Batch

Batch is a lovingly designed and crafted suite of 300+ icons for web and user interface design by fellow South African, Adam Whitcroft. Adam has generously given this amazing set back to the community to use freely in any personal or commercial projects.

Gemicon

Gemicon is handcrafted icon set by Turqois, that comes in 3 different sizes (16px, 32px, 64px). Each pixel-perfect icon is available as a separate Photoshop layer. Download the set in PNG or PSD format. Gemicon is FREE and ready to use in your next awesome project!

Retro Social Icon Set

This lovely retro icon set is from the Pink Moustache. 47 different icons in 4 different colours.

Clear Icon Set

The Clear Icon Set contains 20 action icons including note icon, note-reply icon, email icon, iPhone icon, iPad icon, iMac icon, stats icon, HD & SD icons and more. The file contains 20 icons at 32px x 32px. PNG format and the original PSD is also included.

Round Icons by Goodipix

Looking for some free icons to enhance your next project? This set includes 48 vector icons.

Simple Icon Set

Minimal UI Icon and Font Set

The guys over at Breezi have created this new icon and font set released under Creative Commons license. This collection of 50 icons are a great resource for adding the finishing touches to your design project. This handcrafted set is available as PSD and AI source files.

Scalable glyphs icons

This is a free scalable glyphs icon set designed by Finbarrs Oketunji. The set is available for free download from dribbble.

44 Shades of Free Icons

These free icons are from the designer Victor Erixon.

28.7 project icons

These free glyph icons are from the designer kipyatok.

Free Icons

This free icon set is from the designer Joe Prince. Icons are available in both AI and PSD.

I hope that you found this post as useful and resourceful as I did when creating it. If you did, please be so kind as to leave a comment and share the post with others

What is Berrry?

Berrry is a HTML & CSS based website building tool that is so easy to use, anyone can use it. You don’t have to know how to code or develop websites to be able to use Berrry, you just need access to a computer and the internet and you can get started. Because Berrry is NOT a flash builder, this means your website will be completely HTML based, which means it will be indexed by search engines and viewable on iPad and smart phones. And best of all is – you can do it yourself!

Why we started Berrry?

At Freedom Studios we pride ourselves in not bamboozling our clients with clever speech or building websites that nobody can manage. Because of our business ethic in helping clients to manage their websites themselves, we began with building WordPress websites, but noticed that only a portion of our target market could afford Custom Designed WordPress sites, we then made it a little easier and affordable for our clients bringing clients the option of setting up Premium WordPress Themes sourced from reputable Theme suppliers.

We still noticed that a percentage of our market was not being catered for, namely small businesses, entrepreneurs & non-profit organizations in South Africa. Now in partnering with a reputable company in the United Kingdom, we are now the first in Africa and South Africa to bring Berrry, a powerful website builder platform to the South African Market. We can now proudly say that we do now cater for all types of South African businesses, from the smallest entrepreneur to large corporations.

Berrry is a tool to help anyone create an online presence that is worth thousands of rands  – you get an agency class website at a fraction of the cost with the ability to build and manage the website yourself. Building a website with Berrry is affordable to all South African businesses.

What does it cost?

Berrry is so affordable even start-ups and entrepreneurs with limited amount of capital can create their own website within minutes. Our plans start from as little as R75 per month, click here to see for yourself. There are 3 different packages to suit almost every pocket in our current South African business market: from entrepreneurs, to start-up businesses, freelance photographers to sports clubs, spaza shop owners to taxi drivers can now afford to have a beautifully designed website and an online presence that will increase awareness of what they have to offer.

With the amount of new businesses opening daily in South Africa, Berrry can be used as a tool for these businesses to mark a place for themselves on the ever-expanding Internet. With Social Media now growing like wild-fire and the use of Tablet devices increasing, no one can really afford not to be online or without a website in today’s business market.

One of the best things about Berrry is you can try a 14 day free trial, with no obligation, and if you are one of those who sign up for a free trial, you could stand a chance to win an iPod Nano.

Is the Berrry website builder easy to use?

Berrry is intuitive and simple. If you know how to type a document in Word or upload a photo to Facebook, you’ll know how to create a website using Berrry.  Berrry comes with everything you need to build a website. You can choose a Berrry web address or use a custom one of your choice (subject to availability). Hosting is included so no having to fiddle about with servers or anything complicated like that. Berrry websites are HTML – this is great for getting indexed on search engines like Google and Bing.

Berrry makes it possible for you to change colours and fonts, or your website template at the touch of a button, whilst adding text, pictures, music and video is child’s play. You can also enrich your site with social media features, maps, contact forms and even e-commerce functionality. No technical knowledge is needed.

If you’re still unsure of how to build a website, using Berrry, sign up for our free trial package and simply follow our short step-by-step website creation guide. Choose from hundreds of website templates, add your details and you’re done. Once you click ‘publish’ your site is live on the Internet – it really is that simple! If you like using Berrry, you can easily switch over to a paid plan, and best of all, just for that you could stand a chance to win an Apple iPad.

Can web designers customise it?

Berrry is easy to get started with, but it is also powerful enough to be the tool of choice for website designers around the world. With built-in design tools you can create completely unique websites, and our powerful editor can give advanced users access to the code (HTML5 and CSS3) so they can make the finishing touches they need. E-commerce sites no longer have to be expensive endeavours, with Berrry an e-commerce site is simply a few clicks away. At present only the PayPal module will be of benefit to South Africans, but we are in discussion to get support for some South African payment gateways.

Berrry’s basic goal is to get South African businesses online, improve their reach, their relevance and their revenue. We want to keep South African companies in business and reduce the number of businesses having to close because of our current economic climate. Now everyone can afford to have an online presence! Go on, you know you want to give it a try!

1 – Write Fresh Content

This part is easier said than done, but if you or your business is good at what you do, then you should be establishing yourself as an expert in the market. Write about something that will add value to your clients or peers. It also helps to have a simple way of allowing the content to flow directly onto your website and through to social media. The best thing about a platform like WordPress is that you can always have fresh content. You’re able to add it yourself, whenever you need to add it. WordPress is also an expert archiving system that helps you keep your old content organised and dated, easy for people visiting your site to reference if they wish to.

2 – Use Constructive Criticism

Use Constructive Criticism to your advantage – People using your site will always have some ideas up their sleeves as to how you can better your website and ultimately their user experience. Set up a subscribe button so people can subscribe to a monthly newsletter, or a contact form where people can contact you and leave their details. Use their email address to contact them directly to find out about their experience your website. Instead of taking offense to what they say, rather use it to better your website and service offerings. If people know you’re listening to them, chances are, they’ll remember you & visit your site again. Taking constructive criticism is especially helpful when coming from your clients. After all these are the people you are looking after and want to retain.

3 – Use Google Analytics

Tracking and measuring what is happening on your website is quite important. It helps you to see what people are looking for and what the trends are. This in turn helps you to create more targeted content, which will yield better results. A few plugins available to WordPress have an awesome feature which allows you to view your daily website stats and track your analytics in a concise format on your admin dashboard. It’s also easy to get your Google Analytics report emailed to you once a week, here you will see where your visitors are coming from, this includes their country, which sites are referring people to your website, search terms and keywords used, most viewed pages, time spend on the website and a host of other useful facts. It’s also a helpful tool to know which search terms are working for you – this is what you’ll need to pay attention to if you’d like to try out idea # 4.

4 – Make use of Google AdWords

We have been giving away R500 Google AdWords vouchers to our clients to get them started on the exciting journey of online marketing or more specifically,  Search Engine Marketing (SEM). We have seen so many case studies of companies who have gone this route and have benefitted tremendously. This form of advertising is effective and measurable which makes it a winner for all businesses. For those of you who don’t know, using AdWords requires you to choose the most effective possible key words that people searching may be using. You then pay Google a monthly fee (determined by you) to get your online adverts for your site featured. AdWords can be managed to cap at a certain daily spend, so you will never exceed your budget. I think a R500 freebie in February will be well received. Contact us to receive your free R500 Google AdWords Voucher (Note: Vouchers are for first time AdWords South African clients only. A limited number of vouchers are available.)

5 – Take part in the Online Community

Make a Facebook page for your business. Create a Twitter account – but be clever about it. Don’t just spew out marketing nonsense, but rather use it like a mini blog, posting an idea, a concept or helpful link people can use. If the subject or idea you’re Tweeting or posting on is linked to your niche market or the area of your expertise even better. People will remember you if they like what you’re saying and chances are they will become a follower. Using Facebook and Twitter is also a great way to engage with clients and prospects. It will help you get instant messages out there to the people you are targeting. The point to engaging with the community is to eventually build brand ambassadors that will carry forth your brand without your help or even your knowledge. Social media has given us this opportunity – so go ahead and use it wisely.

6 – Get your company noticed

Try winning an award in an online competition. Or even try for a traditional competition or a race. It doesn’t matter what it is that you do, but do something worth bragging about. People visiting the competition website will visit your site if you’re a winner. Or even if you don’t win, visitors to the competition site might just visit your site to find out what your connection was to that particular competition. For example, If you sell sports equipment maybe sponsoring some sports equipment for the competition could be an angle to get started from. You could also help out with charity work, or even run a competition of your own. Be creative – give back instead of taking. You may just get noticed for it.

7 – Optimise your site for Search Engines

This is should be a standard practice and a no brainer, yet there are still websites out there (especially old ones) that are not optimised at all. At the very least all of the pages within your website should have a unique and descriptive page title, a meta description and relevant meta keywords. These are just some very basics but they are a start. All Freedom Studios developed WordPress websites come standard with an SEO plugin that enable you to optimise each page or post with a description, title and keywords, which are essential for Google or any other search engine to use when indexing your site. Apart from this you should be writing good, keyword rich, relevant copy for your website. Always remember “Content is King.”

8 – Create a Blog and write articles

If you don’t already have a blog – you should. I don’t just mean a frivolous type of blog where you post what you had for breakfast (unless you are a food connoisseur) but a blog that reaches right into the essence of what makes your company so unique. You are or can become the expert in your field and people are waiting to be guided by experts. WordPress is the ultimate platform when it comes to blogging. It is simple to setup and easy to get started. If you don’t have a blog get one setup today – we offer a range of affordable WordPress options to help you get started. Blogging is a great way to get noticed, especially via searches not necessarily related to your common website keywords and this usually attracts a larger variety of visitors. We have found that giving something away often brings in a lot of new visitors and ultimately helps to up our website rankings.

9 – Send out Seasonal Cards & Gifts

This is an excellent way to market your services and website. And it sends out a positive psychological message as well. If you can associate your business to a positive feeling someone experienced while holding some marketing material of yours, you’ve just gained some interest. Don’t know what I mean? Here’s an example: You’re having a boring day at the office, you’re feeling hungry and tired and someone stops by and leaves a muffin and a card on your desk. It’s from some company, but still it prickled your interest and made you feel positive, maybe even made you smile and take a look at their website. Often when people receive something as a gift, they feel obliged to repay the favor. This could mean some new business or even just a referral. There are some great holidays and events throughout the year – these could be great opportunities to put this idea into action.

10 – Make a YouTube Video

The best thing about YouTube is that you can embed video on your website, but it will still display on YouTube. If your video is interesting and has a link back to your website, or tell about your website, chances are great that the viewer will give your website a visit. Try making your video informative or even funny about a subject that would interest people whom you would like to market to. The best videos are those that have the ability to go viral. People love sharing funny or cool things – so there is a great opportunity here to create something really special. Getting a video published on YouTube is free and is well worth it if used correctly.

I hope these ideas give you some new inspiration for the year ahead. I’d love for you to leave some comments about what you’ve tried and how it worked out for you.  Perhaps you have some ideas of your own that you would like to share.

You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly. – Sam Keen

The wallpaper comes in a variety of sizes, from high resolution Mac display right down to iPhone. Our wallpapers get a lot of views and downloads. If you like it please leave a comment – we would love to hear from you.

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People don’t notice whether it’s winter or summer when they’re happy.   -   Anton Chekh.

The wallpaper comes in a variety of sizes, from Hi-res Mac right down to iPhone. You also have the option of choosing a wallpaper with or without the calendar. In the past we have had some nice response to our wallpapers. If you like it please leave a comment – we would love to hear from you.

Wallpaper with Calendar

Wallpaper without Calendar

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As you are reading this, (if you are reading it on the day it was published) I am busy driving down to a small coastal town with my family. All of our earthly belongings are in a removal truck further back. We are relocating! Just like the story you will read below, I figured out that there is a way to get out of the rat race and have a better quality of life. Sometimes it just takes some courage and the willingness to try.

The short animated original version of the story by Dr Mark Albion – New York Times Bestselling Author

I have transcribed the narration for those who prefer to read:

The Good Life

Many years ago, after I graduated from business school, I decided to take a vacation. I chose a small quiet fishing village where I thought I’d be able to take my mind off of business, if only for a few days.

Walking along the beach just before sunset, I saw a small fishing boat coming to shore. Inside the boat were a lone fisherman and several beautiful yellow fin tuna.

“How long ditto it take you to catch those fish?” I asked.

“Only a couple of hours” he replied.

“Why don’t you stay out a bit longer and catch more?” I asked.

“Certainly there must be more of a demand for fish than the few I saw in the boat?”

The fisherman smiled, “I catch enough to support my family and I live a full and busy life. I rise with the sun. Fish a little. Play with my daughters. Have lunch with my family and then teach children how to fish before I stroll into the village each evening, where I sip wine and play guitar with my wife and friends.”

“Listen” I said. “I have and MBA. I can help you vastly expand your business. If you would simply spend more time fishing you would soon earn enough money to buy a bigger boat.”

“Really?” Questioned the fisherman

“Absolutely and with a bigger boat you would soon catch enough fish to buy several boats then a whole fleet. At that point you would be big enough to sell your fish directly to a processor. Cutting out the middle-man and greatly increasing your profits.”

The fisherman raised and eyebrow. “Mmmmm”

“Eventually you could open your own cannery and control the product, the processing and the distribution.” I added.

“Then what?” He asked.

“You would then relocate your operations to the capital. And if all goes well you will likely find yourself in New York City in control of a rapidly expanding empire.”

“How long would all of this take?” He asked.

Clearly following my logic, “Oh probably between 10 and 15 years.” I replied.

“And then what?”

“Well that’s the best part. You will announce and IPL and sell stock to the public. At that point my friend you would be very, very rich. A millionaire many times over.”

The fisherman paused. “Really? A millionaire, then what?”

“What do you mean?” I answered a bit surprised.

“I mean what would I do if I were a millionaire?”

“What kind of question is that? Whatever you like of course. I imagine you would retire, move to a small coastal fishing village where you would rise with the sun. Fish a little, play with your granddaughters. Have lunch with your family then teach children how to fish before strolling into village each evening where you would sip wine and play guitar with your wife and friends.”

The fisherman smiled and without saying another word began to build a small fire. We shared the taste of the delicious fish and watched the sun go down over the ocean As the sound of guitars rose from the village nearby.

Are you living the good life?

If your answer is no, the ask yourself why not. What is stopping you from living the life you ultimately want to live? Figure out what it is that you want from life and go and live it. Don’t wait until you are too old to enjoy it.

Credits:
Header image by Bread for the World
Story and video by Dr Mark Albion

These are some fresh and free icons I have recently discovered. All sets are for private and commercial use and can be downloaded from the original site they were featured on. Simply click on any of the images and you will be directed to the relevant site.

Cutie Icon Set

 Glyph Icons

IC Mini Social Icon Set

 Weather Icons

Post Social

Soft Media Icons Set Vol 1

Badges Bundle 1.2

If you liked this post or found these icon sets useful, please let us know by leaving a comment below. You feedback is really appreciated.

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

As I sit here and type this on my iMac, I can’t help but ponder on what Steve meant to me. I am not one of the radical Apple cult followers, or one of those people who get every Apple gadget as it is released, but this one thing I can say – Steve made technology beautiful. He made products that people want to own, if not for their functionality, just for their sheer beauty. As a designer I can really appreciate that.

It takes wonderful and courageous visionaries like Steve Jobs to change the course of history and make the world just that much better to live in. I can also really appreciate Steve’s entrepreneurial spirit. His never say die attitude and his constant striving for innovation. It is no wonder that so many companies use Apple as a benchmark and strive to be just like them. What makes Apple so great? I truly believe that it is the creative essence. An essence that is not afraid to take risks, but goes forth boldly and wows all who see it. An essence that says it can be done when everyone else says it can’t be done. An essence that goes far beyond the logical mind, it reaches deep into the soul. That essence I believe was brought to Apple by Steve Jobs and that essence will live on with every new product they conceive.

Rest In Peace Mr Jobs. May your legacy and essence live on ;(

The internet and social space has been flooded with tributes, obituaries and great moments from the life of Steve Jobs. These are some of the ones I found rather special:

Truly great work by Jonathan Mak Long

iSad by b13visuals

Steve Jobs Shining...

Apple Steve Jobs The Crazy Ones

Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do. – Think Different

Other inspiring articles:

Steve Jobs 1955-2011

These photos will make you smile: Steve Jobs testing Photobooth

One thing we owe to Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs, a designer at heart

A Collection of Inspirational Steve Jobs Quotes About Life, Design and Apple

1.0 Is the Loneliest Number

We are looking forward to the knockout stages where pretty much anything can happen on the day. May the best team win, and hopefully that team is the Springboks

The wallpaper comes in a variety of sizes, from Hi-res Mac right down to iPhone. Please leave a comment if you download the files – we would love to hear from you.

 Did you like this wallpaper? Please leave a comment and let us know.

The wallpaper comes in a variety of sizes, from Hi-res Mac right down to iPhone. You also have the option of choosing a wallpaper with or without the calendar and match listing. Please leave a comment if you download the files – we would love to hear from you.

Wallpaper with Calendar

Wallpaper without Calendar

 Did you like this wallpaper? Please leave a comment and let us know.