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.

Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

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My Noordhoek Indexed on Google

Yesterday, I set up a brand-new blog called “MyNoordhoek” – today it’s already indexed on Google as I have just seen! That’s within half a day! WOW!

The above picture frame is very Noordhoek-wise by the way. . . natural and organic with a smell of the sea. . .

My Noordhoek Indexed on Google

With My Noordhoek Indexed on Google that fast, I have to change my plans for today a little and focus on bringing in some posts there so that the show goes on!

Normally, I present screenshots from Google Top 10 performances, here it’s to demonstrate the fast indexing. Please click on the picture so it opens in real-size; I do slice it down to a maximum so it opens quickly for people with slow Internet connections – like myslef.

Noordhoek Cape Town

I started writing about Noordhoek Cape Town already a while ago, especially also when we were testing YORGOO Media.

The art for fast indexing may be to firstly know and then stick to one’s keywords in a very stringent and categoric way – until Google has picked us up. Of course, a good reputation with what we have done so far on the Internet certainly plays a role – it’s part of our brand and trustworthiness, perhaps more transparent online than in the offline environment. Another reason to consistently work on it and promote the values we stand for. The reflex to look up someone we met or we want to do business with on Google is becoming more normal each day – just as we look up a map when going to a place we don’t know. It’s really so practical, helpful and easy!

I am happy that “MyNoordhoek.com” is on the virtual map now and will start adding relevant content – which my readers will see here, on my Author Blog, first.

And as it’s Sunday I’m off to the beach now. . . with my Coolpix of course, what else!

Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

Read more...

• Noordhoek on Flash
• Noordhoek Cape Town
• Defining Target Audiences
• My Noordhoek Project
• 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. . .

Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

Read more...

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• Noordhoek Cape Town
• Living in Noordhoek South Africa
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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.

Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

Read more...

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

Editing and Publishing Services

You asked for it, here it is: as its latest addition, WP Best eShop is now also offering Search Engine Optimized  Editing and Publishing Services.

Editing and Publishing Services

You have great content, articles, images, videos – why would you need a professional Editing and Publishing Service?

The fact is that you may have the finest and most beautifully written content… but we are on the Internet and all that counts is visiblity on Search Engines and Social Networks… so if you don’t see yourself where you expect to be, you want to urgently get a professional Editing and Publishing Service – or lose money and time. Lots of it.

Editing and publishing in a search engine optimized way is an Art, a Science.
Besides, the Internet changes, Google algorhythms change and trends change. This needs constant attention, flexibility and adaptation when it comes to posting on Web 2.0.

Is that what you wish to spend your time with? Probably not! Invest your time on focusing on your business and what you are good at and what makes you money. Collect the text material, images and whatever you want to put into your articles and posts, and then talk to a Semiomantics expert to get you the results in terms of Google rankings. Results as you see above and on many other posts on this blog.

Believe me… we see it every day: if you don’t know what you are doing, cheap is too expensive.

Semiomantics Experts

As qualified Semiomantics Expert s, we offer this service to you. You send the text and whatever content needs to be posted, we do the Editing and Publishing. Images included. Fast. Reliable. Off your shoulders and your mind – done!

As we monitor our performance on a daily basis and regularly publish the amazing results in form of Google screenshots, you find lots of continued proof on my Author Blog – posted, ranked – sometimes within a few minutes only… on Google Top 10 that is. Done!

Talk to Bianca

Prices are based on an hourly rate and vary based on the amount and complexity of the content/material under discussion.

Get in touch with me HERE to discuss and evaluate your needs and get a quote. Working hand-in-hand will be absolutely enjoyable; results are guaranteed!

Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

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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.

Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

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Defining Target Audiences

Once you know what the topic or theme of your website or blog is – as “My Noordhoek” is the umbrella of the project I am planning here – the next step is defining Target Audiences.

After all: you want to create and write something for somebody who has an interest in what you’re doing, who feels involved, loves what you do.

So who are you painting your picture for?

Defining Target Audiences

Defining one’s target audience or target audiences – which can be certain age groups, gender, singles or couples, people with certain cultural backgrounds or common interests and the like – is of prime importance especially when it comes to marketing and advertising a product or service.

While “My Noordhoek” is no commercial website but endeavours to capture the fine spirit of its in many cases highly qualified people who have chosen to live in harmony with Nature and the flow of Life, I have to answer that same question in order to give the target public what it possibly doesn’t expect, but what it can identify with and feel happy with.

My Noordhoek Project

In that sense, My Noordhoek Project addresses two main target publics:

1. The Inner Circle

The Inner Circle are people who live in Noordhoek, who are an integral part of the area, its rich history, its colourful fabric. The Noordhoek Community. People who run businesses, restaurants, shops, vineyards, hotels, schools, nurseries. . .  or who offer their professional services in Noordhoek. They are artists, entrepreneurs, musicians, designers, artisans, therapists, estate agents, yoga teachers, waiters, instrument builders, riding judges, geologists, farmers, politicians, veterinarians . . .
They are young and they are old and from all walks of life. What combines them is… Noordhoek. Their Noordhoek. My Noordhoek.

My Noordhoek is dedicated to this “Inner Circle”; it’s a mirror, a reflection… and as I am discovering more and more of the magic of this place as I proceed with this project, they may suddenly look at themselves and see their strength and beauty for the very first time. A beauty from within, from the heart, the soul… where there is unity and… Oneness.

2. The Outer Circle

The Outer Circle are people who visit Noordhoek, adventurers who plan to do so… or who will be inspired by the visual beauty and content of “My Noordhoek” on the Internet to do so.

My Noordhoek will ‘talk’ to these visitors from South Africa, the African continent or the tourists from abroad.

On “My Noordhoek” they will be presented with captivating visuals and videos to get a feeling for Noordhoek and its rainbow meltingpot of over 2000 community individualists, what they offer, present, stand for and are up to… in other words :

~ what happens when and where,
~ who to meet or talk to,
~ what to do,
~ where the music plays,
~ where to stay,
~ what to find where,
~ where to get what,
~ where to eat and dine and get the best wine (…of course from the area!) …
~ how to keep the kids occupied in a safe place,

… and definitely how to find their way easily through the natural, the real, the sophisticated and the sublime to whatever treasures, pleasures, places and activities interest them.

And yet, My Noordhoek will not be a form of directory nor carry any advertising.

My Noordhoek wants people from within and from without to meet in a natural, joyful and trusting way – in the spirit of Oneness. From there, anything can develop . . .

3. Noordhoek Home

Finally, My Noordhoek understands itself as a dynamic platform to keep expatriates and Noordhoek afficinados in touch with home – Noordhoek Home.

My Noordhoek is not about Ownership; it’s about Stewardship. It’s about YOU!

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.

Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

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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.

Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

Read more...

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

Attractive Logo Creation

A new and extremely practical graphic software tool we studied in our last Ycademy Workshop invites for some attractive Logo Creation – here are examples of the first fun testing round. . . I hope they move as most are all animated!

Attractive Logo Creation

Attractive Logo Creation is a serious profession in itself and I remember a graphic designer friend of mine back in Germany spending over a year on creating the well-known Lufthansa logo.

That was a VERY different price category!

While companies invest heavily in logo creation as part of their Branding, things on the Internet have to be fun, fast and easy – and at Ycademy we are testing some spiffy ways of getting attractive solutions faster. Of course it means exploring the tools and getting a grip on the many options. . . exactly as I do here.

While it’s fun to experiment and go overboard a little in the beginning, don’t be tempted to use all the gimmicks and effects at once !

Branding Cookies from Felisa

Branding “Cookies from Felisa” via a smashingly pink and swinging (as always buzzzzy…) telephone should be a runner (for more cookies of course…) – what do you think?

I don’t believe I did this burning hot red telephone and my head is as red as what you see here – however, it was great fun and very appropriate for Felisa’s red hot Orderline for her Sweet, Sugary and Sticky Fan Club! Talaga Felisa!

Forever Freesias for Brenda Baker

I just had to play with those funny 3D animation options . . .  and that’s how “Forever Freesias” for Brenda Baker popped into existence – within about half an hour.

Of course, I could elaborate much more on all this and if a client orders a logo I obviously start with a very intense case study to catch the essence of his or her business and corresponding mission… but it’s also good to see what’s possible today with some imagination and without sweating on Photoshop for hours… which would be quite a different price category as well! A different level too – I agree, however, it always depends what’s requested… and sometimes Time is Money and a quick fun logo is just what someone wants.

Branding Consulting for Boruch Rappaport

Before you think I’m completely nuts now – and YES! I CAN go much more overboard LOL – let me end on a more serious note with some interesting trials for Branding Consulting for Boruch Rappaport:

I thought the decorative elements around the words of the logo example below are enough and didn’t add any shadow effects.  We’ll see whether the subtle ripple effect I built in shows!?!

Web Design Consulting

Creating Attractive Logos is yet another service Web Design Consulting offers and can be ordered at our SHOP HERE.

Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

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South African Malcolm Lange wins Cape Argus Cycle Tour 2010

South African Malcolm Lange wins Cape Argus Cycle Tour 2010 ahead of South African champion Christoff van Heerden (second) followed by South African Daryl Impey (third) due to a brilliant team strategy.

Remember my picture of 32 km remaining yesterday?

Well, seems that was a good intuition as it’s here where the grand finale over 109 kms was decided today in the early morning hours: the decisive break of 12 riders moved clear of the large peloton just before the climb towards Chapman’s Peak Drive. . . and while these pictures are straight from my camera, they show the first batch that zoomed through… and those were the ones! I think the camera on the motor bike in the background is directed towards Lance Armstrong in red and black on position 6… but that’s just a guess (but I have the close-up too…). Proudly South African in any case… YEBO GO GO!

South African Malcolm Lange wins Cape Argus Cycle Tour 2010

When I perceived the faint vibration of the first helicopter this morning, I knew it was time to secure a place along Noordhoek Main Road to catch the first batch of the Cape Argus Cycle Tour 2010 racers – amongst them without any doubt Lance Armstrong, who won the Tour de France 7 times in a row and is definitely the center of (media) attraction in Cape Town right now – … and so it was!

Due to severe crosswinds they arrived later than in years before, but zoomed passed the early cheerers, supporters and fans who were having family-wise power breakfasts along the road and were definitely enjoying themselves…

Lance Armstrong on Twitter

While I was still down there taking pictures of the “new generation”, world cycling superstar Lance Armstrong was already on Twitter – so to speak straight after the race:

“Argus Cycle Tour done! What a cool ride/race. Congrats to @darylimpey on gettin’ 3rd. Wind was howling out there.”

It was a beautiful day for the world’s largest timed cycle race … and it was pretty windy, although luckily not as strong as back in 2009 when just about 50% of the field managed to finish.

Cape Argus Cycle Tour 2010 Leading Results

Here are the 109km leading results as published:

1  Malcolm Lange (SA) Team Medscheme 2hrs 39min 55sec

2  Christoff van Heerden (SA) MTN Energade

3  Daryl Impey (SA) Team Radioshack

4  Burry Stander (SA) Team Specialized

5  Rene Hasselbacher (Aut) Team sainfo.co.za

6  Dean Edwards (SA) House of Paint

7  Bjorn Glasner (Ger) Team Kuota

8  Johann Rabie (SA) Team Medscheme

9  Lance Armstrong (US) Team Radioshack

10  Nicholas White (SA) Team Medscheme all same time.

Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

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