Showing posts with label featured. Show all posts
Showing posts with label featured. Show all posts

5 ways make your blog appear in search engines

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Google is no doubt the most powerful search engine in the world. It is what blogs, websites, and businesses rely on for traffic as well as customers. Therefore, it is important for your website to be visible online. In other words, when users search for anything that has to do with your business or blog, you should be able to a appear in the search. To appear online, there are some things which you must do to make this possible. Jovago.com, Africa's no 1 hotel booking portal points you to the ways you can make your blog appear in search engines.   

Don’t joke with SEO
Search Engine Optimization is very important when it comes to enhancing search results of blogs online. The better your SEO, the higher your ranking. Hence, when users search for keywords online that is related to your whatever you do, your website will among the first three. So, it is important to make your website SEO friendly.

Must be mobile-friendly
The rise in the number of Smartphones usage has made many businesses to make their websites mobile friendly. A website that is mobile friendly is sure to get more traffic and more recognition from Google.

Make available a sitemap
A sitemap makes it possible for users to navigate a website and at the same time allows Google and other search engines  to understand your website. It also helps search engines to know the number of content on your website.
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Create social media accounts
Social media does not only make your blog searchable online but also helps you to share your blog posts. You should create Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. In addition, ensure the usernames of your social media accounts are similar with the name of your blog. This social media sites will get your blog searchable.

Use crisp pictures and videos
The videos and images used in your blog posts must search engine optimized. If you use good, quality and relevant picture, your blog will regularly pop up in image and video search. This will also boost your online presence.  



Ogunfowoke Adeniyi

Top 5 Tips to Babyproof your Hotel Room

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Babies do not have a mind of their own. They heavily rely on their parents to keep them safe and healthy. Whenever couples travel or go on vacation to their favourite destinations with their children, it is key to make comprehensive plans and preparations so as not to deny themselves a fantastic vacation. One of such preparations should include prepping your hotel room for your baby. How do you babyproof a hotel room? Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal shares some tips on how to achieve this.  
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Call your hotel
Even though most hotels do not have special rooms for babies, you can call your hotel to find out if they can make arrangements for you and your child. If they agree, this may come at an additional cost but at least, you will not need to worry about baby proofing your hotel room yourself.  
Move furniture away from the windows
You cannot always have eyes on your baby. But to prevent something sinister from happening, you should move furniture away from the windows. This will prevent your baby from crawling indiscriminately. If you do not want to move the furniture, you can securely lock windows and doors.
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Cover unused electrical outlets
A duct tape should be part of the items you pack if you are traveling with your baby. It will really come handy in baby proofing your room. As a safety measure, use the duct tape to cover all unused electrical outlets as well as other openings you think can cause injury to a young baby.
Don’t forget your mosquito net
Mosquito nets are designed to shield your baby from mosquitoes and many hotels cannot guarantee a mosquito free room. They may fumigate it intermittently but to be on the safe side, it is better to set up your own mosquito net in your room.
Move items away from your baby’s reach
Watch out for items like mouthwash, shampoo, suitcase, cosmetics, and medications among others which should be kept far away from the reach of your baby to prevent cases of unmonitored ingestion.


Ogunfowoke Adeniyi

Mobile Commerce Driving Revenue Growth in the Hotel Industry

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Mobile bookings accounted for an impressive average of 49% globally, while apps seem to be a big hit with the convenience-driven market.
Mobile accounts for most of the overall growth in travel bookings since 2014, this is according to Criteo, a leading market research firm. The worldwide research, carried between Q2 2014 and Q2 2015 indicates an increase from 12% to 23% of bookings made via mobile devices.
Although the report does not delve on absolute drivers, the rise of m-commerce, development and adoption of apps in the online hotel booking sector and related services (such as car rentals and flight bookings) showed a remarkable growth at 49% from a previously recorded 12% in 2014. A further look at consumer trends reveals that smartphones account for a remarkable 47% of same-day hotel bookings, while tablets take up 11 percent of the same.
In an interesting twist, short-stay customers seem to be satisfied with doing their pre-journey research on mobile, while longer-stay guests opt to do their prep up research on desktops.
The above findings are collaborated by a study by Jovago.com, an African focused online hotel booking company which recorded an impressive growth on mobile bookings; from 10% in Q1 2014 to an average of over 60% in Q2 -2016.
This growth can be rightfully credited to availability of complete and more accessible platforms especially in terms of apps; which according to the research by Criteo are generating about 49% of all mobile bookings globally, up from just 12% a year ago. This definitely translates to a need for providers to invest more in in-app advertising and proper tracking in order to meet their market base and target customers in their most ‘comfortable’ zone.
Globally, mobile users appeared to prefer certain devices for certain bookings; tablets were seen to generate more bookings for the air packages category as compared to smartphones, while the vice versa happened with hotels. Also, the number of smartphone bookings were observed to significantly rise over weekends, prompting a need for providers to push last minute offers towards smartphone users as opposed to other mobile devices. Japan, among major markets, however takes exception to this finding, with its average booking values equal across all devices.
Commenting on the findings, Estelle Verdier, Managing Director for Jovago East and Southern Africa observed “an interesting trend in the way the digital-age customer wants to be served; customers are more likely to choose convenience over other factors, with a major fraction drawn to platforms that offer a complete buying process.” This she further explained, goes beyond the ability to view and review the product under one click, to various point of sale components such as price comparison, room for customization, mobile payment options, friendly interface and available and prompt online response by customer service.
According to New YYork’s leading online market research company, eMarketer, inexpensive smartphones are opening new opportunities for marketing and commerce in emerging markets where customers had no previous access to internet. Further data indicates a steady growth in the smartphone ownership, with numbers predicted to surpass the 2 billion mark by the end of 2016.
Statistics by International Telecommunications Union (ITU) project the proportion of households with Internet access to reach 56% by 2020, thereby exceeding the Connect 2020 target of 55% globally.

Dakore Akande Is Front & Centre In VR By Mobos New Campaign

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Fashion retail store, Mobos just unveiled the campaign for their latest collection and the brand’s ambassador,Dakore Akande is front and centre.

The actress flanked by two other models, rock beautiful pieces from the new collection in the photos shot in Lagos by Moussa Moussa.

See more photos below!
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Photo credit: Instagram: @dakoreea | @mobosfashion

Osuare’s SS 16 Collection, ‘Unbroken’

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Sequel to its’ first collection ‘Reflections’ SS 15, Nigerian women’s wear brand, Osuare presents its’ SS 16 collection titled ‘Unbroken’.

In the collection, the designer paints tribal marks and other African memorabilia on her pieces.

The collection is in memory & celebration of the old traditions while paying attention to modern trends.

7 reasons Nigerians are obsessed with Suya

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There is no denying that a trip to Nigeria is not complete without a taste of Suya. The long thin cut of beef, marinated in delicious spices and grilled over red-hot coals, has over the years become one of the favorite street foods consumed by locals in the country. You can hardly go 3 miles around certain cities, including cities outside the Northern region where it is said to originate from, without catching a whiff of its tantalizing aroma in the air. Actually, Suya is one foods in the country that is enjoyed to all and sundry irrespective of age, sex, ethnic group or tribe.

If you are visiting and wondering what the fuss is about this mouth-watering delicacy, Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 online hotel booking portal reveals 7 reasons Nigerians are obsessed with Suya.
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It is absolutely delicious
Unless your taste buds are numb, the taste of Suya on your tongue is one you will remember for the rest of your life. A nibble fills your mouth with a burst of flavor and the luscious taste of meat. Also, the cayenne pepper and ginger adds some zing, making it eternally palatable.
It comes in several varieties
Suya is far from boring. It comes in different varieties! Suya can be made with skewered beef, ram, chevon or chicken. Vegetarians even have their veggie Suya made with mushrooms.
It can be combined with almost anything
Suya is one food you can combine with anything. From bread, to salad, rice and soaked garri, it can serves as the perfect combo. Nigerians have since found creative ways to make the most of this tasty delight. Some chefs now include Suya as an ingredient on other recipes.
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It is affordable
No matter how fancy or grand the sales point, Suya is always affordable, and it is no secret Nigerians love anything affordable. Along the street, you can get a stick for as low as 200NGN, or ask a ‘mallam’ to cut a small portion worth about N100 for you. The sellers who prepare theirs indoors are more expensive, they are found at fancy store and malls. However, the highest you can purchase a stick of suya probably is N2,000.  Suya basically gives you gastronomic fulfillment at an affordable price.
It is the perfect finger food for any occasion
From birthdays to weddings, private parties and cook-outs, there is literally no Nigerian event where Suya cannot fit in on the menu. It is mostly served as finger food alongside small chops, samosa and spring rolls.
You can buy it anywhere
Suya is one delicacy that is not hard to find in Nigeria. It is sold at almost every corner of the major cities in Nigeria. The tastiest are found on the street as open air tends to add to its aroma and taste. Usually, you have so many spots to pick from and the locals are always willing to advise you on whose suya is the most palatable. Again, the ingredients for making them are easy to find as well, so those who are hygiene conscious can just make it for themselves at home.
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There is no such thing as bad Suya
Suya never tastes bad. Even when it is not properly marinated or properly grilled, it still gives the consumer a measure of satisfaction. The aroma alone can make the stars at night shine brighter.

4 ways to “jazz up” your Instagram Feed

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Instagram is one of the most popular social media apps used in Nigeria at the moment. From businessmen to companies, entertainers, and regular people who just use it for fun, everyone is drawn to the elaborate optics and the opportunity to follow the activities of their customers, stakeholders, family or friends.
The average ‘Instagrammer’ is always looking for ways to glam up his or her feed, as a creative and eye-catching feed is the perfect tool for dominating the platform. Also, there is a higher chance of gaining more followers with strategic aesthetics as users prefer to follow accounts with great appeal.
Luckily, you do not have to be a professional photographer or own an expensive camera to master an attractive Instagram feed. Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 online hotel booking portal has some ideas to transform your grid into a gallery worthy of recognition:

Capture pictures in bright light

Photos are much more alluring when taken in bright light: either when the sun is out or when there is proper lighting in the background. Models and professionals understand the important of light and shadows and so they invest a lot of time setting their lights and cameras at the right angles.  While you may not be a professional, look out for an angle that seems most flattering, before taking the picture. Proper lighting will help to bring out the details in your photos and make your picture more attractive. Pictures that appear grainy or blurred are usually as a result of bad lighting.

Follow a theme

Rather than post different pictures with different colour schemes randomly, settle on a theme for your pictures. Ensure that the theme you select is a ‘look’ that you love and would like to replicate in your image, that way you are consistent with it. Consistency is a key element of any appealing Instagram account, so work on giving your feed cohesiveness. Whatever look you are going for, loud and bright colours, pastel shades or minimalist shades, try to keep it uniform for at least nine photos before switching things up. Also, write down a few words that you want people to associate with your account and use them when captioning the pictures.
Edit your photos
Editing your picture is a great way to jazz it up. A lot of people are not huge on filters, but there are other elements that could be adjusted to make the picture pop while remaining candid. Experiment with the Photo Editing tools in your Instagram app. There are options to adjust brightness, contrast, warmth, shadow and highlights and of course, saturation.   You can also use other apps such as Afterlight or VSCO, to brighten up your photos, alter the contrast, boost color and more. To maintain consistency, it is important to use the same techniques and apps when editing your photos .

Avoid too many  Pic Collages

Picture collages can be fun, but they may not be the most effective when looking to jazz up your instagram feeds. Not only is it super distracting, it can actually put a viewer off as it sometimes makes your feed look too busy and frankly, unappealing. If you are a die-hard fan of collages, you can stick to including just a few photos in one post and make sure the picture you select for the collage have similar lighting and content. It is important that you use them sparingly though.


Ndem Nkem

Nnewi: Perfect Destination for the Budget Traveler

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Nnewi is a mix of the old and the new, reflected in thatched-roof mud houses alongside concrete buildings as well as the abdication of some fetish features associated with their festivals.

Notwithstanding, the quiet  and peaceful city has seen rapid development, as a result of the industrious nature of the natives who are mainly Igbos. It is therefore not surprising that the first wholly Nigerian car manufacturing company is located in the heart of the city. It also has the accolade of being the second largest city in Anambra State after Onitsha.  
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Whether you are a budget traveler or not, you are assured of a fun visit to its various destinations without breaking the bank. A trip from Lagos to Nnewi by road is 6 hrs 40 mins at the cost of about N4,000.  Alternatively, you can fly to Asaba and take a smooth ride to Nnewi or drive to Nnewi which is roughly 1 hour 5 mins.   

With a population of 391,227, Nnewi covers 4 local governments namely Nnewi North, Nnewi South, Ekwusigo, and Ihiala. It is a perfect destination for the budget traveler. Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 hotel booking portal gives you more details on how to find your way around the sprawling city.   
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TOP THREE THINGS TO DO
Take a tour of Innoson motors
Wouldn’t it be an exciting if you visit Nnewi to also check out Innoson motors which is Nigeria’s only company that manufacture cars. Some Nigerians may ask is this really true? You can go see for yourself if you have a weekend to yourself. Innoson motors run a plant in Nnewi and 70% of the car are produced indigenously while the rest are imported. It will be a worthwhile experience.  

Visit the palace of the Igwe of Nnewi
The Igwe of Nnewi is the custodian of traditions and customs Nnewi. To get a comprehensive history and relics of Nnewi’s past, you must pay a visit to the palace of the Igwe of Nnewi, His Royal Highness, Igwe Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu III.  He was coronated on 2nd June 1963. He is being on the throne for more 50 years. There is so much to see and learn about Nnewi at the palace of the Igwe who is also the Obi of Otolo.  

Attend Ofala Festival
Ofala is a popular festival in South East Nigeria especially in Onitsha. But in recent years, Ofala is now celebrated by neighbouring Igbo communities including Nnewi. It is a long surviving traditional ceremony of the Nnewi people which marks the climax of the New Yam festival. According to oral history, Ofala Nnewi dates back to the 1950s and the monarch on the Nnewi throne must celebrate the Ofala annually. Indigenes bearing gifts will pay homage to the Igwe.   
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Where to sleep
The price of the following hotels   Hotels, Hotel De Decent, Swiss Park Hotel and Suites, Calido Fine Hotel Limited, Kings Palace Hotel Extension, Best Option Hotel Limited and Lennox Gardens hotels range between N6,000 and N7,000. This further lends credence to the affordability of Nnewi.
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Eating
Igbos have tasty and irresistible cuisines. Abacha, Uha Soup, Ofe Onugbu, and Nkwobito mention but a few are some of the foods you will served in Nnewi. Some of the restaurants to savour the taste of these foods includes Mayan foods, Ogechukwu Evergreen Restaurant, Eat Right Foods, Tetrazzini Food Limited, Kitchen De Royale, Recoboza Café Restaurant.
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Shopping
If you want to feel the ambience and aura of Nnewi, the best place  to go is the Nkwo Nnewi Market. The market is busy 24/7 and you can get everything you. But if you are not inclined to visit the market, you can check out other places to shop and do other businesses like The learning Point, Precious creation services and  MT computer Press.  

Fun fact
Nnewi is the city that host the only car manufacturing plant in Nigeria i.e. Innoson Motors.


Ogunfowoke Adeniyi

Michael Bonny Bassey of Big Brother on Calvin Klein Collabo

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Michael Bonny Bassey, the former  reality  star of big brother now actor/model
Who got signed  to one of the biggest modelling agency  in Nigeria  Isis Modelling agency has however, quickly distinguished himself by going from being a reality TV star to an international model for ISIS. Touring the world from America, Europe to our very own African countries, one could say Bassey truly portrays that "Modelling pays the Bills."

It's no news that his body is a perfect work of art, enviable to men and desirable by the women folk. He sure knows how to work his stance in front of the camera, little wonder he was snagged up by an international photographer to model a Calvin Klein underwear for an art campaign. Just of recent, he hooked up with Art Director, Bidemi Kevin Koya, to finally release the pictures of the campaign much to the ecstasy of the public and his fans after keeping them away from the prying eyes of the press for some justifiable amount of time.
Pictures below:






5 Tips to Improve the Quality of your Skype Calls

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Skype is fast becoming an integral part of a business. Users can make free and cheap calls as far as they are both registered on Skype. Besides business, it is bridging the gap between couples who are in long distance relationship. If you are heavily reliant on Skype, the quality of your Skype calls must be top notch. Jovago, Africa's No 1 hotel booking portal shares 5 tips to improve the quality of Skype calls.
Internet connection  
The quality of your Skype is largely influenced by your internet connection. The better your network, the better your calls and vice versa. If you cannot use the voice call function due to network, you can revert to sending instant messaging.  
Pause all downloads  
To enjoy your Skype calls, it is advisable to temporarily suspend all downloads because it can disrupt your calls. It is better for your internet connection to be focused on the call rather than being shared with music, video or picture you are downloading. So, whenever you are making a Skype call, pause all your downloads.  
Check your volume setting
aside from making calls in a quiet environment, it is also important to check your volume setting to make such it is working properly. In addition  to this, you should ensure that your microphone is working. If the sound is not poor, your voice call on Skype will be traumatic.  
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Use a good headset
You can use any earphone for skyping. However, with a very good headset, there will be no problem with hearing your callers. Whichever headset you choose must be sound proofed.  
wired connection
Wireless connection can be unstable or unreliable sometimes. It can disappoint you when you need it most. But, if you have access to a wired connection, it is worthwhile to stick with that. There will be no question of disruption from other wireless devices like phone, watch, camera, laptop and other digital gadgets if you use a wired connection,  



Ogunfowoke Adeniyi

Ayo Van Elmar’s SS2016 Fishbone ‘Table De Billiard’ Editorial Shoot

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Nollywood actress Omoni Oboli, channels her glamorous side for this editorial shoot titled ‘Table De Billiard’ in outfits from fashion label, Ayo Van Elmar’s Spring/Summer 2016 ‘Fishbone’ collection. 

According to the creative director Ayo Elizabeth Olaogun, the game of nobles, with an inception dating as far back as the 15th century is the plot for the editorial shoot of her Spring Summer 2016 collection, Fishbone.

She was inspired to create the set “table de billiard” around her muse Omoni Oboli and her latest movie, ‘Wives on Strike’, which has hit mightily, with a tremendous and continuous success of sixty million naira in less than a month!

In order to enhance the appeal of the movie, ‘Wives on strike’ like a billiard table, is cushioned with comedy, but also stuffed with substance to allow the balls of thoughts about the girl child rebound.

The shoot depicts strength in the beginning and victory at last may triumph eventually and may the girl child in our nation and everywhere on planet earth, be forever playing the winning game of freedom, may she grow to express her rights to life and development, and above all, her rights to equality before the law.
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Credits
Creative direction: @ayoelizabetholaogun
Hair: @onaturals1
Jewelry: @cornucopiaadorn
Location: @lagosorientalhotel
Make-up: @oge_makeup_artistry
Model: @omonioboli
Photography: @babzbamiro
Wardrobe: @ayovanelmar

5 Snapchat tricks every Nigerian should know

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Nigerians have proven that Snapchat is indeed addictive! The moment you find anyone with their nose in their phone these days, he or she is most probably checking their feeds and uploading snaps. A user can send any of the “snaps” or images created on the app to friends, including their own personal touch, which delete themselves after a couple of hours.

While the app can create a lot fun, it however has a complex user interface which makes it very hard to use, and as such, so many users are unaware of more than half of the things they could do with it.

For users looking to graduate from the basic level of just sending photos & videos to friends, Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 online hotel booking site has made a list of 5 cool tricks that will ensure users make the most out of the app and even impress their friends.

Add music to your snaps

Unknown to a lot of users, the Snapchat app allows the inclusion of music to videos taken with the app and it is a very easy process. You do not need to play the music in the background while making the video as you may not get the sound quality you desire. All you need to do is play the song you want in your video through a music player app on your smartphone, and while the song is playing, record a video on Snapchat. Magical!
Resize Emoji characters
Sometimes, you want to enlarge an Emoji on your screen or make it smaller. To achieve that, all you need to do is select the one you want to use; next, hit the "T" symbol in the upper right corner; then, using two fingers preferably your index finger and your thumb, zoom in and out of the Emojis. The process of zooming in or out determined how much bigger or smaller you make it eventually.
Switch between cameras while filming
This is a trick that you certainly cannot achieve on other social media apps. Rather than capture your film all from one point of view, you can actually create videos of your face and your POV by swapping between front-facing and rear cameras during your snaps. This does not only make the filming process super fun, it makes the snap very engaging for viewers

See the views your story

The whole point of recording snaps is so people can view it and maybe make their comment, so, naturally, every user will want to know how many views they have per snap, as well discover the identity of the people who made the views. While it seems like there is no option to achieve the latter, it pretty simple. All you need to do is go to the “Stories” tab, available one swipe away from the home page.  A tap on “My Story” reveals an eyeball with a number next to it. Tap on that eyeball and you'll get a drop-down list with the names of all your followers who have viewed it.

Combine two filters in one snap
Every single person on the social media will attest to the fact that filters are the best! Filters can literally transform a look or view and make it much more appealing. Generally, filters make the Snapchat experience  much more exciting, so imagine how much more fun you can have using two filters at once? It is possible!  You can actually use an image filter along with one of the data label filters that are available. All you need to is apply the first filter on a snap, then hold one finger on the display while using another finger to choose between the other filters. It is not tedious at all.
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