Alt Attribute & Search engine optimization

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

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

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

Why would they ask us to do that? The answer is easy, really; search engines like google 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 certain keyword density, which isn't as relevant for rankings now since it once was.

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

Imagine listening to a paragraph of text which is then repetitions of many keywords. The page would be not even close to accessible, and, to put it mildly, would 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 for the reason that fashion. Though it might seem natural to assume that alternate text is really a label or a description, it's not!

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

The goal would be to provide the same functional information that a visual user would see. The alt attribute text should function as a "stand in" when the image is unavailable. Ask yourself this question: If you were to replace the look with the text, would most users receive the same basic information, and would it create the same response?
A few examples:

 

Some SEO Optimization Tips

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

If the image is supposed to convey the literal items in the look, then a description is appropriate.

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

If it's designed to convey the use of a function, then your function itself is what should be used.

Some Alt Attribute Guidelines:

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

For images that play only 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".

Keep in mind that it is the function from the image we are attempting to convey. For example; any button images should not range from the word "button" within the alt text. They should emphasize the action performed by the button.

Alt text ought to be based on context. Exactly the same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text.

Attempt to flow alt text with the remainder from the text because that is 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 keep in mind that utilizing an alt attribute for every image is required to satisfy the minimum WAI requirements, that are used as the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and the remainder of Europe. They are also necessary to meet "Section 508" accessibility requirements in the US.

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 (in many cases) satisfy the marketing departments. There is no content value (though there may be value to a sighted user).

Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there is something there that will boost the usability of 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 are important in that they help frame what is going on.

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

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

Usually this will depend on context. Exactly the same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text. Obviously, content should always be fully available. The way you go in this example is really 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 reason many authors can't understand why their alt text isn't working is they don't know why the pictures exist. You need to figured out precisely what function an image serves. Think about what it is concerning the image that's vital that you the page's intended audience.

Every graphic includes a reason behind being on that page: since it either enhances the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is advisable to what are the page is attempting to explain. Understanding what the look is perfect for makes alt text simpler to write. And exercise writing them definitely helps.
A way to check the usefulness of alternative text would be to imagine reading the page over the telephone to someone. What would you say when encountering a specific image to create the page understandable to the listener?

Aside from the alt attribute you have a couple more tools at your disposal for images.
First, in level of descriptiveness title is within between alt and longdesc. It adds useful information and may add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered by the user agent. Remember they're invisible and not shown like a "tooltip" when focus is received via the keyboard. (A lot for device independence). So use the title attribute just for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points to the URL of a complete description of an image. If the information contained in a picture is essential towards the concept of the page (i.e. some important content will be lost if 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 the 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 the image...The goal is by using any period of description necessary to impart the details of the graphic.

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

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

In many cases, you're best just going with your gut instinct -- if it's not essential 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 whole page to work, 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 your image and its context about the page.

Exactly the same image may need alt text (or title or longdesc) in a single spot, but not in another. If an image provides absolutely no content or functional information alt="" or background CSS images might be appropriate to make use of. However, if the image provides content or adds functional information an alt would be required and maybe a long description will be in order. Oftentimes this type of thing is a judgement call.

Image Seo optimization Tips

Listed here are key steps in optimizing images:

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

Label the file extension. For example, if the image 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 going to assume that it is graphic;

Ensure that the text nearby the image that is relevant to that image.
Again, do not lose a great chance to help your website together with your images in search engines. Use these steps to rank better on all the engines and drive more traffic to your site TODAY.

SEO Company

In 1999, years before major traditional publishing outfits cared about making money online or knew their bottom lines would soon depend on it, a small Melbourne startup called SitePoint figured out how to make money as the premiere destination for those looking to learn about building websites.

I remember my visits to SitePoint as a teenager fondly. I had a head full of ideas on grand businesses that would make me rich, and all I needed to do was pick up the skills to build them — or so I thought. I got my hands on the classic ‘Build Your Own Database Driven Web Site Using PHP & MySQL‘ by Kevin Yank and read SitePoint’s articles (this was before blogs existed) as often as I could.

In the end, things didn’t quite go as planned. My first job after high school and a bit of uni was (fortunately, before corporate life could claim me) my own business, which involved pushing out word count at breakneck speed, not creating web apps. Even still, I imagine those hours spent learning what SitePoint had to offer had a part to play in my early success, or I wouldn’t have know where to begin building my completely web-based service business.

Humble Beginnings

SitePoint was co-founded by Mark Harbottle and Matt Mickiewicz. Before SitePoint, Mark was a founding member and programmer with the company that developed HotDog, which you may remember as one of the few HTML editors available in 90s. Matt, on the other side of the world in Canada, had started a site that would soon become very popular — Webmaster-Resources.com, which these days redirects to SitePoint (and would probably sell for a small fortunate on the domain market).

By 2000, the two were working on SitePoint full-time and making advertising deals to keep the site in the black. In 2001, they turned their most popular tutorial into a book, which they sold themselves through a print-on-demand service.

The experiment was worthwhile, because the book was a success, enough to warrant a switch from the print-on-demand model to ordering large print runs. The company’s library today features books and kits on everything from running an SEO business to hosting your site using Amazon Web Services.

They’re also the company behind three popular marketplaces — 99designs, a design crowdsourcing site, Flippa, where users buy and sell websites, and Learnable, which is a platform for user-generated education.

Making Money with Information

SitePoint was one of the earlier companies in the world to bring in enough revenue from online content to support a growing staff — and on top of that, was listed several times in the BRW Fast 100, Deloitte Technology Fast 50, and the Deloitte Asia Pacific Fast 500. I spoke with co-founder Matt Mickiewicz to find out how they figured it out so early while News Corp continues to flounder years later.

“When we first launched our Forums in 1999, I made going in there, reading discussions, and helping out people personally one of my core daily activities. I used to answer hundreds of emails every week providing feedback to people about their websites, helping them troubleshoot problems, and in general be as helpful as humanly possible,” said Mickiewicz.

When the infamous ‘social media experts’ talk about building community as an essential part of doing business online, they’re not wrong — even if they don’t seem to know how to do that themselves. Putting some elbow grease into daily and helpful interactions with visitors put SitePoint in the right place for the company’s expansion into new markets. According to Mickiewicz, even SitePoint’s weekly newsletter would result in hundreds of email responses — something I’d be surprised to see today.

“SitePoint really was a community in every sense of the word, and when we published our first books and asked people to buy from us, we had build up a huge amount of trust and goodwill so that people happily opened up their wallets to us.”

Advertising’s No Golden Egg

In the last few years, the annual online ad spend has declined, but SitePoint still walks away with both a good profit and happy customers. To SitePoint, selling ad space isn’t just about slapping banners up when their clients’ ad-men send it over. They work hard to deliver extra value, and that means SitePoint doesn’t have to bring ad rates down to the point of commoditization while its competitors slash their inventory prices in desperation.

“Ad agencies & clients are as demanding as ever, so it’s our job to provide them with the absolute best customer service and justify our value and offer out of the box ideas to clients,” said Mickiewicz.

Mickiewicz and SitePoint started in an era when online advertising was a Wild West and have watched as Internet advertising standards were established by the IAB and the technology that made it possible to target their ad serving based on user demographics — things that have made the job of delivering a great experience for advertisers easier.

Even still, Matt doesn’t recommend that new media businesses rely completely on advertising revenue. “Products sales play a very important role in our business to this day in monetizing our traffic,” he says, though he’s not eager to tell me how much of their revenue is made up by products versus advertising.

“No one wants to buy advertising from you when you’re small, and when you get to a certain size you end up backfilling with ad networks which devalues your ad inventory.”

SitePoint’s continued success has been born of diversification. With a business that gets its revenue from marketplaces, subscriptions, advertising and a plethora of popular products, the company is largely resistant to recessions and market disasters — if one revenue source gets knocked out, they know they’ve got plenty of backups.

In 1999, years before major traditional publishing outfits cared about making money online or knew their bottom lines would soon depend on it, a small Melbourne startup called SitePoint figured out how to make money as the premiere destination for those looking to learn about building websites.

I remember my visits to SitePoint as a teenager fondly. I had a head full of ideas on grand businesses that would make me rich, and all I needed to do was pick up the skills to build them — or so I thought. I got my hands on the classic ‘Build Your Own Database Driven Web Site Using PHP & MySQL‘ by Kevin Yank and read SitePoint’s articles (this was before blogs existed) as often as I could.

In the end, things didn’t quite go as planned. My first job after high school and a bit of uni was (fortunately, before corporate life could claim me) my own business, which involved pushing out word count at breakneck speed, not creating web apps. Even still, I imagine those hours spent learning what SitePoint had to offer had a part to play in my early success, or I wouldn’t have know where to begin building my completely web-based service business.

Humble Beginnings

SitePoint was co-founded by Mark Harbottle and Matt Mickiewicz. Before SitePoint, Mark was a founding member and programmer with the company that developed HotDog, which you may remember as one of the few HTML editors available in 90s. Matt, on the other side of the world in Canada, had started a site that would soon become very popular — Webmaster-Resources.com, which these days redirects to SitePoint (and would probably sell for a small fortunate on the domain market).

By 2000, the two were working on SitePoint full-time and making advertising deals to keep the site in the black. In 2001, they turned their most popular tutorial into a book, which they sold themselves through a print-on-demand service.

The experiment was worthwhile, because the book was a success, enough to warrant a switch from the print-on-demand model to ordering large print runs. The company’s library today features books and kits on everything from running an SEO business to hosting your site using Amazon Web Services.

They’re also the company behind three popular marketplaces — 99designs, a design crowdsourcing site, Flippa, where users buy and sell websites, and Learnable, which is a platform for user-generated education.

Making Money with Information

SitePoint was one of the earlier companies in the world to bring in enough revenue from online content to support a growing staff — and on top of that, was listed several times in the BRW Fast 100, Deloitte Technology Fast 50, and the Deloitte Asia Pacific Fast 500. I spoke with co-founder Matt Mickiewicz to find out how they figured it out so early while News Corp continues to flounder years later.

“When we first launched our Forums in 1999, I made going in there, reading discussions, and helping out people personally one of my core daily activities. I used to answer hundreds of emails every week providing feedback to people about their websites, helping them troubleshoot problems, and in general be as helpful as humanly possible,” said Mickiewicz.

When the infamous ‘social media experts’ talk about building community as an essential part of doing business online, they’re not wrong — even if they don’t seem to know how to do that themselves. Putting some elbow grease into daily and helpful interactions with visitors put SitePoint in the right place for the company’s expansion into new markets. According to Mickiewicz, even SitePoint’s weekly newsletter would result in hundreds of email responses — something I’d be surprised to see today.

“SitePoint really was a community in every sense of the word, and when we published our first books and asked people to buy from us, we had build up a huge amount of trust and goodwill so that people happily opened up their wallets to us.”

Advertising’s No Golden Egg

In the last few years, the annual online ad spend has declined, but SitePoint still walks away with both a good profit and happy customers. To SitePoint, selling ad space isn’t just about slapping banners up when their clients’ ad-men send it over. They work hard to deliver extra value, and that means SitePoint doesn’t have to bring ad rates down to the point of commoditization while its competitors slash their inventory prices in desperation.

“Ad agencies & clients are as demanding as ever, so it’s our job to provide them with the absolute best customer service and justify our value and offer out of the box ideas to clients,” said Mickiewicz.

Mickiewicz and SitePoint started in an era when online advertising was a Wild West and have watched as Internet advertising standards were established by the IAB and the technology that made it possible to target their ad serving based on user demographics — things that have made the job of delivering a great experience for advertisers easier.

Even still, Matt doesn’t recommend that new media businesses rely completely on advertising revenue. “Products sales play a very important role in our business to this day in monetizing our traffic,” he says, though he’s not eager to tell me how much of their revenue is made up by products versus advertising.

“No one wants to buy advertising from you when you’re small, and when you get to a certain size you end up backfilling with ad networks which devalues your ad inventory.”

SitePoint’s continued success has been born of diversification. With a business that gets its revenue from marketplaces, subscriptions, advertising and a plethora of popular products, the company is largely resistant to recessions and market disasters — if one revenue source gets knocked out, they know they’ve got plenty of backups.

seo optimization services

Bench Craft Company on the art

Here is a roundup of important small business tips to start out your week on the right track. We’ve tried to collect some of the best resources to get you started but we’d love to hear from readers as well, so if you’ve got some tips or advice to add, please, as always, leave them in the comment section below. Enjoy!

Legal

Legal tips for your small business. From Jeffrey Fabian of Fabian LLC, serving small business and legal professionals, here are a collection of legal issues every small business must look out for. Consulting on legal matters with an attorney can be another important step, but remember that legal issues of all kinds come with the territory in small business, so be prepared. 365 Days of Startups

Ideas for maintaining your professional image. As a small business owner or entrepreneur, your online reputation is becoming more important every day. So what does a Google search say about you? If you don’t know yet, you should find out. Reputation has always been an important commodity in the business world. The Internet has made it more important than ever. Beware! Startup Professionals Musings

Customer Service

Tips for creating a more appealing product or service. You may think you’re giving your customers choices, but, in reality, you’re only handing them indecision. And perhaps an invitation to do nothing? Here’s an alternative. Give them a step-by-step on how to use your product. Tell them what to do and how to do it. And don’t worry if it doesn’t fit every customer’s needs. They’ll create the fit that’s right for them. Chris Brogan

Marketing

How to set yourself apart from competitors. Saying you’re better than your competitors just isn’t good enough (even if it’s true.) The question is what you can offer customers that is different from any one else in the market. Create a service no one else provides in exactly the same way, and you’ll have a marketing strategy that can work in the long run. Duct Tape Marketing

How to use “help marketing” to strengthen your business and brand. You can call this PR instead of marketing if you like, but no matter what you call it, it may be the best thing for your brand and business, if you do it right. Helping others including your customers is really what your business should be about anyway. So don’t be afraid to show your willingness to extend a helping hand. TechLunatic

Startup

How to seek help from business accelerators. Efforts to get new businesses up and running have increased in recent years and business accelerators in various forms are spreading across the country, according to this piece on the trend. Often these organizations offer “more help than funding” but can still be an important resource depending upon the nature of your startup. Bloomberg Businessweek

Taxes

How to prepare for tax compliance expenses in your small business. Ballooning tax regulations are a huge source of expense for small businesses, especially here in the U.S. It’s important for small business owners to consider the expenses related to tax compliance, since this is likely to be an ongoing burden for small business owners into the foreseeable future. WSJ

Last minute tips for last minute tax filers. If you’re doing your small business tax filings on your own, here are some last minute tips you may want to consider ranging from how to file an extension to how long to keep your tax records and more. If you want some last minute advice as the tax deadline closes in, why not take a few minutes and watch the video? BostoneHerald.com

Self-development

A new persription for stress and overwork: relax! Small business owners and entrepreneurs, like everyone else, experience burnout at times and can easily become overwhelmed with work. After all, when the final responsibility for everything falls upon you, there’s no one else to turn to. But experts now suggest that taking those breaks when necessary can be absolutely essential. Here’s more. The Globe And Mail

Tech

Tips for keeping your business technology up and running. Keeping your business technology alive and kicking is not just a luxury in today’s small business world. It is an absolute and vital necessity! So tips on keeping the critical tools you use to operate your business and serve your customers should always be a priority. Here are some tips you won’t want to forget. Jackrabbit.com Blog

From Small Business TrendsSmall Business News: Best Small Biz Tips Today

"Getting data privacy 'right' is an economic and social imperative. Trust and confidence in the security and privacy of the critical systems of our planet - especially the digital version of its central nervous system, the Internet - is foundational to individuals' continued engagement and reliance on such things as online commerce, e-health and smart grids. If individual consumers don't feel that their privacy and security are protected, they will not support modernization efforts, even though the capabilities of technology advancements are proven and the potential benefits to society are extensive.

"Here's an example of the tensions we face: The ability of smart grids to conserve resources relies on the ability of, and commitment from, consumers to monitor and modify their individual usage. An individual using a smart meter understands the difference in the cost of using electricity at peak versus non-peak hours and could opt to lower their usage during more costly time periods. At the same time, data from the meters can reveal sensitive information such as work habits, shower schedules, use of medical devices such as dialysis, and whether or not a house is occupied."

"I don't worry that the technology will have a negative impact on consumer privacy," wrote Mark Roberti, founder of RFID Journal in a June overview of the state of the RFID market where privacy is concerned. "Instead, I worry that ignorant legislators trying to score points with uninformed voters will pass laws that limit the many benefits RFID can deliver--and that is a much bigger threat to consumers."

Today's agreement in Europe appears not to be the kind of legislation Roberti feared. As a framework focused on self-reporting it may be too little, ultimately, but it's a start.

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New York Yankees reliever Pedro Feliciano likely done for season

Yankees lefty Pedro Feliciano will get a second opinion on his injured shoulder, but an MRI indicates he's likely done this year.

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GWU Suicide Tragically Coincides with Obama Speech - FoxNews.com

George Washington University students in Washington, D.C. learned of a tragic coincidence of timing on their campus Wednesday. As President Obama delivered a speech on deficit reduction in the Jack Morton Auditorium, ...

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Google <b>News</b> Blog: New Google <b>News</b> for Opera Mini

While the Google News team has been hard at work redesigning our service for smartphones, we've also been thinking about our milllions of users around the world who access the web not from a smartphone, but from a feature phone, ...

bench craft company

Seas0nPass jailbreak tool has for both Windows and Mac has been updated with the latest untethered exploit to untether the jailbreak on second generation Apple TV, running on the latest iOS 4.3.1 (4.2.1)

For those of you who don’t know, Seas0nPass jailbreak tool is like PwnageTool for Mac, or Sn0wbreeze for Windows, which can can create custom jailbroken .IPSW files for your second-gen Apple TV.

Before you proceed with the jailbreak, you will need the following:

• A Micro-USB cable


• iTunes 10.2.1


• iOS 4.2.1 (Based on iOS 4.3) for Apple TV


• Seas0nPass

All download links are posted at the end of this article.

Step 1: Download and launch Seas0nPass.

Step 2: Now select “Create IPSW” option to build your own custom jailbroken 4.3.1 firmware for Apple TV.

Step 3: Now wait for Seas0nPass to download all the files required for creating custom firmware.

Step 4: When prompted by Seas0nPass, connect your Apple TV using a micro-USB cable (leave power disconnected), and hold-down both the ‘MENU’ and ‘PLAY/PAUSE’ buttons for 7 seven seconds.

Step 5: iTunes should now open automatically to start the restore process.

Step 6: iTunes will confirm the restore when complete. Once done, your Apple TV will be fully jailbroken, untethered on iOS 4.3.1.

Once complete, remove the USB cable and connect the HDMI cable.

Once you are done with the jailbreak, you can install the following apps on your jailbroken 2nd-gen Apple TV:

• How to Install XBMC Media Center on Apple TV 2G [Guide]


• Plex Has Been Ported to Jailbroken Apple TV 2G ! [VIDEO]


• How to Install NitoTV Weather and RSS App on Apple TV 2G [Jailbreak]


• Apple TV 2G Gets Web Browser and Last.fm Apps via aTV Flash [Video]


• Exposed VNC Server Plugin Enables Remote Access On Apple TV 2G

Required download links are as follows:

Download iOS 4.3.1 (4.2.1) for Apple TV
Download iTunes 10.2.1 for Mac OS X
Download Seas0nPass for Mac OS X
Download Seas0nPass for Windows

You can follow us on Twitter or join our Facebook fanpage to keep yourself updated on all the latest iPhone jailbreaking and unlocking releases.

Given the current cost of components, a prepaid contract-free iPhone with less internal storage would likely earn Apple only about 16 percent gross margin if it were priced at $300, a new analysis has estimated.



Analyst Charlie Wolf with Needham & Company took a closer look at the prospect of a hypothetical "iPhone lite," to see if it would be in Apple's best interest to build such a product. A cheaper iPhone has been viewed as a strategy that would work to Apple's advantage in emerging markets like China.



In February, both Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple is working on a smaller and cheaper iPhone that it could sell contract-free. Soon after, The New York Times chimed in, and claimed that while Apple is not working on a smaller iPhone, it has explored opportunities in developing a cheaper handset.



Wolf largely agrees with the Times, and doesn't see a smaller iPhone with a new form factor as something that would be in Apple's best interest, even though it would be the easiest way to cut costs and created a cheaper handset.



"In our view, the iPhone would not be an iPhone if the display were, say, cut in half," he said. "Such a move would (dramatically) reduce the value of the iPod module for video viewing as well as the size of web sites accessed through the Safari browser. A smaller screen would also degrade the experience in using some applications, not to mention the possibility that some applications would probably have to be rewritten to accommodate a smaller screen."



iSuppli estimated that the 16GB iPhone 4, when it launched last June, carried a bill of materials of $188. The iPhone has an average selling price of $625 with a carrier subsidy, while gross margin is usually around 50 percent, suggesting that additional costs like assembly, software, testing, licenses and warrantees add up to $100 or more.



Ruling out the possibility of a smaller iPhone, Wolf said Apple could reduce internal storage from 16GB to about 4GB, but that would only reduce the bill of materials by $30 to about $157. By his estimation, such a handset would still have a total cost of $270.



"Apple would at best break even if it priced an iPhone Light at $250; and it would earn a modest 16% gross margin if it priced it at $300, which we regard as the high end of the range for a prepaid phone," Wolf wrote.



Gross margins of just 16 percent would be a number uncharacteristically low for Apple. For example, in its last quarterly results for the 2010 holiday buying season, Apple reported margins of 38.5 percent, or more than twice Wolf's estimate for a low-cost, no-contract iPhone.



"We suspect that the iPhone's designers and engineers have thought about this a lot more than we have so that the cost savings would be somewhat greater than we've estimated," Wolf said. "If, for example, the expenses incurred beyond the cost of components could be materially reduced, Apple might be able to earn a gross margin of 20% pricing the phone at $250 and 33% gross margin pricing it at $300."



The possibility of a cheaper iPhone with fewer features was hinted at by Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook earlier this year. Cook, in an interview with Bernstein Research analyst Toni Sacconaghi, said Apple doesn't want its products to be "just for the rich."



Cook reportedly said that Apple is planning "clever things" to compete in the prepaid handset market. He also stated that Apple is "not ceding any market." He also referenced China, where Apple has found great success of late, and noted that it is a "classic prepaid market."

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bench craft company

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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

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

class="dropcap">Bill Thomas used to be a climate change skeptic, not believing that humans could have influenced the dramatic atmospheric shift, but two weeks in the woods — and chats with scientists — changed his mind.

“I remember vividly that first day with Dr. Jess Parker; he showed us a chart of CO2 levels increasing about the time of the industrial revolution,” says Thomas, who works for HSBC bank and participated in a 2007 Climate Champions training program. There, a personal epiphany led to a job title change — the former relationship manager for HSBC Technical Services is now group head of HSBC Technology and Services Sustainability.

Teaching employees the science behind green corporate values and how to make their workplaces sustainable isn’t just for “green” show — done right, it’s good business strategy.

“There seems to be a huge growth of interest among companies to not just keep the environmental initiatives within a subset of employees, but to make it a pervasive part of the corporate culture,” says Krista Badiane, who manages the business and environment program at the National Environmental Education Foundation.  And unlike broad, mandated rules — such as carbon caps — companies that create their own initiatives take ownership and credit for sustainable changes, which may well go beyond what laws would have dictated.

By cultivating current workers’ energy-saving ideas and environmental passions, companies can save resources, energy and money as well as boost their eco-friendly reputation. The key is to help employees learn why sustainability matters — for instance, unless it’s slowed, climate change could alter global landscapes and increase natural disasters in our lifetimes. And if employees realize what’s at stake, they’ll find ways to save resources at work — as well as at home.

Worker to Citizen Scientist/> In a patch of woods in Edgewater, Md., bordering Smithsonian Environmental Research Center campus buildings, HSBC technology managers are intently straightening a measuring tape wrapped around a mature oak. Phil Clarke, from Portland, Ore., leans in and meticulously gets a reading of its diameter: 94.8 inches. During this weeklong Sustainability Leader training, he’s learning what scientists do and what shape the planet is in. He knows that the measurements taken today — even though what they reveal won’t be known for awhile — will help guide decisions that will keep our world sound for future generations.

His employer, HSBC bank — a global financial services company with 300,000 employees working in 8,000 offices and pre-tax profits topping $11 billion — decided to go carbon neutral in 2005. For the past three years, HSBC bank has partnered with EarthWatch Institute for an international study on climate change’s effects on tree growth, as well as a program that trains employees around the world in sustainability. When workers return to the office after their forest immersion, they find ways to integrate newly learned sustainability lessons in their spheres of influence.

Clarke and the other HSBC technology services managers from around North America — key decision-makers hand picked for the training — earn the title of Sustainability Leader. A larger two-week program trains HSBC employees from all levels — from cashier to marketing staffer — to become Climate Champions.

Such citizen science training helps corporate employees understand the mechanics of science — that systems are complex, and that there are no easy answers. “You learn what a critical state the world is actually in,” says Annette Fasolino of HSBC’s payment operations division in Buffalo, N.Y.

Having that up-close experience with scientists and ecosystems helps employees better grasp how climate change is impacting, and may impact, the world. “Many of these people go back and question their decisions, and make sure they’re making the most sustainable decisions,” says Thomas.

Cultivating the Grassroots/> Though the partnership between HSBC and EarthWatch is unique, other companies are also looking to their staff for sustainable solutions. “There’s no one best program for a company to educate their employees,” Badiane says.

Some companies or groups of motivated employees organize green teams, which promote eco-friendly changes and teach colleagues sustainable alternatives. Initiatives range from banning disposable utensils in the lunchroom to redesigning an operating system to save raw materials. “Ideally, you’re getting some new ideas out of your employees,” says Deborah Fleischer, president of Green Impact, a sustainability consulting service.

Businesses also use social media sites such as Yammer — a private social network for companies — or online training to generate sustainable ideas.

Other companies dangle a carrot — awards and incentives — to get workers to make sustainable choices. Yogurt maker Stonyfield tied facility energy savings (based on energy use per ton of product) to employee bonuses. In this way, the company reduced energy use by more than 22 percent, according to a NEEF report.

To engage workers of all levels, eBay employed competition: a Big Green Idea Contest. To enter, employees identified ways the company could meet greenhouse gas reduction goals; then, employees voted on the top ideas. One idea, the eBay Box — simple, eco-friendly packaging that’s meant to be reused for eBay shipments — has become a useful tool that saves money and resources.

Unfortunately, some companies’ efforts are no more than greenwashing stunts to appear eco-friendly and keep up with their competition. Producing disposable trinkets with “green” logos or launching environmental-focused public relations initiatives while pushing pollution limits does not jive with true sustainability. The companies mentioned here, however, offer genuine solutions that leave a lighter footprint.

Two Kinds of Green/> Such engagement can yield significant savings: One North American HSBC Climate Champion noticed that co-workers weren’t shutting down their PCs every night, wasting energy. Now, NightWatchman software automatically shuts down more than 6 million computers left on. During fiscal year 2010 in North America, the software coupled with an awareness program saved 4 million kilowatts per year of electricity and about 900 metric tons of carbon dioxide, which shaved $332,000 on energy bills.

At defense contractor Lockheed Martin, a Camden, Ark., building uses a software system to control lighting and air conditioning, leading to more than $200,000 in reduced costs and savings of 2,332 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, according to the NEEF report. And at drugmaker Genetech,  green teams slashed the use of bottled water, saving the company $200,000 a year by using filtered water machines paired with reusable bottles, according to a white paper by Fleischer, “Green Teams: Engaging Employees in Sustainability.”

But benefits to a company can’t always be calculated in dollars.

“By creating an engaged employee base, we’re really putting it into hearts and minds of employees, and that’s going to be much more powerful and long-term than saying ‘you must turn off your PC,’” says Sharon Walck, senior vice president of sustainability at HSBC North America.

Investing in and teaching sustainable values to workers also boosts retention, according to NEEF, which is extremely important to large corporations. The foundation says losing and replacing a good employee can cost a company between 70 percent and 200 percent of that employee’s annual salary.

And, Badiane says, “employees who are motivated want to work for a company that has the same values.”

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Roofing Companies Vancouver - 5 Questions to Consider

Roofing Vancouver - Faq's

1. Repair or Replace?

There's no opinion like an expert opinion. Most contractors will provide you with a free estimate. Get a summary of a few trusted contractors and phone them well ahead of time of when you want to get your homes 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 children.) Truth 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 worth it to pay the cost of the original shingle instead of doing patchwork. A roof replacement doesn't happen frequently (hopefully!) and thus make a decision that best suits you and your loved ones well or it'll stand out like a sore thumb everyday you go home.

3. Must i replace the rooftop so I can sell the house for additional?

Consider this very carefully prior to making a decision. With respect to the roofing material you select, a brand new roof lasts between twenty, fifty, to one-hundred years! This means you need to look into the year from the roof that's currently over your head first. Are you at year 18 of a 20-year warranted roof or year 30 of a 50-year warranted roof? Obviously, the quality is the reason why the rooftop last longer, but when you're not planning to remain in your current home for the rest of your life, the larger expense might not be worth your investment. Although a new roof can improve the worth of your selling price, the rise might not be enough to pay for your investment and that's definitely going to hurt your wallet.

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

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

5. When is a great time to get the roof replaced?

Weather can cause delays from days to weeks. Most people prepare yourself to have their roof replaced in the summertime when they have a friend is going to be home during the day for a solid fourteen days. Once you've this period in mind, create a call to a trusted contractor months ahead of time to obtain a quote. Some companies get booked up fast and odds are, they're probably the most reputable. Preparing in advance from the summer also provides you with time for you to ask around more and compare costs...especially if you need to possess the roof made by a particular date.

 

The very best Roofing Contractor In Vancouver!

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

When the response to these questions is "Yes" it's time to call the top roofing contractor Vancouver - Crown Roofing & Drainage.

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

YOUR Vancouver ROOF DESERVES NO LESS!

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

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS.

One reason Crown Roofing continues to be the most successful roofing contractor in Vancouver is our commitment to our neighbors. We treat your house as if it were our very own and we were building a roof to protect our very own family. That's what neighbors do, and you will rely on Crown Roofing being here to support you and 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.

Go to the Roofers Vancouver for any FREE inspection and evaluation of the roof. Give you the best roof for the Vancouver home, at the best value. We build roofs to last!

 

Tacoma Roofer: Help your house be Beautiful

Not many people view the worth of a good roof, but your knowledgeable Tacoma Roofer does. From top notch experience, they will be in a position to let you know the reason why you require a strong, secure, and leak-free roof on your home.

The local Tacoma Roofing contractor is well aware how important an economic investment your property is for you personally, especially since it is a lasting one. Your home might have been damaged slowly over the years and also you have to take steps to reduce this damage. For a number of people, keeping their property beautiful is another matter of pride. There are those too who'd prefer to turn their property right into a economical and efficient living place. Your roof is an integral part of your house and plays a role in each of the aspects mentioned previously. Because of this, you need to employ the services of qualified a Tacoma Roofing contractors.

Types of Roofs installed by a Tacoma Roofing company

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

Each kind of roof invites distinct problems, but they can all be easily looked after by a trusted Tacoma Roofing company. It's vital that you nip roof problems within the bud before they become too costly or dangerous. You can schedule a scheduled appointment with the Tacoma Roofer to take a look at your roof to determine if you will find any issues or potential problems with it. If there are, they might be in a position to let you know how to approach them.

A Tacoma Roofer Helps you to Build Strong Homes

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

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

Reverse Damages with the Help of a Tacoma Roofing contractor

However top quality the roof may be, it will eventually wear out with time. You will find shingles that are referred to as "25 year" or "30 year" shingles, but those numbers are just related to warranty made by the makers. They hardly ever last that long. Realistically speaking, "25 year" shingles will not last more than fifteen to twenty years. In an area that's prone to storms, shingles or the entire roof may need to be replaced every 10 years. Having a Tacoma Roofer, the price is going to be lower than what you believe.

If there you lose any shingles, or there's some damage to them, a Tacoma Roofing contractor will be able to help you. Damaged shingles can lead to indoor leaks, since the substrate of the roof becomes subjected to the elements. Shingles that are loose or broken can slip off and pose a possible hazard to people standing below. Missing shingles create a gap that allows rain, wind, ice, and debris to build up underneath the adjoining shingles, which creates a "domino effect" that affects other shingles plus they become loose or broken. A thorough investigation will be made by your local Tacoma Roofing company, should you call them up with your suspicions of loose or missing shingles.

Your Tacoma Roofing contractor will be in a situation to tell you what the smartest choice is perfect for your roof. If your roof is not inside a good shape, it's advised you have it replaced completely. The Tacoma Roofing company can take you through the different roofing possibilities to you which will suit your requirements as well as your budget.

Tacoma Roofing contractor: Enhancing your Home's Efficiency

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

To begin with, inspect your homes roof thoroughly for any and all sorts of kind of damage, prior to the beginning of the new season. The gutters ought to be clear, debris shouldn't be piled on or trapped under shingles, there should be no homes of squirrels or birds in the eaves or attic, and also the roof should be structurally sound. For your last part, you will need the help of the local Tacoma Roofer. It may be quite dangerous to climb onto the roof of your house. This is where the contractor from Tacoma Roofing contractor is available in. He'll read the strength and security of the roof and shingles, and perform a general inspection from the entire roof structure, to make sure that it is in proper working order. They will be in a position to point to problems that you have to keep close track of and problems you may not have spotted.

You will need all the assist you to could possibly get in the Tacoma Roofing company. You are able to help your homes roof by installing a gutter guard or leaf cover to assist prevent debris from forming in your gutters. The additional weight of debris prevents the gutters from draining and may even tear them down. Check the fasteners in your gutters and when they are loose, tighten them. Do something 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 reliable mason can be recommended by your Tacoma Roofing company, if you will find any repairs to be done.

Tacoma Roofing contractor: Someone You Can Rely on
In the event that you realize or suspect that there is a problem, your Tacoma Roofing company should be contacted. They can use their knowledge and expertise to obtain your house back in ace condition by simply working on the rooftop. Your roof deserves attention. So call them 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 hiring a roofing company to re roof your home or building then you may be wondering what the differences are between residential roofing companies and commercial roofing companies. To start with, the main one huge difference is usually that times an industrial roofing company may have signed an agreement with and be obligated to some roofing union in in a position to work on union commercial jobs.

If this is 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 a contract with a union they might be outfitted simply for commercial jobs which of course means their workers and equipment might not be consistent with smaller residential jobs.

Residential roofing contractors generally often run smaller companies and therefore, are more in a position to bid competitively on residential jobs, which tend to be smaller than comercial jobs. In fact, often times residential roofing contractors will run one man operations, where the contractor that you speak with could be the one which actually does the job on the building.

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

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

 

Distinction between Commercial Roofing and Residential Roofing

Are you aware that the roof of a house or building has 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 used to construct the roof which should be sturdy and long-lasting, the manner where the roof has been installed and even its timely maintenance are extremely crucial. There's two types of roofs that are utilized on all the buildings that we see around us: commercial and residential. Although it may seem that commercial roofing is done just for businesses or offices and residential roofing is done for apartments and houses, in reality the differences tend to be more complicated than that.

Residential roofing is generally completed just by one hired contractor but commercial roofing usually takes a whole team to accomplish the task. This is because a commercial roof tends to be larger when it comes to sq ft than a residential roof.
Commercial roofs are necessary carefully keeping the nature and purpose of the building in your mind. For instance, when 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 the most.
Commercial roofs tends to be 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 a lot more expensive than residential roofing because of the special tools, materials and safety equipment which are needed onsite. Often the patching or maintenance jobs are done in segments unlike for a residential roof where the repair or replacement work could be carried out a short while. This is another reason why the equipment employed for residential roofs is often smaller and less expensive as well.
Commercial roof installations have a longer time to complete compared to residential roof installations and are usually constructed in large sections. During this phase however, you should ensure that there are no leakages, cracks or other visible wear and tear signs as it can certainly cause considerable damage to the whole building.
You should install the right roof for a building based on its purpose. Make sure that you hire a construction company that utilizes first class materials and it has the best equipment to do the job or your investment may turn out to be a huge loss later.

 

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

If a clients are seeking to have work done on its roof, you should use commercial roofing contractors which have a keen knowledge of any special needs that the business may have. For example, a roofing job is often disruptive for that operation of economic as always. For this reason, it may be necessary for the business to become temporarily shut down, or the roofing to occur after business hours have ended. A roofer that understands these needs can function plus a business in order to make certain these kinds of issues are minimized.

First of all , a company should do when it is searching for commercial roofing contractors is to discover 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 find these details from suppliers or retailers. Since roofing is not an industry-specific service, this information is easily available.

It's a wise decision for just about any business to get in touch with at least three commercial roofing contractors to make bids on the price. In this manner, the business could get a better price. It's also vital that you ensure that each one of the roofing contractors is licensed and bonded. This information are available by permitting in touch with their state contractor's board. This also makes it possible to determine if there has been any claims filed from the company in the past.

When examining bids, it is only as vital to look at what services are now being offered and which products will be used because it is to look at the total cost. The costs can vary quite drastically, but as tempting as it can be to go for the cheapest bid, this isn't always the best option. Oftentimes, more costs now means fewer costs over time due to an undesirable roofing job. To further investigate the caliber of the work, it is a good idea to check on with the Bbb in order to find out if the business has been accredited, and if it has not, to a minimum of see what its rating is.

 

Picking out a Commercial Roofing Contractor

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

When you start your research for any roofing contractor not only do you need to answer those questions but you should also hire a company which will do a top quality job without a great deal of time delays. Going about finding someone can seem as an obstacle in itself but there are several ways 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 in your job. Prior to going any further you need to ensure that the contractors you are thinking about are fully licensed and bonded. A simple search using the state contractor's board will verify if your roofer is licensed and if you will find any past judgments or claims against their license.

Once you select 3 or 4 roofers to place bids, you need to get ready for that bids to become widely varied. Roofers will have brand preferences that will vary and could element 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 to focus on in which the cost are going to be incurred. Don't, however, select a roofer based solely about the bid price. Any low ball bids may be tempting to take, but if they are low because of poor quality workman ship it might not be worthwhile ultimately.

As the saying goes, you generally get what you purchase, if you are able to afford a mid-priced bid it's always smart to increase within your budget instead of down. You also should select your roofer depending on how professional they were and just how comfortable you anticipate you'll be working with them.

Finally your cost will vary based on what type of roofing material you select as well as the cost to haul your old roof to the landfill. Should you be looking for places to chop corners in your roof, instead of cutting labor set you back may want to ask about metallic roof option. Metal roofs could be cost effective and efficient which makes them overall money savers for the long term, and on commercial buildings they may be very low maintenance. Plus given that they can be put along with an existing roof, you don't need to have the old one removed and hauled away, which can make a big effect on your cost.

Choosing 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 Companies - How To Find The very best

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

Harsh Weather

Why are roofing contractors so important in this the main country? Because Seattle is usually bombarded by rain along with other harsh weather conditions, you'll need a roof that can withstand all of the forces of nature. With this thought, you need people 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 region. In addition to all this, you have to blend with the rest from the houses inside your living area, so you cannot simply get whatever roof you please.

In all these aspects, a Seattle roofers should be able to help you out. All that you should do is search for Seattle roofing contractors online so that you can obtain the best value for your money without wondering if the contractor will suddenly try to escape by using it and then leave you roof-less.

Why the Contractor Model Works

If you wish to set up your homes roof by yourself, you'll have to purchase a good deal of materials, secure permits and licenses, and get materials that are suited to keep you safe against harsh extremes of Seattle weather. Which means that if you are a DIY kind of guy or gal, you will have to go through a large amount of legwork in order to get the task done.

However, a Seattle roofing company can perform all the jobs for you personally and provide you with 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 would 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 their roofing job, they are able to 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 within the association from receiving targeted roofing jobs. There is a lot of pressure to do well, to help you be confident that if you need a roofing job completed in Seattle, you can aquire a contractor from a roofing association to assist you.

For example, Seattle Roof Brokers operates with more than 500 roofing contractors within the Puget Sound. This group has over half a century 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 hook you up with the contractor that you need so you do not have to look for contractors individually.

What Should You Demand from Your Contractor?

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

Pick a Seattle roofers that insures its employees, and that has courteous workers who'll respect your opinions and ensure that the needs are met. Make sure that you obtain the best bang for your buck: if you are unsatisfied using the job, you need to be guaranteed either money-back, or perhaps a free, new roof. Moreover, additionally you need the workers to find the job done on time, so be strict with your deadlines - and find a contractor that's as strict as you are.

You'll need guarantees and warranties on your roof, so locate a contractor that may meet your financial allowance and roofing needs. If you get touching good Seattle roofing contractors, you can be guaranteed a great roof along with a better house right in this fantastic city.

Selecting the Right Roofing Contractor Company for Replacing Your Roof

The shingles in your roof need replacing and you're simply minded to locate a roofing contractor to change the them. Maybe you have already called a few and therefore are evaluating which contractor for your upcoming roof repair. How do you choose the best contractor for working on your roof? Listed here are several things you should look at when looking for a legitimate roofer.

Where's the roofer located? You should hire a roofer that's local. Then you will receive a higher level of service if the roofing company can be found near your home or comes with an office near your residence.
References. To look for the toughness for the contractor, references ought to be provided of their past clients who are prepared to vouch that excellent service was received. This should not be the only real element in choosing your future roofing contractor as some may claim they value the privacy of the clients and don't desire to bother them. If this sounds like 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 roofer company handle complaints? There's a multitude of problems that can arise throughout the progress of a 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 had a complaint that was resolved to the satisfaction from the client.
The payment schemes. Do you know the terms of payment for the job? What is the down payment and amount due upon completion? While it is certainly reasonable that a substantial payment be made before a contractor begins work on a project, it is strongly advised that full payment isn't made until following the entire job is completed.
Written contract. All the roofing replacement ought to be place in a written contract. No the main contracting job should depend on verbal assurances.
Bonding. There are things that can 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 great deal better understanding that your roofer is bonded. This can supply the funds to repair whatever mistakes were made. Look for a roofing contractor that is bonded.
Manufacturer Warranty. Quality materials for roofing typically have a warranty. You should verify that there's actually a warranty about the materials being installed. Request a duplicate from the warranty.
Period of time in Business Just how long has the company you are interviewing been in business? A brief in time business may reflect instability. If the contractor has been in business under 3 years, verify just how long they've been in the industry. A new contractor might have many years experience focusing on roofs before they form their very own business. Seek a company that's been around for three years, or in which the contractor has had a lot more years performing roofing replacements. This again shouldn't be the only 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 needed for fixing your roof. They must be aware of how to obtain these permits on your behalf. Ask the contractor whether or not they will have the permits essential to repair the rooftop.
Liability. If your worker becomes injured, who's responsible for the worker's compensation? If the contractor's equipment damages your home, who's liable for the repairs? A great contractor will give you certificates of insurance for liability and workers comp before they begin repairing your roof.
Subcontractors. Verify whether the contractor will be using subcontractors. If that's the case, it is highly recommended that everything contained within this article for verifying whether the contractor is credible should also be relevant to subcontractors. You need to get the names and license amounts of all subcontractors. You need to verify whether each subcontractor can also be insured which means you are not held responsible for their accidents.
Pending Legal Actions. You should verify whether you will find any legal actions from the contractor. This is not merely necessary for verifying whether the roofing company is legitimate (credible roofing companies shouldn't need to defend themselves in the court), it's also important just because a lost lawsuit could cause the contractor to visit bankrupt. For those who have made a substantial deposit for services immediately prior to the company goes bankrupt, you could lose thousands of dollars and not have your roofing completed.
Material Disposal. Who's responsible for disposing of the waste generated in the roof being replaced? Will your contractor handle all aspects of this? Is there 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 current with the most effective means of roof replacement and maintenance. Find a roofing contractor having a high standard of education regarding their trade.
Replacing your homes roof is really a significant investment. It makes sense to inquire about serious questions before using a roofer. Here are a few more tips that you should consider when selecting the best roofer for the upcoming roofing replacement.

Payment. Do not make a full payment for services unless all jobs are finished.
Inspection. Don't make a full payment without doing 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 should be made verbally without backing it up on paper. All points that are important to you should be produced in writing.

 

To your SEO needs, you should check out Vancouver website design and Vancouver SEO company

It cannot be denied that the worldwide web is just about the biggest financial market nowadays. Practically it is all totally anchored on the web. To date, there are more than 182 million sites in the internet whilst still being counting. If all these websites offers possibilities to make money, think of the limitless opportunities that may be perfectly located at the internet. More importantly, with all the emergence of sites, the requirement of website hosting and Search| Engine Optimization is significantly defined.

Seo is basically the entire process of improving the visibility of a internet site. As a result, if you want your web site being visible to visitors, you ought to seek for Seo agency. The optimization strategy considers how search spiders work and what people usually and what keywords they'll use. The main objective of SEO is making sites visible in search 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. Put simply, organic SEO uses natural strategies in achieving serp's ranking. While there are 2 camps with which search engine optimization companies may fall to, and these are the 'White Hat' and the 'Black Hat', organic SEO could not come under the 'Black Hat' camp.

Organic search engine optimization is really a highly specialized and complex practice that may literally dictate the failure or success of an online business. Since search sites often modify their algorithms, organic SEO is not very easy in any way. When search bots modify their algorithms, factors that enable your web site to look in front of clients are decayed too. Thus, in order to cope up with one of these changes, SEO tactics and techniques should be employed.

It will always be ethical to use search engine optimization since search sites nowadays have become extremely advanced they can easily see whether a web site is attempting to control their search indexes. Thus it's empirical to use search engine optimization practices which are carried out a way that appear natural.

The approaches used by organic search engine optimization and artificial SEO are very significantly different. Basically, organic SEO uses content compared to artificial SEO's technical loopholes. Moreover, natural seo provides attracting links instead of linking schemes utilized by artificial SEO. Natural SEO also creates valuable resource as opposed to artificial SEO's algorithm chasing. With all of these, one can clearly understand why search engines engine optimization is preferable over artificial seo. Even though the latter might be harder and complicated, it creates favorable results which can be very theraputic for any web site. Fortunately, there are tons of Vancouver SEO companies today offering the organic method in affordable rates and packages.

Search Engine Optimization Appears to the picture

At one time when seo was actually not essential.

Even as late as a decade ago, in the event you created a Web page anywhere, Google indexed it and also you gained visibility in its search results. Your page might have been in one of the free "estates" where anybody could add a page and Google didn't mind. It may also have been a pure affiliate page without original content and Google still indexed it.

Things are unrecognizably different now.

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

These wouldn't normally have mattered, aside from something. It had been Google that provided the bread and butter for your countless small enterprises that may not afford expensive marketing campaigns. If the site was on the list of top few sites the appeared before a searcher's eyes when that person searched for your products, you've got hundreds and even a large number of visitors, lots of whom even bought your products.

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

As more of the competitors adopted seo practices, things became difficult again. Your role 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 look engines and the other to human visitors. As engines like google are not bothered with readability, you might fill the "search engine" page with pure gibberish, but gibberish designed 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 be effective around practices that allowed low value content to appear at the top of its serp's. After all, Google's success leaned on providing value to searchers, not merchants. And SEO practitioners developed new tricks.

We are going to take a look at search engine marketing inside a series of articles, starting by having an look and feel at on-line or Internet marketing.

 

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

 

Cedar Roofing: Benefits

Cedar shakes are only about the most great looking shakes on the market today. Frequently designed from red-colored cedar around the coniferous forests of northwestern United States, they're just the best roofer materials for proprietors preferring supplying their roofs an organic look.

Unique cedar shingles are naturally resistance against the sun and rain, this is the key answer why cedar shingles are widely-used generally around various climatic conditions. They're generally available in a few specific qualities. One or more may be the shingle made out of red cedar as the other is produced out from the bright white variety. Red cedar shakes are designed from tight-grained particles that will be previously saturated with tannic acidity that experts say is definitely an all-natural additive. Red cedar shingles that will be drizzled with creosote to avoid corrosion and so are desirable to homeowners simply because give a rich and unique check out one's property or home.

You need to note that red cedars usually change dark-colored if exposed continuously to seaside weather. Because of this, sea side homes need to have white cedar shakes. Red cedar shingles are generally a lot more expensive when compared with white cedar types, although cost factor doesn't diminish its reputation in anyhow. They could be preferably suitable for classic Northeastern houses while white cedar shingles are image suitable for bungalows and bungalows that have been integrated Nantucket design.

In recent times, classic cedar shakes have mislaid out in a spot to synthetic shingles that emulate the cedar appear. Superior systems are utilized to make these kinds of shingles possess 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 tend to be great insulators and many superior ones offer a much cooler inside during summertime along with a warmer inside during harsh winters.

Cedar shakes, mostly for sale in honey, cinnamon, and silvery gray colors, need several quantity of repairs and maintenance. They might require initial treatment method before installation. White cedar shakes for example, could be given bleaching oil which ought to be done almost every six to seven years to enhance their durability.

Cedar shakes and cedar shingles are generally CCA treated or otherwise CCA treated. CCA represents 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 personal wonderful cedar roof. CCA cedar could make your homes roof keep going longer, but CCA isn't A hearth TREAMENT. Cedar which has been fire treated can be acquired, however your roofing company must 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 excellent, and they're also a good purchase. Information of terms for example CCA, advanced quality, Number 1, blue label and black label will assist you to find the right cedar roof for use on your home.

Elite Roofing & Small remodels, LLC provides detailed information about shingles, cedar shakes, fiberglass shakes and more. Elite Roofing & Small remodels, LLC is affiliated with the nation's Roofers Association.

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

 

Cedar Shingle Roof Vs Asphalt Shingle Roof

A cedar shingle roof remains highly coveted by homeowners. It really is one of many oldest roofing products which has continued to be constantly used inside the hundreds of years. As much as new roofing materials carry on being developed, cedar shakes still endear themselves to many. Below can be a comparison analysis of the cedar roof versus an asphalt roof.

Pros of Cedar Roofing shingles

Cedar shakes bring about far better air circulation inside the whole house. The shingles permit the where you can breathe well without trapping moisture around. This assists to keep up the dwelling of the home who is fit longer. Cedar Shakes are durable and strong. They like an increased potential to deal with bugs. A cedar shingle roof will fully stand up well towards the various weather onslaughts. Storms, hurricanes, powerful winds and flying debris will barely damage the surface of the cedar roof. The colour matures beautifully using the passing years, making it much more desirable. A cedar roof adds a definite charm to your residence. Cedar is quickly accessible in lumber yards and 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 merely the affected pieces. They may have been nailed down in a manner that each elimination proves difficult. Cedar Shingles don't endure well to constant wetting. If you live in a area where rainfall is heavy or frequent, cedar shingles aren't a great choice. Frequent wetting causes mold or mildew setting in. Replacement and repair is actually a costly business. Your better protection against constant wetting would be to use wide overhangs. Also, in case your home is shaded by many trees or nearby buildings, cedar shingles have a tendency to develop mold. You will be compelled to change them earlier than you planned. Cedar Shingles tend to be more flammable than asphalt shingles. Many areas possess a building code in place that restricts cedar shingles to reduce the danger of fire. To set up a cedar shake roof, you'll want your budget in regards to the higher side. Frequent maintenance can be important to keep your roof who is fit. Mildew and rot are ever-constant threats for some cedar roof.

Pros of Asphalt Shingle Roof

An asphalt roof is among the most affordable to purchase and install. They are available in various designs and colours, ranging from an ordinary, flat use a 3-dimensional look. Asphalt shingles have a high potential to deal with fires unlike cedar roofing. An asphalt roof can certainly decrease 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 a lot more prone to grow on asphalt roofing than cedar shingles. It causes the rooftop to produce somewhat from the stain which spoils the appearance. You may get an anti-algae coating carried out your asphalt shingles but this enhances the cost. In terms of stability, an asphalt roof is a lot more likely to be blown off by strong winds than the usual cedar roof.

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