One of the best ways to choose a roofing contractor is to speak with them over the phone or meet with them and ask them some questions. To locate a roofing contractor to contact you can ask friends and family for referrals or do a Google search as there are many great roofing directory sites that will provide a short list of roofers in your area. Its also worthwhile to check out the contractor's own website as well.
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Doing a little digging might seem time-consuming but what is even more time-consuming not to mention costly is to fix a botched roof job. So how should you select a roofing contractor? Tips for selecting a roofing contractor fall into three categories: the contractor's qualifications, the contractor's work, and the contractor's past. Read the tips below.
Qualifications

• First, do not hire a roofing contractor who is not licensed. However, just because a contractor is licensed does not necessarily mean the contractor is a committed professional who will do excellent work. You can tell more about a contractor's commitment by seeing if the contractor is a member of a trade association and if the contractor has taken any continuing education training. If the contractor says yes, call the trade association and ask to see certificates of the continuing education.
• Make sure they have a permanent business. When selecting a contractor, you need to be confident that the contractor will be able to complete the work they promised to do. One of the best ways to have this confidence is to select a contractor who can financially commit to finishing your project. The contractor should have a permanent phone number and address. Visit their business to see if they have the equipment and employees to complete your project successfully.
• Ask if they have insurance coverage and how much. Just because they have insurance, it might not be very much coverage. Have the contractor show you a certificate of insurance. Contractors can get a certificate of their insurance that shows coverage dates and policy limits from their insurance carrier. Also ask if they have workers' compensation coverage. Because property owners can be sued for accidents that occur on their property, it is very important that all contractors have workers' compensation insurance.

The Contractor's Workmanship

• All contractors also need to have a safety plan so ask your potential contractor to provide you with one. Safety plans are important for making sure projects get completed and are required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
• Find out how long the contractor's warranty on work performed is. A typical time period is one year or longer. The length of the warranty doesn't matter so much as whether the contractor plans to stand behind the warranty. Good contractors often will work beyond a written contract. Keep in mind that the manufacturer provides product warranties and often warranties are only valid if a contractor is "certified" to install the product. Be sure to talk to your contractor about following manufacturer specifications that are necessary for product warranty.
• The contractor should thoroughly discuss your home improvement project with you. Areas to talk about with your contractor include the color and type of products you want to use, how to get a permit if necessary, what the daily clean-up procedure is, and how the work will be paid for.

Past Performance and Customer Service

• Find out how long the contractor has been in business. Though a contractor in business for a year or two might do excellent work, it would be better to select a contractor who has been in business for at least five years. Often the longer a contractor has been in business, the more experience they have, which often means more choices and better workmanship for your roof.
• Ask to see pictures of the contractor's work and for references from past customers. Get this information on the contractor's website or by calling previous customers and asking what they thought.
• Many of the best contractors have had to handle complaints. Complaints are not necessarily bad, but the way a contractor has handled them can be. Ask the contractor how they have dealt with complaints in the past or call the Better Business Bureau to find out.

In addition to the above advice, another worthwhile tip for selecting a roofing contractor is to have three contractors you are considering submit three bids in writing. Having three bids in writing is useful to compare prices and products the contractors will use to complete the project. If one bid is significantly higher or lower than the others, this could be a red flag. Again, roofing directory sites can help streamline the process here, by putting you in contact with three roofing companies by filling out just one estimate request form.

Remember, what it all comes down to is what your instinct is telling you about the contractor. Even if the contractor manages to meet the above tips but something is telling you not to hire the contractor, don't. With a home improvement job as important as repairing or replacing a roof, you need to hire a roofing contractor whom you feel very good about the work getting done.
Scott Siegal is the president of Maggio Roofing, a Maryland roofing contractor for three decades. Maggio Roofing handles various roof projects including maintenance, gutter cleaning, repairs, and replacements. The company pays attention to both the roof's function and style, serving both commercial and residential clients in and around the greater Washington DC region.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Scott_Siegal/244474


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1391232

Who could give you better advice than a contractor with 30 years of experience in the construction business? I was reading somewhere that it only takes 10 years to become an expert at something. With three decades of construction experience, I should be qualified to give expert advice on hiring contractors.

What Type of Contractor Are You Looking For?
Bathroom remodeling contractors usually remodeled bathrooms. Don't look for a roofing contractor to remodel your bathroom or plan on using a bathroom remodeling contractor to build a large shopping mall.

How Much Experience Does Your Contractor Have?
I already told you that I have 30 years in the business, but that's not going to do you any good, unless you're planning on hiring me. Ask this question, it's very important. Find out how much experience your contractor and their construction workers have working on similar projects.

Is Your Contractor Licensed and Bonded?
You can usually contact your state's Department of consumer affairs to find out if your contractor is licensed and bonded. The state of California has a Contractor State Licensing Board and can be found, by using the California state website. You can check your contractor's license by visiting a contractor's license checking webpage on the Internet.

Do You Get along with Your Contractor?
This is the most important item on the list for me. If I feel comfortable with my contractor, there's a good chance that I'm going to feel comfortable working with them. Now remember, sometimes you hire a contractor and they won't be doing any of the work. You'll be dealing with their construction workers, so try to get a little more information about the construction workers that will be working on your project, if the contractor isn't going to be working on your home.

Finding a good contractor isn't as hard as it seems, ask some good questions about their business, check some of their references and make sure that they're licensed. Good luck in finding a good contractor, because there are plenty of them out there.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Damage Repairs. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.
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If You You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link House Remodeling Contractors


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3695943

If there is one big change in business advertising and marketing in recent years, it is social media marketing. The opportunities for utilizing social media to increase business are growing every day. The social media tips contained in this article will help your business thrive. Make it as easy as possible for your users to subscribe to your information. Used in tandem with social media marketing, the relatively age-old method of email marketing can be quite effective. Profiles in social media sites often allow you to add various buttons and an RSS feed.
You want them everywhere you can think of, your blog, email, website and anywhere else you can think of. Try to add your links to other profiles as well to encourage multiple sources of traffic for your site. You want to make it as simple as possible for potential customers to subscribe and sign up for your business's blog. Make sure people can see the button to subscribe to your feed. This will make it easier for followers to leave their information, follow your posts and share your content with friends. Keep it in mind that people still have Internet that is slow, so if the subscribe button can load first it's recommended to do that. When using social media marketing as a tool for your business, it is crucial that you pay attention to the content that is being posted since it represents your business.
Mistakes can go viral as easily as good information and quality content. While this may generate a lot of publicity for your business, oftentimes, it is not the publicity that you are seeking. Add a tag when you post on Twitter. Just add in a "#," followed by a relevant phrase, after you put updates up on your social media accounts. Consider carefully which tags to use and which groups your target audience will most likely subscribe to. When working with social media to promote your business, it's a great idea to offer some purchasing incentives, but you don't want to seem overly pushy. No one wants a forced sale. Let customers know about a weekly bonus or extra discount at an expected preset time. Thus, your customer base can get discounts, but will not feel as though they have been bombarded or tricked into something. Develop an honest online presence. You should present yourself as knowledgeable in your chosen field. Never publish any material of a questionable nature. Only post relevant and appropriate videos that are entertaining. This helps generate a great profile that will create lots of profits. Social media should be used as a way to inform readers of the information and services that your company offers. For example, you can post pictures of fund-raising events and interact with your community. Make sure you record what your workers are doing through pictures and writing.
Make use of all things that convey a positive image of your company. Make certain you update your social profiles often. Social network users have become used to regular updates, and a lack of updates could drive your customers away. Aim for updating your content several times weekly. Social media is all about being social, so be ready to speak with your customers. If they have a complaint or a suggestion, open a dialogue with them. It's common to look over a question or comment, so keep an eye out for them. Include a re-tweet option on every post to your blog. This will make it easy for visitors to share posts with their Twitter followers. This allows your followers to advertise for you without any extra monetary cost to you. Make sure you're mindful of what you say when you're on your social media page. You are responsible for everything you publish on these sites and the things you share could give a bad image of your business if you are not careful. In your website content, mention your social media efforts. This can be done with an article or a simple post on your Twitter account.
Thank your fans for showing an interest in your social media site. A post about the results of your social media marketing will be popular and highly-shared. Don't think results will come right away. It takes time to create a truly winning social media campaign. You have to work on increasing your popularity by having more people follow you on Facebook and Twitter. Once this happens, you will be able to launch some serious marketing campaigns. Talk about your social media marketing campaign via your other marketing tools. When a person or business subscribes to your Twitter feed, return the favor. This helps to maintain a level of credibility with your potential customers. Doing so shows your customers that you respect them and that you don't feel that you are superior to them. You're more likely to keep followers by tweeting them and following them back.
Remember what has happened to you in the past. Take advantage of this guidance in order to develop a strong marketing plan and generate more profits going forward. Learn from your mistakes and keep your marketing plan up-to-date by following the latest innovations. See how your competitors are making use of social media to promote their businesses. Find out what's working for them and what isn't. This will help your business to thrive and can shield you from falling behind your competition. Help people online and on social media websites so you can look like an expert. If you are able to do this, you can attract consistent business. Look around online for locations where people are asking questions regarding your industry, and help them by providing quality answers. If you continue to do this, it will noticeably increase your customer base over time. If you are the owner of an RSS feed, you should always link all of your sites to it. This will allow your readers and bloggers access to the information on your social media accounts. That makes it more simple for people who know you to follow you wherever you are. It's a good idea to include a vibrant headline in your content. Your reader makes a first impression based on your headline.
You have to catch them quickly and grab their attention so they will continue reading the entire post. Put some real effort into good headlines. Frequently, leave friendly posts and helpful comments on the pages of fellow blogger's sites. Remember, the key word in social media marketing is "social." If you're willing to be social, people are more likely to return the favour. A simple way to become more popular is by starting dialogues with others whose blogs are in the same niche as yours. This strategy can also lead to good networking benefits. Practice patience. You have to earn people's trust in your products. This will take time. Before long, you'll have a long list of clients. Get Facebook followers by using your email list to notify them. Perhaps you have already developed your mailing list. You should send them a link to your social media sites. This will enable existing customers easy and complete access to you. One popular social media method is to allow an experienced blogger, who writes about the same product or service you sell, to write guest posts on your blog. Either way, you can generate more traffic. If you are ever invited to guest blog somewhere else, make sure you can get a backlink out of the deal. You should also allow other bloggers to have their own backlinks as well. The followers of that blogger will be more likely to seek info about your site. There are very many ways that you can begin to incorporate social media and Instagram marketing strategy with your business. It is incredible how much social media can help you gain an online presence and find new customers. This article should help you make your business recommended.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Sylvester_Adam_Smith/2070440


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9950488

The only hope: let's go back to its roots.
The best thing that ever happened to social media marketing was the hacking of the 2016 US election of Donal Trump by the Russians. Why? Because it laid bare what many in social media marketing has known for a long, long time: that social media platforms are a joke, their valuations are based on imaginary users, and their integrity lies somewhere between Lucifer and that guy who eats people's faces in the movies.
For marketing consultants such as myself, recommending existing social platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram has been increasingly difficult, because -quite frankly- many of us don't trust the metrics.
And why should we? Facebook doesn't.
This is from Facebook's 2017 SEC filing (emphasis mine):


The numbers for our key metrics, which include our daily active users (DAUs), monthly active users (MAUs), and average revenue per user (ARPU), are calculated using internal company data based on the activity of user accounts. While these numbers are based on what we believe to be reasonable estimates of our user base for the applicable period of measurement, there are inherent challenges in measuring usage of our products across large online and mobile populations around the world.

The largest data management company in the world says it doesn't really know if its numbers are accurate. Estimates? What marketing professional wants estimated results after the fact?
It gets worse. Emphasis mine:


In the fourth quarter of 2017, we estimate that duplicate accounts may have represented approximately 10% of our worldwide MAUs. We believe the percentage of duplicate accounts is meaningfully higher in developing markets such as India, Indonesia, and the Philippines, as compared to more developed markets. In the fourth quarter of 2017, we estimate that false accounts may have represented approximately 3-4% of our worldwide MAUs.

Let that sink in. Facebook is admitting that "approximately" 10% of its monthly active users are fake. Interestingly, they don't mention what percentage of their daily active users are fake.
And that's the problem with social media. You don't know what's real and what's fake anymore.
Social media hasn't been real for a while.
As marketers and advertisers, we pride ourselves on accuracy. In the olden times of marketing and advertising, we obsessed over rating numbers of tv shows, readership for print promotions, and delivery success rates for direct mail.
In all cases, the platforms of the day were heavily audited. You knew, with fair certainty, was the audiences were for any particular medium or channel because there was usually a point of review somewhere for the numbers.
Traditional media such as radio, TV, and print had been around long enough that there were thousands of case studies one could study the success or failures of individual campaigns. Because these mediums were part of the public record, it was easy to work backward to see what mix of media and budget worked and what didn't.
As an industry, we could quickly establish benchmarks for success - not just based on our personal experiences- but in the collective experiences of very clear strategies laid bare for everyone to dissect.
Well, that all went out the window with social media.
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram's numbers were always a joke.
In days of yore, company valuation was based on revenues, assets, and human capital, and performance.
That all changed when someone came up with the concept of "daily active users."
The race to gain users became the driving force for social media platforms in a way that we've never seen before. Now, the obsession with user growth opened the door to advertising and marketing fraud on a scale that just wasn't possible previously.
Let's get something clear: any platform that allows for people to create thousands of fake profiles so others can buy likes, followers, retweets, or shares is toxic to advertisers and brands alike.
Now, I understand that the word "allows" is doing a lot of work in that sentence, so let me expand a bit what I mean.
I don't think I'll get many arguments when I say that -regardless of what I think of them- the most successful social media platforms on the planet are also some of the most sophisticated technological enterprises on the planet. They have -arguably- some of the best AI around, as their entire business models revolve around being able to crunch numbers, facts, and obscure pieces of data millions of times a second.
They are also massive corporations, with an army of lawyers and IP bulldogs waiting to protect their brand against any hostile outside forces.
So explain to me, how is it, that even after all we have seen in the news people can still buy Facebook likes, or Twitter followers, or Instagram fans?
The reason: it was always a scam. And we got conned along with everyone else.
If your company is valued on your number of users and the activity of those users on your platform, what do you care if they are fake or not? If you did, you'd hire an armada of auditors to ensure the integrity of your userbase. I don't believe they ever did and will never do this.
Social platforms deploy their honey trap.
Initially, social platforms such as Facebook and Twitter lured brands and companies onto their platforms with promises of free marketing and advertising. The ability to quickly grow a fanbase and follower base, without the need of hiring marketing shmucks like me. Why waste time on hiring a professional when you can do it all yourself for nothing?
At first, I was a supporter of this. I believed that marketing and advertising was often something that only larger companies could afford, and that small business marketing was being left behind. Social media marketing allowed for even a mom and pop shop to compete online.
So many businesses spent countless hours and thousands of dollars in human resources to grow their followers online.
Having lured them into their honey trap, social media companies then held followers and fans hostages. You had to pay to have access to the userbase that you built up and cultivated.
Suddenly the numbers didn't make any sense. You had to pay to promote or boost posts when previously it was free. The result was disastrous for many businesses. The ROI's didn't add up, but with so many of their customers on these platforms, they had little choice but to continue to try and get whatever value they could for them.
Moreover, the move to such promotions opened up the Pandora's box to further abuses. The drive for revenue seemingly caused social platforms to continue to look the other way on fake profiles and social media bots because they drove ad sales. Personal data was harvested and manipulated in ways that users could not fathom and did not agree to.
Mostly, it did something to marketing that I'm not sure we can recover. For many digital marketing firms and marketing agencies, it forced us to down the Kool-aid with everyone else. People that should have known better doubled down on social media marketing for our clients when we knew -for most of them- it was unnecessary.
Marketing and advertising agencies became accomplices after the fact.
Like I said earlier, marketing and advertising agencies and consultants are supposed to obsess with accuracy. We want our clients to have the very best ROI available.
However, like professionals in any business vertical, we're self-serving.
One of my favourite examples of how people who would know better will say anything for a buck is real estate agents.
Have you EVER heard a real estate agent tell you it's a wrong time to buy a house? In all of my days, I have never read an article by a real estate agent saying that people should hold off on a purchase. House prices going up? A great time to buy; you'll make your money back immediately! House prices going down? It's a buyers market! Lock in your savings now!
Marketing and advertising professionals did something similar with social media marketing.
We saw the platforms' rise in popularity and didn't want to get caught in a lurch. The buzz was building behind them, and clients were often demanding us to help them. So -even though Facebook and Twitter were mostly unproven with little to no actual case studies to speak of- many firms told their clients to throw money into the black hole of social.
What was the result? The majority of social media campaigns are disasters. I only know of a fraction of companies that continue with any seriousness on social media compared to the rates companies did with traditional advertising or even SEO and non-social digital ads.
You see it in the positioning. When digital marketers talk about social media, they discuss it regarding "reach," "exposure," "presence," "awareness." That's code word for "throw your money away." Do an online search of the effectiveness of social media, and you will find the results filled with SEO and social media marketers praising the platforms and the strategies.
Real marketers talk about ROI. Impact on sales, and impact on lead generation. You can't pay the rent on brand awareness. I'm saying this as someone who builds brands for a living.
And it's not just me saying this. One of the largest brands in the world, Proctor & Gamble, gutted their ad budget and walked away from a host of agencies because of digital advertising and marketing fraud.
Social sharing has been automated to death:
According to Buzzsumo, average social shares per article had declined by 50 percent in 2017 in comparison to 2015. Their data also shows how fast most hot topics become saturated with articles, leading to only a relatively few winners getting the majority of the societal shares and hyperlinks.
Another found that, that bots automate nearly two-thirds -66%- of all HTML links posted on Twitter.
Again, if social media platforms truly valued their user-experience and cared about social being social, they would have banned such practices years ago. No more social automation. If you want to engage with your fans and followers, you have to be there for them. You have to be live, online, ready to connect.
However, bots are good for business. They boost their daily active user accounts; they make their platforms look more popular than they are. Bots post content, bots like content, bots share content, bots follow people, bots message people -it's endless.
Bots account for an ungodly 52% of internet traffic in 2017. That number is only set to rise further as social media continues to be an arms race. Caught in the middle of all of this are businesses who think their digital marketing metrics have any meaning.
Your Influencer isn't that influential.
I'm a firm believer in influencer marketing because I believe it is a natural extension of relationship marketing. People will buy from people they trust and will accept the suggestions of people they like.
However, with the growth of online influencers, things have taken a turn for the surreal.
First off, many fans and followers of social media influencers are as fake as anything. Social media bots follow celebrities as a means to spam their pages and/or a means to scrape a list of people to spam later with content.
Secondly, as marketers and advertisers, we are supposed to care about accuracy. But the ability to verify the fan base of an influencer is almost impossible within the platforms. You have to go to third-party apps to try and get any real understanding of the legitimacy. Moreover, even then, you are at the mercy of the third-party to provide you with accurate data. Should Instagram decide to shut down the API to these applications, you will have no idea how popular your influencer is.
The future of social media: live, direct, and transparent.
The way to solve the social media problem we're facing today is simple: social media was great when it was social and personal. A return to the basics is needed.
No more automation
If you don't have the time or the energy or the interest actually to ENGAGE with human beings, then social media is not for you. What's more, you're not for social media.
Automation should stop. Period. Let's return to a more natural engagement between brands, companies, customers and leads. Human interaction is the most powerful driver of revenue and sales, as is the best metric for the real value of a platform.
See and be seen
The use of live video to establish authenticity in an age where everything is anonymous will be a dominant driver of change in the next five years. Instead of hiding behind memes, and curated content, companies should leverage influencers and their employees to champion their brands. Reconnect with the basics: one-to-one or one-to-many communications.
The revolt of investors
I genuinely believe that the majority of social media firms have fudged the books when it comes to their userbase, activity, and popularity. It's time for investors to demand third-party audits of the data before the entire house of card falls on people's heads.
Look, I'm a marketing consultant. I enjoy using social media. It allows me to stay in touch with the people and the brands I care about most in the world. But at the heart of it is a flaw -a glitch in the Matrix- that needs to be sorted out.
There's a bubble out there, and social media firms that allow for fake profiles and anonymous users are at the heart of it.
Yusuf Gad is a marketing and branding strategist and executive with over 15-years' experience. He is the Chief Marketing Officer for TRYBL and President of Ronin Multimedia Inc -a consulting firm that provides strategic advice for brands and corporations as well as content development for film, TV and digital media. You can find him as a marketing consultant hired-gun at Toronto Marketing Consultant.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Yusuf_Gad/2555371

2022 has finally arrived. As most anticipate a better year in both health and in business, marketers will continue to face new challenges brought about by the pandemic.
A number of trends brought about by the coronavirus will most certainly continue onward well into the middle half of the year, if not beyond. Public relations professionals will have to maintain flexibility and adjust accordingly to help their employer, or their clients, reach their objectives.
Here then are five strategies to contemplate as you create your public relations game plan for the new year.
1. Build strong relationships with key writers and editors. Most experienced public relations professionals understand the value of maintaining solid relationships with key reporters who cover their or their client's industry. Those relationships will have even higher value as print publications, TV and radio stations continue to scale back their staffs due to the decline in ad spending. Reporters and editors remain hard-pressed to do more with less and yet still put out a quality product in a timely manner. Establishing a strong relationship with a reporter can set you up as a solid resource, able to deliver valuable ideas and news items the writer can use to shape or enhance their stories. This high level of trust is now more important than ever, and can result in multiple articles and opportunities that benefit both your client and yourself for the long-term.
2. Focus on clicks and hits. Media outlets are busily building digital audiences to grab their piece of the shrinking ad revenue pie. Reporters too are tasked to develop news items that can be optimized online and read by thousands. The goal is to not only get those stories placed on the publication's site but also recirculated on social media to increase overall readership. PR pros should create and pitch stories in a manner reflective of that objective. Turning a run-of-the-mill news release into something with more meat and excitement will help to not only get the story published but get it optimized on social media for greater reach and market penetration.
3. Write for immediate impact. Public relations professionals need to pitch their stories where the most interesting aspects are at the top of the page, not buried in the fifth or six paragraph. As mentioned earlier reporters are hard pressed for time and have little wiggle room to spend trying to decipher a confusing news release, especially when there are hundreds of others to sort through. PR pros should deliver a hard-hitting first paragraph and then provide any support material below. That material should be easy to read and can even be broken out into bullet points to make it easier to digest.
4. Know how to reach your client's audience, today. Key research about your client's prospective buyers is paramount to generating top line results from your PR efforts. Properly targeting those buyers can make or break your campaign. This is true for any year but especially in the pandemic driven work-at-home environment. Are business to business buyers still reading industry publications, listening to podcasts and attending webinars? Can they be reached on social media or is their time focused on other areas? Determining the best ways to reach them will help you greatly improve results.
5. Think visually. Since so much of media now relies on photos and videos, PR pros should think about visual elements to go with any story pitch. A short video or a series of interesting photos (if possible) should accompany any news release, whether print or broadcast. Visuals are ideal for digital and social media, and help make your story pitch stand out above the rest. Small photos can even be inserted into the news release to peak the reporters interest and enhance coverage opportunities.
Stephen Turner is a Principal and owner with Solomon/Turner PR, a public relations and award winning firm in St. Louis, MO. Steve has over 30 years of experience in PR and marketing communications. He has worked with clients on a national and local basis. Solomon/Turner specializes in publicity campaigns, social media, and branding. The firm has been named One of the Best PR Firms in St. Louis for 12 years in a row by Small Business Monthly. Mr. Turner has written dozens of blogs and articles on P.R. and marketing. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Visit http://www.solomonturner.com
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Stephen_C_Turner/392401


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10409351

I suppose we could ask this question about many famous painters. Many don't become famous until after they're dead. But let's concentrate on Vincent van Gogh. If his paintings are so tremendous and hang in museums worldwide, why did he have trouble selling his paintings when alive?

First, let's consider that Vincent didn't start painting until about ten years before his untimely death in 1890. When he did paint, people didn't like his work. He didn't like many of his own paintings and threw many away.

Also, he was not a very nice person to get along with. That was probably because he didn't like himself too much. The only people that seem to like him were other artists, such as Gauguin, Monet, and Toulouse-Lautrec.
It seems van Gogh triggered a different way of seeing art, to see paintings as feelings, rather than trying to paint exactly what you see. Van Gogh painted with emotion; he used stunning colors in his works, his paintings were eerie, in a sense.

And perhaps the public wasn't ready for works like this. That's why he supposedly sold only one painting in his lifetime. His work just really wasn't appreciated yet.

Also, nobody knew a lot about Vincent. His brother Theo was an art dealer and displayed his art to sell. Outside of that, few saw Vincent's artwork.

That seemed to distress van Gogh significantly and probably affected his early death from a gunshot wound. He suffered most of his life greatly. He had a younger brother named Vincent, who died as a baby. Perhaps the second Vincent suffered much anguish because of being a "replacement Vincent".

Vincent van Gogh never married, though he did have relationships, one with his widowed cousin. But his closest relative was always his younger brother Theo, who did much in the way of financial support to help his brother out.

But other artists enjoyed his works and started using his ideas. Vincent's closest friends, if he had any, were painters and his brother Theo.

Also, there is the story of Vincent cutting off his ear. There are many discrepancies about the story, but the lingering one seems to be that Vincent was unstable, which probably caused many to be uneasy about dealing with him.

In the final few years of his life, van Gogh spent time in a mental asylum. It was there that he created what would later be his most famous paintings, including "The Starry Night," perhaps his most renowned. Vincent painted maybe 100 works during his time in the asylum.

So anyway, how did van Gogh become famous? A lot of that is due to his sister-in-law, named Jo. Vincent's brother Theo died just a few months after Vincent did, and Theo's wife Jo inherited Vincent's works, not to mention Vincent's letters to Theo. She made it her calling to promote Vincent's artwork, which became immediately acclaimed throughout Europe.

So it's really through Jo van Gogh's efforts that Vincent became the much-admired artist he did.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jim_Konerko/46834

24 hours per day

Your website runs 24/7 and 365 days a year without any supervision. If you have the website, you can always be there for your customers. You can provide both prospective and regular customers the convenience of reviewing your products and services when your store or office is closed.

Online brochure
Companies spend millions creating brochures and distributing them. By having a website you can totally skip that. Your potential customers can find out about you and any of your products or services online. If you get most of your business through networking or your personal connections, then they will want to check out your website. So here the website plays an important role to know your customers about your business.

Business will gain credibility
More and more people are searching online for things they want, for solutions to their problems, to compare prices, or just to get some information about a store, restaurant, hotel or business before they purchase from them. If you don't have a website, potential customers will go to your competitors who do or who has the website, especially if you are a home-based or small-scale business without a bricks-and-mortar address

Long term promotion of your business
Compared with the cost of traditional means of advertising, such as newspaper advertisements, radio commercials, promotional materials and networking events that often include the cost of a meal or trade tables, when you consider the probable market you can reach with a website, it is a very cost-effective way to promote your business long-term.

You can be kept your customers informed
A website is an effective way of introducing your customers to new services, letting them know about new products, announcing upcoming events and special promotions. You can also provide added value by posting tips, resources, and other information through a blog on your website. Unlike print ads, newspaper flyers and articles, which quickly become outdated, your website can provide current information and news.
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You will get More Customers and wider audience
Websites are accessible from anywhere, anytime in the world provided there is an internet connection. More than 3 billion people use the internet every day, and some 80% of those have purchased something or contacted a company, online in the last 1 year. You can target a much wider audience if your business has a website and by not having a website, you will be missing out on a big piece of the pie.

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Acrylic paints are water based and toxic free. The manufacturers have many premixed colors or you can choose to mix your own. These liquids are available in spray containers, tubes, and different sizes of bottles.

Brushes and a variety of objects may be used to apply these paints to any surface. But, as with any product you can achieve better quality, longevity, and refinement by preparing surfaces before paint application, adding fixing agents for thickening or texture, and applying protective agents after the project is completed.

Tip #1
Will this project be an indoor or outdoor product? Acrylics are water based and the surface needs to be protected from moisture, heat, mold and mildew. Select surfaces and acrylics supplies designed for either environment. Do research and ask the art clerks to learn which products to use on wood, glass, clay, paper, textiles, metal, and concrete or stone.

Tip #2
Plan your work and work your plan. Knowledge is key. Know exactly what you are creating. Select the correct tools. Determine which products will satisfy the desired outcome. Know how to safeguard or preserve the finished masterpiece. Avoid making mistakes by making a list or constructive notes before starting.

Tip #3
Consider the size of the project. As a beginning painter or craftsman start with small projects. You may not like the larger project and getting rid of it may be a problem. Starting small or making a sample can be considered a draft or a practice project before constructing a large project.

Tip #4
Familiarize your self with acrylic paints and know how to apply them.

• Ink Acrylics have a fluid consistency and can be applied with an ink pen or brush on any surface which requires a drawing, finite painting, or projects such as rubber stamping.
• Soft Body Acrylics are thicker than ink but lighter than the heavy body acrylics. This paint may be used on any art or craft project.
• Thick Body Acrylics have the consistency of oil paint and will create the textured appearance associated with oils.
• Student Grade: This is recommended for beginning artists as they will produce many paintings in order to learn and refine their skills and techniques. This paint may be thinned to create water-color effects or layered many times to have the thick texture of oil.
• Professional Grade: Designed for the experienced artist and is more expensive. The higher the pigment content the more expensive the tint becomes.

Tip #5
Use different types of acrylics. fixing agents, and techniques to prepare surfaces, create assorted textures, or to finish the painted surface. Gesso, sealers, paint, additives, fixing agents, finishing sprays, and varnish may be used to prepare or finish the surface or the painting of any arts and crafts creation. There are also products which will help to prevent or retard mold or mildew damage.

Tip #6
Experiment with different painting themes or crafts. Try a variety of acrylic brushes and tools. Learn to mix your own tints as this will broaden your rainbow of colors. Make a sample card of all tints with portions to keep a permanent record. Experimentation will help to improve your skills and lead you to your specialty niche.

Tip #7
Attend classes, workshop, or watch videos to learn new techniques which others offer. Try to learn and practice at least one technique each week. Keep your knowledge of acrylics and their techniques updated.

Attend arts and crafts shows to view the various colors, themes, mediums, and techniques which other acrylic artists and craftsmen use.

Tip #8
Copyright your arts and crafts projects. Photograph and/or write down every paint, technique, brush or tool that was used to support your arts or crafts project. This information will be valuable should you need to duplicate original works or start mass production.

Tip #9
When experimenting or practicing, buy cheaper products. Overall this is a money-saving tip but more importantly you will learn using actual hands on experience. Your creation will be the results of using one type of acrylics or a mix of several types.

Tip #10
These paints in any form are easy to work with and produce excellent results. Relax and enjoy the journey of painting. Technology has made the process of mixing and application on any surface that the amateur or professional artists and craftsmen can enjoy and love what they do.
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Read more about Acrylic Arts and Crafts Paints at https://hubpages.com/art/Acrylic-Arts-and-Crafts-Paint-Projects.
Do you enjoy a variety of hobbies? Visit https://www.triciadeed.com for more leisure or professional hobbies and interests

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I was thinking today on what should be on a hiking gear checklist for hikers who are just starting out.
With that in mind I created the list below as general guide to what you should be looking to acquire when getting your hiking gear together for a day hike.
Hiking Trousers or Hiking Shorts
Suitable hiking trousers are a must. Waterproof is always a good idea. I like ones with air vent's in them which can be opened to allow better air circulation in to keep your legs dry as your sweat is allowed to wick away from the skin. I also like hiking trousers with detachable bottoms so they can easily double up as shorts.
Hiking Fleece
A must for cooler temperatures. A good hiking fleece will keep you warm and dry under the right Waterproof hiking jacket.
Base Layers
You need to be sure you have adequate base layers. The first base layer is next to your skin so, like your hiking trousers, you want breathability to let sweat wick away comfortably. The colder it is, the more layers you need. Always good to carry an extra one or two with you just in case.
Gaiters
If you will be wading through marsh, water, snow, etc. Gaiters are really useful to help keep your feet and your boots drier.
Hiking Hat
If it's cold when you're hiking a good woolen hat is a great addition to have. Worn under the hood of your waterproof jacket, it will keep your head nice and toasty! Alternatively, if it's blistering hot and the sun is beating down, a baseball hat or beach-style hiking hat will protect you from any harmful rays.
Hiking Gloves
These need to be waterproof, wind resistant and ideally leaving you with some mobility in your hands for grasping, opening, etc.
Hiking Socks
Good socks are as important as good boots. It is worth getting good hiking socks that complement your hiking boots or shoes to ensure maximum comfort and avoid the dreaded blister!
Day or Technical pack
You of course need something to carry your extra gear and some basic supplies in so a comfortable day pack on your back is a must.
Hiking Boots and Shoes
Of key importance when hiking. You need the right hiking boots or shoes for the climate and weather you are hiking in. It needs to be a good fit and your boot or shoe should be well broken in. It is a good idea to break them in, in your house or around the block before ever using them on a hike. Always wear your hiking socks when breaking a hiking boot in!
Waterproof Hiking Jacket
Really depends on what climate you are hiking in but invariably it will rain at some point so you need to have the right waterproof hiking jacket with you. There are many options to choose from, many of which have detachable layers and so can be adapted to be used all year-round.
Extra Hiking Clothing
Extra clothing is a must if you are moving in and out of different temperatures and weather which can happen very easily as you ascend further up a mountain. Always good to have a bit more than less I think.
This list is not exhaustive but it does list out some of the key things you should be taking with you on your day hike. Being as prepared as possible will ensure that you have as comfortable and enjoyable a hike as possible.
Find the best hiking gear for your hikes at [http://www.coolhikinggear.com]
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Techniques to Pick the Best Hiking Boots
Why go to a lot of trouble selecting the best hiking boots? Because they are your Feet, yes your feet. If you are going hiking, that means countless steps. Probably the most important part of your body to keep strong during a hike will be your feet. In the event you cannot walk, you can't get home.
Your boots are the foremost critical element which affects the enjoyment of hiking. For this reason you should pick the best hiking boots for your needs. If you have some boots which are not comfortable or are made for the improper outdoor adventure, it might spoil the entire trip.
Another thing to consider is the fact these boots are to last for a long while, so don't just get a boot because it's discounted. Try out the best set of boots to suit your needs. Don't skimp on your hiking boots. You could regret it when it's too late and you are a long way in your hike.
Selecting the most appropriate hiking boots for your feet can be confusing, however here's some advice making it simple.
Your Hiking Boot Buying Process
Above all, you need to try on the boots. I know this sounds like a "duh" moment, still trying it on in a store and making sure their comfort is essential for an enjoyable hike. How can you tell if your boot is actually a perfect fit?

• Test boot styles in the afternoon. Your foot usually swells throughout the day.
• Bring your socks that you will be normally planning to use. Correct fit depends on having the actual socks.
• Put the boots on and lace them snugly (but do not over fasten them so much that you're hurting your hands, that is much too tight). Stand and try and raise your heel. Your heel ought to rise a maximum of 1/8". A lot of heel movement suggests too much friction.
• Tighten the laces plus locate a solid target to kick the toe of the boot into, like a post or ground. Kick the object twice. If you find the toes slam into the front of the boot, subsequently the boots are not fitting properly. On a steep downhill trek, the toes can get a beating plus it can cause difficulty with the toe nails or feet. The toes should push close to the front of the boot on the third or even 4th kick, but never slam. Various methods you can look at in case your toes are crushed could be to change socks, re-lace the boots or maybe test a different set of boots.
• A number of locations have a ramp you'll be able to walk up and down on to help you determine if they are suitable. Utilize it. Trails are not flat, utilize the tools while in the store to recognize the best hiking boots for your feet.
• Assuming you have time (and you should have time for this particular decision) walk around the store. The additional time you can spend in the boots, the better you will know if they fit correctly.
• Before you buy your boots, make certain you may return them. Some stores are good with regards to enabling you to return them if you have only worn them inside and not had them for a lengthy period of time. Check the return procedure before you leave.
• After you have bought your boots, they have to be broken in. (Do not head directly out to a 10 mile trail with new boots!) Put on the boots around the house, take quick walks around your neighborhood. When they appear to fit well, you will be able to use them on a simple day hike. The objective is to get the boots to form to your feet.

Cash Keeping Suggestion: If you're money-conscience then try the boots on in the store, pick one you truly want and then purchase that identical style on the web for a lot less.
Care and Cleaning

• Make sure that you align the tongue each and every time you put your boots on. This inhibits the tongue from sagging and developing wrinkles. Wrinkles in the tongue contribute to blisters and rubbing.
• Make sure you read the care of the boots. Treat them if necessary to make a water resistant seal. If they're leather and they end up getting soaked, let them dry out slowly. Don't set them in front of a fireplace, this can cause breaking of the leather. Open them up each night on the trail as well as after a hike to allow them to air. Also, before putting them away until the next hike, clean them based on the manufacturer's recommendations. Get any grime off them to help prolong their life. This can be done using a bristle brush. Care for the leather with saddle soap, let them air dry and then put on a sealer or wax.

When Purchasing the Best Hiking Boots For You, Keep These Things in Mind:
Materials used:

1. Leather: Stronger and water repellent. Heavier than synthetic. Generally intended for longer hikes having a full back pack.
2. Synthetic: Lighter in weight weight than leather, unfortunately shows wear more.
3. Waterproof materials: Several boots offer a waterproof membrane that's attached to the inside of the boot. (such as Gore-Tex ®)

Hiking Style:

1. Day Hikes having a couple of containers of drinking water in a fanny pack.
2. Over Night Hikes with a small pack.
3. Several Day Hikes with a 40 to 50 pound backpack.

Boot Cut:

1. Low Cut: Good for more level terrain, shorter hikes. Not really a lot of ankle support.
2. Mid Height: Additional ankle support, can be used for limited multi-day hikes using a lighter in weight pack.
3. High Cut: Traditionally the most rugged and durable boot. Great for lengthy multi-day hikes with a heavy duty pack.

Day Hike / Low Cut Boots
A Low Cut Boot would be the best hiking boot for day hikes. These could be used on a day time hike with level ground. You would have a small-scale day pack or even a fanny pack with a couple bottles of drinking water. Also, the trail shouldn't have a great deal of gravel, since it could get in between your sock and the boot. These kinds of boots can also be water proof and are made of synthetic or synthetic/leather blend.
Extended Day or even Shorter Multi-Day Hike / Mid Cut Boots
The best hiking boots for a longer hike would be the mid cut. Mid Cut is good for more challenging inclines and they've got more ankle support. The majority are water-proof and are available in synthetic or a synthetic/leather combination. They perform a somewhat better job of keeping out gravel and pebbles and will provide you with more stability on muddy trails. These boots have sufficient support for using a lighter, small backpack.
Mountaineering or Long Multi-Day Hike / High Cut Boots
High Cut Boots tend to be the best hiking boots for the serious hiker. They come in Leather or Leather/synthetic blend. They're a very strong boot with a lot of ankle support designed to be worn using a weighty pack. They may also be used with crampons for snow. They are unquestionably designed for the most demanding terrain.
Additionally: It is great to have the Perfect Hiking Boots, but what happens when your laces break?
It's important to have a spare pair of laces on the trail. The laces must be made for boots and not shoes. I would suggest a round instead of a flat style lace, these tend to last longer. The support that laces provide is very important to a comfortable hike.
Every hiking boot needs a good boot insole. Insoles do wear out with time. Make sure that your insole continues giving you the right padding.
Remember; protect your feet with the proper hiking boots. They will appreciate you by the end of the day.
I'm hoping that this report has been helpful in choosing the best hiking boots for you.
Get the best hiking checklist on the web for FREE. Go to Hiking Revealed.com to pick it up today.
If you enjoyed this article and want to keep up to date on hiking and backpacking, check out Hiking Revealed.com. This website is packed full of information on hiking equipment and trail reviews.
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