Websites: The theory v/s Facts

A conversation I had with a client of ours got me thinking of the
theory behind websites.

Most companies and individuals are of the theory that websites do
something on their own. The world would be great place if they did.
The current notion, in our clientbase is:
* Design a website.
* Go live.
* Leave the content there.
* Go about your business.

The fact is websites are about the content, content, content and
updating that content regularly. Our current client has a lot of such
content to work with, but requires direction in packaging it. This
gives us more to work with as packaging makes for designing an online
persona.

No one is interested in websites, especially me and I work with them.
It's the content that keeps me going back. Your offline personality
has to link back to your online brand. Blogging is also becoming an
old tool but still very relevant as it keeps things fresh.

Imagine that you are creating another you that has to be responsive
and make new friends. A clone. . . You need this other you to grow in
the online environment and be referenced in other discussions.

My current facts about online personalities:

* Update your content regularly.
* Don't assume people know you.
* Websites are not interesting.
* Offer value online.
* Explore other online tools.
* Find places to direct readers to you. * Remain humble or learn humlity.

This is only based on my experiences and learnings up to so far. We
learn new stuff everyday though as people bring new challenges and
adventures to work with.

October Netweb Event on the 1st

This month’s Netweb talk great. There were people of substance whom I’d like to thank.

We got a review from Haroun Kola of Conscious Vibe, gave a short review, which I’m not taking the credit for. Noto, Thongwane, Oupa of SilverMoon, Nigel of Cinergi Corporate Finance, George, Lumkile and everyone who was there. All of you guys rocked and it’s your support that made it happen.

Telana’s talk, which I’ll be posting on later, was enlightening. She added a different perspective to the subject, which is fast becoming old, of innovation. Read her blog here.

Blogger mobile error

I was posted using mobile blogger last night, but it came out blank.

The web gremlins took my post.

Personal Branding: Be the experience

We very often overlook that we are the brand buy into, and proceed to market a company. Brick, mortar and a name don't appeal a lot of the people I've met.

Chris Brogan in his book: Personal Branding for the Business Professional which you can download here, outlines a few strategies of positioning yourself as an experience. If you have valuable content, like he does, then you already have one foot in the door and become a point of reference.

He also has some useful online tools to track feedback which a bootstrapper might find useful.

Suddenly offering an experience has been made easy packaged into 2 hours of interactive reading.

Bricks and mortar will still have a market though.

Netweb / aQuaNova online talks

There are some influential business professionals who are extremely busy to attend all our talks. So we thought we should interview them and post videos of their experiences.

These would serve as bite-size loaded talks and we'll post them here. After my last post about people changing things below the radar, I realized how busy some of these guys are. Well one would be if they were to alter the world as know it.

These will be our Netweb / aQuaNova mini talks, as soon I find someone willing to give me the time of day or night. But I might first need to figure out how to work this video camera, gadget thing.

Netweb Event : September gig

The September Netweb Event was great, had some people of value and me.

Thank you all for making it. Our speaker Lantz of afromedia.co.za delivered an enlightening talk on web applications. You can view his powerpoint presentation here.

Telana of One Matchstick and Inner Coaching. She's currently trading a hot-air-balloon-champagne- breakfast and was also there.

Sitting quietly next to her was Andy, who makes it look easy to run an online company.

I'll be posting the audio and my powerpoint preso as well once it's been edited.

Thank you all guys for making it happen. I hope to see you again on 1st October.

Andy have fun at the conference in October.

A bottle of Captain Morgan

One of our speakers at the Netweb gig is giving away a bottle of Captain Morgan.

Lantz is very knowledgeable about online applications and fishing. If you get him off his computer long enough to talk to him.

Reserve your seat and pitch. You might walk away with the bottle or loads of information on marketing your business and branding yourself.

Below the radar : Changing the world quietly . . .

There some who are changing the world quietly, seemingly doing so below the radar. Call me odd, but these are people whose opinions and ideas mould our thinking.

I’d like to speak to them, find out what makes them tick and how they continue to do such amazing things. The tons of experience they’d share would be very valuable to the online community.

Some of these guys are:

Eve Dmochowska
Walter Pike
Nic Haralambous
Richard Mulholland
Scott Gray
Sarah from represent
And many others

So if they have sometime to spare soon I’ll chat to them and post our conversation on this blog. If you anything about these guys you’ll understand, but if not you’ll know after I’ve spoken to them.

The thing is they do some pretty inspiring things and what they have to share can alter our thinking.

I’ll be posting about such people on Wednesdays. And anyone else who does inspiring stuff.

Netweb defined : Who you know counts

In our search for answers while establishing ourselves and a business. We found that who you know counts in building a formidable company.

With this in mind we designed the Netweb as a series of talks and networking events. This is for the exchange of experience, contacts and marketing yourself as the story behind your business/profession.

Netweb sessions consolidate both on and offline resources to develop people. What you do with the resources is up to you. The growth of a company I believe is determined by the events which occur during its existence. The same goes for people.

So if you want to accelerate your growth by being there as things happen, then the Netweb is for you. If not, then perhaps you should read the next post.

We have no inclinations of taking over the world. It would be great to know someone who can make that possible though.