Email: info@swmcommunications.co.za

Blog

20 Jan

In light of the new WhatsApp new privacy policy, we thought we would provide our two cents. The saying goes, “If something is for free, then you are the product”. In this case, your data is the product. Social media companies have been acting like Big Brother since their inception. The Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma (2020) opens the eyes of the public to the scary fact that all social media platforms directly target you by watching your every step. This is why you’ll go from messaging a friend about wanting to get fit, to your social media platforms bombarding...

13 Jan

While 2020 was certainly a tough year for everyone, there is no doubt that we learned some valuable lessons which are worth remembering going into a new year. The business landscape is just as competitive and turbulent as ever, so we have put together our top five “pointers from the pandemic” to help you engage better with your customers, staff and the media. Communicate, no matter what Last year we learned the true power of information – and misinformation (read: fake news). Don’t leave your business reputation in the hands of hearsay. Let your stakeholders know what you’re doing, how you’re doing,...

26 Nov

In today’s disrupted work environment, we are no longer strangers to virtual presentations. In fact, you are probably dreading the next webinar invite, having fallen prey to one poor presentation after the next. This begs the question: how do we effectively engage with our audience through a screen, so that they aren’t tempted to hit that tempting “end meeting” button?  The purpose of a presentation is to captivate and engage with your audience to successfully portray your message. This can be difficult when your audience is at home or in a busy office with many distractions. Not only do we have...

24 Oct

Any good communications strategy goes beyond the use of words to reach an audience with visual elements, enticing them to engage further with your content. Despite the old saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” the reality is that we do. And why shouldn’t we? A book cover, like any design, should be efficient at communicating with its potential audience about what to expect if they delve further. However, it’s easier said than done. Successfully appealing to an audience with visual communication is an ever-moving target. We have put together this list of five trends which should help you...

22 Sep

Each year, the celebration of Heritage Day on 24 September highlights discussions around culture. On this day, South Africans are encouraged to celebrate their culture and the diversity of their beliefs and traditions. In a rainbow nation, our differences are to be celebrated. Globally, too, there is greater emphasis being placed on diversity and inclusion in organisations. In light of this, we thought we would take this opportunity to talk about an important aspect of culture – company culture.  Company culture encompasses values and behaviours that contribute to the unique social and psychological environment of a business. It defines the rules...

06 Aug

If the title of this blog post rings a bell, it’s because this line was the theme for International Women’s Day 2020, and rightly so. The wide-reaching research available on the topic of women in the boardroom shows that gender equality has a strong business case. It’s not just great for women, it’s great for financial and social performance of a company too. As we celebrate Women’s Day in South Africa this month, let’s catch up on what this theme means in our local context.  Since we offer strategic business services and reputation management, the SWM team has a finger on...

08 Jul

Knowing how to captivate and engage an audience has always been a critical skill for business, although it is a skill that is often overlooked. Think back to the conferences or training events you have attended over the years; does the phrase “death by PowerPoint” come to mind? All too often, presenters who are tasked with capturing your attention achieve the exact opposite. Now, in the era of physical distancing and virtual events, this task becomes even more difficult. Presenters in the age of video calls and teleconferencing have a host of new concerns to manage. You might not be able...

23 May

It’s no secret that the current business environment in South Africa is not particularly conducive to prosperity. Even before Covid-19 arrived in the country, low business confidence, inefficient public sector procurement processes and slow economic growth was hampering local business development. Enter lockdown, closely followed by Moody’s downgrade of South Africa to junk status, and we have business owners panicking about how to keep their head above water while operating under severe restrictions. Well, we have some good news for you. Helping our clients navigate these trying times has taught us some valuable lessons about what you can do to...

19 May

Digital content marketing has disrupted brand communication over the past decade. The sharp rise in internet access and social media platforms has created opportunities for companies to tell their stories by adopting these new techniques. Through these developments, we have witnessed marketing and communication teams split their budgets between traditional media and digital channels in a balancing act as they try to weigh up the most effective platforms to utilize in reaching their target audiences. Some marketers have been so captivated by the online world and its promises of data driven analytics, to the point that they have ‘realized’ digital is...

19 Apr

Anyone can place an advert if they have the money, but not anyone can get their content published in a leading publication. This article gives you some tips to help you get in-depth information about your technology and engineering solutions to your market – without bombarding them with adverts. It is common practice today that any good marketing initiative should be backed up with a good content strategy. Today’s consumers are overwhelmed by adverts in many forms and there is always a possibility of your message getting lost. To truly engage with your target audience, you need to give them something...