Alt Attribute & SEO Optimization

SEO Optimization images has become increasingly more essential in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is a critical step that is often overlooked. This is often a lost chance of better rankings.

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

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

Why would they ask us to achieve that? The answer is simple, really; search engines like google 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, attempting to stuff it with keywords, looking to achieve a certain keyword density, which is not as relevant for rankings now as it once was.

On the contrary, high keyword density can, on some search engines like google, trigger spam filters, which may result in a penalty for the site's ranking. Even without this type of penalty, your site's rankings won't 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 actually read aloud the items in what's displayed on the screen. In browsing the web, the alt features of images are read aloud too.

Imagine listening to a paragraph of text that is followed by repetitions of numerous keywords. The page would be not even close to accessible, and, to put it bluntly, would be found quite annoying.
What is an Alt attribute?

An ALT attribute should not be used as a description or a label to have an image, though many people use it for the reason that fashion. Although it may appear natural to assume that alternate text is a label or perhaps a description, it's not!

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

The goal is to supply the same functional information that the visual user would see. The alt attribute text should function as a "stand in" in the event that the look itself is not available. Think about this: If you were to replace the image with the text, would most users receive the same basic information, and would it generate the same response?
Some examples:

 

Some SEO Optimization Tips

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

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

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

If it's meant to convey using a function, then your function itself 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 merely a decorative role within the page, use an empty alt (i.e. alt="") or perhaps a CSS background image so that reading browsers don't bother users by uttering things like "spacer image".

Remember that it's the function of the image we are attempting to convey. For instance; any button images should not include the word "button" within the alt text. They should emphasize the action performed through the button.

Alt text should be based on context. The same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text.

Attempt to flow alt text with the rest of the text because that's how it is going to be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone hearing your page should hardly remember that a graphic image is there.
Please keep in mind that using an alt attribute for each image is needed to satisfy the minimum WAI requirements, which are used since the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and the rest of Europe. Also, they are required 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 things that serve no purpose other than 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 is something there that will enhance the usability from the site for somebody 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 atmosphere or set happens so to speak. These graphics are not direct content and may not be considered essential, but they are essential in they help frame what is going on.

Try to alt-ify the second group as makes sense and is relevant. There may be instances when doing so might be annoying or detrimental to other users. Then avoid it.

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

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

III. Content and Function

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

Every graphic includes a reason behind standing on that page: because it either enhances the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what the page is attempting to describe. Knowing what the look 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 on the phone to someone. What would you say when encountering a particular image to make the page understandable to the listener?

Besides the alt attribute you have 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 through the user agent. Remember they're invisible and not shown as a "tooltip" when focus is received via the keyboard. (A lot for device independence). So make use of the title attribute just for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points towards the URL of a complete description of the image. If the information found in an image is essential to the concept of the page (i.e. some important content would be lost when the image was removed), an extended description than the "alt" attribute can reasonably display ought to be used. It may offer rich, expressive documentation of a visual image.

It ought to be used when alt and title are insufficient to embody the visual qualities of the image. As Clark [1] states, "A longdesc is really a long description of the image...The aim is by using any period of description necessary to impart the details of the graphic.

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

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

In many cases, you are best just choosing your gut instinct -- if it's not essential to incorporate 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 entire page to operate, then you've to add the alt text (or title or longdesc).

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

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

Image Search Engine Optimization Tips

Listed here are key steps in optimizing images:

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

Ensure that the text at the image that is highly relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose an excellent opportunity to help your website with your images searching engines. Use these steps to rank better on all the engines and drive more traffic for your site TODAY.

Website Optimization

Search engine marketers and usability engineers want to understand why we go to websites and what we do after we arrive at a search results page. They ask questions like:

• Are we satisfied with where we landed?


• Did the engine provide accurate results listings?


• Was our click choice a positive one?


• Did we stay on the site or leave?


• If we left, what search result better matched what we wanted to find?


• Was it the search results or did we have a bad experience with the web page we landed on?

Both search engines and human factors related fields study our intent.

Author Matt Bailey points to the depth of the importance of intent in his new book, Internet Marketing: An Hour a Day.

“Search engines are integrating more multimedia and allowing deeper access to documents and media earlier in the search process. They are attempting to determine the intent of the searcher and deliver results accordingly.”

What is our intent? Why do we visit the Internet? Why do we use search sites such as Google and Youtube?

In a 2009 ComScore study (comScore, 2009), they found that “Nearly one out of every ten minutes a person spends online around the world is spent on a Google site.” This includes the search engine itself, Youtube, which they own, Google books, email, Google reader and more.

Clearly, marketers want to be sure their clients’ websites perform well in Google’s web properties. Not doing so can wreck the success of a business.

Search Behavior = People Who Search

Shortly after search engines and information sites appeared on the Internet, case studies zeroed in to understand why, who, where, when, where and how humans use them. Hot on the trail, too, were analysts interested in learning about site traffic, popularity, rank and how to make money from it.

Many of you were guinea pigs during the 1990’s when web page backgrounds were gray with black text, and animation, 3D images, scrolling text boxes, rotating banners and blinking images were all part of a typical user interface.

As fun as all those things were to create (I loved animating images), web designers had to buckle to user preferences.

Search engines learned what we really come to the Internet for. Perhaps search engine sites are not suitable for certain subject types when it comes to information searches. In order to improve search engine design and SEO marketing efforts, we try to understand user intent and goals for searching.

It’s been well established at this point that search engines are used by us to find information. What kinds of information are most popular?

A recent study from Australia on who uses search engines found that half of search engine queries were looking for a particular website, while the other 50% were split between ecommerce and popular culture searches.

The study also pointed to what is referred to as “leisure searches”. The findings present the idea of search sites not only for information gathering or shortcuts to web sites, but they’re also sources for leisure, with one in six of all searches estimated as being leisure searches.

The Australian study offered some surprising details for anyone wondering what we’re searching for, by subject. Adult site searches fell into the middle, with ecommerce being second, edged under a tad by popular culture topics. Health, weather, contemporary affairs and government are the least popular searches.

The study stood out from others because it included and factored in the lifestyle of their participants. This is different than user testing labs or Eye tracking tests. To their surprise, lifestyle choices had no measurable impact on the type of search queries. In fact, new questions were raised on user –searcher behavior.

For example, do Internet users tend to go to particular trusted web sites for information on healthcare, computing and contemporary affairs, rather than use search engines? Does the distribution of the most ranked subjects searched for represent user interests or the suitability of search engines for looking up certain types of topics?

Another study (Broder, 2002) narrows search engine user behavior as informational, navigational, transactional and leisure. Half the searches in the study were navigational and one-third, transactional. Half of all searchers know where they want to go.

What Does This Mean To Search Marketers?

The most obvious is that it’s time to accept usability studies into marketing strategy. And, user experience professionals can no longer devalue the role of search marketers. Both camps provide essential skills and expertise needed for web site projects.

A lot of what’s happening on the Internet is relationship building. The global community wants this so badly they invented social networking sites and social marketing to drive interest and generate revenue from these new site sources.

Emotional web design is no accident. We’re emotional beings. Empathy makes us connect with others.

“In life and business, focus on creating win-win situations. Look beyond the immediate sale in order to connect with customers as people.” – Steve Harper, The Ripple Effect.

Despite our developing mental models and creating user personas, we remain on the edge of understanding who uses our stuff. Wouldn’t it be grand if stakeholders got out of their offices and actually interacted with the people who use their websites?

I’ve often wished I could video people who multi-task at home, with one hand on a laundry basket, an ear to the cell phone and a hand reaching for the laptop nearby. What does that busy person search for and how? Can we make their experience less stressful?

Division between marketing and user experience will dissolve as both approaches discover they need each others’ data to do a better job for their clients.

There’s no question that a passion for usability and search engine marketing leads to their fascinating cousins, like information architecture, findability, captology, analytics and neurology. There’s also no question that money can be made by optimizing for and advertising in search engines.

Studying user behavior is a win-win for search engine technology, search marketing and website usability and human factors.

Cited Resources:

Broder 2002; A Taxonomy of Web Search (PDF)

Waller, Vivienne 2010; Not Just Information: Who Searches for What on the Search Engine Google?

Opinions expressed in the article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Search Engine Land.

Related Topics: Just Behave

Note the Client companies are based in either the US or Canada and the “percentage of traffic outside key service areas” are based on each client’s target market.

For instance, if a client only services the US only, any traffic outside the US would be traffic outside their service area.

Evaluating Your Own Traffic For Relevance

To use our own web design and Internet marketing business as an example, we service both Canada and the US, but were getting 24% of our traffic from other international countries. Big portions of that traffic were companies looking to sell their services to us.

These international visitors would fill in our web forms and call us to inquire, untimely skewing our website analytics data by not giving us a real understanding of how our website was performing to quality prospects.

A solution had to be implemented to significantly reduce the amount of resources we were dedicating to people outside our service areas.

Ultimately, we didn’t want to be contacted from people we couldn’t help. The four possible solutions we considered were:

1. Create a custom report in Google Analytics to filter out the unwanted data (reporting related)


2. Adjust the content of our website (website related)


3. Block the traffic from specific Countries from viewing our website (server related)


4. Don’t change anything.

Option #1

When evaluating the first solution, creating a custom report to filter out this data in Google Analytics, this would clear up our analytics data. Implementing a filter would provide a more realistic picture of quality prospects we could service in our geographic area instead of those prospects or solicitors in other counties we don’t service.

This option didn’t run the risk of blocking any traffic or robots that we do want. It’s also a simple filter to add in Google Analytics. We set up another Profile with the country exclusions filters. A new Profile was the preferred approach, rather than going through the extra steps of creating Custom Reports.

However, setting up analytical filters doesn’t fully resolve the issue, since these visitors could still access our site, fill in web forms, and contact us, ultimately wasting resources that we could dedicate elsewhere.

It wouldn’t give us a true picture of what was going on. It also wouldn’t resolve the problem – we didn’t want to be contacted by companies from some outside countries.

Option #2

Updating the website content to say you only service a specific area is another solution that we considered.  This would inject more geo-targeted keywords into your site, which would help in local SEO. Adding a graphical map, drop-down options and/or links that allow the visitor to select their country would help qualify visitors.

Some of the downfalls of this option include spending a much higher amount of time to implement versus the other options. The success of this would also be dependent on how honest the visitor is.

Assuming visitors are reading your website content, adding geo-targeted keywords into your site would set a clearer expectation of service area delivery. However, this option still doesn’t resolve the issue of sharing contact information that allows unsolicited visitors to contact us and invalid web form data.

Option #3

How about blocking or filtering visitors automatically based on their IP address? When considering to block website visitors by IP it’s important to first evaluate the reliability of the IP address(es). The accuracy of an IP list is over 99.5% on a country level and 80% on a city level. The smaller the location, the less reliable the IP address.

Internet Service Providers change IP addresses they designate to customers. Some change them more frequently than others, which is why you want to keep the database of IPs updated. Scheduling a monthly update is typically a good routine if city level IP authentication is required. Country level is much more static.

The benefit of blocking the country via IP address would not only clean up analytical data, but also ensure our sales funnel was more efficient and provide a more accurate picture of real prospects in all systems. We needed to consider other issues in this approach.

One concern was the potential for a search crawler coming from an IP in the location we were planning on blocking. For example, there was a possibility that Google’s search crawler would also be blocked if it came from the same country. The implementation of this option is more technical. One would need to obtain a list of IP addresses for the desired locations and update the websites htaccess file.

In our example, the inquiries from some countries became so frequent that we couldn’t ignore it any longer. After much debate, we decided to ban the countries; however, we would only ban one at a time to evaluate the effects.

For instance, one of the largest traffic sources, accounting for approximately 20% of this, was from India, a market we don’t service. These Indian visitors were companies looking to sell their services to us.

We executed the ban in the polite Canadian way. We also implemented the Google Analytics profile with the country filter to monitor future website statistics versus the past.

Those visitors that came from our blocked list would land on a different page that displayed a nice message. It read: “Thank you for visiting. However, we don’t provide services in your area.”

In sum, the tests have gone over very well. Banning the country from our website has significantly cut down the number of unsolicited calls, emails and web form requests. It also gave us a much more accurate picture of how our website was performing within our own target market and service area.

Considerations For Blocking Traffic By Location

If you’re considering this strategy, some factors to consider when filtering visitors include:

• Why do you want to filter website traffic?


• Which locations would you want to filter?


• How much traffic do you currently get from locations outside your service area?


• How important is this traffic?


• How to funnel visitors outside your service areas?


• The accuracy of the IP addresses locations in mind.


• Effects of non-human visitors.

A few months after we implemented this, we received a direct mail package that contained pens with our logo on them from a company that wished to sell us branded pens.

Guess what it said under our logo? “Thank you for visiting. However, we don’t provide services in your area.” We had a good laugh. Someone obviously didn’t read what they printed. It was evidence that our website block was working and a nice souvenir.

The key takeaway, as always, is monitor your traffic and conversions. Track where your quality traffic is coming from and decide for yourself if you should block the traffic of certain countries. Make sure to proceed with caution to ensure that you are not missing some opportunities.

Think outside of the box for other ideas of how you can use that traffic. Perhaps referring the traffic to a partner or creating a unique service for specific markets is another option to consider.

Opinions expressed in the article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Search Engine Land.

Related Topics: 100% Organic - Search Engine Optimization Tips | SEO: General

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Bench Craft Company on the focus of vacations

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.

There has been a lot of talk as to whether or not social media is the front runner in another inflated internet bubble waiting to burst, leaving users “virtually” friendless and clueless. Will everyone be out of the loop, with no one keeping track of daily deals, happenings or status updates? Warren Buffet confirmed this fear stating that although it’s not as big as the dot com bubble, social media is not long term by any means. However, industry trends and buyer behaviors are stating otherwise.

Facebook has proven beneficial to marketing efforts for B2C companies, but B2B marketing has struggled to find its footing on the platform. That’s where LinkedIn has emerged as the go-to medium for B2B marketers.

A recent study done by BtoB Magazine, showed that when asked “Which of the following social media methods does your company currently use for your B2B marketing (i.e. not personal use)” 72% of B2B marketers said LinkedIn. After reaching more than 100 million users, LinkedIn has solidified its niche as Facebook in a business suit, and B2B companies have taken notice.

The 2011 State of Inbound Marketing (an annual report done by HubSpot, an inbound marketing software company) found that 61% of B2B marketers who participated in the survey acquired a customer through LinkedIn. The targeted and measurable aspect of inbound marketing is what makes it so attractive to smart business owners who are tired of spending money on marketing with no proof that it’s working. Former Chief Marketing Officer of McDonald’s, M. Lawrence Light said, “It no longer makes economic sense to send an advertising message to the many, in hopes of persuading the few.”

Continued on the next page


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Georgia Bulldogs outfielder Johnathan Taylor has partial paralysis

Georgia outfielder Johnathan Taylor, who broke his neck while colliding with a teammate in a March 6 game against Florida State, is paralyzed from the waist down but showing signs of improvement, his doctors said.

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

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Video calls were a mainstay of classic sci-fi films, and even today there’s something almost magical about seeing your friends and family on the screen of a portable device. Video calling has been around for some time, but it’s only really in the past year or so that its got more attention among regular users. That’s thanks in no small part to Apple and FaceTime, as found on the iPhone 4, iPad 2 and other gadgets from the company’s range. Read on as we give FaceTime the full SlashGear 101 treatment!

So Apple invented video calling, right?

No, not at all, though they did do a lot to make it easier to use – just as long as you have the right hardware. Video calling is actually a part of the 3G standard, which – if the carrier and whatever phone you’re using supports it, which isn’t the case in the US – has been available since around 2003. Unfortunately a combination of high pricing, poor understanding by users, mediocre quality and patchy reliability meant this form of video calling has never really taken off.

Apple’s FaceTime takes advantage of the company’s tight control over the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and MacBook software, which has allowed it to polish the video calling experience to the point where everyday use is possible. Now FaceTime is available to anybody at the touch of an on-screen button.

Do I need an Apple phone to use FaceTime?

Not necessarily a phone, but definitely something with the Apple logo. FaceTime was first supported on the iPhone 4, which was Apple’s first mobile device with a front-facing camera (i.e. one that looks at the user, rather than out the back of the handset). The latest iPod touch and iPad 2 both have front-facing cameras and FaceTime support as well, and Apple has released a FaceTime app for its Mac and MacBook computers so they can join in the fun as well. FaceTime comes free on the mobile devices and the very latest Macs, and is a $0.99 download from the Mac App Store for earlier Mac owners.

Okay, so how do I use it?

It’s pretty simple, just as Apple was aiming for. On the iPhone you make a voice call in the normal way and then tap the FaceTime button on-screen to switch to video. On the iPod touch and iPad 2, you start a video call in the FaceTime app. You’ll need an Apple account in order to make and receive calls, since that’s used as the “phone number” for devices other than the iPhone 4.

Currently, FaceTime video calls can only be made when you have a WiFi connection, not when you’re using the mobile network for data. That’s a limitation Apple has put in place itself, though the company has said it is working on removing it in the future.

I’m not into Apple, can I video call with something else?

You certainly can, though the process gets a bit trickier. Various apps are available for Android and other mobile phone platforms which promise video calls, sometimes over not only WiFi but the 3G mobile networks too. That means you can make video calls when away from your home network or a WiFi hotspot, as long as your signal is strong enough.

Skype, Fring and Qik are all among the companies offering video calling apps, though their effectiveness often varies on a phone-by-phone basis. Not all phones have front-facing cameras, either, though they’re becoming more common on the latest handsets. A future SlashGear 1010 feature will look at the best video calling apps if FaceTime isn’t your thing.

Apple has said it plans to open up FaceTime to other manufacturers, so that non-Apple phones can make and receive calls too, but so far there’s no sign of that actually happening.

More information at Apple’s FaceTime page.

China is a notoriously tough market for American brands. The last few years has seen tech giants like Google struggle to do business due to restrictive censorship and retail giants like Best Buy and Home Depot have found that heavy price competition makes it hard to gain a toehold. Yet, despite the conventional wisdom, Apple’s business in China is booming and it’s not lower prices but better presentation that’s driving their success.

The Chinese economy is having some of its best years ever due to the rising world demand for consumer electronics, much of which is manufactured in China’s city-sized factories. The Mercury News reports that this has led to the average Chinese citizen being more flush with cash than ever before and ready to spend it on what would previously be deemed as unaffordable luxury.

Paul French of Shanghai-based Access Asia indicates that the increase in middle class affluence is behind the increase in purchasing power. “There is now enough of an urban middle class with enough money to afford Apple products. Five years ago — or even two or three years ago — there weren’t enough of those people.”

Five years ago, Apple didn’t have a retail store in China, now it has four, including a stunning split-level glass and metal flagship store in Sanlitun, an area of Beijing known more for its nightlife than its retail outlets. Those stores aren’t barely surviving either, with $2.6 billion in revenue this year, four times what we saw last year from Apple in China. This should mean that Apple is fighting the price war well in China, offering its products for less than they can be purchased in the US, but that’s not actually true. In fact, Apple sells a comparatively specced 13-inch Macbook Air for $180 more in China than it does stateside.

This success seems to fly in the face of conventional wisdom, typically premium products have not sold well in cost conscious China. Some, like Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, say that Apple will have to eventually compete on price or risk losing the Chinese consumer. “The iPhone is going to be huge in China. That’s a given.” he tells the Mercury News. “But if Apple wants it to flow out across China, it has to come up with lower price points.”

Yet Apple shows no signs of slowing down in the Chinese market, which is projected to account for 10 percent of Apple’s revenue within 5 years.

When asked, locals said that in a country where the people like to try products out before they purchase them, Apple is doing the best job of presenting those products. Apple’s retail stores offer the Chinese consumer a chance to test the products in a beautiful and visually stimulating atmosphere and those efforts are paying off with big sales numbers. This kind of attention to the senses and emotions of the consumer wasn’t pioneered by Apple of course, but they are one of the first major companies to bring that kind of experience to China’s city centers in a big way.

This difference in the way that the products are presented is doing its job in separating Apple’s products from the rest of the pack almost everywhere that its retail stores are located, but nowhere is that effect felt more than in China. A country where consumers are hungry for polished products presented in a stimulating atmosphere and they finally have the cash to afford them.

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Next, Odeo moved into an office and started hiring more employees – including a quiet, on-again, off-again Web designer named Jack Dorsey and an engineer named Blaine Cook. Evan Williams became Odeo's CEO.

By July 2005, Odeo had a product: a platform for podcasting.

But then, in the fall of 2005, "the shit hit the fan," says George Zachary, the Charles River Ventures partner who led the firm's investment in Odeo.

That was when Apple first announced iTunes – which included a podcasting platform built into every one of the 200 million iPods Apple would eventually sell. Around the same time, Odeo employees, from Glass and Williams on down, began to realize that they weren't listening to podcasts as much as they thought they would be.

Says Cook: "We built [Odeo], we tested it a lot, but we never used it."

Suddenly, says Zachary, "the company was going sideways."

By this point, Odeo had 14 people working full time – including now-CEO Evan Williams and a friend of his from Google, Christopher "Biz" Stone.

Williams decided Odeo's future was not in podcasting, and later that year, he told the company's employees to start coming up with ideas for a new direction Odeo could go.  The company started holding official "hackathons" where employees would spend a whole day working on projects. They broke off into groups.

Odeo cofounder Noah Glass gravitated toward Jack Dorsey, whom Glass says was "one of the stars of the company."  Jack had an idea for a completely different product that revolved around "status"--what people were doing at a given time.

"I got the impression he was unhappy with what he was working on –  a lot of cleanup work on Odeo."

"He started talking to me about this idea of status and how he was really interested in status," Glass says. "I was trying to figure out what it was he found compelling about it."

"There was a moment when I was sitting with Jack and I said, 'Oh, I do see how this could really come together to make something really compelling.' We were sitting on Mission St. in the car in the rain. We were going out and I was dropping him off and having this conversation. It all fit together for me."

One day in February 2006, Glass, Dorsey, and a German contract developer Florian Weber presented Jack's idea to the rest of the company.  It was a system where you could send a text to one number and it would be broadcasted out to all of your friends: Twttr.

Noah Glass says it was he who came up with the name "Twttr." "I spent a bunch of time thinking about it," he says.  Eventually, the name would become Twitter.

After that February presentation to the company, Evan Williams was skeptical of Twitter's potential, but he put Glass in charge of the project. From time to time, Biz Stone helped out Glass's Twitter team.

And it really was Glass's team, by the way. Not Jack Dorsey's.

Everyone agrees that original inkling for Twitter sprang from Jack Dorsey's mind. Dorsey even has drawings of something that looks like Twitter that he made years before he joined Odeo. And Jack was obviously central to the Twitter team.

But all of the early employees and Odeo investors we talked to also agree that no one at Odeo was more passionate about Twitter in the early days than Odeo's cofounder, Noah Glass.

"It was predominantly Noah who pushed for the project to be started," says Blaine Cook, who describes Glass as Twitter's "spiritual leader."

"He definitely had a vision for what it was," says Ray McClure.

"There were two people who were really excited [about Twitter,]" concurs Odeo investor George Zachary. "Jack and Noah Glass. Noah was fanatically excited about Twitter. Fanatically! Evan and Biz weren't at that level. Not remotely."

Zachary says Glass told him, "You know what's awesome about this thing? It makes you feel like you're right with that person. It's a whole emotional impact. You feel like you're connected with that person."

At one point the entire early Twitter service was running on Glass's laptop. "An IBM Thinkpad," Glass says, "Using a Verizon wireless card."

"It was right there on my desk. I could just pick it up and take it anywhere in the world. That was a really fun time."

Glass insists that he is not Twitter's sole founder or anything like it.  But he feels betrayed that his role has basically been expunged from Twitter history.  He says Florian Weber doesn't get enough credit, either.

"Some people have gotten credit, some people haven't. The reality is it was a group effort. I didn't create Twitter on my own. It came out of conversations."

"I do know that without me, Twitter wouldn't exist. In a huge way."

By March of 2006, Odeo had a working Twitter prototype. In July, TechCrunch covered Twttr for the first time. That same summer, Odeo employees obsessed with Twitter were racking up monthly SMS bills totalling hundreds of dollars. The company agreed to pay those bills for the employees. In August, a small earthquake shook San Francisco and word quickly spread through Twitter – an early 'ah-ha!' moment for users and company-watchers alike. By that fall, Twitter had thousands of users.

By this point, engineer Blaine Cook says it began to feel like there were "two companies" at Odeo – the one "Noah and Florian and Jack and Biz were working on" (Twitter) and Odeo. Twitter, says Ray McClure, "was definitely the thing you wanted to be working on."

The PPIC study Kolko co-authored sheds light on why historically California’s economy has grown on pace with the national economy even though it usually ranks low in surveys of states whose laws are favorable to business.

While the research suggests many factors that determine long-term economic growth lie beyond the reach of policy makers, Kolko cautioned that policy could still someday trump warm, sunny days on the Pacific coast.

“If California loses its ability to incubate and encourage fast growing industries to be here, that would be unfortunate” in the long term, she said.

Kolko identified two policies in particular, a simpler tax structure rather than a lower tax rate, and a lower share of government expenditure on welfare and transfer payments, as means of hastening economic expansion.

(© 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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Roofing Companies Vancouver - 5 Questions to Think about

Roofing Vancouver - Frequently Asked Questions

1. Repair or Replace?

There's no opinion like an expert opinion. Most contractors provides 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 get your homes roof fixed to help you compare costs and opinions.

2. Beauty versus Practicality?

Discuss this with your spouse or partner. (The kids could care less...at least the children.) Truth is, nobody wants an ugly roof just like nobody wants to be viewed with bed hair. If you've got a good quality roof and you just have to do the repair, it's worth it to pay the price of the initial shingle rather than doing patchwork. A roof replacement doesn't happen very often (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 go home.

3. Must i replace the roof in order to sell the home for more?

Think about this very carefully prior to making a decision. With respect to the roofing material you choose, a new roof lasts anywhere from twenty, fifty, to one-hundred years! This means you need to look into 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 quality is what makes the roof keep going longer, but when you're not planning to stay in your current home throughout your life, the larger expense might not be worth neglect the. Although a brand new roof can enhance the worth of your selling price, the increase might not be enough to cover your investment and that's bound to hurt your wallet.

4. Could it be advisable that i can repair the rooftop myself?

Sure it is. But before you need to do, consult a specialist first. You can do it yourself, however, you shouldn't be considered a complete ‘lone ranger.' With respect to the extent of your repair, you might or may not convince you. Either way, it helps to get a professional eye on 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 and effort, sweat, and money to be mister or miss fix-it.

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

Weather can cause delays from days to weeks. Most people prepare yourself to have their roof replaced in the summer when they have a friend is going to be home throughout the day for a solid fourteen days. Once you have this era in mind, make a call to some trusted contractor months in advance to obtain a quote. Some companies get booked up fast and odds are, they're the most reputable. Planning ahead from the summer also gives you time for you to discuss with many compare costs...especially if you need to have the roof done by a particular date.

 

The Top Roofing Contractor In Vancouver!

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

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

For over a century Crown Roofing has been the roofer of choice among our Vancouver neighbors. We provide 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 support.

YOUR Vancouver ROOF DESERVES NO LESS!

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

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS.

One reason Crown Roofing has been probably the most successful roofing contractor in Vancouver is our commitment to our neighbors. We treat your home as though it were our own and we were building a roof to protect our own family. That's what neighbors do, and you will rely on Crown Roofing being here to support you and back our work. After all, 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 the roof. Make sure you get the very best roof for your Vancouver home, at the cost effective. We build roofs to last!

 

Tacoma Roofer: Help your house be Beautiful

Very few people view the worth of a solid roof, your knowledgeable Tacoma Roofing contractor does. From first hand experience, they will be able to tell you the reason why you require a strong, secure, and leak-free roof in your home.

Your local Tacoma Roofer is knowledgeable how important an economic investment your property is for you, especially since it is a long term one. Your home may have been damaged slowly through the years and you have to take steps to minimize this damage. For a number of people, keeping their house beautiful is another few pride. You will find those too who'd prefer to turn their property right into a economical and efficient living place. Your roof is a valuable part of your house and contributes to each of the aspects mentioned previously. For this reason, you need to employ the expertise of qualified a Tacoma Roofing company.

Types of Roofs installed by a Tacoma Roofer

One of the more prevalent kinds 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 looked after by a trusted Tacoma Roofing company. It's vital 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 Roofing company to consider a look at your homes roof to see if there are any issues or potential issues with it. If you will find, they might be in a position to tell you how to approach them.

A Tacoma Roofing contractor Helps 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 cases you might want to replace them completely. Usually, whenever your gutters show signs and symptoms of trouble, your homes roof must also 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 all too often, or there are leaks along the walls of your home, it might imply 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 homes roof, and these damages can be lasting. An educated Tacoma Roofer will tell you that birds, mice, and other kinds of rodents often build nest within the debris that collects on the roof. While these nests may look rather innocent, they are 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 Roofer will claim that you inspect your homes roof for just about any signs of debris or damage.

Reverse Damages by using a Tacoma Roofer

However high quality the roof might be, it will eventually wear down with time. There are shingles which are known as "25 year" or "30 year" shingles, but those numbers are only related to warranty made by the manufacturers. They hardly ever last that long. Realistically speaking, "25 year" shingles won't last more than fifteen to twenty years. In an area that is prone to storms, shingles or the entire roof should be replaced every ten years. Having a Tacoma Roofing company, the cost is going to be less than what you believe.

If there you lose any shingles, or there's some damage to them, a Tacoma Roofing contractor can help you. Damaged shingles can lead to indoor leaks, since the substrate from the roof becomes subjected to the sun and rain. Shingles that are loose or broken can slip off and pose a potential hazard to people standing below. Missing shingles create a gap that allows rain, wind, ice, and debris to develop under the adjoining shingles, which creates a "domino effect" that affects other shingles plus they become loose or broken. A comprehensive investigation is going to be made by the local Tacoma Roofer, should you give them a call track of your suspicions of loose or missing shingles.

Your Tacoma Roofing contractor will be in a position to inform you what the best option is for your homes roof. If your roof is not in a good condition, it is advised you have it replaced completely. The Tacoma Roofing contractor may take you thru the different roofing options available for you which will fit your requirements as well as your budget.

Tacoma Roofer: Enhancing your Home's Efficiency

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

First of all, inspect your roof thoroughly for any and all kind of damage, prior to the beginning of the new season. 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 that last part, you will need the assistance of the local Tacoma Roofing contractor. It may be quite dangerous to climb to the roof of your house. This is where the contractor from Tacoma Roofing company is available 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 will be able to point to problems that you have to keep an eye on and problems you may not have spotted.

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

Tacoma Roofing company: Someone You are able to Rely on
In the event that you know or suspect that there is a problem, your Tacoma Roofing contractor ought to be contacted. They are able to use their knowledge and expertise to get your home in ace condition simply by working on the roof. Your roof deserves attention. So give them a call today, to enable them to conclude caring for your roof.

 

What is Distinction between Commercial Roofing Companies From Residential Roofing Companies

If you are considering hiring a roofing company to re roof your house or building then you can be wondering what are the differences are between residential roofing companies and commercial roofing companies. To start with, the one big difference is that often times an industrial roofing company might have signed an agreement with and become obligated to a roofing union in able to work on union commercial jobs.

If this is the situation then their labor costs will prohibit them from focusing on non union residential jobs. Beyond that, if a commercial roofing company hasn't signed an agreement having 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 in general tend to run smaller companies and hence, are more in a position to bid competitively on residential jobs, which are usually smaller than 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 that actually does the job on the building.

Also, liability insurance for commercial roofing is more epensive along with a larger bond is required for a commercial roofing work which will make it not cost effective for a commercial roofer to complete residential roofing jobs.

Still one more factor is the fact that commercial jobs can operate on a tighter time frame for just about any number of reasons, requiring a commercial contractor to employ a larger crew or crews which again makes smaller jobs less profitable for them.

 

Distinction between Commercial Roofing and Residential Roofing

Are you aware that the roof of a building has a huge impact on the entire structure itself? Damage caused to roofs because of natural or another disasters causes a considerable lack of property everywhere. The kind of materials used to construct the rooftop which should be sturdy and long-lasting, the way where the roof has been installed and even its timely maintenance are very crucial. There are two types of roofs which are utilized on all the buildings that we see around us: commercial and residential. Even though it may seem that commercial roofing is performed only for businesses or offices and residential roofing is performed for apartments and houses, in reality the differences tend to be more complicated than that.

Residential roofing is usually completed by just one hired contractor but commercial roofing usually takes a whole team to complete the job. This is because an industrial roof is commonly larger when it comes to square feet than a residential roof.
Commercial roofs need to be made carefully keeping the nature and reason for your building in mind. For instance, 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 usually do not have such components other than a chimney or two at most.
Commercial roofs tends to be flat in design to accommodate further changes at a later period, whereas most residential roofs have peaks along with other architectural features like roof gardens.
Commercial roofing is a lot 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 a residential roof in which the repair or replacement work could be carried out a short time. This is another reason why the gear used for residential roofs is often smaller and less costly too.
Commercial roof installations have a extended period to complete compared to residential roof installations and are usually constructed in large sections. In this phase however, it is important to ensure that there are no leakages, cracks or other visible wear and tear signs as it can cause considerable damage to the entire building.
You should install the right roof for a building depending on its purpose. Ensure that you hire a construction company that uses first class materials and has the best equipment for the job or your investment risk turning to be a huge loss later.

 

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

If a clients are 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. For example, a roofing job can often be disruptive for the operation of economic as usual. Because of this, it might be essential for the business to be temporarily shut down, or the roofing to occur after business hours have ended. A roofing contractor 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 find out who other businesses in the region are working through. Obviously, this article not be helpful whether it comes as an indicator from competitors, but you will find circumstances by which it's not too difficult to locate these details from suppliers or retailers. Since roofing is not an industry-specific service, this post is easily available.

It's a good idea for any business to get touching at least three commercial roofing contractors to create bids about the price. In this way, the business can often obtain a better price. It is also vital that you make sure that each one of the roofing contractors is licensed and bonded. This information are available by permitting touching the state contractor's board. This also makes it possible to determine whether there have been any claims filed from the company previously.

When examining bids, it is only as important to look at what services are being offered and which products is going to be used as it is to check out the overall cost. The prices can vary quite drastically, but as tempting as possible to go for the lowest bid, this isn't always your best option. In many cases, more costs now will mean fewer costs over time as a result of an undesirable roofing job. To further investigate the quality of the work, it's a wise decision to check on with the Bbb in order to find out if the company continues to be accredited, and if it's not, to a minimum of see what its rating is.

 

Selecting a Commercial Roofing Contractor

When you are 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 may be harder to operate on the business during business hours so either the business needs 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 considering to do the job ready to operate around your schedule constrictions that might involve working weekends or evenings?

When you begin your research for any roofing contractor not only do you have to answer those questions however, you also want to find someone that will perform a top quality job with no lot of time delays. Going about finding someone can feel like an obstacle in itself but there are some ways to make the search easier.

Ask friends and family for referrals and try to find at least three contractors to provide you with written bids on your job. Before you go any further you have to make sure that the contractors you are considering are fully licensed and bonded. A simple search using the state contractor's board will verify if your roofer is licensed and when there are any past judgments or claims against their license.

When you select 3 or 4 roofers to put bids, you need to get ready for that bids to become widely varied. Roofers will have brand preferences that will vary and could factor in more or less than the next guy for a labor estimate. The more detailed an itemized bid may be the more helpful it will likely be for you to see in which the cost will be incurred. Don't, however, pick a roofer based solely about the bid price. Any low ball bids might be tempting to consider, but when they're low because of poor quality workman ship it may not be worthwhile in the end.

As the saying goes, you generally get what you purchase, so if you can afford a mid-priced bid it's always a good idea to increase within your budget rather than down. You also should select your roofer based on how professional they were and just how comfortable you anticipate you'll be working with them.

Finally your cost will vary depending on what type of roofing material you choose as well as the cost to haul your old roof to the landfill. Should you be looking for places to cut corners on 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 that long term, as well as on commercial buildings they can be really low maintenance. Plus since they can be put along with an existing roof, you don't have to possess the old one removed and hauled away, which can make a big effect on your cost.

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

 

Seattle Roofing Contractors - How to locate The Best

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

Harsh Weather

How come roofing contractors essential within this part of the country? Because Seattle is usually bombarded by rain and other harsh weather conditions, you'll need a roof that may withstand all the forces of nature. With this thought, you need people who be aware of Seattle weather best, and who know what materials can best get into your roof in order for it to last far longer in the region. In addition to all this, you have to blend with the remainder 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 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 value for your money without wondering when the contractor will suddenly run away by using it and then leave you roof-less.

Why the Contractor Model Works

If you want to put up your roof on your own, you'll have to purchase a whole lot of materials, secure permits and licenses, and obtain materials that are suited to help you stay safe against harsh extremes of Seattle weather. This means that if you're a DIY sort of guy or gal, you'll have to undergo a good deal of legwork in order to get the task done.

On the other hand, a Seattle roofer can do all of the jobs for you and provide a package that can help you save time and money. Because contractors operate under licenses and purchase materials in bulk, 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 prosper on the roofing job, they are able to showcase their roofing contractors association; if they do poorly, they can ruin the trustworthiness of their roofing contractors association and keep other contractors within the association from receiving targeted roofing jobs. There is lots of pressure to do well, to help you be confident that prefer a roofing job done in Seattle, you can aquire a contractor from a roofing association to help you out.

For example, Seattle Roof Brokers operates with over five hundred roofing contractors within the Puget Sound. This group has over fifty years of roofing experience and experience dealing with Seattle roofing contractors, so it will know what type of roofing you would like. The Roof Brokers group can hook you up using the contractor that you need so you don't have to search for contractors individually.

What Should You Demand out of your Contractor?

When you finally obtain a contractor in the Seattle area, you must do lots of background research on the roofing contractors themselves. Ask for a summary of previous companies or persons that the contractor worked with in order to get a clear look at the roofing contractor's work ethics and roof quality. Your roofing contractor must also possess the appropriate working licenses and city licenses needed by the Seattle city government.

Select a Seattle roofing contractors that insures its employees, and that has courteous workers who will respect your opinions and ensure that the needs are met. Ensure that you obtain the best value for your money: if you are unsatisfied using the job, you have to be guaranteed either money back, or perhaps a free, new roof. Moreover, additionally you need the workers to find the job done promptly, so be strict together with your deadlines - and find a contractor that's as strict as you are.

You need guarantees and warranties in your roof, so look for a contractor that may meet your financial allowance and roofing needs. If you achieve touching good Seattle roofing contractors, you may be guaranteed a great roof along with a better house in this fantastic city.

Choosing the proper Roofer Company for Replacing Your Roof

The shingles inside your roof degrade and you're simply minded to find a roofing contractor to replace the them. Perhaps you have already called a few and therefore are evaluating which contractor to use for your upcoming roof repair. How can you choose the best contractor for caring for your roof? Listed here are a number of things you should consider when looking for the best roofing contractor.

Where is the roofing contractor located? You should hire a roofing contractor that is local. Chances are you will receive a higher level and services information when the roofing company is located near your home or comes with an office near your residence.
References. To look for the toughness for the contractor, references should be provided of their previous customers who're willing to vouch that excellent service was received. This should not be the only factor in choosing your future roofer as some may claim they value the privacy of their clients and don't desire to bother them. If this is the situation, request business related references. The locations that supply 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 large number of issues that can arise throughout the progress of the roofing replacement. Ask what their process is perfect for handling complaints if they arise. It is also an excellent idea to receive a past client reference who were built with a complaint which was resolved towards the satisfaction of the client.
Terms of payment. Do you know the the payment schemes for the job? What is the deposit 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 highly recommended that full payment is not made until following the entire job is finished.
Written contract. All the roofing replacement should be place in an itemized 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 quite a bit of money to repair. Should this happen on your roofing replacement, you will feel a whole lot better understanding that your roofing contractor 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 on the materials being installed. Request a duplicate from the warranty.
Length of Time in Business How long has got the company you're interviewing been in business? A brief amount of time in business may reflect instability. If the contractor has been around business under 3 years, verify just how long they've been in the industry. A new contractor might have many years experience working on roofs before they form their own business. Seek a business that's been around for three years, or where the contractor has already established a lot more years performing roofing replacements. This again shouldn't be the only real factor, all of us have to begin sometime. Balance this with referrals and also the other points raised in the following paragraphs.
Appropriate Permits. A Seattle roofing contractor ought to know what permits are required for repairing your roof. They must be conscious of how you can obtain these permits for you. Ask the contractor whether or not they will have the permits necessary to repair the roof.
Liability. If a worker becomes injured, who is responsible for the worker's compensation? When the contractor's equipment damages your house, who's liable 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 whether the contractor is going to be using subcontractors. If so, 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 need to verify whether each subcontractor is also insured so you are not held liable for their accidents.
Pending Legal Actions. It is important to verify whether there are any legal actions against the contractor. This is not merely necessary for verifying if the roofing company is legitimate (credible roofing companies should not have to defend themselves in the court), it is also important just because a lost lawsuit could cause the contractor to visit bankrupt. If you have designed a substantial deposit for services immediately before the company goes bankrupt, you could lose thousands of dollars and never have your roofing completed.
Material Disposal. Who is accountable for disposing of the waste generated from the roof being replaced? Will your contractor handle every aspect of this? Can there be an additional cost for disposing of this waste?
NRCA Membership. Membership in local or national roofing associations, like the NRCA, shows resolve for staying current with the very best means of roof replacement and maintenance. Find a roofing contractor having a high standard of education regarding their trade.
Replacing your roof is really a significant investment. It makes good sense to inquire about serious questions before using a roofing contractor. Here are some more tips that you ought to consider when choosing the very best roofing contractor for the upcoming roofing replacement.

Payment. Do not create a full payment for services unless all work is finished.
Inspection. Do not create a full payment without doing your final inspection of services rendered.
Workers liens. Do not fully pay for the roofing replacement job until worker's lien releases happen to be obtained.
Oral Agreements. No agreement ought to be made verbally without backing it up on paper. Every point that are important to you ought to be produced in writing.

 

For the SEO needs, you can check out Vancouver website design and Vancouver Search engine optimization company

It is true how the worldwide web is among the most biggest financial market nowadays. Practically everything is anchored on the web. Currently, there are many than 182 million sites online and still counting. If each of these websites offers possibilities to generate income, think of the limitless opportunities that may be based in the internet. Moreover, using the emergence of sites, the requirement for internet hosting and Search| Engine Optimization is significantly defined.

Search Engine Optimization is actually the operation of improving the visibility of your site. As a result, if you would like your internet site to be visible to visitors, you need to search for SEO Company. The optimization strategy considers how search spiders work and what individuals 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 connection between any particular engine. Put simply, organic SEO uses natural strategies in achieving search results ranking. While there are two camps that search optimization companies may fall to, and these are the 'White Hat' and also the 'Black Hat', organic SEO could not fall under the 'Black Hat' camp.

Organic search engine optimization is a highly specialized and complex practice that may literally dictate the success or failure of the web business. Since search sites often modify their algorithms, organic SEO isn't super easy whatsoever. When search bots modify their algorithms, factors that enable your web site to appear before clients are decayed also. Thus, so that you can cope with these changes, SEO tactics and methods must be employed.

It is usually ethical to use search engines engine optimization since search sites nowadays have become extremely advanced that they can easily determine if an online site is trying to control their search indexes. Thus it's empirical to use search engine marketing practices which are carried out wherein appear natural.

The approaches employed by organic search engine optimization and artificial SEO are really significantly different. Basically, organic SEO uses content in comparison to artificial SEO's technical loopholes. Moreover, natural search engine marketing provides attracting links rather than linking schemes employed by artificial SEO. Natural SEO also creates valuable resource in contrast to artificial SEO's algorithm chasing. Effortlessly these, you can clearly see why search engines engine optimization is better than artificial search engine marketing. Although the latter might be harder and complicated, it makes favorable results that are good for any site. Fortunately, there are tons of Vancouver SEO companies today offering the organic method in affordable rates and packages.

Seo Appears to the picture

At one time when search engine marketing was actually not essential.

Even as late like a decade ago, in the event you made a Web site anywhere, Google indexed it and you gained visibility in its search results. Your page has been in one of the free "estates" where anybody could give a page and Google didn't mind. It could also provide 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 get to the Google index; exactly the same fate is likely for anyone pages you add in over a free-for-all website. And also "proper" websites with your own personal url of your website did not achieve visibility among the proliferating sites in millions.

These wouldn't normally have mattered, aside from one thing. It absolutely was Google that provided the bread and butter for your an incredible number of smaller businesses that could not afford expensive marketing campaigns. If your site was one of the top few sites the appeared before a searcher's eyes when see your face looked for your product or service, you've got hundreds as well as 1000s of visitors, lots of whom even bought your products.

Search engine optimization (SEO) entered the scene. Search engine specialists "reverse-engineered" to recognize the standards that Google consider for showing websites at the top of its serp's pages. These factors were then consciously integrated into your internet pages with the hope that Google will show your internet site one of the primary ten results it showed on the first page.

As more and more of your competitors adopted search engine optimization practices, things became difficult again. Your situation began to slip in case your competitors did the SEO better. SEO battles became serious fights with every dirty trick working.

There was "black hat" SEO practitioners who showed one page to find engines and the other to human visitors. As engines like google are not bothered with readability, you could 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 search engines. Google changed its ranking algorithms regularly to work around practices that allowed low value content to look at the top of its serp's. All things considered, Google's success depended on providing value to searchers, not merchants. And SEO practitioners created new tricks.

We'll examine seo inside a number of articles, starting off having an beauty at on-line or Web marketing.

 

To your SEO needs, you can examine out vancouver web design and Vancouver Seo agency.

 

Cedar Roofing: Many Benefits

Cedar shakes are only concerning the most great looking shakes currently available. Frequently designed from red-colored cedar about the coniferous forests of northwestern United States, they're exactly the best roofer materials for proprietors preferring supplying their roofs a natural look.

Unique cedar shingles are naturally resistant to sun and rain, this is the key answer why cedar shingles are widely-used generally throughout various climatic conditions. They're generally obtainable in a few specific qualities. A minumum of one is the shingle crafted from red cedar even though the other is produced out of the bright white variety. Red cedar shakes are made from tight-grained particles that will be previously saturated with tannic acidity that experts say is surely an all-natural additive. Red cedar shingles that will be drizzled with creosote to avoid corrosion and so are desirable to homeowners simply because they put in a rich and unique look to one's property or home.

You need to observe that red cedars usually change dark-colored if exposed continuously to seaside weather. Consequently, sea side homes have to have white cedar shakes. Red cedar shingles generally are a many more expensive when compared with white cedar types, despite the fact that 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 suitable for bungalows and bungalows which have been integrated Nantucket design.

Through the years, classic cedar shakes have lost in a point to synthetic shingles that emulate the cedar appear. Superior systems are utilized to make these kinds of shingles possess a for an extended period life-span in comparison with unique cedar shingles. Most include advanced UV inhibitors and also have about 5 decades of steady guarantee. These shingles are often great insulators and many superior ones offer a chilly inside during summer months and a warmer inside during harsh winters.

Cedar shakes, mostly accessible in honey, cinnamon, and silvery gray colors, need several level of repairs and maintenance. They might require initial treatment solution ahead of installation. White cedar shakes by way of example, may be addressed with bleaching oil which must be done virtually every six to seven years to improve their durability.

Cedar shakes and cedar shingles are generally CCA treated or not CCA treated. CCA stands for chromated copper arsenate. CCA can be a chemical that stops the increase of mold, mold and fungus so it assists in keeping insects from eating away your own wonderful cedar roof. CCA cedar will make your homes roof keep going longer, but CCA just isn't A hearth TREAMENT. Cedar that's been fire treated can be acquired, however your roofing company have to special order it. CCA treated cedar shingles cost 15 - 20% a lot more than non-CCA cedar. Most cedar roofs usually are not CCA treated.

Cedar shakes and cedar shingles are fantastic, plus they are additionally a good purchase. Information of terms such as CCA, advanced quality, Number 1, blue label and black label will help 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 more. Elite Roofing & Small remodels, LLC is associated with the nation's Roofers Association.

You can learn more about cedar shingles, and get more articles and resources about cedar shakes at cedar roof shingles and shakes website.

 

Cedar Shingle Roof Vs Asphalt Shingle Roof

A cedar shingle roof remains highly coveted by homeowners. It is among the oldest roofing products which includes stayed constantly used inside more than 100 years. Around new roofing materials carry on being developed, cedar shakes still endear themselves to numerous. Below is often a comparison research into the cedar roof versus an asphalt roof.

Pros of Cedar Roofing shingles

Cedar shakes contribute to far better air circulation within the whole home. The shingles permit the home to breathe well without trapping moisture around. This assists to keep the dwelling of the house who is fit for extended. Cedar Shakes are durable and strong. They enjoy an increased 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 outer lining of the cedar roof. Along with matures beautifully with all the passing years, making it much more desirable. A cedar roof adds a distinct charm to your dwelling. Cedar is quickly obtainable in lumber yards and demand a lots of expertise or specialized tools to install.

Cons of Cedar Shakes

If rot shows its head, choosing compelled to change the entire lot. It is sometimes complicated extracting merely the affected pieces. They may happen to be nailed down in a manner that each elimination proves difficult. Cedar Shingles don't last well to constant wetting. Living in a 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 would be to use wide overhangs. Also, if the house is shaded by many trees or nearby buildings, cedar shingles tend 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 use a building code set up that restricts cedar shingles to reduce the danger of fire. To create a cedar shake roof, you'll want your financial allowance concerning the higher side. Frequent maintenance can be important to keep the roof who is fit. Mildew and rot are ever-constant threats to some cedar roof.

Pros of Asphalt Shingle Roof

An asphalt roof is among the most inexpensive to purchase and install. They come in various designs and colours, ranging from a typical, flat turn to a 3-dimensional look. Asphalt shingles have a high effectiveness fires unlike cedar roofing. An asphalt roof can in fact reduce the risk of fires due to flying embers. Asphalt roofs are easier and cheaper to set up than cedar. They're also low maintenance roofs.

Cons of Asphalt Shingle Roof

Algae is more susceptible to grow on asphalt roofing than cedar shingles. It causes the top to build up somewhat from the stain which spoils the looks. You may get an anti-algae coating completed in your asphalt shingles but this enhances the cost. With regards to stability, an asphalt roof is more probably be blown off by strong winds compared to a cedar roof.

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

 

How to locate Good Vancouver SEO Services

The amount of internet sites as well as e-commerce websites is continuously increasing simply because everyone knows that it can bring in a lot of earnings. This has also caused another kind of providers that really help companies within attaining their goals as well as which makes them develop. Amongst fundamental essentials Vancouver SEO services; because the SEO market is pretty young you will notice that any SEO Vancouver organization won't be more than a 10 years aged. However, you can rest assured that they certainly understand what they have to caused by get your company developing.

If your company relies heavily on the Internet to get visitors to your site and also to obtain conversion rates, you need assistance searching motor optimisation or even SEO because it is more commonly recognized. When individuals place a search within their favorite internet search engine, probably the most most likely matches arrive at the very top. If you want to pull traffic to your site or online business, you have to go ahead and take assistance of a Vancouver SEO company to help you get to the top of these search engine results. The actual SEO Vancouver services provided will be well worth the cash spent and will also be viewing the results not long after.

Nevertheless, achieving a top rank on the internet might not always be always easy and more so if yours is an extremely competitive business which they frequently make reference to as a market. It's no surprise then that you need all the help that exist. If you don't have the answer to "What is SEO?Inch then you need to very first understand the topic. But your smartest choice would be to depart the task to those that realize it best; the actual SEO Vancouver experts in the Vancouver Search engine optimization company. You will have to shell out some cash however, you may enjoy the benefits as the years go by.

The Search engine optimization Vancouver experts will start on keyword research which is usually the starting point of SEO. You should know the kind of words or even phrases that potential prospects will be typing in to Search engines to get at your site. The Vancouver Search engine optimization company will do this tedious job for you as they possess a better concept about how exactly individuals go about their searches. A person, from you need to provide them with a much better understanding regarding your company plus some basic key phrases which they would do their study.

If your SEO campaign begins with key phrases selection, then its link building which rss feeds seo; worthwhile Vancouver Search engine optimization company will tell you this. The perfect method for your website to position high for any given key phrase would be to have a excellent link building strategy created for this. The secret would be to leave your own hyperlink on higher ranked websites. The actual SEO Vancouver experts will explain the most common method of carrying this out is to publish content articles that contains the desired key phrases within the correct proportion in order to article directory sites with backlinks aimed at your website in the resource box.

What exactly are you awaiting? Go ahead and take assistance of the actual Vancouver SEO company the following; the SEO Vancouver experts will make your business grow so that you can enjoy greater earnings.

 

Dependable SEO Services For Your Business in Vancouver

Professional advanced Vancouver SEO services help you to are available in the very best listing of the organic search leads to appeal to visitors. Furthermore, the visitors associated with natural results is going to be keen to purchase products which services may prove to be helpful in your company.

You'll need Search engine optimization Vancouver to profit your organization through allowing you to get the most visibility from the search engine as well as therefore getting good visitors to your web site. With the help of search engine rankings, these types of services will immensely help your web website get in touch with the world of individuals being able to access internet and therefore, sketching increasingly more visitors to your internet site. Once the web site has begun generating traffic to this, your company may reap benefits as your web site will become probably the most searchable on top search engines.

An organization requirements these kinds of services as the SEO experts have the fundamental understanding as well as understanding of how you can do it. A person since the website owner can spend time on internet going through weblogs, forums, along with other supplies. However, you need to concentrate on additional facets of your internet site and SEO professionals focus all their efforts on Search engine optimization since this is what they do greatest.

The Search engine optimization businesses guarantee to increase more traffic to your site regularly giving you an assurance that after people look for products or services, your internet site occurs the top of most desired search engines like google like Google, Google, Windows live messenger as well as AOL.

In other words, to enhance web site traffic and visibility, it is vital that the web site should get up-to-date constantly. The process of search engine optimization is not the one-time try. A successful SEO service consists of advertising, ranking, site marketing, link exchanges and many more. To be able to contain the changes in order to SEO methods and strategies daily, expert Search engine optimization maintain skilled and technically experienced SEO specialists, site creative designers, copy writers, SEO publishers, advertising professionals and task managers.

A professional as well as result-oriented seo service consists of the following:
. Research and report pre-optimization position
. Key phrase choice and optimisation
. Competitors analysis report
. Explanation of labels
. Designed hyperlink page development
. Optimization of images
. Keyword-rich content creating
. Search engine optimization copywriting
. Hyperlink campaigns
. HTML coding
. Search engine distribution

Search engine optimization businesses also provide the service of market and keyword research. These organizations will appear at the clients' web sites as well as their competition and will search for suitable keywords. They follow the most appropriate methodology which will make sure online presence as well as publicity.

Now, let's mention the benefits that will help a good company's site reach the top of a search engine.
• Customized Search engine optimization answer
• Long-term best rankings in search motors
• Higher web visitors an internet-based product sales
• Global company coverage
• Business company identification
• Suggestions for business improvement
• Follow-up support
• Maximum returns