the digital architect’s SEO Blog
I try to write helpful articles here from time to time. The idea being that my clients can continually be learning by visiting this page, or new clients can get a feel for what they are up for before they begin.
Look out for the occasional series – topics that should guide you through a subject, post by post, until you know enough to do it all on your own – saving us both a lot of time and effort. Also, if you want to know something technical or specific, just mail me and I can try create something just for you.
Marmite but Dad won’t | Parenting in 2022
We ate a lot of marmite this year. My wife and I, that is. It's because when you are a father of a baby you have precious little time, and when you do need to eat, you make marmite toast. It's also because the yeast in Marmite helps with something nutritional for my...
Donating to NGOs in South Africa | Key things to bear in mind
With December upon us, the spirit of giving may have snuck its way into your heart. Are you considering how you can make a difference this season? There are many charities, NGOs, and foundations in South Africa that are always in need of additional funding to support...
Eating well, living well | A How to
I helped a small business based in Stellenbosch with their SEO, and content strategy this month of December. I also was very tempted to buy a lot of goods from their online store! You can view Good Eats, and their assortment of dried fruit, and nuts and decide for...
Freedom Day Reflections | Why we still have work to do in ensuring that education is equal for all
Freedom Day is intended as a day of celebration, a day on which South Africa is called to reflect on the freedom that came with entering a democratic system. While each citizen now has the opportunity to cast their vote, the legacy of inequality still looms over our...
Take a seat at the table
Another e-commerce client arrives in the form of Chair Crazy, take a look at their shop's sitemap here. I am hoping to help with their Google Ads, Google Search Console, Google Analytics, and Google everything (aka SEO) which will be swell. I enjoy being in the Google...
Outdoor Education | Benefits of learning outside
With the 21st Century working environment requiring people to have a deeper sense of not only their surroundings, but also of themselves, outdoor education is growing in popularity. Let’s take a brief look at what it means to take the classroom outside and how this...
Conservation Photography | How to create images that inspire change
Conservation Photography began its journey a long time ago, but was only officially recognised in 2005 as a niche category of photography and has gained much traction recently. While images have always been a powerful tool in conveying important messages,...
For the love of learning | South Africans who fought for education
Learning should not be a privilege, it should be something everyone has equal access to; I believe that education is a tool for change, and that it empowers. For this month, we have decided to pay homage to just a few South Africans who stood up for the right to...
GenX | Another Education Client
A new project this month is to help the burgeoning education business of GenX, or the Genex Institute. They are the official Cambridge partner in Africa, allowing schools to offer Cambridge education and assessment (and I am sure much else) through their combination...
Delta Steam Traps | You learn something new every day
New client just in: Delta Steam Systems, who make steam traps and do some other things that are beyond my level of intelligence. I have a gut feel that this is going to be a wonderful project, and one that delivers value to the client for years to come. Typical...
The Gender Gap in STEM – Empowering Women
Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills are becoming increasingly sought after as we take steps to achieve our global goal of becoming a more sustainably impactful society. These fields, however, continue to be dominated by men. Worldwide. While...
What Are 21st Century Skills?
In today’s rapidly changing and constantly shifting world, students need to be equipped with skills that will offer them flexibility and confidence to adapt. The idea of ‘21st Century skills’ has grown in popularity, and while it has not yet been concretely defined or...
New ways of teaching: Easy-to-use digital learning apps for children
Technology is developing at an incredible speed. This has led to an overall shift from analogue to digital ways of working and has sparked the infusion of e-learning in schools. While many traditional methods of teaching still hold a lot of value, technology is there...
How Can You Commemorate Youth Day This Year?
Each year on June 16, South Africans celebrate Youth Day. It is a day of reflection, where we are called to think back on the youth who rose up to add their voices to the struggle against apartheid rule. It has been memorialised as a public holiday, to honour those...
Shopfox
Want to shop like a fox, and not like a jackal? Then choose local and go to Shopfox and support them. There is no pressure to buy everything local - who can literally do that and survive - but every little bit helps. And speaking of, my little bit will be helping them...
Google Ads tasks | Learn what I do
Google Ads - The typical initial, weekly, & monthly tasks Keyword researchCreate ad copyCreate campaign for each countryCreate ad groups for various servicesDetermine bid strategyMake bid adjustments, including:Device adjustments (desktop vs tablet vs...
Megara Events | Weddings, and more
The Megara site will tell you that they love "creating inspired events around your most special celebrations and corporate occasions" and it's my job to give them an SEO once-over and ensure they are aware of the their industry's online presence, and how they can fit...
Yachting and training industry client just in
My latest client sits within the training and education space, and I'd like to introduce you to: "Get Onboard" - who teach a variety of courses to help you get work on superyachts. As someone who "worked a season" on the yachts way, way back in my youth, this is super...
Coffee and breakfast at the vineyard hotel | brain food
I recenlty added a service offering on my website where I suggested instead of committing to a six month retainer (standard for SEO for most clients) we rather grab a buffet breakfast at the Vineyard Hotel. That is, if you live in Cape Town and it's easy for you to...
War and Peace | Greatest book of all time
This book is without question the best book I have ever read. There are many reasons why, and as an opening caveat there are some world-class books I have yet to read. Apparently Dostoyevsky’s The Brother's Karamazov is the best, but I will read that one quiet winter....
Rank higher in the Map Pack | The importance of Local Results
Ranking higher in the Map Pack has become a priority in the past year. What does the ‘Map Pack’ mean? It means that nowadays, before you see organic search results, you often see a map with three companies, typically with business contact details and star ratings. At...
Pipe App SAAS Solution | Plumbing Industry Disruptor
A new SAAS offering for the plumbing industry named 'Pipe App' recently launched in South Africa, and they've asked me to help with their SEO and Google Ads.
Favourite thing? Coffee and a croissant. But where…
I've always loved the Parisian ideal of a black coffee and a croissant on my walk to work each day. It's maybe happened twice but that could change. It's too costly on the pocket, and even more so on the waistline, but this tandem of delights is one of life's best...
You can do Maths | Education, again
Another new client, and this time for "You can do Maths" which must be a spinoff, or sister company of a past client "You can do Science", who I helped with SEO and Google Ads a while back. Must have made a good impression... So, it is education - again! There was...
Seven years in Tibet | I can wholly support doing it
Today marks seven years since I embarked on the journey of owning my first business. 19th January, 2015. It was a big day. Also, nothing happened. In my head was this small seedling of an idea of a business that was transformed from a thought into a 100% concrete...
A Year in Provence | A year in review for The Digital Architect
It's the end of 2021 and I am certain everyone is saying the same thing "the last time a year ended we all thought the next year would be the end of covid and all that and, we were wrong." So, I am not going to write that, and rather try and say something original,...
Capita | US-based NGO and Think tank
Capita is the newest client on the books and certainly one of the most intriguing projects I've come across, ever. How do you disseminate information? I guess I will have to find out through reading their numerous articles. A non-partisan news source, I am as excited...