All posts in Cape Town

Almost the end of the week

by Chris M on January 12, 2012 in Cape Town, My Life, Search Engine Optimization, Work with 19 Comments

I’m sitting outside falling in love with the cool breeze that is gracing Cape Town with its presence, trying to figure out how on earth it’s the end of the weekend already. Although it’s been an incredibly busy week, I can’t understand how we got from Monday to Thursday evening this quickly – don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining, it’s my first full week of work this year so I’m dying to hit the weekend, but wow.

I landed a new client at work, a well known brand in fact and I’ve been tasked with managing all their SEO, so today was spent doing just that. My main focus today was some serious keyword research and a competitor analysis which lead me to a great set of keywords that I’m going to be working with, next step is updating all the meta data across the pages on the website.

Sidenote: SEO lesson:

I don’t want to bore those of you who aren’t into SEO, but seeing that I did everything today, I wanted to share some of my approach with you as it’s an effective approach.

The first step is to create a good basket of keywords, the way I do this is two fold: brand (or Andre coined the phrase ego keywords) and lead keywords. Brand keywords are those ones you want to rank for to be better than your competitor, lead keywords are keywords that actually lead people to your website who then get converted into customers. So, determining brand keywords is often best done by asking your clients what keywords they want to rank for, these keywords are then combined with a list of keywords that you come up with. So, for example, you might be doing SEO for a plumber, some brand keywords would be: best plumber, top plumber and so forth, whereas your lead keywords could be hire plumber cape town, plumbing service cape town and so forth – not the best example, but it exaggerates my point. Once you’ve got this basket of keywords, it’s time for the next step.

Fire up Excel or another spreadsheet program and create a column with all your keywords. Create several more columns:

  1. Results – the total number of results found in a Google search
  2. Top – The site that ranks number one for the keyword
  3. Anchor – How many results ranking have the keyword in the anchor texts, this is done by using inanchor:keyword in Google
  4. Title – How many results ranking have the keyword in the title, this is done by using intitle:keyword in Google

I also create a column where I put the sum of the results found in (3) and (4), this gives you some kind of strength prediction because title tags and backlinks are two of the big factors for ranking. Now, there are lots of other columns you could create, including more backlink values, page ranks and so forth, but I don’t like to go overboard too much because I get carried away with formula’s. There are lots of tools on the Internet that can assist you with finding out values for other ranking factors and you can add these in. A good column to have is actually the average daily (month/30) searches a keyword might receive.

Once you’ve create your document, it’s fairly easy to look through the columns and note which keywords have fairly high search volumes, but low title/anchor values, if you play around for a little you could sort the columns and isolate several keywords that might be worth targeting.

It’s a cool trick to find some worthwhile keywords to target – it’s worked time and time again for me.

Right, enough SEO talk!

Had a good time last night though, as I arrived home from work I received a message from the Harfield Village gang inviting me over for a wine ‘o clock, now if you remember, it was like 40 degrees in Cape Town, ever had wine in such heat? You have! Ok, then you know how the evening went ;) Was a lot of fun, catching up with friends, reflecting on the new year and just enjoying some down time. We’ve also booked a weekend away to do some camping in early March so I’m looking forward to that – 12 people, lots of tents, two cabins, rock pools and thousands of stars hopefully.. bliss.

So yeh, it’s been a good week both work wise and socially, but I can’t wait to sleep in on Saturday – oh yeh, that reminds me, I’ve got a guy coming to quote on putting a shower in, so perhaps I won’t be sleeping in too late, sigh

Have an awesome Friday everyone!

2012 South African Public Holidays

by Chris M on January 9, 2012 in Cape Town with 3 Comments

So we’re all back in the swing of things for 2012, but I’ve already seen a number of people tweeting about when the next holiday is, lol. I have looked around and found the following list:

  • Jan 1 – New Year’s Day
  • Jan 2 – Public Holiday
  • March 21 – Human Rights Day
  • April 6 – Good Friday
  • April 9 – Family Day
  • April 27 – Freedom Day
  • May 1 – Worker’s Day
  • June 16 – Youth Day
  • Aug 9 – National Women’s Day
  • Sept 24 – Heritage Day
  • Dec 16 – Day of Reconciliation
  • Dec 17 – Public Holiday
  • Dec 25 – Christmas Day
  • Dec 26 – Day of Goodwill

I know that Dec 27th is probably a public holiday this year, but apart from that I think the rest are correct, please let me know in the comments if I’ve made a mistake.

Next stop, Human Right’s Day!

Cape Town’s very own “stompie-line” – Report smokers

by Chris M on January 9, 2012 in Cape Town with 5 Comments

I’m a smoker and I’m not ashamed of it, but what does tick me off is drivers who throw their stompies out the window – we’re all guity of it, perhaps not of late, but at some stage it’s probably happened. I remember the fire on Table Mountain, and regardless of what caused it, a stompie could have and Cape Town is far too beautiful to destroy through being silly.

So, some good news, Cape Town now has what has been called a “stompie-line”, which you can call to report someone. Simply call 012 424 7715, report the incident and give the license plate of the person guilty. The secret is to use this line maturely, don’t play pranks or mess about, if it’s used maturely and effectively, we can rest assured that people won’t throw their stompies out the window.

Get a But Bucket, use a 500ml bottle with a little water (my method) or heavens above, use the stompie thing in your car. Think before you act, it could be you destroying the gorgeous city we live in!

Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dnsf/

Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dnsf/

Zapata Restaurant in Harfield Village

by Chris M on January 9, 2012 in Cape Town, My Life, Restaurants with 2 Comments

On Friday afternoon I received a call from my sister to let me know that she was going to book a table at Zapata (Harfield Village) for several of us. She called and booked an outside table which was ready and waiting with a reserved sign when we arrived. I’ve been living in Harfield Village for a good few months now but have never visited Zapata despite continually being told to go – boy was I missing out, what a fantastic place!

zapata restaurant harfield village
zapata-margheritas
zapata-margherita
Zapata Restaurant
strawberry margherita zapata

We arrived towards 19h00 if I remember correctly, quickly ordered some strawberry and lime margherita’s followed by some awesome starters – cheese and avo nacho’s, chili poppers and Zapata chili poppers (bacon wrapped chili poppers) – The margherita kicked really hard, haha, and the starters were delicious, so much so that we went on to order main courses and a lot more margherita’s.

The place is awesome, there are a few tables outside on the road side (2nd Avenue), an inside area with lots of tables and a lovely rustic outside area at the back with about four 8-seater tables (we were here), the decor is covered in el Jimador branding, salsa music plays calmly, people chat and laugh, and all in all it’s a place I would recommend. Food isn’t expensive, a starter goes for about R40 and a main course around R80, which compared to most restaurants in Cape Town is really decent! Towards the end of the evening, the owner invited us inside where it was warmer and allowed us to smoke inside, this was a lovely little touch and sealed the deal in terms of whether I’d go back or not!

Awesome spot!

Have you been to Zapata? What was your experience like?

Everyday Awesomeness- two fantastic post-Christmas sales

by Jo B on January 5, 2012 in Cape Town, Shops with No comments

The post-Christmas sales are on!

Woolworths

For iMod readers in the Upper Highway (KZN),Woolworths shops in Hillcrest and Kloof are running an “up to 50% off” sale on their festive goodies, ranging from Christmas cakes to biscuit tins to gammons and a whole lot more in between. Woolies mince pies for R11? Yes, please.

(This promotion doesn’t seem to be advertised on the Woolworths website, so please let us know in the comments if your local Woolies is offering the 50% off sale)!

Cape Union Mart

Cape Union Mart is having a “Save the buck” sale.

Buy bags, shoes, clothes, tents or even a telescope for up to half-price! Check it out on www.capeunionmart.co.za.

Do you know of any great post-Christmas sales? Share the good news in the comments.

Everyday Awesomeness: giving hope (and food) to people on the street

by Jo B on December 30, 2011 in Cape Town with 7 Comments

Many of us are regularly approached by beggars asking for money. Often we want to help but are concerned that handing out cash supports (and encourages) alcohol and substance abuse. If you want to make a difference, you may be interested in this social initiative. The following excerpt is taken from the Pick n Pay website:

The Broccoli Project

“Pick n Pay Food Vouchers is a joint social initiative between Pick n Pay and The Broccoli Project. Find out more below…

The Broccoli Project is a registered non-profit organisation established to uplift the needy. Together with Pick n Pay, they have created Pick n Pay Food Vouchers – the perfect way to help those in need while knowing that 100% of your donation is being spent on the right things.

Unlike cash donations, Food Vouchers can only be redeemed for food and therefore cannot be used to obtain cigarettes, alcohol or narcotics such as glue or thinners.

Food Vouchers cost R50 per pack of five R10 vouchers and can be redeemed against purchases of food and other approved basic products at some Pick n Pay outlets. Currently, the vouchers are available at Gardens, Waterfront, Constantia and Claremont, with plans to expand to other stores soon.

Food Vouchers received by the needy can be handed in at any Pick n Pay till in return for R10 off goods purchased – excluding alcohol, cigarettes, airtime or addictive substances (glue, thinners etc.) The vouchers have a high quality ‘banknote’ printed background, an expiry date and a unique code, and there is a holographic foil on each voucher to ensure it is not a fake.

The Broccoli Project is a South African non-profit organisation that has gained international recognition for its unique system that ensures the effective and transparent use of donor funds in the aid industry. The system combines biometric fingerprint scanning, vouchers and web-based tracking technology to allow all those involved in the aid process to monitor the flow of funds and ensure maximum social benefit is obtained from donations.
Visit www.broccoliproject.org for more information.”

Responses to the initiative vary widely and the topic of how to help to help street-dwellers is a hotly contested debate, but the project offers a great opportunity to feed the hungry. What do you think?

Image from homeless.org.za

December 27 is now a public holiday in South Africa!

by Chris M on December 14, 2011 in Cape Town with 11 Comments

That’s right folks, our Government has announced that the 27th of December will now be a public holiday. Acting President Kgalema Motlanthe has just announced this in terms of the Public Holiday Act. This comes shortly after the trade union federation FEDUSA called upon the government to approve this.

Pretty awesome to have another holiday at that time of the year, cool for me because I am taking forced leave, but now I’ll have another day off for a rainy day in 2012!

I wonder if this will have an impact on the economy, considering that this time of the year is normally incredibly busy for some industries.

Who’s stoked?

Watch the Australian Grand Prix Live!

by Chris M on December 9, 2011 in Cars, Events with 10 Comments

When it comes to cars I find myself being able to spend hours looking, touching, test driving and discussing the cool things you can do with cars. It’s been like this for as long as I can remember, guess it’s a boy thing? One thing I haven’t been too involved with is F1 racing, from time to time I tune in and watch a Grand Prix on the tele, mostly when someone I follow on Twitter starts jumping up and down. I enjoy watching, and would probably enjoy it more so if I could attend a live Grand Prix one day – imagine going to one of those tracks and physically seeing the speed at which those drives burst around the track? Sjoe!

So, the good news is that Red Bull Mobile South Africa is actually running a competition where you could win one of six double tickets to the Australian F1 Grand Prix – just imagine! Bonus! You get entered into the draw if you sign up for a RedBull Mobile contract or use their pay as you go services – no a shabby opportunity.

I’ve been tasked with finding out from you, my dear readers, what you would do to attend the Grand Prix – think of the most amazing thing you would do and let me know in the comments below please. Your comments will then get voted on, let’s see who can come up with the best scenario! I need your support here, so please pop me a comment with what you’d do.

And, go!

Democratic Alliance goes up against the Information Bill

by Chris M on December 6, 2011 in Cape Town, World News with 1 Comment

When it comes to the Protection of State Information Bill, a lot of people disagree with the reason for implementing it, this mass of people includes the powers at the Democratic Alliance. Subsequently, the Democratic Alliance is taking a stand, DA leader Helen Zille feels that the public should be included in the decision as to whether the Bill should be passed or not and she’s deploying an e-campaign to raise awareness against it.

The Democratic Alliance has published a generic letter on their website for people to download and email to the presidents office, a further petition is circulating collecting signatures from people who are against the Bill being passed and there’s also the ability to lodge a complaint on the Presidential Hotline on 17737. With all these options, the Democratic Alliance has created a page on their website that lists all the campaigns and allows us to read about them and involve ourselves if we are against the Bill being passed.

So, if you want to get involved (you should want to), then head over here and involve yourself, it’ll only take a tiny amount of time and it’s incredibly important that we express ourselves and support this cause.

BaretoCare – Green Point to Camps Bay

by Chris M on December 5, 2011 in Cape Town, Events with No comments

BaretoCare is a Cape Town based charity fun run from Green Point to Camps Bay …… in Speedo’s.

From the organizers: “We decided to do it in memory of Chris Henderson who passed away from Diabetes related complications earlier in the year and who was a loving father to one of our runners. None of us knew what a positive response the run would receive, with people hooting and running out of restaurants to have photos with the brave guys in their crazy hats. This year we have decided to add more purpose to the run by doing it to raise funds for the Saint Angela Trust and harness all the attention and hype surrounding our 1 year anniversary run.”

Take a watch:

Pretty classic initiative, must have been a huge amount of fun being involved!

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