Facebook has launched an Agency Ambassador Programme for Africa in what it says is part of its drive to equip its agency partners with the skills and information they need to make the most of Facebook as a marketing and advertising platform.
Under this programme, Agency Ambassadors will have a direct line to Facebook and receive extensive training to help them become their agency’s expert in Facebook’s tools, technologies and solutions.
From 29th to 1st April delegates from 32 top media agencies gathered in Johannesburg where a team from Facebook from around the world trained them on how to become Africa’s first Facebook Agency Ambassadors. The delegates were from different African countries including Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa. During the gathering, the delegates were equipped with the resources to understand how to drive real business results through digital marketing, and in turn share this knowledge within their organizations.
The launch of the program follows within a year after the opening of Facebook’s first office in Africa, based in Johannesburg, South Africa when Facebook committed to supporting and up-skilling businesses across the continent.
“We’re so excited to launch the Facebook Agency Ambassador Program, a first for Africa,” Nunu Ntshingila, Head of Africa for Facebook said. “As media transcends to digital, it’s of crucial importance that these Ambassadors are equipped to take their learnings back to their agencies both digital and traditional – so that they can make the most of the digital opportunity, and ultimately grow brands and businesses.”
The programme incorporates Facebook Blueprint, an education program that trains agencies, partners and marketers on how to use Facebook. Combining online courses, in-person training and certification, Blueprint trains marketers on everything from campaign optimization and how to use video on Facebook to effective ad measurement solutions.
“Our goal with the Agency Ambassador Programme is to empower agencies to help their clients make the most of our platforms. It’s also a way for us to listen to agencies and learn more about what they need in their specific markets, so that we can improve offerings across the Facebook family of services. Facebook is a partnership company at heart, and this kick-off summit is simply the beginning of a long-term partnership with agencies across the continent.” Elizma Nolte, Head of Business Marketing for Facebook Sub-Saharan Africa said.
The foundation of Blueprint is its eLearning center, which features more than 50 online courses and has tracks organized by category, such as direct response marketing, as well as tracks designed for specific roles, such as digital buying.
