Category: Social Media

  • Harnessing social media for effective team building: Strategies for modern workplaces

    Harnessing social media for effective team building: Strategies for modern workplaces

    Mumbai: In today’s dynamic and digitally-driven work environment, effective team building has evolved beyond traditional methods. With the proliferation of social media platforms, organizations now have a powerful tool at their disposal to foster stronger team dynamics and collaboration. Harnessing social media for team building not only facilitates communication but also nurtures a sense of community and camaraderie among team members, regardless of geographical boundaries. In this article, we delve into strategies for leveraging social media to enhance team building in modern workplaces.

    1   Create Dedicated Social Media Channels: Establishing dedicated social media channels or groups for teams within an organization provides a centralized platform for communication and collaboration. Platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or even private Facebook groups offer features such as instant messaging, file sharing, and discussion threads, enabling seamless interaction among team members. These channels serve as virtual water coolers where team members can share ideas, seek assistance, or simply engage in casual conversations, fostering a sense of belonging and camaraderie.

    2   Encourage Transparency and Open Communication: Social media platforms encourage transparency and open communication by breaking down hierarchical barriers within organizations. Leaders can leverage these platforms to share updates, insights, and organizational goals transparently with team members. Encouraging employees to voice their opinions, ideas, and concerns in a safe and inclusive environment fosters a culture of trust and collaboration, essential for effective team building.

    3   Facilitate Virtual Team Building Activities: In a distributed or remote work setup, organizing virtual team building activities can be challenging but not impossible. Social media platforms offer a plethora of options for hosting virtual events such as online games, virtual happy hours, or team challenges. These activities provide opportunities for team members to bond, build rapport, and develop interpersonal relationships beyond work tasks, thereby strengthening team cohesion and morale.

    4   Recognize and Celebrate Achievements Publicly: Social media platforms provide a public forum to recognize and celebrate individual and team achievements. Whether it’s a project milestone, a successful client engagement, or an employee’s personal accomplishment, acknowledging and celebrating these achievements publicly fosters a culture of appreciation and recognition within the organization. Public recognition not only boosts morale but also reinforces positive behavior and motivates team members to excel.

    5   Promote Knowledge Sharing and Learning: Social media platforms serve as knowledge-sharing hubs where team members can exchange ideas, best practices, and lessons learned. Encouraging employees to share their expertise, insights, and experiences fosters a culture of continuous learning and professional development within the organization. Hosting virtual knowledge-sharing sessions, webinars, or online workshops allows team members to expand their skill sets, stay updated on industry trends, and contribute to each other’s growth.

    6   Maintain a Balance Between Work and Personal Interactions: While social media platforms offer avenues for informal interactions and socializing, it’s essential to maintain a balance between work-related communication and personal interactions. Setting clear guidelines and boundaries regarding acceptable behavior, communication etiquette, and privacy ensures that social media remains a productive tool for team building without encroaching on individuals’ personal space or time.

    In conclusion, harnessing social media for effective team building in modern workplaces requires a strategic approach that promotes communication, collaboration, and camaraderie among team members. By creating dedicated channels, fostering transparency, organizing virtual activities, celebrating achievements, promoting knowledge sharing, and maintaining a balance between work and personal interactions, organizations can leverage social media to cultivate stronger, more cohesive teams capable of achieving collective goals in today’s dynamic work environment.

    The author of this article is Bain & Co.director Pramil Govil.

  • Scam alert! fake ads impersonating Palki Sharma of Firstpost

    Scam alert! fake ads impersonating Palki Sharma of Firstpost

    Mumbai: Firstpost has issued an alert about fraudulent ads involving the misuse of the name and image of its managing editor, Palki Sharma by cybercriminals. Individuals have been deceived through false ads on social media, particularly Facebook and Instagram, claiming to offer stock market courses by Palki Sharma.

    Bringing attention to the false ads, Palki Sharma posted on X and alerted the users. In her post, she said, “This is a scam. A lot of you have shared these posts with me in the last few days. (Thanks for flagging!) My photos are being misused and such fraudulent ads are being circulated on Facebook. Despite complaints, @Meta has not taken action.”

    Palki Sharma does not provide any investment advice or stock market courses through WhatsApp or any other social media platform. She is not associated with any group offering stock recommendations or financial advice, and people are urged to exercise caution and report any suspicious activities immediately.

    To avoid falling victim to such fraud, it is recommended to ignore advice from unknown sources, verify information from official sources, and maintain secure practices for personal and financial transactions. It is important not to trust any information shared through unofficial channels and sources. In case of any suspicious activity, Firstpost advises people to report it to the appropriate authorities immediately.

    For further information and to report fraudulent activities, please visit www.cybercrime.gov.in or contact the helpline number – 1930 or the cyber cell of the local police department.

     

     

  • ABP Ananda reaches 10 million YouTube subscribers

    ABP Ananda reaches 10 million YouTube subscribers

    Mumbai: ABP Ananda, West Bengal’s premier 24-hour Bengali news channel, has reached a historic milestone by becoming the first Bengali news channel to surpass 10 million subscribers on YouTube. This achievement highlights the channel’s innovative approach to content creation and distribution in an ever-evolving media landscape, where digital platforms play a pivotal role in news consumption.

    ABP Ananda’s success on YouTube underscores its commitment to delivering high-quality and engaging news content to Bengali audiences worldwide. With its expansive reach and influence, ABP Ananda has established itself as the most trusted source of news and analysis in the Bengali language.

    Surpassing the subscriber count of all other Bengali channels on YouTube, ABP Ananda has demonstrated its dominance in the digital space. News18 Bangla follows with 8.22 million subscribers, Zee 24Ghanta with 5.38 million subscribers, Republic Bangla with 3.22 million subscribers, and TV9 Bangla with 3.08 million subscribers.

    ABP Ananda’s attainment of 10 million subscribers on YouTube is a testament to the collective effort and dedication of its team, as well as the unwavering support of its viewers. Since its establishment in 2005, ABP Ananda has been a frontrunner in news reporting, offering comprehensive coverage of local, national, and international events while upholding journalistic integrity and impartiality.

    This milestone symbolises the trust and confidence bestowed upon ABP Ananda by millions of viewers. As the pioneering Bengali news channel to achieve this remarkable feat, ABP Ananda continues to set new benchmarks in the industry, inspiring others to strive for excellence in journalism and content creation.

  • The Power of Influencer Marketing in Direct Selling: Leveraging Social Media to promote brand

    The Power of Influencer Marketing in Direct Selling: Leveraging Social Media to promote brand

    Mumbai: In today’s interconnected digital world, influencer marketing stands out as a potent tool for brands looking to expand their reach and engage with their target audience. By harnessing the sway and popularity of individuals with dedicated followings, influencer marketing has the potential to elevate brand awareness, bolster credibility, and drive conversions. In this insightful exploration, let’s delve into the fundamentals of influencer marketing, dissect various types of influencers, outline the steps to craft a successful influencer marketing strategy, and glean valuable insights to navigate this dynamic landscape.

    Understanding Influencer Marketing:

    At its core, influencer marketing is a collaborative endeavor where brands team up with individuals, known as influencers, who boast sizable followings on social media platforms. These influencers wield influence over their audience’s purchasing decisions, making them invaluable partners for brands seeking to promote their products or services. By leveraging the reach and sway of influencers, brands can seamlessly connect with targeted audiences, all while measuring the efficacy of their campaigns. This collaborative approach often involves compensating influencers or their representatives for creating and sharing sponsored content across various formats, including posts, videos, stories, live streams, and more. The objective? To seamlessly integrate the brand’s message into the influencer’s content, thereby capturing the attention and trust of their followers.

    Benefits of Influencer Marketing:

    The allure of influencer marketing lies in its myriad benefits for brands eager to amplify their marketing efforts. By collaborating with influencers, brands gain access to their established fan base, effectively expanding their reach to a broader audience. Influencers’ inherent trust and authenticity with their followers imbue brand promotions with a personal touch, fostering credibility and trust among consumers. Moreover, influencers often specialize in specific niches, facilitating targeted marketing efforts that resonate with highly relevant audiences. By tapping into influencers’ content creation prowess, brands can access compelling, high-quality content that resonates with their target demographic. Compared to traditional advertising channels, influencer marketing proves to be cost-effective, with brands allocating budgets for collaborations rather than expensive production and media placement. With the aid of trackable links, promo codes, and analytics tools, brands can measure campaign success, monitor key metrics, and refine future partnerships, ensuring a continual cycle of improvement and optimization.

    Types of Influencers:

    In the realm of influencer marketing, influencers come in various shapes and sizes, each offering distinct advantages:

     .  Mega-Influencers: These influencers boast massive followings, typically in the millions, enabling brands to reach a vast audience albeit with potentially lower engagement rates.

     Macro-Influencers: With substantial followings ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions, macro-influencers wield considerable influence and can connect with a broad audience.

     Micro-Influencers: Despite their smaller following, micro-influencers possess highly engaged and loyal audiences, making them ideal for targeted marketing efforts within specific niches.

     .  Nano-Influencers: These influencers may have modest followings, but their influence within close-knit communities cannot be understated, offering brands an intimate connection with their audience.

    How Influencer Marketing Works:

    At its essence, influencer marketing enables brands to tap into an influencer’s engaged audience, reaching a wider and more targeted demographic while leveraging the influencer’s credibility and authenticity. The process typically involves:

    1.   Identification: Brands meticulously research and analyze influencers whose values, audience demographics, and content align with their products or services.

    2.   Collaboration: Brands and influencers negotiate partnership terms, delineating the scope of work, compensation, and content guidelines to ensure brand consistency.

    3.   Content Creation: Influencers craft engaging content that seamlessly integrates the brand’s product or service, aligning with their audience’s interests and preferences.

    4.   Content Distribution: Influencers share the branded content across their social media platforms, leveraging their influence and engagement to amplify the brand’s message.

    5.   Monitoring and Evaluation: Brands closely monitor campaign performance, tracking metrics such as engagement, reach, and conversions to gauge effectiveness and inform future strategies.

    In conclusion, influencer marketing emerges as a potent force in the realm of direct selling, leveraging social media to promote brands effectively. By partnering with influencers, brands can expand their reach, enhance credibility, and foster meaningful connections with their target audience. As brands continue to navigate this dynamic landscape, embracing influencer marketing as a strategic tool can unlock new avenues for growth, engagement, and success in the ever-evolving digital age.

    The following article is attributed to Asort.com co-founder & CEO Roshan S Bish.

  • “Influencer marketing in Finance: What are the opportunities and challenges in this landscape”

    “Influencer marketing in Finance: What are the opportunities and challenges in this landscape”

    Mumbai: It is no hidden fact that influencer marketing is booming in India; with more and more Indian influencer marketing companies getting acquired at millions of dollars of valuation, it is clear that influencers are steering the way out for brands. In fact a report by EY suggests that more than 75 per  cent of the brands are expected to consider influencer marketing as a part of their marketing strategies in 2024.

    While most of the marketing agencies consider influencer marketing to be more of a creative work, we at FINTroop understand that a brand’s marketing activities have to be data driven and that data cannot be ignored specifically when you are working with finance and infotainment brands.

    Unlike lifestyle products, buying finance products is more logically driven than emotionally driven. Which is why it is important that fintech brands pay attention to tiny details. For example, brands usually focus on who their target audience is, but when you consider a finance or an edtech product, you not only have to understand your target audience but also understand who is the decision maker for that target audience.

    And this is just one of the tiny nuances that are usually overlooked by brands and agencies. Luckily for us at FINTroop it helps having me, a Chartered Accountant on board, who has a deep understanding of not only the brand’s side of things but also about the customer’s mindset.

    Talking about the regulatory challenges that have come up with regards to stricter compliances, I remember having this conversation with my team the day SEBI rolled out guidelines against influencers. They feared running out of business while I had a big smile on my face because I could clearly see the opportunity behind these regulations. When the regulatory authorities impose a restriction of the kind of content that is coming out from influencers, it lowers down the supply of content in the market, but the distribution needs for brands doesn’t reduce. If anything, it is only increasing day by day with more of India’s population wanting to be financially aware. This in turn, increases the value of the other influencers who are legitimate and provide authentic content. And more money for the influencers means more money for us as a talent management company. Moreover, influencers are like movie stars, while there will always be Khans and Kapoors (that is the original faces in the industry) the world will need a new face every few months, so new regulations only pave the way for old stagnant influencers to leave the market and new knowledge and passion driven influencers to come in.

    And again, talking as a creative marketing agency, when we need to ensure regulatory compliance along with data driven creative marketing concepts, we are again able to charge a premium to the brands which we wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.

    So as you can clearly see I am a firm believer of the concept that “behind every challenge lies a hidden opportunity” and that’s where our focus lies, to identify the hidden gains, be it for ourselves, for our brands or for our talents.

    However, I must say that one challenge which the fintech industry in general is facing currently is increasing their audience demographic beyond the age of 21-34 years. And the ability to solve this challenge lies not with one person but with the nation as a whole. Currently the Indian fintech industry has not even captured 1/3rd of its potential market size, and when that happens, which it will, we will see the true power of the FINinfluencer industry too.

    The author of this article is FINTroop founder Shreya Jaiswal. 

  • RCB posts the coolest job ever on Naukri

    RCB posts the coolest job ever on Naukri

    Mumbai: In one of the most unique marketing ideas this T20 season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has teamed up with Naukri to recruit their ultimate “Fan-in-Chief” through a quirky and hilarious selection process that gets hosted as a fun seven-episode Instagram video series, to the delight of millions of die-hard fans. The activity kicked off with RCB posting the fan-in-chief “Job” on Naukri, that’s home to millions of young professionals who of-course love the T20 league.

    The first phase saw 100,000 plus fans apply for the job and now the video series promises to chronicle the auditions & selection criteria tasks in a comical manner, and ultimately revealing the chosen fan in chief. The idea was creatively constructed by Burman Sports and Naukri. It was brought to fruition via RCB’s expansive reach and distribution of their digital assets, players and scripted, directed and conceptualized by Danish Sait.

    “Doing content with or for RCB is always a pleasure for me because A) I am a fan B) the franchise has such immense faith in the creative process that it lets one be free. Naukri as well has had such an open minded approach to the whole journey that my team and I truly enjoyed penning this one down” Danish Sait

    The job description is anything but conventional, emphasizing skills such as crafting quirky chants that rhyme with player names (yes, even Mahipal Lomror!), and possessing adequate forearm strength to shake Virat’s protein shake. With humor as the cornerstone, the campaign aims to engage fans at every turn.

    As the campaign goes live, Naukri EVP & head of marketing Shail Gaurav said “We wanted to tap into the T20 craze in a fun way but with an idea that could uniquely, unmistakably, only be from Naukri. Finding the sweet spot between our core proposition “Jobs” and T20 with a partner like RCB is what makes this so special & resonant with the younger audience base”

    RCB’s diehards went buck wild, more than 100k job applies and hundreds of fan reels bombarding @naukridotcom displaying their undying passion and loyalty towards their favourite team.

    “We are delighted to partner with Naukri for this innovative campaign. This collaboration offers fans an exciting opportunity to engage with RCB and we are looking forward to a successful association together.” commented Royal Challengers Bengaluru VP and head Rajesh Menon.

    It’s a first-of-its-kind product & content integration facilitated by Burman Sports.

    “Rather than offering Naukri a conventional sponsorship deal, we presented an innovative concept aimed at resonating with fans while upholding Naukri’s value proposition. Kudos to the team at Naukri for playing bold.” said Burman Sports founder Shiv Burman.

    Do not miss any moment of this whacky chase for the ultimate Royal Challengers Bangalore “Fan-in-Chief”!  Stay tuned to @naukridotcom and @royalchallengers.bengaluru for a wild ride! 

    Episode 1  

    Episode 2

    Episode 3

    Episode 4

    Episode 5

     

  • Yuzvendra Chahal champions Pokémon GO in his latest reel

    Yuzvendra Chahal champions Pokémon GO in his latest reel

    Mumbai: You have seen him bewildering the batsmen with his spin bowling attack, you have seen him backing up his team with solid fielding and now you can see what he does when he is not on the cricket field.

    Niantic, the world’s leading augmented reality (AR) company, has teamed up with cricket superstar Yuzvendra Chahal showcasing his passion for Pokémon GO and encouraging fans worldwide to join him on this exhilarating adventure. With his trademark charisma and enthusiasm, Chahal effortlessly captures the essence of the Pokémon journey, inspiring players worldwide to embark on their own adventures. This collaboration not only celebrates the intersection of sports and gaming but also underscores the power of community and connection that Pokémon GO fosters.

    Yuzvendra Chahal: The ultimate spinner on and off the field! Join him in spinning Pokéballs to catch Pokémon in #PokémonGO, and let the adventure begin!

     

  • WhatsApp launches new race car emoji with Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 team

    WhatsApp launches new race car emoji with Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 team

    Mumbai: WhatsApp is lighting up the Empire State Building green and launching a new race car emoji to celebrate its rapid growth in the United States, announcing double-digit growth in both daily users and messages sent on WhatsApp in the U.S.

    Today, WhatsApp released the new custom race car emoji that over two billion users will be able to use immediately in their chats, just in time for the Miami Grand Prix this coming weekend. Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, and CEO and team principal Toto Wolff, together flipped the Empire State Building’s famous light switch and turned the building’s iconic tower lights a bright WhatsApp green. The lighting was followed by a dynamic light show takeover of the building’s façade, which featured an animated projection of the new emoji racing through New York City.

    The celebration continues tomorrow, when WhatsApp and Mercedes-AMG F1 will bring the emoji to life as it shuts down Fifth Avenue for the first-ever demonstration of a Formula One car in Manhattan. Hamilton will be at the wheel of the speed demo, taking place alongside a life-sized replica of the emoji race car.

    Will Cathcart, Head of WhatsApp said: “Year after year WhatsApp is gaining solid ground in the U.S. because people want a private and secure way to communicate across platforms. WhatsApp is not only the best way to chat about a race with friends around the world, but also within the U.S. too, and we’re excited to celebrate this growth together with Mercedes and the Empire State Building.

    Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 team CEO and team principal Toto Wolff said: “In recent years, our sport and WhatsApp have both been on an impressive growth journey in the United States. The partnership between ourselves as a team and WhatsApp, our official messaging partner, is therefore a natural fit. We rely daily on WhatsApp for the privacy and security it affords in our communications, which is vital in F1.

    “We are also both passionate about connecting people through shared experiences, committed to telling incredible stories, and setting the benchmark in our respective fields. As we prepare for the first stateside Grand Prix this year, it is fantastic to celebrate our collaboration with several iconic moments and activations in New York City that are certain to get people talking.”

    Lewis Hamilton said: “I’ve always felt a special connection with the United States. I remember going to

    New York as a kid and dreaming about living in the city and I’ve been fortunate to spend a lot of time here since then. I’ve had many incredible experiences and connected with many amazing people in New York, but to drive an F1 car down Fifth Avenue and light up the Empire State Building is incredibly special. It’s something I never thought would be possible and it’s been even better to do it in partnership with WhatsApp, an app that keeps my connection to the US alive by making it easy to stay in touch with so many people stateside.”

    WhatsApp has become the leading choice for private cross-platform communication in the U.S.. No matter what phone you or your friends have, you can always share HD photos and videos, react in realtime in group chats that aren’t broken by blue-bubble/green-bubble, make voice and video calls to each other, all with the privacy and security of end-to-end-encryption. And now, you even access Meta’s most advanced AI from right within WhatsApp. Coinciding with the massive and growing popularity of Formula 1 in the United States, WhatsApp late last year announced a partnership with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team. As the official messaging partner for the team, WhatsApp is committed to bringing fans even closer to the sport.

  • Music licensing and the creator economy: Navigating the opportunities and challenges

    Music licensing and the creator economy: Navigating the opportunities and challenges

    Mumbai: The massive growth of content creation has created a major money-making opportunity for music companies. As content creators increasingly incorporate audio and visual elements to captivate their audiences across various platforms, the demand for licensed music has experienced a substantial surge. As of 2024, over 700,000 Indian creators have established a financial foothold on YouTube, with an additional 20 times more aspiring to reach that milestone. Presently, 80 per cent of YouTubers incorporate music in their videos, spanning songs, background music, and sound effects. The quality and regional relevance of the music directly correlate with impact and engagement levels, highlighting its pivotal role in content creation.

    Recognizing this remarkable opportunity, major music industry players are promptly adapting their business models to capitalize on this trend. They are partnering with music licensing platforms and making it easy for content creators to properly license music. By taking advantage of the content creation boom, music companies can make a lot of money while helping creators follow copyright laws.

    Opportunities in the Creator Economy

    Using unlicensed music by content creators, even just one track, could result in losing all video revenue to copyright claims. To fill this lag and meet the increasing demand for licensed music, more Music Licensing Platforms have emerged, providing musicians, composers, and producers with additional earning opportunities. These platforms offer a wide range of music options for content creators to seamlessly incorporate into their videos while ensuring compliance with copyright regulations. Furthermore, the pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital tools and home-based music production, enabling musicians to create high-quality soundscapes from the comfort of their own spaces.

    Statistics from YouTube reveal that a staggering 84% of videos on the platform contain at least 10 seconds of music, underlining the ubiquitous presence of music in content creation. This trend extends beyond YouTube to various other platforms such as short-format apps, tutorials, television, radio, and OTT platforms. As creators recognize the importance of sourcing music that aligns with their content’s theme and mood, the demand for diverse tracks continues to grow exponentially.

    Challenges and Solutions

    One of the primary challenges in music licensing is in terms of rights and permissions, particularly in diverse regions like India with rich musical traditions. Each region has its own unique musical identity, necessitating a nuanced approach to selecting music that resonates with local audiences. Moreover, while enterprise customers and brands recognize the value of licensed music for their promotional material, negotiating the complexities of licensing across multiple channels remains a daunting task.

    To address these challenges, Music Licensing Platforms play a critical role in bridging the gap between supply and demand, offering a wide array of licensed music tailored to diverse needs. These platforms not only facilitate transactions between buyers and sellers but also simplify the licensing process, ensuring compliance and legality. By offering quick, reliable, and streamlined services, these platforms enhance their appeal to content creators and enterprise customers alike.

    Future Outlook

    The future of music licensing in the creator economy appears bright, offering promising opportunities despite the challenges. With the music publishing industry generating a substantial $5.9 billion in revenue, as reported by the Warner Music Group in 2021, and over $1 billion coming from licensing deals, growth potential is evident. Additionally, Universal Music Group experienced significant revenue growth, reaching 3.21 billion euros ($3.45 billion) in the final period of 2023, marking a 9% year-over-year increase (15.6% in constant currency). This growth was driven by strong physical sales and licensing, highlighting the continued importance of licensing activities in the industry.  In India, platforms such as Hoopr have witnessed substantial uptake, signaling a promising growth for the sync licensing industry.

    Looking ahead, raising awareness on copyright issues and enhancing the efficiency of Music Licensing Platforms will be crucial for further increasing adoption. As the creator economy continues to flourish, music licensing stands out as a game-changer, offering a win-win situation for all stakeholders involved. By providing a holistic platform for musicians and content creators to collaborate, these platforms pave the way for new opportunities and discoveries in the entertainment industry.

    To Conclude

    Music licensing represents a cornerstone of the creator economy, offering a dynamic ecosystem where creativity meets compliance. As the industry continues to evolve, embracing the potential of music licensing platforms is essential for navigating the opportunities and challenges of the digital age.

    The Author of this article is Hoopr.ai co-founder & CEO Gaurav Dagaonkar.

  • JioCinema teams up with Snap Inc. for  IPL lens

    JioCinema teams up with Snap Inc. for IPL lens

    Mumbai: As the Indian Premier League (IPL) buzzes with excitement, JioCinema and Snap Inc. have teamed up to offer Snapchatters an exciting experience with a special lens.  This innovative lens offers live score updates and features larger-than-life team characters reacting in real-time to every delivery, all against the backdrop of the sky!

    This incredible experience is powered by Sky Segmentation technology, which uses Snap’s advanced camera to identify and enhance elements against the sky. Real-time match score updates come from a live sports score API, while custom animations add to the excitement of key moments like boundaries and wickets.