CrowdTech, the holding company for Springleap.com, evly.com and eKomi.co.za, have utilised learning’s acquired from Springleap.com’s crowdsourcing model to conceptualise a BUILD, GATHER, SOLVE platform that in our opinion has the power to upset the landscape of traditional business models across industries.

“Evly.com is a crowdsourcing social network that utilises a custom built drag and drop website builder available for free to any registered user. Evly is an online network of crowdsourcing communities where users can create advanced crowdsourcing websites in a few clicks to bring people together to constantly solve new challenges.” - Evly.com Press Release

“Analysts predict the estimated growth of evly over the next 36 months will be around 35 million registered users, along with 1.5 million active websites and 4000 corporate clients.” - Evly.com Press Release

Evly.com is currently opening up 450 spots for BETA testers. If you would like to be one of the select few to test this revolutionary platform register now at www.evly.com

Full Press Release:

Any problem, anytime, anywhere…..

Cheers,

For anybody who has practiced marketing one of the core pillars is and always be segmentation: be it demographic, need based, psychographic, etc…

“With 500 million users on Facebook, there are probably plenty of consumers that you want to reach with your ads. However, not all Facebook users are created equal. Breaking out your audiences to understand the value of each segment, and then adjusting your bids accordingly, will help you optimize your Facebook budget.

Dividing audiences by age, location, and gender should help you find the segments most likely to convert, making each segment more valuable to you. As you measure the performance variance between your segmented advertisements, you can adjust your bids to improve the overall ROI for your Facebook ad campaigns.” – via Mashable.com

Sounds easy peezy like lemon squeezy….sure it is:-)  Just remember that Facebook, like in the real world – the brick and mortar world (cause I heard you screaming “but the interweb is for real!!!!”) – people are inundated with messages from marketers everyday and therefore have developed a heightened ability to sift through the clutter to determine messages that are relevant for them. Not only this but more and more people are not interested in “Push Marketing” but “Relationship Marketing”, consumers are increasingly wanting to engage in dialogue with the brands or products they integrate into their lifestyles. The ultimate goal, if I may be so bold, is to for them to be apart of the value creation process, consumers want to define what is best for them…..wonderful thing that Collaboration!!!!

Great so how does this help your business?: For starters ensure that you have a plan to target the right consumer via facebook….more importantly tho start off by wanting to engage your consumers…..do not not how, follow this link:

4 Ways to Improve Ad Performance on Facebook

Now to take over the world one advert at a time…

Cheers,

A quick download then…..

WARNING: Improvement in presenter charisma not guaranteed!!!!!!!

Cheers,

Aren’t you tred of constantly hearing about the ‘EFFECTS OF THE RECESSION’….A thought that crosses my mind every time I hear this being mentioned is this:  hey man I was there I know what it feels like to have to cut back on the luxuries or nice-to-haves.

Now just like me I am sure that you are tired of cutting back, not spoiling yourself with things like spa treatments, a night out with friends or loved ones to that trendy new restaurant, Yoga classes, laser treatment, etc. *sigh* – if only the world financial markets would get their act together, so that you and I could get back to enjoying life…..I hear you friends.

Solution if you dare to be bold:  Collective buying power and social networking….i.e. Twangoo

Twangoo is an e-business platform that benefits both end users (you & me) and businesses alike ( tick for a win-win).  Here is how they describe themselves:

“Twangoo is South Africa’s premier group buying club. Becoming a Twangoo member unlocks the most exclusive deals at the best spas, restaurants and activities in your city.

One incredible deal is communicated daily to Twangoo members. However, the deal is only triggered once a critical mass of interested members sign up. The onus is on Twangoo members to share these unique and provocative offers via email, Twitter and Facebook thus ensuring these exclusive deals trigger.”

How does it work:

[We love the creative animation and nice tone too].

So what was that about the recession again? ………exactly!!!!!!!!

Nice work Twangoo…..ladies and gents spread the word

Cheers,

Are you a movie lover, and do you like discussing your views on the latest and bestest (in your opinion obviously), well how about you give Jwale a bash.  ”Jwale™ is the new desktop application that works on both Apple Macintosh and Windows computers enabling users like you to rate and review new and upcoming movies, as well as watch full length trailers. It is with Jwale™ that you the user gets to interact and chat with other movie loving fans. All these features are standard within Jwale and it is for free.”

The site is designed by Agisanang Masakela, proudly South African (as we are told) and we were pointed in this direction by a mutual friend.  The site is a beta version from what we gather this young entrepreneur has a definitive plan to promote the site.  Our suggestion would be to look at Angel Investment Network or  4DICapital to pitch a proposal/business plan to acquire funding.

Cheers,

Today Facebook is on the tips of everybody’s lips. I remember similar stories about Microsoft and Mr Bill Gates, specifically about how the idea of Microsoft was stolen from a friend or something like that (please forgive my dodgy memory here).  ”The Social Network” promises to be an inside look into the rise of Mark Zuckerberg and ‘his’ creation Facebook.

A review by Michael Calore, contributor to blogs such Mashable and Wired scores the movie highly. The opening line of his report reads as follow: “In the long-running battle between gritty hacker realism and Hollywood’s fantastical depiction of computer programming, The Social Network puts a big notch in the win column.”

[via @Masahble, click to read the full review]

Besides Michael Calore Rotten Tomatoes a film review website reports that 98% of critics have given the film a positive review based on 54 reviews, scoring the film a 9.4/10 stating:

“The Social Network has received universal acclaim” also,

“Impeccably scripted, beautifully directed, and filled with fine performances, The Social Network is a riveting, ambitious example of modern filmmaking at its finest.”

The question we have is why is there no movie linked to Google, Microsoft or Apple for that matter.  Either way I will be rounding up some geek friends (as suggested) to watch the movie.

Cheers,

Altesh

Either way D-barcode a Japanese based company gives these creative commodities an inspired  fresh take. The end result becomes a revenue generator for the company….who would have thought!!!!!!

[Via Fast Company; another gallery here]

Cheers,

Reluctantly I went to my first class……a few chuckles later and drenched head to toe in sweat I walked out feeling different.  Physically I was properly fecked, mentally still significantly self conscious yet at the same time I felt energised, light and full of life energy.  This was an odd feeling and something that I have never felt walking out of a gym or after a run or after a swim, heck I never felt this way no matter what exercise I compared this feeling to.  Confused I decided that I would pursue this new found path to see where this road lead me.

Fast forward to today and a few hours of yoga under my belt (in karate I would say I had progressed to a yellow belt) I know that Yoga is something that will be a part of my life  always.  Why I hear you ask….well besides the clichéd reasons that are dished out by the enlightened ones *wink* i.e. increased flexibility, improved concentration, inner calmness, toning of muscles, detoxification, etc. My personal benefits included diminished self consciousness, learning to take life slow and learning to love myself.

Like with so may things in life the context in which you practice, makes all the difference. I have recently stumbled across a heart warming little retreat called Yoga Life, located in Cape Towns trendy De Waterkant. Owned and managed by Dave Porter, Andrew Gowans and Jessika Munnell, Yoga Lifes’ reason for being is stated as follows:

“We named the yoga studio, Yoga Life, as a commitment to the-yoga-life. To live with the sense of purpose to make our world a kinder, more compassionate place. Our goal is to guide students, and ourselves, to greater self-awareness, and good health through the practice of yoga and meditation. We do this by teaching with love understanding and a sense of fun. Come and join us on this journey.”

I must add that these guys really know what they are doing and have crafted a space that embodies the luxury of Yoga – Rewarding ones’ self.

Yoga Life has been around for  a few months now and I have no doubt that they will be around for a long time to come, so heres hoping to see you there……

Cheers, Altesh

” Cherryflava has been crowded as the Ogilvy Best South Africa Media and Marketing blog for 2010 at a glittering ceremony at the One & Only hotel on Saturday night.” via Cherryflava

Congratulations Guys!!!!!!!!!

Cheers,