6 PR and social media predictions for 2013 A surge for LinkedIn, PR's mobile outreach, and a return to reliable reporting (even if it takes longer) are in the author's forecast for the coming year.

Although 2012 was filled with exciting PR and social media developments, including London's 2012 Olympic extravaganza,Prince Harry's Las Vegas scandal, and a down-to-the-wire race for the U.S. presidency, the coming year is sure to see even further transformations of the media landscape.

1. LinkedIn is the new Facebook. More brands will use LinkedIn to monitor conversations and connect with customers and influencers. New and enhanced features on the site, such as its "endorse" capability (which employs the one-click validation of a Facebook "like") and new profileand company page designs are encouraging users to spend more time building their personal brands with LinkedIn's tools. Companies, particularly in the B2B world, will increasingly recognize its marketing potential. Also, as adoption and activity on LinkedIn surge, journalists will spend more time using the platform for research, identifying sources and breaking stories.

2. Governments (and war) go social. The 2012 election generated record-breaking activity onTwitter, and more recently, the Israel Defense Force and Hamas military used the platform to communicate to international government officials and the public about the violent Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As citizens in the U.S. and around the world demand increased transparency from governments, officials at every level from local to national will turn increasingly to social media to stay connected with their constituents. Social media will see an increase of political conversations in 2013, driving its adoption as a news source for citizens, traditional media, and the government.

3. The reputable journalist is revived. The rise of blogging and social media has increased the volume of online news and the speed at which it's available, often at the expense of responsible reporting. Misinformation and rumors can spread quickly and trigger considerable backlash, especially when a news organization compromises accuracy in the name of speed (as evidenced by CNN and Fox News's memorable misreporting of the Supreme Court ruling on health care reform). The citizen journalist's 15 minutes of fame are running out and information-overloaded consumers will demand a higher standard of reporting in 2013.

4. PR goes mobile. PR practitioners have learned to draft compelling email pitch subject lines and deliver a message in 140 characters. The next step will be crafting mobile-friendly content as millions of consumers (and journalists) reach for their phones as their primary news source. The Daily taught us that it's not enough to format a publication with a mobile device in mind; rather, the key will be developing content that effectively reaches the right audience at the right time. Delivery is king—but brevity is still queen.

5. Pictures tell the story. The rise of infographics, photo sharing, and visual storytelling will push PR pros and their clients to deploy messages visually in order to compete in a crowded content market. All Things D reported that in August, smartphone users spent more time on Instagram than on Twitter for the first time since Instagram launched in 2010. This is indicative of a broader shift toward visual content in the digital space. As the old saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words"; more important, it might also be worth your customer's attention.

6. PR wins the social media battle. The debate over which corporate discipline "owns" social media is practically as old as social media itself; PR, marketing, branding, advertising, and customer service (just to name a few) all have skin in the game. As more businesses recognize the opportunities (and threats) that social media present to their corporate reputation, and the demand from stakeholders for direct engagement, they are reaching out to PR agencies and practitioners for support. PR pros, who have long been responsible for managing the dialogue between an organization and the public, will emerge as trendsetters in the social space by providing valuable communications counsel and achieving results that directly impact clients' bottom lines. http://www.ragan.com/Main/Articles/bcbdcad0-e64c-4d7a-b565-f5c529fa4a37.aspx#

PRESIDENT JAKAYA M. KIKWETE ENDORSES WINGS OF KILIMANJARO  

President Jakaya M. Kikwete and Wings of Kilimanjaro Project Manager  Ms. Paula 
when they met in Arusha this year.

Wings of Kilimanjaro, a once in a life time event that is scheduled for late January 2013 will see up to 200 adventurers, professional paragliders and philanthropists climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro for a world-first- flight from the Roof of Africa. In doing so, the group aim to raise a million dollars for three charities making a difference here in Tanzania, Plant With Purpose, One Foundation and World Serve International.  

On the day of the summit launch, the professional paragliders (including many of the world’s best) and their passengers will launch from the summit and make their way towards Moshi where they will land. The flight time is around 40 minutes.

Earlier last week, Wings of Kilimanjaro Project Manager Paula McRae had the pleasure of meeting with his Excellency President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete during his trip to Arusha. When briefed about the upcoming Wings of Kilimanjaro event, the President expressed “his thanks to the Wings of Kilimanjaro team for supporting Tanzania through the fundraising efforts and also endorsing their promotion of Mt. Kilimanjaro across the world”.

His Excellency went on to recognise recent media attention including their Mount Kilimanjaro Float in the Lord Mayors Parade in London (telecast on BBC to over 20 Million people), a recent feature in National Geographic as well
the public endorsement and support from  Tanzania’s Goodwill Ambassador, Doug Pitt.

The Wings of Kilimanjaro team are excited to introduce Tanzanians to a sport that is relatively new to the nation, this is ‘paragliding’.  The Wings of Kilimanjaro team will be running a competition in lead up to the event where they will be giving two Tanzanians the chance to WIN a flight with one of the team of professional paragliding pilots, following the event in February. Competition Details will be announced next week.

Contact details:
Paula McRae
Email: paula@wingsofkilimanjaro.com

Youtube Reference for Editors:

Wings of Kilimanjaro Promotional Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUFb4KWpdYA

Doug Pitt Endorsement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23yhx10jk5U

Lord Mayor’s Show, London
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvca1CPsg8o&feature=plcp

BizQuest Tanzania

Bizquest Consultancy gives  you & your company a Corporate image Of New Age: 

 offers value PR services among the few listed below.

http://bizquest-tz.com/

PR Strategies

Looking at the current market and brainstorming within the agency, Bizquest Consultancy analyse the current market and is able to come up with a strategy tailor-made to best fit the your business. During activations and other events we are able to create stories around your activations and maximize the PR opportunity.

Media Proposal

For PR practitioners who would like to have a communication proposal prepared we are able to prepare the proposal according to your brief. Bizquest Consultancy has experience with major companies including telecoms, health and agricultural and is able to create a proposal that will awe your client.

Media Relations

With a database of over 1000 press contacts in Tanzania, we can secure press across various formats. We’re always on the lookout for great opportunities for your business. Bizquest Consultancy are also able to conduct media training or editor’s briefing with the client who can then understand the media better. Amongst target across borders we also have media contacts with international media and link with our partners and organize for media coverage in Africa and now entering Europe.

Digital Campaigns

Each digital campaign is tailored individually for each business, NGOs, institution, firm or individual according to genre, level and budget. We also partner with social media companies that are found in Tanzania and globally to ensure that the you are getting value for money services. We target all the major online news, lifestyle, Social media and Alternative Press; lifestyle magazines. You can select us to work on a local/regional/national or international campaign.

Crisis Management

Bizquest Consultancy works together with the you during a crisis and sees how best we can contain the situation with the media. Having the relationships with the editors within media houses helps to contain the crisis that is happening at anytime.

Press release & Press Conference

Bizquest Consultancy organizes press conferences and we take press conferences and make it innovative and see how best we can help deliver the your  goals. We aim at having the message delivered to the target audience through media in the best way possible.

VC4 Africa Meetup - Dar es Salaam

Believing that entrepreneurship is the key driver for the continent’s growth and development, in particular small and medium sized enterprises ( SMEs) that provide most of Africa’s employment, income and hope for a better future. VC4 Africa, an online platform for networking and linking entrepreneurs and investors began to explore physical networking opportunities of which the first meetup for Dar es Salaam was done in September, 2012 with approximately 15 people who attended the event. The meetup included entrepreneurs and employees who work in the corporate field but joined the VC4 Africa network because of their zeal to in the near future become entrepreneurs and become part of the Tanzania’s reason to a greater economy through entrepreneurship. Earlier last week, the second VC4 Africa meet up was held at Brajec Mikocheni with a lesser turnout but quite an interesting dialogue. Abdul Kannady, the CEO of The Footprint that has worked with several NGOs though their work as Social Marketers said “The sector in Tanzania still has a gap in the energy sector, in particular renewable energy.” He added that the house of parliament passed an act in 2008 where the generation of electricity was liberalized and it allowed any Tanzanian to generate electricity either by connecting it to the national grid or independently. The government agency called REA (Rural Energy Agency) are allocated funds and can give an individual up to $100,000 to provide electricity. The attendees at the VC4 meetup agreed that there was not enough awareness regarding the renewable energy and what Tanzanians can do to improve the energy status in Tanzania. We can go on to talk about all the setbacks such as bureaucracy, corruption and the likes but if we do not speak about it nothing can be done. VC4 Dar es Salaam was also graced by a student from the University of Dar es Salaam studying BA in Computer Science. He also creates mobile applications for Nokia; Mussa Kimulo explained that he gained an interest in the programme of Java that allowed him to make mobile application for Nokia only. He was asked why he did not make applications for brands such as Iphone and Blackberry. He answered that his main interest lied in Java only. He later said that he had taken part in the competition ran by Vodacom Tanzania that required him to create mobile applications but until to date he has not received any feedback on the stage in the competition that he had reached. Mr. Peter Mallanga, Director of Programme at Investours Tanzania that are a start-up non-profit organization that combine the power of microfinance and tourism in the form of microfinance tours. They are located in Dar es Salaam as a local office and have been working to help local entrepreneurs for about 2 years now. Mr. Mallanga added “We will soon be joining forces with a tour agency in The Netherlands that will be sending tourists to Tanzania. This not only helps us with our role though Investours but also increases the country’s economy as Tourism is one of the sources of income for Tanzania. The most interesting part of the evening was the Alcohol Rehabilitation for a better future organization that are situated in Pugu that was graced by Nelisa Philip who is currently combating her addiction with Alcohol by designing shoes and selling them as a business and also attending seminars run by the organization. We asked her whether the business was helping her with her addiction to alcohol and she said that “it helps a little to keep her busy as she is also employed with a telephone company in Dar es Salaam as a data entry typist”. Charles Maganga who runs the organization explained to us that inside the organization you have addicts who also use locally brewed alcohol such as Gongo, Alcohol made out of coconuts etc. On the 29th of November they will be launching a seminar in Manzese where they will be speaking with several addicts on different aspects, businesses that can help them do something instead of going to drink. By Myoma N Kapya – Bizquest Consultancy

About Venture Capital for Africa ( www.vc4africa.biz) Venture Capital for Africa better known as VC4 Africa is the continent’s leading founder’s network, the largest and fastest growing community of entrepreneurs and investors building promising companies in Africa. The focus is connecting people and ideas on a peer-to-peer level: they are the only open and accessible platform dedicated to the subject and our network of entrepreneurs and investors extends to more than 159 countries around the world. The community currently supports more than 400 + ventures in more than 30 African countries. Already entrepreneurs have been featured in mainstream media, established joint ventures and secured funding. VC4Africa makes use of open source technology and the community is free to join. The system and tools are designed to leverage the power of the crowd, tapping the combined knowledge and resources that exist across the member base. The VC4Africa network is open in nature and fosters a supportive learning environment that is conducive to healthy networking.