During the last year, Tonya Khoury, MD of ROi Africa, has established herself as one of the most credible sources for media monitoring statistics in South Africa. Since the funeral of former president Nelson Mandela, to date, Tonya is a regular face on some of the foremost media like, SAFM, Carte Blanche, ANN7, Beeld, Associated Press, Rapport and 702, providing reliable and insightful statistics on the Oscar Pistorius Trial, the 2014 FIFA Soccer World Cup, the 2014 Elections, the Olympics, the Nkandla debacle and many more leading news stories.  

Khoury recalls how she initially started providing statistics to the media. “I was surprised by the amount of coverage the death of former president Nelson Mandela yielded and decided to share these statistics with the media. After that I started following and analyzing coverage of the Oscar Pistorius Trial I followed it from the start, devoting hours every day to finding new angles to cover to keep publishers and readers engaged, providing them to journalists, and feeding content to social media sites. Every morning and some evenings, daily stats were sent to a growing list of contacts,” she recalls.

At the beginning of the trial, she reached out to the four main media houses who own most of the channels in South Africa. The first publisher to pick up her stats, 702, asked Khoury to read them each morning on the radio show set up to cover the trial. The media quickly contacted her for more information, so they began emailing stats updates once or twice a day. “From there the demand got bigger and bigger, as new news stories and global events broke,” she adds.

According to Mathapelo Matjokana, the producer of the Afternoon Talk with Ashraf Garda Show on SAFM, one of the first media to use Tonya’s statistics on a regular basis, says that, “With the arrival of Khoury’s statistics people were able to understand, for example, the Oscar Trial better as complex legal matters were broken down into simpler terms. It also allowed them to follow the World Cup and Olympics through a bird’s eye view with these analyses.”  

Amalia Christoforou, Managing Editor of the Oscar Trial Channel (Carte Blanche) adds that Khoury’s analysis offered a simplified and entertaining comparison, giving a local and global assessment of news around the trial, as compared to other breaking news. Joshua Carstens, producer of Afternoon Drive on Radio 702, says, “It helped me focus on what is important and what the audiences are talking about. In essence it made the scene less cluttered.”   

The producer of the Jenny Crwys-Williams Show on Radio 702, Gary Oberholzer, added that, “Certainly for our #OscarExtra presenters to be able to frame the growing or waning media interest, to describe the trends from a bird’s eye view, Tonya’s statistics were crucial. Especially on something as lengthy as this trial.“  

Christoforou agrees adding, “”The ROi Africa analysis graphically depicted the way in which the OP trial narrative and news was able to sustain local and international audiences and media attention, which is unusual for a story that has spanned so many months with so much dipping and peaking of elements of interest . A large focus of the Oscar Pistorius Channel was depiction of the way in which the narrative of the trial was digested online through digital media platforms and social media platform users. The ROI Africa stats gave us in-depth analysis of this world and the way in which it was ingesting and delivering the trial story.”

The statistics of ROi also provided the media with new avenues to generate content. Matjokana adds that, before ROi they never used to have a roundup of stories that have made headlines globally throughout the week and when she and presenter, Garda, saw the value that Khoury brought on to the show with updated and reliable statistics, “we realised that it could be of interest to our listeners”. 

Garda concurs and adds that, with the detailed, colourful, credible and immediate statistics Khoury set herself above the rest by delivering this information regularly and on the turn. “To add, Khoury was not just the communications spokesperson for the information - she was the embodiment of the statistics. She literally ‘lived’ the statistics, which showed in the way she presented her statistics over the radio. She delivered the stats in a most engaging, spontaneous manner and that's really important when dealing in the radio and TV space where information must not only be credible but it has to be delivered in a most entertaining way.”  

Laura Wiener, 702 Producer, add that what made Khoury’s statistics so crucial is the fact that it was credible – “It is important for us at the Oscar Extra channel that the statistics be credible and accurate as we would not want to be disseminating inaccurate information and statistics to our listeners,” she stresses.    

Catrine Malan, freelance journalist of the SABC, echoes this, adding that finding statistics for a case like the Oscar Pistorius Trial, isn't that hard. “What is hard is finding the experts, who are able to explain and put these statistics into context in a manner that is understandable to even a teenager sitting at home. We found that expert in Khoury. She has the ability to summarise and compare not only the most important but also most talked about statistics out there.”    

Garda concurs, adding, “I love the fact that Khoury is adept at delivering the contact via email, then chatting about in air and at the same time tweeting the information. That synergy and convergence of platforms is really important to what I do on air,” he emphasises.   Malan concludes that Khoury’s work has always been spot on. “Especially on the trending topics like Oscar / World Cup, etc. her opinions and analysis was a top quality expert opinion that we will definitely use in the future,” she concludes.  

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Tonya Khoury                                        073 874 5377
E-mail:                                                 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Twitter:                                                @tonyaroi / @roiafrica
Facebook:                                            Facebook.com/roiafrica      
Website:                                              http://www.roiafrica.com 

Today saw the launch of GamesOutlast.com, set to become one of the most exciting entrants to launch into the online casual gaming market, the games site runs on the GameZBoost gaming platform, a South African based company. The GameZBoost platform runs some of the top global publishers gaming sites, these include RTL Netherlands, NBC Universal and Sony Pictures Entertainment.  

The games site is targeted at a predominantly male audience, primarily between the ages of 15 to 45 and from across the globe. The desktop browser gaming market is a large market and currently spans across the globe and has an active monthly audience of over 500 million active users, with this sector of the gaming market generating revenues in excess of US$6.6Bn per annum.  

The GamesOutlast.com site offers the following core features and gaming content to their users:                     

• 600 games, including titles from leading game studios, such as BigPoint  & R2 Games                    
• Full integration with the micro payments platform, which includes avatar pimping, purchasing of in-game power-ups, sending of virtual gifts and many other transactive elements                    
• Integration with Facebook Connect, allowing for quick and easy user registration                    
• Tournaments                    
• Challenges and Contests                    
• Avatar Creation                    
• Friends, Messaging and Virtual Gifts                    
• Game Search Functionality                    
• Live High Score Leader boards                    
• Players Favourite Games                    
• Social Sharing

The GamesOutlast.com site will offer regular tournaments that will allow users to pit themselves against other users and determine who the true top gamers are within the GamesOutlast.com gaming community. The tournaments will be expanded to include real world prizes, with users competing for not only the glory of holding the top slot on the leader boards, but being rewarded for their efforts with some great prizes and free credits.  

When GamesOutlast.com was looking for a provider, they set out the following minimum qualifying criteria:         

• Ability to fully white label the look and feel of the games portal, while creating a brand that is able to differentiate itself from the other portals that run on the GameZBoost platform and the gaming sector at large;        
• Allow for integration with existing user registration platform, creating a single sign-on solution for users, thus allowing them to access all the content, without the need to re-register;        
• Be able to offer a broad selection of content that appeals to a male dominated audience, without detracting from and attracting and retaining a female audience.        
• Ability to offer a broad selection of 3rd party game content, which are integrated with the SSO elements of the platform, thus allowing users to register once and access all the content;
• GamesOutlast.com required that the platform should offer them, the following benefits:         
• Full extension of the primary brand;        
• Multiple revenue streams;        
• Proven user retention and acquisition medium;

New features and premium casual and MMO game titles will be added to the GamesOutlast.com site on a regular basis, be sure to check back on a regular basis.  

Find out more at: http://www.gamesoutlast.com

About GameZBoost: GameZBoost is a SOuth African based company and has been in business since 2013, with the primary vision to provide publishers with a gaming solution that could be fully white labelled, localised and be seamlessly integrated with their existing user registration (Single Sign-on) platforms, thus allowing them to offer a compelling games offering to attract and retain users.  The platform has been further enhanced with the addition of a number of new API’s that allow 3rd party developers to integrate their titles into the platform, this gives the added advantage of offering publishers a single content management solution, that is fully integrated with multiple game developers, further to this users need only register once and are then able to access all the titles and content across the games portal. To date the likes of BigPoint, R2 Games, XS Software, LeKool, Innogames, Blue Frog Gaming and a number of other premium game developers have integrate their titles into the GameZBoost platform.  

Contact Info for further information:
Website: http://www.gamesoutlast.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Spur Steak Ranches has introduced a cool new range of digital innovations and applications, designed to appeal to kids, teens and adults. Having recently been awarded  the “Coolest Eat-Out Place” in the Sunday Times Generation Next 2014 Survey, Spur is innovating in order to appeal to the younger market via original digital applications.  

With 3 FREE new exciting Spur apps, a new responsive and interactive website and the Spur Secret Tribe online magazine, SA’s favourite family restaurant remains tops when it comes to fun and relevant entertainment for its younger diners. The mobile game apps are fun and safe for children of all ages and can be downloaded across all platforms (Apple and Android tablets and smartphones) or they can be  played online at www.spurtribe.co.za  

Get creative with Colour Me 3D

Augmented Reality is pushed to its limits with Spur’s Secret Tribe Characters, Buttercup, Soaring Eagle and Buffalo Brave! Colour them in, download the Colour Me 3D app and watch your very own creation come alive on your digital device.

Since 8 July this year, children can visit their local Spur from and buy a Kids’ Burger, cold drink and Spur Tribe plush toy for only R54.90 (while stocks last).  With every meal purchased, children will also receive a free colouring in sheet of either Buffalo Brave, Soaring Eagle or Buttercup. Through the magic of technology, the Colour Me 3D app makes them actually ‘come alive’. They talk, laugh, jump and duck when one interacts with them.

This app encourages creativity and has been designed to develop fine motor skills, and introduce 3D and Augmented Reality technology to children.  Visit www.Spur3D.co.za to start colouring in with 3D now!  

Spur Tribe Dash – Get your game on!

Players have to help the Secret Tribe Team, Buffalo Brave, Soaring Eagle and Buttercup save their animal friends from creepy enemies like the Flapigator, Smog and Ellybugs. The characters’ adventure progresses through various levels to collect precious eggs, honey and tasty bones, which are required to ‘save the day’.  

Spur Tribe Dash can also be played on the Spur Tribe website (www.spurtribe.co.za). Spur has designed the app to develop hand-eye coordination, creativity and problem solving, while providing hours of entertainment.

Players are rewarded by unlocking new characters, levels and totems to enhance their score.  The game consists of three levels, Lush Forest, Desert Oasis and Rocky Canyon. Players can join the scoreboard by signing in with their Family Card or Secret Tribe number and top scorers will win vouchers toward their next meal!

Visit www.Tribedash.co.za for more info  

Spur Tribe Birthday Jam

Children who fancy being a DJ can now surprise their friends on their birthday with their own cool customized birthday music mix using the app, Spur Tribe Birthday Jam. Your favourite Spur Tribe characters will jam along on their guitars and turntables and rock the house with their own mix of pop, rock 'n roll and rap, boasting the voices of top South African artists.  

This app, which encourages musical creativity, also allows kids to add a name, age and several other features to the song before sending it off. With Kids’ Birthdays being an integral part of the Spur bouquet, Spur sends a postcard to every Secret Tribe member on his or her birthday to collect their free birthday meal. All Secret Tribe members also receive a free soda on every visit to the Spur.

Visit www.SpurBirthdayJam.co.za to start mixing your own birthday song.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  

NAME: Ryan Haworth, Digital Manager
TEL: 021-555 5100
E-MAIL: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
WEBSITE: http://www.spurtribe.co.za
TWITTER: @SpurRestaurant #SpurKids
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SpurSteakRanches  

Solomon’s Haven was founded in 1992, when Maria Solomons and her family opened their hearts and doors to vulnerable children in the area, creating a place of safety and equipping them with the necessary education and skills and to prepare them for their future, and developing them intellectually, socially, emotionally and spiritually.

Maria explains that, in her area, so many women are caught up in a vicious cycle of abuse and neglect that they struggle to look after themselves, let alone their children. “When deciding to leave her abuser, she is usually faced with either living on the streets ór going to a shelter, where she and her children can stay for three to six months… and then? Sometimes they are faced with being thrown out on the streets or going back to the origin of the abuse,” Maria says concerned.

It is with one such incident that Solomon’s Haven was founded. When her late son, Nadeem, was in Grade 5 he started bringing a 7–year old friend home every day. Maria spoke to the boy and he eventually disclosed that his father was very abusive towards him, his siblings (aged 4 and 9) and his mother. Maria eventually invited the boy’s mother for dinner and after a long talk she told Maria that she is faced with a huge problem: her husband is molesting her two daughters!

Maria decided there and then to provide shelter to the women while she took steps against her husband, with Maria’s support. Maria took care of them, reminded of her own background of abuse.

“I did not really have role models, growing up under difficult circumstances, with an abusive father.  We were five to six children sleeping on a bed, without blankets – we had to use carpets and our clothes to keep warm. This gradually formed me to become strong, which helped me to survive and definitely helps me to assist the children of Solomon’s Haven today,” she adds proudly.

Maria is, however, very happy that times have changed and that women are better protected through improved legislation. “When I grew up, men in our community beat some women to a pulp, women felt powerless to take any action and as a result nothing was ever done about it. Now it is a whole new picture. When you lift your hands for a woman (or man!) you will, in most cases, go to jail,” she adds.

“I have a compassion for children, especially those growing up under difficult circumstances, and I am a mother, with a huge heart for children. I do not want to see my children getting hurt… I do not want any child getting hurt, for that matter. Nelson Mandela once said something along the line of: ‘If you have a head and a heart, you see everything differently’ and I feel that is very applicable to me. It does not matter what is ‘wrong’ with the child or what his or her condition or problem is – I just love them.” You can see the kids that arrive here are broken, but I give every child as many hugs and love as possible. The kid realises that you care for them as soon as you give them hugs. It sometimes takes two weeks or more for them to start trusting me, but eventually I do manage to break through their ‘walls’ with love,” Maria says.

Some of the children have grown up with one, but in some instances even two abusive parents. Maria is concerned that in the latter case, the children are left without any caregiver and nobody to protect them. Without a mother a family literally falls apart. Maria adds that in such cases, there usually is no bread in the house and the children have to ask neighbours for a piece of food… or hope somebody will help them.

“Kids like these do not know the security of a family and that is what we are trying to reinstate in their lives.  A family stick together, no matter what happens, like me and my family. We carry each other through difficult times. We want the kids to experience the same and a feeling of home and somebody being there for them after school. Do you know how gratifying it is when they arrive home after school and ask, “Where’s Mommy?’”

“With the help of generous organisations like Spur Foundation, I can be their mommy and provide them with a family. We never eat separately, but together as a family – an aspect that truly resonates with Spur’s focus on the family. In the evenings when we sit in front of the TV, they massage and wash my feet. That is how they give back. They cry when I take my feet back, as it signifies rejection to them.  Pampering me is a thank you from their side,” she says with a smile.

Maria stresses that it is not an easy job – both financially and emotionally. “On the financial side I have to provide food for all of them. Organisations like Spur Foundation contribute regularly and it helps, but it does not cover all our needs. As an example, the 17 kids currently in my care, eat at least ten loaves of bread per day!” she adds.

“On the emotional side I also have to be the strong woman for them. I can only cry or show emotions when I am alone in my room, as I become such a part of these children’s daily struggles. Spur Foundation’s support has shown me that they believe in what I do and that that they believe these children need help. It lessens the burden on me, as I know there is somebody that cares. Spur Foundation recently donated new bed linen to all the children on Mandela Day (18 July) – it was probably the first time in their lives that they slept under new duvet covers! " she adds.

Since its inception between 400 and 500 children have been helped at Solomon’s Haven, with Maria assisting some of them to train as boilermakers, policemen, social workers and more. For this remarkable work Maria was nominated as a finalist in the Cape Times Woman of Worth 2003 Competition and in 2004 she won the award.

“For the next year my big wish would be bigger premises, so that everybody has their own space and can feel special,” she adds. “Feeling special is something they have not experienced a lot in their lives, but the love and support for the children make them look past the fact that there might not be another tomorrow,” Maria concludes.

Spur salutes this great mother of so many of the neglegted and destitude children in her area.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:

NAME: Ronel van Dijk, Chairperson of the Spur Foundation and Chief Financial Officer of Spur Corporation Limited
TEL: 021-555 5100
E-MAIL: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
WEBSITE: http://www.spurfoundation.co.za
TWITTER: @SpurRestaurant
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SpurSteakRanches  

On 9 August, National Women’s Day, South Africans will be saluting the role of women in our society. In this spirit, Spur Foundation will be saluting Liesel James, founder of Creating Change, one of the primary beneficiaries of the Spur Foundation. 

Creating Change is a non-profit company that strives to empower the youth in under-served communities, to build a sustainable future for themselves and their families. This programme provides education and skills development through indigenous permaculture gardening, healthy cooking and nutrition, product development and more.  

Spur Foundation joined forces with Creating Change to set up the Conscious Lifestyle Programme at the Desmond Tutu HIV Youth Centre in Masiphumulele, Ocean View, between Kommetjie and Noordhoek in Cape Town.

“The Desmond Tutu Centre is aimed at educating youth on health and providing guidance especially around HIV and leadership. It ties in with our Conscious Lifestyle Programme where we teach them about nutrition, the uses of plants, environmental awareness and how to maintain a permaculture garden - an agricultural system or method that seeks to integrate human activity with natural surroundings to create highly efficient self-sustaining ecosystems. We want to inform them about the dangers of chemicals and additives in soil and processed food and, of course, we also want to show them positive and affordable alternatives to it,” Liesel explains.

The Ocean View community is heavily dependent on local industry, seasonal fishing and labour. There is much unemployment and poverty in the area and social problems. Liesel says, as a result, the biggest threats to the children at the Centre and in Ocean View are rape, drugs and gangsterism.

“These children just need to be nurtured, guided and supported, in order to break the negative cycle they may find themselves in – and ironically it resonates extremely well with the Spur Foundation slogan, Nourish, Nurture, Now!” she adds.  

“I have three children of my own, so I understand them and treat all the kids I work with like I am their biological mother. When they do something wrong I have to reprimand them – I often have to intervene when they have anger management, discipline and racial issues. I basically just love them –they are the motivation why I am still here,” Liesel says proudly.

“I have felt like giving up before, due to burnout, but never due to the children, more as a result of a lack of resources or adult ‘gatekeepers’ in the community who were standing in the way of us reaching the children, changing original agreements and making it challenging for me to deliver. Children are here to learn and I am here to teach them,” she says adamantly.

Liesel believes that Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has always been a man of integrity, standing up for humanity, speaking his truth without fear, calling us the Rainbow Nation and believing that, without forgiveness, there is no future.

“He is really the last honourable leader and voice left in South Africa, after the passing of Nelson Mandela. Mandela, again, can be admired for his humility, wisdom and honourable attitude after 27 years in prison. He was our African father,” Liesel adds.

Using these two formidable leaders as an example, Liesel aims to assist all the children on the programme until they finish school. Every year Creating Change offers more skills development than the year before and the programme is evolving into a mentorship and entrepreneurship programme, assisting the children when they leave school.  This will have an effect on the communities around them and the people they come in touch with for the rest of their lives.

Liesel and her team have been working with some of the children for five years and watched them grow and learn. She realised that children need a huge amount of support, especially in these communities where there is a lack of guidance, career counselling and good mentorship. She assisted regularly to provide them with different stimuli, constant education and guidance on how to make healthy choices. The children need to have a safe place to talk about anything.

The Desmond Tutu Centre provides learners with dedicated counsellors, but some of the Ocean View children are still carrying a lot inside them, without much safe assistance.  “I hope that they will remember me as someone who is independent, a finisher, but more importantly as someone who loved them dearly and believed in them,” Liesel concludes.

Spur Foundation has supported Creating Change for the past 6 years and have watched the project grow from strength to strength through the dedicated and passionate work of Liesel James and her team. She truly embodies the spirit of ubuntu and Spur can proudly salute Liesel as one of South Africa’s great servants of her community.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: NAME: Ronel van Dijk, Chairperson of the Spur Foundation and Chief Financial Officer of Spur Corporation Limited
TEL: 021-555 5100
E-MAIL: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
TWITTER: @SpurRestaurant
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SpurSteakRanches

The Spur Foundation will be carrying forward our vision to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of our communities by visiting House of Grace outside Durbanville on Saturday, 2 August 2014.

House of Grace is a place of safety for abandoned and abused children who have been through tremendous hardship and previous neglect. They work closely with the Department of Welfare, Government, the South African Police Service and hospitals in handling the interests of these children.

Aletta Herbst and her adopted daughter, Michelle, who manage House of Grace, have a special compassion for children in this type of crisis. Aletta herself was abandoned as a child, and lived for two years on the streets of Cape Town, sleeping in the bathrooms at Cape Town Station. She was taken care of by a cleaner who worked at the station, who would bring her food and clothing. This lady was eventually able to get Social Services to send the young girl to school and Aletta was moved to a boarding school in Wolmaransstad.

"When you have endured something like this," Aletta explains, "you can empathise with these children. I know how they feel, and what they are going through," she says.

House of Grace currently houses 18 children who range in age from 13 months to 16 years. They do not receive a government subsidy or grant for the work they do and are struggling to make ends meet. Spur Foundation realised the need to support Aletta, Michelle and the children at House of Grace, and took the initiative to lend a helping hand.  

As part of the ‘Sponsor a Child’ project, the Spur Foundation and Spur employees were requested to sponsor gift boxes for all the children. These gifts, which will be handed to the kids on 2 August, will contain special surprises and useful items, as requested by the children themselves, ranging from soccer balls, shoes, nail polish, hair accessories and clothing, to baby food, as well as little treats to show them that Spur is a company that truly cares for the children of South Africa.    

“We are hoping to bring joy to these children and support, in some small way, the efforts of these strong and amazing servants of society. Aletta’s story truly moved me and I am privileged and proud that the Spur Foundation has taken on House of Grace as a beneficiary,” adds Joe Stead, the Spur employee who initiated the project. The Foundation will in the future contribute on a monthly basis towards the grocery requirements of the children.  

The Spur Foundation was established on Mandela Day, 18 July 2012 with a donation from the Spur Group of R670 000. The value of the donation not only resonates with the ’67 minutes’ theme of Mandela Day, but also recognises the founding of the Spur family in 1967. The Foundation aims to uplift and improve the lives of South African families, with a special emphasis on assisting children. The Foundation supports initiatives that assist children in impoverished communities by administering feeding schemes and providing basic necessities and amenities. Over time the Foundation plans to provide financial assistance for educational bursaries and general community upliftment. For more information on the Foundation and their beneficiaries, go to http://www.spurfoundation.co.za

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:

NAME: Ronel van Dijk, Chairperson of the Spur Foundation and Chief Financial Officer of Spur Corporation Limited
TEL: 021-555 5100
E-MAIL: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
TWITTER: @SpurRestaurant
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SpurSteakRanches
YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/user/SpurChannel

The SEO landscape is vast and ever changing and it can be tricky to navigate. What was once acceptable practice one day, can be frowned upon the next, which often results in us all feeling more than a little confused. So we know that we have to get on board with SEO, but just how much should we know and can we not just leave SEO at a handful of links and continue business as usual? Well, yes and no.

As PR’s we are connoisseurs of crafting a beautifully packaged but devilishly concise message, but this message can be lost at sea if it’s bogged down in ineffective SEO practices which, dilute rather than enhance, the power of what we’re trying to say. We know that we have content in the bag, it’s our forte. And with the appetite for good content at an all time high, there is no better time to cash in on that talent.

But you can’t do it without giving some attention to those three little letters, which seem so innocent but are so very necessary and, at times, so very evasive. So I’ve broken SEO down into five areas which I have identified for creating good content, which can also be easily found. Some of it may seem obvious and some not, but stick with me and in no time you and Google will be best buddies. And let’s face it, you both want and need to be best friends with the search engine giant. 

1)Keywords, Keywords, Keywords This is essential when writing content online. Brainstorm as to which keywords suit your clients’ work, and ask them what keywords they already use in their websites and blogs to ensure that your press release or other writing is cohesive. When thinking about keywords, ask yourself whether the keyword is relevant to your article? Can you integrate it into the copy well? Will searchers find your clients services when they use these keywords? Will they be interested?

Remember to include a long tail keyword into your blog post. Like their name suggest long tail keywords are less common, longer and more specific on their own but together add up to account for most search-driven traffic. When thinking about creating long tail keywords that will lead to people finding your content, think about how you yourself would search for your blog article and go from there. 

2) Know the value of keywords with Keyword Planner This tool is such a handy guide to getting to grips with writing content for Google. It is designed for advertisers on Google and can be accessed through Google Adwords, but you don’t have to advertise to use Keyword Planner.

Keyword Planner teaches you how to search for new keywords and ad group ideas, get search volume for a list of keywords or to group them into ad groups and multiply keyword lists to get new keyword ideas. But what is the most of use to PRs is looking for new keyword ideas and the search volume for keywords.

My advice to you is to look for keywords with a low to medium competition rate but with a good search volume. Easier said than done I know, but give it a try. Remember to keep note of these terms and start to create an online glossary. Once you’ve selected your three to four keywords style then integrate these into your copy.

Don’t stuff your copy with keywords, this looks like spam and you will lessen your ranking. Rather mention your main keyword in the title, and dot your other keywords among the first and second paragraphs. For a 500-word release aim to use a target keyword between two and four times. 

3) Meta Description These meta description tags are used in search results. It is important to use them if you want some degree of influence over what search engines display in the search results of when your web page ranks for a particular keyword query. Write a short snappy description of your content with a keyword that encourages people to click through to your site. Tease them but give them an idea of what your article is about. 

4)Alt tags A blog article or press release that has been optimised for the web should have pictures to attract and engage with the reader. People are more likely to click through to your content if you have images. By adding alt tags in the image properties, you’ll ensure that a your images get discovered in search engines. When writing your alt tags, think about Google being blind and you are describing concisely, but with detail, what is in the picture. 

5) Links Lastly, links. Ah, an essential component of building relationships and credibility but one that is often misunderstood. The old reasoning used to be that the the more links you put into your article, the better your website would rank, leading to blog traffic. Now days, this is far from the case and can actually cause your page to be signalled as spam by Google - not good!

More is not necessarily better when it comes to links and SEO and here’s why… Our digital world means that it is becoming harder and harder to focus on one thing when we have so many platforms, articles and videos vying for our attention. I often feel I have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) keeping upwards of 20 tabs open on my computer and hopping from one to site to another. By adding too many links in your blog posts, the more likely your readers are to click on them, thereby dividing their attention and they are less likely to retain what they read. If you want them to follow along with you and digest what you are saying, then you need to make sure that there are as few distractions as possible.

Only link to something if it is absolutely necessary for your readers to understand what you’re writing about. This includes links to your own posts; ideally, you should put those at the end so that you can benefit from increased traffic without breaking your readers’ concentration. There’s a technical side to links as well, as too many links can also lessen your page ranking.

The reality in SEO is the more links a page has, the less internal PageRank each of those links passes. You are dividing the PageRank of that page between hundreds of links, so each link is only going to pass along a minuscule amount of PageRank. Stick to the ratio of one link for every 125 words, and ideally keep it at three links per article. Send one link to the homepage, one to the product page where readers can be sent directly to the product or service that they are reading about. Lastly send one to a blog post or a place where users can interact with your social content and get to know your client’s business better. I hope that these tips have helped and that you feel more empowered to tackle the task of optimising your content for online. The great thing about the Internet is that there are plenty of avenues to teach yourself and learn as you go. 

Furthering the journey to “Live the Legacy” of International Mandela Day on 18 July 2014, the Spur Foundation has extended its countrywide Spur Salutes You campaign. The Foundation organised an enthusiastic team of 260 individuals which included Spur Corporation staff members, franchisees and suppliers, who honoured commendable leaders in the communities it supports, by devoting time and effort to beneficiaries in five of our provinces.  

According to the Chairperson of the Spur Foundation and Chief Financial Officer of Spur Corporation Limited, Ronel van Dijk, “This was a heart-warming and enriching experience for all involved. It was an honour to assist these ladies and the institutions they devote their time to. The Spur Foundation really pulled together to let them know that we are here for you and you are not alone in your mission to ensure a great future for the children of South Africa”.  

Van Dijk added: “The Foundation would not have been able to benefit these little lives to the extent it has, had  it not been for the generous Spur franchisees and employees who have joined hands with the Foundation to contribute towards the identified needs of selected charities in the major provinces. These include basic needs such as bedding, mattresses, baby milk, curtains, slippers, cutlery and crockery, toys, furniture and food".  

Spur Foundation’s activities included:   

Western Cape 

Solomon’s Haven, Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town  

The Foundation held a collection drive at Spur Corporation’s Century City office for blankets, baby necessities and kids’ clothing, which were handed over to Solomon’s Haven. The children all received new bedding from the Foundation, along with wall decorations to create a stunning cosy environment for the 17 kids aged between 0 and 18. These children each received a Spur goodie bag with a deodorant, body cream, sweets, toys and toothpaste and were then treated to Panarottis’ delicious pizzas. They also spent some quality time with the Spur staff volunteers in a day filled with a taste for life!  

KwaZulu-Natal

Durban Children’s Home, Durban  

The boys’ bedrooms at the Durban Children’s Home were refurbished by the enthusiastic Spur staff volunteers. The walls were painted, brand new lockers were installed and new dark blue curtains transformed the rooms into a dream come true for all. Each boy received a pair of slippers, a deodorant, bath products and a Spur mug. The 75 kids aged between 0 and 18 were also treated to a fabulous Spur lunch and received rugby balls to keep them entertained for hours to come.  

Gauteng

ASHA Trust, Alexandra, Johannesburg  

Spur Foundation in Gauteng requested sponsorship from their franchisees in the province to fulfil the individual needs of ten day care centres in Alexandra, namely Happy Hours Day Care, Mante Day Care, Owethu Day Care, Pure Day Care, Sunshine Day Care, Phila Day Care, Enjabulweni Day Care, Arethabeng Day Care, Siyakhula Day Care and Dreamers Day Care.  The franchisees pulled together to raise a substantial amount of money to assist these day care centres. Toilet paper, soccer balls, toys, blankets, desks, pigeon holes, shelving and non-perishable foods were donated to the day care centres. The donation of flooring and mattresses made a huge difference to the children, most of whom slept on the floor. The volunteers laid the floor, astro-turfed certain areas and painted some of the buildings. Certain day care centres also received a modular play frame to ensure the children would have a place to play. Each child also received a goodie bag containing a Spur Secret Tribe Magazine, puzzles, sweet treats and other activities. The children were also treated to a delicious take-away lunch from either Spur, Panarottis, John Dory’s or Captain DoRegos.  

Free State

Botshelo Centre, Rocklands, Bloemfontein  

Staff from Captain DoRegos ensured a great day in Mzansi by handing out lucky packets, food and other necessities such as blankets and non-perishable food to the 40 children aged between 2 and 10.  

Eastern Cape

Inn Safe Hands, Port Elizabeth  

Spur Foundation, staff volunteers and generous franchisees arranged much needed burglar proofing and plumbing for this home. Children aged between 4 and 14 were also treated to a Spur lunch party and the volunteers spent some fun time with the children.   The Spur Foundation was founded on Mandela Day in 2012, with an initial R670 000 donation from the Spur Group. Spur’s value of generosity and focus on family will be carried through to the Foundation’s various initiatives throughout the year, aligned to its slogan Nourish, Nurture, Now!  

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  

NAME: Ronel van Dijk, Chairperson of the Spur Foundation and Chief Financial Officer of Spur Corporation Limited
TEL: 021-555 5100
E-MAIL: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
WEBSITE: http://www.spurfoundation.co.za
TWITTER: @SpurRestaurant #SpurSalutesYou
FACEBOOK:  https://www.facebook.com/SpurSteakRanches    

Tonya Khoury of Fourways in Johannesburg is a woman with more than 20 years’ experience in media monitoring and client liaison and is widely regarded as one of the foremost experts in the South African and African media monitoring industry.  

As the Managing Director of newly formed media monitoring company, ROi Africa (based in Lynnwood, Pretoria), she is driven by service. “I learnt very quickly in my career that sales equalled superb customer service and I loved making unhappy clients happy. During my employment at a competitor media monitoring concern just over a decade ago, my eyes opened to the opportunity of making money out of ‘cutting up newspapers’!  This passion was unleashed and got stronger every day.  

Career 

Tonya started her monitoring career Newsclip until her entrepreneurial flair took the upper hand and she started Jisani Digitrack, the first black empowered media monitoring company in Africa, in a partnership as Sales and Marketing Director and shareholder. Unfortunately the partnership soured, but Tonya’s passion for innovative media monitoring persisted.  Her experience across various other monitoring companies including DDI taught Tonya that entrepreneurship takes tenacity and an “I never give up” attitude, being a leader in the industry comes from fighting mediocrity and honing in on market need. 

Tonya, who initially wanted to be a lawyer, learnt early that she was never going to fit into a corporate law firm. “I’m an entrepreneur and that is something deeply ingrained in me. Passion and attitude is everything – these are attributes you either have or not – and I believe that it cannot be taught, like skills and knowledge. I have experienced that all these aspects are important, but the former two are crucial and have been essential for my career and life as an entrepreneur,” she explains.   

Being an Entrepreneur 

“It takes balls – big, big balls to be a business owner. It isn't glamorous and it isn't easy - it's much, much harder than clocking in and out and taking your pay cheque at the end of each month. But, if you want to make a difference and believe you can, and if you are dead set on a dream you have no choice but to do it ‘alone’.  If you're lucky you'll meet people along the way that are like minded and they will give you a ‘leg up’. In most instances where money is concerned, they won't. But there is no bigger rush in the world than a solid sense of achievement, knowing you were right and reaping the rewards, which is already happening in ROi’s case!” she adds. 

She believes that, if people have a passion for what they do, they will make a success out of it. “There is no reward greater than fulfilling your passion. Following your passion does, however, come with hard work and risks. I have fallen more times than I care to count, but I never gave up. Business is tough - really tough - but so is life sometimes and if you enjoy what you do, then that’s the bonus. Entrepreneurship is a drug like no other and must be used with caution.” 

Media Monitoring 

Tonya is also a strong believer that the South African media monitoring industry needs a shake-up, as well as a move away from Advertising Value Equivalent (AVE) as measurement tool. “We have to be faster, sexier, more effective and more interactive. Due to this I have decided to forge international partnerships, which allows for access to international ideas at the forefront of media monitoring,” she explains.  

“Media interaction has to be lightning fast.  You have to be quick and, more importantly, consistent. You have to fully understand the media monitoring industry and, with my more than 20 years’ experience, I know that ROi is heading for an amazing future,” Tonya says proudly. She is adamant that media monitoring is not a ‘nice to have’ but an essential tool for each business, especially in crisis situations. She believes it is impossible for an individual to keep track of a story running out of control, as there are simply too many outlets. This job calls for specialists, in the form of media monitors, as negative brand reputation messages require immediate attention across all spheres.  

Being a Woman

“Women are exceptionally hard working and inventive and topped with their multitasking ability, they make formidable impacts on the Media Industry. Being multitaskers, I also find that women are able to focus on more than one thing at once, which is ideal for our industry. “One of my biggest challenges is time, I’m not patient, my industry is not patient,” she remarks.

She does, however, add that her feminine intuition has helped her to identify the very best support team to build the ROi foundation and, most importantly to decide between right and wrong. “”I have always trusted my gut and I’ve learnt to act on its instruction,” Tonya adds.

Lessons

“Another thing that life taught me is that the only person who can pull the carpet from underneath you is yourself. In my younger years I have struggled a little with self-doubt - I used to be extremely good at telling myself all the reasons I would not be able to achieve something – but with age and experience I have learnt to believe the opposite: listening to all the reasons why I will be able to achieve success, like with ROi”.

Tonya also says that she has also learnt that I am unemployable and can’t work for somebody else. “I have to work for myself because I absolutely need operational and sales freedom in my business plan,” she adds.

Tonya says that a good business model is based on:        

• Identifying a market need – a  hungry market is key to making a business successful        
• Fill the gap with solid operational processes and a robust product to ensure that sales are deliverable and have longevity        
• Take action, quickly.        
• Always raise the bar, keep finding relevance        
• Solid legal and financial paperwork and a robust business model makes for a happy set of shareholders.        
• NEVER give up 

“I can add to this that relationships are EVERYTHING and I could not have done anything in my career without solid, long standing relationships with people, clients and suppliers. These relationships helped me through the difficult times,” she says proudly. 

“I am not only an entrepreneur – I am also a South African! I have a love like no other for three things, my mother, my continent, my industry - Africa is my home, I'm privileged to call myself a South African, I'm hugely proud of what my country has achieved. I've been fortunate to travel to parts of the rest of Africa and I want more, I want to take a solution that is much needed into the rest of the continent and possibly other parts of the globe, - that's the dream!” she exclaims.

The Grow Your Business Expo, supported by the Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA) and MTN Business will take place on 30 July 2014 in Polokwane at the Jack Botes Hall.

The expo brings together small business owners and corporate role players to communicate a process of helping to run and grow successful entities.   Role players that support Limpopo’s Enterprise Development are provided with a platform to connect business owners with resources and tools needed to start, learn, manage and grow their companies.  This will create employment and contribute positively to families and the community, which will ultimately increase the vitality of the local economy.

The Grow Your Business Expo is the ideal opportunity for corporate role players to share their products and services that will match with small businesses that need access to skills, knowledge, finance and markets.  

Funama Productions are hosting the expo; CEO Masetha Serakoana says “the expo is a vital platform for small businesses to link with institutions offering funding, financial assistance and business related products and services. We will also have representatives from the institutions presenting their company offerings. The Business Lounge area will cater for one-on-one meeting sessions offering free advice and consultations with specialists during the expo. My Success Story corner will share achievement stories; this area will also serve as an opportunity for corporate companies to showcase thriving SMEs that they have empowered.  SARS will also be there offering free tax workshops.”

Entrance to the Grow Your Business Expo is R25.00 per person, doors open at 08h00.

Ends

For further information, please contact: Masetha Serakoana E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Telephone 086 111 1471 - www.funama.co.za