Five key considerations for B2B tech brands looking to scale PR in Africa
While the changes over the past year have created a conducive environment for technology companies with highly-relevant products and solutions to thrive, there have also been major shifts in the media that they need to [...]
DUO secures its second international PR and digital marketing award this year
DUO Marketing + Communications, a specialist provider of PR and digital marketing services to technology companies in Africa, has been selected “Best Tech PR and Digital Marketing Agency” at the African Excellence Awards 2021, building [...]
DUO selected as 2020 African Tech PR Agency of the Year at MEA Business Awards
DUO Marketing and Communications, a specialist provider of PR and digital marketing services to technology companies in Africa, has been selected as the best African Tech PR Agency for 2020 at the MEA Business Awards, [...]
Covid-19: South African Coronavirus Resource Portal
Learn more about South Africa's efforts to tackle the spread of the Coronavirus - visit the government's official Covid-19 Online Resource and News Portal here: https://sacoronavirus.co.za/
DUO implements remote working in face of Coronavirus threat
A brief message from our CEO While President Cyril Ramaphosa last night announced a 21-day countrywide lockdown in an effort to slow the spread of the Coronavirus, DUO has proactively played its part in ‘flattening [...]
DUO kicks off February 2020 with three new clients
DUO Marketing + Communications, one of the leading PR & digital marketing agencies that provides brand elevation solutions for B2B tech companies, today announced that they have added three exciting new clients to their already [...]
Finding synergy between PR and digital marketing
Traditional PR agencies are facing an increasing number of challenges to getting clients’ messaging out there. Publications are shutting down or downsizing, many require advertising in order to place certain types of content, the appetite [...]
DUO Marketing + Communications opens 2020 Graduate Programme for PR industry entrants
Applications for the next intake of DUO’s graduate programme, to commence in January 2020, are now open. The programme is aimed at degreed students from the marketing, communications and public relations field, and will provide [...]
Are your digital assets geared up to generate leads?
The establishment of digital platforms as mainstream communications mediums has had a major impact on the way in which organisations engage with the public. Digital advertising, apart from just being used to increase awareness about [...]
Why partnership is key to successful cross-platform brand elevation
The establishment of digital and social platforms as mainstream communications platforms have had huge ramifications for traditional media. In the digital age, a partnership approach between agencies and their corporate clients are vital to ensure [...]
DUO Marketing signs up two new PR clients
Niche Tech PR and Digital Marketing Agency DUO Marketing + Communications embraces August with a boost to its client base by bringing onboard two new clients, INOVO and Social Places to provide them with a [...]
The value of a niche PR and Digital Marketing agency
We all feel it, it’s been a challenging year and the outlook is looking uncertain. Businesses are critically reviewing budgets. But this is the time to sharpen your focus and partner with an expert who [...]
A fresh approach to customer service
During 2018 we made some significant changes to our internal team structures that have improved our business, delivering greater value to our clients, and a richer and more fulfilling work experience for our team across [...]
DUO Marketing + Communications committed to developing PR and marketing industry talent
Johannesburg, April 17, 2019 - Digital PR and marketing agency DUO Marketing + Communications (DUO) launched its very first Graduate Programme for PR and communications graduates earlier this year and had placed the first of [...]
DUO’s graduate programme: Where talent meets opportunity
The DUO Graduate Programme is a practical hands-on initiative that provides recent graduates with on-the-job experience. The programme is geared towards building foundations on how to effectively elevate enterprise technology brands in South African through [...]
Is ROI really the best metric to measure PR success?
Return on investment (ROI) has become the principal metric when demonstrating Public Relations (PR) success, as it connects outcomes to a company's financial and business goals. However, ROI is not always the most accurate method [...]
Align measurable marketing results with business objectives
Bridging the gap between your business strategy and brand elevation efforts, DUO looks to bring true value to your business, with results to show irrefutable return on your investment. DUO's experience in technology coupled [...]
DUO launches Graduate Programme for PR industry entrants
DUO is a leading Digital PR and Marketing Agency serving the Tech industry in Southern Africa. We are member of Plexus PR globally ensuring that local standards meet global best practices. Our business is 15 [...]
Want video for your business? Here is the rule book for optimal results.
By Judith Middleton, Head of Advisory Services at DUO Marketing + Communications Video has become an important part of any marketing and communications strategy (although it’s unlikely ever to displace text entirely, whatever Facebook wanted [...]
Data and platforms bring new opportunities to expand PR
Being a specialist technology agency, we regularly come across examples of how organisations from a variety of industries are changing as a result of digital disruption, and it becomes increasingly apparent that similar changes are [...]
The most successful PR and digital marketing tactics for tech companies in 2018
In 2018, we noticed a shift in the way technology companies are communicating within the industry, with many being open to connecting more, opening links to webinars and allowing external stakeholders to listen in. This [...]
Make your marketing investment count to ensure ROI in 2019
In a consumer-led economy, building (and maintaining reputation), creating brand presence and earning trust, are critical in sustaining a business through times of instability and uncertainty. Make your marketing investment count by partnering with an [...]
Why PR should heed the red flag and move beyond earned content
As businesses change, so professions have to adapt to remain current. PR is not immune to change and the profession is currently going through a transformation to find its new iteration in the digital world [...]
Why a business always needs PR
You need PR more than ever during uncertain and challenging economic times 2018 has certainly been an exhilarating roller coaster ride for South Africans so far. A new President, a cabinet reshuffle, stronger (but still [...]
Six simple steps to good SEO
Search engine optimisation (SEO) is a buzzword that is often spoken about in the world of digital marketing and communications. However, not many people understand exactly what it means and how integral it is that [...]
Influencer marketing 101
The popularity of social media platforms to market goods and services for businesses has made the term ‘influencer’ one of the latest buzzwords in the marketing sphere. In 2018, influencer marketing remains an approach for [...]
Choose your words carefully
Before opening your mouth to speak to the media or dashing off an email or tweet that might find its way into a newsroom, it’s worth considering what the legal ramifications of your words might [...]
Taking Twitter to the next tier
With business-to-business technology brands increasingly recognising the valuable role that social media can play within their broader marketing and communication mix, the focus falls on who they want to reach, and which platforms to use. [...]
Finding the link in LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a social media platform that offers a plethora of options for businesses. As the largest community of business professionals in the world, LinkedIn users consume a wide range of content that assists in [...]
In the face of Facebook
Facebook has for many been a platform we use in our private capacity to stay in touch with family and friends. As with all things digital, it continues to evolve and for many it is [...]
The business of Instagram
According to Hootsuite statistics, there are over 800 million active monthly Instagram users, 80% of users follow a business on the platform, and 75% of users take action after visiting a post. This emphasises the [...]
How to write a press release, pitch it and follow up
DUO recently attended a webinar hosted by Leigh Andrews, editor-in-chief of BizCommunity’s Marketing and Media. The webinar was aimed at mastering the art of writing press releases and provided helpful tips and insights. Andrews said [...]
Unleashing the power of PR: Accountability, measurability and impact are integral
Last year, 2017, was a year of uncertainty, turmoil and change in South Africa. The country was plagued with cabinet reshuffles, a weakened economy, a divided nation and government, racial tension, allegations of state capture; [...]
DUO expands its capabilities and services with three new appointments in 2018
DUO Marketing + Communications, a specialist B2B tech PR and digital marketing agency, has started the New Year with the appointment of three new team members. “We kick-start 2018 with a core team that is [...]
DUO signs up two new global tech clients
DUO has expanded its clientele by welcoming Oracle and Huawei Technologies to its portfolio to deliver a range of PR and digital services for South Africa and markets in sub-Saharan Africa. “We are delighted to [...]
PR credibility under pressure from fake news
Building trust with the media is a challenge in the wake of recent events - Greg Gordon, guest columnist. The era of fake news has some serious ramifications for the PR industry, chief among them [...]
Mid-year online asset checklist for digital marketing excellence
At the beginning of the year we as marketers set goals of what we want to achieve in terms of our digital marketing strategy. This bucket list, if you will, contains new initiatives we want [...]
InfiNet Wireless selects DUO for PR in SA and Kenya
DUO Marketing + Communications (DUO) has been appointed by InfiNet Wireless as its PR and communications agency for South Africa and Kenya. InfiNet Wireless is a global leader in fixed broadband wireless connectivity and while [...]
The importance of consistency and tracking in lead generation
With business suffering from the effects of South Africa’s unstable economy, decision makers are looking closely at the measurable return on investment shown by their public relations (PR) efforts. As a result, lead generation has [...]
Partnerships are Pivotal
¨Just one great partnership with the right person can have an incredible impact on your business success¨ - Janine Ogg & Jo Foster It is this philosophy that underpins the successful implementation of broad based [...]
Ensuring your website effectively reflects your brand
While B2B technology companies are increasingly going online to drive brand awareness and potentially generate leads, many continue to be challenged by one of the most basic tools in the digital marketing kit - their [...]
A career in PR beyond 2020 – the PR professional of the future
Attending the recently held In2 Innovation Summit, hosted by The Holmes Report, resulted in a pinch of retrospection and healthy dose of future gazing regarding a career in PR beyond 2020. PR professionals should ask [...]
Evolution: It’s a matter of relationships and value
Relationships matter in public relations (PR) and having retained a client for over ten years is no mean feat! Over a decade ago, we were approached by Vox (formerly known as DataPro) with the brief [...]
The PR value conundrum – what does value look like?
Value can mean many things and it is often difficult to measure the value of a service. However, when it comes to our PR and digital services offering, we have a very clear understanding of [...]
Budget 2017/8 another balance for the SME
For many, Pravin Gordhan’s Budget 2017/8 was a neat and perfect bow tied around the complexities of politics and economy. For the small to medium enterprise (SME), the speech had its fair share of expensive [...]
Industry 4.0 is the nucleus that connects a host of integrated PR and marketing possibilities
The phenomenon, referred to as the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), is a technological evolution which describes the combination of major innovations in digital technology. These include new marketing models, cloud computing, the Internet of [...]
Dominique Pienaar appointed as our new CEO
"The time is right: we are a strong, growing business that has paved a way for our future success. We have been planning the move for 18 months as it’s time to allow Dominique, an [...]
Social Media Marketing: Three trends to watch out for in 2017
There are a number of trends being observed in the social media landscape; we're taking a look at three key social media trends, and what they mean for South African companies: More video, and live [...]
Viva video! Tips for B2B brands to create more video content in 2017
A few years ago we said marketing communications is becoming visual first, meaning the visual element conveys the message rather than the text accompanying it. Now video is set to take over from images and [...]
Honest and clear communication to drive the development of smart cities
The term ‘smart cities’ is a buzzword being used within governments, the private sector and among academics, and describes new digital technology being used to improve old practices and policies in urban areas around [...]
Engaging Africa’s next generation of business and technology leaders
These are the words of Uche Ofodile, a senior business leader based in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with extensive expertise in building businesses in emerging markets, from a recent interview on ‘Forward Leadership’ [...]
Networking forms part of the modern marketer’s playbook
Never before has the profession experienced such a disruption as with the arrival of digital, and it is up to marketers to expose themselves to the latest insights and trends. This is where networking events [...]
The DUO Networking Breakfast
2016 has been a year of digital discovery for many, but measurement, ROI and integration with the traditional marketing mix are still seen as stumbling blocks, especially for small(er) businesses. We invite you to join the [...]
Healthcare in Africa and technology’s impact, from a distance
I attended the Healthcare Innovation Summit earlier this year and came to the realisation that technology is making big strides in an effort to solve some of Africa’s most pressing healthcare challenges. Healthcare spending is [...]
DUO named AfricaCom media partner for second year
"Never before has technology been a more powerful enabler for our continent, and we are excited, through our partnership with AfricaCom, to engage with, and learn from some of the greatest minds in our industry. [...]
PR consultants from Africa – a resourceful bunch indeed
Yes, PR consultants are resourceful and innovative, because those are characteristics that are part and parcel of the trade. However, I’m not only referring to my colleagues, I’m also talking about fellow South Africans. I [...]
The PR services iceberg
There is a misnomer that delivering public relations (PR) services is easy - that it is the cheaper alternative to advertising and that determining its value is as simple as knowing what an AVE is. [...]
Innovative Africa is on the rise and solving unique problems and challenges
The likes of TechCrunch get all excited about the likes of Jumia and Konga, essentially Amazon clones, while every so often a new startup is touted as the “Facebook for Africa”. But as we head [...]
Business shifting? Keep your PR and marketing messages on point
In a previous blog, I provided three tips to ensure your communication objectives are aligned with your business vision. This served as a checklist to support your communications team, enabling you to focus on business [...]
SEO – A search engine’s way of telling us to communicate better
First emerging as something resembling gibberish for most, SEO is now on the lips of every marketer and PR manager, as well as every large enterprise executive and entrepreneur. But while the acronym is frequently [...]
Destroyed by fire, rebuilt by charity: Harrington House for Children
Mrs Elizabeth Barrett’s home for children in need, on Harrington Street in Cape Town burnt to the ground in December 2013, leaving her and the 14 children in her care without shelter. “We couldn’t save [...]
Digital transformation: How to avoid being mis(out)placed
The nature of business and work is changing. Digital transformation is crucial for businesses that want to remain relevant, and the same applies to PR professionals. How can PR pros adapt and retrain themselves to [...]
Digital is the future of PR: An intern’s key observation
Internships provide a dual purpose within any industry. The intern gains valuable skills, both soft (interpersonal communication skills, emotional development, etc.) and hard (execution of tasks, job-specific skills such as writing a press release, etc.). [...]
Internships at DUO: growing the future talent of our industry
Internships provide a dual purpose within any industry. The intern gains valuable skills, both soft (interpersonal communication skills, emotional development, etc.) and hard (execution of tasks, job-specific skills such as writing a press release, etc.). [...]
9 tips on how to shoot short video on your phone
In our last article, Feeding the growing appetite for video, we discussed the increasing importance of audio-visual material in digital marketing and PR. In short, a recent survey found that South Africa registered as the [...]
Training the developers of Africa’s future
Anyone that has tried to hire a software developer in Africa knows it can be a tall task, with quality not guaranteed and, if it is, costing a lot. But there are various movements afoot [...]
DUO welcomes eight new clients
Compare Africa Group is a leading online service and product comparison platform, providing consumers with an easy-to-use interface in order to find the most affordable deals. DUO’s objective is to position the company’s executives [...]
Are you feeding your audience’s appetite for video?
More people across the African continent are watching video content online, be it through social media platforms, streaming services, or through hosting sites like YouTube. These numbers are set to keep growing at a pace, [...]
PR’s Place
Public relations is often left out of the marketing mix by many agencies, often considered as a standalone service. Perhaps this is somewhat true for some industry sectors, like fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), which has seen [...]
3 tips to ensure your communication objectives are aligned with your business vision
While you are focusing on business strategy and product enhancements or new product developments… consider how your communications team can support this process? How can they back the product and sales team and provide peace [...]
Mars-One Mission – Media consumption funded into a new world
“What’s impossible today can be possible tomorrow. It just depends on how much imagination you have – and how much money,” she said to a crowd full of avid listeners. Heavy Chef SA hosted quantum [...]
Online – the rise of connectivity activism
I’m curious to see whether public WiFi and with it, connected online citizens in metropolitan areas, will play a key role in local parties’ election strategies to rally support and keep urban South Africans informed [...]
DUO welcomes three new clients
SafariNow, Africa’s biggest and most established online accommodation booking website, has partnered with DUO to create awareness of its diverse accommodation range and great last-minute booking deals. redPanda Software is an expert in the end-to-end [...]
DUO storming into Africa
We are delighted to welcome Entersekt and Goodwell Investments to our growing list of clients, specifically in need of support beyond South Africa’s borders. DUO now provide services for four clients with a reach into [...]
Tech in Africa: Making money work for Africans
Early this year, money transfer company WorldRemit, launched by Somali Ismail Ahmed, raised US$45 million to grow its operations. Investors are backing money transfer firms to challenge the hegemony of incumbents Western Union and MoneyGram. [...]
DUO selected as East AfricaCom 2016 media partner
DUO Marketing + Communications, a specialist technology Public Relations and Digital Marketing Agency has been selected as a media partner for this year’s East AfricaCom Conference, which takes place in Nairobi, Kenya, between 18 and [...]
Marketing automation – spring cleaning for your content
No one likes clutter; it makes finding the important stuff that much more difficult. But based on the plethora of articles titled “10 tips to declutter your life” (or something equally intriguing that you’ll read [...]
B2B social media: Is your brand engaging with future tech buyers?
In fact, “social media can be MORE transformative for a B2B company than a B2C company. This is because B2B has a smaller potential customer base, a higher average price point, and a customer decision [...]
Now is a good time to invest in drone repair…
As the world prepares for the rise of machines, including drones, personal robotics and the Internet of Things, we as PR and marketing professionals need to sharpen our communication skills as it will be our [...]
Using PR is an investment in your technology brand
“Entrepreneurs are often advised of things you should and shouldn’t spend money on. PR is rarely included here. I would unequivocally disagree with this approach – as long as you have the right partner, with [...]
Cybercrime is a growing threat -think before you click
Cybercrime is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world, and email whaling attacks are on the rise. According to research by email management company Mimecast, 55% of 442 IT companies surveyed in [...]
My PR Account Manager toolbox
At DUO Marketing + Communications, we look for very specific skills when hiring savvy, experienced and passionate PR account managers. These are my top three PR toolbox items to ensure consistent rockstar status as an [...]
An African-centric approach to funding and financial inclusion
Innovation, mentorship and venture capital The growing culture of innovation in Africa has led to an influx of venture capitalists looking to invest in the next big idea - one that scales, and can be [...]
Interrogate and tweak, but stay true to the idea
Our digital campaign for Connection Telecom focused on its managed cloud telephony service, Telviva, and the benefits businesses could derive from making the switch to the cloud when moving offices. The campaign idea was [...]
Why Nairobi is on our radar in 2016
DUO Marketing + Communications, has a map of Africa on our office wall in Cape Town, featuring three cities viz. Cape Town, Johannesburg and Nairobi. We made a very clear business decision in 2015 [...]
Dear stranger on LinkedIn…
For the most part, these requests have been made by complete strangers, people who don’t even work in the same industry as me, and who, under any normal circumstance, would have no reason to walk [...]
Our year in review
Our business took a deep dive into the digital world and has reinforced our value to the tech industry through an expansion in both Digital PR and Marketing expertise. It means we are now able [...]
Onto a new (ad)venture in PR – The B2B Tech space!
Two years into my PR career and bearing a wealth of consumer experience, I never imagined myself branching into the tech space (B2B tech to be precise!). Whenever I speak to a tech geek, there [...]
Women Leaders in a collaborative economy
Tomorrow’s leaders are able to develop techniques to beat complexity, they are adaptable and collaborative – they create leaders. These are some of the qualities female leaders possess. According to Enyonam Kumahor, a management consultant [...]
How are you paving your road to be a digital world leader in Africa?
Predictions on the future of digital consumption no longer shock me and as an enterprise leader, it shouldn’t shock you either. Business IT professionals own a minimum of three devices connected to the internet viz. [...]
Required – digital content makers with insight
The PR industry is in a state of flux thanks to the disruptive influence of the digital communications landscape. The relevance of media relationship skills is on the decline, especially in overseas markets. Locally, we’re [...]
A digital campaign is about orchestration, not just integration
It’s not as if this was our first foray into digital marketing for one of our clients, but the magnitude of what was required, and incentives to drive sales, not just sentiment, meant we needed to [...]
Digital campaigns can impact the bottom line
Our aim is to create awareness of our clients, their products and services, and to position them as thought-leaders with strong opinions so that their current and future customers have no choice but to sit [...]
“People are the digital economy”
Designing digital products for the digital age consumer How do you ensure that your business remains relevant in an age where technology evolution is taking place so rapidly? What is the best way forward when [...]
Dubai-based PR agency selects DUO as its Africa partner
This partnership will benefit Procre8’s clients who wish to capitalise on the emerging growth in Africa’s technology sector, and DUO’s clients wanting to expand into the United Arab Emirates and other countries in the Middle [...]
DUO Marketing + Communications celebrates four new clients
New clients - Duo announcement “We are delighted to acquire clients that are all innovative disruptors in their industries and by their very nature, aligned with our business vision,” says DUO Marketing and [...]
Celebrating Africa Day
For DUO and many of our clients, expansion into African countries beyond South Africa’s borders is set to grow exponentially and for some, this has already happened. The reality of poor infrastructure in Africa is [...]
DUO joins VAS Africa and AfricaCom as media partner in Africa
“As a digital PR consultancy servicing technology clients, it makes sense for us to partner with the leading mobile and telecoms conferences on the annual events calendar. These conferences are core to our market and [...]
Using ICT to build safe, smart cities in SA
The DUO team were recently at the Cape Town International Convention centre to manage the live webinar of the first ever Huawei Safe City Africa Summit. More than 400 delegates from industry and government from across [...]
Taking a ‘partnership approach’ to pricing models
By Judith Middleton, CEO We work in a highly competitive, knowledge-based industry that is not only constantly evolving in terms of the relevant tools and platforms, but also with regards to the metrics for success. [...]
Bitcoin companies excite the tech PR geek in me
“What I would describe as the core innovation in Bitcoin, is the ability to have an autonomous economic system that is outside of the current financial industry” - Jonathan Levin, Coinemetrics. The Bitcoin conversation [...]
What’ll make you fall head over heels for the right PR agency?
You only need to have selected the wrong agency once to know how painful the break up can be when it doesn’t work out. But when you find The One, everything falls into place. You [...]
How to retain techno-hippies who are the ultimate champions of individualism
Our Joburg team headed out to the Flux Trends session hosted by the renowned trend analyst, Dion Chang on Tuesday 14 April 2015. This session unpacked the rise and impact of individualism on leadership. Individualism [...]
A technology-enabled world..
It’s no secret that the world of work has changed profoundly and will continue to change over the next 30 years. Technology has enabled businesses to work effectively with people anywhere in the world, as [...]
What we’re looking for in a PR account manager
Ideally we’re looking for someone who has very specific experience in a particular industry, one who understands the finer nuances that come with being client-facing and working with the media, suppliers and in a team. [...]
Why video should feature in your PR mix
Short videos have taken social media by storm - Facebook reports over 1 billion video views per day, Twitter acquired Vine to further its short video platform, while leading global brands like Nike and GoPro [...]
What our clients are saying about DUO
Brian Timperley, MD and co-founder of Turrito Networks and MD of Cloudware Technologies: One of the biggest differentiators that we have noted with DUO is the fact that they sink their teeth into our business. [...]
Could PR’s future lie in its art, and not its science?
There is a new breed of agency being born out of the disruption brought by technology, one that acknowledges the fundamentals of PR but puts creativity at its core, allowing it to adapt to changes [...]
DUO is looking for an Account Manager in Cape Town
Passion, integrity and a willingness to work hard to deliver an exceptional customer experience, coupled with a proven track record in public relations represents the DUO Marketing + Communications account manager. Job description: DUO [...]
Digital advertising in South Africa will be as diverse as the people who live here
While all of these elements are sure to play a role here in some way, digital marketers in South Africa would be foolish to pour all of their efforts and budgets into digital advertising alone [...]
We host our first networking breakfast in Joburg
Jacques du Toit, CEO of Vox Telecom; Brian Timperley, MD of Cloudware and Hywel Glyn-Jones, CEO of Open Networks (a Google Work premier partner) made up the panel of speakers for the morning. Facilitated by [...]
Specialist tech companies need a specialist digital agency
Many B2B technology companies in South Africa have yet to fully embrace social media, perhaps believing that it does not give them exposure to the right target audience. Or it might be because they have [...]
Storytelling with a twist. How PR consultants can talk digital
One of our key roles has always been to tell stories that are authentic, resonate with audiences and create awareness. This is still true and very important, but we’re now telling stories using multiple content [...]
Why not to ignore your personal brand
Brand consistency - in the long term - ensures consistent business and career growth. Very often business owners steer clear of focusing on their personal brand, as they do not like the spotlight. The instinctive [...]
At what point is a company big enough and when does growth become detrimental?
Deciding to stay small It’s strange that the natural assumption is that growth and lots of expansion is the goal and without having achieved that you haven’t achieved anything. I suppose working hard to build [...]
PR campaign success is less about the bling and more about the plan
The most critical time in any PR campaign lifecycle is the first 30, 60 and 90 days - the time in which you have to go from proposal to delivery mode, with the added impact [...]
How little is too little? Striking the balance when it comes to using jargon
This is one of the videos I was shown to prove the point: A lot of the time, the buzz words and phrases we tend to regurgitate are used because they’re familiar and ‘safe’ - they [...]
Tech4Africa: Rediscovering my inner geek!
So what is Tech4Africa? Tech4Africa was founded in 2006 and has been hosted in cities like Nairobi and Lagos. The event creates a platform for people to showcase new ideas and innovation with like-minded inspired [...]
The death of television, or just a digital shift?
While it's true that subscription rates and viewership among young folks are declining slightly, the real fights for television networks like MNET and the SABC’s are not being waged between television and online video. Rather, [...]
It’s time for a discussion around ethics in tech
What are ethics and why do we need them? According to 17th century philosopher Thomas Hobbes, there are limited resources available and an unlimited desire to possess those resources. Putting people in a situation without [...]
Advancing the B2B digital marketing journey
DUO has been on a B2B digital marketing journey for some time - first dipping our toes into the SEO wading pool, and learning the impact that well timed Adwords campaigns can have on brand elevation [...]
Rubric language services
Rubric Inc is a global Language Service Provider (LSP) that helps companies speak directly to the hearts of their customers in 128 languages. Working with companies from Cape Town to Cairo, it delivers high quality [...]
Gartner Symposium/ITxpo Africa 2014 – What made this year different?
In case you missed it, the theme of this year’s Gartner Symposium/ITxpo, launched in Cape Town, was ‘Driving Digital Business’ – a continuation of last year’s theme: ‘Leading in the Digital World’. Last year’s conference [...]
The death of the call centre as we know it
"The main difference between a call centre and a contact centre is that while a call centre is focused on incoming and outgoing voice calls, a contact centre is able to manage customers with both [...]
There’s an ocean between saying and doing
If you haven’t heard of him, here’s his official website. Of course I think he’s completely mad, but he did say some things that struck a chord, especially: “there’s an ocean between saying and doing.” [...]
How to make it in Africa
Recently, South African companies as well as their Western counterparts from Europe and North America have made it clear that Africa is the next frontier for business expansion. But lack of insight into the unique [...]
DUO hits the ground running in Johannesburg
This month it's DUO's tenth birthday, and what better way to celebrate than with a party to launch our new Johannesburg office? The move to Joburg was a natural progression for DUO, as Judith, our CEO, [...]
Your customers’ cell phones are your best marketing tools.
Clearly social media has had a remarkable impact on branding in the last few years. These days people don’t go look in the yellow pages to find contact info but rather reach out to specific [...]
PR in South Africa vs the US
AVE reporting In South Africa, many PR agencies still use AVE numbers as a measure of return on investment. In the US, this is not the case. According to Joe Hamman of media monitoring site, [...]
Will the PR industry survive the disruptive forces of technology?
Entire industries are being disrupted right now, and it’s causing us to rethink the way we work. Look at how Uber is largely replacing traditional taxicab services, or how Airbnb is luring customers away from [...]
The key technology trends for 2014
DUO was privileged to be appointed to handle the media relations element for the recent Gartner Symposium/ITxpo Africa 2013. As part of the deal we got to attend some of the many great presentations and [...]
Mandela Day at Heaven’s Nest
Employees from each of the companies spent Mandela Day with the children of Heaven's Nest, doing various activities such as reading, painting, gardening, playing fun games, hosting a mini-Olympics and presented the children with clothing, stationery, [...]
Content marketing and PR, what’s the difference?
Press releases, articles, blogs, case studies, whitepapers, even radio and TV interviews – they’re all forms of content marketing. But what this new buzz phrase does do is remind us of the importance of high [...]
In the realm of content, you say SEO and I say PR
It is a conversation that almost sits at odds with the kind of public relations that I have been doing for the more than 15 years that I have been in the industry. For me, [...]
Why collaboration is key for PR success
The best results are always the product of a collaborative agency-client partnership. This doesn't mean you have to babysit an agency or be involved in the minutiae of everything they do. But, it does mean [...]
When CSI makes a real difference
It was a great honour to be part of a recent Amazon donation of 75 Kindle devices and over R25,000 in content gift cards to Harold Cressy High School, located across the street from Amazon’s [...]
Four international PR trends for 2014
As PR strives to build on the credibility it has earned over the past few decades in particular, those in the profession have the opportunity to become true business leaders with influence over decision-making on [...]
Why your PR agency should be doing your SEO
Both SEO and PR need to obtain earned media, both are built on the backbone of relevant, newsworthy content. Both are evolving into content-orientated practices. SEO professionals are finding themselves creating content and reaching out [...]
DUO’s 10 favourite pieces of technology of the past 10 years
While there are many worthy technologies that have changed the way we work, these ten are DUO's top picks (in no particular order): Google Search – Where would PR be without Google? Actually, where would [...]
Africa leads the way in mobile
When it comes to mobile, Africa can teach the world a thing or two. Perhaps this is due to our late comer advantage, or perhaps the fact that in Africa, technology actually serves a basic [...]
The rise of Africa
After decades of being considered the ‘dark continent’, Africa is today a place of excitement and opportunity. The globe is looking at us for expansion, with businesses are eager to get into countries such as Kenya, [...]
Brand storytelling
During DUO's ten years of existence, we've seen the role of the marketer change quite fundamentally. Today, marketers can no longer talk at people. There's just too much competition from other brands to make soapboxing [...]
What we’ve learnt about PR in Africa
Africa is now officially the world's fastest growing continent. With the Internet just arriving at almost 1 billion people on the continent, technology, and especially mobile technology has huge potential to help solve social problems, [...]
How to create a PR strategy that works – by telling great stories
Who are the lead characters? How did you get to the point where you are right now? And, what do you want people to believe? A successful PR strategy is built on the ability to [...]
