Noordhoek Cape Town

Announcing a new WordPress Blog set up with the title “Noordhoek Cape Town” – I’ve been wanting to portrait the unique place I’m living in and fondly call “home” for a while; now I just do it.

Noordhoek Cape Town

While the new blog called “Noordhoek Cape Town” (South Africa) will primarily be about “Pictures, People, Places” for people living in Noordhoek and enjoying a strong and unified community bond, it will present general topics of interest for people and tourists visiting Noordhoek, like:

• Accommodation
• Arts & Crafts
• Noordhoek
• Restaurants
• Things to do

… to start with.

Read more…

• New Noordhoek Flash Intro
• My Noordhoek Indexed on Google
• Noordhoek on Flash
• Living in Noordhoek South Africa

Noordhoek on Flash

My Noordhoek on Flash – first experiment with a clear goal in mind. . . and prepared. . . but technically not yet achieved.However: where there is a will there is a way… and tomorrow is another day! YEBO!

Noordhoek on Flash

Flash is not only attractive but it allows us to show large pictures with short download times. It’s basically a ‘must’ in Web Graphics Design and I better get my neck around it!

As I am working on “My Noordhoek Project” and preparing for the March 2010 Ycademy Seminar – where we will be focusing on Flash – I will share a few exercises on my path to putting My Noordhoek on Flash the way I want it!

To be continued. . .

Read more…

• New Noordhoek Flash Intro
• My Noordhoek Indexed on Google
• Noordhoek Cape Town
• Living in Noordhoek South Africa
• Images that Create Empathy

Noordhoek Flash Introduction

After yesterday’s first excursion into creating a Noordhoek Flash Introduction, here is today’s experiment – just click on the image below to see it.

This time, I experimented with a single background picture I had previously created with a simple focus on the text panels only. The music that accompanies this flash reminds of the unique joyful twittering of the little sunbirds I featured here and that are very typical for Noordhoek Cape Town. You can see a whole series in my Picture Gallery at the top. Through the play of opposites I created a vague impression of another typical creature in Noordhoek: the leopard toad, an endangered species that plays a critical role in keeping our gardens clear of certain destructive elements.

Noordhoek Flash Introduction

Whether it’s a Noordhoek Flash Introduction or any other reason to make a certain tool or software ‘work’ the way we want, it’s like with a musical instrument or Photoshop: it’s all about getting familiar with the technique, finding out how things work, what produces what and how certain combinations are better than others. The more experience we gather the better we become, respectively the results we produce.

I know already what I will try out tomorrow! I’m having Fun!

Captivating Flash Intros in WP Best eShop

Captivating Flash Intros are a dynamic, smart and beautiful way to draw peoples’ attention to your main blog where you then feature your products and services.

Flash Introductions are brilliant sales tools in as much as they are aiming at captivating and leading to another target, the REAL target, where business transactions take place. It’s not too long and like a trailer, an appetizer, a dream catcher!

As you see, I start enjoying myself and while perfection comes with practice, I could imagine designing Flash Intros for just any occasion, website or blog!

Flash Introductions will be offered in WP Best eShop – click HERE.

Read more…

• New Noordhoek Flash Intro
• Attractive Logo Creation
• Powerpoint Presentations
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 Beta
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 Beta

There is really not a lack of  Things to do in Noordhoek Cape Town!

As I am still in the process of setting up this brand-new Blog, there will be more on this topic soon.

In this category we will be writing about Things to do in Noordhoek, Cape Town, South Africa.

Watch out for more. . .

Assessing the Competition

While I personally believe much more in Cooperation than competition, the fact is that when we create a commercial product or service for a specific market, assessing the competition is critical to establish whether there is a demand for what we intend to offer and a niche for us that promises to be profitable. Also, it allows us to see who else is in the same game… and who of those we most identify with in terms of an innovative edge that pulls us forward in our aspirations in a healthy way. Why not inspire one another and soar?!

In my specific case, “My Noordhoek” is not a commercial project as we discussed earlier, however, there is some excellent online material around and I had to spend some time comparing that respective content with what I have in mind with my new project – just to see whether I’m sitting on the right horse – barefoot or not!

Assessing the Competition

Assessing the competition is very much about asking oneself the right questions – questions customers, readers and interested parties would unconsciously ask as well. It’s just natural and we all do it every day. Questions like:

• What websites or blogs are regularly coming up when I type in the keywords I am targeting?
• Could I be better with “My Noordhoek”?
  
• Is there really a demand or interest for “My Noordhoek”? Or am I creating it in a pioneering effort?
  
• Do I have the knowledge and skills to accomplish my complex and time-consuming plans?
• What are ‘their’ real benefits offered and to what target market – compared with “My Noordhoek”?
• Are there any weaknesses I should avoid or translate into my strengths?
• Where am I different; i.e. what is my competitive advantage and how do I translate it so people go for my product?
  
• Do I really understand the people I am creating “My Noordhoek” for?
• Is my attitude that of a follower of trends or a future leader, setting standards?
• Am I part of a solution or am I part of a problem?
• Do I really know what my target audience needs, expects, wants, can afford?
  
• What solutions do I offer?
• Do I offer easy ways to communicate with me? Is my website interactive?
  
• Will “My Noordhoek”be visible on the Internet – meaning on Google Top 10 and on Social Networks?

My Noordhoek Project

My Noordhoek Project is representative for just any project – your’s or mine.

Having gone through my personal catalogue of questions above – which may well differ from your’s as I am not hooked to a commercial product here -, I must ensure that I . . .

• know exactly what the nature of my endeavour is and I must be able to explain it in simple terms.

• provide my target audience – the inner and outer circle – with something of value, something they may not exactly expect as it looks so different to what’s out there, however, to be convincing I will guide them through a discovery process that leads to what they want: satisfaction, joy or a solution in one or the other way.

• build on the trend that laptops and mobile phones will do the ‘talking’ and the ’showing’. They will be omni-present and speed up any process in terms of efficiency and simplicity. Therefore, I have to be present, findable and reachable – right there! High touch high tech YEBO!

• continuously observe the changing market to adapt and continue to consistently deliver my message in the best suitable and most appealing way.

• have a plan to follow and a way to present what “My Noordhoek” stands for, for whom it is and how it differs from what else is out there on the market.

Stay tuned; more about it in my next article!

Web Design Consulting

As you follow the website development of “MyNoordhoek Project” it may inspire and motivate you to start your own project at some stage.

If this is the case, please get in touch with me via Web Design Consulting to discuss your requirements and start the planning – as it all happens in the head first…

The script is not available at this stage but in pioneering mode. What is garanteed though is a smashingly media-oriented and dynamic website that will capture peoples’ attention.

For the moment it’s ‘work in progress’ or rather ‘work in evolution’- the first elaboration will take place at our monthly Ycademy Seminar on 27 and 28 March 2010.

Read more…

• Defining Target Audiences
• My Noordhoek Project
• Attractive Logo Creation
• Noordhoek ready for Cape Argus Cycle Tour 2010
• Custom Book Cover Design

My Noordhoek Project

It’s a while since I wanted to do some form of a portrait capturing the special spirit and vibrations of the unique place I have the privilege to live in: Noordhoek, 30 km from Cape Town city center, right at the tip of South Africa… and as we are developing brand-new avenues in Ycademy as concerns web design including flash, let me get to it right NOW before it’s gone, over and forgotten … and let’s give it a simple working title: “My Noordhoek Project”.

It’s a project in Evolution in many ways as you will see. . . and as I photographed the other day… nomen est omen!

A project is something that is in development although clearly defined and with a clear focus, something that creates substance for a basic platform… from where it evolves… gathers momentum, complexity and a wealth of new and exciting content during the process. Ideally, it becomes an avalanche of possibilities, creative influences and ideas all woven into the fabric of the basic theme.

My Noordhoek Project

So what will “My Noordhoek Project” be about?

Having worked on the Internet for over a decade – initially to write, adapt, change and discuss my screenplays and scripts for documentaries, industrial films and the movie industry for the overseas market … and then as a very involved Co-Founder of successful online enterprises and educational programs (eg. Ycademy) initiated by Internet wizzard Yorgo Nestoridis – , I am looking forward to tackle a completely new as well as independent project where I can showcase and capture what I consider unique, too precious not to be shared or ultimately lost as our profit-oriented and fast-moving modern way of life is taking over what is ‘natural’, what is ‘organic’, what is ‘real’ without masquerade, original, interconnected, extremely humane, funny, bizarre and thus… vulnerable.

Besides the new and flashy Semiomantics Evolution theme crafted by Yorgo Nestoridis, I will be using predominantly my own visual material in form of digital photography, powerpoint-based slides converted into movies plus music, sound and my voice as a narrator. . . and what those I include and present can provide me with to choose from for the benefit of the whole and with absolute freedom.

I imagine this website or blog as a visual feast dedicated to the inner circle – meaning the Noordhoek Community itself – as well as the outer circle, meaning people from outside who are visiting Noordhoek, perhaps for the first time, possibly from overseas… especially if they are being attracted to this magic place through “MyNoordhoek” the blog on Google Top 10.

So the first thing I have to ask myself is: what does my target audience – in other words the inner as well as the outer circle – expect? What gets their attention? What do they enjoy, love. . .?

This will be the material for my next article; stay tuned!

Web Design Consulting

As you follow the website development of  “MyNoordhoek Project” it may inspire and motivate you to start your own project at some stage.

If this is the case, please get in touch with me via Web Design Consulting to discuss your requirements and start the planning – as it all happens in the head first…

The script is not available at this stage but in pioneering mode. What is garanteed though is a smashingly media-oriented and dynamic website that will capture peoples’ attention.

For the moment it’s ‘work in progress’ or rather ‘work in evolution’- the first elaboration will take place at our monthly Ycademy Seminar on 27 and 28 March 2010.

Read more…

• Defining Target Audiences
• Assessing the Competition
• Photoshop Action Scripts
• My Noordhoek Indexed on Google
• Attractive Logo Creation

Noordhoek ready for Cape Argus Cycle Tour 2010

It’s the night before tomorrow. . . and Noordhoek is ready for the cape Argus Cycle Tour 2010!

Noordhoek ready for Cape Argus Cycle Tour 2010

Earlier today, I hopped out with my camera to see if Noordhoek was ready for the Cape Argus Cycle Tour – and all I saw were those distance shields as you see above!

It had considerably cooled down after the heatwave and there was a light drizzle . . . perhaps the best preparation after all! Later in the afternoon the air was abuzz with helicopters and I knew the real thing had started.

From Noordhoek it’s exactly 32 kms to the finishing line in Cape Town and as of tomorrow morning everything here will be closed off – no traffic other than those 35,000 + cyclists zooming past! You better don’t be in a hurry to get to the airport! There will be tons of fans, drummers and cheerers lining the streets, offering water and shouting encouragements for the strenuous part ahead!

What always amazes me is how well everything is organized! Once the cyclists are through it’s paper cups and empty bottles literally everywhere… and the next morning there is absolutely nothing! It’s all perfectly clean and back to normal: South Africans deserve a huge round of applause for the way they pull things together and make events so special!

The 2010 Soccer World Championship in June will be memorable – garanteed!

Cape Argus Cycle Tour 2010 in Noordhoek on Google Top 10

Talking of races. . . the biggest and fiercest ones these days take place on the Internet – so here’s some high performance with yesterday’s article “Cape Argus Cycle Tour 2010 in Noordhoek” – it went straight to Google Top 10… first through the finishing line… and this within 5 minutes. Not sure anyone will cycle that fast tomorrow . . .

Web Design Consulting

Web Design Consulting stands for high performance on the Internet and attractive designs. If this is what you need, have a look at my  SHOP HERE or get in touch with me to discuss your needs.

Read more…

• Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 Beta
• High Performance
• Book Covers for Kids Books
• Basic Photoshop Filter Challenge
• Best Affordable Advertising

Design a professional looking Website

Over the past series of articles we looked into the importance of taking our presence on the Internet very seriously, especially if we own a business that we want to brand and expand, and within this context, especially when it comes to design a professional looking Website.

Design a professional looking Website

Many people get a template that appeals to them and start their activities – mainly in posting articles, images, perhaps videos etc – without paying much attention to the ‘behind’ and the ‘visible’ aspect of the website – meaning how efficient it is in terms of Google Top 10 and how much it reflects what the website owner wants to express, thus attracting and keeping the right kind of visitors, readers and potential buyers.

When we develop the concept and design for a professional looking website, or when we revive a website that has been neglected in the past, it’s critical to look at ‘what is’ and put it in relation to what we visualize, based on what we know is being wanted either through a thorough briefing – which is rare – or by knowing the customer and his requirements, or the customer knows our work and style and gives us ‘carte blanche’ to go ahead and deliver the product accordingly.

Boruch Rappaport Author Blog

In our case study and uniquely speaking about the visible part of the Web Design, the client wanted a new Look that he could brand for both his Boruch Rappaport Author Blog  (on a Semiomantics XO Script) and BRap Chronicle (Semiomantics NewsCast Script), his online newspaper blog.

As we went into BRap Chronicle earlier, here now is a ‘before’ and ‘after’ screenshot of  “Boruch Rappaport Author Blog”.

Boruch Rappaport Author Blog Before

In this ‘before’ screenshot of Boruch Rappaport’s Author Blog we see a rather boring background, nothing sexy as a header and many different colour nuances (which may not be too visible here even on the enlarged picture, but the colour codes were dancing!)

We had already published daily in the last 10 days or so and added specially created pictures to go with the basic colours, the chosen font and with the topics.

The important point here is that through the process of editing and publishing I could familiarize myself with the content and the target audience Boruch had in mind. Having produced quite a number of catalogues – especially in the fields of Architecture and Fine Arts – as well as Artist Portraits and Documentaries for the German and European Television in the past, and wanting to serve my clients as well as I can, I believe in taking the time in the beginning to ask all the relevant questions, dig into the material, get a good understanding and from there develop a concept that stands up to expectations – and ideally beyond.

Boruch Rappaport Author Blog After

Here’s the screenshot of “Boruch Rappaport Author Blog After“!

If you followed the progress on this project, you see how things fit together. Also, by chosing our pictures that accompany the articles wisely – or creating them accordingly from scratch – there is an interesting and attractive tension between the background, the Judaica Art on the Slide Show … and the thumbnail in the article.

To underline what I mean, see the harmony of the slide and the thumbnail on today’s post:

Maybe it’s taking things a bit far. . . however, I firmly believe that a sensitive mind picks up finesse in detail and care – and finally it reflects on the Author. It will solidify his reputation and he has peace of mind: his investment was right and it will grow and benefit him… provided there is good daily content (posts) and regular maintenance (updates etc).

The Browser Issue

Finally, an important and widely unknown issue is that when we design a professional looking Website we need to ensure that this website or blog displays properly on both say Firefox and Internet Explorer.

The frustrating ‘browser issue’.

As we are on a Semiomantics XO Script here, we have to simply adapt the header.php and voila! all is fine. When doing this don’t become a victim of the cache as I did. . . change the code, then delete the cache in your blog and finally check the blog or website in Internet Explorer. I wish I had had this Tip before. . .

For more information especially on the specific setup we have in mind for 2010…  very exciting and you want to know for sure. . .  please join us today, Monday, at 9 pm London time in our brand-new MS Conference Room!

. . .

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Read more…

• Design a professional looking Website
• Flash Fonts for a Personal Look
• Graphic Design Services
• Creating a New Look for a Website
• Creating a new Look for a Website

Creating a New Look for a Website

While in the process of Creating a New Look for a Website for our valued customer – or rather for a series of blogs in this particular case – I have been documenting part of the evolution and developments on my Author Blog to give you, my dear readers, some valuable insights as well as share recent knowledge and experience for the benefit of everybody interested in Web Design, Web Graphics and Art especially when developing websites and blogs.

Semiomantics NewsCast

Creating a new look for a website is one thing – but editing and publishing it correctly so search engines find, list and rank the article accordingly is yet another.

As explained previously, the REAL challenge finds place behind the scenes. . . that’s where today’s REAL horsepowers are: on the computer and in your script. Of course, and as on the Internet we are sort of moving on ’shifting sands’ all the time, you want to add to this knowledge and skills that have to be updated and improved on a daily basis.  In online business there’s no standstill. . . there are just two directions: forward with the trend or getting off the Internet alltogether.

I don’t know what results we would be achieving without Semiomantics… I am grateful that I work exclusively on Semiomantics Scripts myself and so do my customers. Once used to Semiomantics and its outstanding performance – if correctly researched, targeted and published – one doesn’t really want to look elsewhere. If investing money and time plus a considerable amount of effort one expects results – results means visibility on Google Top 10. It may take a while to build the trust of Google – but there is no other way. Yes, Social Networks are powerful and can no longer be ignored and that’s why they were the topic of the past Ycademy November Seminar … but our first focus must be Google.

In our example yesterday we worked on Semiomantics NewsCast – which is basically a very comprehensive online Newspaper script.

Creating a New Look for a Website on Google Top 10

I almost forgot about it . . . to check whether I could find yesterday’s extensive post Creating a New Look for a Website on Google Top 10?

Well, I almost fell off my chair just now – here’s the screenshot of the result – click to enlarge it and see it clearly – . . . a whopping spot 3 ahead of 238 MILLION search returns. . . and there are many Google Ads, meaning this is a hot topic!

A fantastic result – and although I should have gotten used to it . . . it still surprises me!

And by the way. . . the article just below. . .  “Criteria for a Successful Website” . . .  made it to Google Top 10 as well – on two positions that is.

There is a lot hype out there and lots of promises – often at a steep price – to get your website or blog to the top of Google. . .  but who actually does?

I made the exercise a few days ago… following some promises in that respect by ads on the right side of Google. But the question I ended up with was: why didn’t I find them at the top of Google on the left side then?

Again, this is a matter of giving ourselves the right means byinvesting wisely and then it’s all about a consistent focus and regular activity. . .

I will continue to inform about Web Design and Online Publishing.

. . .

Read more…

• Creating a new Look for a Website
• Flash Fonts for a Personal Look
• Graphic Design Services
• Design a professional looking Website
• Design a professional looking Website