The most hyped-up technology conference to come to South Africa, Tech4Africa is but days away. A number of the QuirkStars are gearing up for this unprecedented opportunity for networking and sharing with some of the best minds in digital, alive today. Quirk’s first appearance at Tech4Africa will be in the two days prior to the event (10 and 11 August) during which a Google University will be held, hosted by head of Optimisation at Quirk eMarketing, Sarah Blake.
Google University
Sarah Blake lectures at UCT in eMarketing and compiled the original Quirk textbook - eMarketing: the essential guide to online marketing, which is now in its third edition and in use at over 120 universities around the world. Sarah is also an author of Kotler's Principles of Marketing: Global and Southern African Perspectives.
The Google University will instruct delegates on the finer points of Google Analytics and how to leverage this free and powerful tool for website reporting. Sarah will also demonstrate how to use Google AdWords to drive more traffic to your website.
One of Quirk's major strengths lies in education, having long ago recognised the importance of lifelong learning and constant up-skilling in this industry, “I don't think we can overstate the importance of education, especially where our tertiary education is not equipping graduates with the skills needed in these areas.” Says Sarah Blake, “Quirk is committed to contributing here through providing learning resources (many of them for free!), as well as excellent distance learning courses.”
One of the big questions that the conference is set to raise is whether it is possible to create a global digital business in Africa. Quirk eMarketing, Africa’s largest online marketing agency will be there to show how it is already being done.
Quirk has reversed the typical global business model by having a mothership in Cape Town, South Africa and successful satellite branches in London and Johannesburg. Servicing local and international clients like Warner Bros., Sun International, South African Tourism and DStv, Quirk is in the business of showcasing South African creativity and technological know-how to the rest of the world, rather than the other way around.
Rob Stokes, who founded Quirk eMarketing back in 1999 in his final year at UCT Business School, will also be presenting at the conference, (13 August) in a panel discussion about Search Marketing.
SEM the new ROI
Every day, millions of people use search engines to find information, goods and services. It is therefore very important, from a marketing perspective, to ensure that your product, service or website can be found by potential customers who are using search engines such as Google. Learning how to optimise your website so that it ranks highly on search engines is key to increasing traffic to your website and attracting potential customers.
Quirk is looking forward to seeing delegates walk away from the conference with real knowledge that they can put into practice within their own businesses. Quirk is also excited about the great networking opportunities the conference is sure to offer.
Christina Dransfield, Tech4Africa’s party planner, says there are three pillars propping up this extraordinary event, “Along with excellent content from preeminent local and global speakers, we have also made sure that this will be a most convivial networking environment, and delegates and speakers will get ample opportunities to mingle, so bring your Poken! We are expecting 50 percent of the real outcomes of the conference to come from these casual conversations between guests and speakers.”
It’s not too late to attend, sign up here and be sure not to miss Google University in the pre-conference workshop slot.
