Vernon Chalmers - Latest Blog Entries

SME Workshop: Corporate Social Media Integration Cape Town

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:29:00 -0600

A 12 hour workshop addresses online social media as an opportunity to leverage corporate networking, public relations and marketing strategies. It focuses on the design and deployment of measurable social media applications to enhance interactive communication and integrate social information management practices.

Purpose of the Workshop
To equip a specific audience with insight and skill into selecting, planning and deploying an integrated social media framework into existing media and marketing programmes.

Who should attend
- Business owners
- Entrepreneurs
- PR practitioners
- Marketing practitioners

Facilitated from client / corporate address from R1 200-00 per person

Specific strategy / learning areas

Latest trends and corporate deployments
Social media / content / network strategy
Identifying and selecting social media channels and tools
Deployment and configuration of specific social media tools
Measuring social media results in relation to online campaigns (ROI)

More information >>

Internet Marketing and SEO course / workshop options Cape Town

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 21:43:00 -0600

All Vernon Chalmers Internet Marketing and SEO short courses / workshops are designed to cover the following learning elements:

Private and / or group facilitation
Introductory or advanced
Modular over a 30 hour period or select a 12-hour workshop
Add own specific learning / corporate requirements
Covering up-to-date SEM and SEO practises and techniques

More information >>

Will Search Engines list my site and how long before it is available on Google?

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:58:00 -0600

In a recent blog post on Doodlekit (my hosting and CMS provider) I answered this question to a new website owner with the following:

The short answer to your question is - yes it will. But it may take quite a while to do so.
I have found by even doing the keywords and built-in optimisation it could be a while
for the site and keywords to be recognized by search engines. It will generally take a
couple of days (if the site is already indexed).

Note - the site will be indexed and listed in the search engines, but it may take weeks before specific search criteria will serve up your URL / content / blog posts / tags.

Own / custom domain name
For sustained online visibility it is recommended to register your own domain name with access to a dynamic CMS system for content updating. Operating from a sub-domain is a start, but will prevent [your] proprietary and custom SEO functionality to leverage your site's ability to attract new visitors.

Search Engine Indexing
You should also index your site with major search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo. This should add further visibility and stickiness to your site. Many of these indexing services are free and with bundled webmaster tools will provide amateur webmasters many tools for analysis and optimisation.

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
It is not just important to have a good site description and relevant keywords, but it is key to know what you wish to achieve with your site in terms of site / product / service / publicity in your selected geographical area. To make your site SEO friendly it is vital to have a relevant site title and description to identify with customers and to know how to select and develop relevant in-content keywords to direct them to your site.

Backlinks
What I have done was to add / build backlinks with my local business / academic directories in Cape Town (My main "business" area is the presentation of short management and business courses) so that when people search for short courses my business name and my courses will be displayed as high as possible in their searches.

this will also assist in getting an acceptable page rank (PR) from Google. I focused
my SEO efforts around Google as it is very popular in my market area. And keep in
mind up to 60 - 70% of Internet users only search up to the first page of Google.

Pay Per Click (PPC) campaigns
There is also the option of Google Adwords advertising campaigns to assist with specific events or launches. I personally believe in organic SEO practices, but for the new site owner an Adwords or similar campaign may provide start-up momentum that could later evolve to only use on-site practices. I am not against Google Adwords, it is just a tactic that is not very cost-effective in my search marketing approach.

Purpose of your site
It is very important to understand the real purpose of your site - this will assist targeted traffic to visit for specific purposes. You have to be patient with SEO and work on your site content for targeted traffic. I am busy preparing my site for about 300 students per week that's required to register and download course information. I have steered away from waiting for traffic to find me to a pro-active informative site / publishing approach with important content (for which the users must register).

Decide what you want to do with your site. Is it a business for selling - or is it a medium
for getting relevant content across to support other / offline material? In my case the
www.vernonchalmers.com is mainly a medium to inform, educate and communicate.
It does not need to cost you to be on the search engines. Determine your real online
purpose and work patiently to link your site with other relevant and professional
entities.

Key research practices
Do not just Google your domain name, but also the various products / services /
content you are offering to your target market(s). Have a good look what competitors /
similar sites are doing on the search engines when you type your own keywords in.
You could also use some of online SEO services to evaluate your site? It will assist in
analysing your site's description and keywords. The built-in automatic and manual
URL submission will add your URL to many, many search engines and directories. I
have found these to be ineffective somewhat as it increase email spam from unknown
search engines and marketing companies.

Conclusion
SEO should be a major part of your Internet Marketing efforts and should happen over
time. It is important to appreciate traditional marketing and advertising practices to
assist in creating an effective online presence. Hosting and managing a website is an
important building block in executing business / marketing strategy and respect to
traditional business principles should guide you in the execution of your business
strategy. Key is not to wait for customers, but to proactively deploy the Internet as the
medium and message to communicate your presence, business and unique content.

Vernon Chalmers Internet Marketing courses and consultations.

Vernon Chalmers is an independent lecturer in e-Commerce at Varsity College Rondebosch Cape Town.

Lessons learned and advice to others about building and operating their own website

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:57:00 -0600

This was one of the questions asked by my hosting and CMS provider - Doodlekit - in their preparation of a detailed profile on the Vernon Chalmers website.

Lessons learned and advice to others about building and operating their own website

The website became an extension of my business, persona and service delivery standards and therefore required mindfulness in all content, news and product updates.

Know your target audience before attempting to communicate content and news to them. This will assist in information that is more relevant to increase return visitors and sales conversions.

Any website should be developed on traditional business and marketing principles. Set key targets and regularly track visitor behaviour to enable a good understanding of the pages they visit. This in turn will assist in tweaking content to be even more effective.

Very important is to register a website with your own domain name – I suggest that free plan users (on the Doodlekit platform as well) should at least take a Simple Plan to take advantage of the custom domain offer. Allow three to six months of active search engine indexing and SEO to gain substantial momentum with keywords, blog posts and general content searches.

A successful website takes time to develop and your site’s Internet Marketing and SEO is forever a work in progress.

Regularly update your website with new content, news and relevant advertising is mandatory for SEO and keeping visitors interested in returning to your website.

Detailed profile on Doodekit

SME Workshop: Preparing a website for online marketing and SEO

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:54:00 -0600

A mini-workshop facilitated on-site to assist SME business owners or private clients in the Western Cape with a DIY-approach to Internet marketing and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).

This four hour workshop is aimed at giving new website or blog owners a hands-on understanding on how to deploy various online tools to leverage their Internet Marketing efforts.

During this 4 hour session Vernon Chalmers will cover the following hands-on modules:

Online Marketing environment
Google Webmaster Tools
Social media integration
Search Engine Marketing
Online Adverising
Website Analytics

Workshops will be structured around specific requirements to assist online publishers and retailers with information and online tools for immediate deployment.

Cost: R650-00 per individual. R2 250-00 per group of up to four individuals

Time: 08:30 – 12:30 onsite (Monday - Saturday)

e-Business short courses and workshops - Cape Town

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:58:00 -0600

The following short course and private workshops will be facilitated by Vernon Chalmers during 2010:

Short Course / Workshop	Format	Fees	Duration
Internet Marketing and SEO	Short Course	R4 000	35 Hours
Corporate Social Media	Private Workshop	R1 500	12 Hours
Online Marketing Preparation	Private Workshop	R650	4 Hours
Effective Business Blogging	Private Workshop	R1 500	12 hours
Online Visibility and SEO	Private Workshop	R1 500	12 hours

Internet Marketing and SEO e-business consulting for Western Cape SME's

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:47:00 -0600

Offering a comprehensive range of Internet Marketing consulting services to Small and Medium Enterprises in the Western Cape.

Internet Marketing strategy
Market research and analysis
Internet Marketing tactical planning
Search Engine Marketing
Search Engine Optimisation
Affiliate Marketing recommendations
Social media strategy, planning and deployment
Google Adwords advertising management
Campaign project management
Detailed professional analytics / metrics interpretation

Visit Consulting Services for more information.

Intel Celeron desktop computer and Canon IP2500 PIXMA printer for sale

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:53:00 -0600

Please note: This particular system is sold - similar systems may become available over the next couple of weeks - please Contact Us to discuss.

Ideal for student or small office / home office workstation environment

Click here to view images

Value for money
Excellent value for money desktop computer system (with Microsoft Office software) for sale from Vernon Chalmers. This is an ideal and fully functional computer and printer workstation for a student or small office / home office.

Ideal working environment
This system is more than capable of processing Word / Excel / PowerPoint / Access tasks in its current configuration. It will allow you to watch a DVD and / or listen to a music CD. The user will also be able to copy CD disks and make backups of data from the hard drive using the CD-writing facility or copying it onto an external USB flash drive. Two of the 6 USB ports are situated infront for easy access.

Network ability and Skype
System is integrated with a 10/100 LAN card for home / office network access. This system was previously used with an external ADSL modem solution for Internet and e-mail connectivity and to Skype with overeas business and family contacts.

Reason for selling
This system became available via my client upgrade program. Private small office / home office client recently upgraded to a new system and this fully functional system and printer became available for re-selling.

Completely refurbished and tested
I personally re-installed all software and ran hardware tests to ensure functionality and all-round compatibility between computer system (all hardware / software) and printer.

Price = R1 250-00

Specifications - View images

Minitower Computer System
Processor	Intel Celeron 2.0 Gigahertz
RAM Memory	512 Megabyte (see options)
Hard Drive	20 Gigabyte (15 Gig free space)
Optical Drive	DVD ROM / CD-Writer
Network Card	10/100 LAN
USB Ports	6x Ports
Monitor	14" Colour
Keyboard	Genius
Mouse	Aopen optical

Software
Operating system	Microsoft Windows XP Professional (SP 3)
Office Software	Microsoft Office 2003 Professional
	Microsoft Publisher 2003
	Microsoft Project 2003
DVD Movie re-play	LG Cyberlink
CD-Writer	Nero Essentials 7
Image Management	Google Picasa 3.6

Printer
Canon IP 2500 with USB cable (Full refurbished black cartridge / colour to be replaced)

Optional Components

Increase RAM Memory to 1 Gigabyte (recommended) - R200-00
Futjitsu Siemens mini USB speakers - R80-00
Brand new Kingston USB 4 Gigabyte External Memory Drive - R80-00

System available for review and testing in Milnerton

Contact Us should you be interested in this system. We can then make arrangements for you to evaluate system in full operational and printing mode. Map

LG Internal SATA 22x speed DVD-Writers for sale - From R250-00

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:25:00 -0600

Upgrade your PC's CD-Writer to a new latest-technology LG GH22NS40 Internal SATA 22x speed Super-Multi SecurDisc drive

Specifications

	Securedisk technology
	Max 22x speed DVD R/W
	Serial ATA Interface
	CD and DVD-ROM compatible
	Buffer under-run prevention
	Windows Vista / 7 compatible
	RoHS compliant

Available for collection in Green Point, Milnerton and Rondebosch

All products are new with standard LG / distributor warranty

Visit the Product Page for more information.

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Vernon Chalmers is a registered reseller of premium branded IT products with more than 20 years experience in the planning, deployment and management of private IT solutions in Milnerton, Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula

Seagate Barracuda 3.5" SATA hard drives for sale - From R420-00

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:48:00 -0600

The Seagate© Barracuda© 7200.12 hard drive combines proven technology and components with industry-leading manufacturing expertise to deliver up to 1 Terrabyte of sustainable desktop storage with 32-MB Cache.

Pricing and Size

3.5 " Drive	Size	Price
Seagate	250 Gig	R420-00
Seagate	500 Gig	R550-00
Seagate	1 TB	R950-00

Best-fit applications

Workstations
Desktop RAID
Gaming PC's
High-end PC's
Mainstream PC's

Available for collection in Green Point, Milnerton and Rondebosch

All products are new with standard Seagate / distributor warranty

Vist the Product Page for more information.

USB flash memory drives for sale Cape Town - From R100-00

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:06:00 -0600

Kingston DataTraveler USB flash memory drives for sale from Vernon Chalmers

"Kingston USB flash drives are exceptional value for money to my private clients and students. I have been a supplier of these mobile storage devices for more than 5 years with sales of hundreds of units to Cape Town university and college students. "

Collection areas: Milnerton / Green Point / Rondebosch (collection days)

4 Gigabyte	R100-00
8 Gigabyte	R190-00
16 Gigabyte	R340-00
32 Gigabyte	R620-00

Backed by a five-year warranty and Kingston’s legendary service and support, DataTraveler 100 is a reliable, inexpensive solution for carrying digital files with you anywhere you go.

Visit the Product Page for more information / ordering.

BE CAREFUL of purchasing fake Kingston flash drives - read here

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Vernon Chalmers is a registered reseller of premium branded IT products with more than 20 years experience in the planning, deployment and management of private IT solutions in Milnerton, Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula.

Free online course resources - registration now open

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 01:59:00 -0600

CPUT and Varsity College students may now register on the Vernon Chalmers website for free online course resources.

Please note: Only registered students of the following official CPUT and Varsity College courses lectured by Vernon Chalmers will be able to access free online course and subject resources:

Institution	Subject	Day / Group	Register
CPUT	Communication Science	Tuesday	Login
CPUT	Personnel Development	Tuesday	Login
CPUT	Project / Fin Resource Man	Friday	Login
Varsity College	E-Commerce	Group 1	Login
Varsity College	E-Commerce	Group 2	Login

Registration disclaimer
This website and registration procedure is an independent medium for the provision of free additional course and subject information resources to all registered national and international students / users of the www.vernonchalmers.com website.

This website does not, nor does it intend to, participate in any formal student registration for any university, college, private / public training provider or business school.

Contact your academic institution / faculty for their formal enrolment and registration policy / procedure.

Website Terms and Conditions

Microsoft Office Home Student 2007 Sales Cape Town - R645-00

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 02:26:00 -0600

Microsoft Office Home Student 2007 suites for sale from Vernon Chalmers.

Collection areas: Milnerton / Green Point / Rondebosch (collection days)

Office Student 2007 is the essential software suite for home computers that enables you to quickly and easily create great-looking documents, spreadsheets and presentations, and organise your notes and information in one place, making it easier and more enjoyable for you to get things done.

Includes:

Excel 2007
OneNote 2007
PowerPoint 2007
Word 2007

Visit the Microsoft Office Product Page for more information

Effective Internet Marketing management and campaigning

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 22:51:00 -0600

Effective Internet Marketing is a strategic marketing / management initiative aimed to integrate with overall business and marketing strategy. Internet Marketing is essentially a hands-on process of executing various media and software tools associated with search engine marketing, online visibility and brand building techniques.

Sustained online awareness and publicity
Considering the life-cycle of a website’s development it is of opinion that an Internet Marketing campaign will only yield sustainable results if actively deployed over a 3 to 6 month period. A careful selection of tactical and creative deployment specifications will be included in proposals / campaigns to provide SME's with the required Internet Marketing tools to meet business and marketing objectives.

Increased conversion rates and sales
Increased visitation is no guarantee to direct sales conversions and it is therefore imperative that the Internet Marketing campaign is actively managed as a key success factor to increase product / service sales. During active campaign management it will be required to frequently track and measure visitor behaviour.

Lecturing Communication Science at the Graduate Centre for Management

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 23:21:00 -0600

Vernon Chalmers will be lecturing a Communication Science module once a week at the GCM of Cape Peninsula University of Technology's Somerset Square Campus.

This one year module will focus on the introductory elements required for understanding the application of business communication in contemporary business and public relations environments.

Visit CPUT's GCM short courses for course, study and campus-related information.

Microsoft Windows 7 Sales Cape Town - From R775-00

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:07:00 -0600

Microsoft Windows 7 operating systems for sale from Vernon Chalmers.

Collection areas: Milnerton / Green Point / Rondebosch (collection days)

Windows 7 Home Basic	R775-00
Windows 7 Home Premium	R995-00
Windows 7 Professional	R1 335-00
Windows 7 Ultimate (32 bit)	R1 750-00
Windows 7 Ultimate (64 bit)	R1 820-00

Visit the Microsoft Windows 7 Products Page

Lecturing Project / Financial Resource Management at the Graduate Centre for Management

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:49:00 -0600

Vernon Chalmers will be lecturing a Project and Financial Management module once a week at the GCM of Cape Peninsula University of Technology's Somerset Square Campus.

This one year module will focus on the introductory elements required for understanding the application of Project and Financial Management in the South African government and public management environment.

Visit CPUT's GCM short courses for course, study and campus-related information.

E-Commerce lecturing at Varsity College Cape Town

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:27:00 -0600

Vernon Chalmers will be lecturing the Introduction to E-Commerce (ECOM010) module as part of the Diploma in Business Management and Entrepreneurship twice a week at the Varsity College Rondebosch campus in Cape Town.

Visit the Varsity College website for course, study and campus-related information.

On-site Corporate Social Media workshop

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:50:00 -0600

Overview
This 12 hour workshop addresses social media as an opportunity to leverage corporate networking, public relations and marketing strategies. It focuses on the design and deployment of measurable social media applications to enhance interactive communication and integrate social information management practices.

Who should attend
- Business owners
- Entrepreneurs
- PR practitioners
- Marketing practitioners

Visit the Corporate Social Media Workshop page for more information

Lecturing Personnel Development at the Graduate Centre for Management

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:11:00 -0600

Vernon Chalmers will be lecturing a Human Resource Management module once a week at the GCM of Cape Peninsula University of Technology's Somerset Square Campus.

This year course will focus on the introductory elements required for understanding the application of contemporary Human Resource development in the South African business / public management environment.

Visit CPUT's GCM short courses for course, study and campus-related information.