A Memoir - This Month Last Year - Feb 2017 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay

Hi Friends, 

February is the month of love and product launches as there are so many new smartphones launched at MWC and various new technological gadgets. Every new gadget is a product of numerous amount of hard work along with the intent of making it as smart as possible. Processing powers of devices are increasing day by day. What I studied in my Electronics engineering (1997-2001) 17 years ago is old now as new technologies and innovations have taken their space. You need to be on your toes always with the latest technologies if you want to understand and work on them too.

1. Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra Brings Superior #Camera Quality #SonyMWC @SonyXperiaZA - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/02/xperia-xa1-and-xa1-ultra-brings.html - Sony is one of the companies I have always admired as their range of products is so big and I have so many products available with myself which I have bought over the years. From ebook reader to noise-cancellation headphones to iPod dock - I had it all. I recently reviewed the XA1 Ultra and liked the features of this mid-range smartphone. 

2. Music Streaming: The Now of Digital Marketing @EclipsePR - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/02/music-streaming-now-of-digital.html - Music is an integral part of everyone's life and how this is impacting the world of digital marketing was the focus of this post. Music and Books are the most sold items other than the groceries which is required us to live. 

3. #UberEATS Prospers In South Africa @Uber_RSA - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/02/ubereats-prospers-in-south-africa.html - Uber Eats is an app which has taken the world by storm but when I tried to use it for some food items to buy - I found that the price is little higher set by restaurants for the same item as compared to dine-in offered in the restaurant and then there will be some R10 to get it delivered. I always thought that the takeaways shall be cheaper than the dine-in's. I have not been able to part of this trend because it's not cost effective for me but considering the travel cost and petrol prices - it's worth looking at and hoping to do so this year.

4. World’s First Super #SlowMotion Video in @SonyXperiaZA XZ Premium #SonyMWC - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/02/worlds-first-super-slowmotion-video-in.html - Recently Samsung also launched their S9/S9+ with slow-motion video capabilities at MWC18 to which when Sony launched their latest XZ devices mentioned that they already had 960fps video capabilities launched last year at MWC17 and all the journalist present at the event laughed to their heart desires. Great use of anecdotes in real life is the basics of using smartness can bring laughter to any launch event.

5. Genuine, Quality Devices are #Gifts that Keep on Giving @SamsungMobileSA - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/02/genuine-quality-devices-are-gifts-that.html -Samsung has been the front-runner of technology and I still remember when it was my time to buy my first mobile phone, I had a choice between Alcatel and Samsung. Alcatel offered so many features but Samsung was unibody and it worked for its life and I am happy that I chose Samsung at that time. Again, when I was in London, I bought again another Samsung phone which has the full keyboard (Blackberry type) on this phone while the market was flooded with latest Galaxy S1 launched. Since the last 2 years, Samsung SA is giving out devices (S8 and S9) to journalists/bloggers attending their launch events and these have been the years I am not invited to those. I have otherwise been part of many previous launch events and got earphones and pen drives etc. This thing has pained me a lot and gave me sleepless nights whenever this thought comes to my mind but life goes on...

Always bet on those who bet on you and don't fall for any traps unless your demands are met. If you are doing so, you are already in the vicious circle where they will rotate your n number of times till either you are tired or you succumb to their pressure. 

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate on paid/sponsored campaigns. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra! Check my influence and book me via https://webfluential.com/TheLifesWay

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Music Streaming: The Now of Digital Marketing @EclipsePR

Hi Guys,

In today’s competitive world, brands are tapping into new ways of becoming more accessible and relevant to their consumers. Some are turning to music streaming networks to differentiate themselves from their competition. They realise that the way we listen to and acquire music is always changing. This can prove to be another tool in their arsenal to gain more customers.

“Music streaming services see millions of music lovers signing up daily. From Apple Music to Spotify, the online music sphere has become a platform for brands wanting to connect with individuals that they would otherwise have not been targeting,” says Jacki McEwen, Co-owner & Managing Director at Eclipse Public Relations.

Leading the front line in company curated playlists is Spotify. This platform is one of the largest music steaming services in the world. It was established before Apple Music, or even Tidal for that matter, were a twinkle in their creators’ eye.

For the past couple of years, businesses have been working on innovative projects in the hopes of building their brand and strengthening their relationship with consumers. This involves the creation of playlists that suit a brand’s style and image.

The Big Four: The benefits of music streaming for business
A music streaming strategy for brands goes hand in hand with social media tactics. There are four main benefits of music streaming that Senior Vice President of Pandora’s Strategic Solutions, Heidi Browning, identified in an article written for The Drum:

1) Engagement: Music streaming services enable consumers to create a personalised experience. In doing so, they have created an audience that is constantly engaging with these platforms through creating content unique to their interests. It has been reported by Vevo that millennials are spending on average 25 hours a week streaming music. If brands want to reach Generation Z, they need to be in tune with the streaming market.

2) Attention: We live in what is known as the “earbud generation”. What does this mean for marketers? While most adverts are focused on what we can see, what people hear commands more attention, as the brain can only focus on one auditory process at a time.

3) Context: Streaming music has made it easier for brands to reach their audiences without interrupting them. Listening to music has become a daily activity in the lives of many people and brands can only benefit from using these platforms to reach their target markets. Consumers use music for a variety of different reasons, often based on their moods. If brands can tap into a genre or theme of music, they can reach the right the people simply by aligning themselves with the right platform or playlist.

4) Resonance: Nielsen Catalina Solutions reported that audio is the most effective channel in delivering a Return On Investment (ROI). These platforms give brands the opportunity to interact with their customers in an environment that Browning calls “emotionally and contextually relevant” which sends a message that resonates with their consumers.

Music streaming platforms are inter-aligning themselves with the same practices that they offer businesses. Streaming platforms are turning to lucrative partnerships with artists to increase their subscriptions. They are using their own spaces within these platforms to draw in a very eager consumer. With almost 30 million subscribers signing up to streaming platforms, music streaming has changed the way we listen to and experience music.

Music streaming has allowed for the creation of a database that brands can pull from. With each playlist being made to the fancy of the consumer, it has become easy for brands to find their target market on these streaming platforms. Imagine an entire database of people that fit your brand that you can access purely by aligning with the right platform. By creating a playlist, you can get your brand’s name into the ears of a generation that is constantly listening to music.

“The digital era of music is constantly growing and expanding. It’s impossible to think of what could be next, but in 10 years’ time we could be listening to music in unexpected new ways. In order for brands to stay relevant, they need to embrace what these platforms have to offer. They are the now of media and the now of marketing,” concludes McEwen.

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com if you want me to attend your launch events, blog and share on all my#socialmedia channels #TheLifesWay or to be a #Ambassador for your products and services!