SA Rocks

I recently decided that I need to do more interviews with great people in SA. The first person I chose is Adii. He is a freelance WordPress designer but he’ll tell you more about that. Recently Adii has gained huge exposure on some of the biggest blogs around and this caught my eye. His portfolio is large and extends across the world.

So here goes:

Hi Adii – can we call you that? – thanks for getting involved in SA Rocks! Tell the SA Rocks readers a bit about what exactly you do.

Hey Nic – thanks for having me – it’s always a honour being recoqnized by one’s peers. And sure, I’m Adii all the way – nobody calls me Adriaan online anymore!

I basically see myself (and thus promote myself) primarily as a WordPress designer. which means I do a whole lot of custom WordPress blogs for clients weekly… I have however also moved into strategic consulting (ito new media / social media) lately and I believe that gives my work an edge over other designers – my sites aren’t all about just looking pretty. Apart from that, I’m also a very active blogger and I can contribute most of my successes to my blog – it’s been the starting point for most of my new jobs and ventures.

You haven’t been blogging or designing for very long. How’d you get yourself out there so quickly?

Simply being bold and connecting. I’ve never been afraid to get shot down when I’ve approached the big guys and girls – that’s how I got an interview with Matt Mullenwag (Mr WordPress himself). And the whole 9 months that I’ve been blogging has been about that – making new friends, touching base with well-known and popular developers, designers, bloggers etc. and then begging for some linklove! The few free WP themes that I released didn’t do any harm either…

You represent SA quite effectively in your reputation. Is this an integral part of what you do? Your South African flavour?

I wouldn’t say that my nationality is integral to what I do, but I’ve never been afraid to hide it either. When I registered the domain name, I didn’t even consider getting an international .com / .net etc. – there’s just no need to hide the fact that we’re South African. And judging by my own successes this year – my nationality hasn’t hampered my business either.

I actually complain to international clients about our crappy broadband speeds on a daily basis… It’s all about embracing who you are and where you’re from – and from what I’ve found clients love the fact that a person is being him-/herself. Funny thing is that my blog has gone mad since I launched the original polaroid design (V1) back in June and I simply attribute that to the fact that the more personality a blogger brings to his / her blog, the more readers can relate to the blogger.

I’m a good old Afrikaans boytjie, who loves my beers, braais and good rugby (Mark F – wishing you had that over in the UK?). That’s me in real life and online – can’t change that.

You’re based in Stellies, tell me about that? Has at made any sort of impact on your career so far? Do you plan on staying down there?

I’m finishing up my four years at Stellies this year and I seriously can’t wait to get out of this place actually. Stellies is great for the first half, but as you get older the people and situations around you get more immature… That said, I’ve loved doing my Honours this year and I’ve had some great lecturers who have truly taught me strategic thinking (which is a great asset). I was doing a bit of a dead-end undergraduate degree (Chartered Accounting), but this year has been a breath of fresh air.

I will always look back at my 4 years at Stellies and smile about it. It has most definitely sculpted me as a person and it has definitely contributed to my career – quantifying that is probably more difficult, but the measure is whether I’d do it all over again if I could (and the answer is for sure).

As for staying here… I’ve accepted a job at a top corporate communications company in Cape Town and I’ll be heading up their New Media division from 2 January 2008. I will also NEVER consider living anywhere else in SA – if it’s not Cape Town, then it’s Europe…

WordPress is your specialisation and template design is your forte, how and why did you get into template design?

Seriously I don’t know actually… It started out as a hobby really… Last year around June I decided that I want to blog as well (and make money), so I searched around for a open-source blogging platform and came across WP. I taught myself to skin it for my own blog back then (not adii.co.za), then I started doing the odd “help-out” for friends and everything just snowballed from there.

I’m still amazed at the vast open spaces I’ve found in this niche however. When I started I thought that there must be so many quality WP designers out there, but fact is there’s a bucketload of average WP designers out there and only 10% of them are good enough to get the top jobs. That’s why you’ll find that guys like Brian Gardner and Micheal Pollock (Solostream) are fully booked all the time. In hindsight, getting into WP – although by “accident” – has been one of the best choices in my life!

Has it been tough living in SA and making an international name for yourself?

Not at all! Most of my clients don’t even know where I’m from and the one’s that do know noticed it from our time differences (and subsequent delays in responses or concepts).

You’ve had some noteable debate going on with some “high profile” WP designers. Has their opinion or public slamming of some of your stuff made you change your approach at all?

Haha! I’m actually not going to say much about that situation, as there are too many brainwashed people out there that won’t recoqnize the truth of the situation even if it was standing before them.

I have however not changed my approach or strategy and I don’t intend to do so. I’ve reached the heights I have due to me being me and not being afraid what the community might say / think. Instead however of fighting fire with fire in this situation, I’ve gone back to the drawing part, strategizing and formulating a plan that’s going to take everyone by suprise. My aim is to become the WordPress Rockstar (thanks for that term Dave Duarte), but you’ll see that all happening when the plans start rolling out… (Hint: My new Premium News Theme is part of this plan).

I’m interested to know what motivates you, what inspires you and what keeps you going?

I would say money and greed, but that would just be shallow! Nah, only joking… This might sound corny, but my fiance is the sole reason for all my drive and hard work. Through working hard (blogging, designing, consulting etc.) I’m effectively building my dream life and at the center of that, there’s my fiance. So she has been my motivation, inspiration and the center-piece of the amazing life I’m building with her!

I’m obviously inherently ambitious and there’s nothing like a good challenge to get my over-excited. But that’s just part of my character – I will always have this drive to succeed, irrespective of whether I had a fiance or not. But having something so dear to you supporting your every move, definitely makes the journey so much more fun and rewarding!

And finally, do you love being South African and if so why?

Oh hell yeah! I love the fact that we, as South Africans, are actually so inherently diverse and multi-cultural. People say racism and apartheid, but I see a whole new generation emerging where it’s all about embracing the obvious differences to work together and produce something great. I get warm fuzzies in my stomach when typing that… But that is true!

I’m proud to be called South African due to everything that our country has come through. I’m a proud South African due to the future that we’re creating and the relationships we’re building… If that’s not enough reason to be proud, I can always add a good braai, Western Province Rugby (in their glory days) and a chilled glass of Amarula on ice to the mix…

Thanks Adii!

If you are interested in good design and an example of great marketing of oneself, check out Adii’s blog!

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There are many South African bloggers who have made and continue to make a great impression on me and the countries onlince scene. I have taken the time to compile a list of who I think are some of the most influential bloggers in SA.

Jon Cherry – has had his fingers in many cherry pies. He initiated the SA Blog awards which were arguably the best and worst thing to happen to the SA Blogosphere in recent history. His projects include: Cherrypicka, FeverPitcher, Jetstreaker and is one of The Times Blogumists. Jon’s all-round involvement in the local blog scene definitely makes him an influencial figure.

Dave Duarte – Might not blog very often but when he does it seems to be profound. Most of the time. Dave made this list because of his incredible demeanor towards all things techie, innovative, blog-orientated and fresh. His work at the UCT Graduate school of business and Technomadic Markets have brought the online trend to marketing mainstream of business elite. His involvement in Muti.co.za, iCommons, Cerebra and the 27 Dinners makes Dave an effective networker. I think it’s a toss-up between Dave and Mike Stopforth when it comes to networking whores!

Vincent Maher Maher has featured on Al Jazeera and CNN in his capacity as a blogger, this alone makes him influencial. On top of his television appearances he has, along with Matthew Buckland, helped Mail&Guardian become one of the forerunners in the online sphere in South Africa. His involvement in Amatomu and Thoughtleader have set him apart among local online innovators. He was also nominated for IT personality of the year.
Maher’s blog also helps to define his prowess in the online sphere. Whenever he blogs you can rest assured that something dramatic will be said or take place. His coining of the term “Bullardgate” in the infamous bullard-scandal is one of the moments that stand out in recent history. Maher was also one of the first local bloggers to land a sponsorship for a blog.

Keo – When Keo talks the country listens. Sports are an integral part of South African culture. Keo is sport online in SA. There are no two-ways about it. Keo says Jake is going to win, and Jake won. Keo says that Sports are thriving and they thrive. I really do wish that I had more information on Keo.co.za but it is very hard to track the man down. Keo editors, if you read this, email me and let’s chat! This blog currently sits at the top of Amatomu.com rankings and has done so since it joined the service. Killer.

Mark Forrester – The man creates pure design bliss. He has helped design many blogs that form the top of the SA Blogosphere. He had a hand in the So Close redesign and the HomecomingRevolution and Represent blog designs. His own blog has put him on the international design map and made SA a name in those circles. His involvement in the design of Afrigator is clear and present and has definitely assisted the website in becoming a force to be reckoned with in Africa and the world.

Tertia Albertyn – Tertia is the author of one of SA’s greatest blogging successes, So Close. She was one of the first, the biggest and the ones that have lasted. Her blog allowed her to become a recognised figure in a niche market in SA and the world. She was recognised for her writing skills in 2007 as a 2007 Lulu Blooker finalist. She was in contention for the prize with the likes Frank Warren from Post Secret, Seth Godin, Colby Buzzell, Kristin Espinasse, Jerome Armstrong and Markos Moulitsas from Daily Kos. Tertia keeps on proving herself as a niche force to take seriously in the local blogosphere.

David Bullard – Author of the now defunct Bullog at the Times blog. The reason that bullog makes this list is thanks to his baptism of fire entrance in to the blogosphere. He had other names on this list scrambling for a response to his brash approach to bloggers and blogging. Bullard is living testament to the open nature of blogs. He surreptitiously entered the sphere, made his mark and departed as a non-blogger who blogged his way to fame in a short period of time.

Michael Trapido – Mr Trapido is a very new addition to the South African blogosphere (I hate that word but can’t think of another one). He was asked to blog for MG’s Thoughtleader blogging platform and has excelled. The reason that he makes my list of influential bloggers is his content. He pulls no punches and calls a spade exactly what he wants to call it. Trapido is a specialist criminal attorney. He is a director of the firm Turnbull and Associates. He is, like Bullard, living proof that blogging is for anyone and anyone can succeed. He has been of Thoughtleaders top bloggers for a while now and continues to pull no punches with his topics and his approach to blogging. If you haven’t read his blog yet, I think you should. Get there now.

Jarred Cinman – The voice of the underdog on his Thoughleader blog, burningpaper. Cinman goes against the grain in ever way and never ceases to make waves with his blog posts. He is intuitive, factual, heavy into research and loves to stir the pot. I love his blog posts because he is very willing to say what others wont and back it up with some viable research. Research is something that is seldom used by many bloggers but often makes the best bloggers who they are. He is a software director at Cambrient, South Africa’s leading developer of web applications and co-founded Johannesburg’s first professional web development company. This means that he has bite because his bark is justified. Another blogger who is a rising star. Keep a close eye on him.

Special Mention:
Adriaan Pienaar
Justin Hartman
Mike Stopforth

This list could be longer as any list of this type can always be. This is a subjective list and I know that many readers will have their own opinions. These are my choices and I am proud to say that I know, have spoken to or have met many of the people on the list.

Add to the list if you like and let me know who you think does SA proud in the online market nationally or internationally.

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