Homes are long-term commitments that require constant, however, having the funds available when needed, can be difficult especially during tough economic times. Damage due to environmental factors, earthquakes, or just wear and tear can result in expensive repairs that can empty an account quickly. Today Government Grants for Home Repair is available to those who qualify and can really help save families from losing their homes due to un-repaired damage.Typically, these grants will pay for many repairs such as siding, roofs, or even the replacement of needed equipment such as air conditioning and heating units. These monies are available to ensure the residence remains liable as well as safe and secure for the residents. However, you will need to check with your local, city, and state agencies to see if you qualify.In some cases, city grants are designed to increase the value of properties located in low income areas. Many times these repairs include such things as yard cleanup, house painting, and repair of siding. Funding is provided to cover the cost of supplies and, once purchased, volunteers can be recruited to do the actual work. They are often available to low income families as well as those with disabilities and seniors.It’s important to note, however, that grant monies usually total only about $500, but the fact skilled volunteers help complete projects makes a little money goes a long way. The local community development office is a great place to start a search of this kind, but there are many other grant sources available if you know where to look.For those who need funding which exceeds that which is available locally, finding a low interest loan through governmental agencies may provide the money needed for larger repairs. Three such agencies are the Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Senior Housing Department, and Rural Housing Service of the US Department of Agriculture. Again, loans are often based on income so many qualify for the loan forgiveness program if they remain in the home for a set number of years or meet other qualifications.Another grant option for those who have children in the home is through your local Family Services office or Children’s Miracle Network. These departments also provide grants for home repair in that they want to ensure that where children live remains safe and in good condition. They are especially anxious to remove mold and lead paint from homes as these can cause developmental delays and even death in children. After the work is done they will even bring in an inspector to ensure that the work was done correctly.Those in need of aid to ensure their home remains safe and livable have many options today. Government Grants for Home Repair are providing many with the resources they need to ensure that their home remains a haven.
Google Likes Videos Because Their Customers Do and Automotive Advertising Agencies Need to Know It
Automotive advertising agencies are struggling to keep up with new Internet based technologies and applications being developed to maximize the R.O.I. for their auto dealer clients automotive advertising budgets and video has surfaced as the media of choice. Conventional automotive advertising focuses on maximizing the reach and frequency of a consistent message to a qualified consumer while minimizing the cost per impression and the same wisdom apply to the Internet. A challenging economy has resulted in shrinking sales volume and margins in the retail auto industry which dictates that automotive advertising agencies must leverage online resources whenever possible. The most obvious solution is to listen and learn from the search engines whose role in the process is to provide consumers with filters that provide efficiencies in their online shopping experience that promise increased relevancy and transparency in the sites that surface in their initial search results.Search engine optimization, S.E.O., is a fluid science that is dependent on changing algorithms designed by the search engines to insure that their customers needs are met. Search engines like Google have little concern for the interests of the automotive advertising agencies who are struggling to keep up with the rules to insure that their auto dealer clients show up on page one. The trick for automotive advertising agencies to stay ahead of the search engines is to focus on the one constant that exists in both the real and the virtual world – human nature. People are creatures of habit and recent generations have grown up watching T.V. or more recently following videos on You Tube. People would rather watch an entertaining video than read copy or even listen to an audio track so common sense suggests that video is the delivery method of choice for automotive advertising agencies trying to deliver their messages on the World Wide Web.Video has earned a weighted value on Google in response to experienced consumer preference and a comprehensive S.E.O. plan must be extended to include vS.E.O. with several new automotive advertising vendors taking advantage of the opportunity. SiSTeR Technologies Video CarLot is an example of a new video production platform that provides a scalable solution for automotive advertising agencies to place an auto dealership’s new and pre-owned inventory on the first page of a local Google search. They are able to access the pictures already posted on an auto dealer’s website and then convert them into a professional looking feature/benefit video with human voice and integrated video footage posted onto the auto dealer’s website. More importantly, the videos are interactive with multiple schema layers offering relevant information on the vehicles and they are fully indexable with dealer selected key words and Meta Tags. In addition, SiSTer uses their dedicated API with You Tube and direct links with all major third party websites to push the vehicles onto the Internet Super Highway with individual URLs. The resulting increase in online exposure form the sourcing auto dealer is obvious and it satisfies the goal of Google to offer their online customers relevant information in the media of their choice.Several established third party inventory based websites have recognized the leveraged exposure offered by videos on the Internet and they have extended their platforms to include an optional video production application. A new website – ronsmap.com – with an expected launch at the pending 2010 NADA Convention in Orlando Florida is rumored to be planning to offer a video solution as well as a direct link to social networking media through their proprietary vBack application. Social networking has recently been named by Google as having a weighted value in their algorithms similar to video with real time postings drawn from Face Book, Twitter, etc. which suggests that Rons Map is ahead of the curve by integrating both video and social media into their automotive advertising platform.Another use of video on the Internet that warrants honorable mention is offered by a new customer interaction patform provided by Argistics with their AutoTransaXion application. AutoTransaXion is being used by AutoNation to support their recent push to accommodate online transactions through AutoNation Direct. The solution allows an online shopper to engage in a real time two way video conversation with a personal shopper from AutoNation. The application has complete push/pull capabilities that allow the consultant to provide the same material that a customer would expect in a real world showroom to allow the customer to purchase the vehicle online and have it delivered to their home. The video portion of the application has been found to enhance the ability of the dealer’s personnel to build a relationship with the customer that was not previously possible given the obstacle of the glass wall between the customer and the dealership’s staff.The value of the Internet has been established with statistics that support the fact that 93% of today’s car shoppers prefer shopping on the Internet Super Highway over driving to their local car row. The growing use of video and the diverse applications on the Internat that have integrated it into the online sales processes suggest that video will have a role and forward thinking automotive advertising agencies must learn to implement it into their online marketing plans.
Golf Destinations and Travel Packages
You may be considering a golf travel package and hoping to reserve some time at one of the many great golf destinations in the U.S. or possibly an international location. It is best to compare prices of the various packages online first.
Are you planning a golf travel package for your company? There are many locations that offer a great golf travel package that can also include a meeting space or conference room. These packages may also include a corporate discount for the accommodations, greens fees, a rental van, as well as vouchers for meals and golf, maps and other extras.
Some of these corporate packages can be priced as low as $1500 per person to as little as $200. The golf travel package prices would vary according to the number of individuals (the more the lower the per-person cost), number of nights, meals, location and probably would not include your airfare.
There are literally hundreds of quality, highly recommended, memorable golf travel packages offered that can be customized for your company’s particular needs. Anywhere there’s golf a golf travel package can be arranged.
Consider a golf travel package to faraway destinations such as St. Andrews, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Scotland, South Africa, Ireland, the Caribbean or France. Stay in the U.S. and visit golf locations in Arizona, Colorado, California, Florida or Augusta.
Make a golf travel package reservation in England and enjoy and itinerary that could include arriving in Manchester and being met and greeted by your car and driver and delivered to Southport. If you are not feeling too jet lagged you could play a round of golf. Your second day you would play a round or two at the Royal Liverpool. On day three you would play at Formby and so on.
The cost would vary of course on the dates but could include: Six nights first class accommodations, car & driver or rental van, full English breakfast daily, lunches at all three Royals as well as guaranteed tee times & paid green fees, and all the services the local resort offers.
You may want to stay in the U.S. and plan your golf travel package around one of the golf championships such as the Masters Tournament at Augusta, or the U.S. Open and watching the pros in action.
You could save a little money by planning your golf travel package during the off season. As is true with anything else, tt is always important to plan ahead to insure your golf travel package will be the best planned and most enjoyable trip you have ever taken.
It is best to compare prices of the various packages online first.
Are you planning a golf travel package for your company? There are many locations that offer a great golf travel package that can also include a meeting space or conference room. These packages may also include a corporate discount for the accommodations, greens fees, a rental van, as well as vouchers for meals and golf, maps and other extras.
Some of these corporate packages can be priced as low as $1500 per person to as little as $200. The golf travel package prices would vary according to the number of individuals (the more the lower the per-person cost), number of nights, meals, location and probably would not include your airfare.
There are literally hundreds of quality, highly recommended, memorable golf travel packages offered that can be customized for your company’s particular needs. Anywhere there’s golf a golf travel package can be arranged.
Consider a golf travel package to faraway destinations such as St. Andrews, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Scotland, South Africa, Ireland, the Caribbean or France. Stay in the U.S. and visit golf locations in Arizona, Colorado, California, Florida or Augusta.
Many of these destinations, both international and in the U.S., have beautiful golf resorts with spas and top rated restaurants on site.
The cost would vary of course on the dates but could include: Six nights first class accommodations, car & driver or rental van, full English breakfast daily, lunches at all three Royals as well as guaranteed tee times & paid green fees, and all the services the local resort offers.
You may want to stay in the U.S. and plan your golf travel package around one of the golf championships such as the Masters Tournament at Augusta, or the U.S. Open and watching the pros in action.