GetSmarter Blog

By Ruth Steyn

In 2012, there was an abundance of articles about PR, social media and optimisation floating around on the web. Now that so many businesses and individuals have jumped on the proverbial bandwagon, taken their dealings online and connected via social networking, it’s time to refine PR best practices. Read through the checklist below: if you can’t tick any of these boxes, it’s time to reassess your public relations strategy for the year ahead.

By Terri-Lee Adendorff

Advertising is a wildly misunderstood field. All too often, we get caught up in thinking that the Advertising industry is all about mad-cap creative types sketching and bouncing ideas off of each other, coming up with brilliantly creative campaigns. While this is surely a portion of the Advertising world, it is just that – a portion. Behind the creative, attention-grabbing campaigns that we see, lies a great deal of strategy and analysis. There are a few steps to follow to ensure that your Advertising campaign is up to scratch, but they only touch the tip of the proverbial iceberg of knowledge you will need to launch a successful campaign.

By Amy Johnson

When it comes to career choices, individuals with interior design skills have far more flexibility than those who pursue some of the more established career paths and professions. It’s certainly one of the perks that come with choosing to work in a creative industry, since many of the roles overlap and offer room for lateral role shifting. For those who don’t want to get stuck in a dead end job, acquiring a creative skill set may be the best alternative.

By Terri-Lee Adendorff

In the past, writing a novel meant quitting all professional pursuits and living hand-to-mouth while penning your masterpiece. The financial pressure was enough to discourage thousands of aspiring novelists. Today, however, writing skills are in high demand, and “becoming a writer” no longer means having to suffer for your art. There is plenty of space for writers in the corporate world, and a career in writing is a great way to blend your creativity with monetised skills. Furthermore, if you do wish to take time off from full-time work to pen your novel, you can still earn a living by writing on a freelance basis, allowing you the financial freedom to achieve your dream. Taking advantage of this option will put an end to the pressure from outside sources telling you not to quit your day job.

By Ruth Steyn

Getting ahead in any career often comes down to your networking, teamwork, and interpersonal skills. Every professional in today’s business world should develop their people skills; here are some tips on how.