November 16th, 2009

Working from Monkey Valley


by Bianca Gubalke

Working from Monkey Valley

When my trip along Chapman’s Peak to Hout Bay was cancelled due to huge Gale Force storms, and my Studio still being under reconstruction with lots of noise, cement and dust after some serious recent water and storm damage – I decided to grab my laptop and take refuge in my favorite place, snuggled among old protective Milkwood trees and huge fragrant Syringas. . . just above Noordhoek Beach. . . and with WiFi!

Little did I know that what expected me was a wonderful offline experience in terms of Communication and Collaboration all around the Internet and doing Business Online… I even decided to change my initial title for this post – Working from the Beach – into. . . “Working from Monkey Valley”.

See the picture below. . . that’s a piece of Heaven and what you see is the Conference Center… often abused for romantic weddings :)  – then Noordhoek Beach . . . the Atlantic Ocean – the whales are still around – and Kommetjie with its famous lighthouse at the horizon. Yeah… it’s tough having no place to go but that one . . . read on!

Monkey Valley Beach Nature Resort, Noordhoek

Facebook and Home Business

Once back home and temporarily re-installed in my Studio and finally online – as despite WiFi there was absolutely no connectivity – Yorgo’s article with the title “Facebook and Home Business” just made me smile as it reflected in many ways how I think and feel regarding the Internet in general and Social Networks like Facebook, Twitter and now the new kid on the blog… I mean bloc: Google Wave in particular. . . And how many of us who have been around for a while – say since 2000 or so – became victims of the so-called CAN Spam act – which in a way destroyed the relatively harmless and in my case absolutely unproblematic way of doing serious and exciting Business Online – just to find ourselves super-spammed wherever there’s a hole that allows for any virtual breakthrough and subsequent flow – with our permission or without it!

Is there a thing like ‘permission’ on the Internet anyway? Not to speak of ethics and mutual respect . . . or just an amorphous, egocentric mass hiding in an anonymous zone of readily exchangeable usernames and favicons?

No… the day was too good, I won’t go there… let me get back to:

Working from Monkey Valley

Working from Monkey Valley is too good to be true! Actually, I don’t really want to spread the word too much in order to keep it as is, so don’t tell anyone else…

Besides making me feel totally immersed in Nature with a distinct “Out of Africa” touch – be it in the ‘tree tops’ overlooking a white and almost virgin Noordhoek Beach along the turquoise yet dramatically windswept waters of the Atlantic Ocean  – or on the protected deck under old milkwood trees with a spectacular view of the mountains or the sea… this is the place with the absolutely best Butter Croissants in the world! Yes! it was just confirmed again: you don’t even find these in France anymore. C’est fini! C’est ici! I go many miles for a good butter croissant – and these are just divine! And the coffee is the real thing… and my favourite latte looks like an ice cream from Copacabana – and it tastes delicious! All this and more is in the hands of a new owner and his charming, witty, attentive Team . . . many coming from Zimbabwe.

We will do an Interview soon. . .

Social Network Marketing

The chapter on the “Social Network Marketing Challenge” beautifully illustrates how we market in the social environment – online. Up to the cup of coffee… and this is where I compare with my experience today – as the moment I had settled with my laptop and my latte… enter an extremely talented young musician who just split from the band he played with to get some ’space’ and pursue his own career (I always thought he should. . .) and the conversation flow starts effortlessly. . . no push marketing, no pull marketing… yet an intensive exchange of thoughts and questions around the Internet, Business Online, Social Network Marketing and the importance of having a professional online presence, a website, a blog and control of one’s name!

Even without Internet connectivity, there was enough on my laptop that I could present, explain and show. We were in a totally relaxed space to communicate, exchange, build trust – which attracted more attention. Besides knowing each other, the attraction was a real interest and a rather urgent need in terms of Online Marketing to further build his musical career – and I was just at the right time at the right place and… I was ready!

A lot to learn from that when it comes to the online marketing environment. . .

And this was not the only ‘case’ today, in fact there were several. . . I am amazed at the effortless exposure I got for my online business. . . offline!

Which is yet another important lesson that also confirms my conviction to focus on using the Internet to build local Business.

Social Network Publishing and Marketing at Ycademy Seminar

The next Ycademy Seminar on 21 and 22 November 2009 will be focusing on “Social Network Publishing and Marketing”, integrating the new and soon to be released Google Wave Communication and Collaboration instrument that might well be revolutionizing the way we communicate on the Internet. Connecting with the most relevant Social Networks in a smart and communication-enhancing yet time-saving way and applying efficient marketing strategies are key to being successful with a Home Business Online.

Last tickets may be obtained HERE – the Seminar is entirely online and recorded. A must for anyone involved with Social network Publishing and Marketing Online.

And then. . . as my Studio is not ready yet I might just be back at Monkey Valley Beach Nature Resort tomorrow. . . laptop, latte and croissant! Anyone out there who wants to join me?


Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing.

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This entry was posted on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 3:12 pm and is filed under Africa, Beach, Bianca, Business, Communication, Dubli, Dubli Networking Business, Dublicator, Facebook, Gubalke, Herbert Brown, Herbert Brown jr, Herbert L Brown Jr, Home, Marketing, Media, Monkey, Nature, Nestoridis, Network, Networks, Noordhoek, Publishing, Resort, Seminars, Social, South, Valley, YORGOO, Ycademy, Yorgo, online, twitter. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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