Alt Attribute & SEO Optimization

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

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

Images:. Use the alt attribute to supply descriptive text. Additionally, 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 begin to see the images.

Many webmasters and inexperienced or unethical SEOs abuse using this attribute, trying to stuff it with keywords, hoping to achieve a particular keyword density, which is not as relevant for rankings now since it once was.

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

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

An ALT attribute shouldn't be used like 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 is not!

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

The thing is to provide the same functional information that the visual user would see. The alt attribute text should be the "stand in" in the event that the image is not available. Think about this: Should you replace the image with the text, would most users receive the same basic information, and wouldn't it generate the same response?
A few examples:

 

Some SEO Optimization Tips

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

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

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

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

Some Alt Attribute Guidelines:

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

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

Keep in mind that it's the function from the image we are trying to convey. For example; any button images should not range from the word "button" in the alt text. They should emphasize the action performed through the button.

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

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

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

Eye-Candy
Mood-Setting
Content and Function

I. Eye-Candy

Eye-Candy are stuff that serve no purpose apart from to make a site visually appealing/attractive and (in many cases) satisfy the marketing departments. There is no content value (though there may be value to some sighted user).

Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there's something there which will boost 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 may 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 they help frame what's going on.

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

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

Usually this will depend on context. Exactly the same image inside a different context may need drastically different alt text. Obviously, content ought to always be fully available. How you go in this case is a judgment call.

III. Content and Function

This is where the look is the actual content. Always alt-ify content and functional images. Title and long description attributes can also be so as.
The reason many authors can't figure out why their alt text isn't working is that they don't know why the pictures exist. You need to figured out precisely what function an image serves. Consider what it is about the image that's important to the page's intended audience.

Every graphic has a reason for being on that page: because it either enhances the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is advisable to what the page is trying to describe. 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. An amount you say when encountering a specific image to create the page understandable to the listener?

Besides the alt attribute you've got a couple more tools available 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 are invisible and not shown as a "tooltip" when focus is received through the keyboard. (So much for device independence). So make use of the title attribute only for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points to the Link to a complete description of the image. If the information found in an image is essential to the meaning of the page (i.e. some important content would be lost when the image was removed), a longer description compared to "alt" attribute can reasonably display ought to be used. It may offer rich, expressive documentation of the 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 a long description of an image...The goal is by using any length of description essential to impart the facts of the graphic.

It wouldn't be remiss to hope that a long description conjures a picture - 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 every images need alternative text, long descriptions, or titles.

In many cases, you are best just choosing your gut instinct -- if it's not necessary to incorporate it, and when you don't have a strong urge to do it, don't include that longdesc.

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

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

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

Image Search Engine Optimization Tips

Listed below are key stages in optimizing images:

Choose a logical file name that reinforces the keywords. You should use hyphens in 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 a photo, and when it sees a ".gif" (GIF) file extension, it's likely to assume that it is a graphic;

Make sure that the written text nearby the image that's relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose a great opportunity to help your website with your images searching engines. Use these steps to position better on all the engines and drive increased traffic to your site TODAY.

SEO Company

The surprising part for me in recent weeks is that there are many Acquisition Marketers who still doubt that investing in SEO is even worth the effort. And, they have not even given it a try.

In some sense, it’s the “paralysis by analysis” conundrum. As SEO practitioners, we have all been faced with the question of “what’s the ROI?”

In my last article, 10 Quick & Dirty SEO Success Metrics, I made the case that tracking SEO success can get messy when you look at attribution tracking, and that you may have to resort to some more basic measurements to prove success.

It is exactly this messy success tracking that makes Acquisition Marketers hesitant to invest in SEO.

The Case For SEO As An Acquisition Vehicle

So, here’s my case for why SEO is a necessary piece of Acquisition Marketing:

A well-executed SEO strategy requires crafting and generating valuable content, promoting that content, and finding ways for trusted resources to link to that content. It takes time to see organic search results.

In this process, the most likely scenario is that “The Rank Hound” will be disappointed, and the “The Small Portfolio Ranker” will begin to have doubts, but may see some positive signs.  “The More, The Merrier” will see the breadth of keyword traffic begin to expand, and will be happy to see that progress.  But, even “The More, The Merrier” will begin to question if the right tail keywords are bringing in traffic.

However, this entire SEO process is moving the acquisition dial in the right direction!

Acquisition benefits include:

• Purchase Influencing. Quality content that is generated is positively influencing buyer behavior. Whether or not the content is found via a search engine (at the beginning), the content is still pushing website visitors closer to being buyers. By “content”, I don’t just mean written text (which is of course valuable) – great content will take many forms, including video, images, graphical depictions (including infographics), webinars, contests & promotions, local search assets (e.g. Google Places), and many other forms of great, creative, and convincing content.


• Awareness. Visits from long-tail keywords, even if not the best-converting keywords, are building brand awareness, and planting the seed that your site is there for them to come back to. You may see this traffic come back to you in future visits in your analyitcs as “Direct/Bookmark” or search queries for your brand name. But, it was the initial visit, for a very specific phrase that even gave you the opportunity for that second visit.


• Creating A Voice. In order to promote the content, you need a voice. That voice is a combination of social media engagement, PR, and traditional link building. These traffic channels, and communication processes, will be there even when Google changes the search game on us all again. People will be finding you not just via search, but through good-old-fashioned communication. But, you did the groundwork, in part, to improve SEO results.


• Competitive Keywords Will Come To You. Your quest for ranking for the best-converting, and more competitive, keywords will provide results. It will just take more time than many Acquisition Marketers are typically comfortable with. But, without making the investment in organic search, your competitors will keep taking your customers away from you.

As organic search traffic, and traffic from related sources, flows in, Acquisition Marketers can do one of the things they do best – test and optimize the user experience to capture customers and prospects, and build marketing lists to nurture with care.

Every Industry Evolves & Requires Convincing Doubters In Order To Grow

As I was drafting this article, I was bouncing ideas off of a trusted adviser, Mike Schultz, from the Rain Group. Mike’s specialty is sales training.

As I talked about my surprise at still finding so many “doubters” who have not yet invested in SEO, Mike drew an analogy to how even “mature” industries need to be re-introduced to how to sell their own services. He talked about how roughly 20 years ago, law firms began to revolutionize the way they market and sell their services (even though lawyers have been around for centuries).

It became evident, that if a competitive law firm did not engage in more aggressive marketing and demand generation, then not only were they leaving potential business on the table, the perception was that they were behind the curve.

While the SEO industry is far from mature, it is true that the speed of adoption has been at a much more rapid rate than many other marketing channels. In fact, Brian Halligan and the rest of the Hubspot team, have proven how fast a new marketing concept, such as inbound marketing, can take hold.

So, my hope is that the sophisticated, ROI-driven Acquisition Marketers will take note of the broad benefits of SEO, and invest time and money in building organic search as an acquisition channel. Even when ROI measurement is not immediately available.

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

Related Topics: In The Trenches

Over the past few weeks, a steady stream of writers and editors have jumped ship from the AOL site Engadget, and on Sunday, it became obvious this mass defection was more than just coincidence. The site’s entire senior staff has joined SB Nation, a media startup focused (for now at least) on the sports world, where they are planning to create a new gadget-oriented site. This news does two things: It reinforces how SB Nation could become a significant player in the media space, and it shines a spotlight on one of the major weaknesses in AOL’s growth plans.

Even before he left AOL, it seemed obvious Editor-in-Chief Josh Topolsky wasn’t comfortable with the new direction CEO Tim Armstrong was charting, particularly the so-called “AOL Way,” which was revealed in a series of slides from an internal presentation, and involved quotas for page views and a search-driven strategy that screamed “content farm.” The Engadget editor made it clear at the time that this approach would not apply to his site, but it came as no surprise when Senior Writer Paul Miller quit, citing the new AOL directives as a major factor in his departure. Miller said:

It doesn’t take a veteran of the publishing world to realize that AOL has its heart in the wrong place with content. As detailed in the “AOL Way,” and borne out in personal experience, AOL sees content as a commodity it can sell ads against.

In a blog post published after the SB Nation news broke this past weekend, Topolsky also took some parting shots in AOL’s direction, saying:

SB Nation believes in real, independent journalism and the potential for new media to serve as an answer and antidote to big publishing houses and SEO spam.

Arianna Huffington, who took over control of AOL’s editorial direction shortly after The Huffington Post was acquired for $315 million in February, has said in interviews — including one with a deeply antagonistic New York Times writer in that paper’s Sunday magazine this weekend — that the quota and search-driven strategy outlined in the “AOL Way” document is not the approach she plans to take. She has talked about letting authors be guided by their passions, and AOL has been getting rid of freelancers and hiring more staff writers in what appears to be an attempt to become more professional.

The biggest problem for AOL, however, is that doing this — and moving away from the content-farm approach — is likely to make the company’s content operations a lot more expensive, and that’s not something the cash-strapped former web portal can really afford. And whether Huffington likes it or not, her CEO does seem to see content as just a commodity to wrap advertising around.

The departure of the Engadget staff highlights another problem as well, which is that anyone who achieves a certain profile or status as a writer within AOL is probably going to start looking around for a better deal. This isn’t something that is unique to the former web giant, of course. All content companies suffer from the same kind of problem, since their main assets — the writers or creators of their content — are fungible and can leave at a moment’s notice. But AOL is in a particularly tenuous position because its content-focused strategy is so new, and suspicions about its true motivations (i.e, search-driven content farming) are so high. Firing hundreds of writers, as AOL did recently, also doesn’t really endear you to your staff.

The other interesting aspect of this news is that it clearly marks the rise of SB Nation as a substantial player in the online media space. The company started as a group of hyper-focused sports blogs co-founded by Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas Zuniga, and in 2008 added CEO Jim Bankoff — a former AOL executive, and one of the architects of the company’s original acquisition of Engadget. Over the past three years, Bankoff has built a substantial business while staying largely under the radar.

The company recently closed a $10.5-million funding round from heavyweights Khosla Ventures and Accel Partners, and it seems obvious Bankoff plans to use that financing to expand his operations in new areas. Anyone who thought the company was just going to focus on sports and leave the rest of the web-content game to AOL and Yahoo should probably revise their thinking pretty quickly.

Related content from GigaOM Pro (subscription req’d):

• Content Farms: The Players, The Benefits, The Risks
• How Media Companies Can Compete Online
• The Near-Term Evolution of Social Commerce

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Bench Craft Company on the art

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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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Federal prosecutors deciding whether to try Bonds again

Federal prosecutors are deciding whether Barry Bonds should stand trial again.

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Courteney Cox Does Letterman and Other <b>News</b> - The Superficial <b>...</b>

Gwyneth Paltrow makes bulimia fancy again. - Robert Pattinson is spreading disease. - Emily Browning stars in a movie about high-end date rape and,

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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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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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Additional thoughts on the Apple short:

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

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

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

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

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


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


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


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


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

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

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


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


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


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


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

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

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


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

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

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


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


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


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

It was encouraging to receive a couple submissions about  journalism:

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


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

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

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


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

And finally, a few odds and ends

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


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


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

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

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Over the years, entrepreneurs and corporate executives have devised any number of clever ways for getting rich off the working poor, but you'd have to look long and hard to find one more diabolically inventive than the RAL. Say you have a $2,000 tax refund due and you don't want to wait a week or two for the IRS to deposit that money in your bank account. Your tax preparer would be delighted to act as the middleman for a very short-term bank loan—the RAL. You get your check that day or the next, minus various fees and interest charges, and in return sign your pending refund over to the bank. Within 15 days, the IRS wires your refund straight to the lender. It's a safe bet for the banks, but that hasn't stopped them from charging astronomical interest rates. Until this tax year, the IRS was even kind enough to let lenders know when potential borrowers were likely to have their refund garnished because they owed back taxes, say, or were behind on child support.

Hewitt didn't invent the refund anticipation loan. That distinction belongs to Ross Longfield, who dreamed up the idea in 1987 and took it to H&R Block CEO Thomas Bloch. "I'm explaining it," Longfield recalls, "but Tom is sitting there going, 'I don't know; I don't know if people are going to want to do that.'"

Tax-prep shops are as common as fast-food joints in many low-income neighborhoods—there are at least half a dozen on one three-block stretch of South Broadway in Yonkers, N.Y., where these photographs were taken. A few offer reasonably priced accounting, while others charge hundreds of dollars for 20 minutes of work. But Longfield knew. He worked for Beneficial Corp., a subprime lender specializing in small, high-interest loans for customers who needed to finance a new refrigerator or dining-room set. His instincts told him the RAL would be a big hit—as did the polling and focus groups he organized. "Everything we did suggested people would love it—love it to death," he says.

He also knew Beneficial would make a killing if he could convince tax preparers—in exchange for a cut of the proceeds—to peddle this new breed of loan on his employer's behalf. Ultimately, Longfield persuaded H&R Block to sign up. But no one was as smitten as John Hewitt—who understood that people earning $15,000 or $20,000 or $25,000 a year live in a perpetual state of financial turmoil. Hewitt began opening outposts in the inner cities, Rust Belt towns, depressed rural areas—anywhere the misery index was high. "That was the low-hanging fruit," he says. "Going into lower-income areas and delivering refunds quicker was where the opportunity was."

Customers wanting a RAL paid Jackson Hewitt a $24 application fee, a $25 processing fee, and a $2 electronic-filing fee, plus 4 percent of the loan amount. On a $2,000 refund, that meant $131 in charges—equivalent to an annual interest rate of about 170 percent—not to mention the few hundred bucks you might spend for tax preparation. "Essentially, they're charging people triple-digit interest rates to borrow their own money," says Chi Chi Wu, a staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center.

In 1988, the first year he began offering the loans, Hewitt owned 49 stores in three states. Five years later, he had 878 stores in 37 states. And five years after that, when Cendant Corp.—the conglomerate that owned Avis, Century 21, and Days Inn—bought Jackson Hewitt for $483 million, his earliest backers received a $2 million payout on every $5,000 they'd invested. Today, with 6,000 offices scattered across the country, Jackson Hewitt is more ubiquitous than KFC, and has about as many imitators.

 

THERE WOULD BE NO refund anticipation loans, of course, without tax refunds. And by extension there would be no RALs without the Earned Income Tax Credit, the federal anti-poverty initiative that served as the mother's milk nourishing the instant-refund boom. Welfare reform was the catalyst for the EITC, which was aimed at putting extra cash in the pockets of low-income parents who worked. What motive does a single mother have to get a job, conservative thinkers asked, if there was scant difference between her monthly take-home pay and a welfare check? It was Richard Nixon who first floated the idea that led to the Earned Income Tax Credit; Ronald Reagan dubbed it "the best pro-family, the best job creation measure to come out of Congress." In 2007, the US Treasury paid out $49 billion to 25 million taxpayers.

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The Week takes a short look at what yesterday's GE news hoax may have actually accomplished: --"It was a glimpse of an ideal world." Idea here is that the fake storyline might have helped people imagine a world where businesses "biggest ...

Roofing Companies Vancouver - 5 Inquiries to Consider

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 few trusted contractors and contact them well ahead of time of when you wish to get your roof fixed to help you compare costs and opinions.

2. Beauty versus Practicality?

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

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

Consider this very carefully prior to making a choice. Depending on the roofing material you choose, a brand new roof can last between twenty, fifty, to one-hundred years! This means you need to check the year from the roof that's currently over your head first. Are you at year 18 of the 20-year warranted roof or year 30 of the 50-year warranted roof? Obviously, the standard is what makes the roof keep going longer, but if you're not likely to stay in your current home throughout your lifetime, the larger expense may not be worth your investment. Although a new roof can improve the value of your selling price, the increase might not be enough to cover neglect the and that's definitely going to hurt your wallet.

4. Is it advisable that i can repair the roof myself?

Sure it's. Before you do, consult an expert first. You can do it yourself, but 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 about the problem first and perhaps even a free quote to help you do the math later and find out if it's truly worth your time and effort, sweat, and money to become mister or miss fix-it.

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

Weather may cause delays from days to weeks. Most people plan ahead to have their roof replaced in the summertime when they have a friend will be home during the day for any solid two weeks. Once you have this era in mind, create a call to a trusted contractor months ahead of time to obtain a quote. Some companies get reserved fast and chances are, they're probably the most reputable. Planning ahead of the summer also provides you with time to discuss with many compare costs...especially if you want to have the roof done by a particular date.

 

The very best Roofing Company In Vancouver!

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

If the response to these questions is "Yes" it's time to call the very best 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 while using finest quality materials, installed with precision and the highest degree of customer service.

YOUR Vancouver ROOF DESERVES NO LESS!

The roof of your Vancouver house is the first type of defence against wind, rain, snow, ice and other weather conditions. Be sure it is up to the task. Among Vancouver Roofing companies, only Crown Roofing has got the depth of expertise and successful history to ensure your roofing system will be properly designed and installed.

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS.

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

GET A FREE INSPECTION AND EVALUATION Of the Vancouver ROOF.

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

 

Tacoma Roofing company: Make your Home Beautiful

Very few people understand the worth of a solid roof, but your knowledgeable Tacoma Roofing contractor does. From first hand experience, they will be able to let you know why you need a strong, secure, and leak-free roof on your home.

The local Tacoma Roofing company is knowledgeable how important an economic investment your house is for you personally, especially since it is a long term one. Your home might have been damaged slowly through the years and also you need to take steps to reduce this damage. For a lot of people, keeping their property beautiful is another matter of pride. There are those too who'd like to turn their property into a economical and efficient living place. Your homes roof is a valuable part of your house and contributes to each of the aspects mentioned previously. Because of this, you should employ the expertise of qualified a Tacoma Roofer.

Types of Roofs installed with a Tacoma Roofer

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

Each kind of roof invites distinct problems, however they can be easily looked after with a trusted Tacoma Roofing contractor. It's vital that you nip roof problems in the bud before they become too expensive or dangerous. You can schedule a scheduled appointment with the Tacoma Roofer to take a look at your homes roof to see if there are any issues or potential issues with it. If you will find, they may be able to let you know how to deal with them.

A Tacoma Roofing contractor Helps you to Build Strong Homes

The exteriors of any house, primarily the roof and gutters, face the onslaught of bitter and varying climate conditions, every single day. Painting, repairing, and cleaning gutters might be necessary. In some instances you may have to replace them completely. Usually, whenever your gutters show signs of trouble, your roof must also be inspected for problems. Whatever issues there may be, an experienced Tacoma Roofing company can examine them at length and suggest the remedy.

If your gutters often clog all too often, or you will find leaks along the walls of your home, it might mean that there is debris piled up on the top. Loose branches, piles of leaves, and other light objects which are swept onto your roof during a storm can all contribute towards damaging your roof, and these damages could be lasting. A knowledgeable Tacoma Roofer will explain that birds, mice, along with other types 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, be responsible for loose shingles, mold, and indoor leaks in your home. In addition, it may also cause vermin infestation. After a storm, your Tacoma Roofer will claim that you inspect your roof for any signs and symptoms of debris or damage.

Reverse Damages with the Help of a Tacoma Roofing company

However high quality the roof might be, it will eventually wear down 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 produced by the manufacturers. They seldom last that long. Realistically speaking, "25 year" shingles won't last a lot more than a few years. Within an area that is vulnerable to storms, shingles or even the entire roof may need to be replaced every 10 years. Having a Tacoma Roofer, the price is going to be less than what you think.

If there you lose any shingles, or there's some harm to them, a Tacoma Roofing company will be able to help you. Damaged shingles can result in indoor leaks, as the substrate of the roof becomes subjected to the sun and rain. Shingles that are loose or broken can slip off and pose a potential hazard to individuals standing below. Missing shingles produce a gap which allows rain, wind, ice, and debris to develop under the adjoining shingles, which results in 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 Roofing contractor, if you give them a call up with your suspicions of loose or missing shingles.

Your Tacoma Roofing company come in a position to tell you what the smartest choice is for your homes roof. In case your roof is not inside a good shape, it is advised that you have it replaced completely. The Tacoma Roofing company can take you through the different roofing possibilities to you which will suit your requirements and your budget.

Tacoma Roofer: Enhancing your Home's Efficiency

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

First of all, inspect your homes roof thoroughly for any and all 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 assistance of your local Tacoma Roofing company. It can be quite dangerous to climb to the roof of your house. This is where the contractor from Tacoma Roofing company comes in. He will check out the strength and security of the roof and shingles, and do a general inspection of the entire roof structure, to make sure that it is in proper working order. They'll be in a position to point to issues that you have to keep close track of and problems you may not have spotted.

You will need all of the help you can get in the Tacoma Roofing contractor. You are able to help your homes roof by installing a gutter guard or leaf cover to help prevent debris from forming in your gutters. The additional weight of debris prevents the gutters from draining and can even tear them down. Check the fasteners in your gutters and when they are loose, tighten them. Do something to alter worn screws and brackets. If you have a chimney in your home, inspect the bricks and mortar signs and symptoms of wear. A trusted mason can be recommended by your Tacoma Roofer, if there are any repairs to become done.

Tacoma Roofer: Someone You Can Rely on
When you know or suspect that there's a problem, your Tacoma Roofer ought to be contacted. They are able to use their knowledge and expertise to obtain your home back in ace condition simply by focusing on the roof. Your roof deserves attention. So give them a call today, to enable them to conclude working on your roof.

 

What is Difference Between Commercial Roofing Companies From Residential Roofing Companies

If you are 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 huge difference is usually that times a commercial 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 your commercial roofing company hasn't signed a contract with a union they may be outfitted just for commercial jobs and that means that their workers and equipment might not be in line with smaller residential jobs.

Residential roofing contractors generally often run smaller companies and hence, are more in a position to bid competitively on residential jobs, which are usually smaller than comercial jobs. Actually, often times residential roofing contractors will run one man operations, where the contractor that you speak with may be the one which actually does the work about the building.

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

Still one more factor is the fact that commercial jobs can operate on tighter time frame for any quantity of reasons, requiring an industrial contractor to train on a larger crew or crews which again makes smaller jobs less profitable on their behalf.

 

Distinction between Commercial Roofing and Residential Roofing

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

Residential roofing is usually completed just by one hired contractor but commercial roofing usually takes a whole team to accomplish the job. This is because a commercial roof is commonly larger in terms of sq ft than the usual residential roof.
Commercial roofs are necessary carefully keeping the nature and reason for your 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 will be required. Residential roofs tend not to have such components apart from a chimney or two at most.
Commercial roofs is commonly flat in design to support further changes at a later period, whereas most residential roofs have peaks and other architectural features like roof gardens.
Commercial roofing is much 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 any residential roof in which the repair or replacement work can be completed in a short time. This really is one more reason why the gear used for residential roofs is usually smaller and less expensive too.
Commercial roof installations take a extended period to accomplish compared to residential roof installations and therefore are usually constructed in large sections. In this phase however, it is important to ensure that there are no leakages, cracks or other visible wear and tear signs as it can certainly cause considerable damage to the entire building.
It is important to install the right roof for a building based on its purpose. Ensure that you hire a construction company that utilizes first class materials and has the right equipment for the job or your investment may turn out to be considered a huge loss later.

 

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

If a business is looking to have work done on its roof, you should use commercial roofing contractors that have an enthusiastic knowledge of any special needs that a business might have. As an example, a roofing job is often disruptive for that operation of economic as always. Because of this, it may be necessary for the business to be temporarily turn off, or the roofing to take place after business hours have ended. A roofing contractor that understands these needs can function together with a business in order to make certain these kinds of issues are minimized.

The first thing that a company must do when it is trying to find commercial roofing contractors is to discover who other businesses in the region are working through. Obviously, this information will not be helpful whether it comes as a suggestion from competitors, but there are circumstances in which it's not too difficult to locate these details from suppliers or retailers. Since roofing isn't an industry-specific service, this post is readily available.

It's a wise decision for any business to obtain in touch with a minimum of three commercial roofing contractors to make bids about the price. In this way, the company can often get a better price. It is also vital that you ensure that each of the roofing contractors is licensed and bonded. This information are available by getting in touch with the 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 important 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 prices can differ quite drastically, but as tempting as possible to choose the cheapest bid, this is not always your best option. In many cases, more costs now means fewer costs in the long run due to a poor roofing job. To help investigate the quality of the job, it is a good idea to check on with the Better Business Bureau to be able to see if the company continues to be accredited, and when it has not, to at least see what its rating is.

 

Selecting a Commercial Roofer

When you are looking for a roofer for your 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 company needs to be shut down for that repair or replacement or the job has to be done after conventional business hours. Is the roofer you are thinking about for the job ready to operate around your schedule constrictions which might involve working weekends or evenings?

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

Ask people around you for referrals and then try to find at least three contractors to provide you with written bids on 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 in case your roofer is licensed and when there are any past judgments or claims against their license.

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

As the saying goes, you generally get what you pay for, so if you can afford a mid-priced bid it certainly is smart to go up within your budget instead of down. You also ought to decide your roofer depending on how professional these were and just how comfortable you anticipate you'll be dealing with them.

Finally your cost will be different based on what type of roofing material you choose along with the cost to haul your old roof to the landfill. Should you be looking for places to cut corners on your roof, rather than cutting labor cost you might want to ask about metallic roof option. Metal roofs can be economical and energy efficient which makes them overall money savers for that long term, as well as on commercial buildings they may be really low maintenance. Plus given that they can be placed along with an existing roof, you don't need to have the old one removed and hauled away, which can make a large effect on your cost.

Selecting a comerical roofing company nearer your home, does not have to become a struggle. To learn more, visit http://www.vancouverroofers.net

 

Seattle Roofing Companies - How To Find The Best

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

Harsh Weather

How come roofing contractors essential in this part of the country? Because Seattle is usually bombarded by rain along with other harsh climate conditions, you'll need a roof that may withstand all of the forces of nature. With this thought, you need individuals who know the Seattle weather best, and who understand what materials can best get into your homes roof for it to last far longer in the region. On top this, you have to blend with the remainder of the houses in your living area, so you cannot simply get whatever roof you please.

In most these aspects, a Seattle roofing contractors should be able to assist you. All that you should do is look for Seattle roofing contractors online to be able to obtain the best value for your money without wondering if the contractor will suddenly run away with it and then leave you roof-less.

Why the Contractor Model Works

If you wish to put up your homes roof by yourself, you'll have to buy a good deal of materials, secure permits and licenses, and obtain materials that are suitable for help you stay safe against harsh extremes of Seattle weather. Which means that if you're a DIY sort of guy or gal, you will have to undergo a good deal of legwork in order to get the job done.

On the other hand, a Seattle roofer can perform all of the jobs for you and provide a package that may help you save time and money. Because contractors operate under licenses and buy materials in large quantities, they are able to get discounts on building materials that you would not otherwise get should you be buying merely for your own home.

Roofing Associations

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

For instance, Seattle Roof Brokers operates with over 500 roofing contractors within the Puget Sound. This group has over half a century of roofing experience and experience working with Seattle roofing contractors, therefore it knows what type of roofing you want. The rooftop Brokers group can hook you up using the contractor that you need so you don't have to look for contractors individually.

What In the event you Demand out of your Contractor?

When you finally get a contractor within the Seattle area, you need to do a lot of research on the roofing contractors themselves. Ask for a list of previous companies or persons that the contractor worked with 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, which has courteous workers who'll respect your opinions and make sure that the needs are met. Make sure that you get the best value for your money: if you're not satisfied with the job, you have to be guaranteed either money back, or a free, new roof. Moreover, additionally you need the workers to get 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 achieve touching good Seattle roofing contractors, you can be guaranteed a good roof along with a better house right in this fantastic city.

Selecting the Right Roofing Contractor Company for Replacing Your homes roof

The shingles in your roof need replacing and you are minded to find a roofing contractor to change the them. Maybe you have already known as 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 searching for a legitimate roofer.

Where's the roofing contractor located? It is important to hire a roofing contractor that's local. Chances are you will get 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 the previous customers who're prepared to vouch that excellent service was received. This will not be the only real element in deciding upon your future roofing contractor 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 places that supply the contractor with supplies can reveal the amount of materials and regularity of supplying the contractor to assist determine their stability.
So how exactly does the roofing contractor company handle complaints? There's a large number of issues that can arise throughout the progress of a roofing replacement. Ask what their process is perfect for handling complaints when they arise. It's also a great idea to receive a past client reference who were built with a complaint which was resolved to the satisfaction from the client.
The payment schemes. Do you know the terms of payment for the job? What is the deposit and amount due upon completion? Even though it is certainly reasonable that a substantial payment be made before a contractor begins focus on a project, it is highly recommended that full payment isn't made until following the entire job is completed.
Written contract. All the roofing replacement ought to be put in an itemized contract. No part of the contracting job should rely on verbal assurances.
Bonding. There are stuff that can go wrong with roofing installations that end up costing quite a bit of money to repair. Should this happen on your roofing replacement, you will feel a great deal better knowing that your roofing contractor is bonded. This can supply the funds to repair whatever mistakes were made. Find a roofing contractor that's bonded.
Manufacturer Warranty. Quality materials for roofing typically come with a warranty. It is important to verify that there's actually a warranty on the materials being installed. Request a copy of the warranty.
Period of time running a business How long has got the company you're interviewing been in business? A short in time business may reflect instability. When the contractor has been around business under 3 years, verify just how long they've been in the industry. A new contractor might have a long time experience working on roofs before they form their very own business. Seek a business that's been around for three or more years, or where the contractor has had a lot more years performing roofing replacements. This again shouldn't be the only factor, everyone has to begin sometime. Balance this with referrals and the other points raised in this article.
Appropriate Permits. A Seattle roofer should know what permits are required for fixing your roof. They should be conscious of how to obtain these permits for you. Ask the contractor whether or not they will have the permits essential to repair the roof.
Liability. If your worker becomes injured, who is responsible for the worker's compensation? If the contractor's equipment damages your home, who is liable for the repairs? A good contractor will give you certificates of insurance for liability and worker's compensation before they start repairing your roof.
Subcontractors. Verify if the contractor will be using subcontractors. If so, it is highly recommended that everything contained in this article for verifying whether the contractor is credible also needs to be relevant to subcontractors. You should get the names and license numbers of all subcontractors. You should verify whether each subcontractor can also be insured so you are not held responsible for their accidents.
Pending Legal Actions. You should verify whether there are any legal actions against the contractor. This is not only necessary for verifying whether the roofing company is legitimate (credible roofing companies should not have to defend themselves in the court), it's also important because a lost lawsuit might lead to the contractor to visit bankrupt. For those who have made a substantial down payment for services immediately before the company goes bankrupt, you could lose many thousands of dollars and never have your roofing completed.
Material Disposal. Who is responsible for getting rid of the waste generated from the roof being replaced? Will your contractor handle every aspect of this? Can there be one more cost for getting rid of this waste?
NRCA Membership. Membership in local or national roofing associations, such as the NRCA, shows resolve for staying current with the very best means of roof replacement and maintenance. Look for a roofer having a high standard of education regarding their trade.
Replacing your roof is a significant investment. It makes sense to ask serious questions before working with a roofer. Here are a few more tips that you ought to consider when selecting the very best roofing contractor for the upcoming roofing replacement.

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

 

To your SEO needs, you should check out Vancouver web design and Vancouver Search engine optimization company

It is true how the cyberspace is just about the biggest financial market nowadays. Practically it is all totally anchored on the internet. Currently, there are more than 182 million internet sites online but still counting. If all these websites offers possibilities to earn money, just think of the limitless opportunities which can be found in the internet. Moreover, using the emergence of internet sites, the requirement of internet hosting and Search| Engine Optimization is significantly defined.

Search Engine Optimization is simply the process of improving the visibility of your site. As a result, if you would like your web site to be visible to visitors, you ought to seek for SEO Company. The optimization strategy considers how search spiders work and what individuals usually and what keywords they use. The key objective of Search engine optimization is making sites visible in search sites with the natural or organic way.

Search engines optimization or natural seo is really a expression used in describing unpaid, algorithm-driven connection between any particular engine. Quite simply, organic SEO uses natural strategies in achieving search results ranking. While there are 2 camps that search engine optimization companies may fall to, and these are the 'White Hat' and 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 just isn't very easy whatsoever. When search bots modify their algorithms, factors that enable your web site to seem facing clients are drastically changed too. Thus, in order to deal with these changes, SEO tactics and methods has to be employed.

It will always be ethical to utilize organic search engine optimization since search sites nowadays are becoming extremely advanced they can easily determine if an internet site is attempting to govern their search indexes. Thus it really is empirical to utilize search engine optimization practices which are carried out wherein appear natural.

The approaches utilized 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 search engine optimization 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. Effortlessly these, it's possible to clearly understand why search engines engine optimization is better than artificial seo. Even though latter might be more challenging and complicated, it produces favorable results which are very theraputic for any site. Fortunately, there are a lot of Vancouver SEO companies today that offer the organic method in affordable rates and packages.

Search Engine Optimization Appears on the Scene

Once when search engine marketing was actually not essential.

Even as late like a decade ago, should you developed a Web page anywhere, Google indexed it and you gained visibility in its search engine 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.

Things are unrecognizably different now.

Affiliate pages with "cookie-cutter" content duplicated everywhere might never get to the Google index; the same fate is probably for those pages you throw in over a free-for-all website. As well as "proper" websites with your own website name did not achieve visibility one of the proliferating sites in millions.

These would not have mattered, except for one thing. It had been Google that provided the bread and butter for your countless small enterprises that may not afford expensive marketing campaigns. In case your site was one of the top few sites the appeared before a searcher's eyes when that individual searched for your product, you got hundreds as well as thousands of visitors, lots of whom even bought your product or service.

Search engine optimization (SEO) entered the scene. Search results specialists "reverse-engineered" to recognize the standards that Google consider for showing websites at the top of its search results pages. These factors were then consciously incorporated into your Web pages with the hope that Google can have your site the primary ten results it showed on the first page.

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

There was "black hat" SEO practitioners who showed one page to search engines and another to human visitors. As engines like google weren't bothered with readability, you might fill the "search engine" page with pure gibberish, but gibberish developed in wherein the engine dutifully indexed high.

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

We are going to look at search engine marketing in the number of articles, starting off with an look and feel at on-line or Internet marketing.

 

To your SEO needs, you should check out vancouver web design and Vancouver Search engine optimization company.

 

Cedar Roofing: Many Benefits

Cedar shakes are just concerning the most great looking shakes available today. Frequently designed from red-colored cedar about the coniferous forests of northwestern United states of america, they're exactly the best roof covering materials for proprietors who prefer supplying his / her roofs an organic look.

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

It is critical to observe that red cedars usually change dark-colored if exposed continuously to seaside weather. Because of this, sea side homes have to have white cedar shakes. Red cedar shingles are usually a many more expensive compared to white cedar types, even though cost factor doesn't diminish its reputation in anyhow. They could be preferably perfect for classic New England houses while white cedar shingles are image suited to bungalows and bungalows that have been integrated Nantucket design.

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

Cedar shakes, mostly accessible in honey, cinnamon, and silvery gray colors, need several level of repairs and maintenance. Needed initial procedure before installation. White cedar shakes by way of example, could be addressed with bleaching oil which ought to be done virtually every six to seven years to enhance their durability.

Cedar shakes and cedar shingles are either CCA treated or otherwise CCA treated. CCA means chromated copper arsenate. CCA is a chemical that stops the rise of mold, mold and fungus so it helps maintain insects from eating away your own personal wonderful cedar roof. CCA cedar could make your homes roof stay longer, but CCA isn't A fireplace TREAMENT. Cedar that has been fire treated is available, your roofing company need to special order it. CCA treated cedar shingles cost 15 - 20% more than non-CCA cedar. Most cedar roofs are often not CCA treated.

Cedar shakes and cedar shingles are wonderful, and they're another good purchase. Information of terms for example CCA, advanced quality, Number one, blue label and black label will assist you to pick the right cedar roof for use on your home.

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

Discover more about cedar shingles, and obtain 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's among the oldest roofing products which includes always been constantly being used within the hundreds of years. Just as much as new roofing materials carry on being developed, cedar shakes still endear themselves to many. Below is often a comparison analysis of the cedar roof versus an asphalt roof.

Pros of Cedar Roofing shingles

Cedar shakes contribute to far better air circulation within the entire home. The shingles permit the where you can breathe well without trapping moisture around. This can help to maintain the dwelling of the home who is fit longer. Cedar Shakes are durable and strong. They like a greater potential to deal with bugs. A cedar shingle roof will operate well for the various weather onslaughts. Storms, hurricanes, powerful winds and flying debris will barely damage the surface of the cedar roof. Along with matures beautifully with all the passing years, which makes it even more desirable. A cedar roof adds a definite charm to your residence. Cedar is instantly accessible in lumber yards and doesn't require a lot of expertise or specialized tools to install.

Cons of Cedar Shakes

If rot shows its head, you'd be compelled to change the whole lot. It is not easy extracting merely the affected pieces. They might have been nailed down in a manner that each elimination proves difficult. Cedar Shingles don't last well to constant wetting. If you reside in a area where rainfall is heavy or frequent, cedar shingles aren't an ideal choice. Frequent wetting causes mold or mildew to create in. Replacement and repair might be a costly business. Your very best protection against constant wetting should be to use wide overhangs. Also, should your house is shaded by many trees or nearby buildings, cedar shingles often develop mold. You'll be compelled to exchange them prior to you planned. Cedar Shingles tend to be flammable than asphalt shingles. Many areas use a building code in place that restricts cedar shingles to minimize the risk of fire. To set up a cedar shake roof, you must have your budget concerning the higher side. Frequent maintenance can also be essential 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 least expensive to buy and install. They are available in various designs and colours, including a regular, flat consider a 3-dimensional look. Asphalt shingles have a great effectiveness fires unlike cedar roofing. An asphalt roof can actually lessen the risk of fires due to flying embers. Asphalt roofs are easier and cheaper to install than cedar. Also, they are low maintenance roofs.

Cons of Asphalt Shingle Roof

Algae is a lot more susceptible to grow on asphalt roofing than cedar shingles. It causes the cover to produce somewhat of the stain which spoils the looks. You can get an anti-algae coating carried out your asphalt shingles but this increases the cost. When it comes to stability, an asphalt roof is a lot more probably be blown off by strong winds compared to a cedar roof.

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