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dimanche 15 décembre 2013

Local Trends In 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.

South Africa's most unusual characteristic is the fact that it combines third and first world countries into one. Another niche trait is that many lower income groups use premium gadgets, which alters the traditional approach to target market advertising. Computers are not a luxury affordable by all, but most earners own a smart phone. SA's marketers thus need to place particular focus on mobile networking options.

When defining a group of demographics, it is useful to compare regional characteristics and the kind of digital sites they use most often. Those who use smart phone applications most often tend to collect an hour's worth of interaction on them every day. That these networks are an economical alternative to instant messaging means they are an important medium for those targeting middle income groups.

Social networks that integrate image sharing, video and news feeds are SA's most popular. These members are mostly middle and upper income groups. Professional sites, on the other hand, are growing at a slower rate. Their members are typically white collar professionals working in the finance sector.

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 demographics are easily split into the locations of digital users. For example, Natal locals are showing more interest in mobile media. This laid back, sporty demographic has a sociable, relaxed attitude to life. Those in Gauteng are the most avid professional network users. Gauteng locals are famously career-focused, and have significant earning power.

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.

SA's networking sites are gaining ground more quickly than they are in other countries, with many media showing an annual growth rate of more than 100 percent. This development includes corporate usage, as brand managers develop marketing teams dedicated to online campaigns.

Advertising executives with enough skill and talent to establish an effective digital campaign can easily gain ground against competitors. Competitive advantage is easier to achieve because SA's advertisers haven't yet developed enough skill to master this form of marketing. Despite the fact that SA's advertisers are some of the best in the world, advertising through social networks in South Africa hasn't been professionally perfected.




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