Easy Influencer Marketing Campaigns Using Shoply

Influencer marketing is a powerful way for businesses of all sizes to reach new customers and grow their brand. By partnering with influencers who have a loyal following in your target market, you can tap into their audience and get your products or services in front of more people.

Shoply is a great option for businesses looking to do influencer marketing. Shoply is a decentralized social commerce platform that allows businesses to sell their products and services directly to consumers through social media. Shoply integrates with all of the major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

This makes it easy for businesses to reach their target audience on the platforms where they are most active. How to Create an Easy Influencer Marketing Campaign Using Shoply.

Here are a few tips for creating an easy influencer marketing campaign using Shoply: * Identify your target audience. Who are you trying to reach with your influencer marketing campaign? What are their interests and demographics?

* Research potential influencers. Look for influencers who have a loyal following in your target market and who align with your brand values.

* Develop a creative brief. This document will outline your campaign goals, target audience, and creative requirements.

* Negotiate contracts. Once you have identified potential influencers, you need to negotiate contracts that outline the terms of your partnership.

* Track the success of your campaign. It's important to track the success of your influencer marketing campaign so that you can learn what worked well and what could be improved upon in the future.

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The impact of organised crime on South Africa’s construction industry

In recent years, South Africa’s construction industry has faced a growing crisis from organised crime groups. The so-called "construction mafia" have created an environment of fear and uncertainty, using extortion, violence and intimidation to force building companies and workers into submission. It’s a problem that has led to financial losses and stalled infrastructure development as well as endangering the lives of those who work on construction sites across the country, writes John Ridgeway.

The "construction mafia" in South Africa began to gain attention around 2014. Organised crime groups, largely gang-affiliated, began to infiltrate the construction industry, particularly in government-funded infrastructure projects. These gangs use tactics commonly associated with traditional mafia activities, including demands for "protection fees" or a share of project budgets, especially on public works and housing projects. If construction companies do not comply, these groups often resort to violent methods, which can include assault, threats to workers and management, or property damage.

In many cases, gangs demand up to 30% of a project's value as a fee. While they justify these demands under the guise of community involvement or job creation for locals, their true aim is control over lucrative contracts and revenue streams. Often, these gangs insist that contractors employ their affiliates or members from local communities, thereby ensuring a portion of wages and influence within the project. The most notorious cases have been reported in regions such as Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape, where these gangs operate with near impunity, undermining efforts to complete vital projects​

The presence of the construction mafia has a twofold effect on the industry. First, workers, engineers, and managers on-site are exposed to frequent intimidation and life-threatening situations, which detracts from productivity and morale. Companies operating in regions heavily affected by these gangs must make difficult choices - either comply with the gangs’ demands or face the risk of shutting down projects. In Cape Town, contractors on several housing developments abandoned projects entirely due to sustained harassment and violence from local gangs, some of which have close ties with influential criminal networks​. Click link to read more:

#southafrica

Exploring the global market for glass fibre reinforced concrete

The global glass fibre reinforced concrete (GFRC) market is booming, driven by rising demand from both commercial and residential sectors and bolstered by trends toward sustainable construction. GFRC, a composite material composed of fine sand, cement, water and alkali-resistant glass fibres, is highly valued for its lightweight, durable and sustainable characteristics and is a proven winner for the construction industry, writes John Ridgeway.

In 2023, the GFRC market was valued at approximately $3.51 billion, with projections estimating it will grow to $3.97 billion by 2024, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.2%. With estimates pointing to the market reaching $6.65 billion by 2028, GFRC is quickly becoming the must have material in the global construction industry.

The surge in demand for GFRC is supported by a range of factors, primarily urbanisation, the demand for more renovation projects and an increasing focus on sustainable building solutions. GFRC is particularly beneficial in green building initiatives because of its composition. The material is not only lightweight and durable, but it also requires fewer resources for transportation and handling. These characteristics make it a perfect fit for green buildings, which aim to reduce the environmental footprint of construction projects. Given that GFRC also offers improved energy efficiency, it has become increasingly popular in eco-friendly buildings and developments globally. Click link to see more:

#concrete

Three Common Elements Of Website Design

The average webmaster is not always aware of the importance of some of the basic principles and elements of website design. Professional website designers with formal training are often the only ones who understand these design concepts. Incorporating the simple principles commonly used by experienced website designers can make a great difference in your own website design.

Creating a Focal Point for Your Website

Your focal point will be the location of the primary piece of information you want your visitors to receive from your website. This area will stand out from the rest of the page and attract your guest's attention as soon as they enter your site. You can create a prominent space on your website by varying the size of that particular section or using a contrasting color. The area can even have its own distinct shape to set it apart.

Choosing Your Website Colors

The color scheme you choose plays a prominent role in your visitors' reactions and feelings toward the site, as well as how easy it is for them to view the pages, images, and text, so it is a very important part of website design. Various colors will either balance one another or they will create a contrasting eyesore that turns visitors away. A typical website theme incorporates two or three colors into the design. The colors should blend with another and you should keep the color variety minimal. A simple white background with black text is a good start for a basic website design. You can then add a subtle shade to the page.

Creating a Balanced Website

A color scheme with complementing color shades is the best way to create a balanced look with your website. A balanced website design is much easier to view so your visitors will want to stay longer and will be more likely to visit your site again. White, or a very light color, should be the prominent color in your design and a matching, darker shade should be used in a few areas of the design. A website that looks good may not necessarily be balanced and balanced websites typically see greater success than those that are merely attractive.

Using Your Available Space

The way you use the space on your website page can influence the success of your website design. A good looking, effective website is based on a logical, but creative, layout.

Using Lines in Your Website Design

The lines used in your website also have an effect on your visitor's feelings about your site. Horizontal lines have a soothing effect and are best for professional websites, like those for a business. Vertical lines have a more engaging effect, stimulating activity, and are great for accenting your pages. Diagonal lines are active lines that create a fun feeling. Diagonals are great for use in children's websites or when you need to create excitement.

All of these commonly used elements of website design can help your website succeed.

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The Line and its potential impact on global construction

Saudi Arabia’s NEOM project is reshaping the conversation around urban planning, sustainability and global resource demands. This futuristic city aims to redefine the urban landscape, presenting an ambitious vision of a zero-emission, hyper-connected world. However, alongside its forward-thinking design comes an immense demand for construction materials—particularly steel. Recent reports suggest that this new mega city could require up to 20% of the world’s steel production, a staggering claim that raises questions about its impact on global material markets, prices and availability.

The new mega city – or The Line as it is known - is part of the $500 billion NEOM project, a vast new city that will stretch for 170 kilometres across Saudi Arabia’s northwest region. Designed as a zero-carbon, sustainable urban environment, it is intended to house nine million people in two parallel buildings rising 500 metres above sea level. Each building is expected to be lined with mirrors and will rely on renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, to power its infrastructure.

The project’s vision is ambitious, but the scale is almost unfathomable. Building a city of this magnitude requires massive amounts of materials. Recent reports suggest that The Line alone could require a significant portion of the global supply of steel—up to 20% of annual production. This revelation was made by NEOM's chief investment officer during an interview with Arabian Gulf Business Insight, stating that NEOM is set to become the largest consumer of construction materials globally for possibly decades to come.

Steel is a core component in construction, offering strength and durability. Globally, around 1.9 billion metric tons of steel are produced annually. For NEOM's The Line to require 20% of that production means it could consume approximately 380 million metric tons of steel over the project's lifespan—a quantity almost equal to the annual production of major steel-producing countries like India and the United States.

The sheer scale of this demand is bound to have ripple effects across global markets. Increased demand often leads to higher prices. NEOM's consumption of vast quantities of steel could drive up prices globally, especially as the project gains momentum. Steel prices are already volatile due to several factors, including post-pandemic recovery, supply chain disruptions and fluctuating raw material costs. Adding a project of NEOM’s scale to the mix could push prices higher, impacting global construction projects. Click link to read more:

#NEOM