Tag: social media

  • Sony Sports Network launches ‘Non-Stop cricket’ campaign

    Sony Sports Network launches ‘Non-Stop cricket’ campaign

    Mumbai: Sony Sports Network has launched its new campaign for cricket that provides the chance to celebrate India’s favourite game in 2022. The sports network launched the first of three films this week, which is a part of their campaign titled ‘Non-Stop cricket on Sony Sports Network’ on its sports channels and social media platforms.

    For the first time, audiences will get to see one of India’s finest cricketers, Smriti Mandhana and Bollywood’s most talked-about actor, Pankaj Tripathi, come together to promote the non-stop cricketing action on the sports network. The campaign also emphasises the cricket roster on the network with the apt tagline ‘Ab cricket fans ke pass hai celebration ka big reason, kyunki sony pe dikhega cricket ka full seasons.’

    The campaign stands out from other conventional cricket campaigns as the first-time viewers will see one of India’s biggest women cricketers helming the campaign for all formats of men’s and women’s cricket.  

    Sony Pictures Networks India, chief revenue officer, distribution and head-sports business, Rajesh Kaul said, “We have taken a clutter-breaking approach and used a leading woman cricketer to promote men’s cricket in a first of its kind campaign. Smriti Mandhana, the opening batter for Team India was a perfect choice to front our campaign, ‘Non-Stop cricket on Sony Sports Network’ and the film showcase and cement our position as the best destination for year-round quality cricketing action. With over 1800 hours of Live cricket, our fans will get to watch exciting matches that include India Men’s and Women’s cricket series, International T20i leagues and more.”

    Bollywood actor Pankaj Tripathi said, “I am delighted to be a part of such an inclusive campaign by Sony Sports Network where Bollywood meets cricket in an innovative manner. The campaign takes a clutter-breaking route with Smriti Mandhana, one of India’s top cricketers, promoting men’s cricket among others from the non-stop cricket roster on their network.”

    India Women’s Cricket Team member Smriti Mandhana added, “I am excited to be a part of the ‘Non-Stop cricket on Sony Sports Network’ campaign. The messaging is not only innovative but also progressive. It is a great association, and I am looking forward to the cricketing season on Sony Sports Network.”

  • Twitter unlikely to be free for commercial & government users: Elon Musk

    Twitter unlikely to be free for commercial & government users: Elon Musk

    Twitter is likely to charge costs for commercial or government users, Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk revealed in a recent twitter post.

    He also highlighted that Twitter will always remain free for casual users. “Twitter will always be free for casual users, but maybe a slight cost for commercial/government users,” he said in his tweet.

    In the last week of April, Twitter announced the sale of the company to Tesla for $ 44 billion. Ever since the news of Twitter’s acquisition by Tesla broke out, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been suggesting a series of changes to Twitter. After finalizing the deal with Twitter, Musk made it very clear that he is planning to enhance the platform with new features.

    “Twitter has tremendous potential – I look forward to working with the company and the community of users to unlock it,” he had said earlier. 

    This is not it, in one of his Tweets, he even advocated free speech over social media and said, “I hope even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means.”

  • Goafest 2022 returns after a gap of two years to inspire

    Goafest 2022 returns after a gap of two years to inspire

    Mumbai: Goafest returns back once again! For advertising and media businesses, it is one of the important celebrations. 15 years of Goafest is truly a special milestone. What makes it more special is that it is being celebrated after a gap of two years. Many have braved the hard times as it got affected due to covid pandemic.

    The pandemic brought forth the superpower within each one of us. When we thought we were down and out, we were compelled to dig deeper and find courage and resilience. Not just people, businesses discovered their own unbeatable spirit to survive and thrive, so did governments and countries. Now, it is time to acknowledge this power within each one of us that makes us unique, that enables us to face challenges with ease and helps us make the world a better place. It is time to celebrate “The Superpower Within”.

    The event will bring together under one roof 28 highly accomplished, power-packed speakers, who will share valuable insights of their knowledge on content, creativity, strategies, stories and experiences from new-age media like OTT, social media, gaming, health & wellness along with an attention to policies and regulations.

    Goafest will have iconic personalities from Indian Sports and Bollywood inspiring us with their achievements and stories of strength. The festival will focus on the superpower of Bharat and its growing digital reach, and on the rich startup ecosystem with Shark Tank India’s Vineeta Singh of SUGAR and Unicorn builder, Ankush Sachdeva. No growth can be achieved if personal well-being is ignored, and for that, we have the exceptional Rujuta Diwekar, nutritionist and influencer.

    There will be the presence of stalwarts like SS Rajamouli, Kash Sree and Menno Kluin amongst others. The story of perseverance from a graceful actress like Madhuri Dixit along with stories from the fearless Kiran Bedi, the indomitable PV Sindhu, the courageous Mithali Raj and the man with the unwavering faith to win, Kapil Dev! In addition to this, leaders like Level Ex founder and ceo Sam Glassenberg, Ministry of Consumer Affairs & Food Distribution’s Secretary, Aqilliz’s Ceo Rohit Kumar Singh, Gowthaman Ragothaman co-founder Web3 Marketing Association,   Sandeep Bhushan, Director & Head of GSM (Global Marketing Solutions) India, Meta will share their invaluable insights.

    There will also be nine empowering Knowledge Masterclasses this year including topics like ‘The Power of Camera Marketing’, Creative workshops by FCB Ulka, Snapchat, Publicis Groupe and many more interesting workshops from Meta, Sharechat, and Google.

    Entertainers like Sukhbir and Shilpa Rao will be performing at the event. The event will take place between 5-7 May at Grand Hyatt, Goa.

  • Akshay Kumar issues public apology for endorsing pan masala brand

    Akshay Kumar issues public apology for endorsing pan masala brand

    Mumbai: Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar often remains in the discussion for his films. The actor has been in talks on social media again for the past several days. Nonetheless, the discussion is not a film but an advertisement, which he recently did for a tobacco company.

    Kumar was recently seen in an ad of Vimal, after which he was trolled fiercely on social media. The actor is constantly facing criticism from the people, has now come forward and issued an apology for hurting his fans’ sentiments.

     

     

    He took to instagram and twitter to write an apology to his fans and followers. His post reads, “I am sorry. I would like to apologise to all my fans and well-wishers. Your reaction over the past few days has deeply affected me. While I have not and will not endorse tobacco, I respect the outpouring of your feelings in light of my association with Vimal Elaichi. With all humility, I step back. I have decided to contribute the entire endorsement fee towards a worthy cause.”

    “The brand might continue airing the ads till the legal duration of the contract that is binding upon me, but I promise to be extremely mindful in making my future choices. In return, I shall forever continue to ask for your love and wishes,” he added.

    It is worth noting that this advertisement of Akshay Kumar was released recently. The ad features actors Shahrukh Khan and Ajay Devgan too, who were seen welcoming Akshay Kumar in this advertisement. This was the first time that three big Bollywood actors had come together in an ad. Ajay Devgan has already appeared in many pan masala brand advertisements for a long time. There was not much ruckus when Shahrukh Khan appeared in this advertisement. But as soon as Akshay came in this ad, people criticized him fiercely and trolled him.

  • Instashield rolls out its first ad campaign on OTT and digital platforms

    Instashield rolls out its first ad campaign on OTT and digital platforms

    Mumbai: Consumer durables technology company Instashield India has rolled out its first ad film on IPL Hotstar, social media platforms, and YouTube. The ad campaign features the benefits of using the company’s plug-n-device ‘Instashield’ which claims to protect oneself from all sorts of viruses, including the coronavirus.

    The ad film showcases a family of five members, where a male member is seen advocating the benefits of using the Instashield product. He also tries to compare the difference between an air purifier and a virus slayer. Reacting to the statement by female members ‘phir to ye bahut mehenga hoga and safe to hai,’ the man tries to convince them that Instashield is the best product to keep the family safe and is available at a reasonable price. 

    Commenting on the launch of Instashield’s first ad film, Instashield’s promoter and director Hitesh M Patel said, “Instashield is a medical device technology, which is a perfect fit to combat the on-going virus challenges. It is a plug-n-play device, which is the need of the hour, and to market, such a product is of utmost importance for us to ensure the lives of people around us are healthy and safe.”

    Instashield CEO CS Jadhav shared that the company intends to go really aggressive on promoting this product and going forward, on print and electronic media, digital marketing, influencer engagement and PR as well. It is currently available on e-commerce platforms and the company’s D2C website.

    “All our future marketing initiatives will see great and prudent spends as we plan to be present in all geographies across the country,” Jadhav said, adding, “In the ongoing pandemic, the product is the need of the hour and we aim to place ourselves at homes, schools, hotels, hospitals, airports, restaurants and every enclosed place so that each one of us is safe.”

    “The ad is created to demonstrate the need to keep your family safe and prevent each other from the ongoing pandemic,” said brand advocate Ankit Khera on ideating and creating the ad film. “The product is simple to use at any place. The tagline of Instashield #TaakiZindagiChaltiJaye ensures people to have a safe and healthy life without any health issues pertaining to the viruses.”

  • Actor Sajid Shaikh is now working on a web series that will be released in the coming months!!

    Actor Sajid Shaikh is now working on a web series that will be released in the coming months!!

    Social media is a platform that not only entertains, educates, informs, and entertains people through video viewing but also by disseminating entertainment and knowledge.

    Sajid Shaikh is a Mumbai-based actor who was born on January 5, 2002. He has 3 million Instagram followers right now.

    However, Sajid Shaikh’s path to this point was not without difficulties. He’s experienced his share of misfortunes. He was raised in a lower-middle-class household. Mohammad Hanif Shaikh, Sajid’s father, used to be a taxi driver but had to retire owing to health issues. After witnessing his father’s illness and ensuring that Sajid and his siblings receive an education, Sajid decided to take on responsibilities. Sajid, like his father, recognised his father’s position early and went to work. His father instilled in him a strong sense of self-respect and dignity. He was driven from a young age to elevate his family out of poverty and make a prosperous life for himself.

    In today’s fast-paced world, social media influencers are becoming a more powerful force. Sajid Shaikh is a rising social media sensation who will be seen in upcoming films and online series.

    His films, which have gained a lot of popularity in recent years, have caught the interest of a lot of young people. He also creates video blog videos that are viewed by tens of thousands of people across the country.

    He gives a lot of content and keeps his Instagram fans informed on a regular basis in addition to his YouTube videos.
    Because of his ability to interact and engage with his followers, he has a global fan base of more than 3 million Instagram followers.

    He’s currently working on a South Indian film and a web series, both of which are sure to be a hit.

    Because of his hardworking approach and vibrant demeanour, he is adored by many YouTube users.

    Sajid Shaikh’s life is a living example of the statement “dreams do come true, and who says you can’t have it all?” Sajid Shaikh’s life, in other words, embodies the belief that you can have everything you want. He has a large number of return customers thanks to his affable demeanour and networking skills. He has been approached by a number of brands for marketing and collaboration, and he has handled everything on his own. Sajid has a number of future film and web series projects that will undoubtedly be blockbusters.

  • GUEST COLUMN: Influencer marketing in ‘new normal’ digital domain

    GUEST COLUMN: Influencer marketing in ‘new normal’ digital domain

    Mumbai: Influencer marketing (IM) has made a big mark in the social media space. It has become a serious business and reached the multi-billion-dollar mark like any other industry and is estimated to surpass $37 billion by 2027, according to Statista report.

    IM platforms track these numbers with the help of analytical and influencer relationship management tools.

    Influencer marketing on the rise

    At the nascent stage about a decade ago, influencer marketing was all about celebrity names. Fast forward to today, influencers are not limited to only celebrities; they have become brands themselves with their appealing content. The authenticity and uniqueness of the content make influencers stand out among the crowd. The influencer marketing space has become competitive like never before, with brands’ adopting IM as an integral part of their digital marketing strategies.

    Brands calculated metrics like Return on Investment (ROI) in traditional marketing. When it comes to influencer marketing, the most effective way is to understand the influencer’s role on the conversion path, which goes way beyond the number of ‘Likes’ and ‘Shares.’

    Introducers introduce the brand in the consumers’ mind space

    Contributors ensure to create an impressive brand recall and are at the top-of-the consumer’s mind while they contemplate a purchase decision. Closers are the real deal closers and persuaders who drive the purchase decision.

    Influencers are often introducers and contributors, so evaluating their contribution is critical during the complete attribution plan. They are media partners who help the brand spread the message aloud.

    Creativity and social media are becoming one collaboration

    Creativity is prized above all, and influencers combining their creativity with social media reach is an incredible amalgamation. Collaborating with an influencer who is a celebrity with a massive following to create brand awareness or a micro-influencer targeting a specific audience depends on the brand’s ultimate goal.

    The lifestyle and fashion industry are at the forefront leveraging the benefits of influencer marketing. MAC Cosmetics India’s makeup tutorials, live sessions, and stories on social media platforms were instant hits among millennials.

    Daniel Wellington, the luxury watch brand, roped in influencers from all tiers to spread its brand awareness. The brand has successfully implemented this strategy for new product launches and upcoming sale seasons.

    The creative collaborations have helped brands monetise their marketing strategies and are gaining momentum in other sectors as well.

    Meta influencer – the new age influencers

    Creativity is set to reach another level with meta influencers in action. There were over 150 virtual influencers identified in 2021. The war between real and virtual influencers will be a tough one to watch out for in the future.

    Meta influencers have the might to identify the latest trends and share quantifiable results with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) techniques. Every part of the world is creating its meta influencers army.

    The first Indian meta influencer – ‘Kyra’ engages customers with her virtual avatar. She is an intelligent meta influencer who can create and publish her content. Kyra can be integrated with metaverses, music videos, 3D films, and so on.

    The real influencers are giving a tough fight with their digital doubles – a replica of real influencers to promote specific events and spur the excitement level. Amazon sponsored Justin Bieber’s virtual avatar to release a music album in November 2020.

    With the meta fever catching up, it will be fun to watch bespoke content in the metaverse.

    Inclusive marketing strategy

    An inclusive marketing strategy can create a 360-degree impact. Ethically it helps to imbibe inclusivity in the brands’ culture as the new normal, and strategically, it builds sustainable long-term growth. Brands must choose influencers that relate to the audience and a marketing plan reflecting their ideology. Influencer integration for inclusive marketing is the road ahead, whether in the real or the metaverse world.

    (About Author: Shuchi Sethi is an influencer marketing expert with over six years of experience in influencer marketing. She currently leads Anymind Group’s AnyTag’s influencer programme in India)

  • Zee5 highlights regional offerings in a new campaign

    Zee5 highlights regional offerings in a new campaign

    Mumbai: Video streaming platform ZEE5 has announced the launch of the second edition of its campaign- ‘Dekhtey Reh Jaogey’ starring Sara Ali Khan and Amol Parashar. Revolving around the FOMO theme, the campaign showcases the platform’s content library, particularly the regional offerings.

    ZEE5 currently features 160+ live TV channels and 500,000+ hours of on-demand content spanning over 3,500 films, 1,750 TV shows, and 700 originals, in 12 Indian languages (English, Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Oriya, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, and Punjabi), all available in a new subscription of Rs. 599.

    The SVOD viewers on the platform get access to the range of movies and web series behind the paywall, along with AVOD content before they are aired on TV. The AVOD content roster at ZEE5 includes catch-up episodes of the most popular TV shows on ZEE Network and other properties which are available for audiences to watch anytime, and anywhere.

    Over the past 12 months, ZEE5 has become the fastest growing OTT platform in India as per AppAnnie’s latest industry report. The platform’s monthly active users (MAU) rose to 101.9 million and global daily active users (DAUs) touched 9.6 million in December 2021. ZEE5 users watched an average of 201 minutes of content per month during the last quarter, with the platform releasing 51 shows and movies, including 11 originals during the period.

    ZEE5 has planned a high-frequency promotional outreach for the campaign across TV, social media, and the internet as part of a 360-degree approach.

     “At ZEE5, we have always aspired to democratise entertainment and provide quality content to our audiences at a price that is convenient for the majority of the viewers,” says ZEE5 India chief business officer Manish Kalra. “While ZEE5 has a large content library that spans across various languages, the second leg of the ‘Dekhtey Reh Jaogey’ campaign will help us exhibit our diverse content offerings, especially regional content and further our aim of deeper regionalisation by making deeper inroads into the country. With the new subscription package, viewers will have access to an endless supply of compelling and binge-worthy entertainment at an annual price of Rs. 599.”

    Lowe Lintas chief creative officer Sagar Kapoor adds, “Today, content has become the perfect conversation starter and enabler. Conversations are invariably peppered with references to dialogues and characters from content pieces across OTT platforms. It is the “conversation drama” that people miss out on when they miss content. We decided to build on this idea for ZEE5 to pull in their audiences every week to watch new shows and movies and stay above content FOMO, so they never miss out on the excitement on and off the screen.”

  • Users to experience ‘real power of conversations’ with ‘Khul Ke’

    Users to experience ‘real power of conversations’ with ‘Khul Ke’

    Mumbai: A conversation can lead to many possibilities, but the existing clutter of social media platforms currently does not encourage or enable users to explore this power. Forthcoming social media platform ‘Khul Ke’ harnesses this thought and aims to give people the opportunity to engage in uninhibited, enriching conversations and increase their circle of influence rather than just be mute spectators. 

    Khul Ke will be the only platform to allow video, audio and text-based conversations amongst panelists as well as the audience. It lays its foundation in the ‘power of conversations’ and urges artists, influencers, entrepreneurs, brands, consumers, your friends, or like-minded individuals to engage in meaningful conversations. The platform cuts through the existing clutter of social apps, by being the only platform to enable all media of exchange i.e audio, video and text, and encourages users to network while they are at it. It will have a host of distinct features that its users can explore. 

    The star feature will be the ‘RoundTable,’ which will drive moderated discussions around the trending and most exciting topics. Its going to get easier than ever before to discuss various topics and simultaneously engage with experts from industries across the gamut over video, audio and messaging modes. Comprising of a moderator and relevant panelists, this virtual RoundTable will provide a platform to voice opinions or engage in interesting conversations. The panelist might be a subject expert, a celebrity, an influencer, or even a decision-maker. The audience on the other hand will engage in sharing ideas with other members and can even create their own conversation and stream it live in video and audio formats. The other key feature is TownHall, a space where people can share personal opinions, updates via audio & visual content. One can further like, comment, circulate and share another user’s post. This enables the users to create a network of like-minded people.

    Engaging in one-on-one conversations is imperative to any social platform and hence Khul Ke’s native messenger Yapp will enable members to interact with other individuals directly and privately.

    Speaking on its beta rollout, a source close to the management said, “This platform is for the people and by the people who love conversations. It was conceived and conceptualised keeping in mind the limitations existing platforms have. So Khul Ke is designed as a one-stop destination for conversation lovers. Users here can be uninhibited and can converse ‘Khul Ke’ to explore a new world of possibilities. The star feature, RoundTable is unique and encourages users to have meaningful conversations with like-minded people in a mode they prefer. One needs to explore the app to know the many possibilities it has to offer to both brands and individuals.”  

    The platform will also offer an array of services for brands and organisations along with individuals. Khul Ke can be a platform of choice for engaging with end consumers to seek feedback, launch new products, or even increase reach through brand promotions. It is also a powerful medium to engage within organisations to host AGMs, discussions, interviews, seminars, training, and one can even plan a virtual catch-up with their friends!

    It’s time to go beyond just comments, likes, and shares and have a real conversation and Khul Ke seems to be the only platform that is set to make this possible.

    The beta rollout will have both iOS and Android versions and will also be available on the web www.khulke.com.