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Mike Sharman is the owner of multi-award winning agency Retroviral Digital Communications, an online communications consultancy that advises brands how to communicate with their target markets online, and executes strategies, while supporting their business objectives.Clients have included Miller South Africa, for whom we managed its social media channels. Our proactive engagement in the online space resulted in more than a 300% increase in the Miller Rock the Boat Facebook page over a three week period in October 2010. The community grew to more than 11,000 members prior to the departure of the boat in December 2010.In November 2010, Nando's briefed us to make its 'Cell C parody' campaign go viral. Utilising our online network of bloggers and social media influencers on Facebook and twitter, we became the first agency in South Africa to proactively seed online video content that surpassed the 100,000 view mark in less than 5 days.This year we have been responsible for the online component of the #NoRegretFriday movement that encouraged people not to drink and drive for SAB's Reality Check brand, and we broke records for Nando's once again with our seeding of the 'Last Dictator Standing' campaign. The content went global on the first day it went live and has currently been viewed on YouTube more than 850,000 times after only six days of being live.Mike Sharman is also an industry speaker. He has presented his thoughts and campaign findings on local social media execution to Brand students at Vega, at the Digital Academy at the Campus in Bryanston, at the IMCC at the Hilton in Johannesburg, and the WTFMedia Conference in the Western Cape
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A new year is stereotypically associated with clean slates and resolutions. Below is a guideline for brands, and individuals alike, to right the interweb wrongs and to prevent the heinous digital crimes of 2012.WrathOver promising and under delivering in the Twittersphere is the easiest way to incite a Twitter war or ‘twar’ with one’s followers. A great example of this is the Steers R10 rib promotion which went horribly wrong.There are more consumers online and they are less forgiving ...
The media has been obsessed with the developments in South African president Jacob Zuma's Lenin-esque nude portrait saga. Brands and consumers alike have meanwhile taken to social media with offerings of their Spear of the Nation memes. Below is a selection of our favourites.1. Gabriel's image is hard to absorbGabriel employs shock tactics.2. John TerryA meme within a meme.3. Helen ZilleTit for tat: the leader of the opposition is unknowingly pulled into the paint-slinging affair.4. Spear SpiesSports meets politics. ...
The internet has granted us the ability to express our inner narcisist. We build platforms or slap our credentials onto existing ones, broadcasting our achievements – even if no one is listening.The increase of global unemployment rates is directly proportional to the number of gurus, rockstars, ninjas, and Jedi Masters popping up in a variety of disciplines -- from finance, to advertising -- and for a very good reason. Graduates and even experienced hires need to make an impression on ...
According to the latest MasterCard Worldwide Online Shopping Survey, online shopping has increased significantly and continues to show potential for growth, with price, convenience and security key factors to consider making a purchasing decision.The survey revealed that even in an emerging market like South Africa shopping online has steadily increased over the past two years, with 58% of respondents in a survey of active internet users saying that they use the internet for shopping. This is an increase from the ...
Viral, and more specifically the phrase 'I want you to make me a viral video' is something that we have covered before with our 3Rs post: Remarkable content, seeded to the Right people, leads to Results.The Kony phenomenon comprises certain elements of the 3Rs, but also provides insight into additional mechanics of successful online video, which brands can take value from. These include:Influence the influencersCelebrities have been the greatest influencers to jump aboard the Kony express, disseminating links via ...
In 2011, popular radio personality Gareth Cliff utilised Twitter, and particularly the hashtag #JZSOTNDrinks -- a drinking game mechanism -- to encourage the South African man on the street to become involved in the country's State of the Nation Address. It was a hit online. This year, he evolved the concept and took it to a new level -- #SOTNUndress or State of the Nation Undress.Almost a year ago to the day, we were reporting on South African shock-jock Cliff's ...
It is a common request from clients wanting to embrace the whole online thing. There's a fantastic chance that your MD, CEO, CFO, [Insert additional 2/3 letter combination] has been receiving increasing pressure, from peers/competitors, to throw some money at the production of a viral video.The problem with buzzwords is that they set unrealistic expectations. It is impossible to "make a viral video". It is however possible to produce a remarkable video and seed it to a relevant online network, ...
The State of the Nation address delivered by President Jacob Zuma on Thursday evening, and the drinking game that accompanied it, was Twitter's number one trending topic early on Friday morning. Renowned blogger Khaya Dlanga and South African radio shock jock Gareth Cliff had a big hand in spreading the trend to their large Twitter audiences.Never shy of controversy, South African shock jock, Gareth Cliff, has taken to social media like a man possessed. He is a Facebook juggernaut with ...
