A client asked me today about setting up separate websites/landing pages that all link back to his site and was hoping to help the popularity of his website in the SERPS(search engine results pages). I figured this was as good of time as any to elaborate a little more on this topic.

This type of thing can be helpful if it is done the right way and 9 times out of 10 it is not. Many seo companies and business owners themselves are really jumping into keyword-domain pool and buying up any and everything that has to do with their business with the hopes of being at the top of the SERPS for those particular terms.

Can it work? Yes, IF the keywords are so off-topic or long-tail that the competition is scarce and in which case is not worth the time of building the page/website because not enough people are searching for those terms anyway.

Will it work long-term? I sure hope not and I cannot wait for Google to start penalizing these companies with replicated landing pages across 10 or 15 domains because all it is in my eyes is low quality marketing spam. Something you will find if you take this approach is that you may rank well for a very small number of keywords that are most likely all in your domain name and as I said above, if you do then the competition is scarce and your traffic will be very minimal.

Let me tell you why SEO is not always about ranking for the most popular keywords in your niche.

Because any SEO Consultant that knows what they’re talking about will tell you that a majority of traffic comes from very random/long-tail searches you and no other person would really be able to think of.

Your next question is probably well then how can I rank for these terms?

Write quality copy on your website and keep it coming on a weekly/monthly basis. If those companies spamming the net with replicated domains spent as much time writing helpful tips, additional pages or improving the quality of their own website not only would their be a traffic increase but conversions would increase as well, without a doubt.

Remember, spam is a short term solution(solution may be a strong word) but quality will pay off 10x more in the end.

Many experienced real estate agents in the Phoenix metropolitan are have a general understanding of the mortgage approval process, but there are a few important details that frequently get overlooked which may cause your loan to be delayed or denied when you’re buying your new home.

New Federal and State regulation, updated disclosure policies, appraisal guidelines, interest rate pricing premiums, credit score, secondary investor approval guideline layering, property type, HOA insurance requirements, title and property flipping rules are just a few of the many recent changes that can have a major impact on a borrower’s home loan financing.

With today’s volatile lending environment, it’s extremely important for home buyers to get a full loan approval, which clearly defines all contingencies that pertain to each unique home buyer’s scenario, prior to spending time searching for a new home with a real estate professional.

Here is a list of a few of the most important topics your Phoenix real estate agent should keep in mind while showing you homes:

Caution – Agents Beware:

Property Type –

High-Rise, Condo, Town House, Single Family Residence, Dome Home or Shoe House… all have specific lending guidelines that can influence down payment, credit score and mortgage insurance requirements.

Residence Type –

Need to sell one home before moving into another? Is a property considered a second home if it’s in the same city? What if I’m buying a home for my children to live in, it is still considered an investment property?

These are just a few of several possible residence related questions that should be addressed by your real estate agent and mortgage professional at the initial loan application.

Rates / Locks –

Mortgage Rates are typically locked for a 30 day period. Rates also have adjustments for property/residence type, credit score and down payment. Most of these could have a big impact on your monthly payment. An increased monthly payment could also have an adverse affect on your loan approval.

A 1% increase in rate could be the difference between getting an approval or denial.

Headline News / Employment –

Underwriters are human and watch the news just like you. Borrowers who work in a volatile industry during hard economic times may have to jump through a few extra hoops to prove that their employment and income is secure.

Job changes, periods of unemployment or property location in relation to the subject property are other things to consider that may cause a speed bump in the approval process.

Title / Property Flip –

A Flip is considered a property that has been purchased by an investor and quickly sold to a new buyer within a 30-90 day period. Generally, an investor will do a little rehab work, fresh paint, landscaping…. and try to re-sell the property for a profit.

While it seems like a perfectly fair transaction, many lenders have strict guidelines in place that prevent borrowers from obtaining financing on properties that have a previous owner with less than 90 days of documented ownership.

These rules change frequently, and are specific to particular property types, so make sure your agent is aware of any changes in title in the last 90 days.

Homeowner’s Association Insurance –

Some lenders require Condos and Townhome communities to have sufficient insurance and reserves coverage pertaining to specific ratios on units that are owner occupied vs rented.

It may also take a few weeks and cost up to $300 to receive an HOA Certification, so make sure your Due-Diligence period is set accordingly in the purchase contract.

Appraisal Ordering Procedures –

Appraisal ordering guidelines are changing quite frequently as regulators implement many new consumer protection laws created to prevent future foreclosure epidemics.

Unfortunately, some of the new appraisal regulations have proven to slow the home buying process down, as well as confuse lenders about the true estimate of neighborhood values.

VA, FHA and Conventional loan programs all have separate appraisal ordering policies, so make sure your agent is aware of which loan you’re approved for so that they document any anticipated delays in the purchase contract.

For example, if an appraisal takes three weeks and the average time for an approval is two weeks, then it probably isn’t smart to write a purchase contract with a four week close of escrow.



Blog Courtesy: Todd Helvik Marketing

If you’re a business owner and have a website which hopefully at this point you do, then you’ve probably been approached by an internet marketing company promising you the world and emptying out your pockets in the process. In this article I’m going to talk about a few things that you need to be aware of or even call out the salesman on when he bugs you everyday of the week.

Search Engine Submission Packages

Many companies, even well known/established companies (which is scary) will charge you to “submit your site to search engines”. First off, this is something that can be done for free and if you have had a website up for anytime at all it is most likely already submitted and being crawled regularly. Some companies will even take it a step further and charge a yearly or monthly fee for re-inclusion into search engines. SAVE YOUR MONEY. Once your site is crawled or indexed by search engines they will come back to re-crawl your site regularly, time varies on a few different things but do not ever pay someone to submit your site to search engines, it will be a better investment to reenact the picture above.

We will optimize your meta tags for 20 keywords

Sounds exciting right? It’s not but again, well know companies will hose you on this service that does nothing, literally. Very few engines even look at keyword meta tags and the one you should be most concerned with, Google does not even take these into account when indexing or ranking your site. Make sure to not only deny this service if approached, make it a point to disregard anything else they have to say because they obviously don’t know what they’re talking about.

We will submit your site to 500 directories

That means 500 links, GREAT! Sign me up, let’s do it. I am going to run to home depot and pick up a shovel so I can gather all the money I will be making. And they’re only charging $199, I wish I found this FANTASTIC SERVICE sooner. Hopefully your sarcasm alarm is going off because this again, is bs. First of all, there are not 500 directories out there worth including your website into and second, spamming your website across the net in this manner is not only not helpful but it is harmful and could result in penalties, banning, etc.

We will list your site in Google & Yahoo Maps for $129

Your response: “No thanks, I think I have 10 minutes free this evening and since that is a free service I will just do it myself.”

Add to Google | Add to Yahoo

We guarantee 1st page Google rankings in “ORGANIC SEARCH” in 60 days

Organic search is highlighted because it IS possible to get your website on the first page of Google for any keywords you want and overnight, it is called Google Adwords and though I won’t get into it too much now, but if you don’t know it is Google’s sponsored search results with placement determined by the highest bid. Anyways, back to guaranteed organic search rankings. Is it possible to guarantee 1st page rankings when it comes to SEO(search engine optimization), of course, is it really ethical, not really. I say that because guaranteeing something that you cannot control is a poor business practice. Google’s algorithm (what determines where websites rank in search results) is not known or published anywhere to tell people what it takes. The only thing SEO’s like myself rely on is speculation, trial and error. Does it become a craft and you learn what works and what doesn’t, of course but you never really know. I have very many websites ranking on the 1st page of Google in competitive verticals and understand how to get them there but there is no set formula and as Google continues to evolve and change, so will my strategies. What works today may not work tomorrow so staying current with techniques and best practices is crucial in SEO. So when it comes to companies guaranteeing organic search rankings, do your homework and the best way to call their bluff is by asking for examples and do not let them fool you (which many do and continue to do) by showing examples of a high ranking website of theirs ranking for long-tail keywords searched may be 50 times a month.

There are so many scams and bs out there when it comes to this industry it is very disheartening. If you ever have a question at all about something being pitched to you by a company or a individual feel free to ask me. I would love to help you save your money and make sure it is being put to good use. So that’s all for now, I will elaborate on more later.

When it comes to the care of your natural stone there are plenty of do’s and don’ts.

As I like to tell our customers “you want to stone protect/proof” your home. One of the first things to do is place non-slip mats or area rugs at entrances of frequently used doors to remove loose sand or dirt from shoes. Dust mopping or flat mopping is a great way to prevent or slow down the deterioration of your stone ’s finish that everyday foot traffic causes.

The best product that we have come across to use on a daily basis or weekly is Revitilizer from Stonetech, you can order it “ready to use”, it cleans and re-protects your floor with every use.

Never use an acidic cleaner(read label thoroughly) on any natural stone surfaces in your home.

You can expect yearly cleanings for the best results. One of the things that works very well with our customers is a yearly maintenance program where we provide a deep cleaning of the stone so that the stone surface remains radiant. When it comes to daily spills the best thing you can do is wipe them up immediately using revitilizer cleaner. Use coasters whenever possible for drinks. Recently we had a customer that purchased a home where there was several young children who LOVED orange juice, that had gotten spilled everywhere. Because of the acid in orange juice it etched her travertine floor throughout her house. To fix it we needed to hone the entire floor, which for any size home entails alot of work.

Maintenance is key to keep your stone surfaces looking great, good luck and enjoy the beauty of your natural stone!

Learn more about Natural Stone Restoration & Cleaning

Brought to you by Americhem Carpet & Tile Cleaning

Solid hardwood floors should not normally be installed below ground level or in bathrooms. Cut pieces with glaring defects and it is normal practice to use stain putty or filler stick for defect correction or minor dimension differences. Unfinished flooring will require spot or trowel filling as required before sanding.

Wood Flooring Installation Phoenix

Pre-oiled flooring should be hand-sanded using 120 grit or higher and a light finishing coat of oil applied with a cloth after hardwood flooring installation. Hardwood Flooring finished with a stained lacquer, lighter or darker than the natural species colour, should be treated with two coats of clear lacquer right away after installation. This type of flooring has finish in the item description i.e wenge finish, walnut finish, white finish.

Flooring should be stored within the installation area at normal expected conditions for approximately one week to acclimatise depending on your particular product and species. A dimension tolerance of plus or minus 2% is allowed by manufacturers.

Stay tuned for future wood flooring installation tips from Horizon Tile & Flooring!
For more information check us out online @:

http://horizontileaz.com

Scottsdale Carpet Cleaning is just like exercise! If you get into a routine and keep it up, you will see great results and feel better for it. Understanding the right way to clean carpet will help you save time by doing it correctly the first time with products that do the job right from the start. Not only will Seal of Approval cleaning products help keep your carpet looking great, they can also help meet the warranty requirements of the carpet manufacturer. Below are three simple steps to keeping your carpet clean and looking great:

1. Vacuum at the right frequency with a CRI-approved vacuum.
2. Clean spots and spills quickly with products that do not damage the carpet or cause it to resoil more quickly.
3. Professionally deep clean your carpets every 12 to 18 months to remove embedded dirt and grime.

Stop dirt at the door

Preventing dirt and grime from getting on the carpet in the first place is a great way to start keeping it clean. The following helpful hints can stop dirt in its tracks.

* Use mats – Outdoor and indoor mats or runners can reduce the amount of dirt that enters the house.
* Take off your shoes – You can save wear and tear on carpet by asking everyone to take their shoes off before entering your home.
* Change your air filters – Change air filters in your heating and air-conditioning systems as recommended by the manufacturer’s directions. The more dust and particles removed by the filter, the fewer that fall onto the carpet.

Spot Removal Steps

Act Quickly! Most carpet available today has been treated with a stain-resist treatment, so many spills can be removed if immediate action is taken. The longer the delay, the higher the probability of a spill becoming a permanent stain. Remember, staining is influenced by many factors, and no carpet is completely stain proof.

Blot liquids with a dry, white, absorbent cloth or or white paper toweling (no printing).

Do not scrub the area! Scrubbing may cause pile distortion in the affected area. Continue to use a dry cloth or paper towels until the area is completely dry. For semi-solids, gently scrape up with a rounded spoon. Solids should be broken up and vacuumed until completely removed. If the spot can be identified, locate the substance in the spot removal computer and follow the directions carefully.

Pretest any spot removal agent in an inconspicuous area to be certain the solution will not damage the fiber or the dye. After applying several drops to the testing area, hold a white cloth on the wet area for 10 seconds. Examine the carpet and cloth for color transfer, color change, or damage to the carpet. If a change occurs, another cleaning solution should be selected.

Apply a small amount of the selected cleaning solution to a white cloth and work in gently.

Work from the edges of the spill to the center to prevent the spill from spreading. Do not scrub! Blot in order to absorb as much as possible, and repeat if necessary.

Continue using the first cleaning solution as long as there is a transfer of the spill to the cloth. It is not necessary to use all of the cleaning solutions if the first solution removes the spill.

Be patient! Complete removal of the spill may require repeating the same step several times. After the spill has been completely removed, rinse the affected area thoroughly with cold water, and blot with a dry cloth until all of the solution has been removed. Some cleaning solutions will cause rapid soiling if the solution is not completely removed. Apply a one-half inch layer of white paper towels to the affected area, and weigh down with a flat, heavy object. Continue to change paper towels as needed.

A dry, absorbent, cleaning compound may be used as a substitute to accelerate drying time.
For more detailed information on a specific spill, please search on the pull-down menu at right.
Many fiber manufacturers provide a toll-free cleaning assistance and advice (consult your warranty).

Scottsdale Carpet Cleaning Tips provided by:
Americhem Carpet & Tile Cleaning
“Your Scottsdale Carpet Experts”

Get involved.
You get out what you put in. Don’t expect to build a website and a week or even a month later think that people are going to magically find you online. Building an online presence and ranking well in popular search engines takes a lot of time and it is a process that requires continuous attention and by just spending a few hours per week you can see some very positive results.

Blog it up.
Start talking about your craft, your weekend or even posting some funny videos you think your readers might enjoy. You may be thinking how will I even get any readers to my blog and the answer comes back to the first point of getting involved. Search out some blogs that are relevant to yours and share your opinions via comments and link back to your blog. If you actually read articles and write quality comments the blog poster would most likely at least check your blog out and if they like what they see then you may have yourself a follower. Don’t cut corners or just comment on 100 blogs saying things like “I enjoyed your post” because it is very obvious you just posted for the link and may bloggers will not approve your comment.

Choose Quality, not Quantity.
Referencing back to the post above, when you’re promoting your site across the net try and focus on quality websites to either comment or list your site on. More often than not Google will not only not reward your site for linking to sites that may appear spammy or irrelevant but they will actually penalize you. Many people think that getting websites ranked in search engines comes down to the number of links you have pointing at your site and they couldn’t be more wrong.

Age, age and more age.
Search engines love age, especially Google. By age I mean not only the age of the domain but the age of the links pointing to the site. Think about it, would a site be more relevant that is 5 months old with 100 indexed links pointing at it or a site that is 7 years old with 100 links coming in for those 7 years. It’s a no brainer and age is something you must attain from continuous hard work on your site and in due time, could be months or years, your site will get rewarded most definately.

I hope you enjoyed the insight and this information will benefit you and your website in the future.

Todd Helvik
602.705.6050
Visit My Website

Cold Weather Care
Tortoises should be kept outside year round (unless they are ill, then they should not hibernate). Bring your tortoise in every September for a pre-hibernation exam and to get feces checked for
parasites.

When the weather becomes cooler in the fall, the tortoise will prepare for hibernation.
To help with this process, you can construct a den (see Den Construction handout).
If you cannot construct a den, you may place the tortoise into a garage or storeroom. However, this
is not ideal.

The temperature for ideal hibernation conditions should remain between 40-55° F, and humidity between 30-46%. If the hibernation area is too warm, the tortoise cannot hibernate properly. Keep your tortoise in a dark, draft-free area. Check on it every week or two, but do not move it. If the animal is being kept indoors for hibernation, it is possible for it to become dehydrated. Offer water every 4-6 weeks, or every 2-3 weeks for juveniles. If your tortoise chooses to not hibernate in the burrow, even after you’ve moved it back to the
burrow/den, it may be sick. If this is the case, bring your tortoise in for an exam.

Warm Weather Care
When the tortoise emerges from hibernation, keep shallow pools of drinking water available. Do not leave large pools, as desert tortoises cannot swim and will drown. If you have a pool or pond, make sure it is blocked off so that the tortoise cannot reach it.
The shallow pools of water are for drinking and lounging in. The tortoise can absorb water from their cloaca (located in the tail) while sitting in the water.
During the extremely hot months, your tortoise will go underground and/or become less active. Make sure that food, water, and shade are always easily accessible to it.
If you don’t want your animal to roam free in the backyard, you can create an enclosure.
The enclosure must be a minimum of 120 ft2. This can house either a single male or 3 females (if you use wire fencing, make sure the holes in the fencing are at least 2 inches wide to prevent the tortoise from becoming entangled).

Females and males should be separated from each other to avoid breeding.
The enclosure walls should be at least 18 inches high to prevent escape since tortoises are good climbers. If you have any questions about Desert Tortoises, please contact the Sonora Desert Museum at (520) 883-3062 or visit their website at www.desertmuseum.org. You may also ask a staff member at Scottsdale Veterinary Clinic.

-Dr. Langhofer