Monday, February 22, 2010
Adwords
Adwords is a pay-per-click advertising system developed by Google aimed to assist businesses in marketing their products and websites by means of prominent text ads which appear as ‘sponsored ads’ when users search for phrases related to a particular business. This program was launched around 10 years ago and has since grown and developed.
How it works
The advertiser selects relevant keywords which are connected to his/her business and his/her ad will appear under the sidebar whenever the user is searching for a related keyword. Normally the advertiser only pays if the ad is clicked but they can also pitch the position the ad will appear on the page.
Is it that simple?
It holds a very simple concept and can be put into action in a relatively short time. But is it really that simple? One important matter that greatly affects your success in this program is your knowledge in Aword Management. One common strate¬gy for beginners is to start bidding slightly higher in order to counter-effect their lack of history and low quality score on their chosen keywords. Other important factors which greatly determine whether your ads are prominently displayed or not, is the clever choice of keywords and targeting unique aspects of your business. Without competent Adword management your budget will be used up with users, who do manage to visit your website, being disappointed since they would be landing on irrelevant pages.
Does it work?
We can certainly say that this program is a great success, especially for Google. There are mixed opinions for businesses using this program. While a large percentage claim increase in traffic volume and sales others are quite skeptical about the whole process and even claim some fraudulent behavior.
How it works
The advertiser selects relevant keywords which are connected to his/her business and his/her ad will appear under the sidebar whenever the user is searching for a related keyword. Normally the advertiser only pays if the ad is clicked but they can also pitch the position the ad will appear on the page.
Is it that simple?
It holds a very simple concept and can be put into action in a relatively short time. But is it really that simple? One important matter that greatly affects your success in this program is your knowledge in Aword Management. One common strate¬gy for beginners is to start bidding slightly higher in order to counter-effect their lack of history and low quality score on their chosen keywords. Other important factors which greatly determine whether your ads are prominently displayed or not, is the clever choice of keywords and targeting unique aspects of your business. Without competent Adword management your budget will be used up with users, who do manage to visit your website, being disappointed since they would be landing on irrelevant pages.
Does it work?
We can certainly say that this program is a great success, especially for Google. There are mixed opinions for businesses using this program. While a large percentage claim increase in traffic volume and sales others are quite skeptical about the whole process and even claim some fraudulent behavior.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
'Exterior Painting Tips and Techniques'
Today many homeowners, at some time or another, opt to take up the job of repainting their home exterior. This is no quick or easy task and requires much planning and common sense. If you are up to the job and determined to complete the work yourself then here are some important points and tips to consider.
Exterior painting jobs require a considerable amount of physical effort. You must be confident climbing scaffolding and sure-footed enough to work comfortably from that position. Ideally you should be familiar with handling paints and primers and have some experience in similar home maintenance tasks. Another factor which greatly helps in making this a successful job is ‘TIME’. Allow yourself ample time to finish the job. Start early and do not rush yourself. This is not a job that needs to be finished in a week or two. There are many factors and stages to consider and so rushing into things will not give a good result.
Plan to tackle this job in the right weather conditions. It is safe to say to stay away from extreme conditions; not too hot with direct sunlight and not having temperatures below 50 degrees F. Also try to avoid windy days as this will have your paint drying up too quickly and risking having dirt blown on to your fresh paint.
Get inspiration from various home improvement magazines, find out the latest colour trends and keep in mind not to defer greatly from your neighbours’ style of external décor. Try out small samples of paint combinations so that you can visualise the overall look of your colour scheme. Most paint store employees can be very helpful and ready to suggest the pros and cons and best combinations available.
Exterior painting jobs require a considerable amount of physical effort. You must be confident climbing scaffolding and sure-footed enough to work comfortably from that position. Ideally you should be familiar with handling paints and primers and have some experience in similar home maintenance tasks. Another factor which greatly helps in making this a successful job is ‘TIME’. Allow yourself ample time to finish the job. Start early and do not rush yourself. This is not a job that needs to be finished in a week or two. There are many factors and stages to consider and so rushing into things will not give a good result.
Plan to tackle this job in the right weather conditions. It is safe to say to stay away from extreme conditions; not too hot with direct sunlight and not having temperatures below 50 degrees F. Also try to avoid windy days as this will have your paint drying up too quickly and risking having dirt blown on to your fresh paint.
Get inspiration from various home improvement magazines, find out the latest colour trends and keep in mind not to defer greatly from your neighbours’ style of external décor. Try out small samples of paint combinations so that you can visualise the overall look of your colour scheme. Most paint store employees can be very helpful and ready to suggest the pros and cons and best combinations available.
Monday, February 1, 2010
'How to Unclog a Drain'
How many times have our drains been clogged and we immediately call a plumber to fix it? Have you ever thought that you could fix it yourself without the need of wasting your time and money? Here is your solution.
All plumbing systems develop clogs, some time or another, and there’s no way you can avoid it. However, most stopped-up sinks and plugged toilets can be fixed without the need of calling a plumber.
Everyone knows the inconvenience and mess that accompany a sluggish drain. Even so, many people wait until the drain stops completely before they take corrective action. Sometimes a clog can be cleared with a simple homemade remedy; all you need is a little determination and the right tools.
The plumbing tools you need to withstand these clogs are affordable and you can find them at any ironmongery shop. The first tool you need, and which should be kept handy, is the plunger which is used by the plumber to clear clogs from most fixtures including sinks, toilets and tubs. If the clog is located farther down the drainpipe, you will need a cable auger or plumber’s snake, which are long, flexible steel cable wound around a spool that’s fitted with a turning device. A closet auger is specifically made for fixing toilets. Similar to the plumber’s snake, it is equipped with a hand crank but instead of a spool, the cable is wrapped in a rigid shaft. Its end is bent at a precise angle to fit through the tight curves of a toilet trap.
If you have a moderately clogged drain, you might want to try this homemade method: Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar. Be careful! The two ingredients interact with foaming and fumes, so replace the drain cover loosely. Let the concoction set for about three hours before running water. If you know the slow drain is from grease, try this treatment: Pour in 1/2 cup of salt and 1/2 cup of baking soda followed by a teakettle of boiling water. Allow this combination to sit overnight.
If you want to keep your drains clog-free and odorless you should use this noncorrosive drain cleaner weekly. Combine 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup table salt, and 1/4 cup cream of tartar. Stir ingredients together thoroughly and pour into a clean, covered jar. Pour 1/4 cup of mixture into drain, and immediately add 1 cup boiling water. Wait 10 seconds, then flush with cold water.
Flushing weekly with a generous amount of boiling water also works well. Remember, if you can't clear a clog after a few attempts, turn the job over to a drain-cleaning service or licensed plumber. Exerting too much force can permanently damage a pipe or fixture.
All plumbing systems develop clogs, some time or another, and there’s no way you can avoid it. However, most stopped-up sinks and plugged toilets can be fixed without the need of calling a plumber.
Everyone knows the inconvenience and mess that accompany a sluggish drain. Even so, many people wait until the drain stops completely before they take corrective action. Sometimes a clog can be cleared with a simple homemade remedy; all you need is a little determination and the right tools.
The plumbing tools you need to withstand these clogs are affordable and you can find them at any ironmongery shop. The first tool you need, and which should be kept handy, is the plunger which is used by the plumber to clear clogs from most fixtures including sinks, toilets and tubs. If the clog is located farther down the drainpipe, you will need a cable auger or plumber’s snake, which are long, flexible steel cable wound around a spool that’s fitted with a turning device. A closet auger is specifically made for fixing toilets. Similar to the plumber’s snake, it is equipped with a hand crank but instead of a spool, the cable is wrapped in a rigid shaft. Its end is bent at a precise angle to fit through the tight curves of a toilet trap.
If you have a moderately clogged drain, you might want to try this homemade method: Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar. Be careful! The two ingredients interact with foaming and fumes, so replace the drain cover loosely. Let the concoction set for about three hours before running water. If you know the slow drain is from grease, try this treatment: Pour in 1/2 cup of salt and 1/2 cup of baking soda followed by a teakettle of boiling water. Allow this combination to sit overnight.
If you want to keep your drains clog-free and odorless you should use this noncorrosive drain cleaner weekly. Combine 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup table salt, and 1/4 cup cream of tartar. Stir ingredients together thoroughly and pour into a clean, covered jar. Pour 1/4 cup of mixture into drain, and immediately add 1 cup boiling water. Wait 10 seconds, then flush with cold water.
Flushing weekly with a generous amount of boiling water also works well. Remember, if you can't clear a clog after a few attempts, turn the job over to a drain-cleaning service or licensed plumber. Exerting too much force can permanently damage a pipe or fixture.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
