I look at this post and comments of the Yfm New Line up and you realize that brand lost its own way and people long time ago. I know that my peers and I don’t listen to the radio station but I was really surprised that even younger people don’t listen the station. I remember what Lebogang saying to me some years ago
"Don’t underestimate your audience, they are smarter than you think"
I think he said that based on the cliché themes we were doing at that time. I think that we have grown since then, some things have changed since then and try to make less spelling mistakes than I did before. We would like to hear your views, thoughts, opinions and critique about s83 - how can we make it better?
Photographer / Khumbelo Makungo
i think a set 'identity' needs to be established
right now it's a pretty open spectrum
if S83 were a person, who is it?
I hear you, i think that's the hardest thing to do though - and do we really have to? like define the identity or something. We don't wanna define it as male or female but maybe creative lifestyle. There was a point where i think s83 was more male based but that has changed drastically - actually there is more females.
i think it is important to have an identity, not to alienate anyone, but to determine the tone of S83. With any brand, an identity is important even a brand as boundless as S83, so when people just read one of our posts, they know immediately who we are.
There was a point where i thought i knew the identity of s83 ... I think the only time i knew the identity of s83 is when i started it - i was doing it for my friends really. Then other people discovered it, then other people i didnt even know come along ... I think im sometimes scared to set to identity based on assumption [that will alienate] ... hence why im asking the people who come here for their opinion.
re: http://studio83.co.za/about (does this still apply? — I actually have no idea what it is trying to say on that page)
How to improve s83? I'll send you a quote.
Two ideas:
1. Strategy:
What is s83 trying to achieve internally (as an organisation or company) and externally (what are the people expected to get out of it)?
2. Change:
I'd say stick with the 'themes' (or concepts) but drop all the old titled days: music monday; teesdays; education wednesday; cdt; fashion friday — refocus, repackage the whole thing into the 'concepts/themes'.
All these titled days refer to type of content as in: music, fashion, education and girls — whereas the 'themes' have broad topics which will included all those things and more e.g: sports, technology, food, events, etc.
that's my 2¢ — anything more — I'll send you quote on request.
:-)
That one doesn't apply anymore, I wrote that when it was when I thought no one visited s83 much, which is years ago. I hear you on the themes part - some people struggle with these themes at times - specially fashion.
@George: I think that's what LD is trying to say, is that there shouldn't be specific titles cos that's what causes there not to be anything to post. if we just let the theme drive the show, then we just might broaden our communication to include topics or issues we wouldn't normally cover with the music mondays, teesdays etc.
it's a thought, i think, something to explore (it might allow us to go wild with it)
Cool, I see what you mean ...
If memory serves me right about 2-3 years ago or was it when the blog just started [don't really remember much] - when we just posted anything and everything there was at that time when an issue about having no direction came up - then i think that;'s when the days of the week thing came up ... so its a bit interesting to see these changes ... but it kinda does make sense to get of of the week days themes, then would Writer Chick not still post songs on mondays even though there are some people that know that every Monday she does a post about Music and this is also for Education Wednesday?
Huh?
one word: growth.
two: wtf is "music monday" or "education wednesday"? these two topics have nothing to tell us with what is the story being told — they are mere headings that, in my opinion, fit a format for tv or radio, and this is web baby there are no rules.
thirdly: because of those topics, I was able to decide which days I came to check out S83 and which days to ignore it completely.
So think of it like this: we have a theme say called: "Tits & Ass" for the end entire week — surely, there is many things to plug for music; fashion; sports; politics; science; art; design; culture; photography, architecture, motoring, market, advertising, (there is more fields here than there is days of the week), etc. for the entire week — giving the contributor enough time to plan, research, compile, edit and publish: off the cuff or pre-planned.
I don't know why I have to explain this? Honestly? Take the weekend to think about it — then come back — if you still don't get it, call a friend.
*smh
im not disagreeing with you ... the is no need to swear really.
wtf do you mean?
LMAO!
i know this does not always work but how about some user-generated content. A small section maybe. What i like about s83 is how it seems to be able to accommodate different voices. Like a community (yes, the 90's word). (like that "we" thing u do when u right). the reason being that, personally, i come across stuff that i believe is relevant to the site. Yes it could be a quality control nightmare but i believe its the accessibility of s83 that makes it unique, also i don't doubt there are plenty creative ppl who could do a decent job. also you get snapshots of what's going on in other places. Some of this comes through strongly in the "published" mag.
S83 is chilled and not elitist like other creative sites which tend of fly over joe-on-the-streets' head.
lastly, get out there. have a presence outside the web. its a brilliant product. Its a creative "LIFEstyle". No "NETstyle". if S83 was a person, he/she would be the type to chill wit over a beer anywhere from camps bay to thembisa. it's also like a hangout joint.
you know how FHM got that page where they show readers posing with the mag in (sometimes weird) places? yeah cliche i know but imagine if could have S83 "chilling" with pips every (like a badge u pips take snaps with - just putting it out there) Why? Personally i would like to see who/where s83 "hangs out with/at"
i personally believe that large part of S83's potential could be realized by simply "being".
my 2bop's worth
Point taken - we had Celebrate Life Picnics ... btu im sure s83 would have something totally different ... lets see what happens.