Alt Attribute & Search engine optimization

SEO Optimization images is becoming more and more important in SEO (Seo optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is a critical step that is sometimes forgotten. This is often a lost opportunity for better rankings.

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

Images:. Make use of the alt attribute to provide descriptive text. In addition, we recommend using a human-readable caption and descriptive text round the image.

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

Many webmasters and inexperienced or unethical SEOs abuse using this attribute, attempting to stuff it with keywords, looking to achieve a particular keyword density, which isn't as relevant for rankings now since it once was.

On the other hand, high keyword density can, on some search engines, trigger spam filters, which might create a penalty for your site's ranking. Even without such a penalty, your site's rankings will not benefit from this tactic.
This process also puts persons who use screen readers at a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that actually read aloud the contents of what is displayed on the screen. In browsing the net, the alt attributes of images are read aloud as well.

Imagine hearing a paragraph of text which is followed by repetitions of many keywords. The page would be far from accessible, and, to put it bluntly, 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 many people utilize it in that fashion. Although it may appear natural to assume that alternate text is really a label or perhaps a description, it is not!

What used within an image's alt attribute ought to be its text equivalent and convey the same information or serve the same purpose that the image would.

The thing would be to provide the same functional information that a visual user would see. The alt attribute text should function as a "stand in" in the event that the image itself is not available. Think about this question: Should you replace the image using the text, would most users get the same basic information, and would it create the same response?
A few examples:

 

Some SEO Optimization Tips

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

If an image is meant to convey the literal contents of the image, then a description is suitable.

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

If it is meant to convey the use of a function, then the function is what ought to be used.

Some Alt Attribute Guidelines:

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

For images that play only a decorative role in the page, use an empty alt (i.e. alt="") or a CSS background image so that reading browsers don't bother users by uttering things like "spacer image".

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

Alt text ought to be based on context. The same image in a different context may require drastically different alt text.

Attempt to flow alt text with the remainder of the text because that's how it is going to 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 utilizing an alt attribute for each image is needed to meet the minimum WAI requirements, which are used since the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and also the rest of Europe. They are also required to meet "Section 508" accessibility requirements in america.

It is important 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 apart from to make a site visually appealing/attractive and (oftentimes) fulfill the marketing departments. There is no content value (though there might be value to a sighted user).

Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there's something there which will enhance the usability from the site for someone using 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 might serve to set the mood or set happens so to speak. These graphics aren't direct content and could not be considered essential, but they're essential in that they help frame what's going on.

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

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

Most times this will depend on context. The same image inside a different context may require drastically different alt text. Obviously, content ought to always be fully available. How you use this case is a judgment call.

III. Content and Function

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

Every graphic has a reason behind standing on that page: since it either enhances the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is advisable to what the page is trying to explain. Understanding what the image is for makes alt text simpler to write. And practice writing them definitely helps.
A way to look into the usefulness of alternative text is to imagine reading the page on the phone to someone. An amount you say when encountering a specific image to make the page understandable to the listener?

Besides the alt attribute you've got a couple more tools available for images.
First, in degree of descriptiveness title is in between alt and longdesc. It adds useful information and can add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered by the user agent. Remember they're invisible and not shown as a "tooltip" when focus is received through the keyboard. (A lot for device independence). So make use of the title attribute just for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points to the URL of a full description of the image. If the information found in a picture is essential to the meaning of the page (i.e. some important content would be lost when the image was removed), a longer description compared to "alt" attribute can reasonably display ought to 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 really a long description of an image...The aim is to use any length of description essential to impart the facts of the graphic.

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

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

Oftentimes, you're best 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 necessary for the entire page to work, then you have to include the alt text (or title or longdesc).

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

The same image may need alt text (or title or longdesc) in a single spot, but not in another. If the image provides simply no content or functional information alt="" or background CSS images may be appropriate to use. However, 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 kind of thing is really a judgement call.

Image Seo optimization Tips

Listed below are key stages in optimizing images:

Select a logical file name that reinforces the keywords. You should 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, when the image internet search engine sees a ".jpg" (JPEG) file extension, it's likely to assume the file is a photo, and if it sees a ".gif" (GIF) file extension, it's likely to assume that it is a graphic;

Make sure that the written text nearby the image that is highly relevant to that image.
Again, do not lose a great chance to help your site together with your images searching engines. Use these steps to position better on all of the engines and drive more traffic to your site TODAY.

SEO Company

B2B marketers have joined the social media marketing movement in droves. In fact, Forrester Research predicts that B2B firms will spend $54 million on social media marketing in 2014, up from just $11 million in 2009 (eMarketer B2B Social Media Marketing Heats Up).

Unfortunately, many of those efforts are entirely tactical, methodical and without a true understanding of the “social” aspect of social media marketing.  B2B marketers that are early in their social media marketing maturity level tend to focus on message distribution such as Tweeting or posting Facebook links mostly to their own content vs. engaging with customers on a human level. That one-way communication profile doesn’t engender discussions and sharing, so social traffic level increases tend to plateau pretty early.

In order to grow and scale the return on social media marketing investments, B2B marketers need to think more about the “social” than the marketing. Here are a few thoughts on that:

Decide What You Stand for Topically

The social SEO benefits of being intentional about language that reflects your key business areas of focus as well as the conversations happening within your target community are essential. Topically fragmented blog and social networking content dilutes a company’s ability to “stand out” to customers amongst the sea of noise in social conversations as well as to search engines.

Practically, that means a strategy that identifies goals, customer personas, content & editorial plans and search/social keyword glossaries.  A content marketing strategy is the plan that executes what your company and brand stand for as well as how it will communicate those key messages. A social SEO keyword or topic plan filters into all relevant web and social content creation. It can also flavor social network topic engagement and conversations. That means a guide for which blogs to comment on, which influentials to network with, word choices for Tweets, blog posts and tags.

Do: Create and participate where your customers and influentials spend their time and with a content plan that supports your key topics of focus. Be useful and share social content that’s worth sharing (whether it’s your content or others’).

Don’t: Overly self promote and publish social content that is not directly or indirectly in alignment with your key topics of focus. That doesn’t mean everything you create is keyword optimized. It means everything you create and promote is thoughtful about where it fits in your social & content marketing plan.

The outcome and benefit is that your own content creation and promotion efforts are aligned to inspire discussion, sharing and links according to topics and keywords that are important to brand, business and marketing goals. An ideal manifestation is that your target audience sees your brand in a positive way everywhere they look for topics XYZ and 123 on social channels, when they search and even offline (inspired by online) word of mouth.

Plan to Win

If you enter a competition half-assed, guess what? No matter what your talent is, the chances of a win are pretty slim. Unfortunately a lot of B2B companies approach social media participation with an attitude of using the least amount of resources possible.  Oftentimes this means following structured best practices list from some self-professed social media guru. Checklist marketing works to make redundant tasks more efficient, but it’s no way to engage a community.

For example, one of the most common “plan to be mediocre” mistakes I see with B2B marketers is predictable social profile creation and publishing focused solely on LinkedIn, Twitter and a blog without researching those channels.  Such a plan also involves a focus on promoting company content and superficial (at best) engagement with the community.

Planning to win means having a plan for networking into influentials’ sphere of influence and knowing what to do once you get on their radar. It means creating social content that will inspire engagement and outcomes to further your business goals. It also means providing training within your organization to distribute and grow the role of social participation within your brand.

Practically, this means forecasting resources (people, process and technology) for social media marketing as significant marketing channel, not just an experiment or a checked box on a list. It means an integrated plan to dominate your category through growing social influence & networking, content, search, word of mouth and media plus the resources to execute and measure.

Do: Hypothesize, forecast and commit resources to test, develop processes and scale social media engagement within your business. What starts as social media marketing can turn into social business as the impact of social media engagement propagates from marketing to other departments and throughout the organization. Winning the social media game for B2B marketing doesn’t just mean increased sales, it means dominating your category.

Don’t: Think that social media content promotion as part of a Search Engine Optimization program is the same thing as social media marketing or social business.  It is not.

The outcome and benefit of planning to win in B2B social media is that you have enough resources to provide value to customers throughout the B2B buying and customer lifecycle, facilitating awareness, trust, confidence, word of mouth, sales and referrals. It also means developing a community in alignment with your company’s goals.

Originally published at the Online Marketing Blog

Gaining Discipline and a Strong Work Ethic at a Young Age

Entrepreneurs mostly fall short because they don't have the work ethic needed to start a business from nothing. It took a while, but I had to train myself to work 17 hours a day.

I've learned that it is the indirect work that an entrepreneur puts in that makes him or her successful. For instance, I continuously read new books that I feel may be pertinent to my job. I always take detailed notes so I don't forget the concepts.

If I'm not at the gym or sleeping for 7 or so hours, I'm available for my clients. This is what compels them to continuing working with my firm.

The biggest problem I have with my vendors is that it takes them too long to execute a request. Corporate America has set a standard of 8 hours a day - no more no less. It is imperative that the entrepreneur exploit this status quo and stand out from the crowd.

Advertising and Marketing on a Budget

I knew that I could not rely on cold-calling forever. Also, I am a firm believer that you should never rely on current clients. They can move companies and no longer need you, they can experience budget cuts, or you can have a disagreement that leads to a falling out.

However, pay-per-click would not work for me because candidates who yielded little to no return would kill my budget through costly clicks. Obviously it was important that job seekers visit my company's site, but they aren't the real revenue-drivers in the recruiting world. Therefore, I found various industry directories that were accessible to my target market and only cost a hundred or so dollars per advertisement annually.

Once I closed enough deals to support a marketing budget, I decided that we needed some form of SEO. I found a company out in California through the web and the sales representative, seemingly desperate for business, threw in 35 programmed new pages per month with the SEO.

At this point, I had an intern from NYU come to my apartment full time, and together we wrote over 150 landing pages. (Landing pages are website pages geared toward ranking on a particular keyword phrase or two and, mostly they are not linked to from your website's homepage.)

While their programming skills were satisfactory, when it came to SEO, my vendor had no idea what they were doing. Before we parted ways, over the course of approving programmed pages, my vendor sent me their programming and meta tags for my site.

This piqued my interest and I began studying SEO. I ended up studying it all day, every day. I knew it was the only way my company would grow. I read SEO blogs, contacted sites that would give links to recruitment agencies and, at this point I began the uphill battle that was cold-calling universities for.edu links.

In total, I probably contacted 350 or so university career centers in order to present my company as a career resource and, subsequently get a link from their site. I got a lot of resistance, mostly because I was a recruiter and recruiting has a certain low reputation, but some of the career center people were simply hard to negotiate with.

Partially, that's due to academia being its own, insular world, where rules apply differently than in the business world. A university in Arizona would not even accept donations to be listed because we were a staffing agency. Another university's career center got in a lot of trouble when the woman asked for $500 for us to be listed, but there was no cost for any other firm.

I knew something was wrong when she emailed me right away with a "First-Ever Best Career Center Intern Award" in which she would give cash to the student who did the best job of convincing her that they were the best intern and should get the money.

Then, there was my alma mater, who took a donation, only to tell me that the woman who swiped my credit card was no longer there and she didn't have authorization.

In the end, I ended up with only 30 or so links after literally days' worth of cold-calling hours. Even so, it was a higher number than my competition had. Right now, SEO is what fuels my business. We get around hundreds of visits a day and our advertising budget is a mere pittance compared to what most ad and marketing agencies quote.

This means that our firm does not need to attend trade shows and is not reliant on one particular customer to maintain a steady stream of revenue and fuel growth.

Recruiting the Right Employees From an Apartment

I started my business from a studio apartment on Manhattan's Upper West Side, and continued to grow it when my wife and I moved to a larger place on the East Side. But a Manhattan apartment with the attendant space restrictions it still very much was.

I decided to prioritize growing our online presence and business base, as described above, rather than investing in office space before it made logistical sense. But I was quickly busy enough that I couldn't run the business on my own, and that meant bringing on employees.

Recruiting employees to work out of your apartment is very difficult. This is especially true when they are of the opposite sex. I knew that remote employees would not work, as they have a significantly higher turnover rate than in-house employees.

Also, I wanted to hire entry-level people, and too much autonomy leads to failure at that experience level. I wanted them trained by me and not another recruiting firm, therefore we would have to teach them the business.

When I set out to get new full-time people, I already had our Managing Director, Alison, on board so it was a little easier, but many applicants would not consider working out of an apartment.

They would get very skeptical as to the legitimacy of the company. Most would not show up to the interview.

The only way to accomplish recruiting the right people was to increase the salary for the position to roughly 25% over market. It was worth it, as we found one great employee who would help us find the 4th member of the team.

We also assured our employees that we would get an office, a promise that we kept and signed a lease after a few months of the new team members being on board.

Recruiting, even if you have the tools, is a very difficult thing for a start-up. However, the hurdles I cleared can apply to many industries, not just staffing or consultancy services. Work hard, plan smart, and hire right. Aren't those the basics to any start-up's success? The trick is getting them right the first time, or if not, to try, try again.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6129956

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Bench Craft Company on the topic of cheap

Fewer than 1 percent of website visits come directly from a social media URL according to research just released by customer satisfaction analytics experts ForeSee Results.

The company surveyed 300,000 consumers on more than 180 websites across a dozen private and public sector industries. The referring social media sites covered were not just the usual suspects like Facebook and Twitter, but over 40 sites including Flickr, Foursquare, Scribd, Stumbleupon, Meetup and Youtube.

It’s not all bad news for social media marketeers. 18 percent of site visitors (averaged across surveyed websites) report being influenced by social media to visit a website. However, there was considerable variation in the results for different companies.

The social media budgets of marketers is constantly increasing as the survey data to the right shows. Forsee Results’ research showed that the resources companies put into social media and the results they receive vary wildly. Spending more money does not automatically lead to higher numbers of visits to websites, brand awareness or sales.

Promotional emails are also sometimes neglected in favor of the more glamorous social media, in spite of the fact that such emails influence 32 percent of purchases.

Companies themselves seem a bit confused about their objectives when it comes to social media. Internet Retailer Magazine surveyed 400 U.S. companies (19 percent of them retailers) in December 2009 and January 2010. It found that 74 percent of companies wanted social media to drive traffic to their websites, while only 56 percent wanted it to increase sales. Shouldn’t it be the other way around?

Next Story: Why mobile app success is more than just download numbers Previous Story: Battle brewing at Microsoft over retail store expansion

Fewer than 1 percent of website visits come directly from a social media URL according to research just released by customer satisfaction analytics experts ForeSee Results.

The company surveyed 300,000 consumers on more than 180 websites across a dozen private and public sector industries. The referring social media sites covered were not just the usual suspects like Facebook and Twitter, but over 40 sites including Flickr, Foursquare, Scribd, Stumbleupon, Meetup and Youtube.

It’s not all bad news for social media marketeers. 18 percent of site visitors (averaged across surveyed websites) report being influenced by social media to visit a website. However, there was considerable variation in the results for different companies.

The social media budgets of marketers is constantly increasing as the survey data to the right shows. Forsee Results’ research showed that the resources companies put into social media and the results they receive vary wildly. Spending more money does not automatically lead to higher numbers of visits to websites, brand awareness or sales.

Promotional emails are also sometimes neglected in favor of the more glamorous social media, in spite of the fact that such emails influence 32 percent of purchases.

Companies themselves seem a bit confused about their objectives when it comes to social media. Internet Retailer Magazine surveyed 400 U.S. companies (19 percent of them retailers) in December 2009 and January 2010. It found that 74 percent of companies wanted social media to drive traffic to their websites, while only 56 percent wanted it to increase sales. Shouldn’t it be the other way around?

Next Story: Why mobile app success is more than just download numbers Previous Story: Battle brewing at Microsoft over retail store expansion

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Sources: Phil Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers fined $75,000 each

Lakers coach Phil Jackson has been fined $75,000 for making unauthorized comments about collective bargaining, sources said Thursday.

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Breaking tech <b>news</b>? Get email notifications as it happens. - TNW Voice

We're in the technology news business. To that end, if it's old, it isn't news. Given that you're reading this, chances are that you live, eat, sleep and breathe the tech lifestyle and want to get the news as soon as it happens. ...

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Groundwater radiation level at nuke plant rises: TEPCO | Kyodo <b>News</b>

The concentration levels of radioactive iodine and cesium in groundwater near the troubled Nos. 1 and 2 reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have increased up to several dozen times in one week, suggesting that toxic ...

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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 should see a material dip, on top of the one that occurred
after I indicated that I was short the stock on March 16th. Before we
delve into my opinion, let’s peruse the news from 1 a.m. this morning:

WSJ: Apple Crunched in Nasdaq Rebalance- In
a move likely to ripple across the stock market, Nasdaq OMX plans to
announce a rare rebalancing of its Nasdaq-100 index, which will reduce
the big weighting of Apple, which currently makes up more than 20% of
the index.

Bloomberg: Apple’s Weight in Nasdaq-100 to Be Reduced as Microsoft, Cisco Are Raised

So, why do you think Nasdaq decides to reduce Apple’s weighting now?
Well, the competitive pressures that Apple faces are nigh guaranteed to
make it impossible for it to fulfill the pie in the sky expectations
that are being built for it.  That in combination with a 20% weighting
create a recipe for a guaranteed crash in the Nasdaq unless something
was done about it. Signs of heavy reliance on on or two products for 70%
of their profit, while sourcing the most important parts of those
products from their biggest competitors, were starting to show. iPad 2
supplies are tight due to Japan’s woes, and Apple does not have the
mobile computing product diversity to handle it like the 150 or so
Android competitors it is battling. This means much more than just a gap
in profits for the quarter. These companies are in race, and Apple is
being forced to give up some of its lead due to diversification issues –
issues that Android manufacturers (who are more diversified because
there are so many more of them from different places) don’t have, or at
least not to the extent that Apple does. Thus, Samsung, LG, Asus, HTC,
etc. will be rolling out to customers who may have had an Apple iPhone
or iPad.

This is also another (of many) massive triumphs of BoomBustblog
research over that of the most esteemed Godman Sachs who put a $430
price target on Apple just as it was making all time highs and in direct
contravention to BoomBustBlog’s stated logic. See Shorting Apple and Why Software Developers Can Make More Money On Android Wednesday, March 16th, 2011

I have finally started dabbling with Apple
shorts and puts. My OTM S&P put positions were profitably stopped
out due to trailings yesterday when the market recovered some of its
losses. I have decided to use Apple in the place of the S&P puts
for the time being. Medium to long term, the trade is more evident and
obvious to anyone who is objective and follows BoomBustBlog. It is
significantly more risky shorter term. Alas, there are marginal gains
already, and once they accrue to the point of indemnifying my trailing
stop, I will add more. After I finish the current leg of my global real
estate research to be disseminated to institutions, I will offer
tidbits of the modeling (I have already offered subscribers significant
info on why I think Apple is a risky long play). From a contrarian
standpoint, it may be safe to go short with tight stops, after all
although Apple Gears Up To Combat The Margin Compression That Apparently Only It, Google & Reggie Middleton Sees Coming, we still have those guys over at West Street… Goldman’s
$430 Target, Screaming Buy On Apple At Its All Time High Is In Direct
Contravention To Reggie Middleton’s Logic – Who’s Right? Well, Who
Has Been More Right In The Past? I have taken The Challenge To Goldman Sach’s Apple Proclamation One Step

Farther, Apple’s Closed System Risks
Failure! Listen, everyone, regardless of what investment positions or
tech products you may have in your stable, needs to ask themselves the
appropriate “What if’s”. I have spurred the conversation with “Will Google Win The Mobile Computing War? Let’s Walk Through Where They Stand Now & How To Value Them”

Remember, I may not always be right, but it does pay to look at the track record…  Did Reggie Middleton, a Blogger at BoomBustBlog, Best Wall Streets Best of the Best? More attention should be paid to the little guy, after all by now it is Now Common Knowledge That Goldman’s Investment Advice Sucks!
Didn’t you get the memo? I’m sure many traders have spurned Apple due
to the Japanese market being cut off right at the launch of the iPad 2,
but the issues go deeper than that. I will cover it in depth at a later
date, though.

Additional thoughts on the Apple short:

1. Note For The Few Realistic Apple Bears… Wednesday, March 16th, 2011
2. Buffet on Apple – Common Sense! Monday, March 21st, 2011
3. Competition Heats Up In The Mobile Computing Space On Many Fronts – Prices Driven Down Once Again By The Big Players Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011
4. How the “I Love Apple, There Is No Other Fever” Adds To The Attractiveness Of An Ever So Unpopular Apple Short Monday, March 21st, 2011

And that Research in Motion short alert
given to subscribers is working like a charm – even more so if it get’s
caught in  NASDAQ storm: Research in Motion Drops 10% After Hours, Precisely As We Warned Two Months Ago – MARGIN COMPRESSION!!! Thursday, March 24th, 2011

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It’s not such a wonderful time to be a doctor, patient, hospital, health plan or pharma company, but judging by the quality and quantity of entries received for this edition of the HWR, it’s a wonderful time to be a wonk.

A couple weeks ago CMS released draft rules for Accountable Care Organizations. Several bloggers weighed in on that development:

• Mark McClellan and Elliott Fisher at Health Affairs provide some historical context and argue that “those who care deeply about health care reform all have a common interest in the success of ACOs as a way of avoiding more classic fee-for-service payment cuts to providers.”


• On a more downbeat note, The Road to Health concludes, “Dr. Berwick and his colleagues at CMS appear to have taken the ACO concept and made it into a financial program that only delusional practice administrators, or physician organizations bent on financial self-destruction, could love.”


• The Healthcare IT Guy expects ACOs to be “far more lucrative and disruptive than Meaningful Use and likely to yield more patient quality improvements.”


• GE Healthcare puts the emphasis on ACO change management challenges: “Healthcare executives and management teams are left to focus on preparing their organizations for a cultural shift of seismic proportions.”


• HealthBlawg reviews the proposed rules and produces 8 takeaways. #2: “This is the Frankenstein regulation: A Medicare beneficiary must sit on the board of the ACO, CMS must approve all marketing materials before they are used.”

In the midst of the battle over funding the 2011 budget, House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan came out with a plan to radically restructure Medicare and Medicaid starting in 2012:

• The Apothecary likes much of what he sees and thinks the proposal may force Democrats to devise a credible plan of their own


• John C. Goodman’s Health Policy Blog contrasts PPACA and the Ryan plan. “Obviously, the path we are on leads to an impossible place. So the only question is whether we are going to get off the current path in a planned, orderly way or whether we are going to let unplanned chaos do the trick.”


• Wright on Health is less impressed and wonders, “if Rep. Ryan is so adamant about reducing the deficit, why is he cutting taxes for the wealthy and cutting programs for the poor and the elderly?”


• Managed Care Matters is decidedly unswayed. “If you were looking for real solutions to the health cost problem, you’re going to be sorely disappointed… Unfortunately, he’s fallen into the same trap his Democratic colleagues did with their version of health reform – the Ryan plan does little to address costs.”


• The Incidental Economist takes issue with Ryan’s plan to convert Medicaid to block grants and cut spending. “Should Medicaid be cut back, more people will be uninsured. Contrary to what some wish you to believe, those who become uninsured will suffer worse health outcomes”

As if the ACO rules and Ryan plan weren’t enough, there’s more on Medicare in the blogosphere:

• The Covert Rationing Blog –always good for a lighthearted pick me up– “asserts that we are one giant step closer to the day when it will become illegal for all Americans to spend their own money on their own healthcare.”


• Dr. Liberty discusses CMS’s deliberations on whether to pay for Provenge, a pricey prostate drug. “Decisions are made on the basis of politics, and the drive is to cover everything, leading to higher costs.”

Amid all the federal policy blogging, there’s still some room for technology talk:

• Healthcare Talent Transformation has had it with Health Net’s repeated goof up’s leading to loss of confidential data. Although it may seem like there’s not much the average person can do, the blog argues, “You can make an impact on the security of your sensitive data by conducting due diligence when it comes to your insurance provider.”


• The Healthcare Blog offers a video collage of the new Kaiser Permanente Center for Total Health. “The Center is  a pretty fascinating place–part tech and idea showcase and part meeting room. Certainly no other health care organization that I’m aware of has spent so much on a place designed to stimulate the imagination and enhance conversation–under the nose of the folks on Capitol Hill.”


• Meaningful HIT News features a podcast with mHealth Initiative’s Peter Waegemann, who’s shifted over from EMRs to ride the mobile wave


• Healthcare Economist delves into new papers that, “examined how to develop accurate algorithms to account for cancer stage in studies using claims data.”

It was encouraging to receive a couple submissions about  journalism:

• Disease Care Management Blog asks, “Is the kerfuffle over National Public Radio (NPR) the long delayed comeuppance for liberal bias run amok, or a narrow-minded attack on the inconvenient truths from journalistic excellence?” The blog reaches into the world of medicine and discusses of “framing” and its impact on patient decision making to provide an answer


• HealthNews ReviewBlog cites, “daily evidence of the need for improvement in health care journalism – especially when we see examples like hype of a tiny, preliminary study of strawberries for esophageal cancer.”

We always have room in the Health Wonk Review for some posts on medical ethics:

• Nuts for Healthcare looks at the pharma industry and concludes, “Doctors need to take a more definitive stand against the specter of industry influence. A good target? Industry sponsorship of continuing medical education.”


• Health Care Renewal is concerned that so-called government run programs are more private than we think. “The majority of Medicaid has been out-sourced to private health care insurance companies… We need to have some real discussions about the rise of corporatism in US health care, in other aspects of US society and around the world.”

And finally, a few odds and ends

• Workers’ Comp Insider provides resources for employers concerned about radiation exposure


• Colorado Health Insurance Insider chronicles the decline of bipartisanship in the creation of a health insurance exchange for that state. “Healthcare reform has become such a polarized topic that it’s difficult for lawmakers to have any stance other than for it or against it.  Even though the health insurance exchanges would be marketplaces that sell private health insurance, the word ‘exchange’ has been thrown around so much during the reform debates that many opponents of the PPACA see it as synonymous with ‘ObamaCare.’”


• Last week I went to a health care direct to consumer marketing conference to see former TimeWarner CEO Jerry Levin interviewed by OrganizedWisdom CEO Steve Krein. I also shared my thoughts in the video clip below

Thanks for reading the Health Wonk Review! The Incidental Economist hosts the next edition.

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If the players win the fans lose. I see it as if the players win, the price continues to climb out of control, making ever seeing a game life at the stadium impossible to justify with the economy the way it is. Although I don't believe the owners care about lowering prices to allow the medium income family, but at least the need to raise prices isn't there. Direct TV has climbed to over $300 to watch your favorite teams. So, why they argue about the 9 billion we give them a year, we have to set back and wait to see how there going to pay for all this by emptying our pockets, while we thank them for agreeing on the terms.



Read more at the San Francisco Examiner: http://www.sfexaminer.com/sports/nfl/2011/03/theres-nothing-normal-about-these-nfl-labor-talks#ixzz1JWifUR00
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Roofing Contractors Vancouver - 5 Questions to Really think

Roofing Vancouver - Faq's

1. Repair or Replace?

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

2. Beauty versus Practicality?

Discuss this together with your spouse or partner. (The children could care less...at least the young ones.) The fact is, nobody wants an ugly roof the same as nobody wants to be viewed with bed hair. If you've got a great quality roof and you just have to do the repair, it's worthwhile to pay for the cost of the initial shingle rather than doing patchwork. A roof replacement doesn't happen frequently (we hope!) and thus make a choice that best suits you and your family well or it'll stick out just like a sore thumb everyday you decide to go home.

3. Should I replace the roof so I can sell the house for additional?

Consider this very carefully prior to making a decision. Depending on the roofing material you select, a new roof lasts anywhere from twenty, fifty, to one-hundred years! This means you have to check the year from the roof that's currently too deep first. Are you at year 18 of the 20-year warranted roof or year 30 of the 50-year warranted roof? Obviously, the standard is what makes the rooftop keep going longer, but if you're not planning to stay in your present home throughout your lifetime, the larger expense might not be worth your investment. Although a new roof can improve the value of your value, the rise might not be enough to pay for neglect the and that's bound to hurt your wallet.

4. Could it be a good idea that i can repair the roof myself?

Sure it is. Before you do, consult a specialist first. You can perform it yourself, however, you shouldn't be a complete ‘lone ranger.' Depending on the extent of your repair, you may or might not change your mind. In either case, it will help to obtain a professional eye about the problem first and maybe a free quote so you can do the math later and find out if it's truly worth your time, sweat, and money to become mister or miss fix-it.

5. When is a great time to get 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 throughout the day for a solid fourteen days. Once you have this era in your mind, create a call to some trusted contractor months in advance to get a quote. Some companies get booked up fast and chances are, they're probably the most reputable. Preparing in advance of the summer also provides you with time for you to ask around many compare costs...especially if you need to possess the roof done by a particular date.

 

The Top Roofing Company In Vancouver!

It is possible to leak inside your home's roof? Perhaps you have lost shingles or tiles inside a storm? Have overhanging branches caused damage? Is the roof more than 20 years old and showing wear and tear? Are your gutters overwhelmed and draining poorly?

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

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

YOUR Vancouver ROOF DESERVES NO LESS!

The roof of your Vancouver home is the first type of defence against wind, rain, snow, ice along with other weather conditions. Be sure it is up to the job. Among Vancouver Roofing companies, only Crown Roofing has the depth of experience and successful history to make sure your roofing system is going to be properly designed and installed.

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS.

One reason Crown Roofing continues to be probably the most successful roofing contractor in Vancouver is our resolve for our neighbors. We treat your house as if it were our own and 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. In the end, we've been repairing and replacing roofs in Vancouver since 1902!

Obtain a FREE INSPECTION AND EVALUATION OF YOUR Vancouver ROOF.

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

 

Tacoma Roofing company: Help your house be Beautiful

Not many people understand the value of a good roof, your knowledgeable Tacoma Roofing company does. From first hand experience, they will be able to tell you why you need a strong, secure, and leak-free roof in your home.

The local Tacoma Roofing contractor is knowledgeable how important an economic investment your property is for you, especially as it is a lasting one. Your house may have been damaged slowly over the years and also you have to take steps to minimize this damage. For a lot of people, keeping their property beautiful is also a matter of pride. There are those too who'd prefer to turn their property into a economical and efficient living place. Your roof is an integral part of your property and contributes to each of the aspects mentioned previously. For this reason, you should employ the expertise of qualified a Tacoma Roofing contractors.

Types of Roofs installed with a Tacoma Roofing contractor

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

Each kind of roof invites distinct problems, however they can all be easily taken care of by a trusted Tacoma Roofer. It's imperative that you nip roof problems within the bud before they become too expensive or dangerous. You are able to schedule a scheduled appointment using the Tacoma Roofer to take a look at your roof to see if you will find any issues or potential issues with it. If you will find, they may be able to let you know how to approach them.

A Tacoma Roofing company Helps to Build Strong Homes

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

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

Reverse Damages with the Help of a Tacoma Roofer

However top quality the roof might be, it is going to wear down with time. There are shingles which are known as "25 year" or "30 year" shingles, but those numbers are just associated with warranty made by the makers. They seldom require that long. Realistically speaking, "25 year" shingles will not last more than a few years. Within an area that's prone to storms, shingles or the entire roof should get replaced every 10 years. With a Tacoma Roofer, the price will be lower than what you think.

If there you lose any shingles, or there's some damage to them, a Tacoma Roofer can assist you to. Damaged shingles can result in indoor leaks, since the substrate of the roof becomes subjected to the sun and rain. Shingles which are loose or broken can slip off and pose a possible hazard to individuals standing below. Missing shingles create a gap that allows rain, wind, ice, and debris to build up underneath the adjoining shingles, which results in a "domino effect" that affects other shingles plus they become loose or broken. A comprehensive investigation will be made by the local Tacoma Roofing company, if you give them a call track of your suspicions of loose or missing shingles.

Your Tacoma Roofer will be in a position to tell you what the best option is for your homes roof. In case your roof isn't in a good shape, it's advised you have it replaced completely. The Tacoma Roofing contractor can take you thru the various roofing possibilities for you which will fit your requirements and your budget.

Tacoma Roofer: Improving your Home's Efficiency

Your homes roof shelters you against storms, sleet, and hail. By giving adequate ventilation, your homes roof protects your house from overheating, and by holding within the heat, it keeps your home warm. That's why you ought to prepare your roof from indoors as well as outdoors for any sort of weather emergency. A Qualified Tacoma Roofing company can provide assist in this situation.

To begin with, inspect your roof thoroughly for just about any and all kind of damage, prior to the beginning of a year. The gutters should be clear, debris should not be piled on or trapped under shingles, there should be no homes of squirrels or birds within the eaves or attic, and also the roof ought to be structurally sound. For your last part, you will need the assistance of your local Tacoma Roofing company. It can be quite dangerous to climb onto the roof of your house. This is when the contractor from Tacoma Roofing company is available in. He'll check out the strength and security of your roof and shingles, and perform a general inspection of the entire roof structure, to make sure that it's in proper working order. They'll be able to point towards issues that you have to keep an eye on and problems you may not have spotted.

You'll need all the assist you to could possibly get in the Tacoma Roofing company. You can help your homes roof by installing a gutter guard or leaf cover to assist prevent debris from forming inside your gutters. The additional weight of debris prevents the gutters from draining and may even tear them down. Look into the fasteners on your gutters and if they are loose, tighten them. Take steps to change worn screws and brackets. For those who have a chimney in your home, inspect the bricks and mortar signs and symptoms of wear. A trusted mason could be recommended because of your Tacoma Roofer, if you will find any repairs to become done.

Tacoma Roofer: Someone You Can Rely on
In the event that you know or suspect that there's a problem, your Tacoma Roofing company should be contacted. They are able to use their knowledge and expertise to obtain your home back in ace condition simply by working on the roof. Your roof deserves attention. So give them a call today, so that they can get down to caring for your roof.

 

What is Distinction between Commercial Roofing Companies From Residential Roofing Companies

If you are getting a roofing company to re roof your house or building then you may be wondering what are the differences are between residential roofing companies and commercial roofing companies. To start with, the main one huge difference is usually that times a commercial roofing company may have signed a contract with and become obligated to a 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 a commercial roofing company has not signed an agreement with a union they may be outfitted simply for commercial jobs and that means that their workers and equipment may not be in line with smaller residential jobs.

Residential roofing contractors generally tend to run smaller companies and hence, are more in a position to bid competitively on residential jobs, which tend to be small compared to comercial jobs. In fact, often times residential roofing contractors will run one man operations, in which the contractor that you simply talk to could be the one which actually does the job about the building.

Also, liability insurance for commercial roofing is more expensive along with a larger bond is required for any commercial roofing work which will make it not economical for a commercial roofing contractor to do residential roofing jobs.

Still an additional factor is that commercial jobs can run on tighter time frame for just about any quantity of reasons, requiring a commercial contractor to train on a larger crew or crews which again makes smaller jobs less profitable on their behalf.

 

Difference Between Commercial Roofing and Residential Roofing

Did you know that the roof of a building includes a huge effect on the entire structure itself? Damage caused to roofs due to natural or another disasters causes a considerable loss of property everywhere. The kind of materials accustomed to construct the roof that ought to be sturdy and long lasting, the way where the roof continues to be installed and even its timely maintenance are extremely crucial. There are two types of roofs that are used on all the buildings that people 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 roofing is usually completed just by one hired contractor but commercial roofing usually takes a whole team to complete the task. The reason being a commercial roof tends to be larger when it comes to square feet than a residential roof.
Commercial roofs need to be made carefully keeping the character and reason for your building in your mind. For example, if there is a cafe or restaurant in the building then external components like ventilation systems, smoke stacks and pipes is going to be required. Residential roofs tend not to have such components apart from a chimney or two at most.
Commercial roofs is commonly flat in design to support 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 due to the special tools, materials and safety equipment which are needed onsite. Usually the patching or maintenance work is completed in segments unlike for a residential roof in which the repair or replacement work could be carried out a short while. This is one more reason why the gear used for residential roofs is often smaller and less costly as well.
Commercial roof installations have a longer time to complete compared to residential roof installations and therefore are usually constructed in large sections. In this phase however, it is important to ensure that there are no leakages, cracks or other visible deterioration signs as it can cause considerable damage to the entire building.
It is important to install the best roof for any building depending on its purpose. Make sure that you hire a construction company that uses top notch materials and has the best equipment to do the job or neglect the may turn to be a huge loss later.

 

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

If your business is seeking to have work done on its roof, you should work with commercial roofing contractors which have an enthusiastic understanding of any special needs that a business might have. As an example, a roofing job is often disruptive for that operation of business as usual. Because of this, it might be essential for the business to become temporarily turn off, or for the roofing to take place after business hours have ended. A roofer that understands these needs can function together with a business to make certain these types of issues are minimized.

First of all , a company should do when it is trying to find commercial roofing contractors is to discover who other businesses in the area will work through. Obviously, this article not be helpful whether it may come as an indicator from competitors, but you will find circumstances by which it is not too difficult to find this information from suppliers or retailers. Since roofing is not an industry-specific service, this information is readily available.

It is a wise decision for any business to obtain in touch with a minimum of three commercial roofing contractors to make bids about the price. In this way, the business can often obtain a better price. It's also important to ensure that each one of the roofing contractors is licensed and bonded. These details can be found by permitting touching the state contractor's board. This also makes it possible to determine if there have been any claims filed from the company in the past.

When looking at bids, it is only as important to look at what services are now being offered and which products will be used because it is to look at the overall cost. The costs can differ quite drastically, but as tempting as it can be to choose the lowest bid, this is not always your best option. In many cases, more costs now means fewer costs over time due to an undesirable roofing job. To help investigate the quality of the job, it's a wise decision to check with the Bbb in order to see if the company has been accredited, and when it has not, to a minimum of see what its rating is.

 

Picking out a Commercial Roofing Contractor

When you are searching for a roofer for your commercial roofing project you need to find a contractor who understands the special needs of a commercial roofing project. For example it can be harder to work on a business during business hours so either the company has to be turn off for the repair or replacement or even the job has to be done after conventional business hours. Is the roofer you are thinking about for the job willing and able to work around your schedule constrictions which might involve working weekends or evenings?

When you begin your search for any roofing contractor not only do you have to answer those questions but you should also hire a company which will perform a high quality job without a lot of time delays. Going about finding someone can seem like an obstacle in itself but there are several methods to result in the search easier.

Ask people around you for referrals and try to find a minimum of three contractors to give you written bids on your job. Before you go any more you have to make sure that the contractors you are considering are fully licensed and bonded. An easy search with the state contractor's board will verify in case your roofer is licensed and if you will find any past judgments or claims against their license.

When you select three or four roofers to place bids, you need to prepare yourself for the bids to be widely varied. Roofers may have brand preferences that will vary and may factor in more or less compared to next guy for a labor estimate. The more detailed an itemized bid is the more helpful it will be to focus on where the cost are going to be incurred. Don't, however, pick a roofer based solely on the bid price. Any low ball bids might be tempting to take, but if they are low due to poor quality workman ship it may not be worth it ultimately.

As they say, you generally get what you pay for, if you can afford a mid-priced bid it's always smart to go up within your budget rather than down. Additionally you ought to decide your roofer depending on how professional these were and how comfortable you anticipate you will be working with them.

Finally your cost will be different based on what type of roofing material you select along with the cost to haul your old roof towards the landfill. Should you be looking for places to cut corners on your roof, instead of cutting labor cost you might want to ask about a metal roof option. Metal roofs could be economical and energy efficient which makes them overall money savers for the long term, and on commercial buildings they may be really low maintenance. Plus since they can be put on top of a current roof, you don't need to possess the old one removed and hauled away, which can make a large impact on your cost.

Choosing a comerical roofing company in your local area, does not have to be a struggle. For more information, visit http://www.vancouverroofers.net

 

Seattle Roofing Companies - How To Find The very best

In the home of rain and sleet, commercial coffee and grunge, and also the famous space needle, you can find a house that will suit you. Seattle, Washington could be a great place to build a home, but you need Seattle roofing contractors to help you out. Your homes roof is, after all, the crowning glory of your house, and your strongest line of defense from the elements. You must have something which isn't just created to last, but created to attract and make your house more beautiful

Harsh Weather

How come roofing contractors essential within this the main country? Because Seattle is usually bombarded by rain along with other harsh weather conditions, you need a roof that can withstand all the forces of nature. With this thought, you need individuals who be aware of Seattle weather best, and who understand what materials can best go into your roof for it to last far longer in the area. In addition to all this, you have to blend with the rest of the houses in your living area, which means you cannot simply get whatever roof you please.

In all these aspects, a Seattle roofing contractors will be able to help you out. All you need to 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 try to escape by using it and leave you roof-less.

Why the Contractor Model Works

If you want to set up your roof by yourself, you will have to purchase a good deal of materials, secure permits and licenses, and obtain materials that are suitable for keep you safe against harsh extremes of Seattle weather. Which means that if you're a DIY kind of guy or gal, you will have to go through a good deal of legwork to get the task done.

However, a Seattle roofer can do all of the jobs for you and provide you with a package that may help you save money and time. Because contractors operate under licenses and purchase materials in large quantities, they are able to get discounts on building materials that you'd not otherwise get if you were buying merely for your own home.

Roofing Associations

Most roofing contractors also belong to roofing organizations that are bound by strict guidelines and standards. If they do well on the roofing job, they can showcase their roofing contractors association; when they do poorly, they are able to ruin the reputation of their roofing contractors association and keep other contractors inside the association from getting good roofing jobs. There is a lot of pressure to complete well, so you can be confident that if you need a roofing job done in Seattle, you can get a contractor from a roofing association to assist you.

For example, Seattle Roof Brokers operates with over five hundred roofing contractors in the Puget Sound. This group has over fifty years of roofing experience and experience dealing with Seattle roofing contractors, therefore it will know what type of roofing you would like. The rooftop 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 Should You Demand out of your Contractor?

Whenever you finally get a contractor in the Seattle area, you need to do a lot of research about the roofing contractors themselves. Ask for a list of previous companies or persons the contractor worked with in order to get a clear look at the roofing contractor's work ethics and roof quality. Your roofer should also have the appropriate working licenses and city licenses needed by the Seattle city government.

Select a Seattle roofing contractors that insures its employees, which has courteous workers who'll respect your opinions and ensure that your needs are met. Ensure that you obtain the best bang for your buck: if you are not satisfied with the job, you have to be guaranteed either money-back, or a free, new roof. Moreover, you also require the workers to find the job done on time, so be strict together with your deadlines - and discover a contractor that is as strict when 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 can be guaranteed a great roof along with a better house in this fantastic city.

Choosing the proper Roofing Contractor Company for Replacing Your homes roof

The shingles in your roof degrade and you are minded to locate a roofing contractor to replace the them. Maybe you have already known as a few and therefore are evaluating which contractor for your upcoming roof repair. How do you select the best contractor for working on your roof? Listed here are a number of things you should consider 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 receive a higher level and services information when the roofing company can be found near your house or has an office near your residence.
References. To determine the reliability of the contractor, references ought to be provided of the previous customers who are prepared to vouch that excellent service was received. This should not be the only real element in choosing your future roofer as some may claim they value the privacy of the clients and do not desire to bother them. If this is the case, request business related references. The places that provide the contractor with supplies can reveal the quantity of materials and regularity of supplying the contractor to assist determine their stability.
So how exactly does the roofing contractor company handle complaints? There are a multitude of problems that can arise during the progress of a roofing replacement. Ask what their process is perfect for handling complaints when they arise. It is also an excellent idea to get a past client reference who had a complaint that was resolved to the satisfaction from the client.
Terms of payment. What are the the payment schemes for the job? What is the down payment and amount due upon completion? While it is certainly reasonable that the substantial payment be made before a contractor begins focus on a project, it is highly recommended that full payment isn't made until following the entire job is finished.
Written contract. All the roofing replacement should be put in a written contract. No part of the contracting job should rely on verbal assurances.
Bonding. You will find things that will go wrong with roofing installations that end up costing a substantial amount of money to repair. Should this happen on your roofing replacement, you'll feel a whole lot better understanding that your roofer is bonded. This will supply the funds to fix whatever mistakes were made. Look for a roofer that is bonded.
Manufacturer Warranty. Quality materials for roofing typically have a warranty. You should verify that there is actually a warranty about the materials being installed. Request a duplicate from the warranty.
Period of time running a business How long has the company you are interviewing been in business? A short amount of time in business may reflect instability. If the contractor has been around business less than three years, verify how long they have been in the market. A new contractor might have a long time experience focusing on roofs before they form their very own business. Seek a company that's been around for 3 years, or in which the contractor has already established many more years performing roofing replacements. It can should not be the only factor, everyone has to start sometime. Balance this with referrals and the other points raised in the following paragraphs.
Appropriate Permits. A Seattle roofing contractor should know what permits are needed for fixing your roof. They must be conscious of how to obtain these permits on your behalf. Ask the contractor whether or not they will obtain the permits necessary to repair the roof.
Liability. If a worker becomes injured, who's accountable for the worker's compensation? When the contractor's equipment damages your home, who is responsible for the repairs? A good contractor will give you certificates of insurance for liability and workers comp before they begin repairing your roof.
Subcontractors. Verify if the contractor is going to be using subcontractors. If that's the case, it is strongly advised that everything contained within this article for verifying if the contractor is credible also needs to be relevant to subcontractors. You need to receive the names and license amounts of all subcontractors. You should verify whether each subcontractor can also be insured so you are not held liable for their accidents.
Pending Legal Actions. You should verify whether you will find any legal actions against the contractor. This is not only necessary for verifying whether the roofing company is legitimate (credible roofing companies shouldn't need to defend themselves in court), it is also important just because a lost lawsuit could cause the contractor to go bankrupt. If you have designed a substantial down payment for services immediately before the company goes bankrupt, you can lose thousands of dollars and not have your roofing completed.
Material Disposal. Who is responsible for disposing of the waste generated from the roof being replaced? Will your contractor handle all aspects of the? Can there be one more cost for getting rid of this waste?
NRCA Membership. Membership in local or national roofing associations, like the NRCA, shows commitment to staying up to date with the very best methods for roof replacement and maintenance. Find a roofing contractor with a high standard of education regarding their trade.
Replacing your homes roof is a significant investment. It makes good sense to ask serious questions before working with a roofing contractor. Here are some more tips that you ought to consider when choosing the best roofing contractor for your upcoming roofing replacement.

Payment. Do not create a full payment for services unless all jobs are finished.
Inspection. Don't create a full payment without having done your final inspection of all services rendered.
Workers liens. Do not fully purchase the roofing replacement job until worker's lien releases happen to be obtained.
Oral Agreements. No agreement should be made verbally without backing up in writing. Every point that are vital that you you should be produced in writing.

 

For the SEO needs, you should check out Vancouver web design and Vancouver Seo agency

There is no denying the cyberspace is just about the biggest financial market nowadays. Practically everything is anchored on the internet. Currently, there are other than 182 million internet sites in the internet and still counting. If each one of these websites offers possibilities to earn money, just think of the limitless opportunities that may be perfectly located at the internet. More to the point, using the emergence of internet sites, the requirement of internet hosting and Search| Engine Optimization is significantly defined.

Search engine marketing is actually the operation of increasing the visibility of a site. As such, if you want your internet site to become visible to visitors, you ought to look for Seo agency. The optimization strategy considers how search spiders work and what people usually and what keywords they'll use. The primary objective of Search engine optimization is making sites visible browsing sites from the natural or organic way.

Search optimization or natural seo is really a saying used in describing unpaid, algorithm-driven results of any particular engine. Quite simply, organic SEO uses natural strategies in achieving search engine results ranking. While there are two camps that search optimization companies may fall to, and these will be the 'White Hat' and also the 'Black Hat', organic SEO would not fall under the 'Black Hat' camp.

Organic search engine optimization is a highly specialized and complex practice which could literally dictate the failure or success of an online business. Since search sites often modify their algorithms, organic SEO isn't super easy whatsoever. When search bots modify their algorithms, factors that permit your web site to appear facing clients are decayed as well. Thus, so that you can cope with one of these changes, SEO tactics and strategies should be employed.

It is always ethical to make use of search engines engine optimization since search sites nowadays have grown to be extremely advanced that they'll easily determine whether an internet site is trying to govern their search indexes. Thus it really is empirical to utilize seo practices that are completed in a way that appear natural.

The approaches employed 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 used by artificial SEO. Natural SEO also creates valuable resource in contrast to artificial SEO's algorithm chasing. With all these, you can clearly understand why search engines engine optimization is better than artificial search engine marketing. Even though the latter might be harder and complex, it makes favorable results which are very theraputic for any site. Fortunately, there are tons of Vancouver SEO companies today offering the organic method in affordable rates and packages.

Seo Appears in this area

Once when search engine optimization was actually not necessary.

Even while late as a decade ago, should you made a Web page anywhere, Google indexed it and also you gained visibility in its serp's. Your page might have been with a free "estates" where anybody could put in a page and Google didn't mind. It might likewise have been a pure affiliate page with no original content and Google still indexed it.

Situations are unrecognizably different now.

Affiliate pages with "cookie-cutter" content duplicated everywhere might never make it to the Google index; the identical fate is probable for anyone pages you add in over a free-for-all website. And even "proper" websites with your personal website name didn't achieve visibility one of the proliferating sites in millions.

These wouldn't have mattered, except for something. It had been Google that provided the bread and butter for that an incredible number of small businesses that may not afford expensive marketing campaigns. If your site was among the top few sites the appeared before a searcher's eyes when that person searched for your product or service, you've got hundreds as well as a large number of visitors, a lot of whom even bought your products or services.

Search engine marketing (SEO) entered the scene. Search engine specialists "reverse-engineered" to spot the standards that Google consider for showing websites towards the top of its serp's pages. These factors were then consciously incorporated into your Web pages with the aspiration that Google will show your internet site one of the primary ten results it showed about the first page.

As more of the competitors adopted seo practices, things became difficult again. Your situation begun to slip if the competitors did the SEO better. SEO battles became serious fights with every dirty trick working.

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

A war of wits followed between unscrupulous SEO practitioners and appearance engines. Google changed its ranking algorithms regularly to operate around practices that allowed low value content to appear towards the top of its serp's. After all, Google's success depended on providing value to searchers, not merchants. And SEO practitioners came up with new tricks.

We will examine search engine marketing in a number of articles, starting off having an overall look at on-line or Internet marketing.

 

For your SEO needs, you should check out vancouver web site design and Vancouver SEO company.

 

Cedar Roofing: Benefits

Cedar shakes are simply in regards to the most eye appealing shakes currently available. Frequently designed from red-colored cedar on the coniferous forests of northwestern Usa, they're just the best roof covering materials for proprietors preferring supplying his or her roofs a natural look.

Unique cedar shingles are naturally resistant to the sun and rain, this is the key answer why cedar shingles are widely-used generally around various climatic conditions. They're generally for sale in a couple of specific qualities. A minumum of one is the shingle made from red cedar as the other is produced out of the bright white variety. Red cedar shakes are made from tight-grained particles which might be previously saturated with tannic acidity that experts say is surely an all-natural additive. Red cedar shingles that will be dipped in creosote in order to avoid corrosion and they are desirable to homeowners given that they put in a rich and unique turn to one's property or home.

It is critical to note that red cedars usually change dark-colored if exposed continuously to seaside weather. Because of this, sea side homes need white cedar shakes. Red cedar shingles generally are a much more expensive compared to white cedar types, even though cost factor doesn't diminish its reputation in anyhow. They might be preferably well suited for classic New England houses while white cedar shingles appear to be image suited to bungalows and bungalows which were built-in Nantucket design.

Through the years, classic cedar shakes have mislaid out in a point to synthetic shingles that emulate the cedar appear. Superior systems are utilized to make these kind of shingles have a for a longer period life-span in comparison with unique cedar shingles. Most include advanced UV inhibitors and possess about 5 decades of steady guarantee. These shingles in many cases are great insulators and many superior ones give a much cooler inside during summer season along with a warmer inside during harsh winters.

Cedar shakes, mostly obtainable in honey, cinnamon, and silvery gray colors, need several amount of repairs and maintenance. They might need initial procedure before installation. White cedar shakes for instance, may be addressed with bleaching oil which must be done virtually every six to seven years to enhance their durability.

Cedar shakes and cedar shingles can be CCA treated or otherwise CCA treated. CCA stands for chromated copper arsenate. CCA is a chemical that stops the rise of mold, mold and fungus therefore it helps maintain insects from eating away your own wonderful cedar roof. CCA cedar could make your homes roof stay longer, but CCA just isn't A fireplace TREAMENT. Cedar that's been fire treated is available, however 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.

Cedar shakes and cedar shingles are excellent, and they are additionally a good purchase. Information of terms for example CCA, advanced quality, # 1, blue label and black label will assist you to find the right cedar roof for your personal home.

Elite Roofing & Home Improvements, LLC provides more information about shingles, cedar shakes, fiberglass shakes and much more. Elite Roofing & Small remodels, LLC is affiliated with the National Roofers Association.

You can learn 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's one of the oldest roofing products that has always been constantly being used inside the hundreds of years. As much as new roofing materials continue being developed, cedar shakes still endear themselves to many. Below is really a comparison analysis of the cedar roof versus an asphalt roof.

Pros of Cedar Roofing shingles

Cedar shakes contribute to greater air circulation inside whole house. The shingles let the where you can breathe well without trapping moisture around. This can help to keep the dwelling of the house who is fit for longer. Cedar Shakes are durable and strong. They enjoy a greater resistance to bugs. A cedar shingle roof will operate well for the various weather onslaughts. Storms, hurricanes, powerful winds and flying debris will barely damage the top of your cedar roof. The colour matures beautifully using the passing years, rendering it much more desirable. A cedar roof adds a definite charm to your residence. Cedar is instantly for sale in lumber yards as well as doesn't require a large amount of expertise or specialized tools to install.

Cons of Cedar Shakes

If rot takes hold, you would be compelled to improve the whole lot. It's not easy extracting just the affected pieces. They might happen to be nailed down in a manner that each elimination proves difficult. Cedar Shingles don't hold up well to constant wetting. If you live within an area where rainfall is heavy or frequent, cedar shingles aren't a great choice. Frequent wetting causes mold or mildew to create in. Replacement and repair might be a costly business. Your better protection against constant wetting should be to use wide overhangs. Also, if the home is shaded by many trees or nearby buildings, cedar shingles often develop mold. You will end up compelled to replace them earlier than you planned. Cedar Shingles tend to be more flammable than asphalt shingles. Many areas have a very building code in position that restricts cedar shingles to minimize the chance of fire. To set up a cedar shake roof, you'll want your financial allowance about the higher side. Frequent maintenance may also be necessary to keep the roof in good shape. Mildew and rot are ever-constant threats for some cedar roof.

Pros of Asphalt Shingle Roof

An asphalt roof is probably the most inexpensive to purchase and install. They come in various designs and colours, including a regular, flat consider a 3-dimensional look. Asphalt shingles have a great potential to deal with fires unlike cedar roofing. An asphalt roof can actually lessen the risk of fires caused by flying embers. Asphalt roofs are easier and cheaper to install than cedar. They're also low maintenance roofs.

Cons of Asphalt Shingle Roof

Algae is much more prone to grow on asphalt roofing than cedar shingles. It causes the top to build up somewhat from the stain which spoils the looks. You will get an anti-algae coating done in your asphalt shingles but this enhances the cost. In terms of stability, an asphalt roof is a lot more probably be blown off by strong winds than the usual cedar roof.

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