AI Will Make Product Placement in Books Easy

Arts & Culture, Books

Four years ago, I penned an article exploring the potential of product placement in novels — specifically within the diary chronicle genre. At the time, AI wasn’t as mainstream as it is today. For those of us in publishing AI has since revolutionised, accelerated and improved content creation, says Tiisetso Maloma, Publishing Director of Bula Buka Publishers.Since then, numerous startups have emerged in the publishing space, often referred to as “booktech” companies.
Startups like Spines, Created by Humans, Inkitt and Book.io are at the forefront, offering services ranging from NFT-based book platforms to AI-enhanced manuscript editing, content licensing and even tools to predict a book’s success by analysing reader behaviour. Innovations also include AI-generated audiobooks and voice creations.
Although product placement in books hasn’t fully taken off yet, I believe AI will soon make it a widespread and seamless practice.
A Historical Context: The Origins of Writing and Product Placement
Books and writing are among the earliest technologies of human civilisation. The oldest known written script — cuneiform — dates back to around 3200 BC in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq).
Product placement as a concept can be traced back to the 19th century. One notable early instance is when shipping companies lobbied for mentions in Jules Verne’s 1873 novel Around the World in Eighty Days. This type of brand integration sets a precedent for product placement in literature.
Modern Examples of Product Placement
Courvoisier cognac became famous to many through Busta Rhymes’s 2002 song Pass the Courvoisier. While initially not paid for the mention, Busta’s artistic reference helped the brand gain immense visibility. This later led to a formal promotional partnership, illustrating the potential of brand placement in artistic works.
Similarly, the series Entourage popularised Avión Tequila through strategic product placement.
Product Placement in Literature
An early example of product placement in books is Fay Weldon’s 2000 novel The Bulgari Connection, where the luxury brand Bulgari was integrated into the title itself. This deal brought publicity to both the author and the brand, demonstrating how literature can be a valuable medium for brand visibility.
Other examples include Jenny Han’s 2014 novel To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, which featured Subway sandwiches and Yakult yogurt. When the book was adapted into a Netflix film, these brands gained additional exposure.
The Potential Role of AI in Product Placement
Platforms like Draft2Digital and Lulu.com simplify the global distribution of both print and digital books by aggregating content and distributing it to retailers such as Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Smashwords and others.
Looking ahead, I envision AI being used to integrate brand names seamlessly into specific scenes within books, enabling organic product placement. This could be tailored to clients’ needs without significantly altering the storyline or requiring a new ISBN.
For example, AI could allow advertisers to insert their client’s beer brand into a scene where a character is having a drink, ensuring the product’s integration enhances the story rather than distracting from it.
Upon receiving requests from brands, AI scripts could rewrite the scene, allowing authors or publishers to approve or edit the suggestions.
Brands could advertise on a monthly basis or based on a certain number of units sold. This is even possible for print-on-demand books, as the text could be updated dynamically for each print run, allowing tailored, timely advertisements in both digital and physical copies.
Such technology could be embedded within the platforms used by book distributors or retailers, enabling seamless, on-demand content adjustments.
Benefits of Product Placement
Product placement in literature offers two key benefits:

Increased Publicity and Brand Relevance: For people to buy a product, they first need to be aware of it and see its value. 
Boosted Sales: Busta’s song alone increased Courvoisier sales by 4.5% in the first quarter of 2002.

Product Placement in Diary Chronicle Books
Despite the potential, we haven’t actively pursued product placement deals for our diary chronicle books. 
Emerging in 2013 – 2014, the genre includes fast-paced, diary-style narratives centered on social media-driven lifestyles.
We’re exploring ways to integrate booktech into our publishing model and potentially launch a dedicated AI publishing accelerator or a fund for innovative publishing technologies.
As AI continues to evolve, I believe it will play a crucial role in bringing product placement into books, making this practice more prevalent and seamless than ever before.
For more information, visit www.bulabuka.co.za. You can also follow Bula Buka Publishers on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, or on Instagram.
*Image courtesy of FacebookAI Will Make Product Placement in Books Easy South African Publisher Bula Buka Publishers Product Placement AI and Product Placement

Mobile App Perks: A must for your Business Growth

Business News

Does your Business Need a Mobile App? Explore these Benefits
This article clearly reflects the primary benefits of developing a mobile app for your business. Collaborating with a mobile app development company is the ultimate leeway to improve your client interaction, restructure your procedures, and generate revenue. With the help of a well-versed app development strategy, your organization can lead in the era of digitalization while being competitive in the modern mobile-driven market.
Introduction
It is inarguable that Mobile app development is no longer confined to just corporate giants or businesses. If you take a magnified look, app development is becoming more affordable and accessible, allowing your organization to increase engagement, loyalty, and income. Applications are an excellent leeway for customers to constantly and deeply interact with your brand on the go. This automatically results in better relationships.
If you are unsure about investing in an app, the following list of top benefits is going to assist you in reaching the right decision! All you need is a clear goal, and you are ready to go! With the proper app, your company can remain ahead of the competition and reach customers where they are—on their mobile devices.
Build a Brand that Stands out
Mobile app development makes it easy to build a stronger brand. A well-designed app serves as a constant brand ambassador, providing the appropriate service to your clients at the optimal time, allowing you to consistently deliver on your brand promise. 
A mobile app not only increases the visibility of your business but also provides vital insights regarding your users. Analyzing app data allows you to better understand your target audience and make adjustments. For example, if customers frequently bring up the same issue in the app’s forum, you can address it to improve your product or service.
Around-the-Clock Accessibility
If you take a deeper look, you’ll notice that users often tend to use applications rather than web pages. This is especially because of their ease of use. Mobile applications let your clients interact with your organization from any place at any time, even if they don’t have access to the web.
Users are often more inclined towards using apps than webpages, mainly due to their ease of use.
Mobile apps allow your clients to interact with your company at any time and from any location, even if they do not have internet access. Some apps also work offline, providing connectivity on the fly. Working with a mobile app development company will allow you to produce an app that fits these requirements, ensuring that your brand is always accessible to your clients, wherever they are.
Personalize Your Marketing Like Never Before!
Customers today want personalization, and hiring app developers may help you provide it. A mobile app allows you to personalize your offerings to each user, making each contact feel unique.
The top app development companies specialize in including features such as shopping history and bespoke discounts, ensuring that your app provides a personalized experience. Want to go further? Incorporate AR features for color changing and outfit mixing. Additionally, your software may simply detect and commemorate consumer milestones such as birthdays and anniversaries.
Mobile Apps offers High Reliability
 Every year, slow-loading websites cost retailers billions of dollars in missed sales. In contrast, mobile apps load quickly and provide a consistent user experience. This is when hiring application developers from the app development companies comes in handy. They may design an app that is not only speedier but also available offline, making it far more dependable than a standard website.
Shoot up the Conversions with a Mobile App
Did you know that apps generate 4.2x more product views and triple the conversion rates compared to mobile sites? Mobile apps simplify the user experience by eliminating the need to log in several times. With a wise decision to hire app developers, you can build an app that keeps customers coming back, increasing conversions and growing your business.
Enhance Customer Engagement
A well-designed mobile app can significantly increase consumer engagement by integrating interactive aspects that encourage users to return. Push alerts, in-app messaging, and personalized content enable you to maintain a direct and continuing relationship with your target audience.
Partnering with a trained development team that understands how to successfully use these tools will help you create an app that captivates users and encourages frequent involvement. Consistent involvement not only strengthens consumer relationships but also keeps your brand on top of your mind.
Improve Customer Support
Mobile apps can improve the customer support experience by providing fast assistance and optimized communication channels. With tools such as live chat, FAQs, and ticketing systems, your app can give real-time assistance and address customer concerns more quickly. 
Partnering with the top app development companies means that these support features are smoothly integrated into your app, making it easier for users to obtain the assistance they require. Improving customer care increases overall happiness and builds trust with your audience.
Raise your Sales Graph
Mobile apps offer a wide variety of leeway to boost sales. This often involves exclusive promotions, in-app purchases & loyalty programs. Therefore, it is imperative to hire app developers who excel at creating intuitive interfaces that offer a seamless shopping experience that boosts repeat purchases.
Furthermore, applications may track user behavior and preferences, allowing you to customize promotions and offers for each unique consumer. This tailored approach increases sales while simultaneously fostering long-term consumer loyalty.
Advantageous Customer Insights & Data
Unlocking valuable customer data and insights is transformative for businesses. Mobile apps make it simple to observe user activity, customize promotions for specific audiences, and improve your services to increase profitability. In-app surveys and pop-ups can help you get valuable feedback by allowing users to contribute their ideas easily. This direct feedback allows you to identify areas for development and tweak your plan to achieve greater outcomes.
Cut Down Costs & Boost Productivity
Last but never the least! App development for businesses can increase productivity by helping you save plenty on marketing costs. They are less expensive than web adverts, and you can monetize your app through in-app purchases and advertisements. 
Instead of promoting others, use this section to highlight your own products, new releases, or promotions. Furthermore, the information you receive might help you tweak your strategy and achieve even greater savings. It’s a win-win in terms of efficiency and cost savings!
Therefore, in order to maximize the mobile app benefits for the progress of your business, it is imperative to hire application developers who specialize in generating scalable & user- solutions personalized to your industry demands.
The Bottom Line
As said and done, mobile apps offer unmatched personalization, reliability, and conversion potential for your business. To completely leverage these advantages, it is imperative to hire app developers who can craft a smooth and engaging user experience. By doing that, you cannot only meet customer expectations but also drive significant loyalty & growth. Ready to elevate your business? Hire application developers today to stay ahead in the mobile-first market.

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Orange Digital Centers for Women: A Success Story Empowering Egyptian Women to Achieve Their “Own Business” Dreams

Business News

For seven consecutive years, Orange Egypt has remained committed to empowering women across the country through its corporate social responsibility initiatives, with Orange “Women Digital Centers” playing a pivotal role in realizing this vision by expanding their reach across multiple governorates. These centers have empowered thousands of women by enhancing their digital skills, improving their employment prospects, and providing the tools needed to start their own businesses, ultimately leading to greater financial independence and personal empowerment for many women across Egypt.

 

Since its launch in 2017, in partnership with the Childhood and Development Association in Asyut, the initiative has expanded significantly, growing by 2024 to cover six governorates, with the number of centers increasing from 10 to 16, and two more centers set to open in Aswan before the year’s end. This ambitious expansion aligns with Orange Egypt’s ongoing efforts to elevate women’s roles in society and enable them to play a more active part in economic development.

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Spanning from Asyut to Sohag, Qena, Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan, “Orange Digital Centers for Women” serve as technological hubs that welcome women from all backgrounds, providing them with vital resources such as internet access, tablets, display screens, and laptops. More importantly, the centers deliver tailored training programs designed to professionally and practically assist women, including an accredited program from the International Labor Organization (ILO) that teaches the skills needed to launch and manage small businesses successfully.

 

As part of a broader strategic vision, Orange Egypt has partnered with 14 local NGOs across various governorates to establish new digital centers and replicate successful training programs, maximizing the initiative’s reach and impact. This collaboration reflects Orange Egypt’s commitment to making a lasting, tangible difference in the lives of women.

 

Bridging the gap between aspirations and reality, Orange “Women Digital Centers” work with microfinance institutions to provide funding for women who have completed the training successfully. Additionally, the centers offer technical and advisory support, empowering women to effectively utilize their microloans to launch and sustain their entrepreneurial ventures.

 

In recognition of these efforts, Orange Egypt has participated in the “Amazing Women” competition, a global initiative that celebrates outstanding women who have started their businesses after completing the center’s training. Over the years, 13 women from various governorates have won the competition, earning significant financial support to grow their businesses and ensure long-term sustainability.

 

Commenting on this achievement, Ms. Laila El-Nofely, Corporate Social Responsibility Senior Manager at Orange Egypt, said, ” Orange Women Digital Centers” have a profound impact, proving that mastering digital skills significantly increases women’s chances of achieving financial independence, combating poverty, and integrating effectively into society. This success validates Orange Egypt’s corporate social responsibility strategy, which leverages our technology leadership to promote gender equality and enhance the roles of women and girls within the community”.

 

Egyptian-Japanese Business Council, UNDP strengthen cooperation for development

Business News

CAIRO – 22 October 2024: The Egyptian-Japanese Business Council has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to boost collaboration across multiple areas.

This partnership focuses on organizing joint events, supporting business initiatives by the UNDP and the Egyptian government, promoting investments, enhancing capacity-building, fostering research collaboration, and working towards sustainable development goals within Egypt’s regulatory framework.

Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Hassan El-Khatib, praised Egypt’s recent efforts to attract foreign investments, highlighting the country’s focus on Japanese investments and the vital role of UNDP programs in sustainable development and capacity building.

He emphasized that this agreement will combine Japan’s expertise with UNDP’s initiatives to further expand their activities in Egypt, supported by the Ministry of Investment’s efforts to encourage business councils to contribute to the national economy.

Japanese Ambassador to Cairo, Hiroshi Oka, underscored the significance of such agreements in driving development, noting Japan’s commitment to Egypt through organizations like JICA and JETRO.

UNDP officials expressed their appreciation for the agreement, viewing it as a significant step towards deeper collaboration with Egyptian private sector companies, in partnership with the public sector.

 

 

GNTO: Northern Greece’s Wines Impress Serbian Tourism Professionals

Travel

.essb_links.essb_size_m .essb_link_svg_icon svg{height:18px;width:auto}.essb_links.essb_size_m .essb_icon{width:36px !important;height:36px !important}.essb_links.essb_size_m .essb_icon:before{font-size:18px !important;top:9px !important;left:9px !important}.essb_links.essb_size_m li a .essb_network_name{font-size:13px !important;font-weight:400 !important;line-height:12px !important}Photo source: GNTOSerbian tourism professionals, journalists, bloggers, and influencers explored the secrets of Greek wine production at a special event in Belgrade, Serbia.
Head of the GNTO branch in Serbia George Kakoutis during his presentations of Greek wine production. Photo source: GNTO
The Greek National Tourism Organization’s (GNTO) office in Serbia partnered with Belgrade’s Office for Economic & Commercial Affairs to promote wine products from Western, Central, and Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, showcasing Northern Greece’s alternative tourism potential.
George Kakoutis, Head of the GNTO branch in Serbia, showcased Greece’s wine tourism, emphasizing the organization’s future goals, including promoting lesser-known destinations, introducing new thematic experiences, and extending the tourism season into winter.
New trends in wine tourism were a central focus of his presentation, highlighting the Visitable Winery label and GNTO’s strategy for boosting wine tourism. Representatives from the Greek regions also took the stage to showcase their unique offerings.
On the sidelines of the event, guests sampled wines from each region, impressed by the special flavors, aromas, and diverse wine selections.
“This initiative is part of GNTO’s strategic campaign to promote thematic tourist experiences year-round, focusing on mainland Greece and lesser-known destinations,” officials stated after the event.

Pieria Targets Conference Tourism with Support from Thessaloniki Convention Bureau

Travel

.essb_links.essb_size_m .essb_link_svg_icon svg{height:18px;width:auto}.essb_links.essb_size_m .essb_icon{width:36px !important;height:36px !important}.essb_links.essb_size_m .essb_icon:before{font-size:18px !important;top:9px !important;left:9px !important}.essb_links.essb_size_m li a .essb_network_name{font-size:13px !important;font-weight:400 !important;line-height:12px !important}Pieria, Greece. Photo source: POTAPThe Pieria Organization for Tourist Development and Promotion (POTAP) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Thessaloniki Convention Bureau (TCB) to position the region as a prime destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism.
Through this collaboration, TCB will actively promote Pieria, a regional unit in Central Macedonia, not only as an ideal destination for business-related tourism but also for leisure and city escapes—two key tourism markets with substantial growth potential.
In a recent meeting, TCB’s Dimitris Ganitis and Eleni Sotiriou met with Pieria Vice Regional Governor Sofia Mavridou, POTAP President Giorgos Karalis, and members of the organization to discuss ongoing initiatives and to outline the next steps in their partnership.
Thessaloniki Convention Bureau Director Dimitris Ganitis, Vice Pieria Governor Sofia Mavridou, TCB Councilor Eleni Sotiriou. Photo source: POTAP
“Our priority is to attract visitors year-round,” said Mavridou, highlighting Pieria’s diverse tourism offerings.
“In addition to our alternative tourism segments—including mountain destinations, pilgrimage tourism, sports tourism, gastronomy, culture, cycling, and accessible tourism—we are now focusing on expanding into conference tourism.”
POTAP President Giorgos Karalis emphasized the importance of this collaboration with TCB, noting that it will help Pieria tap into an additional market segment and enhance its overall tourism appeal.
“I am confident that we will soon see the benefits of this initiative,” Karalis said.
POTAP Financial Manager Stelios Ouzas, POTAP Vice President Odysseas Manopoulos, TCB Director Dimitris Ganitis, Vice Pieria Governor Sofia Mavridou, TCB Councilor Eleni Sotiriou, POTAP President George Karalis. Photo source: POTAP
TCB Managing Director Dimitris Ganitis underscored the potential of combining Thessaloniki and Pieria into a powerful and well-rounded tourism product. “The synergy between Thessaloniki, with its state-of-the-art conference infrastructure, and Pieria, with its natural beauty and diverse recreational offerings, creates a compelling destination for both business and leisure travelers,” he said.
Ganitis further highlighted that while Thessaloniki provides modern conference facilities and strong international ties, Pieria complements the experience with opportunities for nature excursions, cultural exploration, and relaxation by the sea.
Pieria is home to the legendary Mount Olympus and the scenic Olympus Riviera, making it a unique destination that blends natural beauty with rich history.

Olympia Forum: MEP Calls for Unified European System for Sustainable Tourism Certification

Travel

.essb_links.essb_size_m .essb_link_svg_icon svg{height:18px;width:auto}.essb_links.essb_size_m .essb_icon{width:36px !important;height:36px !important}.essb_links.essb_size_m .essb_icon:before{font-size:18px !important;top:9px !important;left:9px !important}.essb_links.essb_size_m li a .essb_network_name{font-size:13px !important;font-weight:400 !important;line-height:12px !important}Western Greece Vice Regional Governor Panagiotis Sakellaropoulos and Aldemar Resorts CEO Alexandros Angelopoulos. Photo source: Olympia ForumThe need for a unified European system to register and certify sustainable tourism was recently highlighted by Elena Kountoura, a member of the European Parliament.
Speaking via video call during a panel discussion at the recent 5th Olympia Forum event, Kountoura spoke of the importance of implementing specific, comparable criteria and progress indicators for sustainability in tourism across Europe.
She advocated for a system that would be applied uniformly at the pan-European level, offering common references and standards for tourism-related topics to foster greater sustainability throughout the industry.
Sustainable tourism on the European Parliament’s agenda
Elena Kountoura, member of the European Parliament.
Kountoura also mentioned that the European Parliament has recently voted on several proposals aimed at supporting the tourism sector, with a strong focus on sustainable development. These proposals encourage EU member states to allocate funding for plans promoting sustainable tourism practices.
“The climate crisis is escalating rapidly and with increasing intensity. We need mechanisms in place to manage and mitigate its impacts,” Kountoura stressed. “The proposal I’ve put forward is more crucial than ever, as it will help us prepare for natural disasters, such as the recent one in Thessaly.”
Additionally, Kountoura addressed the importance of protecting the rights of tourism industry workers, safeguarding local cultural and natural resources, and ensuring the involvement of local communities in tourism planning so that they can directly benefit from its growth.
Promoting authentic tourism experiences in Western Greece
Western Greece Vice Regional Governor Panagiotis Sakellaropoulos. Photo source: Olympia Forum
During the same panel, Region of Western Greece Governor Panagiotis Sakellaropoulos underlined that his region has been working for the past five years to reclaim its position on the tourism map, both domestically and internationally, by leveraging its unique identity as the land of the Olympics.
Sakellaropoulos highlighted that the next step for the regional authority is to focus on authentic tourism experiences, encouraging investments in this area to enhance recognition and productivity.
“The region of Western Greece is characterized by a blend of contrasts that define its beauty. We aim to showcase these contrasts along with our competitive advantages,” he said.
Western Greece needs greater promotion
Aldemar Resorts CEO Alexandros Angelopoulos. Photo source: Olympia Forum
Aldemar Resorts CEO Alexandros Angelopoulos also underscored the necessity of promoting the Region of Western Greece to attract more visitors.
“It is currently the least visited region in Greece,” Angelopoulos noted, mentioning that the Araxos Airport remains operational due to his company’s funding.
“This year’s increase in traffic at Araxos is not solely attributable to my company’s activities but also to my personal efforts,” he added.
Angelopoulos pointed out the region’s comparative advantages, including a well-developed road network that facilitates travel for Greeks who typically drive to mainland destinations. However, he stressed the importance of finding effective ways to promote the Araxos airport to draw more international tourists.
Held in Ancient Olympia during October 18-20, the 5th Olympia Forum’s theme was “Empowering Cities & Regions”. The event was organized by the Patris newspaper in collaboration with the Delphi Economic Forum.