In the world of advertising and marketing, it's easy to overlook one of the most vital engines driving agency growth — the new business team. While creative awards and high-profile campaigns earn the spotlight, it's often the behind-the-scenes hustle of business development that opens the door for those moments, says Sean Devlin, Business Development Director at Penquin. 

In a world where attention spans are short and digital content is everywhere, businesses are under increasing pressure to communicate clearly and connect meaningfully. Yet one of the most common misunderstandings among growing organisations and purpose-led enterprises lies in confusing branding with marketing, says Get Published Founder, Nadia Hearn. 

You’ve probably heard the term commerce media, but what is it really? Simply put, it's advertising that lets retailers build a media business out of their first-party data by connecting consumers with their products and services at every step of the shopping journey, says Daniel Levy, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Flow. 

10bet South Africa has introduced a horse racing offering, and to promote the offering, Horse Racing Trainer, Adam Marcus, has joined 10bet as its Official Horse Racing Ambassador.

Federal Express Corporation (FedEx), in partnership with Saatchi & Saatchi India, has released a new campaign, reinforcing its commitment to entrepreneurs and Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) across India.

In a bizarre twist of commerce, post-death consumerism has been identified as an emerging retail trend. Before you knock it, take note: 51% of South Africans surveyed are interested, says Hugh Fletcher, Global Demand Content and Thought Leadership Director at VML Enterprise Solutions.

As a conceptual-minded creative, I always notice details. The story behind my new profile picture is the red door. While every other door faded into the exterior, this one pulsed. It made me wonder. What's behind it? That's when I realised that the best direct-response copywriting works like a red door, says South African-based RMBC Direct Response Copywriter, Francois Pistorius.

Winning a Bookmark isn't just about making excellent work — it's also about how you position the work in your submission. Whether you're a first-time entrant or a seasoned pro, Tilesh Bhaga, Creative Director of Digital and Innovation at VML South Africa, provides guidelines that can help turn your great work into award-winning work. 

The Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Visit Dubai), in partnership with Beautiful Destinations, has launched the Beautiful Destinations Academy, Powered by Dubai — a professional development initiative aimed at setting new, global benchmarks for travel content creation and meeting the rising demand for marketing talent within the tourism sector.

Collaboration between the creative and client service teams is vital. Striking the right balance between creative freedom and brand limitations requires mutual understanding, deliberate strategy and clear communication, say Matte BLK's Senior Art Director, Thato Moatlhodi and Group Account Director, Fredine Swigelaar.