This contributed volume serves as an authoritative reference and guide for anyone looking to study or build a brand in Africa. Despite being touted as the ‘last frontier’ of global brands, very little research exists that examines brands and branding in this emerging market. Authors cover crucial topics such as the history of branding in Africa, branding approaches used by start-ups, religious organizations, political parties, and businesses in the informal economies of Africa, as well as marketing Africa as a brand using practical cases, empirical and critical approaches. With the world’s youngest population and the second-fastest growing economies, Africa has quickly become a hotbed for marketing and consumption of local and global brands. While past research has mostly focused on examining the brand image of Africa and African countries, or on branding Africa as a place for tourist consumption, what is missing is a comprehensive guide that discusses the theory and practice of branding and brands in and from Africa. Through theoretical and practical contributions, the authors of this book seek to fill the knowledge gap about branding in and from Africa.

Brand management to sustain corporate reputation and customer loyalty is essential for both multinationals and indigenous fi rms in Africa. This book provides a practical overview of country branding and positioning activities in Africa, based on a broad defi nition of base of the pyramid (BoP) marketing, which includes both goods and services, as well as business-to-business marketing, corporate branding, and country branding. The text highlights branding strategies that can be adopted in BoP markets, as well as marketing mix strategies appropriate for much of the continent. Taking into account the role of social networks, culture, and religion, the book explores avenues for developing and building competitive advantage, and how African countries can leverage country branding as part of the development process. The book is ideal for researchers, educators and advanced students in international marketing, management, and brand strategy who are interested in the unique branding characteristics of the African continent.

Description of Book: Branding & Marketing YOU through Teams is the 2013 successor to author Donna Rachelson's best-selling Branding & Marketing YOU - first published in 2011 - which focused on personal brand development. This book, which has already garnered critical acclaim is based on interviews conducted with teams at Microsoft, Sanlam, the MTN-Qhubeka cycling team, Gift of the Givers, Demographica and the Protea Hotels Group. The fascinating 'conversations' that result, provide fresh and valuable insights into what makes teams effective and how they contribute to brand development. The book is written in a very conversational, accessible style and will be of interest to anyone in business or private life with an interest in marketing, communications, branding or reputation management. About the Author: Donna Rachelson, MBA, branding and marketing specialist, is the author of the best-selling Branding & Marketing YOU. In response to demand for how brands and teams can thrive together, she's now crafted Branding & Marketing YOU through TEAMS, to reveal the secrets of harnessing their combined power. She's held marketing director positions in blue chip organisations including Nando's, the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), marketing positions at Standard Bank and AECI, and is currently a guest lecturer at GIBS (Gordon Institute of Business Science). Donna is CEO of the company, Branding & Marketing YOU, which helps individuals, teams or businesses 1) develop branding and marketing strategies 2) execute those strategies, and 3) market themselves in an innovative and impactful manner. She's coached people across more than twenty blue chip clients, including Microsoft, Discovery, Deloitte, Standard Bank, Nedbank, Basil Read, Anglo American, McKinsey and SABMiller. In her spare time, Donna enjoys assisting NGOs to market themselves. She loves spending time with her family on adventures, running, skiing and chocolate. Strictly in that order. Her motto, which drives her commitment, is 'Making a marketing difference every day'. Endorsements: ..". should be read, not only by marketers, but by everyone who is in business and wants to know how to make teamwork work." Chris Moerdyk - Marketing Analyst "I recommend this book to my team and other teams. It not only contains amazing stories of great teams in South Africa that we can all learn from, but it inspired me to carry on raising the bar." Monica Singer - CEO, Strate ..". explores the concept of leading teams, exposes some of the local talent we should celebrate, and offers telling insights." Jeremy Sampson - Visiting Professor, University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business and Group Executive Chairman, InterbrandSampsonDevilliers ..". a timely and insightful experience-based book..." Thebe Ikalafeng - global African advisor, author on branding and reputation leadership and founder of Brand Africa. "This is a must-read for all leaders!" Allen Swiegers - Chief Operating Officer, Deloitte Southern and East Africa "Donna Rachelson has achieved that rare thing - a business book that is useful, interesting and accessible to anyone who wants to learn more about marketing..." Mandy Collins - business writing course co-ordinator, Allaboutwriting

Strategic Marketing of Higher Education in Africa explores higher education marketing themes along the lines of understanding higher education markets, university branding and international marketing strategies, digital marketing, and student choice-making. The Higher Education landscape around the world is changing. There is global competition for students’ enrolments, universities are competing within their home market as well as in the international market, and as government funding for public universities is reducing there is pressure on universities to seek additional income by increasing their student enrolment. African universities are not an exception in this competitive market. This book is unique in providing a composite overview of strategic marketing and brand communications of higher education institutions in Africa. It recognises that there is a growing need for universities to understand the stakeholders and develop strategies on how best to engage with them effectively. Highlighting the unique characteristics, nature, and challenges of African universities, this book explores the marketisation strategies of African universities, with focus on the strategic digital marketing and brand management. The book provides significant theoretical and marketing practice implications for academics, higher-education administrators, and practitioners on how best to market higher education in Africa and reach out to prospective students. International practitioners aiming to market to Africans and start a partnership with an African university will also find this relevant in understanding the dynamics of the African market.

This book gives readers an understanding of the factors that shape the marketing decisions of managers who operate in African economies. It brings together fifteen African cases written by scholars and executives with rich knowledge of business practices in Africa. By combining theoretical insights with practical information from the cases, the reader is introduced to issues relating to marketing strategy formulation, managerial actions in designing and implementing marketing decisions, as well as the operational contexts within which these actions are taken. The book is essential reading for both undergraduate and graduate students in marketing, international strategy and international business who require an understanding of African business.

The uptake of digital media platforms necessitates the need to understand how digital cultures of consumers and brands are unfolding. Despite the increase in usage and adoption of the internet in Africa, there is limited information about digital marketing trends on the continent. This book is among the first to present an edited collection of chapters on digital and influencer marketing authored by many who are either from or have close ties to Africa. This book showcases digital marketing trends in Africa that are burgeoning at the same speed as the uptake of technology in the continent. With this in mind, the contributors seek to interrogate digital marketing trends in two stages: the status of digital marketing on the African continent, including cases from Nigeria, Egypt, Uganda and Kenya, and an analysis of the rise of influencer marketing, including cases from Nigeria and Uganda. This book will explore factors driving the increase in digital media platforms in Africa as well as an analysis of the implications of the growth in digital marketing, using various theoretical and methodological underpinnings to probe trends. Digital Public Relations and Marketing Communication Trends in Africa provides significant implications for marketing scholars and researchers and will be relevant to those looking to understand the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Business-to-Business Marketing: An African Perspective: How to Understand and Succeed in Business Marketing in an Emerging Africa is a comprehensive application of the most current research results, concepts and frameworks to the African business-to-business (B-to-B) context. The chapters are designed to provide the reader with a thorough analysis of b-to-b. Important aspects like competitive strategy in B-to-B, marketing mix strategies, relationship management and collaboration, business services, big data analysis, and emerging issues in B-to-B are discussed with African examples and cases. As a result, the book is easy to read and pedagogical. It is suitable for courses at universities and other tertiary levels, undergraduate and graduate courses, MBA and professional B-to-B marketing programmes. Working managers will find it a useful reference for practical insights and as a useful resource to develop and implement successful strategies. The Authors Collectively the four authors have over 60 years of teaching and research in B-to-B marketing and management in and outside Africa. They have the managerial and consulting experience that has enabled them to combine theory with practice. Their experience and knowledge provide the needed background to uniquely integrate teaching and research with the realities of the African B-to-B market. Their command of and insight into the subject are unparalleled.