2010 Predictions - Social Media Time Warp, Green Overload, Transparency and More

This decade has one similarity to every decade prior: whether you are Bill Gates or destitute, everyone has 24 hours in a day. Time is the great equalizer and every decade delivers huge technology changes on how to spend ones 24 hour period.

This analysis does not recap how technology has changed the last decade. It predicts how the current technology and social environments will alter how we prioritize our time and our spending over the next decade.

Overused Interconnectivity Will Lose its Appeal

The beeping will not stop, but we will develop configuration options to tier who, when and how we will be alerted. Not every message or messenger is created equal; and our time will no longer be accessible by all.

Constant blackberry beeping intercompany email and texts in restaurants, movies and autos will wane. We will stop annoying ourselves (our families and everyone in our vicinity) reading content whose author forwards yet another 'Incredible grasp of the obvious'.

At Tandem Computers Inc. 3rd class email was available in 1989.

Developing products to combat over use is not a new concept: home telephones were so overused by telemarketers that caller ID and do-not-call registries were developed to stop annoying households. Advertising is so out of control that DVR, pop-up blockers and junk mail were developed.

Consumers eagerly pay to stop the advertisements that detain them from their quest.

Skimming Generates Widespread Knowledge but Little Expertise

I skim, you skim, we skim LinkedIn group topics, tweets, texts, Facebook IMs....Oh My! Yet the devil remains in the details as complex topics take a wee bit more than 140 character tweets or 1% of a boss's diverted attention span (while he skims email). Too much information, a conservative trillion points of light is generated and, not all those bulbs are bright...!

Look for consolidation of social media venues and readers to cut back on virtual discretionary time limiting who may vibrate them and when. Our time will transition to establishing and improving relationships with people close enough to physically touch: friends, families and neighbors. This next decade is the 'Decade of the City' and the social aspects of prides, pods, schools, and community will reach a tipping point.

Not all relationships are created equal.

Business Gets Personal: Personal Gets Business.

The foundation of social media - to interactively communicate real-time and share various types of information in different ways with different people is a fundamental shift in how we communicate.

A person's attention is his gift; time is our most precious commodity. Social media will support how much time we choose to spend on who and what (think configurable pickiness) depending on the depth and nature of the relationship.

Referrals and networking are as old as the second and third caveman, "Who did you get to move your rock?" Since WWII, leading sales reps have been relationship managers. CMOs heed the results from Stanford and Harvard research, "Advertising extends brand awareness but does not address perceived quality."

Relationships matter.

The 'Advertise everywhere' approach declines. Quality and trust become hip.

Just the Facts, Ma'am.

Google, YouTube, television and newspapers are information delivery vehicles to strangers by strangers.

In real-time, search engines serve up the explosion of data and advertisements coined the great 'mystery meat of information' we call the Internet.

Like virus detection, fact checking becomes a viable business model responding to Mark Twain's tongue-in-cheek humor: "Get your facts straight and then you can distort them as much as you please". Fraudulent behavior and rip-off artists are increasingly subject to 'Is that True?' scrutiny.

Journalists Smell Coffee! Cow Comes Home, Fat Lady Hits Final Note!

Knowledge is the power to make better choices. Fact checking unifies journalists as a community's hub.

Validation becomes cool.

Consumers Demand CarFax for Contractors.

Social media addresses the quality and trust gaps in traditional medias broken infrastructure and delivers transparency for small businesses serving local markets.

Like dinosaurs, consumer protection services (e.g., state licensing boards, the better business bureau) become extinct. Consumers cannot protect themselves as sites designed to protect are out-of-sync and out-of-date: and therefore significantly misleading.

Referrals explode but content is king.

Consumers demand transparency of local businesses referred by their social media friends, via third party validation of licenses, insurances, reputations and more. Judy may have great intentions, but may not know details. Sally will not question Judy whether Judy checked Bob the roofers state license status, insurance coverage and references before Judy recommended Bob, etc. as this certification check is available in Sally and Judy's hometown by clicking on the Certified insignia (that magically appears as a Facebook Connect application).

Reputable businesses are thrilled to be vetted as this ongoing certification differentiates Bob's business from the disreputable roofer who cannot pass the scrutiny. Bob's experience and knowledge is presented in articles, videos, 'ask the expert' and howto's.

Social media will connect people to verified reputable local businesses so consumers get jobs done on

their homes, boats and cars right the first time. Although recall notices will find product owners, social media consumers will demand third-party validation of personal and professional local services enjoying peace of mind and cost savings.

Business Planning Fundamentals Resurge; Include Sustainability

Dwight D. Eisenhower said, "Plans are nothing. Planning is everything."

Disruptive technologies and innovative marketing can shock an industry and demand reactions over time: Starbucks revolutionized coffee and Google revolutionized news and advertising.

Three components of a marketing strategy are central to unsettling an existing market or settling disruption in a market:

• Collaboration.


• Leverage.


• Creating standards.

Used in conjunction with brand builders (reach, frequency and relevance) marketing strategies implement lasting value propositions via cash management, sales, customer service, operating efficiencies, and talented people.

When asked about his inactive twitter account, GE's Chairman and CEO, Jeffrey R. Immelt stated, "My customers buy jet engines and gas turbines."

Fundamentals of communication have evolved but the fundamentals of business, expanded to include corporate social responsibility, are timeless. Like Chanel's little black dress, qualified leads and shortened sales cycles never go out of style.

Social media is a communication and relationship management tool in a marketing strategist's tool chest.

Green Marketing

Green Marketing has certainly disrupted this past year; ask the large cap public CFO answering ROI questions regarding carbon metrics in the supply chain. Fraught with innuendo, green washing, and conflicts, confused consumers tuned out.

Collaboration establishes the green culture epidemic.

The first consumer-accepted, loyalty-based marketing initiative of carbon management will be launched by a consortium of sustainable global companies. The adoption of sustainable practices by businesses and citizens is accelerated via a licensing infrastructure: best practices become standards. Existing initiatives (e.g., best-in-class k-5 green education programs, top green internal corporate programs) are leveraged and packaged.

Presented with clarity and humor by the growing consortium, consumers value green.

"I came to see, in my time at IBM, that culture isn't just one aspect of the game - it is the game. In the end, an organization is nothing more than the collective capacity of its people to create value." - Lou Gerstner Who Said Elephants Can't Dance.

"Counting Carbs" has a Whole New Meaning

The companies who understand that people breathe where they live are the most successful green marketers.

A GPS device manufacturer will announce the ability to track carbon emissions while you drive. Time, distance and speed will 'Count Your Carbs' giving penalties for time spent idling in traffic and drive-throughs and give credit for high MPG and electric vehicles. Toll collecting devices will offer carbon offsets to purchase along with your prepaid turnpike and bridge tolls.

Jan. 2010 - Dec. 2019

This decade will rediscover quality time (uninterrupted!) and quality relationships: personal and professional.

It will be a decade that embraces transparency and creates authentic infrastructure for exceptional businesses to grow. Citizens, their City, and the businesses that serve them will rule the roost.

"The 19th century was a century of empires; the 20th century was a century of nation states. The 21st century will be a century of cities." - Wellington E. Webb, former Mayor of Denver, Colorado

Credits.

Many thanks for the YouTube interviews from the Web 2.0 conference in October 2009, Socialnomics video the Social Media Revolution, The Newsosaur blog by Alan Mutter, Waiting for Your Cat to Bark authors Bryan and Jeffrey Eisenberg, Chris Brogan, David Meerman Scott and extensive thanks to the Tipping Point Author, Malcolm Gladwell.

Janet has led http://www.5dmarketing.com for 7 years "packaging" complex business scenarios and technical products and services for B-to-B and B-to-C sales to increase revenue, secure competitive advantages, develop pipelines, and deliver critical sales channels. Marketing is about generating repeat business with advantageous partnerships and effective communications. With 20+ years experience, our clients value the business plans and marketing strategies that enable them to break away from the pack.

Janet's other business RHS Certified® has achieved federal registration becoming the recognized national standard to validate a businesses' reputation. Like VeriSign and Energy Star, RHS Certified ® is an at-a-glance insignia that establishes comfort and trust in consumers who just want to get a job done right the first time. Members display the insignia on their websites, trucks and advertising. The RHS Certified® process covers, home improvement, maintenance and repair, and marine, auto, personal and professional services. For more information, contact the author. or visit her blog at http://www.janetsmith5d.com

Beware of Con Artists and What Their Game May Do to Your Ability to Find Cheap Insurance Quotes!

When you live in the middle of a storm center you don't flinch when you find out there's hail damage. In fact, if you actually manage to see a year go by without it you almost wonder why! A recent press release issued by the NICB (National Insurance Crime Bureau) indicates that the number of questionable hail claims in areas like this are on the rise as con artists slowly but surely take advantage of people like these. Keep your eyes open, or their game may completely ruin your chances of finding cheap insurance quotes!

How It Happens

Golf ball-sized chunks of hail can do a real number on your roof, ripping off shingles, punching in holes and generally making a mess of things. It seems like a gift from above when a professional roofer just "happens" to be rolling through your neighborhood and offers to make the repairs, doesn't it? Almost too good to be true.

You'd be surprised by how true that is.

There's always a chance that the odd roofer is going to be rolling through a residential area, notice a broken roof, knock on your door and offer to fix it, but it's going to be the exception rather than the rule. It's far more likely that anyone you catch knocking on your door is what's known as a storm chaser; they deliberately prowl through residential areas after a good storm, find homes that have been damaged and swear up and down they need a new roof. Guess who's going to do the building out of the kindness of their heart (and the padding in your insurer's pockets)?

What You Need to Know

There's a reason finding cheap insurance quotes isn't quite as easy as it used to be, and if you open your door to an earnest roofer you're probably looking that reason square in the face. Insurance companies are slowly but surely starting to catch on to their scams. The game requires the roofer to overcharge you for the roof, either by padding their bill or telling you the whole thing needs replaced when in truth, a patch job would do.

When home insurance companies pay out for these scams, the cost of your insurance quotes goes flying up. When they deny them, the homeowner may find themselves holding the bill. There really is no way to win. The best thing to do if you find yourself in a situation like this is to contact your insurance company, have them send out an appraiser, get a general idea of what it's going to cost to fix the roof and find out if the roofer cruising your streets is a certified contractor with your insurance provider.

Then, and only then, should you sign on the dotted line.

Tony Peck is the Director of Business Operations at QuoteScout.com. To find out more about what insurance fraud may be doing to your chances of finding cheap insurance quotes, visit them on the web at http://www.QuoteScout.com.

Hail Damage to Roofs & Auto Hail Damage

According to East Tennessee SKYWARN, "Hail is a form of precipitation that occurs at the beginning of thunderstorms. They consist of near spherical pellets of ice and snow, usually combined in alternating layers."

By this definition alone, you can already imagine what potential damage hail can do to your home, specifically your roof. And, if hail can damage your roof, just think how it can damage your vehicle. In fact, big hailstones that fall with force have been known to cause fatal harm to humans and animals.

Scientists have been trying to reduce the destructiveness of hail by injecting large quantities of silver iodide into a thunderstorm. They are trying to overseed storm clouds so that smaller hailstones will form. This will prevent them from developing into large hailstones. But as of this date, results remain inconclusive.

What damage can hail do to your roof?
Hail damage on vehicles can easily be seen but the damage that hail does to your roof will not be as obvious. Hail damage results in a random pattern of strike marks in different sizes. You may find dents, cracks or bare asphalt (if you have asphalt shingles on your roof). Additional signs of hail damage to an asphalt roof could be: granules that have settled at the base of your downspouts, metal air vents that have significant damage and damaged and dented siding or gutters.

Generally, hail has to be at least 1 and 1/4 inches in diameter before it can cause damage to wood shake shingles or heavy composite shingles. Hail that is 1 inch in diameter may damage lightweight composite shingles. However, if you have deteriorated composite shingles on your roof, hail that is less than 1 inch in diameter can easily cause damage.

What do I do if my roof has been damaged by hail?
Most hailstorm damages are cosmetic and won't have any adverse effects on your roof. However, moderately severe hail damage that strips shingle of their coatings may affect the longevity of your roof and this may qualify for repairs covered by your insurance. If the damage will cause leaks, exposed areas should be covered with tarps held in place with wood strips and nails. When you can access the roof, you should permanently repair the sheathing and replace missing and damaged tiles, shingles or shakes.

Are there available hail-proof roofs in the market?
There are hail-resistant roofs but to this day, you cannot find any hail-proof roofs in the market. These hail-resistant roofs have Class 1 through Class 4 hail-resistance ratings, 1 being the lowest and 4 the highest. These roofs are rated based on test results done by The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM). A steel ball is dropped from a predetermined height and the damage that the roof sustains is then measured.

There are several roofs that carry this rating but the most likely to endure hail with minimal or no damage would be concrete tile, composite shingles and metal roofs. When you purchase a roof be sure to check with the manufacturer to determine what hail rating is given to a particular product.

What damage can hail do to your vehicle?
If hail can damage your roof, then an exposed vehicle can sustain much damage. Dents will most likely be the most common problem. If your vehicle will be exposed to large hailstones however, there is a probability that you might end up with broken windows and/or a broken windshield. The good news is, with your vehicle, you can take preventive measures so that it will not be damaged by hail.

What can you do to prevent your vehicle from being damaged by hail?
When hail is in the weather forecast, put your car, boat or RV into a garage. If you have no choice but to leave your vehicle outside, cover parts of the vehicle that is most susceptible to hail damage, with thick blankets. These would be the roof, hood, trunk, windows and windshield.

In cases where you are suddenly caught in the middle of a hailstorm while driving your car, seek cover in a covered parking lot or garage. Another option would be to go under an overpass or any place with an awning. If you are on a long stretch of road with no cover in sight, pull off the highway, park at the side of the road and just wait it out.

What do I do if my vehicle has been damaged by hail?

1. Contact your insurance company and report the damage immediately.


2. Find out if your insurance has a preferred body shop that can do the necessary repair to your vehicle. If you want to choose the repair shop yourself, make sure that you will have your vehicle serviced by a reputable facility.


3. Make sure that you discuss with your insurance company and your body shop, what kind of repair should be done to your vehicle.


4. Ask how long the repair will take. But if several vehicles were damaged in your area during the hailstorm, do not expect the repairs to be finished immediately.


5. After repairs are made, make sure that everything was done to your satisfaction. Check for remaining dents and scratches before taking your vehicle back home.


6. Before having your vehicle repaired, you must check if the repair shop guarantees its work. Make sure that you get the guarantee and contact information in writing. If you find any flaws in the repair, you should be able to bring it back to them at no additional cost.

Hailstorms are part of nature. While most parts of the world may not experience this kind of weather, those who live in the middle latitudes are not so fortunate. If you are one of those people and have no choice but to live with it, just do the best you can to protect your roof and your vehicle by following the simple steps mentioned earlier.

Grace writes to help people learn more about dangers to homes and roofing. She does work for different companies, including a company that does roofing, Tulsa and surrounding areas.

A Minor Construction Site Injury Can Last a Lifetime - What Do I Do If I Can't Work Again?

With many construction sites finishing building projects left and right what with all the needed business infrastructures after the global financial meltdown, more and more construction companies rely on construction workers to get the jobs done on time. While this demand in construction workers is a positive result, there are far worse consequences to reckon with. One such consideration is the need to understand and analyze the growing number of construction site accidents happening every year.

With the government stimulus package under United States President Barack Obama jumpstarting the infrastructure projects last year, federal auspices has given construction site accidents and life-threatening injuries from such accidents a closer look and scrutiny. Construction site analysts, however, also point out that safety procedures and work-monitored protocols not being given due attention during the George Bush administration has substantially contributed to the increase of construction site-related accidents occurring all over the country for the last decade. Others even observe that the drastic rise in construction site accident statistics may have even started since the early 90s.

In 2008, for instance, there was a reported one in every four work place fatalities that involved a construction worker's death. Over one thousand personal injuries that led to the tragic death of the victim are related to construction accidents in the early 2001. This living statistics has risen to almost 3,000 in the late 2008.

Such construction work site accidents have become more and more common as each day passes. Almost every day, there are reported deaths and tragic personal injuries brought about by construction site accidents in the newspapers and even in mainstream newscasts. A 55-year-old carpenter was hit by a driver under the influence of alcohol while the former was still working at a construction site in Boston, resulting to multiple grave injuries. In Philadelphia, a union iron worker aged fifty years' old fell down a dark and dim stairway after lightning caused the power to temporarily shut down, causing multiple serious injuries to the construction worker. A twenty-ish self-employed roof construction worker fell off a roof at an oblique angle in Florida, giving the hapless roofer permanent paralysis.

In 1992, the rate for lost workday in the construction industry was 5.7 percent for every 100 full-time construction workers. Fifteen years later, however, this dismal rate has even become more alarming - increasing the rate to 9.6 percent for every 100 full-time construction workers. The nearly 40% increase has caused most construction companies to employ no more than twenty workers for every construction projects, thereby putting behind strict adherence to formal construction safety regulations or work-related standards and programs. As a result, the number of construction work site accidents has been steadily climbing.

The ultimate victim in this case is the construction workers themselves. Sometimes, because of the construction site accident injury lasting a lifetime, the worker needs to accept the fact that he'll never be able to work again. There are laws that are supposed to protect you from suffering such fate. If you happen to suffer from a construction work site accident and you're not sure who to go after for all the damages you get, seek the legal assistance of Seattle construction site law firms. They will help you win the compensation suit.

Common Causes For Roof Repairs

What are the most common causes for roof repairs? Get the information here.

Most roofs have a general lifespan of how long you can expect them to last under normal conditions. When a person lives in a harsh climate, however, that lifespan can be greatly reduced. Whether you are dealing with a harsh winter or a hot summer, extremes in climate and temperature can accelerate the aging process in nearly any roof.

Of course, there is not much we can do about where a home or building is located. So instead, we have different ways of protecting the roof that differ based on where in the country the building or home is located.

Extreme Heat: In Southern climates, like Texas, extreme summers can just bake roofs. By mid-day, roofs are just sitting there and baking. Unfortunately, these high temperatures hurt roofs by causing thermal expansion and contraction as the climate changes throughout the year, which can open seams and cracks in the roof and lead to water leakage.

In hot climates, the best remedy is to use thermal coatings. Thermal coatings like Elastomeric Roof Coating or Aluminized Roof Coating are great to have put on your roof, since they help to reflect away the heat and lessen the potential for damage.

When referring to the Aluminized Roof Coating specifically, that material is as shiny as a chrome muffler on a car. So when you go up a roof that has been coated with this, the roof could practically blind you it is so reflective. But at the same time, that is reflecting away the heat as well, and saving your home from thermal forces.

So having Elastomeric Roof Coating or Aluminized Roof Coating put on your roof, for those who live in extremely hot climates, is a great way to dramatically extend the life of your roof.

Extreme Cold: One of the worst things that can happen to the roof is if it has snow sitting on it for months at a time. That snow build-up-along with the thawing and freezing and icing and wetness-is just bad all around for a roof.

One of the best remedies for those who live in northern climates, where the temperatures tend to be colder, is to pack in as much insulation as possible underneath the roof. That insulation helps control the roofs temperature on a day-to-day basis, and therefore extends the roof's life as well.

No matter what climate you live in, it is important to have proper maintenance done on your roof to determine if something is wrong. By discovering cracks and seam problems early on, you can still repair them easily. If you wait too long, though, then the roof itself may be too far gone and an entirely new roof may need to be put down in its place. For those people living in extreme climates, roofing maintenance may need to be done more frequently than for people whose homes are located in milder areas. This is because hot or cold temperatures can speed the rate at which your roof begins to deteriorate.

Mario Williams is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Save money with the Guide to Roofing or more Home Care articles at the Yodle Consumer Guide, The Yodler.

Make Old Roofing Disappear Into a Rolloff Container

You have a dilemma. After finally getting sick and tired of your leaky roof, you are ready for a change and a full day of work in the hot sun. The weather conditions are just right to replace those shingles. After back breaking manual labor for hours, there is a large pile of debris that is broken up and useless.

A trip to the dump is expensive, and there are several loads that you don't have time to haul. It's doubtful that anyone would want them, so don't even bother posting an ad. The only other viable option is to rent a rolloff container.

A professional carting company will drop off a dumpster to your house, work site, or any other location. This is the most convenient, time and space saving and cost efficient solution to any mess you have that you don't know how to or don't want to get rid of yourself. This service is unparalleled, and with containers of every size, you will be completely satisfied.

In this world the customer comes first and so everything is done to accommodate everyone's schedule. The carting folks know that you don't want to work at all hours of the day and when there's a mess, you can't stop working to clean it up. That is why they are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Whenever you need a drop off, they are able to serve you. Nights, weekends, and holidays are no problem.

Rolloff containers are available in a variety of sizes. 10, 15 and 20 yard dumpsters between are perfect for the do-it-yourself person or small commercial projects. They can fit between 2-4 tons of material and its low three foot height allows for easy loading.

The 30 and 40 yard sizes are suitable for major home renovations and medium to large residential, commercial and industrial projects. These two dumpsters are equivalent to 20-25 car loads. Rapid delivery is available should you run out of room and need more. There's no need to rush as containers can be had for up to seven days. Additional time is obtainable should you need it.

The items that can be placed in dumpsters are not all inclusive. Accepted is construction debris, house and yard cleanup, and roofing materials. No hazardous waste, flammables, medical waste, mattresses and air conditioners with freon can be carted. Call for pricing to dump tires and creosote railroad ties.

Traditional dumpsters are offered, but those that are specifically designed to hold recyclable materials can also be rented. Being environmentally friendly and re-using as much material as possible is the way to go these days. Concrete, asphalt, dirt, stumps, brush and yard waste is what can be renewed. Recycling your material reduces waste in our landfills.

When you have a rebuilding or roofing project and can't slow down to figure out how to clean up a the mess, consider a professional carting company. You won't be disappointed. There isn't a project that is too small or a job too big that couldn't benefit from a rolloff container.

For the best Newark rolloff service call Guiliano Carting. We provide 24 hour Doylestown and Newark container services. Licensed and insured to provide 15-40 yard containers for commercial, industrial, or residential needs. Call 1-866-484-5426.

Basics of Roof Building

Getting to know about laying roof is simply laying of tiles in a specific pattern to prevent from leakage. This is not the case. Better roof construction is more that it seems. It actually seems about it is about fixing and preventing leaks. The following conditions are necessary for making a roof durable and strong.

The basic function of roof is to shield against harsh weather elements, moisture, hence preserving the structural and the interiorly components of the house. For purpose of the house inspection, whole of the roof scenario primarily consists of roof flashing, chimney and coverings.

Roofing
Basically there are two types associated with the roof construction flat and picticted (also called sloped). Separate pieces of shingling material overlapping each other are used to stop water from entering the roof. Roofs that are flat are primarily water tight membrane that have sufficient downward slope to allowing water to slide away.

Slope present of the roof decides the life expectancy of material used in building of roof. Life of the roof is dependent on the many factors such as quality of work done, wear and tear from tree barks and last but not the least material used. For example east or north will have less wear tear than roof facing west and south.

Slate or cement roofs are much more durable than standard asphalts shingle (plus are expensive).

After building a sturdy and strong underlayment, further step is to concentrate on constructing water proof roof. It is clearly most vital aspect of roof building.We must lay down a water proof on the required structure. Mostly tar paper or felt is employed for covering of the plywood laid. The thing to be done is fasten them safely with considering overlapping to prevent water from leaking into. The last step on our way to construct a long lasting and attractive roof is flashing. That is followed by shingle and the end sealants.

At the end whenever you will reconstruct your roof just keep in mind that the material used by your contractor should be genuine and you should keep hawks eye on the proceedings of roof construction, this will ensure you that the construction is done according to you without any drawbacks as if it can't be built again and again.

Irsan's passion is to write on wide varieties of subjects. His latest writing is at ridgid table saw which contains reviews on ridgid pipe wrench and other information about table saw.