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<title>Latest Articles by dianenewsom1</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/</link>
<description>Articles at ArticleTrader</description>
<language>en-us</language>
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<title>How Does HID Lighting Work?</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/home-improvement/how-does-hid-lighting-work.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/home-improvement/how-does-hid-lighting-work.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 12 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ How Does HID Lighting Work?<br>HID, or high definition, lamps are typically required when high levels of light are needed to cover large areas. They are the lights you see at ballgames and theme parks, at stadiums and in gyms.  <br><br>There is a high demand for HID lamps because of their efficiency on a wide scale and their ability to clearly cover huge areas.  They come in several versions: mercury vapor lamps, metal halide lamps, and standard high-pressure sodium lights.   <br><br>Mercury vapor lamps were the first commercially available high definition lamps (HID). They are swiftly becoming outdated by newer more efficient counterparts like high-pressure sodium lamps and metal halide lamps. <br><br>High-pressure sodium lamps generally emit a more yellowish light, but are available with whiter light. They are usually the most efficient, and thus most commonly used, type of HID light. Metal halide lamps produce a beautifully white, natural light, but are also less efficient.<br><br>How do HID lamps produce light?<br><br>High intensity discharge lamps produce light when the gases inside the fused alumina tube are heated to the point of evaporation. Tungsten electrodes are kept in the alumina tube, and when the metal elements begin to heat up, they strike the tungsten electrodes, creating an arc of light. <br><br>Similar to fluorescent lights, HID lamps need a ballast  (a device used to start gas discharge in a lamp and limit the flow of electrical current) to even start producing heat. If they don’t have the ballast, the reaction won’t begin, and there won’t be any light.<br><br>What are tungsten electrodes?<br><br>Tungsten is a chemical element that is known for its high melting point and robust physical characteristics. It is used widely in electrical applications like lighting because of these properties. It is a hard, non-alloy metal that ranges in color from steel gray to tin white. It is shaped, or “drawn” into the very thin metal wires you see inside a light bulb.<br><br>What applications are there for HID lamps?<br><br>There are numerous applications for HID. They are in high demand in areas that require lots of lights, like stadiums, football fields, warehouses, parking lots, roadways, sidewalks, and more.<br><br>However, they have come into habitual use in smaller areas as well, such as department stores, houses, indoor gardening, and a number of other applications. Because of their bright, natural light, HID lamps can also cause those extra bright headlights blinding you across the road. <br><br>They are such a powerful light source, in fact, that high definition lights have come into use on the airbus 380- super jumbo airplane. <br><br><br /><br />--<br />Diane Newsom writes for  the <a href="http://www.antidazzlelighting.co.uk">uk Lights</a>. Please visit us for more information on websites giving a <a href="http://www.antidazzlelighting.co.uk">buy Outdoor Lighting</a>.<br><br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>Lighting as a Decorative Tool</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/lighting-as-a-decorative-tool.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/lighting-as-a-decorative-tool.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 12 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Lighting as a Decorative Tool<br><br>Lighting can be on of the best decorating tools in your arsenal if you need to create a certain mood or atmosphere. There are many types of lighting and many uses for it, including accent lighting, down lighting, up lighting, front lighting, and Soffit lighting.<br><br>These are some of the more popular methods of decorative lighting, though there are plenty more that abound in the creative hands of interior designers. Do the research, and also experiment with the use of light-you never know what you might come up with.<br><br>All powerful in their own ways, each lighting method has its own purpose and niche, and is used to create different decorative lighting effects. Using lighting as a decorative tool is a wise choice, as it can make all the difference in a room’s ambience.<br><br>Accent lighting <br><br>Accent lighting is mostly decorative and is used to highlight elements that you want to stand out. It is used museums and homes around the world to showcase art and other goods, and is also used to accent outdoor lighting along pathways, lawns, and more. Its main purpose is to showcase the item it highlights. A common method of lighting, it is used widely by interior designers and other decorators. <br><br>Down lighting<br><br>Down lighting is one of the most common lighting methods used in homes and buildings. Fixtures on the ceiling cast light downward, and the amount of light cast makes down lighting one of the most efficient and cost-effective types of lighting available. <br><br>Up lighting <br><br>Up lighting is less used, and when it is implemented, it typically generates a dramatic contrast through deep shadows or highlighted areas. Less efficient than direct lighting, it is nevertheless ideal for creating a mysterious, elegant atmosphere, and can be a lot of fun to work with.<br> <br>Front lighting<br><br>Front lighting is a very common lighting method, and is ideal for ridding an area of shadows. It creates a flattening effect that is quite useful if you’re trying to create a light, peaceful atmosphere. On the other hand, front lighting shouldn’t be used if you’re trying to create an overly dramatic effect complete with shadows; it has a tendency to even out the light in an area. <br> <br>Soffit lighting<br><br>Soffit lighting is typically a lighting method that creates a “wall wash” and is usually used to highlight textures like plaster and stucco. It can be both decorative and general lighting, depending on the way you arrange the lighting and the types of lights used. Be careful when using it to bring out textures on walls, as it will bring out both the beauty and defects of the wall in question. <br><br><br><br /><br />--<br />Diane Newsom writes for  the <a href="http://www.antidazzlelighting.co.uk">uk Lights</a>. Please visit us for more information on websites giving a <a href="http://www.antidazzlelighting.co.uk">buy Outdoor Lighting</a>.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>Lighting as an Advertising Medium</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/lighting-as-an-advertising-medium.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/lighting-as-an-advertising-medium.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 12 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Lighting as an Advertising Medium<br>Lighting has been used in many creative ways to lend presence and a sense of awe to events. The bright lights at ball games and in stadiums create a good association in people.  Lighting has made many things possible that weren’t before. Late night football games and trade shows; your child’s soccer or basket ball game-they can now be played in evenings and at night, when you can actually watch.<br>The advent of light as an advertising medium has slowly but surely gained momentum. Spotlights brighten the sky during festivals and large events, striking long, wide arcs across the night. <br>The instant you see a spotlight, you know that something is going on, and you want to know what it is. You might be drawn to look up the event that’s going on, and even attend. This is a powerful effect, and one that has been put to good use by advertising campaigns around the world.<br>Colored lights bring to mind fun, parties, and good times; they can create specific moods and feelings; ambiences and atmospheres. Black light is used to create an eerie, surreal feeling; soft light creates a romantic atmosphere; even fluorescent light has associations to human beings.<br>Lighting balloons, and even blimps with lighting effects, have become the norm at huge sports events like the super-bowl and the soccer world cup. How can your eye not be caught by the magnificently large balloon with multi colored lights? And who can ignore the large, crawling blimps with lights showcasing their wide-screen advertisements?<br>Even at trade shows, balloons with lights are used to advertise services and products. Jewelry stores use lights extremely effectively, managing to create a fairy-tale like glow that makes that diamond ring look like the most beautiful ring in the world. Of course, it is probably the most expensive as well.<br>It is a fact that light as an advertising medium has become so effective, we make associations with different types of lighting in an instant. For example, to most of us spotlights mean a large event; blimps and lighted balloons highlight the slogans of their advertisers; colored lights usually indicate a party or celebration; the list could go and on.<br>Light is a powerful advertising medium that can create an amazing presence, no matter how large or small the event. Advertisers have effectively managed to make the creative use of light one of the most dominant elements at large events around the world.<br><br><br><br><br><br /><br />--<br />Diane Newsom writes for  the <a href="http://www.antidazzlelighting.co.uk">uk Lights</a>. Please visit us for more information on websites giving a <a href="http://www.antidazzlelighting.co.uk">buy Outdoor Lighting</a>.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>Light in Industry: Safety Option or Safety Requirement</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/home-improvement/light-in-industry-safety-option-or-safety-requirement.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/home-improvement/light-in-industry-safety-option-or-safety-requirement.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 12 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Light in Industry: Safety Option or Safety Requirement<br><br>Many people work night shifts: construction workers, policemen, truckers, and various other professions that may work on the road, on a highway, or other locations. <br><br>There is an ongoing debate about whether good lighting means greater safety for those who work the night shifts on the road and other dangerous places where little or no light can mean a fatal accident.<br><br>Currently, industrial lighting is considered an option and is listed as an expense item rather than a necessary requirement. It is a safety feature of most work sites and industrial areas, but the lighting isn’t necessarily good or adequate enough to meet the needs of the workers. <br><br>Many times the lighting is poor, and this can create bad situations. When a company is looking at reducing costs, one of the first items on their list is to reduce energy, and especially light energy.<br><br>But is saving a little money worth the risk of injury amongst your workers? That is a question many industrial companies are struggling with, and one that has yet to be answered. For the moment, each company decides for itself, and there is no standard strength lighting that is required for company’s to implement.<br><br>What is known is that good lighting can and does make a work environment more pleasant and ultimately easier to work in, especially at night. Since many industrial activities involve hand-eye coordination and numerous people perform many visual tasks, good lighting is essential.<br><br>A lot of research has been conducted into the efficacy of light in working environments, and most of it has found that people who worked in areas with better lighting ultimately performed faster, with less errors. This is integral because just a higher speed and the ability to really see what you’re doing can lead to some excellent occurrences.<br><br>More effective lighting might lead to better quality control and increase your customer satisfaction ratio. Maybe it will increase your sales, improve safety, reduce injuries, lower insurance, create less “sick” employees, improve security and much more. <br><br>It may seem a little far fetched to make those claims, but the fact remains that better lighting equals a better working environment; this in turn equals a more effective company. Thus you have to ask yourself, once again, if lighting is truly an option or if it should be a hard, fast requirement in the industrial sector.<br><br><br><br><br><br /><br />--<br />Diane Newsom writes for  the <a href="http://www.antidazzlelighting.co.uk">uk Lights</a>. Please visit us for more information on websites giving a <a href="http://www.antidazzlelighting.co.uk">buy Outdoor Lighting</a>.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>Light Pollution and the Surrounding Environment</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/light-pollution-and-the-surrounding-environment.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/light-pollution-and-the-surrounding-environment.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 12 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Light Pollution and the Surrounding Environment<br><br>Light pollution is a term that is often used to describe excess light in an area or location. Its effects and causes are continuously under debate, but there are certain effects of light pollution that can be irritating, and according to some, even harmful to health and the environment.<br><br>The term itself is subjective, and not everyone agrees that light pollution is a problem. Often, one person’s “light pollution” could be another person’s enjoyment, and vice versa. If a car’s headlights shine into your room, causing you to wake up and sleep poorly, it is considered light trespass, a milder form of ‘light pollution.”<br><br>If an area is so filled with light you cannot see the night sky, the phenomenon is considered light pollution. A night-time sporting event is considered light pollution, as is over-illumination or the excess use of lights.<br><br>Light pollution is also the cause of the moving of several observatories away from brightly lit areas. An excess of light results in the inability to study the sky, and this is detrimental to an institution that relies on the sky for information.<br><br>There are several common types of ‘light pollution’ that are typically quoted by those adhering to the belief that lighting adversely affects the environment around us. Three of the main culprits include: light trespass, over-illumination, and sky-glow. <br><br>Light trespass is usually the effect of an accident and is simply a small annoyance. A common example of light trespass is light that shines into a dark room, which many say creates sleep problems and the inability to see outside. This can include headlights from a car, a flashlight, etc. <br><br>Over-illumination simply refers to the extreme over-use of light, which can cause waste most people aren’t even aware of. For example, the use of light in excess, common in both residential and industrial areas, can cost the nation the equivalent of 5 million barrels of oil (equivalent) per day. Over-illumination is easy to fix: simply turn off the lights in your home and at work when they’re not in use, employ energy saving lights, implement timer systems, choose the correct fixtures; basically, train your household or employees to use light effectively and without waste. <br><br>The term “sky glow” is referred to when the all the lights of a city create a hazy, glowing effect in the sky. “Sky glow” is the result of all the lights combined into a mess of directions and released into the surrounding atmosphere. For example, if you go a few miles outside of a big city at night, you can see the glow, sometimes faint, other times strong, of light being refracted into the sky. It is a special annoyance  to astronomers, who cannot accurately study a washed-out sky.<br> <br><br><br /><br />--<br />Diane Newsom writes for  the <a href="http://www.antidazzlelighting.co.uk">uk Lights</a>. Please visit us for more information on websites giving a <a href="http://www.antidazzlelighting.co.uk">buy Outdoor Lighting</a>.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>Finding Good Real Estate in Lake Tahoe</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/finding-good-real-estate-in-lake-tahoe.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/finding-good-real-estate-in-lake-tahoe.html</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 25 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Beautiful and beckoning, Lake Tahoe is an ideal home or vacation area, with a wealth of real estate on its shores. Lake Tahoe is one of the highest, deepest, and largest lakes in the US. Pristine waters, myriad activities, and a warm, welcoming community create an exquisite area to live or vacation.<br><br>The entire Lake Tahoe area is sublime; real estate is truly beautiful and there are choice homes for sale in all budget ranges. Like any area, there are places that are more expensive, and those that are less so.  Lake Tahoe is divided into living communities spread throughout the lake area; some of the prettiest locations are in North Lake Tahoe and South Lake Tahoe. <br><br>South Lake Tahoe and its real estate<br><br>South Lake Tahoe sits on the border of California and Nevada at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The area is predominantly residential and the city is located on the southern shore of Lake Tahoe, bordering Stateline, Nevada. There are a number of casinos in the area as well as a world class ski resort, Heavenly Valley Mountain Resort. The largest ski area in California and Nevada, the resort town is a big draw for visitors and real estate seekers alike.<br><br>South Lake Tahoe is immensely beautiful; better yet, <a href="http://www.cblaketahoe.com">the real estate levels vary</a>, so anyone can find something suitable. In general, the south side of Lake Tahoe is less expensive, but this isn't always the case. Your best bet is to find a realtor who knows the area well and can give you tips on the areas that fall within your budget.<br><br>North Lake Tahoe and its real estate<br><br>North Lake Tahoe is as beautiful as its neighbor, South Lake Tahoe. The amazingly blue, pristine waters are especially tempting, and it tends to be a bit warmer than its southern counterpart. This is due to the fact that the northern part of Lake Tahoe generally gets less snow than other areas. <br><br>Despite this, there is plenty of snow, as evidenced by such ski resorts as Squaw Valley, home of the 1960 Winter Olympics, Alpine Meadows, Diamond Peak, and Northstar. These areas tend towards steeper prices, but are enviable locations to find vacation rentals or homes.<br><br>Real estate prices in North Lake Tahoe vary, but are generally higher than in the south, though this really depends on the specific community.  One of the least expensive areas of this part of Lake Tahoe is Truckee, a sweet, smaller town on the north shores that is growing into a coveted location. Amenities like golf courses, easy access to Lake Tahoe, and shorter drives to other areas are the big draw for this little town.<br /><br />--<br />Diane Newsom writes for Lake Tahoe for more information on <a href="http://www.cblaketahoe.com">Lake Tahoe Real Estate</a> and its surrounding areas please visit the site.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>Stain Removal Products and your Tile Floor</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/home-improvement/stain-removal-products-and-your-tile-floor.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/home-improvement/stain-removal-products-and-your-tile-floor.html</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 05 May 2006 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ If you have a new tile floor and don’t manage to see the stain soaking into your tile until it’s to late, never fear. There is always a solution to tile floor stains and many ways to combat them.<br><br>Stains challenge even the most creative people, but there are a number of ways experienced individuals have come up with to fight stains and keep your tile floors looking lovely and clean no matter what ends up on them.<br><br>There are many valuable resources on the internet for cleaning tile stains and a lot of information on how to fight stains, so make sure to do the research before trying your friends ‘special’ method.<br><br>Also, remember to always wear cleaning gloves. A surprising number of people forego them and are sorry later on. They protect your hands and allow you to give the floor your all without worrying about dangerous chemicals. They are also important is you’re cleaning up such stains as blood.<br><br>An important rule of thumb when cleaning your tile floor is the general stain addict that says you should test a small, unseen spot before actually using the methods all out. Testing is easy; you simply apply the solution to a small, non-visible part of the floor, such as under a couch or chair. <br><br>If the product ruins it, you know that it shouldn’t be used. Before doing any stain removal process, you should test it. Do this by applying it to a small area of the floor that is out of sight or covered by furniture. If the remover damages the floor, do not continue. It may be necessary to contact the tile manufacturer for instructions, and ideally you should talk to them about the tile before you buy it, as not all tiles are the same.<br><br>For example, how you clean your floor and the stains up off of your floor depends on the material you’ve used. A glass tile floor is going to need different care than a mosaic or a <a href="http://www.fastfloors.com">ceramic tile floor</a> because of the different porousness of the materials and how they are made. Different products will have varying effects, and that’s why it is always important to test and do the research.<br /><br />--<br />Diane Newsom writes for the <a href="http://www.fastfloors.com">Fast Floors</a>. Vist them for more information on <a href="http://www.fastfloors.com">Stain Removal Products and your Tile Floor</a>.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>Graded Wood and Your Hardwood Floor</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/home-improvement/graded-wood-and-your-hardwood-floor.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/home-improvement/graded-wood-and-your-hardwood-floor.html</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 05 May 2006 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ If you’ve ever wondered how companies decide how to price wood and which quality is best, there is definitely a method to their pricing and categorization of different wood species and their classifications and specifications. <br><br>National standards exist for wood quality, and these standards ensure that each species and type of wood is given a rating, called a “grade.” The percentages of variation and characteristics of different woods completely depend on the set of standards by which every wood is judged. These standards are made by major trade associations and professional organizations.<br><br>While grading is usually concerned with hardness of a species, and thus its correlating amounts of hardwood and sapwood, some grades depend on the mix of the two.  Woods like hickory, cherry, and many exotic woods have especially contrasting colors of <a href="http://www.fastfloors.com">heartwood and sapwood</a>. These woods may be ordered and graded as mixed (sapwood and heartwood), sap-only (only sapwood) or no-sap (only heartwood). <br><br>Four general grades exist for categorizing many species of different woods. Classifications are based only on appearance, as the structural soundness of most woods in generally the same all around. <br><br>It is the level of aesthetic beauty that is graded and given a score, and it is by this standard that prices for wood are set. A higher grade means a higher price, and a lower grade means a lower price.<br> <br>First grade or clear wood has to have a surface almost completely free of imperfections, such as knots, dents, marls, or other flaws. Light streaking, burling, or few pinholes may be allowed. Variations in color are ok, but sapwood content has to be extremely minimal and almost non-existent.<br><br>Second-grade or Select wood standards accept small, sound tighter knot marks and other small defects as long as they aren’t large. A small amount of sapwood is allowed, as are variations in color. <br><br>Third-grade or Common wood is allowed more defects than the previous two, as well as larger knots on the surface. They can have a higher amount of streaking, more variety in color, and a larger amount of sapwood.<br> <br>Fourth-grade or Lower Common Grade is the lowest wood grade on the scale, and is limited to very little. There may be large knots, heavy grain and surface imperfections, and great differences in color and large amounts of sapwood. It is often described as “rustic,” and is common because of that quality.<br /><br />--<br />Diane Newsom writes for the <a href="http://www.fastfloors.com">Fast Floors</a>. Vist them for more information on <a href="http://www.fastfloors.com">Graded Wood and Your Hardwood Floor</a>.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>Selecting Wood for Your Custom Hardwood Floor</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/home-improvement/selecting-wood-for-your-custom-hardwood-floor.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/home-improvement/selecting-wood-for-your-custom-hardwood-floor.html</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 05 May 2006 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Selecting Wood for Your Custom Hardwood Floor<br><br>Selecting wood for your hardwood floor is often a confusing process if you don’t know what you should be looking for. The type of wood, it’s content of sapwood or heartwood, its durability, whether you’re using for indoor or outdoor applications-all these considerations matter when you’re <a href="http://www.fastfloors.com">selecting wood for your hardwood floor</a>.<br><br>There are some general properties to understand before you purchase a wood floor. One such property is the amount of sapwood or heartwood in the product. <br><br>Choosing sapwood for your hardwood floor<br><br>Sapwood is softer and lighter, and can be more prone to damage. However, its loveliness and relative un-knottiness, plus its reasonable price, make it a popular wood.  Sapwood is also more prone to warping than hardwood, so this should also be a consideration when choosing sapwood for your hardwood floor.<br><br>Choosing heartwood for your hardwood floor<br><br>Hardwood is the most durable wood, and is an excellent choice for many applications, especially hardwood floors. It is made from the outer bark of the tree and is usually darker. It can be more expensive than sapwood depending on the type of wood involved, i.e. whether you choose an exotic wood (more expensive) or a domestic wood (less expensive).<br><br>What is the most commonly used wood flooring choice?<br><br>There are many species and types of wood, but the most commonly used wood is oak. Oak is the standard that wood manufacturing companies tend to hold other species to, and they are rated on a “hardness” scale.<br><br>Choosing the color of your hardwood floor<br><br>Color is also a consideration when thinking about selecting a wood for your hardwood floor. There is a wide palette of natural colors, ranging from pink and tan (red oak) to white/beige (beech, hickory, birch) and orange, gold and brown (teak), plus everything in between. <br><br>Many woods have various colors; in general, the darker colors are usually heartwood, and the lighter colors are usually sapwood, although there are some exceptions.<br /><br />--<br />Diane Newsom writes for the <a href="http://www.fastfloors.com">Fast Floors</a>. Vist them for more information on <a href="http://www.fastfloors.com">Slecting Wood for Your Custom Hardwood Floor</a>.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>How to rank in Ask.com?</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/business/pr/how-to-rank-in-ask.com.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/business/pr/how-to-rank-in-ask.com.html</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Are you getting targeted traffic from Ask.com ?<br><br>Some of you may have noticed the traffic coming in to your site from ask.com. Although the traffic is “just a trickle” compared to traffic from Google, Yahoo, and MSN, it is extensive compared to other search properties.<br><br>In this post, we’re going to talk about why it’s important to pay attention to and begin optimizing for Ask.com We will give you some information about how their algorithm works and tell how you to do SERP research to improve your rankings.<br><br>First of all, it is important to know that Ask Jeeves was recently purchased by Barry Diller’s InterActiveCorp, making them “players” and giving them more funding and a wider reach than they’ve had before. IAC has plans for Ask.com:<br><br>Ask Jeeves is one of four world-class search technology providers, with approximately 42 million U.S. unique monthly users, and is one of the largest generators of online advertising in the world. Barry Diller, Chairman and CEO of IAC, said, “Ask Jeeves was founded almost ten years ago based on the idea that simple text search results alone are not sufficient or satisfying - but, rather, that consumers want answers to questions - and questions posed in natural language and answered with spot-on accuracy were especially desired and appealing. Of the many search engines launched during that time, Ask was one of the very few that established itself … and we believe that in the future it has the potential to become one of the great brands on the Internet and beyond, and by beyond we mean in wireless, in the search for anything on any device. It is that belief, powered by IAC’s wealth of resources and thriving businesses, together with the continuing strong management of Steve Berkowitz and his team, that is the impetus for this transaction.”<br><br>http://www.irconnect.com/askj/pages/news_releases.html?d=74889<br><br>Additionally, although Ask only has a small share of search traffic, it is enough to warrant some attention:<br><br>http://searchenginewatch.com/reports/article.php/2156451<br><br>Including Ask owned properties Iwon and MyWay, Ask represents 5.3% of searches, just behind AOL. This could result in decent traffic, especially if you are already well established in Google, Yahoo and MSN and are looking for additionally sources of relevant visitors. Also, if you offer a niche product or have a very large website, Ask can result in more traffic to your site.<br><br>How does Ask.com rank websites?<br><br>First, we have to establish that Ask.com uses technology that they purchased from Teoma. Teoma’s claim is that although it scans only a fraction of the content covered by major engines like Google, it produces well ordered and relevant search results by initially eliminating all the irrelevant sites and then considering the popularity of only those that relate to the search subject in the first place. It also provides other ways to sort through thousands or millions of search results by allowing users to refine or expand their search. Teoma was created initially from research derived from Jon Kleinberg’s HITS. <br>The HITS algorithm focuses on identifying communities, and  and authorities within those communities. You can read our review of HITS here: <a href="http://www.authoritydomains.com/understanding_kleinberg.php">Hubs and Authorities</a>.<br><br>Based on this model, Teoma works by responding to a query. In real time, they match the query with relevant pages by using Term Vector analysis (matching the query with words on the page). Then, they expand the set of sites by including sites that link to or from the initial set of about 200 sites. Subsequently, they analyze the linkage structure and determine which sites are hubs and authorities. They determine this by checking the total number of outbound and inbound links – if a site has many outbound links to sites that have many inbound links, it’s considered a hub. If a site has many inbound links from sites that have many outbound links, it is considered an authority. Results are then re-ranked to include these calculations.<br><br>Also, Teoma owns the patent for DirectHit, so they also include clickthrough counts in their algorithm.<br><br>They also may be using many other modifiers to their core algorithm. The best way to understand the rankings is to analyze the SERP’s for various keywords, particularly your own keyword sector.<br><br>Getting listed in Ask.com<br><br>There is no way to submit to Ask.com They discontinued their Site Submit program, so there is no way to pay for inclusion and there is no free “add url” form.<br><br>The only way to get listed is to get Teoma’s spider to find your site by following links from other sites. After you get links from other sites, you can watch your server logs to see if the spider is visiting your site and grabbing your pages. <br><br>Here’s the information for finding Teoma in your server logs:<br><br>The crawler comes from the IP address of 65.214.xx.xx and will be called egspd433.teoma.com. The user agent shows as Mozilla/2.0 (compatible; Ask Jeeves/Teoma).<br><br>For more information, please visit this page: http://sp.ask.com/docs/about/aj/teoma.htm<br><br>How to Optimize for Teoma<br><br>First, it’s important to ensure that your site has regular on-page optimization and your keyword is included throughout the code of your page. Teoma uses regular Term Vector analysis to determine what your page is about and it is used when constructing the first set of results. So make sure your keyword is included in your title, text of the site, meta keywords and description, and other relevant areas. The meta description tag is important for Teoma, so make sure you have your keywords mentioned in your meta tags, and make sure that every page has a unique set of keywords in the meta keywords and descriptions tags. Also, remember that Teoma indexes the entire text on a Web page and does not ignore the stop words like “on”, “the”, “and” etc, so craft your on-page campaign accordingly. Basically, use standard on-page SEO techniques – the same approach you have been taking with Google, Yahoo and MSN.<br><br>Off-page Factors<br><br>Having ensured that your site has proper onpage optimization, you then have to conduct a very focused link popularity campaign. Instead of working on a non-relevant reciprocal link or buying generic links, it’s important for you to get links from sites that are within your “community”. Remember that Ask works by identifying communities and ranking the top, most authoritative sites in that community.<br><br>Who is part of you community?<br><br>To optimize for Ask, you first have to determine what sites belong to your online community. Who are the experts? Which sites receive a lot of links from other relevant sites? Which sites have great lists of relevant sites in that community? You have to do the research and have a very clear map of your community. You can perform this research simply by typing your top <br>keywords into ask.com and making a list of the sites that rank. Then, visit those sites and become familiar with the community. Take notes when you visit them, listing things such as, do they have a lot of links out to other sites in the community? Do they only have a few links out to other sites? How can I encourage them to link to me? Don’t forget to visit the sites that are related to yours by clicking on the keywords that appear under “refine” or “expand” your search on the right side of the SERP’s.<br><br>Then, you have to start establishing yourself in your community. Imagine you just moved to a new area and wanted to make friends. What would you do? You would bake your famous oatmeal cookies and go knock on the door of your neighbors to say hi and introduce yourself. Same with your website. You would visit established sites that belong to your community and ask them to mention you in their websites. Ideally, you have something unique to offer, something that other sites in your community don’t offer, this way they’ll be happy to link to you.<br><br>If you are offering a product, try to get other sites in your community to review your product. Pay them to post your review, or give htem your product for free. If you are competing in a competitive area, try to find a niche for yourself where you can establish your site as the “big fish” in a small pond.<br><br>Offer something unique<br><br>You will have an easier job getting listed on other sites from your community if you offer something unique that is not currently available in your community. Also, you may consider finding an incentive for other sites to link to you, like offering them a discount if they buy your products, giving them free advice if you’re an expert on something, or offering a free tool that they can add to their site with a link back to yours.<br><br>Finally, try to generate new content on a weekly basis. This advice is good for all search engines in general, and will also help you with Ask. This will also encourage people to link to you, as they see you are constantly developing content and are offering “value” to the community.<br><br>Conclusion<br><br>Once you have established yourself as an expert in your community, it’s important to continue building your reputation by getting other related sites to link to yours. Also, use keywords that belong to their “refine” or “expand” search feature, on the right hand side of the SERP’s, to get your site listed in those SERP’s to link to you. All the sites listed under those keywords belong to your community. If you continue growing your site, adding content, and getting links from other sites, you will see your rankings increase and stabilize in Ask.com<br /><br />--<br />Authority domains offers search engine optimization that really works. Please contact them to <a href="http://www.authoritydomains.com">buy text links</a> that are hand picked and customized for each and every client.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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