Affordable search engine optimization within reach

A few years back businesses were throwing 20-30k a month on search engine optimization; at least the bigger businesses were. The small business was hard pressed to find search engine optimization for much less that actually worked.

As of today the landscape of search engine optimization has changed. Many of the once coveted secrets of seo are now common knowledge. More and more people know how to do search engine optimization and since supply increased the prices have dropped.

Another factor is that alot of the grunt work of seo that would have increased costs has been diminished via outsourcing to India and other countries who can now do this mind numbing work for much less thereby allowing seo firms to lower their costs even more.

As an seo with around 7 years of experience I find that most of my time these days is spent in research. Google is pretty good at keeping us all on our toes with each update they make to their search engine algorithm. Scouring forums, chatting with colleagues and investing time in experimentation seems to fill many of my days lately.

Having relegated much of my own firm’s grunt work to freelancers I am able to provide more and more value to my own clients for less dollars. In fact I find that my clients keep getting smarter and smarter and more confident about doing their own seo that I many times simply play the role of a consultant or seo coach.

As a consumer though I advise that people still be very careful about what they purchase even if it is cheap. Money is money and after all you still want results. The old rules apply here when searching for affordable search engine optimization and are as follows…

Get case studies from any prospective seo you might hire

Get testimonials

Check references

Look for a proven track record and at least 3 years of online history in the industry

Always make sure they have a money back guarantee

Try dealing with a local firm based in the U. S. whether or not they use outsourcing is no matter as long as the actual company itself has a U. S. base. The reason being is that if something goes wrong it’s very difficult legally if you were dealing with a company based somewhere like Bulgaria.

Honestly a lot of seo really isn’t that hard but it does require an attentive eye and a lot of patience. There are tried and true strategies to achieve top rankings but they don’t happen over night.

We actually just created a mentoring package for folks who just want to do it themselves and save money and do it the right way. It seems to be working well and I encourage those who are not happy with their current website traffic or search engine rankings to consider such a program as a viable alternative.

Online video poker gambling tips

Online video poker is a very popular casino game. You can find it in every online online casino. Video poker isn’t game of pure chances. Your winnings depend on your knowledge. There are some general VP gambling tips. They are very easy. Follow them and you increase your chances.

1. Play full-pay video poker only. For Jacks or Better video poker full-pay is paying 9 coins for full-house, 6 coins for a flush as designated under one coin line. For Deuses Wild find full-pay is paying 9 coins for Straight Flush and 5 coins for 4/kind.

2. Play maximum coin. Casinos hold 2% more money on video poker, because players do not play maximum coins. The odds are determined by the payback table, not by the denomination of the machine.

3. Know the Paytables. This is one of the most important keys to success in video poker. Pay-out with optimum play for 9/6 Jacks or Better Video Poker variation is 99.5%. 8/5 Jacks or Better (pay 8 coins for full-house and 5 coins for a flush) gives 5% less payout than 9/6 VP.

4. Jacks or Better recommended for novice players or limited bankrolls, especially nickel online video poker machines.

5. Deuces Wild version of video poker has high jackpot but too expensive.

6. Do not play progressive video poker unless jackpot is high and ready to hit. 8665 coins is the break-even point on this game. On a quarter game the jackpot needs to be $2166.25, and on a dollar game the jackpot needs to be $8665.

7. Progressive video pokers require a larger bankroll.

8. There are more than a hundred different video poker machines to choose from. Find charts with optimal strategy for every online video poker variations you play. You should at the very least know how to play Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild. Learn them. You can practice online at an online casino, or you can practice on free flash games on sites.

9. Take time to study every hand. You are playing against a machine; no one will intimidate you if your play is too slow.

10. The random number generator is random and simulates a 52 deck of cards. The chances of getting any particular card are 1 in 52. Do not try to find any trends. It’s the way to loose money and time.

11. Play each hand like a new game. Every game of video poker that you play is an independent event.

12. Manage you bankroll. If you have no bankroll, you can't play. If you have $100, you have to play $0.25 Jacks or Better Video Poker machine. It is important to note that the smaller your bankroll the higher the risk of ruin. There is a risk that a bad streak will cause you to lose your money before things average out.

13. Remember it and just enjoy the game. As I say above your winnings depend on your knowledge, but Video Poker isn’t game of skill. Video Poker is gamble.

14. Understand your goals. If you're looking for a second income, you're going to need a different approach than if you're just playing to get free drinks and a comp room now and then.

The dating scene - signs of a promising relationship

Celine was just starting to date again after a difficult breakup. She was feeling anxious because she didn’t want to go through another unhappy relationship, but she didn’t trust herself to make good choices. She sought my help in learning how to discern a promising relationship from one that is bound to fail.

In Celine’s last relationship, she had been pulled in by Gary’s ardent pursuit of her. She had wanted to go slower but didn’t listen to herself. Instead, she gave herself up to Gary’s attention and compliments.

“Celine, my experience with men who come on strong right away is that they are often controlling and needy. Is that what happened with Gary?”

“Yes. He seemed so loving and open at the beginning, but once we were in a committed relationship, he started to pull on me for time and attention. He became critical and angry and petulant when I didn’t give him what he wanted. How could I have known all this at the beginning? What should I look for now that I’m dating again?”

Celine had gone on one date with a man named Mark. After this first date, Mark emailed her, saying that he wanted to spend a lot of time with her and go on a trip with her.

“Shades of Gary,” she said. “This is a red flag, right?”

Celine and I explored some of the red flags as well as some of the signs of a promising relationship.

SOME RED FLAGS

• Comes on strong at the beginning of the relationship.

• Becomes angry, critical or withdrawn if you say no.

• Becomes logical and tries to talk you out of your feelings or your experience. Tries to make you feel that you are wrong for your feelings or your position.

• Talks on and on about himself or herself and doesn’t ask you much about you, or is uninterested when you do talk about yourself.

• An older man or woman who has never been married and has been in a series of broken relationships.

• Numerous broken marriages.

• Has an abusive background and has not had therapy.

• Has abandoned his or her children.

• Not open to learning from relationship conflict.

• Participates in addictions that are unacceptable to you – smoking, drinking, drugs, addictive eating, gambling, TV, and so on.

• Financially irresponsible.

• Not truthful.

• Has few friends.

• Judgmental of self and others. Talks about self and others in disparaging ways.

• Is possessive and jealous. Gets upset when you do your own thing.

• Totally different views from yours regarding religion and/or spirituality.

• Few interests and hobbies.

Celine and I discussed the fact that you get what you see.

“It’s not that people can’t change,” I told her, “but you can’t change them. If he is not okay with you the way he is right now, then don’t pursue the relationship. If you are an on time person and heis always late, don’t expect this to change. If it’s not okay, then don’t pursue the relationship. Same thing with weight, being neat or messy, being a free spender or being frugal. These issues can become huge problems in relationships because people expect them to change and get very upset when they don’t.”

SOME SIGNS OF A PROMISING RELATIONSHIP

• Shows respect for your feelings and needs, even when they are different from his or her feelings and needs.

• Is able to be empathic and compassionate.

• Is interested in what you have to say and in learning about you.

• Is accepting of self and others – non-judgmental.

• Is open to exploring conflict and differences of opinion.

• Does what he or she says he or she will do.

• Cares about being responsible for children from a broken marriage – has not abandoned his or her children.

• Takes responsibility for his or her own feelings, health and well bring. Does not make you responsible for his or her feelings.

• Is financially responsible. Does not expect you to take care of him or her financially.

• If divorced, takes responsibility for his or her part of the difficulties.

• A person who was in a loving relationship and lost their mate to death. People who have been in loving relationships generally know how to have loving relationships.

• Has friends that you like.

• Talks about others in caring and supportive ways.

• Has interests and hobbies that are fulfilling to him or her.

• Similar religious or spiritual path to yours.

• Is supportive of you doing what brings you joy. Feels joy for your joy and pain for your pain.

• Can laugh at mistakes. Has a good sense of humor.

• Has balance between work and play. Knows how to work hard and how to have fun.

Before you can find the “right” person, you need to become the right person. Doing your own inner work so that you can fit the descriptions above for a promising relationship is the first step in finding a loving relationship.

Symptoms of multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of your plasma cells. Plasma cells are a type of white blood cell present in your bone marrow — the soft, blood-producing tissue that fills in the center of most of your bones. The exact cause of multiple myeloma isn't known.

Although multiple myeloma may not cause symptoms early in the disease, it's likely that you'll experience symptoms as the disease progresses.

Signs and symptoms of the disease can vary from person to person. One of the most common symptoms, however, is bone pain. A common sign is the presence of abnormal proteins, which can be produced by myeloma cells, in your blood or urine. These proteins which are antibodies or parts of antibodies — are called monoclonal, or M, proteins.

Often discovered during a routine exam, monoclonal proteins may indicate multiple myeloma, but also can indicate other conditions.

Common potential sign of multiple myeloma is a high level of calcium in your blood. This can occur when calcium from affected bones dissolves into your blood. As a result, you may experience signs and symptoms such as:

Excessive thirst and urination

Constipation

Nausea

Loss of appetite

Mental confusion

Plasma cells usually make up less than 5 percent of the cells in your bone marrow. But if you have multiple myeloma, a group of abnormal plasma cells (myeloma cells) multiplies, raising the percentage of plasma cells to more than 10 percent of the cells in your bone marrow. The result can be erosion of your bones. The disease also interferes with the function of your bone marrow and immune system, which can lead to anemia and infection. Multiple myeloma may also cause problems with your kidneys.

We urge you to gather more information on myeloma so that you can easily recognize the signs if you do encounter such a situation. Knowing the symptoms early can save a life! Be it your life, or a life of your loved ones. Find out more about Myeloma today!

Offseason discipline - nfl players diversifying their training

NFL players are individuals by nature, and each position and scheme demands different physical and mental capabilities in order to maximize success. As such, offseason training that used to be a matter of running a few miles per day to stay in shape has become its own cottage industry. We’ll take a look at some different things players do to stay in shape and to get bigger, faster and stronger during the offseason.

Cardiovascular Training

Perhaps the oldest form of training in the NFL, every player needs to be able to keep his wind if he’s to play football. In recent years, however, innovations within this discipline have grown increasingly popular. Some players just run for long distances. Others run wind sprints ad nauseum. Many combine the two, and other legendary cardio routines include Jerry Rice and Walter Payton, who famously ran up and down their chosen hills near their offseason homes religiously.

Weight Training

This is a staple of nearly every player, and like cardio training, weight training has grown much more specialized in recent years. Gone are the days when players would do a few sets of bench presses, squats and arm curls and call it a day. Every player and every position now has a particular routine designed to maximize muscle development, strength and explosion that fits the needs of the individual player and position. Strength coaches are paid very well to put together and manage these programs. Without strength, balance and explosion, players will have no chance.

Martial Arts

Martial arts in and of themselves offer several choices in regards to particular routines. Regardless of the chosen discipline, many players train with martial arts masters to improve balance, quickness, mental focus and the ability to use their hands as weapons. Many linemen use this form of training to learn to defeat the player in front of him, and the player with these skills has a distinct advantage over those that don’t.

Boxing

During this offseason, Chargers LB Shawn Merriman is making a name for himself with his teammates by working with a boxing coach. He has replaced many pounds of fat with muscle, and everyone at the team facility noticed the difference immediately. Boxing works every muscle in the body, and the sport by design pushes its participants beyond the point of fatigue.

Yoga

With the rise in the popularity in weight training came the simultaneous collective loss of flexibility in players all over the NFL. Flexibility is a crucial element in avoiding injury, and core strength, many feel, is the fundamental basis of all conditioning. Yoga is also a mental form of preparation, and it grows in popularity every offseason.

Ballet

Although this form of training is generally not publicized by players, several prominent players have worked within this discipline to improve footwork. Former RB Herschel Walker famously touted his routine, and very few players in recent history could boast of better footwork than Walker. Quietly, ballet is part of many players’ routines.

Although there are many choices for players to train during the offseason, one common denominator is that all players need to do something, and do it diligently. Coaches and management teams expect every player to report for training camp bigger, stronger, faster and healthier every season, and many players’ contracts contain incentive clauses for staying in shape and meeting certain training requirements.

For the players, there is no more offseason in the NFL, and they all know this. That’s why you may see some familiar faces from time to time as you head to a yoga class or work out at the boxing gym.

Everything you need to know about piano moving

Moving can be a very stressful time in a person’s life, especially if he or she has not hired appropriate help to move their furniture. Piano moves can be especially stressful, because the mover needs to have special knowledge and skills to safely move the piano. In this article I have outline a few frequently asked questions about piano moving in order to help understand what is involved in moving a piano and prepare you with the information to choose the right mover. At the end of the article, I have listed some questions that you can ask to help you choose your piano mover, as well as the information that you should have ready in order for the mover to be sufficiently prepared for your move.

Why do I need to hire a professional piano mover?

Many of you may be wondering why you would need to hire a professional piano moving company to move your piano, rather than using the household mover who is moving the rest of the contents of your house. The main reason for hiring a professional piano mover is that many household movers do not have adequate training or equipment to properly move a piano.

The average upright piano weighs between 400 and 900 pounds. Grand pianos can weigh between 650 and 1300 pounds. The value of a piano can vary from a few hundred dollars to 500,000 dollars depending on the make, model, age and condition of the piano. The majority of piano moves involve moving the instrument through a tight space such as a small door frame or staircase. In some cases, the piano may need to be dismantled in order to get it out of your house. Using and experienced professional piano mover will drastically minimize the risk of damage to the instrument and to your home.

As a piano mover, I have come across many cases where a customer has hired a household piano mover to move their piano and has had to make an emergency call to us because the household mover could not get the piano out of his or her house. In other cases, I have received calls from customers who had hired a non-reliable piano mover because their price was much lower, and had to book an emergency move with us, because that piano mover did not show up to move their piano or call to explain why they were not there.

How are pianos moved?

When you hire a professional piano mover, you can expect 2-3 people to come to your home equipped with piano skids, moving pads, ramps, slings, and the knowledge of how to move your piano safely. They will use special techniques to maneuver the piano out of your house. When the piano is put on the truck, it will be safely secured to the vehicle in order to avoid damage during transport. In the most difficult moves, 4-6 people may be used. Generally when a piano is moved by someone other than a professional piano mover, this equipment, knowledge and these safety precautions are not employed. While hiring a professional piano mover does not completely eliminate the risk of damage, it will drastically reduce this risk. Furthermore, a good piano mover will assess the situation and inform you if there is a chance of damage before he or she begins the move, and will give you the option of proceeding or not.

Are all professional piano movers equal?

Unfortunately, as in any trade, each piano moving company varies in their level of quality and experience. Some piano movers are better equipped and more prepared than others and act with more care and integrity than others. The best way to find a good piano mover is to call around to your local piano stores, piano technicians and piano teachers to find out which company they use. Piano stores in particular have a high stake in ensuring that they use reliable, high quality piano movers who have the least risk of damaging their instruments and are properly insured in the event that the unforeseen does happen.

Are all piano movers similarly insured?

Sadly, the answer to this question is no.

There are 3 types of insurance to consider when hiring a piano mover:

1. Commercial/automotive insurance: Is the company insured against damage to property and or vehicles?

2. Cartage/content insurance: Is the company insured against damage to the piano?

3. Workman’s Safety Insurance: Is the company insuring its workers against injury?

Some piano moving companies are insured for 1 or 2 of these types of insurance, but not all 3. It is the buyer’s responsibility to make sure that he/she is properly insured, not the moving company. It is a good idea to ask about these 3 types of insurance when you are phoning piano moving companies, and also to ask what amount of insurance your piano will be covered for. A properly insured moving company should provide you with a Bill of lading, which is a legal document stating what is being moved, the names of all parties involved in the move, where the piano is being moved from and to, and the full declared insured value of the instrument. The Bill of lading should also include the moving company’s terms of cartage. As a legal document, a proper bill of lading helps to ensure that the piano mover will repair any damages that were incurred during the move (unless a damage waiver was signed). It is also important to note that any damage caused to your piano or your property must be noted on the bill of lading to ensure that you have proper recourse if any action is needed.

Why is worker injury important to me?

You may be wondering why it is important that you ensure that the piano mover you hire has Workman’s Safety Insurance. When you contract a moving company, they are considered your employee for the time that they are working for you. If you hire a moving company that is not covered for Workman’s Safety Insurance, you are accepting full liability for any employees who are injured while working for you. Your liability will extend to medical bills, lost wages and possibly civil law suits. A company who is covered for Workman’s Safety Insurance will take care of most of these problems for you. Some companies do not pay their required insurance premiums and are therefore not covered for all injury insurance claims. You may ask the company that you are hiring to provide you with an up-to-date workman’s safety insurance clearance certificate, in order to ensure that you are properly covered. To be absolutely sure that the moving company’s coverage is up to date, you can contact your local Workman’s Compensation or Workman’s Safety Insurance board to check on the company’s status.

Does moving the piano affect the sound of my piano?

The actual move of the piano does not affect the sound or tuning of a piano. Generally piano tuning is affected by changes in temperature and humidity which cause the wooden and steel parts of your piano to expand and contract. You will probably need to tune your piano a few weeks after moving it, after it acclimatizes to its new location. Other factors that may affect the sound of your piano are the size and acoustics of the room in which the piano is located. Carpet absorbs sound, while hardwood reflects it. Sound reinforces in small spaces, seeming louder, while in large spaces the sound gets lost, seeming quieter.

How much does it cost to move a piano?

Piano moving is generally billed in one of two ways:

1. The household mover way – hourly rate, with a minimum number of hours (usually min. = 3 hours)

2. The professional piano mover way – flat rate based on the following factors:

a. Type (upright, grand) and size of piano

b. Distance being moved

c. Difficulty level due to stairs, grass pulls, tight turns etc.

d. Time restraints place on the move

e. Waiting time that might be incurred.

The advantage of a flat rate system is that, barring any unforeseen events, you be able to get an accurate idea of what the move will cost you before the movers arrive at your house and it is often less expensive than the hourly rate.

How much notice do I need to give the Piano Mover?

The amount of notice needed will depend on when and where you need the piano to be moved. Most piano movers book their deliveries on a first come, first served basis. If it is a high traffic time of year, you may need up to one month’s notice. In a lower traffic time of year, you may only need one or two day’ notice. Generally, if you need your piano moved on a specific day, you should book the delivery well in advance to make sure it’s available to you.

Below are listed some recommended questions to ask when you are looking to hire a piano mover:

1. How long have you been moving pianos?

2. Do you have any references?

3. Do you have full-time, trained staff moving pianos for you?

4. How do you charge for moving, and what are your rates?

5. What days of the week do you move pianos, and what is your availability?

6. Are you covered for Commercial/automotive insurance, Cartage/content insurance, and workman’s safety insurance?

7. Will you provide me with a copy of your workman’s safety insurance clearance certificate?

8. What amount will my piano be insured for during the move? What does this insurance cover?

9. What are your terms of cartage? Will you provide me with a copy?

10. Will I be provided will a bill of lading when my piano is moved?

Listed below is the information that you should have prepared when you book your piano move:

1. What type of piano is it that you require to be moved? (Upright or Grand Piano)

2. What size of piano is it? (upright pianos are measured by height [floor to lid] and grand pianos are measured by longest length [keyboard to curve in bow end])

3. Where is it being picked up from? (Have full address including postal or zip code)

4. Where is it being delivered to? (Have full address including postal or zip code)

5. Are there any stairs that the piano needs to go up or down (inside and outside)? If so, how many? Are they straight, spiraled or curved? Based on what you tell the piano mover, he/she will tell you how many people they believe it will accomplish your move. Missing important details or difficulties, or miss-estimating your move based on the information you have provided could mean that your piano move might not happen that day, and could incur you more charges.

6. When are you looking to have the piano moved?

7. Are there any time restraints involved? (As time-restraints tend to hamper the efficiency of the mover’s day, placing a time-restraint on the mover could more than double your cost.)

8. Inform the piano mover of any problems that you can foresee ahead of time.

The more information you can provide the piano mover, the more accurate your quote will be. If you are vague and provide few details, do not be surprised if you incur extra charges for your move. A good, reputable piano mover will make the process as painless as possible for you and usually be the highlight and most stress-free part of your whole moving process. They key is ensuring that the mover meets all of your requirements and providing them with the information they need to help you properly.

Looking for instant bad credit loans online

Sometimes the unexpected happens and you are suddenly faced with needing a large amount of cash quickly, however if you have a bad credit rating score then getting any type of loan can be a nightmare. Not only are you turned down time and time again for a loan but you also waste an enormous amount of time by applying for the loans. By using the internet however and looking in the right places you can apply for instant bad credit loans online.

There are many online lenders who solely specialise in loans for those who have a history of bad credit and while you wont get the cheapest interest rates that are on offer for those who have the luxury of an excellent credit score you can at least apply and be successful in getting the money you need quickly.

It is important that you do shop around online for the loan while the interest rates don’t vary all that much for those with a history of bad credit the criteria that the lenders go on does and if you have CCJs for example this could make a difference to your application.

When it comes to bad credit loans there are two types, the secured loan which means that you would have to put your home down as guarantee that you won’t falter on the loan. While this is risky because you risk lose the roof over your head, it is the easiest type of loan to get if you have a bad credit rating. The second type is the unsecured loan but as this poses a bigger risk then the loan is harder to get in some cases and the rates of interest will be higher.

Looking for instant bad credit loans online is your best option if you do have a bad credit rating and they can be found. The majority of companies who specialise in them allow you to apply online and do give you a decision in a short time, however be sure you understand what you are getting into and what the repayments will be for the loan in total especially if you are risking your home as security.