#WeKnowAfrica

We take a result-driven approach to all activities, and structure our strategies to promote our clients’ key business objectives. As such, we see ourselves as business consultants that partner with our clients to help them achieve their business and communications goals.

The effectiveness of messaging is strongly influenced by relevant, relatable and strategic positioning. These in turn are highly dependent on the specific cultural, linguistic and behavioural nuances of the specific target market. ACG understands complex and competitive African markets, and we design our solutions to meet these communication environments while upholding our clients’ priority needs and business goals. This winning formula is the driving force behind our successful campaigns, and the reason we are recognised as industry leaders and expert storytellers.

We ask the right questions, speak to the right people, and collaborate with our clients to ensure their business and communications decisions are authentic. With Africa dubbed the “next frontier”, ACG consultants take on the role of innovation pioneers, making sure that our clients are not left behind.

Strategy Development and Messaging

What it’s all about:

A strategy is a formal plan based an organisation’s business objectives, priorities, budget, limitations, audiences and preferences. All activities are thereafter designed and executed in accordance with this plan.

Why you should care:

Every business activity needs to serve a purpose or drive certain objectives. This promotes efficient use of spend and provides a way to analyse return on investment, define deliverables and track performance.

How we can help:

We work with clients to develop key messaging that speaks to each organisation’s vision, mission and goals. Your brand’s storytelling narrative is created through strategic and relevant messaging that leads to more audience engagement, drives business objectives and promotes lasting relationships. We can plan strategies for specific communication needs as well as for complete, multi-platform campaigns, including content development, execution and reporting.

Reputation Management and Public Relations

What it’s all about:

An organisation’s reputation is formed by combined public perception, opinions based on professional interactions and business practices, as well as media influence.

Why you should care:

Success is built on reputation – it can make or break a business. Reputation relies heavily on a positive public and professional image. With research showing the growing influence of public perception on consumer decisions, reputation management and public relations are increasingly becoming top priorities for success-driven brands.

How we can help:

Reputation is largely based on public sentiment and perception – the starting point is knowing how a brand is perceived. From there, we support you to nurture and develop your brand or shift perceptions to benefit your objectives.

We have the expertise, experience and insight to understand the factors that impact each client’s particular standing in the public and business spheres. We understand Africa and Africans, and act as our clients’ African communications liaisons, with eyes and ears on the ground. When required and depending on the complexity of the brief, our in-house research and insights experts go in-country – to live in the environment and communities that our clients want and need to understand. Armed with knowledge of both public opinions and client objectives, we help shape perspectives to positively position brands based on their key strengths and unique characteristics – in an open and authentic manner.

Media Relations and Press Release Distribution

Our team has developed positive and sustainable relationships with various media across Africa. This helps us to effectively communicate your missions, stories and activities in a consistent and reliable manner.

Thought Leadership Positioning

A Thought Leader is a knowledgeable, trustworthy, go-to authority in an industry, who inspires and encourages implementation of innovation and offers intelligent, insightful and informed opinions. We position our clients as Thought Leaders by connecting them with mentors and influencers, finding speaking engagements and getting them published to establish them as industry leaders.

Crisis Management

We minimize the effect of negative publicity by building a framework for crisis management. Our team efforts reduce and manage potential damage to client’s brand and transform the crisis into an opportunity for positive brand messaging.

Stakeholder Mapping and Engagement

Stakeholders have an interest in the activities and business of an organisation. We help you monitor, prioritise, connect and engage with people of importance through various means such as discussions and speaking opportunities; thus, increasing the reach of key messages and the client’s credentials.

Strategy Development and Messaging

Through a key messaging exercise involving both client and our internal team, we develop a messaging strategy that speaks to your vision, mission and goals. As the first point of contact, messaging is key in driving the narrative of any work we do.

Research and Insights

We conduct research at various stages of the creation and implementation of a communication plan. Through perception audits, stakeholder mapping and taking a full interest in your objectives, we map out the best strategies for an effective communication campaign.

Strategic Events

We identify strategic events for you to attend that align with your business and PR objectives. These may include expo’s, trade events, conferences and talks.

Content Creation and Development

What it’s all about:

Content includes publicly available and inter-organisational material including press releases, visual content, written content, multi-media content and any other type of marketing or informative content.

Why you should care:

Relying on 3rd party material only (such as content produced by journalists or news agencies) results in a lack of control and often one-sided information about the brand being publicised. Brand-owned and influenced content, on the other hand, tells the story you want to tell.

How we can help:

We help brands tell their stories to the pan-African market by generating relevant content based on core objectives. We have the capacity to produce written, video, audio and multi-media content to suit clients’ needs, audience, communication goals and stakeholder expectations. We optimise content for the various platforms such as digital and social media platforms, as well as to cater to the increasing use of mobile as a medium of content consumption. We also take care of the logistic and distribution needs when it comes to taking the produced content to market. Our content creation services include collateral project and campaign material such as press releases, brochures, editorials, media kits, thought leadership articles and so much more. We work with clients to identify the content types, platforms, distribution channels and messaging that best fits their needs, as well as their target audiences.

Video Production and Editing

Traditional press releases and pitching to journalists will always be important elements of a communications strategy. However, video content can dramatically change the way audiences perceive and speak about a brand. With your guidance as a client, we determine the purpose of any video content, develop the content and manage production and take care of distribution to the targeted audience.

Collateral Development

We are a hands-on team with content and collateral development. Collateral development includes press releases, brochures, social media content, editorials, media kits, thought leadership articles and more.

Research and Insights

What it’s all about:

Research includes everything from statistics, insight into market behaviour, trends and other data. Sources range from credible studies to actual feet-on-the-ground feedback.

Why you should care:

Data and research should be the foundation underlying all activities as a vital part of informed decision-making. This ensures effective business management and future planning based on actual observed behaviour and reliable forecasts.

How we can help:

Marketing can no longer rely solely on assumptions and unreliable predictions. At ACG, we conduct research at various stages of the creation and implementation of client projects, including: during strategy development, pre-launch of campaigns, the entire duration of a project as well as post campaign reviews. We assess various sources of information, insight and data to craft solutions aimed at achieving the best possible results. This also includes the specific elements relevant for pan-African markets when it comes to culturally-attuned, perceptive and well-researched planning that maximises success potential.

Crisis Management

What it’s all about:

A crisis occurs when a brand’s reputation is threatened or when a public fallout or outcry results in a brand being viewed negatively. It could be in response to planned brand actions or communications, or due to unintended and/or unplanned situations.

Why you should care:

A public crisis has a negative impact on organisations which affects reputation, business relationships and bottom-line factors including sales, share prices and profit results.

How we can help:

Reducing the potentially detrimental effects of a crisis starts with being prepared. Our crisis management process will ensure your team is prepared to recognise issues that may grow into crises. We help to scenario plan, develop messaging and train spokespeople. This includes facilitating frameworks, strategies, practical plans and advice. We also develop damage control strategies to minimise the impact of a crisis on brand and business results. The manner in which a crisis is handled means the difference between quick (and often painless) recovery, or an escalating event that has long term consequences. We can also work towards turning an adverse public event into an opportunity to position the company in a positive light and favourably shift public sentiment.

Digital and Social Media

What it’s all about:

Social media includes the various platforms, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram – with a focus on the business functionality of each of these portals. Digital media involves a brand’s entire online presence, including a company website, social media business pages and other web-based content.

Why you should care:

In an increasingly digitised business environment, online visibility is vital for any brand. Year on year, its use by consumers and audiences worldwide has grown exponentially. Statistics show that digital media, (particularly social media) is fast becoming the leading starting point of the sales journey, as well as the chosen media type for the consumption of content.

How we can help:

Audiences are evolving, and the demand for relevant, personalised and user-centric messaging has never been higher. We use social and digital media business tools to address various business objectives including those related to customer experience, client support, lead generation, marketing and other goals. Social media in particular supports two-way, dynamic communication which takes storytelling to the next level by engaging with audiences. Our social media services include setting up of accounts, content creation, uploading of posts, paid advertising campaigns, managing online conversations and reporting. We also help optimise your website by offering content creation, website design and development, copywriting and editing and Search Engine Optimisation services. All content is created to meet unique audience needs based on the business priorities, geographic location and demographic groups that make up a brand’s core market segments.

Social Media and Online Community Management

Social media has a large impact on a company’s reputation and their bottom line. ACG social media management involves establishing accounts, maintaining the platforms, running campaigns and analytics. Our creativity shines through in the content we develop.

Website Development

We make use of websites to meet your communication requirements and tell your story in impactful ways. Our website development services include branding, design, development, copywriting, editing and proofreading.

Thought Leader Positioning and Strategic Events

What it’s all about:

A thought leader is a trusted go-to authority, recognised as a knowledgeable and credible source within a certain industry or field. Such a person is often considered an advisor, opinion leader, mentor, public influencer and a source of inspiration.

Why you should care:

In a competitive market landscape shifting more and more towards authenticity and information, thought leadership is an effective way to position both individuals and brands as market and industry leaders, and drive success goals.

How we can help:

We help position thought leaders and ambassadors, and boost their public “brand” and persona by creating personalised solutions for each client. This is done by promoting the right connections through networking initiatives, finding speaking engagements to showcase skills, connecting them with mentors and influencers, and developing communication strategies for various platforms and media types. A key component of thought leader positioning is identifying strategic events to attend that align with business, communication and PR objects. We assist in sourcing and arranging such events, including expos, trade events, business conferences and talks, as well as a range of other networking opportunities.

Media Relations and Press Release Distribution

What it’s all about:

Media agencies have an undeniable influence on the population of any market, more so with the increase of digital and social media. The goal of any organisation should be to have a say in how they are portrayed in the media.

Why you should care:

Media influence affects everything from brand awareness, crisis risks and public sentiment. These in turn impact bottom line results and business objectives.

How we can help:

Our team has developed and nurtured sustainable relationships with various media entities across Africa. This helps us to effectively communicate your stories, activities and goals in a manner that promotes positive brand affinity and sentiment – whether your focus is on social, business or any other communication objectives. As an African agency, we also understand the intricacies and complexities at work when it comes to the communication needs of a vastly diverse continent like ours. Our media relations services reflect this keen insight and awareness.

Stakeholder Mapping and Engagement

What it’s all about:

Stakeholders such as partners, investors, executive boards and other related parties play a pivotal role in the operation and growth of an organisation.

Why you should care:

Securing stakeholders that can positively impact an organisation (through financial, networking, expertise or other means) can have substantial influence on business performance results and overall success rates.

How we can help:

We help monitor, prioritise, connect and engage with affluent and influential people through various means such as discussions and speaking opportunities. This helps get key messaging across to a relevant audience segment and to get heard by people who are likely to have a vested interest in an organisation. Presenting to the right people at the right time results in immense business progress and growth potential.

Translation

In a multi-cultural and diverse continent such as Africa, it is crucial that brands take the multi-lingual needs of their audience into account to ensure that their message reaches the widest possible relevant audience. ACG has a network of highly qualified translators that can help translate messaging including incorporating the particular nuances and personal touches required for effective communication regardless of the country it is destined for. Our translation services include the following languages:

  • French

  • English

  • Portuguese

  • Arabic

  • Swahili

Workshops

Register for our Brand Building and Messaging Workshop