WordStream SEO course

Internet is full with free SEO courses that can help you improve visibility of your website in the search engines. A lot of well known and popular SEO companies provide guides for both beginner’s and those a bit advanced. One of the those is WordStream’s SEO course called SEO Basics: Complete Beginner’s Guide to Search Engine Optimization. It may not be that much extensive, but it covers all the basics of SEO with useful tips and examples. SEO Basics: Complete Beginner’s Guide to Search Engine Optimization is divided into eight parts, from simple information about SEO, to additional SEO considerations and SEO services. When this long guide is read, one will have a strong understanding of what is and how search engine optimization is, why it is significant and necessary and how to earn good results.

This SEO course starts on topic what is SEO and why is it becoming more important with every day. This part can’ be summarized with three questions, “how to optimize the website for search engines”, “how much time to spend on SEO” and “how to know difference between so called good SEO and bad or harmful SEO”. It also highlights why companies or any website owners need to put a lot of work and focus on SEO and SEM (search engine marketing). Second part of guide focuses on keyword research and keyword targeting best practices. Everything connected to keywords play big role in search engine optimization.

This part of guide should not be missed. Next part of guide is reserved for on-page optimization. On-page optimization covers technical side of the website, such as codes, meta tags and so on. Usually, this job is done by programmers or web developers but nothing is stopping website owners to do it by themselves. In the middle of the guide you can find stuff related to information architecture and internal linking, another big part of SEO. When talking about linking, WordStream dedicated fifth part of guide to link building and content marketing. Content marketing is rather big topic, so it could also be studied separately.

Since SEO is not quite easy and constantly changes, WordStream also gave once section of guide to common technical SEO issues. Besides this, they also show what are one of the best and most useful practices when it comes to SEO. Another significant part of SEO is racking and measuring results of SEO so that is why this SEO course also explains how to do so. In the end, WordStream gives list of additional SEO considerations and SEO services that could be helpful and efficient once previous information is understood and well used.

This SEO course or guide is quite long and a lot of people will not reach the end, but despite that it has quite the amount of really useful information which can help every beginner starting their work with SEO. Besides explaining SEO basics, WordStream’s guide should help when making a decision what to prioritize and make as ultimate objective.

An article by Dougles Chan - He is a business coach in Singapore and Malaysia.

Is Your AC Making You Sick?

No matter how clean your home or office environment is, there are countless unseen pollutants assaulting your senses. These toxic elements often go under the radar since they're not seen and their effects are usually associated with other causes or conditions. But if you have two or more of the symptoms listed below, chances are these toxic pollutants are running rampant in your home.

* frequent colds
* stomach pains
* ear infections
* frequent headaches
* allergic reactions
* asthma
* coughing
* sneezing
* wheezing
* itchy skin
* sore nasal passages
* irritated throat
* watery eyes/dry eyes
* hypersensitivity
* skin care problems

If you have any multiple combination of these symptoms, it's very likely directly linked to your central AC unit.

So what's making you sick?

There are two main causes for sickness associated with air conditioners: unnatural coldness and mold. Unnatural coldness, low cooling temperatures, often lead to illness and are relatively easy to control. The other cause, mold, is a notorious infiltrator that is nearly impossible to get rid of once its settled in your home.

Unnatural Coldness: A runny nose, watery eyes, and other basic flu-like symptoms, are our body's own natural response to unnatural coldness - but it isn't just a matter of temperature. Centrally air conditioned air is usually very dry since the units do not come with a humidifier function. This causes the delicate lining of the nose and mouth to become cracked and dry, leading to nose bleeds and causing the body to overcompensate with excess fluid production.

Mold: Molds are microscopic fungi in the same fungal family as mushrooms and yeasts. Highly adaptive, fungi grow and reproduce rapidly, breaking out in trail of expanding circular patches known as mold spores. Mold occurs in any damp organic environment. You've probably seen mold on spoiled food, on pieces of decayed wood, wet windowsills, or on papers and fabrics stored in a damp musty place.

With discovering over 270 species of mold, and with a difference between indoor and outdoor mold, there are a number of health risks associated with this contaminant. Several factors have to be evaluated in order to weigh the magnitude of health hazards associated with this toxic invader. These include:

* Type of mold
* Amount and degree of exposure
* Health conditions of the person inhabiting the home

Based on these factors, a person living in a moldy environment can have health problems ranging from allergies to serious illness. And as with any disease or compromised environment, pregnant women, infants, young children, the elderly, and those with significant health problems (especially respiratory diseases and/or weakened immune systems), are far more at risk if exposed to mold.

Mold inside your air conditioner

The most dangerous type of mold is the kind that's hidden. Going unseen and undetected, it spreads rapidly throughout your room, exposing you and your family to countless health problems. If you do detect slight mold, at either mild to low moderate levels, you can remove it through thorough cleaning, exposure to sunlight, and through proper ventilation.

However, detecting and removing mold is far trickier with central air conditioning systems. Most people aren't even aware that mold can and probably is inside your air ducts and vents. If you have several of the symptoms listed above, but are confident that your home doesn't have mold, chances are it's hidden in your central AC system. Aircon systems are one of the main mold producing appliances because they are a highly suitable environment for fungus. The high density of moisture and dust makes this a perfect breeding ground.

If you've ever cleaned your filter, you were probably surprised by how dirty it was. Now imagine air conditioner ducts and vents that you aren't able to look into. You'd be surprised by how dirty the return duct is - dirt, pet hair, drywall dust, all clumped together and funneled through air ducts, vents, and straight to your lungs. If you take into consideration that the vents in each room may not be sealed well, it is very likely that what's in your ducts is getting blown out into your living space, all over your hair and skin, your food, your bed sheets, your makeup and hygiene products. With such scary stats, it's no surprise that the number of people with Legionnaires Disease has gone up - a nasty flu-like bacteria that thrives in AC systems.

This unseen assault on your health takes an additional toll if you take account the time you spend listless from being ill, including missed days of work, money lost - all of which could be prevented.
What you can do

Ventilate your space: Crack open a window and let some fresh air come through. Keep in mind that opening a couple window for cross-ventilation is very different from switching on a fan. While using a fan is a great idea for helping prevent mold, it's not ideal for getting rid of mold. Once mold has set in, fans only ensure that the mold problem gets circulated faster and into more crevasses and cracks - making the problem impossible to spot till it's too late.

Clean your filter: Air conditioner filters were designed and installed to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses. However, as they collect these specimen, filters themselves can inadvertently become hosts to bacteria. Pollutants build up and get caught in the filter so that as air blows on it, they disperse from the filter and into the air you breathe.

The best thing to do if you've been using your central AC unit, is to get a professional to come in and check for mold spores - which can linger in the hoses/ducts. If mold spores are found, then you need to contract a professional to clean the area ASAP. Make sure whoever you contract does not use just a brush or vacuum. Using just a brush or vacuum, without any chemical cleaning solutions, will only loosen mold and bacteria and make you more susceptible to breathing it in. Here are some key things to keep in mind if hiring a serviceman:

1. Did they clean the blower unit?
2. Is the chemical cleaner they use certified and non toxic?
3. Does the chemical have anti-fungi and anti-bacterial properties
4. Make sure the serviceman doesn't just clean the unit with a vacuum and brush. This will only agitate the bacteria and viruses breeding there, ensuring you and your family get sick.

It's ideal to have your filter cleaned or replaced once a month. If this sounds like too much of a hassle, or you don't want to bear the burden of hiring costly professionals, then you may want to consider purchasing a portable AC.

Get a portable AC: Not only will you not have the mold problems as described above, portable air conditioners also save you the burden of hiring professional cleaners to clean your ducts and vents. Portable room air conditioners run for 1/4 the cost as central AC units.

In addition to being able to find AC units with multiple filters, many now also pair as humidifiers - which will prevent the dryness problems associated with common central AC units.

To live healthily, the air you breathe into your body must be clean, especially for your bedroom where you spend a considerable portion of your time completely defenseless - while you sleep! We live in a world where we have more pollution in our air than any time before. You want your home and your sanctuary to also be a fortress against foreign pollutants.

An article by Dougles Chan, Strategic Business Advisor & Coach. Check his website here.

How to Choose the Right Air Con Unit

Face it, central air conditioning is very expensive. If your home doesn't already have it, it is not likely that it ever will, that is unless you have the thousands of dollars needed to have the work done, which includes tearing out your walls and losing some ceiling space if the crawl space doesn't already exist. While for many people central air would be preferable, if it is not affordable then it simply is not an option. That doesn't mean that you need to go without clean air, however.

A professional air con company provides you with alternative methods for cooling your home or office. These methods include wall units, window units, portable units or even ceiling units. Choosing the right unit is important in order to get the most from your air conditioning. You do not want to choose a unit that is designed for a 300 square foot room, for example, if you have a 500 square foot room. This is not a good way to cut corners. Of course, you can always do the opposite and choose a unit meant for a larger room for a smaller room, however, this could be a waste of money if you don't intend on enlarging the room at some point.

One of the ways to determine which air con unit is right for you and your situation is to walk through your home or business and assess just how much space needs to be air conditioned. It is important to note that in most cases, these small units are not designed to cool more than one room. The exception being very open smaller spaces, such as a small combined kitchen and living room. Once you have determined how much square footage you want to cool, then it is time to talk with a professional.

The professionals at an aircon service company can help you make the rest of your decisions about what units you should purchase for your home or business. For example, they can help you figure out the max square footage you want to cool and show you what units will cool that area. They will also discuss with you the different brands they offer, such as Fujitsu, Panasonic, Daikin, Mitsubishi and more. Once you have chosen the type of unit you want and the brand that you want to use, they will even install it for you.

An article by Dougles Chan, Strategic Business Advisor & Coach. Check his website here.

Air Conditioner Maintenance: A Necessary Expense

When it comes to things around the house, we often don't realize their importance until they break. However, with regular maintenance that can be done with and without the help of a professional, your appliances will have a long and productive life. One such appliance is the air conditioner.

Most people only think about their air conditioner when it is time to use it--in the summer. However, the responsible homeowner will have their air conditioner unit inspected annually, by themselves and by a professional, to prevent small, repairable problems from becoming large, pricey problems that require replacement. Listed below are a few things a homeowner can do to ensure that their air conditioner functions properly.

1. If you have an older air conditioning unit, you should keep if covered during the winter months. This will guarantee that dirt, dead leaves and other debris doesn't get inside the unit.
2. Clear the unit of obvious obstructions such as shrubs, paper, and other things that may block the airflow from entering the air conditioner.
3. In the Spring, do a test run to see that the unit is running as expected. Be sure that the unit is uncovered though before you do this!

Now, where the professional inspection is concerned, they will be checking for more technical issues. These include:

1. Checking the freon level. Freon doesn't leave the unit, so if the level is low, it is due to a leak. This is an essential repair that will be made if it is needed.
2. An HVAC professional will also check all of the electrical components, filters, and condensor of the air conditioner to see that they are working correctly.
3. He or she should also clean the evaporator and the condenser coils as well as oil the motors.
4. The thermostat should be calibrated as well to ensure optimum efficiency.

While it may seem redundant to have your air conditioner checked year after year, it is much less expensive to pay for a check up than it is to purchase an entirely new unit. This is especially true when you realize that the cause of the breakdown could have been prevented by these simple steps.

An article by Dougles Chan, Strategic Business Advisor & Coach. Check his website here.

Alternative Scoliosis Treatment Success

The purpose of bracing is not to correct scoliosis, but to stop it from getting worse. Unfortunately, even with proper compliance (wearing the brace for 23 hours every day), it frequently fails in doing so. Dolan & Weinstein documented that 23% of patients who wore a brace still ended up undergoing spinal fusion surgery. In comparison, 22% of patients who did nothing underwent surgery for their scoliosis later in life. The evidence in support of bracing is extremely poor, earning an overall rating of "D" in a review of the scientific literature. Bracing can be very emotionally-scarring, at a time in life when "fitting in" means everything, wearing a brace can be a traumatic experience in a young person's life, with some people going so far as to say it left them with a "psychological scar. In addition to the emotional effects, the physical side effects of wearing a brace can include pain, skin & bone problems, and impairment of normal lung function.

Surgery does not cure the disease of scoliosis, but rather replaces one deformity with another. Many people choose surgery because they just want their worries about scoliosis to be over. However, surgery is not the final solution; merely an irreversible one. Scoliosis can continue to get worse even after spinal fusion, and over 20% of patients require more than one operation. Furthermore, 40% of patients are legally disabled 16 years after the procedure. Long-term evidence suggests that living with a fused spine may be worse than living with a curved one. 38% of patients stated that, if they had the chance to go back in time, they would not have undergone the surgery. 76% of patients suffer from back pain after 10 years. After 15 years, patients report increased difficulty sitting, standing, carrying, bending at the waist, participating in sports, lying on their backs or sides, lifting, performing household chores, and driving a car. In every patient who undergoes spinal fusion surgery, there is a permanent loss of spinal flexibility & function. The documented risks of surgery are bone fragments or instrumentation penetrating into the spinal canal; breakage of the implants; and, compression of the spinal nerves. This can lead to neurological deficits such as partial or total paraplegia, quadriplegia, or peripheral nerve damage - which may occur immediately after the operation, or as much as 10 years later. Surgery does not reduce rib deformity; instead, thoracoplasty (shaving down the ribs) or rib removal is often recommended for this purpose. This can result in a serious & permanent impairment of normal lung function, and can in fact cause the scoliotic curvature to progress. Even if the rib hump does improve after spinal fusion, in the majority of patients, the improvement is temporary, and eventually the situation is worse than it was before.

The truth is, spinal surgery is an invasive and dangerous procedure, and one that should only be undertaken after all other options have been exhausted. Unfortunately, it is increasingly being recommended as the first resort for children with progressive scoliosis and adults with painful scoliosis. Once done, it cannot be undone; to operate or not is an important decision, and all factors should be considered carefully before committing to spinal fusion surgery.

Researchers around the world recognize the need for a better way. Provided the use of a complete comprehensive approach, there is very little doubt that it is possible to reduce the need for surgery in the treatment of scoliosis. It cannot be argued against that there is a need for the advancement of research into manners by which a mild case of spinal curvature can be prevented from developing into a serious visible deformity.28 If bracing and surgery were successful, reliable, and effective ways of treating scoliosis, there would not be a need for advancement into new treatment methods. Also, there is increased need for physicians of all specialties to collaborate in the realm of scoliosis treatment.CLEAR Institute is fulfilling these needs by attending conferences of international spinal experts, working with recognized scoliosis specialists in all fields of healthcare, participating in debates about the future of scoliosis treatment, and providing more options to people living with scoliosis.

Our treatment addresses scoliosis 3-dimensionally, in accordance with established laws of biomechanics, to correct the spine in every dimension. It is well-recognized that two of the main factors involved in the progression & etiology of idiopathic scoliosis (IS) are biomechanical and neuromuscular. It is also proposed that the biomechanical and neuromuscular factors involved in the progression of scoliosis contribute to a cyclical pattern that leads to further progression ('vicious cycle').

Millner & Dickson described a biomechanical conceptual understanding of scoliosis in 1996 when they pointed out that, "For centuries, engineers have recognised that the mechanical behaviour of a column under load is influenced by geometry, as well as by material properties; it is clear that the spinal column also obeys these well-described laws." They then went on to extrapolate on this concept when they described scoliosis as a viscoelastic, three-dimensional "buckling" of the spine in both the coronal (side-to-side) and sagittal (front-to-back) plane, and noted that successful reproduction of scoliosis in an animal model occurs only when the normal sagittal alignment of the spinal column has been disrupted.This sagittal disruption has been noted and confirmed by several other authors. Researchers have even been able to predict the thoracic kyphosis by evaluating the coronal thoracic curvature, the lumbar lordosis, and the slope of the first lumbar vertebra. New research has discovered that a kyphotic cervical curvature occurs more frequently in patients with severe scoliosis than in a normal population. Axial rotation of vertebrae has been implicated as a risk factor for progression of scoliotic curvature. A positive correlation between the degree of the sagittal & axial disruption and the magnitude of the resultant lateral curvature has been documented. It has also been documented that spinal imbalances have the capability of producing forces which can influence curve progression. It could be taken as an axiom that if certain forces are capable of influencing progression, other biomechanical forces should be capable of influencing the regression of spinal curvature, and it has been suggested that a chiropractic physician who understands the biomechanics of scoliosis may have a rationale for the treatment of scoliotic curvatures. The etiology behind so-called idiopathic scoliosis is extensively biomechanical and driven in a large part by neuromuscular imbalances. Addressing & reversing the neuromuscular & biomechanical imbalances is the goal of CLEAR alternative scoliosis treatment, and this treatment approach is effective in patients of all ages.

This is supported by research which suggests that structural deviation of the nucleus pulposa can greatly affect the progression of scoliosis Physical rehabilitation has been demonstrated to be successful in the management of herniated nucleus pulposa. Physical exercises, postural remodeling, and proprioceptive neuromuscular re-education, combined with manual therapy that is performed with the purpose of achieving specific structural corrections (rather than simple mobilization of a spinal joint), are effective ways of altering the biomechanical forces affecting the spine and thus vertebral column loading. As stated by several preeminent scoliosis researchers, the primary factors influencing progression of the scoliotic spine are biomechanical (shear forces and asymmetrical loading of the vertebrae leading to vertebral wedging as per the Heuter-Volkmann Law, often referred to as the 'vicious cycle' in discussions regarding the pathogenesis of scoliosis), so a spinal biomechanical approach to treatment with the goal of reducing and reversing these forces is logical and has been proposed by other authors. This vicious cycle has been shown to develop in 3 dimensions, not merely in 2, and so biomechanical treatment aimed at reducing axial & sagittal deviation of the spine appears every bit as necessary as reduction of the lateral deviation.The CLEAR approach is the only system that re-trains the brain and spine to work together.

It has been well-documented that patients with scoliosis demonstrate a significant increase in neuroanatomical abnormalities of the corticospinal tract, as well as neurophysiological abnormalities, especially in the areas of vestibular function, proprioception, vibratory sensation, postural reflex mechanisms, abnormal reflex processing, and disordered postural equilibrium. Lateralization of neurophysiology also occurs more frequently in patients with idiopathic scoliosis (IS), and this can be correlated to the convexity of curvature.However, it has been suggested that this laterality is a result, rather than a cause, of scoliosis. While many authors have suggested that brain asymmetry may play a role in the etiology of scoliosis, one recent study did "not support the concept of a generalized brain asymmetry in idiopathic scoliosis," but noted instead that the trend towards asymmetrical neurophysiology was "probably representing subclinical involvement of the corticospinal tracts secondary to mechanical compression.The goal of the chiropractic manipulative therapy provided by CLEAR doctors is to reduce this mechanical compression and thus restore normality.

Neurophysiological compensations may develop as a mal-adaptation to disordered spinal structure; similarly, disordered spinal structure may create muscle imbalances & exacerbate existing neuromuscular imbalances.

An article by Dougles Chan, Business Advisor & Coach. For private coaching and advisory in business, click his website over here.