Gone are the days where the TV commands full attention. Rather, this generation is termed 'multi-screeners' who use their devices' multiple screens simultaneously. This being said, viewers are now able to instantly engage the call to action, share content and connect with other fans etc. With this being widely accepted, brands are increasingly able to capture consumers through these various platforms. In a recent study, Google reports that the use of multiple screens makes the consumer more efficient as the spontaneous finding of relevant search results makes the consumer feel as though they have "found time". The study also noted that 22% of respondents searched for something on a smartphone after being exposed to it on TV. With these studies being commissioned on overdrive, it is quite clear that multi screen viewing is the next big thing.   What is it? The concept of second screen viewing i...

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Virtual pinboard and online content sharing service Pinterest has confirmed what has long been expected, announcing the launch of Pinterest for Business. Previous restrictions on commercial use have been removed, with Pinterest following in the footsteps of other social media heavyweights, such as Facebook and Twitter, by now providing businesses the facility to set up accounts. Indeed, following Pinterest's phenomenal growth over the last two years, it's a telling step forward, essentially designed to help businesses increase customer reach and drive traffic flow to targeted company websites. Businesses will now be able to further develop a presence on Pinterest by registering under their company name; while those new to Pinterest will be able to join as a business, existing us...

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Let's paint a picture. You're involved with a business, who collects their customer's data via; email address, phone number, or on the off chance, Facebook users ID's. You have a Facebook page, however, you have realised that the number of 'Likes' does not come close to your collected database. Enter, Facebook Custom Audience Targeting. You see, Facebook has now integrated Custom Audience Targeting which gives users the ability to upload their consumer database - assuming that it contains customer; email addresses, phone numbers or Facebook user ID's. Once uploaded, Facebook will match such information with current Facebook users. Once matched, you are able to create and customise Facebook Ads directly to these matched customers. This gives you the ab...

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With social media connections growing exponentially, the possibility of people disagreeing with your views increases respectively. With this in mind, a special breed of people, termed "Trolls" have arisen. As of late, Trolls are gaining the media spotlight and as such Vivo Group has complied some tips and tactics to assist you in combating them.   What are Trolls? A Troll is a person who seeks to cause a commotion and gain attention by persistently hijacking your online presence whilst inundating you with negative and abusive comments. Trolls engage in order to increase self worth. They play off every interaction and become more fuelled and persistent the larger the argument becomes. They do not have legitimate grievances and do not want to talk rationally. Ra...

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  With all of today's hype, you probably find yourself extremely confused and don't know where to start. Fret not, Apple fans amongst the Vivo Group have been able to provide a concise wrap up of all things iPhone 5. Some feel that with the absence of Jobs, the fanaticism associated with new Apple product releases has significantly declined. Fewer leaks meant new features, when unveiled, were a surprise - rather than a clarification of rumours, resulting in a rather ho-hum launch.   Nonetheless, there are still some noteworthy updates and upgrades; Aesthetics New 'Lightning' charger Earphone connectivity at the bottom of the device New earphones Lighter (20%) Thinner (18%) Longer Bigger screen ...

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The acceptance and success of social media has dramatically shaken up how advertisers traditionally define Bought, Earned and Owned media. The once clear cut lines between the three media types are now seen as a blurry mess. Strengthened by Altimeter Group's research, it has been forecasted that the three "distinct media are beginning to converge, [and] soon they'll be inextricably entwined". Based on this forecasted amalgamation of media, the industry has dubbed the new term "converged media". This change has been caused by the new empowered consumer, who is now consulting the new types of media (Facebook, Twitter, Forums etc) to finalise their buying decisions. With this foreseen convergence in mind, it is fundamental that marketers keep up. In doing so, it is essential that marketers have an understanding of the traditional forms of marketing, and how they are converging in the digital scene.   ...

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Augmented Reality is swiftly becoming the most prominent marketing tool being employed by Marketers. It has the ability to strongly engage consumers by, (for the lack of a better word) augmenting their reality and enabling them to bring brand experiences to life. Sure, they are interesting, and really give us a glimpse into the future of advertising, but has anyone stopped, taken a step away from their screen, and actually thought about the concept of Augmented Reality?   What is Augmented Reality? In its simplest form, augmented reality is a crafted digital layer, that can't be seen without the presence of a screen, whether it be in the form of a smartphone, computer or billboard. Two specific, yet very separate dynamics are combined when using augmented reality; a...

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It was once said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but perhaps in this new media age, a picture is worth a thousand followers. Instagram (an acquisition of Facebook) is strictly a mobile based, photo sharing application that allows users to apply filters to photos and post or share them accordingly. A recent study by Simply Measured found that 40% of Interbrands top 100 global brands, have employed Instagram in building their social presence among the applications 80 million registered users. Collectively, these 100 brands have 3 million Instagram followers with a rate of 96% engagement. With this statistic in mind, it is surprising that more brands are not joining in on the fun. Further, with the ever increasing presence of social media, paired with the prerequisite of built in cameras in mobile devices, the interaction levels are expanding exponentially. As a free applica...

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Our world is becoming increasingly cluttered with advertising and marketing messages. Which is why it’s only natural that brands are looking for new, non-intrusive ways to promote their products and services online. The next frontier? Social recommendations. 

 Personally, a lot of purchasing decisions are made based on friend’s recommendations, rather than listening to a celebrity endorse the product. Katy Perry, we all know you were paid to say that about Proactive. Do you even know what acne is?

 So instead of ‘pushing’ the message on consumers, why not have them advocate for you? The difficulty here lies in identifying and targeting those advocating consumers. But, thanks to Klout, that just got a whole lot easier.   Hold up, what is Klout? It’s an online measurement tool for influence. Using data mined from a user’s active social networks - including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, FourSquar...

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