Online Advertising: Pros & Cons

Everyone wants to embrace the digital age and use the internet as a platform to market their business.

Before you do that however, it is important that you understand some of the pros and cons of online advertising.

READ MORE to find out about the Pro's and Con's of online advertising.

Subsistence

What is it?

Subsistence is the phenomena where the ground starts to sink as a result of the subterranean erosion of rock or the creation of voids, or caves, through other means.

READ MORE about where and how Subsistence occurs.

Biometrics

Biometrics is the use of a human’s physical attribute or trait in order to grant privileged access to a secured room, a vault or even to data on a computer system etc.

The use of Biometrics in access control systems is fairly recent as it utilises very advanced technologies that verify the identity of, and authenticate access to, a person.

READ MORE to find out more about how Biometrics works and all the new innovative ways in personnel authentication through access control systems.

10 Reasons to Consider Professional Web Development

Many professional businesses wish to create an online presence but a lot of the time land up with a website which is somewhat mediocre and lacks functionality.

By investing in the services of professional web development, you will ensure that your company stays ahead of the game online.

READ MORE about the 10 reasons why professional web development will benefit your company.

Ozone Water Treatment

When we think about the word Ozone, most people will immediately think about the Ozone layer which makes up a portion of our atmosphere, and you are right – mostly.

Ozone more specifically refers to the gas Tri-oxygen, which makes up approximately 0.6% of our atmosphere, or 0.6 parts per million.

In this article we will be looking the water-treatment potential of Tri-oxygen, how we first came by it and how it is used in the industry.

READ MORE to find out how the Ozone gas is used in water treatment.

Being Creative with Business Cards

When deciding that you need business cards, you should be thinking a little more about how unique you can make it instead of putting all your focus on the contact details. An office drawer full of business cards has been the loss of many an opportunity because a company’s business card simply looked like it belonged stuffed away, along with the rest of the ugly ones.

READ MORE to find out what innovative ideas people are using in their business card designs!

Responsive Web Design

RWD is the process of using CSS3 (Cascading Style Sheets 3) Media Queries on the site in order for it to sense what media is trying to access the page. The site then reacts to the query and self-optimises to whatever sized display is being utilised for viewing.

READ MORE about how this fascinating technology is going to revolutionize the way the internet is going to be accessed in the future. 

Diverse Marketing & Branding Tips

“What we really need is a mind-set shift that will make us relevant to today’s consumers, a mind-set shift from ‘telling and selling’ to building relationships.” – Jim Stengel, Former Global Marketing Officer, Procter and Gamble

READ MORE to find out how a diverse marketing strategy can benefit your business.

Disaster Relief and Nanotech Water Filtration

One of the biggest problems in the world at the moment is a massive shortage of water for human consumption (a.k.a potable water). In many disaster-stricken regions of Africa, bottled water is flown in to aid people who desperately need it, but this is very expensive and not sustainable.

“37% per cent of the developing world’s population – 2.5 billion people – lack improved sanitation facilities, and over 780 million people still use unsafe drinking water sources”, according to the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP).

READ MORE about the reality of disaster relief and how nano filtration technology can provide a sustainable means of water to people in need.

World Leading Palaeoanthropologist Dies

Phillip V. Tobias, one of the world's leading authorities on the evolution of mankind, has died today, June 7 2012.

"He started the current programme of excavation at Sterkfontein [a.k.a The Cradle of Mankind] in 1966 which is now the longest continuously active palaeoanthropological dig anywhere in the world, and has produced over 1 000 hominin fossils." - News24

According to news sources, Professor Phillip V. Tobias, aged 86, died after a long-suffered illness.

READ MORE about his life's work and contribution to the Palaeoanthropologist community.

Nandos Diversity Advert

This is a recently created Nandos television advert which targets the South African issue of Xenophobia. The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) banned the airing of the advert on the premise that it had racist undertones.

READ MORE about what experts and critics from around South Africa have to say in response to the advert and the SABC's stance on the issue.

Jacob Zuma Painting Defaced News Footage

For those who missed the news broadcast over the defacing of the controversial painting of South African president, Jacob Zuma, here is video footage. The painting, titled "The Spear", had caused a major outcry among ANC supporters and was defaced yesterday, Tuesday 22 May 2012, by 2 men.

Printing & More

When it comes to creating posters and other paper-related printed goods in the business world, there are many considerations to take into account before the final product is made. Printing in Cape Town offers all paper-related solutions for your business needs.

• Types of Design
• Types of Paper
• Types of Ink
• Types of Printing

READ MORE to get a glimpse into the world of commercial printing.

The Gases of Active Fire Protection Systems

The Water-Sprinkler Fire Protection System is widely used, but its application fails when sensitive electronic and data equipment is concerned. By not only adding to the damage of electronics by exposure to water, this fire protection system also deploys too slowly.

READ MORE to find out about the two popular gas deployment systems used in industrial fire protection.

The Dangers of Drinking Too Much Water

When people talk about water, the topics of discussion generally revolve around the various benefits that we get by drinking lots of water on a daily basis.

The average person should consume around 1 litre of water per 30kg of their own body weight per day in order to maintain optimal organ functioning and homeostasis in the body.

Drinking excessively more than that can have devastating effects and often fatal results – an issue which is not known to many in the public.

READ MORE about what the symptoms of drinking too much water are and the harmful effects that it has on your body.

Watery Facts & Conservation Tips

Most of us know that our bodies consist of approximately 67% water and the average person can go without water for 3-5 days before dying.

Main Health Benefits

• Assists in flushing toxins

• Leads to healthier skin

• Reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease

• Cushions joints and muscles

• Encourages alertness

• Promotes homeostasis

• Assists in regulating body temperature

• Encourages fat burning

• Promotes Wellness

READ MORE about other watery facts and conservation tips

Top-5 Most Expensive Bottled Water In The World

Water was traditionally one of the cheapest drinks in the world but in this day and age of the growing trend towards bottled water as being the superior option to tap water, you can expect that celebrities have taken things one step further and elevated the status of bottled water.

Whether from an ancient glacier or an untouched and remote mountainous spring, to the depths of the ocean and all around the world, you can bet that some people are willing to pay top dollar for rare and unique water that is rumoured to have special medicinal qualities.

READ MORE to find out what the Top-5 Most Expensive Bottled Waters in the world are.

Business Accommodation - Cape Town: What to look for

One often gets stuck at the question on where to stay in Cape Town when on a business trip from up-country or even abroad.


There are many hotels and B&B's to stay at around the CBD but one often asks themselves how to choose the best possible place given one's budget along with certain needs and requirements?

READ MORE about what kind of things you should be looking out for.

Vehicle Financing and Bad Credit

If you have hit an exceedingly bad patch in your finances in South Africa and found yourself being flagged on the ITC list, chances are very good that every major bank and financial institution will refuse to help you with regards to vehicle financing and any other form of financing as a matter of fact.


This is because you are now seen as a liability to financial institutions and in general the risk greatly outweighs the reward for them.

READ MORE

Water Toxins

Before you rush into a state of confusion, let me offer a quick insight into what DBP’s and BPA’s are and how they are related to water. DBP’s, or Disinfection By-products, are created when chlorine, which is added to water for the purpose of killing bacteria, comes into contact with decaying vegetation.


These by-products are toxic and there are two which have been identified as very dangerous to human health, namely Trihalomethanes (THMs) and Haloacetic Acids (HAAs).


READ MORE to find out about the hidden toxins in your water and how to avoid them.

Loan Sharks - What you should know

"A loan shark is a person or body that offers unsecured loans at illegally high interest rates to individuals, often enforcing repayment by blackmail or threats of violence" - Wikipedia

We have all heard of the concept of under-the-table money lenders, seeing them in the movies as those ruthless thugs who will break your legs if you fail to pay back your dues to them.

People generally turn to this informal means of money lending as they have become desperate due to high financial debt and being denied personal loans by their merchant bank.

READ MORE to find out about a few interest pointers and statistics about loan sharks.

Include Stickers in your next Promotional Campaign

Sticking to your goals is essential in order to achieve success, just as using stickers to achieve those goals is an effective tool in marketing your business.

Sticker design is virtually limitless, offering you the freedom to represent your business or product in any way you wish and in turn offering you great exposure.

Many promotional options, such as newspaper or magazine ads, pamphlets, flyers etc. offer great exposure during a promotional campaign but they are expensive and only serve the client for the duration that they are hosted or until your budget for advertising runs dry.

READ MORE about the benefits of stickers in your promotional campaign.

22 November 2011 - The End of Democracy in South Africa

MP's have just voted in favour of the Secrecy Bill at Parliament in Cape Town today.

Freedom of expression is one of the foundations of a Democracy and our government has swiftly removed it, despite the overwhelming public outcry against it.

The government has willfully acted against its people, much like the old Apartheid regime and the people see no other alternative than to take the countrywide voice of resistance to the constitutional court.

The citizens of South Africa will no longer lie down and see our country being dragged downwards and crippled.

Those responsible will answer to the constitution of South Africa.

Ex Springbok shot dead

Solomzi Solly Tyilibiki, Picture: Getty Images

Solomzi "Solly" Tyilibika, 32, was shot dead on sunday afternoon while at a tavern in the Gugulethu township of Cape Town.

Solly, a former springbok and sportsman was reportedly shot at around 2pm yesterday afternoon following an indiscriminate attack by two gunmen on the tavern where two others were also left injured.

A case of murder and attempted murder has been opened and police are investigating.

Another former Springbok and close friend, Allister Cotzee, tweeted "It's a very sad day for rugby"

Malema Suspended

Johannesburg - ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema was found guilty of provoking divisions within the ruling party and of bringing the organisation into disrepute on Thursday, and was suspended for five years. He will vacate his position. (News24)

Malema, who was busy writing exams in Limpopo on Thursday, had 14 days to appeal against the ruling.

He would remain on full pay until all the appeal processes were completed, ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said. (News24)

Vote for Table Mountain!

There are only 8 days remaining in order to vote for Table Mountain as one of the new 7 Wonders of Nature.
You can vote online HERE, by Mxit or sms "Table" to 34874. Sms's charged at R2

Happy Halloween

It's that time of the year again, where the weird and wonderful come out to play!



Wishing you all a Happy Halloween! - JS.

Rags to Riches: The real-life Slumdog Millionaire

An indian man has become the first to win his country’s version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”.

Sushil Kumar, 27, won the grand prize of 50 million rupees ($1 million) on 25 October, 2011, after answering all 20 questions correctly on Kaun Banega Crorepati.

According to media reports, Sushil has been working as a government clerk earning $120 a month in India’s eastern state of Bihar.

Sushil Kumar (L) joins his hands together past Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan after winning about $1 million on an Indian game
show in Mumbai October 25, 2011. Picture taken October 25, 2011. REUTERS/IPAN/Handout

Join Biz-Genie.com this Movember

Summer

The Cape Town summer is nearing!
You want to know how I know?

It could be the sound of my neighbour's lawnmower as he intends to entertain his friends around the braai(barbecue)

OR

It could be the smell of soft-serve ice-cream and coconut tanning oils drifting from the beach


OR

It could also be the sight of  Sam's gleaming coat as he chases birds, tails and frisbees.... (He's my 5-month old Border Collie by the way)

YES, YES and YES!


All that and we are headed into the festive season of concerts, cocktails and making a splash in our pools and in the sea! Warm summer nights, floating on a lilo and stargazing until we slip away into the deepest thoughts of our happiest memories.

That's how I know.
The Cape Town summer is nearing!

Cape Town 2014 - World Design Capital Winner

Congratulations to Cape Town for winning the World Design Capital title for 2014. It's not only a victory for the city of Cape Town, or the country of South Africa, but a victory for Africa as it's the first time this award has set foot on the continent.

Check out the full story and news about WDC2014 at: WDC2014 - Cape Town



Malema?

So, according to media reports, this is meant to be a peaceful march and yet this public statement begins with the firing of automatic weapons?

One is never quite sure about things when a person sends mixed signals. Let's stay tuned to the South African news coverage and see how this all pans out.

Interview with Freshlyground

Freshlyground: Healing Africa with Music

By Sergio Henriques

It was a windy day in the Mother City of Cape Town and I was joined by co-founder of Biz-Genie Morné Kleinhans. We settled at Rotisserie 360 on Bree Street, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Freshlyground band members and slowly they started to appear. They were, Simon Attwell (Flautist & Saxophonist), Zolani Mahola (Lead Vocalist) and Kyla-Rose Smith (Violinist & Backing Vocalist).
For those who don’t know Freshlyground, they are an Afro-pop band consisting of 7 members. They started out in 2002 and have since released 4 albums, namely “Jika Jika”, “Ma’Cheri”, “Nomvula” and most recently, “Radio Africa”. Their music represents the voice of Africa with the use of traditional African instruments, lyrics and sounds. They also featured alongside Shakira in the making of the FIFA Soccer World Cup 2010 opening song “Waka Waka”.
Freshlyground have also won various awards, including Best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2006 and Album of the Year in 2007 for “Ma’Cheri” at the annual South African Music Awards (SAMA). Kyla-Rose and Zolani also jointly won “Woman of the Year” at the Glamour Magazine 2011 Awards earlier this year.
It was particularly chilly so we huddled together outside at the corner-street restaurant and began our interview.

Read the interview here: Biz-Genie Exclusive Interview with Freshlyground by Sergio Henriques