 34 336 (total free = 6 424). Easy DYI is down to 11 720 from 12 598 (total free = 5 119). Food & Home Entertaining has fallen to 24 113 from 30 418 (total free: 4 588). House & Leisure has declined to 24 270 from 26 921 (total free: 4 552). Sarie Kos has fallen to 26 331 from 31 943.

Woolworths TASTE is listed as a custom magazine — circulation has climbed slightly to 26 997 from 25 624 (single copy sales: 26 331).

Elle Decoration has fallen to 16 165 from 22 705 (total free: 1 027) and SA Home Owner is down to 38 521 from 38 934 (total free: 9 886). SA Garden and Home is down to 52 581 from 60 372 (total free: 5 753). Tuis Home has fallen to 74 710 from 81 769 (total free: 0) but VISI has climbed to 15 703 from 15 111 (total free: 395).

Men’s market

Destiny Man has grown to 14 133 from 13 899 (total free jumps to 5 216). Very Interesting has declined to 18 243, compared to 18 499 (total free = 4 412) in the previous corresponding reporting period.

GQ is down to 20 366 from 23 662 (total free: 7 204); Men’s Health has fallen to 26 516 from 32 512 and Popular Mechanics to 27 349 from 34 044. Stuff is down to 14 488 from 15 893 (total free: 4 304). Tech is at 66 510 (new category: moved from custom).

Health, fitness, sport

Compleat Golfer is up to 11 726, from 9 684 (total free = 4 329) and Golf Digest has grown to 9 965, up from 8 770. Kick Off is down to 18 834 from 25 839. Amakhosi has changed publishers — no data was submitted for Q2 2017. Sports Club (Foschini) has come in at 161 023 (changed category from custom)

SA Hunter has climbed to 48 186 from 44 334. Magnum has fallen to 12 106 from 13 219, while Game & Hunt/Wild & Jag is down to 11 171 from 13 920.

Hitting the road

SA 4×4 has climbed to 16 257 from 15 496 and Driven to 18 532 from 17 343. Leisure Wheels is down to 14 945 from 15 764; Drive Out/WegRy has fallen to 24 995 from 25 013, and CAR has grew to 63 941 from 63 407 [CAR updated 2017/08/13 – corrected ABC submission]. TFG Motor has been moved from the custom to consumer category; its circulation has come in at 41 620. Speed and Sound is down to 25 943 from 29 060.

Getaway is up to 41 115 from 40 167 (total free: 7 047) and Weg!/Go! has inched up to 55 555 from 55 330. SA Country Life has declined to 33 761 from 41 997. Platteland has fallen to 32 729 from 35 424.

Marie Claire South Africa, August 2017 - Thando HopaWoman’s general

Destiny Magazine is up to 27 659 from 25 958 (total free: 7 178). Cosmopolitan has declined to 34 653 from 46 938 (total free = 5 545), and Glamour to 43 201 from 51 215 (total free: 8 534). Elle has fallen to 16 194 from 24 834 (total free: 683). Fair Lady is down to 32 159 from 40 781.

Good Housekeeping/Goeie Huishouding has declined to 46 042 from 48 937 (total free: 7 519). Move! has collapsed to 72 031 from 90 644. True Love is down to 30 624 from 45 289, and Vroue Keur has dropped to 52 719 from 56 564. Woman and Home is down to 76 916 from 86 237 (total free jumps to 11 727).

Kuier has inched up to 98 741 from 98 138, Rooi Rose has risen slightly to 69 126 from 68 925 (total free = 7 732), Longevity has grown to 20 013 from 18 449, and Finesse has changed frequency to 9x annually and has grown to 45 973 from 41 348. Fitlife (new title) has come in at 16 287. However, Essentials is down to 28 010 from 31 125; Marie Claire is down slightly to 22 490 from 22 805; Sarie has fallen to 64 529 from 71 124, Your Family is down to 32 715 from 38 558, and Women’s Health has decreased to 32 717 from 34 728.

The MarkLives’ Big Magazine list*

  1. Huisgenoot: 196 772
  2. Sports Club (Foschini): 161 023
  3. Kids Super Club (Foschini): 110 942  +8 new
  4. YOU: 102 992  -1
  5. Kuier: 98 741  -1
  6. My Kitchen (Foshini): 93 703  -1
  7. Woman and Home: 76 916
  8. Tuis/Home: 74 710  +1
  9. Move!: 72 031  -3
  10. Foschini Living Space: 71 045  +1 new

Rooi Rose: 69 126  falls out
Taalgenoot: 68 427
Bona: 67 905  falls out
Tech (Foshini): 66 510
Sarie: 64 529
CAR: 62 159

*By total circulation. Must have a cover price. Annuals excluded. Movement on the Big Magazine list compared to 2017 Q1 data. Positions 8 and 9 updated on 7 November 2017.

Web traffic Q2

Title

Category

Sub period

Web daily average unique browsers

Web page impressions
Bicycling Sport and Hobby Jan-Jun 2441 197602
Lose It Home Jan-Jun 254 35634
Cape Etc. Travel Jan-Dec 418 27590
Bona Family Interest Apr-Jun 3138 187896
Car Motoring Apr-Jun 13041 796225
Cosmopolitan Woman’s General Apr-Jun 4233 300194
Compleat Golfer Sport and Hobby Apr-Jun 273 23785
Destiny Magazine Woman’s General Apr-Jun 9320 478697
Essentials Woman’s General Apr-Jun 1603 123791
Drum Family Interest Apr-Jun 33003 2568186
Destiny Man Male Apr-Jun 4086 217517
Fairlady Woman’s General Apr-Jun 268 263191
Farmer’s Weekly Farming Apr-Jun 1857 134407
Food & Home Entertaining Home Apr-Jun 1251 129633
Getaway Travel Apr-Jun 8956 440498
Good Housekeeping/ Goeie Huishouding Woman’s General Apr-Jun 8887 501243
House and Leisure Home Apr-Jun 1070 79891
Huisgenoot Family Interest Apr-Jun 107461 8074433
Kick Off Sport and Hobby Apr-Jun 70765 11034113
Kuier Woman’s General Apr-Jun 328 31065
Living and Loving Parenting Apr-Jun 1871 121913
Leisure Wheels Motoring Apr-Jun 890 41408
Landbouweekblad Farming Apr-Jun 5979 699331
Men’s Health Male Apr-Jun 4065 239190
Marie Claire Woman’s General Apr-Jun 3147 199699
Move Woman’s General Apr-Jun 6179 340486
Popular Mechanics Male Apr-Jun 675 42227
People Celebrity Apr-Jun 1999 98028
Rooi Rose Woman’s General Apr-Jun 3584 229713
SA Country Life Travel Apr-Jun 993 49821
Runner’s World Sport and Hobby Apr-Jun 5226 366544
SA Garden and Home Home Apr-Jun 1778 148714
SA Home Owner Home Apr-Jun 984 85113
SA Rugby Sport and Hobby Apr-Jun 18598 999972
Sarie Woman’s General Apr-Jun 23927 1666331
True Love Woman’s General Apr-Jun 4743 324047
Tuis / Home Home Apr-Jun 2676 227322
Vrouekeur Woman’s General Apr-Jun 3799 309104
Weg Travel Apr-Jun 4895 230931
Woman and Home Woman’s General Apr-Jun 2925 244911
Women’s Health Woman’s General Apr-Jun 4057 390136
You Family Interest Apr-Jun 22995 1339851
Your Family Woman’s General Apr-Jun 1172 98562
Voelgoed Woman’s General Jan-Jun 2401 130138
Baba & Kleuter Parenting Jan-Jun 1970 84980

 

ABC 2017 stories

ABC 2016 stories

More ABC stories

 

Herman MansonHerman Manson (@marklives) is the founder and editor of MarkLives.com.

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ABC Analysis Q2 2017: The biggest-circulating newspapers in SA

by Herman Manson (@marklives) The Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa has released newspaper-circulation statistics for the period April–June 2017 (ABC Q2 2017); see our magazine ABC analysis here.

Note: we compare the current figures with the same figures for this time last year, and not with the previous quarter. Green equals growth; red declined; purple maintained, new entrant or renamed; orange discontinued or resigned; pink no submission or suspended; brown minimal newsstand sales; and grey moved to a new category.

Key insights

Daily newspaper circulation fell to 1 163 265 from 1 278 157 during the previous corresponding reporting period (Q2 2016); pdf replica editions totalled 6 828, while single-copy sales came in at 856 639. Circulation at the weeklies fell, too — total circulation declined to 473 112 from 514 592; weekend newspapers declined to 1 397 409 from 1 580 602; and local papers dropped to 335 832 from 365 612. Free sheets fell to 6 212 813, from 6 315 420.

ABC member circulation totals

  • Daily newspapers: down to 1 163 265, compared to 1 278 157 for the previous corresponding period
  • Weekly papers: down to 473 112 from 514 592
  • Weekend papers: down to 1 397 409 from 1 580 602
  • Local papers: down to 335 832 from 365 612
  • Free papers: down to 6 212 813 from 6 315 420

Daily papers

In Gauteng, Pretoria News has declined to 13 773 from 14 649 (sales below 50% of retail cost = declined to 2 711). Beeld has fallen to 39 961 from 45 145 in the previous corresponding reporting period. The Star  is down to 80 345 from 86 643 (sales below 50% = 11 440). Sowetan is down to 73 610 from 88 741.

In the Cape, Die Burger (Eastern and Western Cape editions) has declined to 47 673 from 50 276. The Cape Argus has decreased to 29 038 from 30 265 [3 288 to Print Media in Education (PMIE)], while the Cape Times has also declined to 30 963 from 31 342 (2 755 copies go to PMIE). Son has fallen to 72 057 from 77 473.

In the Eastern Cape, Daily Dispatch has fallen to 18 791 from 22 451, and The Herald to 18 841 from 20 777.

In KwaZulu-Natal, The Mercury has declined to 26 361 from 26 746, and the Daily News is down to 23 559 from 25 373 (963 = sales below 50%). The Witness has declined to 13 118 from 14 142.

Business Day has declined to 20 056 from 24 508, The Citizen to 44 147 from 47 373 (single copy sales: 28 653), and Daily Sun to 164 923 from 194 506. Isolezwe has fallen to 85 491 from 94 581. The Times is down to 48 096 from 63 954 (when will the slashing stop?).

Volksblad has declined to 14 701 from 16 230. Diamond Fields Advertiser is down to 7 917 from 8 373.

The MarkLives Big Daily Newspaper List*

  1. Daily Sun: 164 923
  2. Isolezwe: 85 491
  3. The Star: 80 345
  4. Sowetan: 73 610
  5. Son: 72 057
  6. The Times: 48 096
  7. Die Burger: 47 673
  8. The Citizen: 44 147
  9. Beeld: 39 961
  10. The Cape Times: 30 963

Weekly & weekend papers

Pretoria News Saturday has inched up to 8 467 from 8 404 (sales below 50% of cover price: 1 600), while Independent on Saturday has risen slightly to 37 283 from 37 172 (sales below 50% of cover price:3 500). The Weekend Argus (Saturday & Sunday editions) has declined to 52 450 from 53 667; the Saturday Star is down to 48 357 from 51 267 (sales below 50% of cover price: 4 484); Saturday Beeld has fallen to 38 370 from 41 479; Saturday Burger has declined to 61 112 from 64 261; and Saturday Dispatch to 16 469 from 18 742.

City Press has slid to 68 645 from 92 193 (yoh!) and Rapport to 124 306 from 129 169 (single copy sales: 99 028). The Sunday Times has declined to 262 715 from 291 770 (single copy sales: 152 533). Sunday Tribune has declined to 52 729 from 63 195 (sales below 50% = 4 270). Sunday Sun has crashed to 78 359 from 108 821, and Sunday World has fallen to 54 481 from 76 039.

Ilanga Langesonto is down to 36 914 from 43 329 and Isolezwe ngeSonto has declined to 68 560 from 78 092. Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo has fallen to 68 821 from 76 115.

In terms of the weeklies, The Post is down to 39 699 from 43 992 (sales below 50%: 2 525) and Ilanga has fallen to 65 101 from 69 988. The Mail & Guardian has fallen to 29 420 from 32 727. Soccer Laduma is down to 260 950 from 279 237.

The MarkLives’ Biggest Circulation Per Issue Newspaper List*

  1. Sunday Times: 262 715  +1
  2. Soccer Laduma: 260 950  -1
  3. Daily Sun: 164 923
  4. Rapport: 124 306
  5. Isolezwe: 85 491
  6. The Star: 80 345  +1
  7. Sunday Sun: 78 359  -1
  8. Sowetan: 73 610
  9. Son: 72 057  +1
  10. Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo: 68 821  -1

City Press: 68 645
Isolezwe ngeSonto: 68 560
Ilanga: 65 101

*South African titles only. Must have a cover price. Excludes free papers.

ABC 2017 stories

ABC 2016 stories

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Last updated 2 July 2019.

 

Herman MansonHerman Manson (@marklives) is the founder and editor of MarkLives.com.

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[CARTOON] The Marketing Mice celebrate gender

by Charlie Mathews (@CharlesLeeZA) Gender identity is a universe of infinite possibilities.

Marketing Mice 2017 08 09 Sum of gender - cartoon

 

Charlie MathewsCharles Lee Mathews (@CharlesLeeZA) is a writer who likes to draw, such as this regular editorial cartoon — exclusive to MarkLives — in which The Marketing Mice offer their take on the world of marketing, media and advertising.

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Training with Facebook’s Blueprint platform

by Megan Hollis (@meggiefayeZA) The free Facebook Blueprint training platform launched in 2015 with 35 training modules; today, it houses 109 of varying difficulty and format. With so much training material on offer, it may be hard to know where to start for beginners and advanced Facebook marketers alike. So I did all 100+ Facebook Blueprint Training Modules so you don’t have to.

What’s on offer for Facebook marketing beginners?

Blueprint offers all the courses you would expect — introductions to Facebook and Instagram and all of the associated advertising options are undoubtedly invaluable resources for Facebook marketing beginners. Just the sheer convenience of having everything in one place makes for a welcome change, rather than trawling the likes of Jon Loomer for basic explanations.

The best course for beginners, in my opinion, is the “SMB Fast Track” in the small/medium business category, coupled with “Facebook Terminology” and its associated resource, Facebook’s Glossary of Ad Terms. There are also in-depth explanations of all of the targeting options (core, custom and lookalike), which offer a great departure point for social CRM.

What’s on offer for agencies and brands already comfortable with Facebook marketing?

However. for those who are already comfortable with principles such as ad auction and delivery (eg Reach and Frequency, ad objectives and the various creative formats displayed on Creative Hub), I would recommend courses such as the “Power Editor course for Advanced Advertisers”, both “Facebook Messenger” courses, “Facebook Pixel”, and one all about “Facebook’s Software Development Kit (SDK)”.

The most-pleasant surprise I found was one entitled “How Journalists can best utilize Facebook & Instagram”. A collaboration between Facebook and the Poynter Institute, this highlights how journalists may use 360 and videos to break stories, as well as the handy feature, Instant Articles, which houses news articles natively.

How are the courses structured?

The core content is geared towards preparing you to become a Facebook Certified Professional. The modules are approximately 15 minutes each, and have a review section with up to six questions. Once you have done the relevant courses, and the relevant 30-minute practise exam, you will be prepared to sit the following exams: “Advertising Core Competencies”, “Certified Planning Profession” and “Certified Buying Professional”. Note that you first have to complete the Core Competencies exam to be able to do either of the others.

The exams cost R1200 each but all training material is free. The exams may be taken online or at a test centre but, either way, need to be scheduled. The pass rate for each is 80%, and there are a number of suggested “learning paths” to help guide you with a recommended combination and sequences according to your role.

How did I find completing the training modules?

My biggest disappointment with the training is that it touts a significant number of features not yet available in South Africa, eg any content which speaks about Atlas (a “people based measurement platform”) or multicultural affinity audiences (which account for US Hispanic, African American and Asian American audiences).

In addition, if you enrol in the “all content learning path” as I did, which enrols you in all 109 courses, be prepared for a lot of overlap in the estimated 40 hours it takes you to complete it. As a result, I wouldn’t recommend following suit but rather that you cherry-pick the areas of Facebook you feel least comfortable with.

Nevertheless, I would highly recommend doing a broad selection of the courses and sitting the Advertising Core Competencies exam, at least. If nothing else, the courses give you the confidence that what you know about Facebook and Instagram marketing best practice comes straight from the horse’s mouth.

 

Megan HollisMegan Hollis (@meggiefayeZA) is head of strategy of Techsys Digital. A journalist turned digital strategist, she loves writing about technology, social media and CRM. Megan would love to hear your Facebook Blueprint and certification experience, so feel free to contact her or ask her questions at m.me/megshollis.

“Motive” is a by-invitation-only column on MarkLives.com. Contributors are picked by the editors but generally don’t form part of our regular columnist lineup, unless the topic is off-column.

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