realmdigital

Tech4Africa 2010 - It is here

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:24:23 +0200

The conference brings a global perspective to the African context by featuring key note speakers from leading international companies such as Google, Twitter, Yahoo, Mozilla and Mail & Guardian. Local companies like Invenfin Venture Capital, Realmdigital, The Shuttleworth Foundation, Quirk eMarketing and Personera will also be coming together to share their expert knowledge on various topics.

Realmdigital's Wesley Lynch will be sharing his knowledge on the mobile industry. He will feature alongside panellists, Steven Ambrose, Angus Robinson (brandsh) and Russell Atkins. These industry experts will be involved in an hour long discussion titled "All you need to know about the mobile market" and the panel will be chaired by Arthur Goldstruck. If you are keen to know more about the mobile market and where it is heading you should definitely attend their discussion.

Anyone who wants to know where technology is moving in Africa should attend Tech4Africa. Register online and follow Tech4Africa on Twitter for more updates.

Realm Development Workshops

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 02:21:12 +0200

Because the first Realm development workshop was such a success there have been more workshops scheduled for the upcoming months. The next two have been scheduled for the 24th and 26th of August. The workshop on the 24th will occur at 18h00 to accommodate those who cannot make it during the day.

The first development workshop occurred last week. The Realm domain was buzzing with excitement as curious developers were eager to learn. We had developers from Sure Travel, Blue Pearl Design and private companies join us and Realm developers showed them what Realm Platform was all about.

All they had to bring along were their notebooks and any cool websites or tech they wanted to build using Platform. The developers thoroughly enjoyed themselves and this is what they had to say:

"Great product, great bunch of guys - look forward to getting stuck in to Platform on the next suitable project."

When asked if he will attend the next workshop this developer said "Abso-effing-lutely �- Platform Rocks!"

Become a fan�of Realmdigital on Facebook�to be kept up to date with all latest info regarding the workshops. If you would like to attend a workshop then get in touch. Don't forget to spread the word to anyone who you think could be interested.

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Interns get great value at Realmdigital

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 02:56:05 +0200

The interns were cool to have around and definitely taught us a thing or too. If you are curious about the software industry or would just like to know what goes down at Realmdigital, drop us a line at jobs@realmdigital.co.za.

Being an intern at a really cool software company is like being a kid in a candy shop for the very first time; you are guaranteed of walking away with something cool. This is what the newbies had to say:

Matthew Visser - Graphic Design and Web Development

"My experience at Realmdigital was an enjoyable and informative one; I found the staff very friendly and helpful, as they were always ready to answer my questions when I was unsure about something. I would recommend any aspiring web designer or developer to come and experience what work life is like at Realmdigital"

Dominic Schaff - Bsc Computer Science

" I was an intern at Realmdigital in December last year, and I enjoyed it so much that I had to come back during my next holiday, and now that is what I am doing. Being an intern at Realmdigital has helped develop much of what I know about web-development. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent at Realmdigital. And I recommend that if anyone wants to truly see what it is like to work for a web development company, then Realmdigital should be your first choice."

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Realmdigital welcomes IMPERIAL Logistics

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 01:21:39 +0200

Realmdigital is soon to launch a content managed website for a leading logistics company. Award Winning, IMPERIAL Logistics, one of three divisions of the IMPERIAL Group, is a global logistics and supply chain leader that moves business and industry through innovation, inspiration and foresight. Through its established Southern African and International divisions, IMPERIAL Logistics' service delivery comprises fundamental logistics and end-to-end supply chain management solutions to blue chip customers in almost every industry. As a preferred logistics outsource provider, IMPERIAL Logistics positions itself as an extension of its customer's business, building its customer's brand alongside its own.

IMPERIAL Logistics Southern Africa is a multi branded business, categorized into four divisions, i.e. Transport and Warehousing, Consumer Products, Specialised Freight and Integration Services. IMPERIAL Logistics International includes four operating units, namely Panopa Logistik, neska, IMPERIAL Reederei and Brouwer Shipping.

Realmdigital is proud to be a part of this development process.

Realmdigital signs on Red Panda Software

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:16 +0200

Red Panda Software is an independent software company who are doing some great things in the retail space. Although this company is new, as a UCS division, they have been developing and supporting retail software for more than a decade. Their services extend to large South African companies such as the Lewis Group as well as the international Moss Brothers in the UK. Be on the lookout for the launch of the new Red Panda site proudly developed by Realmdigital.

Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:44:29 +0200

The Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation is a registered non-profit organisation in Cape Town which is developing new approaches to HIV research, prevention, treatment and management. It seeks to be at the cutting edge of new knowledge while maintaining close links with the community partners and those most affected by the disease. The Foundation has sites in Gugulethu, Nyanga, Crossroads, and Masiphumelele, and a soon to be completed Youth Centre in Masiphumelele. Their head office is at the University of Cape Town medical school. In addition the Foundation has two mobile vehicles, the Tutu Tester and the Tutu Treater. The DTHF is committed to lessening the impact of HIV on individuals, families and communities through innovation and passion for humanity. Realmdigital is extremely honoured to be apart of such a noteworthy cause.

Welcome to the Realm Domain

Wed, 05 May 2010 11:24:05 +0200

He loves meeting new people and keeping clients happy. When Murray isn't busy at Realm, he enjoys being outdoors amongst nature and uncovering the best hiking trails. We are thrilled to have him on board doing what he is passionate about. Take a look at Murray on his first day in the realm domain...the model employee.��

Realm Platform UI Vote

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 07:01:11 +0200

Please take a look at our current Platform UI and the proposed new designs and send us your feedback and comments for both. We will use all your views and ideas to create a UI that really makes your experience with Realm Platform nothing short of fantastic!

Compare Platform’s UI and please send us any thoughts or suggestions!

Thanks so much !

Exclusive Books and Beyond

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:06:09 +0200

Exclus1ves is a holistic portal which serves you everything you have come to love about the Exclusive Books brand but with thousands more to choose from and every entertainment form you could want. They are also rapidly moving into the digital age with full support for ebooks and an online ebook catalogue which will constantly grow throughout the year.

Realmdigital is extremely proud to be a part of such a massive project and one of the first in Africa. The development scale and integration requirements were immense and very challenging � it really took our skills to a whole new level.

The project was a great collaboration of digital agencies, media agencies and software development companies who joined forces to make something spectacular. We were also thrilled to have worked closely with our long time partner Stonewall+ who provided the front end design for the site.

Realmdigital�s task was to bring Stonewalls design to life. This required custom integration with operational and content systems using the latest technology many of which were firsts for Africa. This has been an amazing journey and we hope your experience is just as fantastic.

We will be sharing all the cool techie details with you soon, so stay tuned for more info.�

Check out the Exclus1ves Site

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10 Reasons Why Websites are Cooler than Brochures

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:18:43 +0200

Well even if you believe your company has no place on the web and are confident it is just a bricks and mortar kind of place, we are here to show you that there are some very valuable aspects of having a website for all businesses. These 10 points will highlight all the important things a website can offer your company and marketing strategy that a brochure cannot.

Visibility and audience - no geographical barriers

A website gives one enormous exposure due to it stretching across geographical spaces and allowing a much larger audience find your brand and business offerings. The brand therefore becomes far more visible and greater awareness is achieved.
More tools to engage with you brand

With the way the web is designed there are far more channels to expose one�s brand and business due to the various tools out there. The web is a two-way communication channel and therefore it enables consumers to engage with the brand at various levels and in different ways. This could be through information provided or web PR with twitter campaigns, online advertising or viral competitions. It appeals to far more people.
Measurability

The most important function of a website and the web is the fact that it is measurable. Unlike traditional media channels like print and T.V where one is very rarely able to obtain accurate stats, analytic tools on the web and conversion software allows for exact numbers and stats from who visited the website to who read the newsletters. This enables to constantly track and monitor the effectiveness of any online activities and change them at any given stage.
Customized

A website can be designed to appeal to a very specific consumer or audience. This can also be achieved with the use of e-Marketing tools such as SEO techniques and PPC campaigns which targets a specific consumer with keywords.
Cheaper - content can be changed easily

Content is managed in real time therefore it makes it more current and up to date and saves the hassle of always trying to implement new things and start over.
Improves credibility

Having a good-looking and functional website provides a clear and positive image of the brand. If the consumer has not had previous contact with the brand, the website is of vital importance. This also increases credibility as one is able to provide enticing information for the user and helps improve consumer perceptions.
Adds convenience and value to the customer

A website often provides useful information and resources for a consumer, thereby improving the convenience and value of the brand and makes it more attractive to the consumer. This also diversifies revenue streams.
Affordable market research with polls and quizzes and competitions

One is able to create and utilize online tools such as polls and competitions for consumers to engage with the brand and get a specific message across. All this is measurable and literally comes at very little cost.
24/7 real time

A great thing about a website on the web is that it is open all the time. That means people can access information about the business whenever they want and does not need extra manpower in order to make this efficient.
Tools like ordering and payments greatly reduce time and effort of employees

There are many tools and functions that can be automated with a website so that it makes the life of all employees better and systems are able to be out in place to ensure the most efficient running of activities.

Realm Platform 4.2 Release

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:59:47 +0200

Not only have we refreshed the software but we have added some more awesome functionality to give you the best, most holistic website management tool available.

The most important update of Platform 4.2 is that it runs off PHP 5 rather than PHP 4. This means increased reliability, improved support and superior speed for your website.

New functionality

Realm Platform 4.2 has some great new features added to enhance its usability and security. The new functionality ensures optimal performance and a greater ease of use that really simplifies your content management. Below is a list of all the exciting things you can find in the new version.

Stability and bug fixes

A number of stability issues have been eliminated to reduce frustration and improve the daily functioning of Platform.

Improved multi site tool

This functionality improvement allows Platform users to manage multiple sites from a single Platform installation with a central login. This is perfect for companies running multiple product or regional focussed websites.

Content Versioning

All content is now versioned and saved, enabling the user to roll back to any previous content quickly and easily.

Content Expiry Support

This handy little bit of functionality allows the user to have complete control of the duration of which content is visible on their website by offering the ability to schedule the publication date of content, as well as the ability to schedule the unpublication date of content.

Simply set up the desired dates when adding content, sit back and let Platform take care of the rest.

Shareprice widget

The new Shareprice widget allows customers to display current market share statistics on their websites using a live feed.

Integration

Platform 4.2 now offers integration with the following software.

OpenX Ad Server

OpenX is the world's leading independent open source ad server which allows you to make money from advertising.

Nightsbridge

Nightsbridge is a service that enables you to take realtime, online bookings through your website.

Streetmaps

Streetmaps provides road and satellite maps for Africa. Platform users can implement maps on the website for accurate directions and points of interest.

For more information on Realm Platform 4.2 please email us or give us a call on 0219750959.

RSS Feeds 101

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 05:04:32 +0200

It is for this exact reason that we love showing our clients cool and simple tools that just make your web experience a little more pleasant.

This simple tool is for those that want to stay informed and keep abreast of current news and information, without having to search for it every day. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds are nifty systems that deliver constantly changing web content right into your mailbox.

All you have to do is find the websites you are interested in and add them to your list of RSS feeds, bearing in mind the website has to offer RSS. Anytime new content, news or products are added to that website, it will be sent directly to your inbox without you having to lift a finger.

RSS feeds are not like a newsletter subscription, where you receive general information about the brand or product in an edited version. This technology pulls information from the website each time it is updated, keeping you right on top of what is happening on your favourite sites. It saves you time by not having to go and check the website and increases privacy as you don’t have to submit any details to receive the feeds.

The other brilliant aspect is that there is a huge amount of support for it. RSS feeds can be linked to Microsoft Outlook, iGoogle and various other web technologies, making life that much easier. Realm Platform also utilizes the RSS feed, so that you are able to keep all your information stored in one place.

So what are you waiting for? Get your RSS reader and start building your own library of fantastic content now.

Get your brand scoring goals

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:05:19 +0200

Realmdigital MD Wesley Lynch says players form teams and compete against each other by forecasting or predicting the performance of real life sportsmen in actual sports tournaments. “Players organized in teams would log onto a Fantasy Sport League (FSL) website usually a few days before the actual sport event, and log their predictions. Points are assigned after the real-life outcome of a game, and FSL players with the best forecasts win prizes.

“The simulation gaming aspects are there, but the real fun is derived from competing against friends and colleagues. Sites are very sticky, and players come back for more, resulting in an intense frequency of visits to a site, which translates into a brand’s association with a certain sport, and an opportunity to build and capture details for marketing databases.” he says.

FSL is a marketing tool gaining much appreciation momentum from companies especially sports brands and corporate that sponsor sport events in South Africa and abroad.

“FSL is a great tool for brand awareness, promotion and customer acquisition. Overseas, well-known brands sponsoring major sporting events, such as AOL, Ford, Land Rover and Fox, would often run these leagues.” says Lynch. Realmdigital conceptualizes games, then designs and builds the FSL sites, and provides software for collecting and processing data and statistics to determine scores. It acts as a league commissioner for companies such as IOL, Vodacom, Brandhouse and SA Rugby in major and international tournaments.

Industry regulator Fantasy Sports Trade Association last year estimated fantasy sports leagues have annual revenues of US$ 1 billion in the USA, and that the universe size of avid players has a head count of 27 million Americans.

Many creative agencies remain conservative and aren’t willing to take risks – this is a key brand tool, he points out. “Extending campaigns by simply digitizing magazine, print or TV ads seriously undermines the opulence of the web, which is the new creative frontier. Here, rules are meant to be broken, as the web is an “evolving artist’s canvas”, says Lynch.

If you are interested in sponsoring an FSL game or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact or email us.

Optimize your website with Realm Platform and Google

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 05:11:36 +0200

Wouldn’t it be really great though if you could find out exactly how well your website is performing and just how much business is being generated through it? What if you could obtain information that shows you how to better your website each month?

Well, luckily that’s the sole purpose of Google Analytics!

It is essential to monitor your website on a continuous basis to ensure you are getting the most from it. There is very little point in spending so much time on the design and functionality if you are not prepared to spend time optimizing your online presence. Understanding your website’s performance radically increases its value.

Google Analytics is open source software that easily integrates into your site and is 100% free. It uses specific coding to track your website and provides vital feedback and information about your site including visitor profiles, conversions and key words. It helps you understand who your visitors are, where they are coming from and what they are looking at.

Realmdigital appreciates the immense value found in Google Analytics and therefore Realm Platform has been designed to instantly integrate with this tool to efficiently track and examine every page on your site. This means that one does not have to venture out of the Platform system to check your Analytics account, thereby allowing one to easily perform all online actions in one simple place.

If you are currently using Realm Platform you can add Google Analytics support in the "Statistics" module.

The newsletter module in Realm Platform also integrates seamlessly with Google Analytics. Each newsletter is automatically added as a campaign in your Google Analytics account, allowing you to track and manage the effectiveness of your newsletter campaign with your other campaigns such Pay Per Click (PPC) all in one place.

If you are currently not using Google Analytics click here to start analyzing or email info@realmdigital.co.za for more information.

To find out more about how Realm Platform integrates with Analytic Tools, click here.

It's Always "Better At Home"

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:20:33 +0200

This mindset however can be more damaging to the brand than not being on the web at all, due to the fact that a customer often forms an opinion from what is available on the website.

Better at Home is a UK based company which offers excellent personal care conveniently within one’s own home. The company has grown from strength to strength since its inception in 1999 by providing professional help and companionship while still allowing one to live independently. Better at Home is a perfect example of a medium sized company who realized the increasing significance of a good-looking and easy-to-use website.

The purpose of the Better at Home website was to provide simple and logical user navigation, comprehensive but uncluttered information and most importantly a quick and efficient way of being contacted. Realmdigital needed to have a clear understanding of the target audience for this website in order for it to be effective and accessible and based much of the functionality on those requirements.

The new website exudes simplicity and usability while serving the intended purpose in a more appealing manner, and portrays a good impression of the existing brand. This is a great illustration of merging specific client requirements, functionality and creativity with Realm Platform to ensure that from now on it truly is always “better at home.”

View the website