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Ever visit a website with a specific goal in mind (like buying something), only to leave the site in frustration? If so, you’ve witnessed how usability can affect a website’s ROI — for better or for worse.

The same is true in real estate marketing. A website that lacks usability will lose potential clients. This applies to franchise sites as well as the personal marketing websites of individual agents. It doesn’t matter how much traffic your website gets. If it’s hard to use, it will turn people away.

Usability Defined
In online marketing terms, usability is the degree to which visitors can maneuver through a website to achieve their goals. Websites with high usability keep more first-time visitors, earn more repeat visitors, and enjoy a higher ROI — whether measured by sales, phone calls, downloads or subscriptions.

Usability thrives on simplicity and leads to profitability. So let’s look at some ways you can increase the simplicity, usability and profitability of your website.

Determine Your Objective
Start by determining the primary and secondary objectives of your website. Knowing this will help make the site more usable. If you know what you want visitors to do, you can focus your energy on making that task as simple as possible.

Get specific here. Don’t say, “I want my site to support my real estate marketing program.” That’s too vague. How do you want it to support your marketing? By generating phone calls and emails? Then that’s your website’s primary goal — to generate phone calls and emails from visitors / prospective clients.

Promote the Primary Objective — Demote Everything Else

Take a look at your home page. How many items do you have competing for the reader’s attention? If the answer is “a half-dozen or more,” you have not promoted your primary objective. Instead, you have a handful of objectives competing for attention.

Avoid putting all of your goals onto one page. Segregate them onto separate sections of the site. For instance, maybe the goal of one page is to evoke calls from buyer’s about your listings. While the goal of another page is to motivate buyers into signing up for a first-time home-buyer’s seminar.

But keep it to one primary goal per page. Your main objective should be the most prominent thing on the page. Everything else on that page should play a supporting, background role.

Use Familiar Structure and Other Web Conventions
Logo in the upper-left corner. Navigation down the left side or across the top. Dark font on a light background. Web users expect certain things to be in certain places, so you should accommodate this assumption. Trying to be unique by putting things where they don’t belong is an amateur tactic best avoided.

Having structure similar to the structure of other websites doesn’t mean you’re unoriginal. It means you respect your readers enough to give them familiar road signs. Differentiate yourself with superior content, not with unique (obscure) navigation.

Use Clear, Concise Language

Reading is hard on a computer screen. So don’t make people read any more than they have to. For example, instead of saying, “Use the link below to email me with any questions or comments you might have” … simply say, “Questions or comments? Email me.”

Conclusion
Websites have become a key part of real estate marketing. But simply having a website is not enough. You must have a website that visitors can actually use. Remove the obstacles between your prospects and the actions you want them to take, and they’ll be more inclined to take those actions.

About the Author
Brandon Cornett is the author of “The Modern Guide to Real Estate Marketing” and the founder of ArmingYourFarming.com. To sign up for his free newsletter, or to read similar articles on real estate marketing, visit http://www.ArmingYourFarming.com.

For daily tips on real estate marketing, visit the Arming Your Farming blog at: http://www.realestatemarketingtips.blogspot.com

THE MAGI:

I find no real fault in Constantine’s inclusion or plagiarization of earlier and other systems of thought or their symbology into Roman Empire social engineering. The problem I see is the nature of the knowledge that they sought to prevent average people from gaining. Knowledge is power and knowledge in the hands of the few is a corrupting power. They have used mind-fogging projections to enslave and make people live in fear of demons and other constructs.

“Among the most famousand fiercestof the laws that Moses is shown to bring down from Mt. Sinai are the ones that criminalize the practice of magic. ‘There shall not be found among you a soothsayer, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,’ decrees Moses. ‘Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.’ (From Biblio: Deut 18: 10; Exod. 22: 18.) Magic working is condemned with equal fervor in the Christian Bible, where it is explicitly kinked with all the other outrages of paganism: ‘The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, {Yes, and the Catholics had more idols than the pagan pantheon especially when you include the saints along with ‘Laddio, Daddio and Spook’.} and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.’ (From Biblio: Rev. 21: 8.)

Ironically, an intriguing and illuminating clue to the function of sorcery in the pagan world is buried away in one of the most beloved passages of the Christian Bible. ‘Three wise men’ come in search of the newborn Jesus, or so goes the conventional English translation of Matthew 2: 1-2, ‘for we have seen his star in the east, and have come to worship him.’ The ‘wise men’ are plainly called ‘magi’ in the Greek text, the plural form of ‘magus,’ a word that was used among the pagans of Babylonia and Persia to identify seers, soothsayers and sorcerers. ‘Magus’ is the root of ‘magic,’ and so we might more accurately call the men who followed a star to Bethlehem the three magicians.

‘Magus’ came to be used in Jewish and Christian circles as a derogatory term to describe someone who trafficked in black magic; a sorcerer, a deceiver, even a poisoner. But the original meaning of the word in the pagan world was honorable and even exalted…” (1)

Then there are the constant proclamations that various ‘experts’ make about ESP. Stanford Research Institute included the inventor of the laser and many fine scientists that these so-called ‘experts’ are seldom able to evaluate or as debunkers are paid to marginalize. Russell Targ’s book Limitless Mind including a foreword by Jean Houston is a great book for the truly open-minded individual. Targ’s book - which is the study of consciousness and the ethereal Matrix at a high scientific level says: “…forced-choice ESP tests are an inefficient way to elicit psi functioning: they always have an additional burden of boredom and mental noise (AOL). In the above studies, the experimenters, on average, had to carry out 3,600 trials to achieve a statistically significant result. With the free-response type of experiment, such as remote viewing, we typically have to do only six to nine trials.” (2) Does it not make sense to ‘observe’ all the avenues for wisdom that we are blessed with?

1) God against the gods: the history of the war between monotheism and polytheism, by Jonathan Kirsch, Penguin, NY, 2004, pg. 46.

2) Limitless Mind, by Russell Targ, New World Library, California, 2004, pg. 95.

About the Author

Author of Diverse Druids, Columnist for The ES Press Magazine, Guest writer at World-Mysteries.com

A hiatal hernia is an anatomical abnormality in which part of the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm and up into the chest. Although hiatal hernias are present in approximately 15% of the population, they are associated with symptoms in only a minority of those afflicted.

Normally, the esophagus or (food tube) passes down through the chest, crosses the diaphragm, and enters the abdomen through a hole in the diaphragm called the esophageal hiatus. Just below the diaphragm, the esophagus joins the stomach.

In individuals with hiatal hernias, the opening of the esophageal hiatus (hiatal opening) is larger than normal, and a portion of the upper stomach slips up or passes (herniates) through the hiatus and into the chest. Although hiatal hernias are occasionally seen in infants where they have probably been present from birth, most hiatal hernias in adults are believed to have developed over many years.

The Causes of a Hiatal Hernia.

It is thought that hiatal hernias are caused by a larger than normal esophageal hiatus, the opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus passes from the chest into the abdomen. As a result of the large opening, part of the stomach “slips” into the chest.

Other contributing factors include:

• A permanent shortening of the esophagus (perhaps caused by inflammation and scarring from the reflux or regurgitation of stomach acid), which pulls the stomach up.
• An abnormally loose attachment of the esophagus to the diaphragm which allows the esophagus and stomach to slip upwards.

Different Types of Hiatal Hernias.

Hiatal hernias are either:

Sliding

Sliding hiatal hernias are those in which the junction of the esophagus and stomach, referred to as the gastro esophageal junction, and part of the stomach protrudes into the chest.

The junction may reside permanently in the chest, but often it juts into the chest only during a swallow. This occurs because with each swallow the muscle of the esophagus contracts causing the esophagus to shorten and to pull the stomach up.

When the swallow is finished, the herniated part of the stomach falls back into the abdomen.

Para-esophageal

Para-esophageal hernias are hernias in which the gastro-esophageal junction stays where it belongs (attached at the level of the diaphragm), but part of the stomach passes or bulges into the chest beside the esophagus. The para-esophageal hernias themselves remain in the chest at all times and are not affected by swallows.

A para-esophageal hiatal hernia that is large, particularly if it squeezes the adjacent esophagus, may hamper the passage of food into the stomach and cause food to stick in the esophagus after it is swallowed. Ulcers also may form in the herniated stomach due to the disturbance caused by food that is stuck or acid from the stomach.

Fortunately, large para-esophageal hernias are uncommon.

Hope for Hiatal Hernia!

Once you grasp the ‘biology’ behind a hiatal hernia, you can begin to understand the science behind some deceptively simple techniques to manage the condition. To find out more, check my review of my recommended resource on controlling a hiatal hernia.

About The Author:

Nick Willis is a fellow sufferer and researcher of Hiatal Hernia. Read Nick’s review of his recommended resource at ExpertFound.com

Most people who regularly haul heavy cargo will want a hard
Tonneau cover. These are usually constructed using high quality
aluminum and steel, although many are made of fiberglass. Both
materials are lightweight, making assembly easy. Most hard
Tonneau Covers are easy to install and remove from truck beds.
Often, the supporting rails snap into place and the user doesn’t
need to drill holes in the truck bed. Most hard Tonneau Covers
cost a minimum of $500, but they are well worth the investment.

Hard Tonneau covers are a valuable asset for pickup truck
owners. They can lock valuable cargo in the bed of the truck,
protecting it from thieves. Hard tops are built to withstand the
toughest road and weather conditions imaginable, keeping the
items underneath safe and sound. They are available in countless
colors and most retailers will match the color of the Tonneau
Cover to the truck.

Hard Tonneau covers are made of lightweight materials. Some are
so light that even a child can lift them. This lightweight
construction makes them easy to install and operate. Many hard
tops contain hinges and can be opened upward and held in place
by metal rods, providing the user with access to the entire
truck bed. Some models are equipped with doors on their surface,
while others can be folded up in seconds. The folding models
allow users to access the entire truck bed, stowing the Tonneau
cover in a small space for future use.

Hard Tonneau covers are a stylish way for truck owners to
protect their cargo and add character to their vehicle. They can
be painted any color, providing as much decoration as security.
Many people with custom pickup trucks or low-riders choose
customized Hard Tonneau covers to add their signature style to
their trucks.

(ARA) - It seams that as we spend more and more time in our homes we are always looking to make our quality of life better. We are constantly seeking new ideas that embody both form and function. It is no surprise that people remodeling and upgrading their homes look to the bathroom to add luxury. The bathroom is quickly becoming one of the most lived in rooms in your house. After all, everyone wants to have that warm feeling when they are spending time in their living space. With the right changes you can create a spa like feeling with products such as heated tile, impressive baths with multiple showerheads, and towel radiators. Here are some tips for warming up your bathroom — literally.

Start with a wall full of showerheads, to provide a pampering, steam-filled, hot shower. These days you can find all of the luxuries that you could possibly want, from multiple massage settings to the water coverage area; you can specify everything right down to the size of the water drops. These products can be found at any of the major bath fixture companies or your local kitchen and bath showroom. They start at under $100 and can be an inexpensive way to make a big splash in your new spa-like space.

Second, beautiful tile floors can give you that instant spa feel, but no one likes to step onto cold tile when getting out of a warm shower. Heated tiles systems can change the entire feel of your floor and your room. They come in two systems, electric and hot water. Your kitchen and bath professionals can help you decide what would work best for your space. If you’re doing even the smallest renovations, a system like this can make a large impact in your comfort level.

Lastly, there is a new product reaching the American market that has been a staple in Europe for years. Towel radiators differ from towel warmers in that they actually heat up the bathroom, as well as offering the added luxury of warming and drying your towels. If you are short on heat in your bathroom, this is an easy way to take it up a notch. The best part is they fit anywhere that you would put up your normal towel bar. “If you have to have heat in your bathroom it might as well be pleasing to the eye and give you the added benefit of a warm towel,” says Kate Bosley of Zehnder, a towel radiator company.

These unique products even come with programmable controls that give you the ultimate in flexibility, convenience and efficiency. You can set the radiator to turn on before you get up in the morning and shut itself off so you don’t waste energy. Wake to a warm bath and towel with no worries, because it only costs pennies a day. On top of that there is the count down timer. “Say it’s been a stressful day and all you want is a long soak in the tub. Well, you hit the timer function before your bath and by the time you get out you have a wonderfully warm towel to wrap up in. After 1 hours the unit shuts itself off and returns back to its original program,” says Bosley.

Homeowners can easily install a towel radiator themselves. They can be hung on the wall with four screws and the proper wall anchors. After that, they just plug right in to your standard bathroom outlet. Check with your local professionals or the manufacturer about the appropriate installations on the new showerheads and radiant under floor heating systems. It is always best to do your homework and purchase top quality products that will last a lifetime.

As winter sets in the trend is for people to start to retreat to their homes and these days the house is not just a place to live, it is our sanctuary. Just imagine a long hot shower, stepping out onto a heated tile floor into a room that is cozy and warm, and grabbing that fluffy towel. Could you ask for more?

For more information on Zehnder’s towel radiators please call (888) 778-6701 or see them online at www.zehnderamerica.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

About the author:

Courtesy of ARA Content