Inaugural Best in Social Media Awards & Rankings (BISMAs) Released
Johannesburg, South Africa - The inaugural Best in Social Media Awards & Rankings (BISMAs) have officially been released, recognising leading local consumer brands in ten different segments, based on the level of positive sentiment expressed by the public on Facebook.
The BISMAs are powered by third-party verified data, accessing Meta’s Facebook platform to compile the rankings. The results reflect how positively brand followers engaged with and spoke about these brands during the 2025 calendar year.
According to Gerrit Davids, Managing Director of Gerom Media, the BISMAs offer a unique, public-driven perspective on brand performance, focusing on positive sentiment rather than overall engagement metrics, which may also include negative interactions.
“The BISMAs are not about what brands say about themselves, but what people are saying about brands,” said Davids. “In an era where trust and perception matter more than ever, positive public sentiment is one of the strongest indicators of brand relevance and credibility.”
Davids added that the rankings highlight the growing importance of authentic digital engagement.
“Social media has become the modern public square. These rankings show which brands are genuinely resonating with their audiences and earning positive advocacy, not through paid messaging, but through real public conversation.”
The BISMAs span multiple sectors and are intended to serve as a benchmark for brands, marketers, and industry stakeholders seeking to better understand consumer sentiment in the digital space.
“By using verified third-party data, we’ve ensured the integrity and credibility of the rankings,” Davids said. “This makes the BISMAs a valuable tool for brands looking to measure sentiment, reputation, and long-term brand health.”
The second tranche of BISMAs will be released mid-year and will feature many additional brand segments beyond this first set. The rankings will culminate in an awards ceremony to crown South Africa’s most positively perceived brands,” added Davids.
The rankings in the respective categories for the best performing brands are as follows:
Sector
|
Brand
|
No. of Positive Posts on Facebook
|
Cellphone Companies
|
Rain
|
87990
|
Clothing Stores
|
Truworths
|
1048
|
Coffee Shops
|
Xpresso Café SA
|
9744
|
Fast Food Stores
|
Roman’s Pizza
|
18032
|
Grocery Stores
|
Woolworths
|
21365
|
Non-Grocery Retailers
|
Game
|
11747
|
Oil Companies
|
Engen
|
4875
|
Restaurants
|
Spur Steak Ranches
|
16930
|
Shoe Stores
|
Footgear
|
752
|
Sports Retailers
|
Total Sports
|
3577
|
Mobile company Rain is ranked as the brand with the highest positive sentiment in the country on Facebook, followed by Woolworths and fast-food brand Roman’s Pizza, with family restaurant Spur Steak Ranches coming a close fourth in the rankings.
To receive the full set of BISMAs Click Here
For more information on the BISMAs, contact
Gerrit Davids
MD
Gerom Media
Mobile. +27 (0) 82 496 1657
E-mail: info@gerommedia.co.za
Bedfordview, South Africa