Nic’s blog
I write about building businesses, failing and building a life, not a legacy.
Good content, niche markets and interesting angles
I have read many posts from many bloggers who claim to know how to create a successful blog. Much of the time I think that these guys are losers who have nothing better to do than to tell other people how to run their blogs. Not so.For the first time today I realised that the success of a blog depends on the content and concept behind the content. After only starting SA Rocks 10 days ago I officially reached the same Technorati rank as nicharalambous.com. I have been maintaining this blog for over 13 months and within 10 days SA Rocks has equaled the achievements of my personal blog.In my little tiny blogging brain this has proven to me that you can be the best damn writer in the world (which I am not) and still have no one read your blog. It's about niche markets, good content, interesting angles and meeting the needs of a market. SA Rocks does just this while nicharalambous.com is me blabbing on about my daily life and rubbish, which many millions of bloggers are doing.Learn your lessons now; if you want readers, think about your angle and plot things accordingly.
Get hold of the boss man
Finally after 8 days of phone calls and becoming an internet hobo thanks to Telkom I have internet again.The problem was a simple one that any phone operator could have pointed out... a Telkom phone technician had reset my modem incorrectly when I called first 8 days ago. Well thank you for nothing you bloody idiots.Oh yes, I forgot about this: There are two people you need to speak to if you are having issues with your internet. One is the supervisor of the phone technicians, Mr Khumalo (ask for him, he digs it i promise), the other is Mr Sifiso Mkhize, he is the big boss man. Wise up and stop talking to the invalid on the line, ask for the boss and the bosses boss and his boss too. Enough of this rubbish, lets all go riot outside Telkom's office.
A few reasons why facebook is better than Myspace
I have just read a post outlining the top ten reasons why Myspace is better than facebook. I think that cheezhead has some good points but misses the reason that users and I stress, USERS, make use of social networks.cheezhead's top ten reasons why Myspace is better than facebook:
- Traffic
- Brand leader
- Media powerhouse
- Rock 'n Roll will never die
- Mo' money
- Rupert Murdoch
- Custom URLs
- Customizable pages
- News corporation and phat partners
- Classifieds
Now I agree with a couple of the above points: Custom URLs and Customizable pages are the main two. I think that custom URLs and the ability to change your page are great ideas. However in practice Myspace is simply difficult to use. I am fairly well versed in CSS and html and I struggled to understand where and how to customize a page. Thus if you are going to make pages customizable, make it simple or be like facebook and leave it out. The custom URL thing on Myspace is great.My reasons why facebook rocks:
- Groups - facebook has the uncanny ability to link people through groups. I have found tons of mates that I lost contact with years ago through these groups. While Myspace is filled with millions of useless users who become your friends to spam and promote a product or themselves. That's not what users are after. Plus the porn on myspace is terrible.
- Group Creation - the ability to create groups and invite your mates and others in to these groups is definitely a big plus.
- Simplicity - facebook makes users want to return and use their service because it is so ridiculously simple. Part of the simplicity factor is the fact that pages are the same and not customizable. If they couldn't make it easy, they left it out.
- Mini-feed - facebook's mini-feed is absolutely incredible. You can see which of your friends are friends with other people you might know. It allows you to see who is changing their profile pics, uploading photos, adding posts, blogging etc etc etc. This little tool is invaluable when it comes to finding people you know and meeting people you don't.
- Blog RSS - facebook makes it simple to add your blogs posts to your facebook page and allow your mates to read your posts. I have received hundreds of hits on my blog from my facebook profile. Myspace does this too, but screw me if I know how.
At the end of the day I don't care how much money Myspace earns, how many millions of users are on Myspace or if Ruper Murdoch owns my life online. I care about meeting up with people that I know and facebook does this better than Myspace by a long way.
3's Tag
The Gypsy just tagged me... those damn hippies
Three things that scare me:FailureIgnoranceGeorge W Bush
Three people who make me laugh:JenWilsherScott
Three Things I love:Music (of the rock sort)my laptopmy Job
Three Things I hate:OlivespicklesIgnorance
Three Things I don’t understand:IgnorancePHP - but I'm getting there!!!The media industry
Three things on my desk:cellphonewalletSmokes
Three things I’m doing right now:Updating 4 websites and developing 1BloggingBee swatting
Three things I want to do before I die:Sky DiveWin a proffesional Poker Tournament/Play in the WSOP.Become a Multi Millionaire
Three things I can do:WriteDebateCook
Three things you should listen to:HinderBloggersMates
Three things I’d like to learn:Italian/Frenchhow to stop smokingwomen
Three favourite foods:ThaiGreekA Hamburger
Three beverages I drink regularly:Watercoffeetea
Three TV shows/Books I watched/read as a kid:The wonder year (Yeah Baby)The HobbitDexter
Three people I’m tagging (that’s if you’ve not already done this)I don't think that I am going to be tagging three people... I don't know why. I'm just not. Sorry!!
To in-breed or not to in-breed
I have a friend (Hi Jen) who is currently in Texas and claims that the in-breeding down south has led a lot to be desired in terms of the type of people that she is meeting and related to. This could be a fantastic explanation for the actions of one G.W. Bush (GWB). I wish that it were actually a viable and trustworthy explanation to justify the moronic behaviour of the 'defender of the free world'. I just don't think that it is. I think that some Texans including Mr GWB are simply idiots who have no brain capacity, let alone independent thought to run a country.I have heard through the vine of knowledge known as the grape, that there are currently no scientific proofs for the effects of cousins getting it on with cousins and brothers getting it on with sisters (I would have said brothers with brothers but we all know that no child... you get it). So then my simple conclusion is that some people are just morons and idiots and some are not. Furthermore, some people are happy morons and idiots while others like to blame their cousins for their idiotic behaviours and inability to keep it to themselves and out of others.
I've been away and it's bad
I know I have been absent over the last few days. It's really out of my control. I am so sorry!!Wow, I sound like a recovering addict of some sorts. I must say, these internet down times provided so willingly by Telkom always seem to come at such bad times. Meetings to organise, interviews and freelance to do using skype. It's just so difficult running an online company in S.A sometimes don't you think?Anyways, I am making use of Primi Platinum in Rivonia for their internet access and have to shamelessly punt them for their incredible service, smiles and Jack Johnson background music. Thanks to Primi and if anyone out there needs internet, make use of a Primi near you and spend, spend, spend on coffee and smokes!
Die Telkom die
I have spent over 10 hours on hold with Telkom since Thursday last week. I have been waiting for four days for an idiot supervisor to call me back and all to no avail. I have not had a safe and steady internet connection for over 6 days. Joy.When I asked a helpline man if in his eight years at Telkom they have ever had any internet down time he answered no. In EIGHT YEARS Telkom has never experienced what we go through. I wonder why.
South African blog awards 2007
It is official, nominations for the bestest of the bestest in the south are open. So get down to the SA blog awards site now and submit your vote.Cherryflava appears to be the main sponsor of the awards this year and Your Group of Web AddiCT(s); is heavily involved (Graphic Design/Web application development).This is a great initiative that is in its third year. Get your votes in and make this whole blogging thing worth while for those who entertain you and get your through your days!
Comfort amidst war
I received this picture via email. Maybe you've seen it, maybe you haven't. Very interesting.
Upstairs Bamboo
I went to an art Gallery/Restaurant today. Melville is a rocking little place, very trending and very cool.
Mugg and Bean make-out
Who makes out at the Mugg & Bean on a Saturday morning while other human beings are consuming food? I love making out, it really is one of life's small wonders, but, DO NOT make-out when I have just received my food and have begun eating.I was at the Mugg & Bean in Kilarney Mall this morning when the couple in front of us, clearly in eye-shot began to fondle one another's nether regions. This was a tad weird but I looked past it. Then they began to full out go at it in the middle of the centre with complete disregard for everyone and anyone around them (me included).Get a damn room. If you are one of these people, take head now, let me tell you that the more considerate of us in the world are out to get you. Next time this happens I will be moblogging it around the world!!!!
Gmail open to the masses
Gmail can now be accessed by anyone without an invite. Visit this link if you don't already have a Gmail account.
Get your facts straight
There is one thing that no journalist can ever control: someone will always question your story. The thing that I have come to realise is that everyone likes to think that they are in the know. When in actual fact they might not be. There might be some sort of contradiction within certain stories, relaying of stories and the facts within the story.You can never know for certain, 100% and without fail that someone is telling you the truth. People lie for various reasons. What you can do is make sure that you have yourself covered. Here are some tips that I think will help:
- Make sure you have written down your notes.
- ALWAYS try to record your interviews.
- Maintain a good relationship with your translator if you are using one. You never know when you might need them to corroborate your story.
- Check your facts, again and again and again... and again.
- When submitting stories, keep a copy of the original. Things change in the sub-editing process.
War on roadside hawkers
There seems to be a war raging on the streets of Sandton today. The police are trying to get rid of the roadside hawkers who are trying to avoid the police.I stopped at the robot on the corner of Rivonia Rd and Kelvin today to find 5 police 4x4's pull in to the road where I was meant to be turning. So instead of hooting and shouting (which would be the usual response) I took out my phone and snapped away. Here is what I managed to see:From these photos you can (kind of) see the police out of their vehicles accosting the hawkers' products, amongst them hangers and black dustbin bags.
Investec Tipping Challenge
I was invited to join the Investec Tipping Challenge today. What a cool idea. Join a pool, make some predictions and see how you can beat in your pool.Unfortunately for those who do not like to watch rugby, this is a rugby pool. It's free, it's easy and it's highly addictive. So if you and your mates smaak some lekker Rugby then check out this Investec Tipping Challenge.
Online Industry Summit
My friend and business partner Courtenay won the ticket at the 27Dinner to go to the Online Industry Summit (OIS). He will be at summit under the Studentwire banner and will be concentrating as hard as physically and mentally possible for an ex-Rhodent!We have set up a Studentwire Blog and Courts will be providing up to the minute updates about the OIS. So check out the blog, grab the feed and keep up to date with the conference happenings and Studentwire devel0pments.
People: the most important part of a corporation
Corporations can be many thing. They can be big and rich, they can be vast and expansive, they can be irritating and ignorant and they can sometimes be personable and intimate. The last two on the list may be questionable, but today I experienced them.Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that the CEO of Virgin Active popped down to the Morningside branch today while I was at gym, but I was made to feel individual and important by a staff member. I have been somewhat ill of late and have been unable to train properly thus missing out over 2 months of gym. Stevie (whom I do not know very well) took the time out today to spot me, talk to me, and tell me that he had been looking for me but had no way of contacting me to see if I was OK.Virgin Active should give this man a raise. He makes that gym what it is by knowing people's names, jobs and training days and programs. This man is an institution on his own and one of the largest (in physique) and friendliest people I have ever met.My point: Corporations are many things and one thing that big business needs to recognise and remember is that it is the 'little people' like Stevie the gym instructor who make me want to stay at Virgin Active
Google Calendar
I was alerted (excuse the pun) by Courts that Google Calendar provided a free SMS service to users. Not the kind that allows you to SMS people, but the kind that SMS's you when one of your events comes round. I think this is an amazing idea. At least it's an amazing idea if you have the time to setup your Google Calendar with all your events, anniversaries and birthdays. If you can do that, then it is well worth it.I think that it is worth biting the bullet and making use of this particular Google service as it is hosted online which means that no matter where your company is sending you, no matter what country you are in or planet you are from, if you sit on Earth with your cellphone and laptop (either or even) you can know when your sweethearts birthday is and avoiding getting the boot!Unfortunately for birthdayalarm.com I got wind of the Google product before I got wind of them. Sorry but I refuse to have a service that is mainly aimed at reminding me of peoples birthdays. I have a service for almost everything I can think of, this is not one that is high on my to do list!
Google rules the web
It appears that even error messages and missing links are all being dominated by Google these days. I am not sure what is going on but today my attempts at logging on to various websites have drawn me straight to the Google homepage. I find this unnerving and somewhat confusing.In an attempt to log on to my facebook account i was taken to the Google homepage while the url in the address bar maintained its facebook status. Very strange.
