Author: Jonathan Bossenger

Front end developer at Digital Opportunity Trust

16 May 2018Community 1 Comment

Digital Opportunity Trust South Africa (DOT SA) is looking for front end developers to help build a Social Innovators Platform for South Africa. Our goal is to launch a safe, diverse community of like-minded young social innovators that enables a value exchange between peers and experienced social entrepreneurs.

This is an exciting yet complex project and we are looking to fill a few gaps in our existing developer team.

Digital Opportunity Trust is a youth-led movement of daring social innovators who have the tools, knowledge, and networks to create opportunities and transform their own communities. We support youth to become innovators and leaders, and to create and apply digital solutions that have positive impact in their communities. See feature youth stories here https://www.dotrust.org/dotyouth/.

What we’re looking for.

We’re looking to hire someone who is new to the industry, is willing to learn and grow and help build something amazing for themselves and their peers. We’re looking to build a smart, diverse team that represents the youth of South Africa. DOT SA places a priority on having a gender balanced team and female candidates are favoured accordingly.

This role requires someone who has WP theme and User Experience customization experience. Your experience in front end development and emphasis on usability means you will be able to understand how your users think and develop the interfaces to match their expectations. A knowledge of building speedy, low bandwidth websites is a plus.

DOT SA is based in Woodstock in Cape Town and your availability to start initial onboarding this coming Monday 21 May (or earlier) would be optimal.

To apply, please complete the form below:

 

Technical WordPress Lead at Digital Opportunity Trust

15 May 2018Announcements, Development Leave a comment

Digital Opportunity Trust South Africa (DOT SA) is looking for a WordPress technical lead to help build a Social Innovators Platform for South Africa. Our goal is to launch a safe, diverse community of like-minded young social innovators that enables a value exchange between peers and experienced social entrepreneurs.

This is an exciting yet complex project and we are looking for a WordPress expert that could help our developer team with scoping out a development strategy matching our functional requirements and then guiding the implementation of this strategy. We’re initially looking for someone for period of roughly 4 weeks and to possibly continue working with the team on implementation support afterwards.

Digital Opportunity Trust is a youth-led movement of daring social innovators who have the tools, knowledge, and networks to create opportunities and transform their own communities. We support youth to become innovators and leaders, and to create and apply digital solutions that have positive impact in their communities. See feature youth stories here https://www.dotrust.org/dotyouth/.

What we’re looking for.

We’re looking to hire someone who will predominantly be able to mentor our small, focused developer team, but is also willing to get stuck in and write some code when needed. You’ll be responsible for assisting the project stakeholders with making high level decisions, like which theme to use for BuddyPress and a great user experience, helping the team research the best plugin options, and how to resolve managing multiple local WordPress databases during development.

This role requires someone who understands the fundamentals of web development and WordPress well, but is also able to share that knowledge with others. You may be needed to guide a developer through the basics of setting up and using a git repository, installing a local development environment, or explain how The Loop and WP_Query works in WordPress.

Additionally, you understand and have experience in general web software development practices and tools, including but not limited to git, unit testing, continuous integration, server infrastructure and deployments.

DOT SA is based in Woodstock in Cape Town and our goal is to find a technical lead who is willing to work on site with the team to meet their goals. The position is however location independant, in that, if we find the right person, we are willing to discuss accommodation locally and the option of remote work as part of the agreement. In addition, your availability to start initial onboarding this coming Monday 21 May (or earlier) would be optimal.

To apply, please complete the form below:

WordCamp Cape Town 2018 – call for organisers

4 May 2018Announcements, WordCamp Leave a comment

UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who applied, applications are now closed. 

It’s that time again, (well a bit later than last year, but anyway) where I reach out to our amazing local WordPress community and ask you to help me organise our annual WordCamp in Cape Town.

Last year was an awesome event and, bar a few mistakes in planning on my part, was well received by all who attended. This year I want to take the lessons learned from last year and improve on the event, by taking a step back.

My focus this year will be on a ‘leaner’ event, with more of a focus on WordPress and the attendees and less of a focus on the ‘flashiness’ of the event location or the catering. That is not to say that we don’t want a great event or nice food to eat, but it will not be our primary focus this year.

I want to bring WordCamp Cape Town back to it’s WordPress roots, with my main goal to be a focus on accessibility. I want to make this years event as accessible as possible to anyone from any walk of life, age or background.

As such, I also want to encourage folks from all walks of life to be part of the organising team. If you look at the team photo above you’ll see a trend, and I want to break from that trend this year. Being part of the organising team is a great way to get involved in the local community and I would love to see more diversity in the organising team for 2018.

If this is something that you are keen to be a part of, then please join me by filling in the form on the Organisers page on the WordCamp Cape Town 2018 site.

Thanks

Want to help build a new setup and management service for WordPress?

17 April 2018Announcements, Community Leave a comment

UPDATE – all available slots have been filled, thanks to everyone who showed interest.

HowMightWe is looking for WP users to help them build a new WordPress setup and management service.

“One of our clients is a hosting company that wants to make WordPress easier to setup and manage. We have some wireframes of a concept and we would like some fresh eyes to see if we’re not smoking our socks. We need 5 people in total over 2 days. We want people that know a little bit about WordPress but they don’t develop sites, or design sites for other people. (i.e. not WP professionals). We want they people that want a site of their own and want to use WordPress to create it. We could be wrong, but we are imagining that it would possibly be creative people with a small business, or freelancers wanting to showcase their work. They need to have at least touched or played with or know a bit about WordPress.”

Dates: 25-26 of April
Time: 1 hour slots through out the day. (8am-6pm)
Gift: R800 each

For more information or, to book your slot, contact Dirmu via her cell at 082 956 9946 or via email at dirmugouws@iafrica.com.

Digital Marketing Workshop to grow your small business

26 March 2018Announcements, Events, Workshop 1 Comment
digital marketing workshop cape town mashup marketing

“I have a website, but I’m not making any sales or attracting new customers” – Most small businesses realise that digital is a big component of their sales and marketing, unfortunately around 80% of them believe that having a website is enough. Whilst a website is crucial, marketing your business online is something small businesses need to do on a daily basis to ensure their success. 

Digital Marketing has become an umbrella term for a variety of topics, often associated with social media management, it’s actually a wide spectrum of solutions. Marketing your business online isn’t just about having a Facebook Page, there are other social networks too you know. It is about using multiple online tools and solutions to marketing your brand, service and products online. It’s also about having a killer digital strategy which highlights the correct platforms you should be using i.e. Facebook doesn’t work for everyone!

This digital marketing workshop is aimed at beginner marketers as well as small business owners looking to acquire new customers whilst engaging their current customer base. Rooted in exercises, you’ll walk away with plenty of hands-on experience in content creation for both email and social, campaign analysis using tools like Google Analytics, and optimization across various channels. 

Is this workshop for you?

Whether you are a small to medium business or simply an individual responsible for marketing duties but lack digital experience then this workshop is definitely for you. If you are just passionately learning about digital marketing then feel free to join us as well. Our digital workshops help you understand what digital marketing is all about and equips you with the knowledge and tools to help you grow any business online.

What will you learn?

  • Social Media Management – which platforms does your business need and how to effectively manage them.
  • Facebook Advertising – why is advertising on Facebook important and best practices
  • The Power of Influencer Marketing – how other people can help market your brand
  • Email Marketing – why email campaigns are still the number one choice in marketing
  • Pay Per Click Advertising – Using Google AdWords to target new customers
  • SEO – Learn the tools and tricks to get onto the first page of Google
  • Websites – The importance of an effective website and how it’s the most critical part of your business
  • Content – How to develop a content strategy and write the correct content for your website, blogs and social media platforms.

Extra’s – these extra business tips will help ensure your marketing is constant

  • Effectively manage your business and marketing with cloud based solutions

Sign Up

For more information and to register, sign up here – https://mashupmarketing.co.za/digital-marketing-workshop-cape-town/

Brand Candy brings it’s nearly-famous digital training courses to Cape Town and Jozi

24 November 2017Announcements, Community Leave a comment

Brand Candy is owned and run by Richard Burgess and Janet Hancock. Amongst running the digital strategies of their clients, they have been up-skilling business owners and their teams on all things digital marketing since 2014. Their courses were borne out of a need for business owners to have a better understanding of how the online space could be better utilised in marketing their brands. It all started with the “Social Media for Business” short course, and with it’s crazy popularity, and constant requests, the “WordPress 101” and “Content Marketing for Irresistible Communication” courses are now also offered. In 2018, Brand Candy will be launching an advanced, targeted Facebook advertising course and a Search Engine Optimisation course for those with more in-depth needs.

The current courses are run on a monthly basis, and with an expanding customer base, Richard and Janet will be taking these training workshops to Cape Town in November this year, and to Johannesburg from March 2018.

The current offering of training courses are pitched to a small to medium-sized business audience, where the key decision makers have identified the need for their brands to be present in the online space. The comprehensive courses are four hours each, and cover the basics for getting started with managing a business’ online and social reputations.

Both courses are available in Cape Town next week, with limited seats – a maximum of six people per workshop. On Thursday will be “WordPress 101”, facilitated by Richard, and Friday “Social Media for Business” facilitated by Janet.

The cost of each of the courses is R1540 per delegate (incl VAT) and includes coffee in the morning and lunch in the afternoon. They start at 9am sharp and finish at 1pm, and will be held at the luxe offices of PR Lab and Kayser Baird in Black River Park, Observatory.

For more information, bookings and queries, visit the Brand Candy website here.

Direct booking link for the WordPress course:

https://www.brandcandy.co.za/product/wordpress-course-cape-town/

Direct booking link for the Social Media course:

https://www.brandcandy.co.za/product/social-media-course-cape-town/

Ticket sales and a Call for Sponsors

17 July 2017Announcements, Community, WordCamp Leave a comment

With 14 weeks to go till WordCamp Cape Town 2017 I’m starting to feel that combination of excited anticipation and nervousness that goes along with planning such an event. Today I’m happy to announce that two very important pieces of the WordCamp puzzle have slotted into place, the availability of WordCamp Tickets and the Call for Sponsors.

Ticket sales

Those who booked tickets last year will remember that ticket sales were in US$. This was because the WordCamp organising team did not have a local bank account available in order to process the funds. This year we are happy to announce that all ticket sales are in South African Rands and are being paid into a locally managed bank account. A big thanks to PayFast for helping us with the payment gateway process.

Head on over to our Ticket page and book your WordCamp tickets. We are offering an early bird special to all tickets sold before 15 August. Simply use the coupon code earlybird, for a 20% discount on all standard tickets.

Call for Sponsors

Without the past support of our generous sponsors, WordCamp Cape Town would not be affordable to the vast majority of the local community who attend. WordCamp attendees have two full days to gain insight from our speakers, network with other WordPress users and developers, and learn more about WordPress and open source. By donating to WordCamp Cape Town, our sponsors make this event a reality.

If you or your company would like to sponsor WordCamp this year, please head on over to our Call for Sponsors page, choose your sponsorship package and fill in the Sponsorship form.

 

We want to hear your WordPress story.

19 June 2017Community Leave a comment

 

When I joined @hlashbrooke in planning WordPress meetups I was full of vim and vigour to organise more meetups. I had just come from my first WordCamp and I was super excited to help the community grow. Sadly since then I have only managed to either plan or attend two meetups. Work, life, family, it all just seems to get in the way.

We started #coworkpress as a way to try and counter our lack of more formal monthly meetups but I realise that this does not fill the gap properly. So (in my usual gung ho way) I am going to try and see if I can setup something a bit more robust for the rest of the year.

Your WordPress story.

I want to hear your WordPress story. How did you get started with WordPress? What are you doing with it now? How are you using it to change the world? What do you love about it? What do you hate about it? What would you like to do with it in the future?

We all have our WordPress story and I want to hear yours. And, seeing as it’s your story, I want to make it happen somewhere that you are comfortable with. So I’ll discuss with you and find a meetup location that makes it easy for you to attend and comfortable to speak.

There are six months left until the end of this year, so I’m looking for six people who are willing to share their story. July is just around the corner, so if we can get someone for July already that would be great. If not, I’ll find someone, even if I have to do it myself.

If you are interested in telling your story, use the form below to get in touch.

WordCamp Cape Town 2017 – Call for volunteers and speakers

23 May 2017Announcements, Community, WordCamp Leave a comment

It is with great excitement that I announce that the WordCamp Cape Town 2017 call for volunteers and speakers is now officially open!

Every year, local and national WordPress users volunteer their time to help make WordCamp Cape Town happen. Our volunteers help manage the venue and keep the event running smoothly, while our speakers provide engaging workshops and talks to provide our attendees with the mental stimulation they need to go forth and build bigger and better websites, eCommerce stores and blogs with WordPress. Without them, WordCamp simply wouldn’t exist.

This year we have some big things planned, so we need as many hands on deck as we can possibly get. If you’ve never spoken or volunteered for a WordCamp before, I highly encourage you to give it a bash this year. We have a great organising team and with the right group of volunteers, I’m sure there is nothing we can’t accomplish this year.

Visit the WordCamp Cape Town website for all the relevant information, or go straight through to the Call for Volunteers or Call for Speakers announcement posts.