Arts N Crafts Blog June Archive

Name of your website?

Zaties South African artists directory

Your name?

Gerhi Janse van Vuuren

Your Location (city, etc)

Pietermaritzburg

When did you start your website and why?

I started the Zaties site at the end of 2006. I look up South African artists daily and I just found for most South African artists there are no or very little information online. With Zaties I hope to fill this gap.

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

On Zaties I list South African artists for free. My intention is to create at least one page on every South African artist, past or present.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

For me the most difficult part is in finding enough time to add information. To list every artist I am talking of thousands of artists. Adding the information is a slow and frustrating process.

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

The easiest part is getting the website up and running. I am lucky to have my website hosted by Sitesell. Their tools and package is the most affordable and efficient way for anybody to start a website.

What was your biggest mistake?

I started slowly. I doubted whether the focus just on artists might be too tight and I tried various extra content ideas. Focussing just on artists makes the site very specific. I should have been adding artist pages since day one.

Who maintains your website and why?

I maintain the website by myself. With Sitesll's tools it is very easy to do. It also keeps the costs very low which means I can continue to list artists for free.

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

My website is my business. My aim is to make South African artists visible online. Every time somebody searches for a South African artist and finds information on Zaties I succeed.

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

Personally I believe that more and more will be done online in the future. In South Africa the use of the internet is still low. There is lots of space to grow and expand.

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

Search engine optimization is pretty simple. From my side anyway. You have to make sure your site functions and that the basic usability is up and running. Then you have to make sure your site has content. Search engines are trying to search for and provide what people are searching for. That is content, information. Put that on your site and the search engines will find you.

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

Most of my traffic comes directly from search engines. No reason to complain.

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

The ability to submit xml site maps to the major search engines. Sitesell tools makes this a walk in the park.

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

I have been promoting mys site for a short while. Everything I have done so far has been beneficial.

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

I would like to see that the rest of the world comes on board with internet use. Most web services and tools are USA based. I would like to see the internet function more as a global village with more tools available from the rest of the world - which will draw more users of course.

What is your website address?

Zaties South African artists directory