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vendredi 20 décembre 2013

How Locals Use Social Networks In South Africa

By Cornelia White


Social networks in South Africa are generating significant interest, with 9.4 million active facebook members and 7.4 million mobile app fans. More obscure smartphone applications have over a million users, demonstrating that marketers and business owners trying to penetrate the SA market need to do so through integrated campaigns which include networking advertising.

The aspect that makes South Africa unique from other countries is the fact that it combines both third and first world countries into one domain. At the same time, many still existing in third world conditions have not limited their use of technology. While computers prove too costly for many earning minimum wage, smart phones are not. For this reason, SA's users are uniquely focused on mobile networking applications.

Campaigns established according to demographics are relatively easy to create in SA because of the stark division between subcultures and locales. Many who use mobile networking applications, for example, dedicate 60 minutes of their days to these sites. That these kinds of networks offer an affordable way to communicate gives marketers a direct way to influence middle income earners.

Multi media social networking sites are growing faster than any others in the country. Urban dwellers, and middle to upper income professionals are the most common members. Those who use dedicated professional networks are growing less rapidly. Their members are mostly white collar professionals, especially those working in the finance industry.

SA's more obscure networks often target lower income groups via smart phone apps. Many have collected their membership numbers through campaigns on consumer products, and their membership numbers are large enough to compete with some of the world's most successful networking media. Those with low to middle income earners as target markets can't afford to market without the use of the more obscure mobile applications, since they often have as many as one million active members.

SA's digital users can be divided according to their locations. As an example, those living in Kwazulu Natal use mobile media more than others. This demographic often lives a laid back, sports-oriented lifestyle. Gauteng dwellers, in contrast, prefer professional networking sites. These demographics are typically higher income earners with fast-paced lifestyles and careers.

Image sharing media are gaining ground throughout the country. Video sharing sites generate the most interest from Western Cape locals. This target market is interested in quality of life above career, although the Cape has niche subcultures that sustain thriving professional lives at a slightly slower pace than Gauteng dwellers.

Networks in SA are growing far faster than in many other countries, with some sites demonstrating more than 100% growth in only a year. Corporations are a large part of this development, with brand managers using their own internal marketing departments to develop their social media campaigns.

Marketing managers with the talent to develop strategic digital campaigns gain a significant competitive edge. This is the result of a general lack of savvy among advertisers as to how to develop an integrated campaign on social networks in South Africa. Despite the fact that the country has some of the world's most talented advertisers, digital marketing remains misunderstood by many.




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