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Chapman University's Professor Niklar Myhr on the potential of marketing automation and social media to drive engagement.The keynote session at the Marketing Automation Virtual Summit by ETBrandEquity.com by Professor Niklas Myhr, the social media professor at Chapman University covered different aspects of what automation or artificial intelligence can achieve in todays social media centric world. Myhr spoke about the opportunity the digital age offers marketers and how the sky is the limit if one were to ask the right questions, and use the correct tools.

One of the big tradeoffs since the internet came into play has been between trying to reach a lot of people versus communicating in a rich manner. Can you find a trade off? Where do you put yourself on this trade off? Should we go for many with low levels of richness? Or should we go for high degrees of richness with only reaching a few people? And the promise of the internet is that you can do both. Is it possible? Can you go out there and get the best of both worlds and what would be implied? Can you scale personalisation? Is it truly possible? Or do you have to limit yourself? I think these are some of the questions that come to mind, said Myhr.

He went on to list the four steps involved in the interaction between a brand and a consumer. Starting with visibility, moving on to likeability, and then to trustworthiness followed by loyalty.

Visibility or discoverability is a true challenge in the digital world since ones competitors have the same access to the consumers share of attention and wallet. When the consumer is spoilt for choice, the challenge of standing out from the crowd is huge. The question remains how it make yourself available. What are the platforms you're going to use? Where are you going to invest your time and efforts? And how are you going to make sense of it?

It's all about making yourself not just visible, but also making a good First impression, once people find you, some people judge you for a simple things like are you even present on social media? And if you are present on social media, can you be dismissed quickly because you are not showing up in the right way? Do you have the wrong tonality, the wrong frequency, the wrong interactions, the wrong people hanging out there and a lot of things are being judged very quickly, Myhr added.

Read Also: The rise and rise of Brand Dhoni: And how it will continue to rise

According to Myhr, with a strong sense of curiosity, and learning and learning willingness, the future would be had by those that are continuously, not just curious, but obsessing about learning new things, testing new platforms, testing new responses. One of the keys for marketing automation is to help in that process.

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Marketing Automation Virtual Summit: How to make the most of AI on social media? - ETBrandEquity.com

NEW DELHI Millions of women and girls globally have lost access to contraceptives and abortion services because of the coronavirus pandemic. Now the first widespread measure of the toll says India with its abrupt, months-long lockdown has been hit especially hard.

Several months into the pandemic, many women now have second-trimester pregnancies because they could not find care in time.

Across 37 countries, nearly 2 million fewer women received services between January and June than in the same period last year, Marie Stopes International says in a new report 1.3 million in India alone. The organization expects 900,000 unintended pregnancies worldwide as a result, along with 1.5 million unsafe abortions and more than 3,000 maternal deaths.

Those numbers will likely be greatly amplified if services falter elsewhere in Latin America, Africa and Asia, Marie Stopes director of global evidence, Kathryn Church, has said.

The World Health Organization this month said two-thirds of 103 countries surveyed between mid-May and early July reported disruptions to family planning and contraception services. The U.N. Population Fund warns of up to 7 million unintended pregnancies worldwide.

Lockdowns, travel restrictions, supply chain disruptions, the massive shift of health resources to combat COVID-19 and fear of infection continue to prevent many women and girls from care.

In Indias megacity of Mumbai, one woman was unable to find a pregnancy testing kit after the lockdown started in March, and then couldnt find transport to reach care in time, said Dr. Shewetangi Shinde, who attended to her in a public hospital. By then, medical abortion wasnt an option since the pregnancy was too advanced.

India listed abortions as essential services under lockdown but many werent aware, said Shinde, who is part of the India Safe Abortion Youth Advocates organization.

The pandemic has highlighted how difficult it already was for many women to safely access abortion services, said Dr. Suchitra Dalvie, a gynecologist in Mumbai and coordinator of the Asia Safe Abortion Partnership.

All these people ... the marginalized groups, the vast invisible majority. This is how life is, she said.

In January, India began amending laws to allow certain women to obtain abortions up to 24 weeks instead of 20. But the pandemic interrupted it.

No one expected the lockdown to continue for months, Dalvie said. Now many women face second-trimester abortions, which are more expensive and complicated, especially because everyone who is involved needs to wear PPE.

Abortion access has improved in India, but the pandemic resulted in abortion pill shortages in several states surveyed by Foundation for Reproductive Health Services India. Only 1% of pharmacies in northern states like Haryana and Punjab had them, 2% in the southern state of Tamil Nadu and 6.5% in the central state of Madhya Pradesh. In Delhi it was 34%.

Some contraceptives are still delayed by supply chain disruptions, said Chris Purdy, CEO of the DKT International social marketing organization for family planning products. Production is back online, but shipping routes are crowded and ports clogged with back orders, he said.

Meanwhile, womens health providers have scrambled to find solutions such as telemedicine, home deliveries of contraceptives and home-based medical abortions.

But even now, were hearing everywhere that numbers are down as public health facilities struggle because thousands of staffers have been infected with the virus, said Marion Stevens, director of the South Africa-based Sexual & Reproductive Justice Coalition. Her group and others wrote to the health minister about women turned away from care.

The real global measure of lockdowns effects will come when health ministries report annual data, experts say.

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Millions of Women Lose Access to Contraceptives, Abortion Services in COVID-19 - India West

FHI 360 is a global development organization with a rigorous, evidence-based approach. Our professional staff includes experts in health, nutrition, education, economic development, civil society, environment and research. FHI 360 operates from 60 offices with 4,400 staff in the U.S. and around the world. Our commitment to partnerships at every level and our multidisciplinary approach enable us to have a lasting impact on the individuals, communities and countries we serveimproving lives for millions. FHI360 seeks a qualified candidate for the position of Chief of Party for an upcoming health-focused social and behavior change (SBC) project in Ghana. This position will be based in Accra, Ghana.

Availability of position is contingent upon funding and approval of key personnel.

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Interested candidates may register online through FHI 360's Career Center at http://www.fhi360.org/careers or through the Employment section at http://www.fhi360.org. Please submit CV/resume and cover letter including salary requirements. Please specify source in your application.

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. FHI 360 is committed to providing equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran with respect to policies, programs, or activities.

This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.FHI 360 fosters the strength and health of its workforce through a competitive benefits package, professional development and policies and programs that support a healthy work/life balance. Join our global workforce to make a positive difference for others and yourself.

Please click here to continue searching FHI 360's Career Portal.

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FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in health, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, civil society, gender, youth, research, technology, communication and social marketing creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today's interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 60 countries and all U.S. states and territories.

As we evolve to meet the challenges of the future, we stand committed to the principles that have guided our organization for the last 40+ years. Our work continues to be grounded in research and science, strengthened by partnerships and focused on building the capacity of individuals, communities and countries to succeed.

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

FHI 360 will never ask you for your career site username or password, and we will never request money, goods or services during the application, recruitment or employment process. If you have questions or concerns about correspondence from us, please email CareerCenterSupport@fhi360.org.

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Chief of Party - ReliefWeb

CGI-Created Virtual Influencers Are the New Trend in Social Media Marketing

With more than 1 billion people using social media all over the world, its more difficult than ever for brands to stand out from the crowd. Thus, the rise of the influencer, which has been one of the most significant changes in marketing in the last decade.

Some creative marketers have decided to to find an alternative to the typical approach to influencers and instead create their brand ambassadors themselves using artificial intelligence. Thesevirtual influencers arecomputer-created fictional characters whose personalities are entirely fictional. Theyre paired with animated images from digital artists to accurately re-create the subtle features ofhuman faces. Some companies are building their owninfluencers from the ground up, creating their own character that they can control every aspect of.

Instagram users have already seen creations like 19-year-oldLil Miquelareleasemusic while going through a carefully scripted drama that kept her 1.6 million followers riveted.Lil Miquela, created by the L.A.-based firm Brud, can be said to have started the CGI influencer phenomenonin 2016, whenshe blew upon Instagram. Now shes a regular face in fashion magazines and fronts a wide range of luxury brands.More than 80,000 people stream Lil Miquelas songs on Spotify every month. Shehas given interviews from Coachella and shown off a tattoo designed by an artist who inked Miley Cyrus. Until her creators revealed her true provenance, many of her fans were convinced she was a flesh-and-blood teenager.

Just like Lil Miquela, Blawko wascreated by Brud. Sporting streetwear style and tattoos, hedescribes himself as a "young robot sex symbol."Hes perhaps the most mysterious of all the virtual influencer stars due to the mask that covers half of his face. He has become popular among users for his laid-back nature and on-off relationship with Bermuda, another CGI-created influencer.

Intended to parody the lifestyle of Instagram influencers, KFCs virtual Colonel shows the ridiculously good-looking Colonel Harland Sanders living his best influencer life. The uncannily human character posts from KFC's official account, which has 1.3 million followers. Itidentifies him as a virtual influencer who is chasing the dream, selling chicken and based out of Louisville, the company's headquarters. He sports the Colonel's signature gray hair, black-rimmed glasses and white suit, butinstead of a pudgy old man, this version is a modelesque hipster, complete with a torso tattoo that reads "Secret Recipe for Success."He frequently collaborates with other brands, includingDr Pepper, Old Spiceand TurboTax.

In fall 2018, French luxury fashion house Balmain launched a campaign starring three digital models. Two of the models are exclusive to the Balmain brand, while the third,Shudu Gram, is a free agent popularly known as the world's first digital supermodel. British fashion photographer Cameron-James Wilson created Shudu, whohas more than 200,000 followers on Instagram and blursthe line between digital and reality. She cant talk, nor is she artificially intelligent, but with Wilsons help, she shares her message of empowerment and diversity in the fashion industry.

"Only a few years ago, the idea of social media influencers was in its infancy, so their popularityis a sign of how quickly the trend took hold of the publics imagination," saysphotographer and online marketerKaterina Leroy. She saysusing virtual influencers benefits brands because it gives them full control, saves time searching for the right human influencers and reduces the risk od negative feedback. On the other hand, it could be another marketing experiment that fades away, "not one that will alter the course of influencer marketing," she says.

Harry Hugo, co-founder of the Goat Agency, says virtual influencers will be unavoidable in the next 12 months. They can be available 24/7 and have a personality molded to be exactly what you want. They can literally be whatever you want them to be. These things are massive plus points for brands because they make the perfect ambassador.

According toHypeAuditor,"Virtual Influencers have almost three times more engagement than real influencers. That means that followers are more engaged with virtual influencers content." The piece suggests that novelty is a key element in their current popularity, and as digital models become more commonplace, they'll lose some of that interest. But will they? Will we even know who's real and who's not in future? The stats here would suggest that it's likely to become a bigger point of discussion.

Related:CGI-Created Virtual Influencers Are the New Trend in Social Media MarketingIndian Alternative to Chinese Apps like TikTok, CamScanner, Shein, and MoreThe Hottest Cannabis Brands Of The Week (7/24-7/31)

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CGI-Created Virtual Influencers Are the New Trend in Social Media Marketing - CT Post

Firm did not meet all 10 deliverables, got pay cut, says permanent secretary

BY KIMONE FRANCISSenior staff reporterfrancisk@jamaicaobserver.com

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

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PERMANENT secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) Dunstan Bryan is reporting that marketing and public relations firm Market Me Consulting Limited did not meet all 10 deliverables set out in the second contract it was awarded for the expansion of the Jamaica Moves campaign resulting in a reduction in payment to the firm.

Bryan made the disclosure in a recent interview with the Jamaica Observer amid calls from the Opposition People's National Party for Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton to speak on the issue of contracts awarded to the firm, following a series of allegations being circulated across social media that Tufton shares a close relationship with one of the principals of Market Me.

The Observer raised questions about the amount of funds disbursed to Market Me after examining documents released by the health and wellness ministry which detailed its spend on activities relating to activities with the firm.

In July 2019 the firm signed a one-year contract with the ministry for an amount totalling $38,931,820 with the expectation that it would meet the deliverables set out as part of the terms of the contract.

However, in the documents released on its website, the MOHW noted that it disbursed $27,017,571.89 to the firm, almost $12 million less than the amount initially agreed upon when the contract was awarded.

The deliverables were not produced so they were not paid for. Not all of them were met, so that's why there is a balance on the contract, Bryan said in his exchange with the Observer.

He, however, did not indicate which of the deliverables had been met and subsequent calls to his phone for clarity went unanswered.

Market Me's ability to meet the deliverables of the contract which was for it to develop and implement a social marketing campaign to support the Jamaica Moves programme as a component of the National NCD Strategic and Action Plan 2013-2018 was an issue raised by the committee which evaluated the proposal submitted by the firm.

The committee gave Market Me a failing grade of 65.6 for its proposal 4.4 points short of the qualifying mark of 70.

The committee, at the time, noted that the unrealised qualifying score was on the premise that it felt there was the need for additional human capacity to execute all the deliverables set out for the contract.

However, it said a request was made for this to be done and Market Me agreed to engage additional capacity where necessary for activations.

On this premise, it gave the go-ahead for negotiations to begin between the ministry and the firm, which was initially engaged through the direct contracting procurement methodology for the job.

The negotiating team comprised the same members of the evaluation committee and Bryan.

The deliverables outlined include: an inception report and work plan ($618,750); monitoring and evaluation strategy plan ($601,000); social marketing strategy and implementation plan for Jamaica Moves in schools ($1,340,000); social marketing strategy and implementation plan for Jamaica Moves in the community ($1,340,000); social marketing strategy and implementation plan for Jamaica Moves in the workplace ($1,340,000); monthly reports ($28,092,000); midterm review ($432,000); review document (no figure attached); draft final report ($618,750); and final report ($229,500). Reimbursable expenses totalled $4,319,820.

The review document was expected to capture and report on key performance indicators for the project to determine the effectiveness of the project implementation. The document was to look at the efficacy of the campaign and decide on the way forward. This was expected to be produced by Market Me upon consultation with key stakeholders. The document was to be a review of deliverables one to five and make recommendations for adjustments to the document as required.

In a statement released on Sunday, the company said that its contract with the ministry regarding Jamaica Moves had expired.

We anticipate that our negotiations regarding a renewal of the contract will treat with all matters outstanding, including but not limited to the ownership of and rights to intellectual property.

We remain proud of Jamaica Moves and its impact on reducing the incidence of lifestyle diseases in Jamaica. The programme's success has been independently recognised locally by the Gleaner Company Honour Awards for Health, and internationally by the World Health Organization.

Now you can read the Jamaica Observer ePaper anytime, anywhere. The Jamaica Observer ePaper is available to you at home or at work, and is the same edition as the printed copy available at http://bit.ly/epaperlive

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Market Me missed the mark - Jamaica Observer