Alt Attribute & SEO Optimization

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

In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise using alternative text for 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 round the image.

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

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

On the other hand, high keyword density can, on some search engines, trigger spam filters, which might create a penalty for your site's ranking. Even without such a penalty, your site's rankings won't take advantage of this tactic.
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 is shown on the screen. In browsing the web, the alt features of images are read aloud as well.

Imagine listening to a paragraph of text which is followed by repetitions of many keywords. The page would be far from accessible, and, to put it mildly, would be found quite annoying.
What exactly is an Alt attribute?

An ALT attribute should not be used like a description or a label to have an image, though lots of people use it in that fashion. Although it may appear natural to assume that alternate text is a label or perhaps a description, it is not!

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

The goal is to provide the same functional information that the visual user would see. The alt attribute text should be the "stand in" when the look itself is unavailable. Ask yourself this: Should you replace the look using the text, would most users get the same basic information, and would it create the same response?
A few examples:

 

Some SEO Optimization Tips

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

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

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

If it's meant to convey using 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 and for valid XHTML.

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

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

Alt text should be based on context. The same image inside 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 will be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone listening to your page should hardly be aware that a graphic image can there be.
Please keep in mind that utilizing an alt attribute for each image is needed to meet the minimum WAI requirements, that are used as the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and the remainder of Europe. Also, they are 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 apart from to make a site visually appealing/attractive and (oftentimes) satisfy the marketing departments. There is no content value (though there might be value to some sighted user).

Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there's something there that will boost the usability from the site for somebody utilizing a non-visual user agent. Make use of 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 as it were. These graphics aren't direct content and may not be considered essential, but they're essential in that they help frame what is going on.

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

For example; 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 important to get this content in there for those users.

Most times 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. The way you go in this case is really a judgment call.

III. Content and Function

This is when the image 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 understand why their alt text isn't working is they don't know why the images are there. You have to determined exactly what function a picture serves. Think about what it's about the image that's vital that you the page's intended audience.

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

Besides the alt attribute you have a couple more tools available for images.
First, in level of descriptiveness title is in 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 never shown like 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 an image. When the information found in an image is important to the meaning of the page (i.e. some important content would be lost if the image was removed), an extended description than the "alt" attribute can reasonably display ought to be used. It can offer rich, expressive documentation of a visual image.

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

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

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

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

However, if it's necessary for the whole page to operate, 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 your image and its context on the page.

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

Image Search Engine Optimization Tips

Listed below are key steps in optimizing images:

Select a logical file name that reinforces the keywords. You should use hyphens within the file name to isolate the keyword, but avoid to exceeding two hyphens. Avoid using underscores like a word separator, like for example "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 if it sees a ".gif" (GIF) file extension, it's going to assume that it is a graphic;

Make sure that the written text at the image that's highly relevant to that image.
Again, do not lose a great chance to help your website with your images in search engines. Begin using these steps to rank better on all the engines and drive increased traffic to your site TODAY.

SEO Optimization

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

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

Evaluating Your Own Traffic For Relevance

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

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

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

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

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


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


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


4. Don’t change anything.

Option #1

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

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

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

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

Option #2

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

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

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

Option #3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Considerations For Blocking Traffic By Location

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

• Why do you want to filter website traffic?


• Which locations would you want to filter?


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


• How important is this traffic?


• How to funnel visitors outside your service areas?


• The accuracy of the IP addresses locations in mind.


• Effects of non-human visitors.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Bench Craft Company on the subject of ebay

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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San Francisco Giants' Tim Lincecum donates $25,000 to Bryan Stow Fund

Giants ace Tim Lincecum is giving $25,000 to assist the longtime San Francisco fan who was attacked outside Dodger Stadium last month.

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Apple has reportedly become more aggressive in securing components from overseas suppliers, making moves such as upfront cash payments to both ensure supply and block out competitors.



Analyst Brian White with Ticonderoga Securities said in a note to investors on Thursday that Apple began "aggressively attacking" the component situation in Japan following the earthquake and tsunami that struck the country. The iPhone maker reportedly sent executives to suppliers immediately to ensure adequate supply of components, and also began offering upfront cash payments.



Separately, White's contacts in Taiwan also revealed that Apple is allegedly securing component capacity using what is known as a "three cover guarantee," referring to capacity, stock and price. Apple's move is seen as one that could potentially block out competitors and prevent them from building ample supply of devices.



The information comes as a separate report out of the Far East suggested that a one-month delay for Research in Motion's PlayBook tablet was as a result of Apple securing most of the available touch panel production capacity. The delay has forced the PlayBook to go on sale after Apple's in-demand iPad 2.



Last month, it was said that Apple could agree to price hikes in order to secure touch panel supply, particularly in the aftermath of the Japan earthquake. Apple was said to be in talks with component makers about touch panel pricing, and allegedly considered some price increases in negotiations.



In the company's last quarterly earnings call, Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook revealed that Apple had invested $3.9 billion of its nearly $60 billion in cash reserves in long-term supply contracts. He declined to reveal what components Apple had put its money toward, citing competitive concerns, but said that it was a strategic move that would position the company well in the future.



Analysts largely believe that the secret investment was related to touch panel displays that are the centerpiece of devices like the iPhone and iPad. One cost breakdown estimated that such an investment could secure Apple 136 million iPhone displays, or 60 million iPad touch panels.



It's a move similar to 2005, when Apple inked a major deal with Samsung to secure longterm supply of flash memory. NAND flash would go on to become a major part of Apple's products, including the iPhone, iPad and new MacBook Air.

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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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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.

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HealthLawProf Blog: MRSA <b>News</b>

TrackBack. TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341bfae553ef01538dd79809970b. Listed below are links to weblogs that reference MRSA News: ...

Roofing Contractors Vancouver - 5 Inquiries to Think about

Roofing Vancouver - Faq's

1. Repair or Replace?

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

2. Beauty versus Practicality?

Discuss this together with your spouse or partner. (The kids could care less...at least the children.) Truth is, nobody wants an ugly roof the same as nobody wants to be seen 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 for the price of the initial shingle instead of doing patchwork. A roof replacement doesn't happen very often (hopefully!) and thus make a choice that suits you and your loved ones well or it'll stand out like a sore thumb everyday you go home.

3. Should I replace the roof in order to sell the house for more?

Think about this very carefully prior to making a decision. With respect to the roofing material you select, a brand new roof can last anywhere from 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 standard is the reason why the roof keep going longer, but if you're not planning to remain in your present home throughout your lifetime, the larger expense may not be worth your investment. Although a brand new roof can enhance the worth of your selling price, the rise might not be enough to cover your investment and that's bound to hurt your wallet.

4. Is it a good idea for me to repair the rooftop myself?

Sure it is. Before you need to do, consult a specialist first. You can do it yourself, however, you shouldn't be considered a complete ‘lone ranger.' With respect to the extent of your repair, you may or might not change your mind. 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 be mister or miss fix-it.

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

Weather may cause delays from days to weeks. Most people prepare yourself to have their roof replaced in the summer once they know someone is going to be home during the day for any solid fourteen days. Once you have this period in mind, create a call to some trusted contractor months ahead of time to get a quote. Some companies get reserved fast and chances are, they're probably the most reputable. Planning ahead of the summer also gives you time to discuss with more and compare costs...especially if you want to have the roof done by a particular date.

 

The Top Roofing Company In Vancouver!

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

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

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

YOUR Vancouver ROOF DESERVES Believe it or not!

The roof of the Vancouver house is the very first line of defence against wind, rain, snow, ice along with other weather elements. Make sure it's up to the task. Among Vancouver Roofing companies, only Crown Roofing has got the depth of expertise and successful track record to make sure your roofing system will be properly designed and installed.

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS.

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

 

Tacoma Roofing contractor: Make your Home Beautiful

Very few people view the value of a good roof, your knowledgeable Tacoma Roofing company 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.

Your local Tacoma Roofer is knowledgeable how important a financial investment your property is for you personally, especially since it is a long term one. Your home may have been damaged slowly over the years and you have to take steps to minimize this damage. For a lot of people, keeping their property beautiful is also a matter of pride. You will find those too who'd like to turn their house right into a cost effective and efficient living place. Your roof is an integral part of your house and plays a role in each of the aspects mentioned above. For this reason, you need to employ the services of qualified a Tacoma Roofer.

Types of Roofs installed with a Tacoma Roofing contractor

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

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

A Tacoma Roofer Helps to Build Strong Homes

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

If your gutters tend to clog all too often, or there are leaks along the walls of your home, it might mean that there's debris piled-up on the top. Loose branches, piles of leaves, and other light objects that are swept on your roof throughout a storm can all contribute towards damaging your roof, which damages could be lasting. A knowledgeable Tacoma Roofing contractor will explain 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. In addition, it may also cause vermin infestation. Following a storm, your Tacoma Roofer will claim that you inspect your homes roof for just about any signs and symptoms of debris or damage.

Reverse Damages by using a Tacoma Roofing company

However high quality the roof might be, it is going to wear down over time. There are shingles that are referred to as "25 year" or "30 year" shingles, but those numbers are just related to warranty produced by the makers. They seldom require that long. Realistically speaking, "25 year" shingles won't last more than a few years. In an area that is vulnerable to storms, shingles or even the entire roof may need to be replaced every 10 years. With a Tacoma Roofing contractor, the price is going to be less than what you think.

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

Your Tacoma Roofing company will be in a position to inform you what are the smartest choice is for your homes roof. In case your roof is not inside a good condition, it is advised you have it replaced completely. The Tacoma Roofing contractor may take you thru the different roofing possibilities for you that will fit your requirements as well as your budget.

Tacoma Roofing company: Improving your Home's Efficiency

Your roof shelters you from storms, sleet, and hail. By providing adequate ventilation, your roof protects your house from overheating, and by holding in the heat, it keeps your house warm. That's why you ought to prepare your roof from indoors in addition to outdoors for just about any sort of weather emergency. A Qualified Tacoma Roofing contractor can provide help in this situation.

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

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

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

 

What is Distinction between Commercial Roofing Companies From Residential Roofing Companies

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

If this is the case 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 having 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 tend to run smaller companies and hence, tend to be more capable of bid competitively on residential jobs, which are usually small compared to comercial jobs. In fact, quite often residential roofing contractors will run one man operations, where the contractor that you talk to may be the one which actually does the work on the building.

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

Still an additional factor is that commercial jobs can run on a tighter time frame for any number of reasons, requiring an industrial contractor to employ a larger crew or crews which again makes smaller jobs less profitable for them.

 

Difference Between Commercial Roofing and Residential Roofing

Did you know that the rooftop of the building has a huge effect on the entire structure itself? Damage caused to roofs because of natural or other disasters leads to a considerable lack of property everywhere. The type of materials used to construct the roof that ought to be sturdy and long-lasting, the way in which the roof continues to be installed as well as its timely maintenance are extremely crucial. There are two kinds of roofs which are used on all of the buildings that we see around us: commercial and residential. Although it may seem that commercial roofing is done only for businesses or offices and residential roofing is done for apartments and houses, the truth is the differences tend to be more complex than that.

Residential roofing is generally completed by just one hired contractor but commercial roofing usually takes an entire team to complete the task. The reason being a commercial roof tends to be larger when it comes to square feet than the usual residential roof.
Commercial roofs are necessary carefully keeping the nature and purpose of the building in mind. For instance, when there is a restaurant in the building then external components like ventilation systems, smoke stacks and pipes will be required. Residential roofs tend not to have such components other than a chimney or two at most.
Commercial roofs is commonly flat in design to accommodate further changes at a later period, whereas most residential roofs have peaks along with other architectural features like roof gardens.
Commercial roofing is a lot more expensive than residential roofing because of the special tools, materials and safety equipment that are needed onsite. Usually the patching or maintenance work is completed in segments unlike for a residential roof where the repair or replacement work can be carried out a short while. This really is one more reason why the gear used for residential roofs is often smaller and less expensive as well.
Commercial roof installations have a extended period to accomplish compared to residential roof installations and are usually constructed in large sections. During this phase however, you should ensure that there aren't any leakages, cracks or any other visible wear and tear signs as it can cause considerable harm to the whole building.
You should install the best roof for any building depending on its purpose. Make sure that you hire a construction company that uses top notch materials and has the right equipment for the job or neglect the risk turning out to be a huge loss later.

 

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

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

First of all , a business should do when it is searching for commercial roofing contractors is to find out who other businesses in the region will work through. Obviously, this information will not be helpful if it comes as an indicator from competitors, but you will find circumstances by which it's not too hard to locate these details from suppliers or retailers. Since roofing isn't an industry-specific service, this information is easily available.

It's a wise decision for any business to get touching at least three commercial roofing contractors to make bids on the price. In this manner, the business can often get a better price. It's also vital that you make sure that each of the roofing contractors is licensed and bonded. This information are available by permitting in touch with the state contractor's board. This also makes it possible to determine whether there have been any claims filed against the company in the past.

When examining bids, it is only as important to check out what services are being offered and which products is going to be used as it is to check out the overall cost. The costs can vary quite drastically, but as tempting as possible to choose the lowest bid, this is not always your best option. In many cases, more costs now means fewer costs over time as a result of a poor roofing job. To further investigate the quality of the job, it's a good idea to check on with the Bbb in order to see if the business has been accredited, and if it's not, to a minimum of see what its rating is.

 

Picking out a Commercial Roofer

When you are searching for a roofer for the commercial roofing project you have to look for a contractor who understands the special needs of the commercial roofing project. For example it may be harder to operate on a business during business hours so either the business needs to be shut down for the repair or replacement or the job has to be done after conventional business hours. May be the roofer you are considering for the job willing and able to operate around your schedule constrictions which might involve working weekends or evenings?

When you start your research for a roofing contractor not only do you have to answer those questions however, you should also find someone which will do a top quality job without a great deal of time delays. Going about finding someone can feel as an obstacle by itself but there are several methods to make the search easier.

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

Once you select 3 or 4 roofers to place bids, you need to get ready for the bids to be widely varied. Roofers will have brand preferences which will vary and may element in pretty much than the next guy for any labor estimate. The greater detailed an itemized bid may be the more helpful it will be for you to see 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 may be tempting to take, but if they're low because of low quality workman ship it might not be worthwhile ultimately.

As the saying goes, you generally get that which you purchase, so if you are able to afford a mid-priced bid it certainly is smart to increase within your budget rather than down. You also should select your roofer based on how professional these were and just how comfortable you anticipate you will be working with them.

Finally your cost will be different depending on which kind of roofing material you choose as well as the cost to haul your old roof towards the landfill. If you are looking for places to chop corners in your roof, rather than cutting labor set you back might want to inquire about a metal roof option. Metal roofs could be cost effective and energy efficient which makes them overall money savers for that long term, and on commercial buildings they can be really low maintenance. Plus since they can be put on top of an existing roof, you don't have to have the old one removed and hauled away, which can make a large impact on your cost.

Choosing a comerical roofing company nearer your home, does not have to become a difficult task. For more information, visit http://www.vancouverroofers.net