The report will feature a research study of how brands engage with social, what they’re spending, and the returns they’re seeing. The Social Media Landscape Report will also offer observations from social media professionals about how brands can better engage audiences, together with data, analysis, and deep insights on popular apps as well as influencers, people, and practices.

The Social Media Landscape Report 2018 will also contain a listing of South Africa’s top social brands. "We’ve employed a smart algorithm to rank South African brands according to their social media prowess," says Oresti Patricios, CEO of Ornico. “For the first time, we’ll be able to reveal the top performing brands on social media and show which brands better manage and engage on social media in key industry sectors."

"The aim of the Social Media Landscape Report is to offer benchmarks for brands, together with key insights, data, and analysis of the people, influencers, and practices that make social media platforms what they are," says Goldstuck.

"The report surveys social media managers about how they used social networks in 2017, and what they’ll be doing in 2018. We’ll look at trends and offer deep learning about what content performs, what people matter, how influence operates in social media, and what marketers need to know to make the most of social media."

Ornico and World Wide Worx are offering a R1 000 discount on the purchase price of the Social Media Landscape Report 2018 if companies order the report before Friday, 15 September.

The full results of the Social Media Landscape Report 2018 will be revealed at the Social Media Landscape Briefings, which will take place at the Bryanston Country Club in Sandton on Monday, 18 September, and in Cape Town at the Sports Science Institute in Newlands on Tuesday, 19 September.

The survey results will be announced by Goldstuck and Patricios. The conference line-up includes the following:

  • Marius Greeff – Director, Turn Left Media;
  • Luke Mckend – ‎Country director of Google;
  • Elizabeth Lee Ming – Chief disruption officer at TBWA\ Africa;
  • Bellinda Carreira – Executive head interactive marketing, Standard Bank;
  • Noeleen Bruton – Marketing director, Tsogo Sun;
  • Godfrey Parkin – CEO, Britefire;
  • Candy Goodman – MD, Mobitainment, Direct Marketer of the year 2016;
  • Lisa Steingold – Marketing and communications manager, Popimedia;
  • Crayg Hitzeroth – MD, Ad Dynamo;
  • Felicia De Agrela – Brand strategist, Ad Dynamo;
  • Luisa Mazinter – Group chief innovation officer, Mortimer Harvey;
  • Lynette Hundermark – Digital and mobile consultant, Useful and Beautiful;
  • Maria Petousis – Director, TGI; and
  • Tacita McEvoy – Founder, Social Media Now (Cape Town).

You can read more about last year's report here: SA Social Media Landscape 2017 report out.