fredag 22 april 2011

Alt Attribute & Search engine optimization

SEO Optimization images is becoming more and more essential in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is really a critical step that is sometimes forgotten. This can be a lost chance of better rankings.


In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise using alternative text for that images in your web site:

Images:. Use the alt attribute to provide descriptive text. In addition, we recommend utilizing a human-readable caption and descriptive text around the image.

Why would they ask us to do that? The answer is easy, really; search engines have a similar problem as blind users. They can't see the images.

Many webmasters and inexperienced or unethical SEOs abuse the use of this attribute, trying to stuff it with keywords, hoping to achieve a certain keyword density, which is not as relevant for rankings now as it was previously.

On the contrary, high keyword density can, on some search engines, trigger spam filters, which may result in a penalty for the site's ranking. Even without such a penalty, your site's rankings will not take advantage of this plan.
This process also puts persons who use screen readers at a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that really read aloud the items in what's displayed on the screen. In browsing the net, the alt features of images are read aloud too.

Imagine listening to a paragraph of text which is then repetitions of numerous keywords. The page will be not even close to accessible, and, to put it mildly, will be found quite annoying.
What is an Alt attribute?

An ALT attribute shouldn't be used as a description or perhaps a label to have an image, though lots of people use it in that fashion. Though it might seem natural to assume that alternate text is really a label or perhaps a description, it's not!

What used inside an image's alt attribute should be its text equivalent and convey exactly the same information or serve the same purpose the image would.

The thing is to provide the same functional information that the visual user would see. The alt attribute text should be the "stand in" when the image itself is unavailable. Think about this: If you were to replace the look using the text, would most users get the same basic information, and wouldn't it create the same response?
Some examples:

 

Some SEO Optimization Tips

If a search button is a magnifier or binoculars its alt text ought to be 'search' or 'find' not 'magnifying glass' or 'binoculars'.

If an image is supposed to convey the literal contents of the image, then a description is appropriate.

If it's meant to convey data, then that information is what's appropriate.

If it is designed to convey using a function, then your function itself is what should be used.

Some Alt Attribute Guidelines:

Always add alt attributes to images. Alt is mandatory for accessibility as well as for valid XHTML.

For images that play only a decorative role in the page, make use of an empty alt (i.e. alt="") or a CSS background image so that reading browsers do not bother users by uttering such things as "spacer image".

Remember that it's the function from the image we are attempting to convey. For example; any button images shouldn't include the word "button" in the alt text. They ought to emphasize the action performed by the button.

Alt text ought to be determined by context. Exactly the same image inside a different context may require drastically different alt text.

Try to flow alt text with the remainder of the text because that's the way it will be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone listening to your page should hardly be aware that a graphic image can there be.
Please remember that using an alt attribute for every image is needed to satisfy the minimum WAI requirements, which are used as the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and the remainder of Europe. They are also necessary to meet "Section 508" accessibility requirements in america.

It is useful to categorize non-text content into three levels:

Eye-Candy
Mood-Setting
Content and Function

I. Eye-Candy

Eye-Candy are stuff that serve no purpose other than to create a site visually appealing/attractive and (in many cases) fulfill the marketing departments. There isn't any content value (though there may be value to a sighted user).

Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there is something there that will enhance the usability from the site for someone utilizing a non-visual user agent. Use a null alt attribute or background images in CSS for eye-candy.

II. Mood-Setting

This is the middle layer of graphics which may serve to set the mood or set the stage as it were. These graphics are not direct content and may 't be considered essential, but they are essential in they help frame what's going on.

Attempt to alt-ify the 2nd group as is sensible and is relevant. There might be times when doing so may be annoying or detrimental with other users. Then try to avoid it.

For instance; Alt text that is just like adjacent text is unnecessary, as well as an irritant to screen reader users. I recommend alt="" or background CSS images in such cases. But sometimes, it's vital that you understand this content in there for all users.

Most times this will depend on context. Exactly the same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text. Obviously, content should always be fully available. The way you go in this example is a judgment call.

III. Content and Function

This is when the look is the actual content. Always alt-ify content and functional images. Title and long description attributes may also be so as.
The main reason many authors can't figure out why their alt text isn't working is they don't know why the images exist. You have to determined precisely what function an image serves. Consider what it's concerning the image that's vital that you the page's intended audience.

Every graphic has a reason behind being on that page: because it either improves the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what the page is trying to explain. Understanding what the image is for makes alt text easier to write. And exercise writing them definitely helps.
A way to look into the usefulness of alternative text would be to imagine reading the page over the telephone to someone. What would you say when encountering a specific image to create the page understandable towards the listener?

Besides the alt attribute you've got a couple more tools at your disposal for images.
First, in degree of descriptiveness title is in between alt and longdesc. It adds useful information and may add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered through the user agent. Remember they are invisible and never shown as a "tooltip" when focus is received through the keyboard. (So much for device independence). So use the title attribute only for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points towards the URL of a complete description of an image. If the information contained in an image is important to the meaning of the page (i.e. some important content would be lost if the image was removed), an extended description than the "alt" attribute can reasonably display should be used. It can offer rich, expressive documentation of a visual image.

It should be used when alt and title are insufficient to embody the visual qualities of an image. As Clark [1] states, "A longdesc is a long description of the image...The goal is to use any length of description necessary to impart the details of the graphic.

It would not be remiss to hope that a long description conjures an image - the image - within the mind's eye, an analogy that is true even for that totally blind."

Although the alt attribute is mandatory for web accessibility and for valid (X)HTML, not all images need alternative text, long descriptions, or titles.

Oftentimes, you are better off just choosing your gut instinct -- if it's not necessary to include it, and when you don't have a strong urge to get it done, don't include that longdesc.

However, if it's essential for the whole page to work, then you've to include the alt text (or title or longdesc).

What's necessary and what's not depends a great deal on the function of your image and it is context on the page.

The same image may require alt text (or title or longdesc) in a single spot, but not in another. If an image provides absolutely no content or functional information alt="" or background CSS images might be appropriate to use. But if the image provides content or adds functional information an alt will be required and perhaps a long description will be so as. In many cases this type of thing is a judgement call.

Image Search Engine Optimization Tips


Listed below are key stages in optimizing images:

Choose a logical file name that reinforces the keywords. You can use hyphens within the file name to isolate the keyword, but avoid to exceeding two hyphens. Avoid using underscores like a word separator, such as "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";

Label the file extension. For example, if the image internet search engine sees a ".jpg" (JPEG) file extension, it's going to assume that the file is a photo, and if it sees a ".gif" (GIF) file extension, it's likely to assume that it is graphic;

Ensure that the text nearby the image that's relevant to that image.
Again, do not lose a great opportunity to help your website with your images in search engines. Begin using these steps to rank better on all the engines and drive increased traffic for your site TODAY.

torsdag 21 april 2011

Website Optimization


Conversion rate optimization (CRO) is the hot new thing because of the potential it has to double your revenue without doubling your costs, which also allows you to increase your marketing budgets and makes marketing your business more profitable.


Most companies neglect CRO though, not because they don’t think it’s important, but because their tech team is preoccupied with many, many other things. Building great products and software as well as maintaining them certainly isn’t an easy job.


First, let’s focus on a few rules on what to test for CRO and how to test:


1. Define the challenge (more sales of A, more newsletter subscriptions, more visitors funneling to the next page) and the webpage to test


2. List potential reasons for your low conversion, problem areas on the webpage



  • Think about what’s essential to the webpage and what could be removed

  • Get some users and survey them on where the friction is. Ask them questions like “What would you change on this page?”

  • Use tools like CrazyEgg to get heat maps that show where people are clicking and where their attention is drawn


3. Consider alternatives for the problem areas on the webpage


4. Create and edit images and buttons, change up text (maybe even size and font), rearrange things, or create new pages entirely


5. Don’t get too crazy with all the data and feedback. Go ahead and start testing with just a few variations, see what’s working and optimize some more


When you’re ready to execute on CRO, you can do A/B testing and create your own landing pages without bothering your already busy, probably frequently annoyed-with-you, tech team.


A/B Testing



OwnLocal is a Y-Combinator bred startup that helps local newspapers survive on the Internet. OwnLocal swoops into small towns sprinkled across America’s less tech savvy plains and puts on quite a clever show. In no way are they grifters; but with their guaranteed promises of success, small town publishers don’t stand a chance.


Lloyd W. Armbrust, II, OwnLocal’s Founder and CEO, puts its technology in the hands of local publications, newspapers or television stations, so that they can then sell successful modern digital strategies like owning a website, blogging, SEO optimization, design, group deals and more to local businesses. In other words, OwnLocal acts like a web development department for local newspapers providing them with simple, sellable products including a white label daily deal product and a white label Yelp-like product.


“In rural America, small businesses would rather the Internet didn’t exist, but it does. We sell a package through their local newspapers that creates a website for them, writes relevant blog posts for them and pushes out media to Twitter and Facebook. So, we manage all of that for them but we do it through their newspaper.”


-Lloyd W. Armbrust


OwnLocal trains local media employees and shows them how to put on a “Web a la carte” presentation for small businesses even though the local businesses may have never heard of Groupon, Yelp or LivingSocial. To date, OwnLocal has powered more than 1,000 small businesses and over 100 publications.



OwnLocal also sells its product, “AdForge” as “the best print-to-digital ad conversion software in the world.” AdForge is designed to take print ads and put them on the web, on mobile and on tablets. AdForge easily converts print ads into clickable, shareable, printable, mappable and sendable digital ads.


Say you’re a lawyer or a plumber, OwnLocal will create websites optimized for search engines and deal with social media elements like blogging, tweeting and Facebooking, saving these small service businesses a lot of time and effort. Businesses can choose from a variety of different websites from simple splash pages to editable, manageable sites. OwnLocal then taps into its network of college students and stay at home moms to write the company’s blog posts. But again, all of this is through the local newspaper.


Today, OwnLocal announces its “Arcade” partnership with HeyZap, another YC startup, to bring more than 50,000 social and casual games to newspapers and local media. Rather than just having a few puzzle games like crosswords and Sudoku, newspapers will have access to games that reflect what their audiences have come to expect from social networks and social game sites. Initial launch partners include A.H. Belo Corp.‘s The Press-Enterprise and Impre Media, the largest Spanish language newspaper group in America as well as 25 other newspapers. OwnLocal expects that newspapers will see financial benefits, increased time-on-site and more return visits.



In York, Nebraska– a town with a population of 10,000– OwnLocal made The York News Times $140,000 last year. OwnLocal takes 30% and the newspaper gets the remaining 70% of revenues from its tech products sold. $100,000-300,000 is an easy number to make for local papers, says Armbrust.  OwnLocal doesn’t work with media outlets that have circulations less than 1,000. And its sophisticated system tell them exactly how much money they can make just from circulation numbers. Guaranteed revenue reports based on circulation for dying newspapers? Maybe dreams do come true.


“The community newspaper I worked at was purchased and sold to Gatehouse Media. I started thinking, what can we do? Is there a situation where you can make this product that’s all-encompassing that could make these newspapers money? I felt for these guys. Print is declining.”


–Lloyd Armbrust


Armbrust has worked in the newspaper industry for 11 years, including two years working on OwnLocal. His Co-Founder Jason Novack is the hardcore hacker in the pair. Armbrust says their main competitor, ReachLocal charges 5 times as much as OwnLocal because they utilize a network of 1,000 local sales reps.


To date, OwnLocal has received just under a million seed funding from Y Combinator, Baseline Ventures, Lerer Media Ventures, Paul Buchheit, Joshua Schachter and Alex Moore.


seo optimization services


SES Chicago 2010 – Video SEO Panel by Voodoo Buddha

torsdag 14 april 2011

Bench Craft Company on the subject of jobs


A 75-year-old woman was recently arrested by the Georgian police after she single-handedly cut off Internet connections in Georgia and neighbouring Armenia.


AFP reports that the pensioner was digging for scrap metal with the intention of stealing it when she stumbled upon a fibre-optic cable which runs through Georgia to Armenia, forcing thousands of Internet users in both countries to lose Internet connection for several hours. Georgian Railway Telecom, the company that owns the cable, said that the latest damage was serious, causing 90 percent of private and corporate Internet users in Armenia to lose access for nearly 12 hours while also hitting Georgian Internet service providers.


“I cannot understand how this lady managed to find and damage the cable. It has robust protection and such incidents are extremely rare,” Giorgi Ionatamishvili, Georgian Railway Telecom’s marketing head, told AFP.


Apparently, this wasn’t the first time it happened. In 2009, another scavenger damaged a fibre-optic cable while hunting for scrap metal in the impoverished ex-Soviet state, forcing many Georgians’ Internet connections to get interrupted.


The woman has been charged with damaging property and could face up to three years in prison if convicted.








Charlie Sheen’s use of technology and web 2.0 has earned him big dollars and a ‘winning’ formula for his own personal brand.


The Two And A Half Men star has greatly benefited from his own ability to embrace the internet, exploring all the marketing tools available to him. From breaking a twitter record, to hosting his own internet show on Ustream, the actor has done what few in Hollywood have ever achieved. Parody videos created by fans and websites dedicated to his one-liners are giving the actor non-stop free promotion and this in turn has created an audience of marketers for Charlie Sheen.


His infamous ABC interview gave birth to many of the viral video spoofs we have seen of his ‘radical’ behavior, which in turn, has fueled his twitter fan growth, and other media interview requests. With so many people discussing and sharing his antics, his own brand of controversy has been implanted onto the web, and has helped him sell tickets for his tour dates.


On top of that, Sheen’s regular updates with his fans on twitter provide a direct relationship and route to market. Sure that sounds a little cold, but he does have a following he can reach out to about his products.


Looking at what he did this week, Sheen took the next step in his own web fueled marketing campaign by making a self-parody video. This clever twist gave yet another viral hit to his name, as bloggers and social media re-posted and discussed how outrageous it was to see him spoof himself.


With many dates left on Charlie Sheen’s tour, the actor has a non-stop ‘Bi-Winning’ 24/7 marketing campaign, and other celebrities in the entertainment industry should learn from his online success.



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Texas Open: Kevin Na sets PGA Tour record for worst par-4 hole with 16


Kevin Na set a new low Thursday for the worst par-4 hole in the PGA Tour record books, shooting a 15 to plummet to 10-over following a nightmarish sequence of shots.


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Taptu allows iPad owners to “DJ your <b>news</b>” | VentureBeat

Anthony is a senior editor at VentureBeat, as well as its reporter on media, advertising, and social networks. Before joining ...


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Former ABC <b>News</b> President David Westin Announces Next Move - The <b>...</b>

He's named president and CEO of the News Licensing Group, launching this summer.


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Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak said in an interview this week that he would consider returning to an active role at the company he helped start if asked.



During an interview in England this week, Wozniak said, "I'd consider it, yeah," when asked whether he would play a more active role if asked, Reuters reports.



Wozniak, Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne founded Apple Computer in 1976. Wozniak left his full-time role with the company in 1987, but remains an employee and shareholder of Apple.



Since leaving Apple, Wozniak has been involved in a wide range of entrepreneurial and philanthropic endeavors. He currently serves as Chief Scientist for storage company Fusion-io.



Meanwhile, Jobs is currently taking an indefinite leave of absence to focus on his health, though he remains CEO of Apple and continues to be involved in strategic decisions.



Wozniak, who has widely been acknowledged as the technical genius behind Apple's early success, believes that he has a lot to offer the company he helped start, which went on to become the world's second-largest company in terms of market value.



"There's just an awful lot I know about Apple products and competing products that has some relevance, some meaning. They're my own feelings, though," Wozniak said during the interview.



When asked his opinion on Apple today, Wozniak praised the company for its track record with recent products. "Unbelievable," he said, "The products, one after another, quality and hits."



Even so, Wozniak admitted that he'd prefer Apple's devices to be more open, so he can "get in there and add [his] own touches." Last December, Wozniak revealed that he had purchased a DIY kit for the iPhone 4 and "modded" the device into the as-yet-unreleased white version.



"My thinking is that Apple could be more open and not lose sales," said Wozniak, while adding, "I'm sure they're making the right decisions for the right reasons for Apple."



Wozniak has been committed to openness since the beginning. In December, Wozniak told reporters that he didn't design the original Apple I to make a lot of money and had given the designs away for free after his former employer HP showed no interest in the computer.



Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak said in an interview this week that he would consider returning to an active role at the company he helped start if asked.



During an interview in England this week, Wozniak said, "I'd consider it, yeah," when asked whether he would play a more active role if asked, Reuters reports.



Wozniak, Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne founded Apple Computer in 1976. Wozniak left his full-time role with the company in 1987, but remains an employee and shareholder of Apple.



Since leaving Apple, Wozniak has been involved in a wide range of entrepreneurial and philanthropic endeavors. He currently serves as Chief Scientist for storage company Fusion-io.



Meanwhile, Jobs is currently taking an indefinite leave of absence to focus on his health, though he remains CEO of Apple and continues to be involved in strategic decisions.



Wozniak, who has widely been acknowledged as the technical genius behind Apple's early success, believes that he has a lot to offer the company he helped start, which went on to become the world's second-largest company in terms of market value.



"There's just an awful lot I know about Apple products and competing products that has some relevance, some meaning. They're my own feelings, though," Wozniak said during the interview.



When asked his opinion on Apple today, Wozniak praised the company for its track record with recent products. "Unbelievable," he said, "The products, one after another, quality and hits."



Even so, Wozniak admitted that he'd prefer Apple's devices to be more open, so he can "get in there and add [his] own touches." Last December, Wozniak revealed that he had purchased a DIY kit for the iPhone 4 and "modded" the device into the as-yet-unreleased white version.



"My thinking is that Apple could be more open and not lose sales," said Wozniak, while adding, "I'm sure they're making the right decisions for the right reasons for Apple."



Wozniak has been committed to openness since the beginning. In December, Wozniak told reporters that he didn't design the original Apple I to make a lot of money and had given the designs away for free after his former employer HP showed no interest in the computer.




bench craft company

bench craft company

One important thing about cities is their sex appeal — their magnetism. Places flourish when they attract people, resources, opportunities, and ideas, and match them to one another. Cities are much more than the built environment of roads and real estate. Cities are about relationships, and whether people have access to opportunities. Cities are one big dating game.



When cities lose their magnetism, the whole population suffers. The deterioration of Detroit began well before recent auto industry woes; its population plunge was confirmed by the latest Census. Some attribute decline to bad urban redevelopment schemes or corrupt politics that failed to improve schools or reduce crime. "A once-great American city today repels people of talent and ambition," a Wall Street Journal columnist wrote recently. A local leader told him, "It's been class warfare on steroids, and ... so many Detroiters who had the means — black and white — have fled the city."



Cleveland is another shrunken city with significant poverty. In the 1980s, Cleveland Tomorrow, a coalition of major company CEOs, sponsored downtown projects, including a new baseball stadium and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This attracted luxury apartment developments, luring the affluent to the center city and revitalizing it. But inner city ghettoes were barely touched, and the region continued to lose high-wage manufacturing.



There's a tale of two cities within many city borders: one rich, the other very poor. Dubai, a gleaming new city of luxury high rises, is ringed by hidden slums for temporary service workers from the underclass of Asian nations. In New York, the middle class, including young families, cannot afford to live in the city. Baton Rouge has affluent areas with some of Louisiana's best quality-of-life indicators and extreme poverty areas with some of the worst. Other divides include racial and ethnic enclaves that vary in opportunities — for example, minority entrepreneurs with promising business ideas who can't access mainstream sources of capital and support.



Cities should be connectors but can have connection problems. Cities are where all parts of life come together: jobs, health, education, environmental quality. Yet, in most cities, businesses, schools, hospitals, and city services still operate in silos. And the political boundaries of cities don't encompass their true extent or the flow of people, as the Brookings' Metropolitan Policy Center points out. IBM's Smarter Cities Challenge supports efforts to use technology for connected regional solutions.



Interdependence among urban issues makes vicious cycles worse. If there is no action on high youth unemployment or poor educational quality and high school dropout rates, then too many African-American males end up in prison. High crime rates make sections of cities undesirable, and neighborhoods deteriorate. Aging buildings and toxic environments then cause health problems, such as lead poisoning or asthma, which disproportionately affect inner city children. Children in poor health have trouble learning, learning problems are associated with school dropouts, and vicious cycles continue.



Pivotal investments can start virtuous cycles. The transformation of Miami from sleepy southern city to international trade hub and informal capital of Latin America was propelled by investments in a world class airport and a flood of immigrants from Fidel Castro's Cuba. Mayors and civic leaders took advantage of this to attract new businesses and tout Latin connections, as my book World Class describes. But progress stalls if benefits don't reach the grass roots, racial divides persist, and major institutions fail to collaborate. The Miami Foundation's emerging leaders program is designed to deploy diverse younger professionals for major civic projects.



Revitalizing cities requires national urban policy investments and social innovations on the ground. Leadership might come from:



  • Enlightened mayors who build public-private partnerships or join Cities of Service, which align the city and non-profits around high-impact goals.


  • Business leaders, such as former Miami Herald publisher David Lawrence, who rallied Miami-Dade County to vote for a tax increase (Yes to new taxes!) to create the Children's Trust, a fund to improve life for all children.


  • Faith communities, such as Rev. Raymond Jetson's community organizing toward a coalition for "A Better Baton Rouge."


  • Financiers, such as Tim Ferguson and Ron Walker, who co-founded Next Street to invest in inner city businesses.


  • Social entrepreneurs, such as Hubie Jones, who wants to replicate a birth-to-college educational model like the Harlem Children's Zone in Boston.


  • Community foundations with a strategic perspective, seeking integrated solutions across issues such as youth employment, education, health, and green plans.




The best social innovations will connect people and institutions, producing an infrastructure for collaboration. That social infrastructure will increase the sex appeal of cities by going beyond initial attraction to build lasting relationships for lasting improvements.



One important thing about cities is their sex appeal — their magnetism. Places flourish when they attract people, resources, opportunities, and ideas, and match them to one another. Cities are much more than the built environment of roads and real estate. Cities are about relationships, and whether people have access to opportunities. Cities are one big dating game.



When cities lose their magnetism, the whole population suffers. The deterioration of Detroit began well before recent auto industry woes; its population plunge was confirmed by the latest Census. Some attribute decline to bad urban redevelopment schemes or corrupt politics that failed to improve schools or reduce crime. "A once-great American city today repels people of talent and ambition," a Wall Street Journal columnist wrote recently. A local leader told him, "It's been class warfare on steroids, and ... so many Detroiters who had the means — black and white — have fled the city."



Cleveland is another shrunken city with significant poverty. In the 1980s, Cleveland Tomorrow, a coalition of major company CEOs, sponsored downtown projects, including a new baseball stadium and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This attracted luxury apartment developments, luring the affluent to the center city and revitalizing it. But inner city ghettoes were barely touched, and the region continued to lose high-wage manufacturing.



There's a tale of two cities within many city borders: one rich, the other very poor. Dubai, a gleaming new city of luxury high rises, is ringed by hidden slums for temporary service workers from the underclass of Asian nations. In New York, the middle class, including young families, cannot afford to live in the city. Baton Rouge has affluent areas with some of Louisiana's best quality-of-life indicators and extreme poverty areas with some of the worst. Other divides include racial and ethnic enclaves that vary in opportunities — for example, minority entrepreneurs with promising business ideas who can't access mainstream sources of capital and support.



Cities should be connectors but can have connection problems. Cities are where all parts of life come together: jobs, health, education, environmental quality. Yet, in most cities, businesses, schools, hospitals, and city services still operate in silos. And the political boundaries of cities don't encompass their true extent or the flow of people, as the Brookings' Metropolitan Policy Center points out. IBM's Smarter Cities Challenge supports efforts to use technology for connected regional solutions.



Interdependence among urban issues makes vicious cycles worse. If there is no action on high youth unemployment or poor educational quality and high school dropout rates, then too many African-American males end up in prison. High crime rates make sections of cities undesirable, and neighborhoods deteriorate. Aging buildings and toxic environments then cause health problems, such as lead poisoning or asthma, which disproportionately affect inner city children. Children in poor health have trouble learning, learning problems are associated with school dropouts, and vicious cycles continue.



Pivotal investments can start virtuous cycles. The transformation of Miami from sleepy southern city to international trade hub and informal capital of Latin America was propelled by investments in a world class airport and a flood of immigrants from Fidel Castro's Cuba. Mayors and civic leaders took advantage of this to attract new businesses and tout Latin connections, as my book World Class describes. But progress stalls if benefits don't reach the grass roots, racial divides persist, and major institutions fail to collaborate. The Miami Foundation's emerging leaders program is designed to deploy diverse younger professionals for major civic projects.



Revitalizing cities requires national urban policy investments and social innovations on the ground. Leadership might come from:



  • Enlightened mayors who build public-private partnerships or join Cities of Service, which align the city and non-profits around high-impact goals.


  • Business leaders, such as former Miami Herald publisher David Lawrence, who rallied Miami-Dade County to vote for a tax increase (Yes to new taxes!) to create the Children's Trust, a fund to improve life for all children.


  • Faith communities, such as Rev. Raymond Jetson's community organizing toward a coalition for "A Better Baton Rouge."


  • Financiers, such as Tim Ferguson and Ron Walker, who co-founded Next Street to invest in inner city businesses.


  • Social entrepreneurs, such as Hubie Jones, who wants to replicate a birth-to-college educational model like the Harlem Children's Zone in Boston.


  • Community foundations with a strategic perspective, seeking integrated solutions across issues such as youth employment, education, health, and green plans.




The best social innovations will connect people and institutions, producing an infrastructure for collaboration. That social infrastructure will increase the sex appeal of cities by going beyond initial attraction to build lasting relationships for lasting improvements.



bench craft company

Daily Kos: Fox <b>News</b> ties suicide to Obama speech

But with the other option being to talk about the Republican plan to abolish Medicare, apparently politicizing this young man's death looked a whole lot better to Fox News. Pathetic. (h/t Balloon Juice) ...


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Taptu allows iPad owners to “DJ your <b>news</b>” | VentureBeat

Anthony is a senior editor at VentureBeat, as well as its reporter on media, advertising, and social networks. Before joining ...


tisdag 12 april 2011

Roofing Companies Vancouver - 5 Inquiries to Ponder

Roofing Vancouver - Faq's


1. Repair or Replace?

There's no opinion like an expert opinion. Most contractors provides you with a free estimate. Get a list of a couple trusted contractors and contact them well in advance of when you want to obtain your roof fixed so you can compare costs and opinions.


2. Beauty versus Practicality?

Discuss this together with your spouse or partner. (The children could care less...at least the children.) The fact is, nobody wants an ugly roof the same as nobody wants to be seen with bed hair. If you've got a good quality roof and you simply have to repair it, it's worthwhile to pay for the cost of the original shingle instead of doing patchwork. A roof replacement doesn't happen very often (we hope!) and thus make a decision that suits you and your loved ones well or it'll stand out just like a sore thumb everyday you decide to go home.


3. Must i replace the roof so I can sell the home for additional?

Think about this cautiously prior to making a decision. With respect to the roofing material you choose, a brand new roof can last between twenty, fifty, to one-hundred years! This means you need to check the year from the roof that's currently over your head first. Are you at year 18 of a 20-year warranted roof or year 30 of a 50-year warranted roof? Obviously, the standard is the reason why the roof keep going longer, but when you're not planning to stay in your present home throughout your lifetime, the higher expense might not be worth neglect the. Although a new roof can improve the value of your selling price, the increase may not be enough to cover neglect the and that's definitely going to hurt your wallet.


4. Could it be advisable for me to repair the rooftop myself?

Sure it's. Before you need to do, consult a specialist first. You can do it yourself, however, you shouldn't be a complete ‘lone ranger.' With respect to the extent of the repair, you might or may not convince you. In either case, it will help to get a professional eye about the problem first and perhaps even a free quote so you can do the math later and find out if it's truly worth your time, sweat, and cash to be mister or miss fix-it.


5. Just when was a great time to find the roof replaced?

Weather may cause delays from days to weeks. Most people plan ahead to have their roof replaced in the summertime when they know someone is going to be home during the day for a solid two weeks. Once you have this period in mind, create a call to a trusted contractor months ahead of time to get a quote. Some companies get booked up fast and odds are, they're the most reputable. Preparing in advance from the summer also provides you with time for you to ask around many compare costs...especially if you want to have the roof done by a specified date.

 

The very best Roofing Company In Vancouver!

Is there a leak in your home's roof? Perhaps you have lost shingles or tiles inside a storm? Have overhanging branches caused damage? Is the roof a lot more than 20 years old and showing its age? Are your gutters overwhelmed and draining poorly?

If the answer to any of these questions is "Yes" it's time to call the very best roofing company Vancouver - Crown Roofing & Drainage.

For over a century Crown Roofing continues to be the roofer of choice among our Vancouver neighbors. We offer complete roofing services, from emergency repairs and roof restoration, to complete roof replacement. All using the finest quality materials, installed with precision and also the highest level of customer service.

YOUR Vancouver ROOF DESERVES NO LESS!

The rooftop of your Vancouver house is the first type of defence against wind, rain, snow, ice and other weather conditions. Be sure it's up to the job. Among Vancouver Roofing companies, only Crown Roofing has got the depth of expertise and successful track record to make sure your roofing system is going to be properly designed and installed.

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS.

One reason Crown Roofing continues to be the most successful roofing company in Vancouver is our commitment to our neighbors. We treat your house as if it were our own and that we were building a roof to protect our very own family. That's what neighbors do, and you can count on Crown Roofing being here to aid you and also back our work. After all, we've been repairing and replacing roofs in Vancouver since 1902!

Obtain a FREE INSPECTION AND EVALUATION Of the Vancouver ROOF.

Visit the Roofers Vancouver for any FREE inspection and evaluation of your roof. Make sure you get the best roof for your Vancouver home, in the best value. We build roofs to last!

 

måndag 11 april 2011

Tacoma Roofing contractor: Make your Home Beautiful

Very few people view the value of a good roof, but your knowledgeable Tacoma Roofer does. From first hand experience, they will be in a position to let you know the reason why you require a strong, secure, and leak-free roof on your home.

The local Tacoma Roofing contractor is knowledgeable how important an economic investment your property is for you, especially since it is a long term one. Your home might have been damaged slowly through the years and also you have to take steps to reduce this damage. For a number of people, keeping their house beautiful is also a few pride. There are those too who'd prefer to turn their property into a cost effective and efficient living place. Your homes roof is an integral part of your house and contributes to each of the aspects mentioned above. Because of this, you should employ the services of qualified a Tacoma Roofing contractors.

Types of Roofs installed with a Tacoma Roofing company


Among the more common types of roofs are asphalt shingles, steel or metal sheeting, fiberglass, slate and terra cotta tiles.

Each type of roof invites distinct problems, however they can be easily taken care of by a trusted Tacoma Roofing company. It's imperative that you nip roof problems in the bud before they become too expensive or dangerous. You are able to schedule a scheduled appointment with the Tacoma Roofer to consider a glance at your roof to determine if there are any issues or potential issues with it. If there are, they might be able to tell you how to deal with them.

A Tacoma Roofing contractor Helps you to Build Strong Homes


The exteriors associated with a house, primarily the rooftop and gutters, face the onslaught of bitter and varying weather conditions, day after day. Painting, repairing, and cleaning gutters might be necessary. In some instances you may have to replace them completely. Usually, when your gutters show signs and symptoms of trouble, your homes roof also needs to be inspected for problems. Whatever issues there might be, a skilled Tacoma Roofing contractor can examine them at length and suggest the remedy.

In case your gutters tend to clog too often, or there are leaks across the walls of your house, it may mean that there's debris piled-up on the roof. Loose branches, piles of leaves, along with other light objects that are swept onto your roof throughout a storm can all contribute towards damaging your roof, which damages can be lasting. An educated Tacoma Roofing company will explain that birds, mice, and other kinds of rodents often build nest in the debris that collects on the top. While these nests may look rather innocent, they're great at collecting moisture, be responsible for loose shingles, mold, and indoor leaks in your home. Additionally, this may also cause vermin infestation. After a storm, your Tacoma Roofer will suggest that you inspect your homes roof for just about any signs and symptoms of debris or damage.

Reverse Damages by using a Tacoma Roofing company


However top quality the rooftop may be, it is going to wear out over time. You will find shingles that are referred to as "25 year" or "30 year" shingles, but those numbers are only associated with warranty produced by the manufacturers. They hardly ever last that long. Realistically speaking, "25 year" shingles will not last more than fifteen to twenty years. Within an area that's vulnerable to storms, shingles or the entire roof may need to be replaced every ten years. Having a Tacoma Roofing contractor, the price will be less than what you believe.

If there you lose any shingles, or there is some harm to them, a Tacoma Roofing company will be able to assist you to. Damaged shingles can result in indoor leaks, since the substrate from the roof becomes subjected to the elements. Shingles that are loose or broken can slip off and pose a potential hazard to people standing below. Missing shingles produce a gap that allows rain, wind, ice, and debris to develop underneath the adjoining shingles, which creates a "domino effect" that affects other shingles and they become loose or broken. A thorough investigation is going to be made by the local Tacoma Roofing company, should you call them up with your suspicions of loose or missing shingles.


Your Tacoma Roofing company will be in a situation to tell you what are the best option is perfect for your homes roof. In case your roof isn't in a good shape, it is advised that you have it replaced completely. The Tacoma Roofing contractor may take you thru the different roofing possibilities to you that will fit your requirements as well as your budget.

Tacoma Roofing contractor: Improving your Home's Efficiency


Your homes roof shelters you from storms, sleet, and hail. By providing adequate ventilation, your roof protects your home from overheating, and by holding in the heat, it keeps your home warm. That's why you need to prepare your roof from indoors in addition to outdoors for just about any kind of weather emergency. A professional Tacoma Roofer can offer help in this situation.

First of all, inspect your homes roof thoroughly for just about any and all sorts of kind of damage, before the beginning of a new season. The gutters should be clear, debris should not be piled on or trapped under shingles, tthere shouldn't be homes of squirrels or birds within the eaves or attic, and the roof ought to be structurally sound. For your last part, you'll need the help of the local Tacoma Roofing contractor. It can be quite dangerous to climb onto the roof of your house. This is when the contractor from Tacoma Roofing contractor comes in. He'll check out the strength and security of the roof and shingles, and do a general inspection of the entire roof structure, to make certain that it is in proper working order. They'll be in a position to point to problems that you have to keep close track of and problems you might not have spotted.

You'll need all of the help you could possibly get in the Tacoma Roofer. You are able to help your roof by installing a gutter guard or leaf cover to assist prevent debris from forming inside your gutters. The extra weight of debris prevents the gutters from draining and may even tear them down. Check the fasteners on your gutters and when they're loose, tighten them. Take steps to change worn screws and brackets. If you have a chimney in your house, inspect the bricks and mortar signs and symptoms of wear. A trusted mason could be recommended because of your Tacoma Roofing company, if there are any repairs to be done.

Tacoma Roofer: Someone You Can Rely on
When you realize or suspect that there's a problem, your Tacoma Roofing contractor should be contacted. They can use their knowledge and expertise to obtain your house in ace condition by simply focusing on the roof. Your homes roof deserves attention. So give them a call today, to enable them to get down to caring for your roof.

 

söndag 10 april 2011

What is Distinction between Commercial Roofing Companies From Residential Roofing Companies

If you are getting a roofing company to re roof your home or building then you may be wondering what the differences are between residential roofing companies and commercial roofing companies. To begin with, the one huge difference is usually that times a commercial roofing company may have signed an agreement with and become obligated to some roofing union in in a position to work on union commercial jobs.

If this sounds like the situation then their labor costs will prohibit them from working on non union residential jobs. Beyond that, if your commercial roofing company has not signed a contract with a union they might be outfitted simply for commercial jobs which of course means their workers and equipment may not be in line with smaller residential jobs.

Residential roofing contractors in general often run smaller companies and therefore, tend to be more in a position to bid competitively on residential jobs, which are usually small compared to comercial jobs. In fact, quite often residential roofing contractors will run one man operations, where the contractor that you speak with may be the one that actually does the job about the building.


residential Saratoga28 by jpignanello

Also, liability insurance for commercial roofing is more expensive and a larger bond is needed for any commercial roofing work which will make it not economical for a commercial roofing contractor to complete residential roofing jobs.

Still one more factor is the fact that commercial jobs can operate on tighter time frame for just about any quantity of reasons, requiring an industrial contractor to employ a larger crew or crews which again makes smaller jobs not as profitable on their behalf.

 

Difference Between Commercial Roofing and Residential Roofing

Did you know that the roof of a house or building includes a huge effect on the entire structure itself? Damage caused to roofs because of natural or other disasters leads to a considerable loss of property everywhere. The type of materials used to construct the roof that ought to be sturdy and long lasting, the manner in which the roof has been installed and even its timely maintenance are very crucial. There are two types of roofs that are utilized on all of the buildings that we see around us: commercial and residential. Even though it may seem that commercial roofing is performed just for businesses or offices and residential roofing is performed for apartments and houses, in reality the differences are much more complicated than that.


residential Saratoga28 by jpignanello

Residential roofing is generally completed just by one hired contractor but commercial roofing typically takes a whole team to accomplish the job. This is because a commercial roof is commonly larger in terms of sq ft than the usual residential roof.
Commercial roofs need to be made carefully keeping the character and reason for your building in mind. For example, if there is a restaurant in the building then external components like ventilation systems, smoke stacks and pipes will be required. Residential roofs tend not to have such components other than a chimney or two at most.
Commercial roofs tends to be flat in design to accommodate further changes in a later period, whereas most residential roofs have peaks along with other architectural features like roof gardens.
Commercial roofing is much more expensive than residential roofing because of the special tools, materials and safety equipment that are needed onsite. Usually the patching or maintenance work is done in segments unlike for any residential roof where the repair or replacement work can be completed in a short while. This is one more reason why the equipment employed for residential roofs is often smaller and less costly as well.
Commercial roof installations take a longer time to accomplish in comparison to residential roof installations and are usually constructed in large sections. In this phase however, it is important to make sure that there are no leakages, cracks or any other visible deterioration signs as it can certainly cause considerable damage to the whole building.
You should install the best roof for any building depending on its purpose. Make sure that you hire a construction company that utilizes top notch materials and has the right equipment to do the job or your investment may turn out to be a huge loss later.

 

Commercial Roofing Contractors: How to Find a Qualified Commercial Roofing Company

If a business is looking to have work done on its roof, you should use commercial roofing contractors which have an enthusiastic knowledge of any special needs that a business might have. For example, a roofing job can often be disruptive for that operation of business as usual. Because of this, it might be essential for the business to become temporarily shut down, or for the roofing to take place after business hours have ended. A roofing contractor that understands these needs can work plus a business to make certain these kinds of issues are minimized.


Las Vegas Roofing Pros by cherlynarnstein

First of all , a company must do when it is searching for commercial roofing contractors is to find out who other businesses in the area will work through. Obviously, this article 't be helpful if it may come as a suggestion from competitors, but you will find circumstances in which it's not too difficult to locate this information from suppliers or retailers. Since roofing isn't an industry-specific service, this information is easily available.

It is a wise decision for just about any business to obtain touching at least three commercial roofing contractors to create bids on the price. In this manner, the company can often obtain a better price. It's also important to make sure that each one of the roofing contractors is licensed and bonded. These details can be found by getting in touch with the state contractor's board. This also makes it possible to determine if there has been any claims filed against the company in the past.

When looking at bids, it is only as important to check out what services are being offered and which products is going to be used as it is to check out the total cost. The costs can vary quite drastically, but as tempting as possible to go for the lowest bid, this isn't always your best option. Oftentimes, more costs now means fewer costs over time due to a poor roofing job. To further investigate the quality of the job, it's a wise decision to check on using the Bbb in order to find out if the business has been accredited, and when it has not, to a minimum of see what its rating is.

 

Selecting a Commercial Roofing Contractor


Keep it plain and simple by roofershane

When you're looking for a roofer for the commercial roofing project you need to look for a contractor who understands the special needs of a commercial roofing project. For instance it can be harder to work on the business during business hours so either the business needs to be shut down for the repair or replacement or the job needs to be done after conventional business hours. Is the roofer you are thinking about to do the job willing and able to work around your schedule constrictions which might involve working weekends or evenings?

When you start your search for a roofer not only do you need to answer those questions but you should also find someone which will do a high quality job with no great deal of time delays. Going about finding someone can feel like an obstacle by itself but there are some methods to result in the search easier.

Ask friends and family for referrals and try to find a minimum of three contractors to provide you with written bids on your job. Prior to going any further you have to ensure that the contractors you are considering are fully licensed and bonded. An easy search with the state contractor's board will verify if your roofer is licensed and if you will find any past judgments or claims against their license.

When you select 3 or 4 roofers to put bids, you should prepare yourself for that bids to become widely varied. Roofers may have brand preferences which will vary and could element in pretty much compared to next guy for a labor estimate. The more detailed a written bid may be the more helpful it will be to focus on where the cost are going to be incurred. Don't, however, select a roofer based solely on the bid price. Any low ball bids may be tempting to consider, but if they're low due to low quality workman ship it may not be worth it ultimately.

As they say, you generally get what you pay for, if you are able to afford a mid-priced bid it's always smart to increase in your price range rather than down. You also should select your roofer depending on how professional these were and just how comfortable you anticipate you'll be dealing with them.

Finally your cost will be different based on which kind of roofing material you select as well as the cost to haul your old roof towards the landfill. If you are looking for places to cut corners in your roof, instead of cutting labor set you back may want to ask about a metal roof option. Metal roofs can be cost effective and energy efficient making them overall money savers for the long run, and on commercial buildings they may be very low maintenance. Plus given that they can be put on top of an existing roof, you don't need to possess the old one removed and hauled away, that make a big effect on your cost.

Selecting a comerical roofing company in your local area, doesn't have to be a difficult task. To learn more, visit http://www.vancouverroofers.net

 

lördag 9 april 2011

Seattle Roofing Companies - How to locate The Best

In the home of rain and sleet, commercial coffee and grunge, and the famous space needle, you'll find a home which will suit you. Seattle, Washington can be a good place to construct a home, but you need Seattle roofing contractors to assist you. Your homes roof is, in the end, the crowning glory of your home, as well as your strongest type of defense against the elements. You need to have something that is not only created to last, but built to attract and make your house more beautiful

Harsh Weather

Why are roofing contractors so important within this part of the country? Because Seattle is usually bombarded by rain and other harsh weather conditions, you need a roof that may withstand all the forces of nature. With this thought, you need people who know the Seattle weather best, and who understand what materials can best go into your homes roof in order for it to last far longer in the region. In addition to all this, you need to blend with the rest of the houses in your living area, so you cannot simply get whatever roof you please.

In most these aspects, a Seattle roofers should be able to help you out. All that you should do is look for Seattle roofing contractors online to be able to get the best bang for your buck without wondering if the contractor will suddenly run away by using it and leave you roof-less.

Why the Contractor Model Works

If you want to set up your roof on your own, you'll have to buy a whole lot of materials, secure permits and licenses, and obtain materials which are suited to keep you safe against harsh extremes of Seattle weather. This means that if you are a DIY sort of guy or gal, you will have to go through a large amount of legwork in order to get the task done.

However, a Seattle roofing contractor can perform all the jobs for you and provide you with a package that can save you money and time. Because contractors operate under licenses and purchase materials in bulk, they can get discounts on building materials that you would not otherwise get if you were buying merely for your own home.

Roofing Associations


Roofing Contractor Littleton by footbridgemedia

Most roofing contractors also belong to roofing organizations which are bound by strict guidelines and standards. When they do well on the roofing job, they can showcase their roofing contractors association; when they do poorly, they can ruin the trustworthiness of their roofing contractors association and keep other contractors inside the association from getting good roofing jobs. There is a lot of pressure to do well, to help you be reassured that prefer a roofing job completed in Seattle, you can get a contractor from the roofing association to help you out.

For instance, Seattle Roof Brokers operates with over 500 roofing contractors in the Puget Sound. This group has over half a century of roofing experience and experience dealing with Seattle roofing contractors, so it knows what type of roofing you would like. The Roof Brokers group can put you in contact using the contractor that you need so that you don't have to look for contractors individually.

What In the event you Demand out of your Contractor?

When you finally obtain a contractor within the Seattle area, you must do lots of research about the roofing contractors themselves. Request a list of previous companies or persons that the contractor caused in order to get a clear view of the roofing contractor's work ethics and roof quality. Your roofing contractor should also have the appropriate working licenses and city licenses required by the Seattle city government.

Pick a Seattle roofers that insures its employees, which has courteous workers who will respect your opinions and make sure that your needs are met. Ensure that you obtain the best value for your money: if you are unsatisfied using the job, you need to be guaranteed either money-back, or a free, new roof. Moreover, you also need the workers to find the job done promptly, so be strict together with your deadlines - and find a contractor that is as strict as you are.

You'll need guarantees and warranties on your roof, so look for a contractor that can meet your budget and roofing needs. If you achieve in touch with good Seattle roofing contractors, you may be guaranteed a good roof and a better house right in this fantastic city.


Selecting the Right Roofer Company for Replacing Your Roof

The shingles in your roof degrade and you're simply minded to find a roofing contractor to change the them. Perhaps you have already known as a few and are evaluating which contractor for your upcoming roof repair. How can you select the best contractor for working on your roof? Listed here are several things you should look at when searching for a legitimate roofer.

Where's the roofing contractor located? It is important to hire a roofing contractor that's local. Chances are you will get the next step of service if the roofing company is located near your home or has an office near your residence.
References. To determine the toughness for the contractor, references should be provided of their past clients who're willing to vouch that excellent service was received. This will not be the only element in deciding upon your future roofer as some may claim they value the privacy of the clients and don't desire to bother them. If this sounds like the case, request business related references. The locations that supply the contractor with supplies can reveal the amount of materials and regularity of supplying the contractor to help determine their stability.
How does the roofer company handle complaints? There are a multitude of problems that can arise throughout the progress of the roofing replacement. Ask what their process is for handling complaints if they arise. It's also an excellent idea to get a past client reference who had a complaint that was resolved towards the satisfaction of the client.
The payment schemes. What are the terms of payment for the job? What is the down payment and amount due upon completion? Even though it is certainly reasonable that the substantial payment be made before a contractor begins work on a project, it is strongly advised that full payment isn't made until following the entire job is completed.
Written contract. All terms of the roofing replacement ought to be put in a written contract. No part of the contracting job should rely on verbal assurances.
Bonding. You will find stuff that can go wrong with roofing installations that wind up costing a substantial amount of money to fix. Should this happen on your roofing replacement, you'll feel a whole lot better understanding that your roofer is bonded. This will provide the funds to repair whatever mistakes were made. Look for a roofing contractor that's bonded.
Manufacturer Warranty. Quality materials for roofing typically come with a warranty. It is important to verify that there is actually a warranty about the materials being installed. Request a copy of the warranty.
Period of time running a business Just how long has the company you are interviewing been in business? A brief in time business may reflect instability. If the contractor has been around business under 3 years, verify just how long they have been in the market. A brand new contractor may have many years experience working on roofs before they form their own business. Seek a company that has been around for three years, or where the contractor has had many more years performing roofing replacements. This again should not be the only factor, all of us have to start sometime. Balance this with referrals and the other points raised in the following paragraphs.
Appropriate Permits. A Seattle roofer ought to know what permits are needed for repairing your roof. They should be aware of how you can obtain these permits on your behalf. Ask the contractor whether they will have the permits essential to repair the rooftop.
Liability. If your worker becomes injured, who is accountable for the worker's compensation? If the contractor's equipment damages your home, who's responsible for the repairs? A great contractor will provide certificates of insurance for liability and workers comp before they start fixing your roof.
Subcontractors. Verify whether the contractor will be using subcontractors. If that's the case, it is highly recommended that everything contained in this article for verifying if the contractor is credible also needs to be applied to subcontractors. You should receive the names and license amounts of all subcontractors. You should verify whether each subcontractor is also insured so you aren't held responsible for their accidents.
Pending Legal Actions. You should verify whether you will find any legal actions against the contractor. This is not merely essential for verifying if the roofing company is legitimate (credible roofing companies should not have to defend themselves in court), it's also important because a lost lawsuit could cause the contractor to go bankrupt. If you have made a substantial deposit for services immediately prior to the company goes bankrupt, you can lose thousands of dollars and never have your roofing completed.
Material Disposal. Who's accountable for disposing of the waste generated in the roof being replaced? Will your contractor handle all aspects of the? Is there an additional cost for disposing of this waste?
NRCA Membership. Membership in local or national roofing associations, such as the NRCA, shows commitment to staying current with the most effective methods for roof replacement and maintenance. Look for a roofer having a high standard of education regarding their trade.
Replacing your roof is a significant investment. It makes good sense to ask serious questions before using a roofing contractor. Here are a few more tips that you ought to consider when selecting the very best roofer for the upcoming roofing replacement.

Payment. Do not make a full payment for services unless all jobs are finished.
Inspection. Don't make a full payment without doing a final inspection of all services rendered.
Workers liens. Don't fully pay for the roofing replacement job until worker's lien releases have been obtained.
Oral Agreements. No agreement should be made verbally without backing it up in writing. Every point that are important to you ought to be made in writing.

 

To your SEO needs, you can examine out Vancouver web site design and Vancouver Search engine optimization company

It cannot be denied the internet is just about the biggest financial market nowadays. Practically everything is anchored on the net. To date, there are other than 182 million sites online and still counting. If each one of these websites offers possibilities to earn money, think of the limitless opportunities that can be based in the internet. More to the point, with all the emergence of internet sites, the requirement for web hosting and Search| Engine Optimization is significantly defined.

Search engine marketing is simply the operation of helping the visibility of the site. Therefore, if you would like your web site to become visible to visitors, you should search for SEO Company. The optimization strategy considers how search spiders work and what people usually and what keywords they'll use. The main objective of SEO is making web sites visible searching sites through the natural or organic way.


jasons_whiteboard_the_tagging_sweet_spot by jasonrubacky

Organic search optimization or natural search engine optimization can be a expression used in describing unpaid, algorithm-driven outcomes of any particular engine. Quite simply, organic SEO uses natural strategies in achieving serp's ranking. While there are 2 camps that search engine optimization companies may fall to, which would be the 'White Hat' as well as the 'Black Hat', organic SEO would never belong to the 'Black Hat' camp.

Organic search engine optimization can be a highly specialized and complex practice which can literally dictate the success or failure of your online business. Since search sites often modify their algorithms, organic SEO just isn't quite simple at all. When search bots modify their algorithms, factors that allow your internet site to seem facing potential clients are decayed as well. Thus, so that you can cope up with one of these changes, SEO tactics and techniques has to be employed.

It is usually ethical to use search engines engine optimization since search sites nowadays have grown to be extremely advanced that they'll easily determine if an online site is attempting to control their search indexes. Thus it's empirical to make use of search engine optimization practices which are done in wherein appear natural.

The approaches used by organic search engine optimization and artificial SEO are really significantly different. Basically, organic SEO uses content compared to artificial SEO's technical loopholes. Moreover, natural seo provides attracting links as opposed to linking schemes employed by artificial SEO. Natural SEO also creates valuable resource as opposed to artificial SEO's algorithm chasing. Effortlessly these, one can clearly realise why search engine optimization is preferable over artificial seo. Even though the latter might be more challenging and complicated, it produces favorable results which are very theraputic for any site. Fortunately, there are a lot of Vancouver SEO companies today that offer the organic method in affordable rates and packages.


Search engine marketing Appears in this area


Online Marketing Enthusiast Meet up Bangalore by personalchefsuresh@gmail.com

There was a time when search engine optimization was actually not necessary.

Even while late as a decade ago, if you created a Web page anywhere, Google indexed it and you gained visibility in the search results. Your page could have been within the free "estates" where anybody could put in a page and Google didn't mind. It could also provide been a pure affiliate page without any original content and Google still indexed it.

Things are unrecognizably different now.

Affiliate pages with "cookie-cutter" content duplicated everywhere might never make it to the Google index; exactly the same fate is probable for anyone pages you toss in over a free-for-all website. And even "proper" websites with your own website name failed to achieve visibility one of the proliferating sites in millions.

These wouldn't have mattered, aside from something. It had been Google that provided the bread and butter for your an incredible number of small businesses that could not afford expensive marketing campaigns. If the site was on the list of top few sites the appeared before a searcher's eyes when that person sought out your products, you've got hundreds and also 1000s of visitors, many of whom even bought your products or services.

Search engine optimization (SEO) entered the scene. Internet search engine specialists "reverse-engineered" to spot the factors that Google consider for showing websites towards the top of its search engine results pages. These factors were then consciously included in your Web pages with the aspiration that Google can have your site among the first ten results it showed on the first page.

As more and more of one's competitors adopted seo practices, things became difficult again. Your situation begun to slip if your competitors did the SEO better. SEO battles became serious fights with every dirty trick being employed.

There were "black hat" SEO practitioners who showed one page to look engines and the other to human visitors. As search engines like google are not bothered with readability, you can fill the "search engine" page with pure gibberish, but gibberish written in a way that the engine dutifully indexed high.

A war of wits followed between unscrupulous SEO practitioners and check engines. Google changed its ranking algorithms regularly to be effective around practices that allowed low value content to appear towards the top of its search results. After all, Google's success depended on providing value to searchers, not merchants. And SEO practitioners developed new tricks.

We will take a look at search engine optimization in a series of articles, beginning having an beauty at on-line or Online marketing.

 


For your SEO needs, you can examine out vancouver web design and Vancouver SEO company.

 

Cedar Roofing: Many Benefits

Cedar shakes are just in regards to the most aesthetically pleasing shakes currently available. Frequently designed from red-colored cedar on the coniferous forests of northwestern Usa, they're only the best roofs materials for proprietors who prefer supplying their roofs an organic look.

Unique cedar shingles are naturally resistant against the weather, that's the key answer why cedar shingles are widely-used generally throughout various climatic conditions. They're generally available in a couple of specific qualities. At least one may be the shingle crafted from red cedar while the other is produced out of the bright white variety. Red cedar shakes were created from tight-grained particles which can be previously saturated with tannic acidity that experts say is surely an all-natural additive. Red cedar shingles that will be drizzled with creosote in order to avoid corrosion and therefore are desirable to homeowners simply because give a rich and unique check out one's property or home.

You need to observe that red cedars usually change dark-colored if exposed continuously to seaside weather. Because of this, sea side homes have to have white cedar shakes. Red cedar shingles are generally a much more expensive compared to white cedar types, despite the fact that cost factor doesn't diminish its reputation in anyhow. They may be preferably suitable for classic New England houses while white cedar shingles appear to be image suited to bungalows and bungalows which have been integrated Nantucket design.

Over time, classic cedar shakes have forfeit in a place to synthetic shingles that emulate the cedar appear. Superior systems are employed to make these kinds of shingles have a for a longer period life-span when compared with unique cedar shingles. Most include advanced UV inhibitors and have about 5 decades of steady guarantee. These shingles in many cases are great insulators and many superior ones offer a chilly inside during summer months and a warmer inside during harsh winters.

Cedar shakes, mostly obtainable in honey, cinnamon, and silvery gray colors, need several amount of repairs and maintenance. Needed initial treatment method in front of installation. White cedar shakes for example, may be addressed with bleaching oil which needs to be done nearly every six to seven years to improve their durability.

Cedar shakes and cedar shingles can be CCA treated or otherwise CCA treated. CCA means chromated copper arsenate. CCA is a chemical that stops the rise of mold, mold and fungus so that it helps keep insects from eating away your personal wonderful cedar roof. CCA cedar might make your homes roof go longer, but CCA isn't A hearth TREAMENT. Cedar that's been fire treated can be obtained, your roofing company need to special order it. CCA treated cedar shingles cost 15 - 20% more than non-CCA cedar. Most cedar roofs are usually not CCA treated.


Park House Roof by Hear and Their

Cedar shakes and cedar shingles are fantastic, plus they are also a good purchase. Information of terms including CCA, advanced quality, Number one, blue label and black label will allow you to pick the right cedar roof for use on your home.

Elite Roofing & Small remodels, LLC provides detailed information about shingles, cedar shakes, fiberglass shakes plus more. Elite Roofing & Small remodels, LLC is affiliated with the National Roofers Association.

Uncover more about cedar shingles, and acquire more articles and resources about cedar shakes at cedar roofing materials and shakes website.

 

Cedar Shingle Roof Vs Asphalt Shingle Roof


A cedar shingle roof remains highly coveted by homeowners. It really is one of many oldest roofing products that has always been constantly being used inside centuries. As much as new roofing materials remain developed, cedar shakes still endear themselves to a lot of. Below is often a comparison analysis of the cedar roof versus an asphalt roof.

Pros of Cedar Roofing shingles

Cedar shakes give rise to greater air circulation inside the whole home. The shingles enable the home to breathe well without trapping moisture around. It will help to keep up the structure of the property who is fit longer. Cedar Shakes are durable and strong. They like a greater resistance to bugs. A cedar shingle roof will fully stand up well towards the various weather onslaughts. Storms, hurricanes, powerful winds and flying debris will barely damage the surface of the cedar roof. The color matures beautifully using the passing years, making it even more desirable. A cedar roof adds a definite charm to your residence. Cedar is quickly accessible in lumber yards as well as doesn't demand a lot of expertise or specialized tools to put in.

Cons of Cedar Shakes

If rot takes hold, you'd be compelled to change the entire lot. It is not easy extracting just the affected pieces. They could happen to be nailed down in a fashion that each elimination proves difficult. Cedar Shingles don't endure well to constant wetting. If you reside in an area where rainfall is heavy or frequent, cedar shingles aren't a fantastic choice. Frequent wetting causes mold or mildew to create in. Replacement and repair might be a costly business. Your very best protection against constant wetting is always to use wide overhangs. Also, if the property is shaded by many trees or nearby buildings, cedar shingles have a tendency to develop mold. You will end up compelled to replace them prior to you planned. Cedar Shingles tend to be more flammable than asphalt shingles. Many areas possess a building code in place that restricts cedar shingles to minimize the risk of fire. To setup a cedar shake roof, you must have your financial allowance about the higher side. Frequent maintenance can be necessary to maintain the roof who is fit. Mildew and rot are ever-constant threats with a cedar roof.


Coles Pond Rd, Dennis by Cazeault Roofing &amp; Exteriors

Pros of Asphalt Shingle Roof

An asphalt roof is probably the least expensive to buy and install. These come in various designs and colours, including a regular, flat consider a 3-dimensional look. Asphalt shingles have a superior capacity fires unlike cedar roofing. An asphalt roof can certainly reduce the risk of fires due to flying embers. Asphalt roofs are easier and cheaper to set up than cedar. They are also low maintenance roofs.

Cons of Asphalt Shingle Roof

Algae is a lot more vulnerable to grow on asphalt roofing than cedar shingles. It causes the cover to produce somewhat from the stain which spoils the appearance. You can get an anti-algae coating completed in your asphalt shingles but this enhances the cost. With regards to stability, an asphalt roof is much more likely to be blown off by strong winds compared to a cedar roof.

Discover more about cedar roof shingles, and obtain more articles and resources about cedar roofing shakes at cedar roofing materials and shakes website.

 

fredag 8 april 2011

How to locate Good Vancouver SEO Services

The amount of internet sites as well as e-commerce sites is actually constantly increasing simply because everyone knows that it may bring in a lot of profits. It's additionally caused another kind of services that really help businesses in attaining their goals as well as making them develop. Amongst these are the Vancouver SEO services; because the SEO market is fairly young you will notice that any SEO Vancouver company won't be more than a decade aged. But you can be assured that they actually know what they need to do to get your company developing.


SEO Services by ravikantsharmagwl

In case your company relies heavily on the Internet to obtain people to your website and also to obtain conversion rates, you need help searching motor optimisation or Search engine optimization as it is additionally recognized. When individuals put a search in their preferred internet search engine, probably the most most likely matches arrive at the very top. If you wish to draw visitors to your website or online business, you have to go ahead and take assistance of a Vancouver Search engine optimization company to obtain to the top of these search results. The SEO Vancouver providers supplied will be worth the money you spend and you will be viewing the actual results not long after.

Nevertheless, achieving a top position on the internet might not always be always easy and much more so if your own is a very aggressive business that they frequently make reference to like a market. It's no surprise after that that you need all of the assist that you can get. If you don't possess the response to "What is SEO?Inch you will want to very first understand the subject. Your smartest choice is to depart the task to people who know it best; the actual Search engine optimization Vancouver professionals in the Vancouver Search engine optimization company. You'll have to shell out some cash however, you may reap the actual rewards as the years pass.

The Search engine optimization Vancouver professionals will begin upon market and keyword research that is usually the starting point associated with Search engine optimization. You should know the type of words or even phrases that potential customers will be keying in to Search engines to get to your site. The actual Vancouver Search engine optimization company is going to do this particular tiresome task for you because they have a much better idea about how exactly people start their own searches. You, from you need to give them a much better knowing regarding your company and some basic key phrases which they would do their research.


search-engine-optimization-boston by dweb12001

If your SEO campaign begins with key phrases selection, then it is backlink building which feeds seo; any good Vancouver SEO company can help you understand. The perfect way for your website to rank high for any given keyword would be to have a excellent backlink building technique designed for this. The secret is to depart your link upon higher ranked web sites. The Search engine optimization Vancouver professionals will explain the most typical method of doing this is to publish articles that contains the required key phrases within the proper percentage to article directories along with backlinks aimed at your website in the authors resource box.


What exactly are you waiting for? Go ahead and take help of the actual Vancouver Search engine optimization company the following; the actual SEO Vancouver professionals can make your business develop so that you will enjoy greater profits.

 

Dependable Search engine optimization For Your Business in Vancouver

Expert advanced Vancouver Search engine optimization help you to come in the very best listing of the organic search leads to attract visitors. Moreover, the actual site visitors of natural outcomes will be keen to purchase items which services may prove to be useful when you are your company.

You need SEO services Vancouver to benefit your business by helping you to make the most visibility from the search engine as well as thereby getting good traffic to your web site. With the help of search engine listings, these services will immensely assist your internet website reach out to the field of people accessing internet and therefore, sketching increasingly more traffic to your web website. Once the website has begun generating visitors to it, your business will reap advantages as your web site will end up the most searchable on top search engines.

A business requirements these kinds of services since the SEO experts have the basic understanding as well as understanding of how to get it done. You since the webmaster may spend some time on internet dealing with blogs, discussion boards, along with other supplies. However, you have to concentrate on additional facets of your web website and SEO experts focus almost all their initiatives upon SEO since this is what they do best.


SEO Services by ravikantsharmagwl

The actual Search engine optimization companies promise to increase increased traffic for your web site regularly giving an assurance that when people look for services or products, your internet site occurs the top the majority of desired search engines like google such as Google, Search engines, Windows live messenger and AOL.

Quite simply, to improve web site traffic and presence, it is crucial that the web site ought to obtain updated constantly. The process of seo isn't a one-time attempt. A successful Search engine optimization support includes advertising, position, web site promotion, link exchanges and many more. To be able to hold the changes in order to Search engine optimization techniques and techniques every day, expert Search engine optimization preserve skilled as well as officially skilled Search engine optimization experts, site designers, copy writers, Search engine optimization publishers, marketing specialists as well as project managers.

An expert and result-oriented seo support includes the following:
. Study as well as statement pre-optimization position
. Search phrase choice as well as optimisation
. Competitors evaluation report
. Explanation of labels
. Themed link page development
. Optimisation associated with images
. Keyword-rich content material creating
. SEO copywriting
. Link campaigns
. Code
. Internet search engine submissions



Search engine optimization organizations also provide the actual service associated with market and keyword research. These businesses will look at the customers' internet sites and their competitors and can look for appropriate key phrases. They adopt the best strategy which will ensure online presence and exposure.

Right now, let's mention the advantages that will help an company's web site get to the surface of the search engines.
• Personalized SEO solution
• Long term best rankings searching engines
• Greater web visitors and online sales
• Worldwide company coverage
• Business company identification
• Suggestions for business improvement
• Follow-up support
• Maximum results

 

'Counter-Terror' Policy Targets Uyghurs

2011-04-07
A new report says China uses the threat of terrorism to crack down on Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

AFP
Uyghur men and women chat outside a mosque in Urumqi, July 17, 2009.

China's anti-terrorism policy deliberately targets ethnic minority communities such as Uyghurs and Tibetans struggling for greater autonomy, according to a white paper by a rights group.

The policy equates terrorism with groups pushing for more self-governing rights, is too broad in scope, and shirks international human rights commitments, said the Hong Kong and New York-based Human Rights in China (HRIC).

The paper looked into human rights concerns within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a regional intergovernmental organization which includes China and five other member states-Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan-with a total population of 1.5 billion people.

It said the SCO approach to counter-terrorism, modeled on China'sThree Evils doctrine, and highlighting principles of territorial integrity, noninterference in internal affairs, and social stability, contributes to supporting repressive regimes at the expense of human rights.

A failure to demand accountability from the SCO undermines the effectiveness and integrity of the international system in countering terrorism and advancing rule of law, peace, and security, HRIC said.

"China's approach to counter-terrorism is the Three Evils doctrine, and it links terrorism with separatism and extremism," HRIC director Sharon Hom said in an interview.

"This Three Evils approach is overbroad, highly politicized, and while not exclusively applied only to ethnic minority groups, it is regularly applied to Uyghurs and Tibetans in its practice."

Hom said other SCO member states follow China's lead by recognizing Xinjiang and Tibet as inalienable territories of China and repatriating its ethnic minorities who seek asylum within their borders.

"China has enormous clout in the SCO, and you can also see it in the ways in which the other SCO member states and the SCO will completely parrot China's line and China's policy on these two so-called autonomous regions."

Treatment of Uyghurs

The HRIC white paper said it found "serious issues" concerning China's treatment of Uyghurs, including the principle of non-refoulement and potential use of torture during interrogations.

Regulations specific to Xinjiang became part of China's domestic counter-terrorism legal framework in December 2009 when provincial-level lawmakers revised the region's Comprehensive Management of Social Order.

Through the revisions, Chinese authorities were ordered to specifically crack down on the three threats of "terrorism, separatism, and extremism" in the aftermath of the July 2009 ethnic violence in Urumqi which left hundreds dead, according to official media reports.

HRIC called the amendments "unique" to Xinjiang, adding that "such singular focus by the Chinese government ... suggests that the concept of terrorism has been applied in a biased fashion, with the Uyghur community the subject of intense scrutiny and suspicion."

It noted that while China does face real threats of terrorism, "the limited involvement of Uyghurs in terrorist acts cannot serve as justification of widespread repression throughout [Xinjiang] or the labeling of peaceful Uyghur activists under the rubric of the Three Evils."

Adherence to rules

But despite its reliance on the Three Evils doctrine, HRIC wrote, China continues to claim that it is acting to "firmly uphold and fulfill the resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council," according to a statement by the Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS).

Under U.N. rules, China pledged to oppose the "arbitrary widening" of the scope of fighting terrorism and identifying terrorism with any specific ethnic group or religion.

"The Three Evils doctrine undermines this principled approach and, in doing so, compromises human rights guaranteed under international law, and international counter-terrorism efforts as a whole," HRIC said.

HRIC recommended that Beijing narrow its "Three Evils"-based approach to national security and reformulate its definition of terrorism.

On June 24 last year, Chinese authorities announced they had broken up a "terrorist" ring of a Uyghur separatist group, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), after arresting more than ten of its members involved in an alleged major plot against China.

The announcement said that information leading to the arrest had been obtained through the investigation of 20 "individuals of Chinese citizenship" who had been deported to China on December 20, 2009-the exact date that Cambodia deported 20 Uyghurs seeking asylum following the July 5 ethnic unrest in Urumqi.

The statement also indicated that several of the alleged ETIM members had confessed to participating in a wide array of terrorist activities during interrogation.

Human Rights Watch said in February that the Cambodian government has a "dismal track record" of deporting refugees granted asylum status by the UNHCR, particularly those from neighboring countries such as China and Vietnam.

Ethnic tensions

Millions of Uyghurs-a distinct, Turkic minority who are predominantly Muslim-populate Central Asia and the Xinjiang region.

Ethnic tensions between Uyghurs and majority Han Chinese settlers have simmered for years, and erupted in riots in July 2009 that left some 200 people dead, according to the Chinese government's tally.

Uyghurs say they have long suffered ethnic discrimination, oppressive religious controls, and continued poverty and joblessness despite China's ambitious plans to develop its vast northwestern frontier.

Chinese authorities blame Uyghur separatists for a series of deadly attacks in recent years and accuse one group in particular of maintaining links to the al-Qaeda terrorist network.

Reported by Mamatjan Juma for RFA Uyghur service. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
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