Northwest Gold Coast

In my years of optimizing websites for the search engines, I’ve often been called in to remedy business websites that have had disastrous results in the search engines. In each case a prior SEO service provider had employed abusive and/or neglectful strategies. 20 of these abuses and neglectful practices are listed below.

1. The first thing on the home page is a link to someone else’s web site.
2. A competitor’s website is inappropriately optimized for the business’ name and trademarked names.
3. The web pages include hidden text (text that is in the same color as the web page background color).
4. The web pages include hidden links (such as links from unseen graphics).
5. The web pages have many identical web pages with different web addresses or page names.
6. The site is built in frames without implementation of proper code.
7. The home page is a Flash sequence with no text for the search engines.
8. Every web page name includes lots of code language such as “&” (ampersands), “?” (question marks) and “=” (equals signs).
9. Keyword phrases are based on guessing what people search for rather than on what keywords are actually used by searchers.
10. Web pages have no original text (text is copied from other websites)
11. Important text is placed into graphics.
12. The web pages have no metatags.
13. The same metatags are incorporated into every web page.
14. The site’s text hasn’t been updated in years.
15. The site’s code doesn’t meet current international standards.
16. The navigation links are different on every page.
17. There is no single web page that lists links to all the website’s pages.
18. The navigation takes visitors forward to lots of dead ends with no ability to link back.
19. The web pages include many links to missing pages and graphics.
20. The site uses free sub-domain hosting, which even if disguised with redirects can harm your search presence.

In many cases, the business’ leadership doesn’t know these abusive and neglectful strategies have been employed. However, those businesses that have allowed me to remove these strategies and employ proven, ethical strategies which have experienced very positive results.

If you suspect that your site may suffer from these abusive or neglectful strategies please email us at info@4cesi.com.

Tags: Business Advice, Services by Elizabeth Paulsen
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While every business is unique, successful businesses are built with the support of the following roles.

1. The optimist – On a daily basis this individual envisions and speaks of success and exhorts others to do the same. This individual’s optimism is so strong that it is contagious. Staff, prospects and vendors all have an opportunity to “catch” this individual’s optimism for the business.
2. The relationship builder – This individual gives the business its face or personality. Communications between this individual and prospects, customers, vendors and/or affiliates are genuine and substantive – more than casual schmoozing.
3. The inventor – This individual plans, builds or creates services and/or products that distinguish the business from its competition.
4. The pragmatist – This individual assures that the practical aspects of the business are carried out on time – bills (including taxes) are paid, governmental requirements are fulfilled, marketing attracts prospects, prospects are secured as customers, customers are served, receivables are received, etc.
5. The sage – Typically, this individual is short on words and long on insight. This individual is often the one who realizes that no one person can be all of the above and so this individual advises the organization to find strategic relationships with vendors, affiliates and mentors who can fulfill the roles not filled by the principals of the organization.

Each of these roles must work in balance and harmony with the other roles. In the case of a very small business, one person may fulfill several roles (but typically can not fulfill all roles). In the case of a large business, each role may require the coordinated effort of hundreds of people. In both small and large businesses, mutual respect and encouragement across the roles help create an environment in which all staff and associates can excel.

Every business will experience episodes when the roles are not being fulfilled in a balanced way. The optimist may become temporarily melancholy, the sage may have a lapse in judgment, etc.

These episodes can be weathered with the help of planning, mutual respect and good humor. Planning must involve training individuals to step into new roles so that other individuals can take vacations or leaves of absence to rest and restore.
Mutual respect and good humor alleviate tension through the unstable period, provide a platform for creative problem solving and buy the time needed to implement practical solutions.

It is easy to recognize businesses that keep these roles in balance. They are the businesses we enjoy having as employers, vendors, associates and customers. They are positive, forward thinking and successful over the long haul. They are the role models we want to emulate and the businesses we need to keep in our community. Seeking them out and learning from them is a refreshing and healthy experience.

If you know a local business that keeps these roles in balance, please let us know. We would be happy to interview them for an upcoming article!

Tags: Business Advice, Services by Elizabeth Paulsen
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Contributed by: Elaine Irons RN, MSN

What preparations have you made to reduce holiday stress? Can you believe that it is already December? As the holiday season approaches, you may be excited and enthusiastic, or already feeling anxious, exhausted or a little blue. All of these feelings are normal. To simplify your holiday preparation, you may want to ask yourself the following questions:

1. Which holiday traditions are meaningful and which are merely habitual?
2. Which social activities are pleasurable events and which are just obligations?
3. Which gifts do you love to select and give and which to you hate shopping for and feel required to give?

From your answers to the above questions, you can reduce your stress by making a list of the things you think that you “should” do and a list of the things that you “want” to do during the holiday season. If you have too many things on your list to accomplish without feeling overwhelmed or stressed out, reduce or eliminate the activities you believe you “should” do to provide more time and energy for the activities you truly enjoy.

Other things to keep in mind:

• Organize your holiday priorities by reflecting on the deeper meaning and spirit of the holidays for you personally, your family, humanity and the world.
• Be open to change. Each holiday season is different and can be enjoyed in its unique way. Try to focus on the present and look toward the future instead of dwelling on the past.
• Take care of yourself. Pay attention to your own needs and feelings during the holiday season. Eat sensibly, exercise and get plenty of rest.
• Last but not least, be encouraged knowing that your “best” does not have to equal “perfect.” Superman and Wonder Woman are imaginary characters!

As states in the quote by W.P. Kinsella, “Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get.”

Tags: Services by admin
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Translate “grazie” to English and you get:

preposition:.thanks to

interjection. thanks, thank you!

noun. gratitude, thankfulness, appreciation

noun. gracefulness, neatness, grace, prettiness, favor, pardon, mercy, reprieve

Enter the door of Grazie Ristorante Southcenter and you experience a lovely reprieve. Ideal for a small dinner party, one on one or small group business strategy lunch, father-daughter date or first, second or more date. The intimate, warm and calm setting provides a great backdrop for good conversation and authentic Italian cuisine. It proved to be the perfect place for our monthly Cascade e-Commerce Solutions staff lunch.

The only problem with Grazie is you wouldn’t know it’s there. It is tucked quietly in the corner between Men’s Wearhouse and Car Toys in an unremarkable strip mall on the west side of Southcenter Parkway.

The simple exterior belies the attractive interior. Attention to detail appears throughout the restaurant. Soft light fixtures that spread a warm glow over wood paneling and trim, wrought iron screens, and Italian art work create an ambience that is both elegant and comfortable.

Then there’s the staff… Since 1991 the owners have traveled every other year with staff to Italy so that each staff member is well versed in Italian culture and food preparation and service. You can view photos of some of their trips to suppliers’ wineries, olive groves, pasta factories and restaurants online at http://www.grazierestaurant.com/italy-gallery.htm.

As we ate we could see the chefs visibly busy behind the counter preparing meals for guests, while the host/hostess and wait staff attentively served guests. There was no need to flag down staff here as they remain focused on anticipating each guest’s next request regardless of whether the guest was in a party of several or a solo diner.

When it came to the cuisine, the Calamari Fritti (fried squid) appetizer was a great start that would be a nice beginning to a lunch or dinner. Deep fried on the outside, yet tender on the inside, it was perfect with its accompanying Chive and Garlic Aioli sauce. The Formaggi Arrabiata (fresh mozzarella and goat cheese served hot with prosciutto, chili oil, basil and crostini) was also a lovely appetizer but needed to be eaten promptly so that the mozzarella remained soft.

For the main course we ordered Fettuccine Alfredo, Lasagna, Cannelloni, Capellini Gamberetti, and Linguine di Mare (noodles with an array of seafood). Everyone was pleased with their decisions. Jordan went as far to say, “It was one of the best linguine I’ve ever had!”, then jokingly added, “and I go to Olive Garden all the time!” If you want to try something new, the Lasagna is quite different. It’s green! Thankfully there is good reason for this; their lasagna is coated in pesto sauce. Talk about scrumptious!

For dessert we ordered Tiramisu, Cannoli, Turtle Cheesecake, Lemon Tart, and Triple Chocolate Cake. These tasty treats were so good that for a few moments we were able to forget how full we really were. That’s no easy feat either. Every course of this meal had generous serving sizes. Even after feasting and thoroughly testing the strength of our belts we still had plenty of food to take home with us.

Enjoying leftovers at home was tasty but certainly no substitute for the experience and freshly cooked meal at Grazie. We enjoyed our meal so much that we recommend you reconsider your next trip to the Olive Garden. Instead, take a tip from the staff of Cascade e-Commerce Solutions and visit Grazie Ristorante.

The History of Grazie Ristorante:

The first Grazie Ristorante was built in Tacoma in the early 1900′s. Owner Kevin Downey brought Grazie Ristorante to the eastside in 1987 when he opened the Southcenter Grazie Ristorante location. Today Grazie Ristorante provides the Puget Sound with Italian dining from its Southcenter location and another location in Bothell, WA.

For more information about Grazie Ristorante go to:http://grazierestaurant.com/about.htm

Tags: Dining, Services by Kevin Cushing
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The call goes something like this.

“Elizabeth, this is Joe. I have a question for you. Are you a Facebook Junkie?”

Silent pause. Private thought… junkie… addict…habit… Hmmm, I check Facebook several times a day. It has become a habit like washing my face and brushing my teeth. The answer…

“Yes, I am!”

“I’ve got Chad here with me. Can you help him get our company logo with a link to our company in his personal Facebook?”

“Yes, I’ll look into what is needed and get back to you with the details.”

The call ends. Note: The company has seven retail locations and one of these is also the corporate office and Joe owns/manages one of the retail locations.

First, I login to Facebook and do a search for the company’s name. Oh boy… Many related results pop up, but none are the right one. The first one shows the corporate logo, but incorrectly identifies the listing as a personal page and the logo is in the place of a profile picture. This means that the company’s employees can’t connect to it properly. The second one has no logo, but correctly identifies the listing as a local business page, but represents another one of the seven retail locations associated with the business. The third one actually is a company page, but represents yet another one of the seven retail locations. The fourth is a community page with 8 “Likes”. Next come several personal employee pages that have linked to the community page. The community page has no information and was auto-generated when the employees identified the business as their employer on their personal pages without linking to a properly made page.

I email Joe and recommend that he have one of his staff set up a new page that would be a local business page for his retail location.

How to: Anyone in his office who has a valid personal Facebook account could set up a local business page by logging into a personal Facebook account and clickng to their “Profile” page and scrolling to page bottom and clicking on “Create a Page” and choosing “Local Business or Place” and then following the wizard that Facebook supplies.

I also recommend that someone from the corporate office set up a “Company, Organization or Institution” page for the main office and include a text description that identifies all seven retail locations.

Once these pages are made, the administrator for each page can add proper logos and company information including a link to each associated website.

How to: Each employee can click “Edit Profile” and update his/her “Education and Work” section to show the relationship to the local retail local business page and to the corporate organization’s company page.

The advantage of using a “Local Business or Place” page for each retail location is that this page type allows other Facebook members to “Check” in to each location separately. Whereas using the “Company, Organization or Institution” page for the corporate location supports branding across the whole organization.

As a next step the business could set up a “Brand or Product” page for each unique brand or product or service that the business carries. These pages would allow customers and clients to communicate with the business and one another regarding those specific brands or products.

As a Facebook Junkie and a consumer, I appreciate when a business uses the Facebook page types correctly. It helps me connect with businesses in the ways that I want to connect with them and it makes me think of them more highly. This in turn makes me more likely to buy from them.

About the author

Elizabeth Paulsen elizabeth@4cesi.com has been providing Internet marketing strategy advice and services to small businesses for over ten years.

Tags: Business Advice, Services by Elizabeth Paulsen
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In this day and age the internet is quite the crowded place. With so many different outlets all vying for attention, marketing space, and customers; it’s a wonder how anyone is capable of successfully competing on the web. However, there is a product that makes it possible for anyone to compete on the web regardless of budget size. That product is known as Google AdWords and it is bringing small businesses everywhere to forefront of their niche market on the web.

Google AdWords is an advertising product that advertisers can use to display ads on Google Search, Google Search Network, and Google Display Network and can be targeted on a local, national, and international level. For clarification, Google Search is the search you know and love on Google.com, the Search Network comprises all of Google Search Partners such as Ask.com and AOL Search, and the Display Network is Google’s vast network of affiliated sites that host Google ads such as YouTube.com, Gmail, and over one million web, video, gaming, and mobile sites. This enormous platform reaches over 80% of internet users in North America alone and more than 60% of internet users around the world!

One of the reasons Google AdWords is so cost efficient is that it enables advertisers to focus their ads on their target market through the use of keywords. Users viewing these ads have already indicated an interest in a relevant topic pertaining to the ad and, therefore, pertaining to the service, product, and/or business the ad is portraying. For example, when a user enters a query into Google Search, such as ‘buy refrigerator’, only relevant information pertaining to that phrase will be displayed. The user has expressed an interest in purchasing a refrigerator and is actively searching for what businesses have to offer through targeted and focused advertisements.

One doesn’t need to be concerned with costs when using Google AdWords because they provide the option to prepay in addition to other methods that give you control over the amount you want to spend. The advantage lies in the pricing model used, called performance-based advertising, where the advertiser only pays for measurable results. This mainly consists of cost-per-click, where you pay only when a user clicks on your ads for a price that you can put a cap on, and cost-per-thousand impressions, where you are charged per one thousand impressions (impressions are the number of times an ad is shown to a user). Plus, advertisers set a daily budget which is used to control expenses because Google will never charge the advertiser more than the specified budget.

In short, Google AdWords is an incredibly quick and easy way to jump to the top of the search results but it is also incredibly difficult to master. This platform enables you to reach an unbelievable amount of people on any scale around the world while giving you the power to target new, relevant users who are interested in what you have to offer, all at a budget you are comfortable with. If you would like help harnessing this amazing resource, we invite you to consult Cascade e-Commerce Solutions Inc. As a Google Certified Partner, we are more than capable of assisting you with this matter. For more information regarding setting up AdWords for your company or for examples of how AdWords has impacted small businesses in the area, please feel free to email CeSI at info@4cesi.com.

Helpful Links

Marketing and Advertising Using Google

Performance Based Advertising

Running Ads On Google

Tags: Business Advice, Services by Jordan Comar
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The WordPress trademark “W” icon is found all over the web. If you haven’t noticed it yet, you will now that you are looking for it. Still it would be easy to underestimate the number of WordPress sites since only a fraction of their designs highlight the “W”. Would you have guessed that this is a WordPress site?

(View the source and see the letters “wp” throughout the code.)

WordPress is a content management system for websites and blogs. The reason for the “W” icon’s prevalence is because WordPress is a fantastic tool.

WordPress really distinguishes itself from the average content manage system. It is all the little things that really make the difference. One of those distinguishing characteristics is their separation of pages and blog posts. This makes it incredibly easy to run a website and manage a blog. All the blog posts are automatically partitioned into a separate section of the site devoted to the blog. When using a certain WordPress Plugin, your most recent blog posts can be automatically featured in a Recent Blog Posts section of your site. You can find an example of one of our implementations featuring this tool at our client’s site, www.needamortgagenow.com.

We are big fans the functionality that is available through WordPress. WordPress offers a tool with great utility through “Plugins”. WordPress Plugins are website features created by a community of WordPress developers. These Plugins are website features that can simply be plugged in to existing sites. Think of it as a virtual electrical outlet which can take whatever appliance your site needs. We have clients using Plugins for slideshows, calendars, photo galleries, and more. A business with frequent events and activities might benefit from a calendar Plugin, such as the one we setup for Angle Lake Neighborhood Church (www.anglelake.org/calendar/). We were even able to help Studio Mene (www.studiomene.com) have a website that can toggle between English and Japanese via a WordPress Plugin. Our favorite WordPress Plugin is the SEO All-In One tool. This helps the site’s contributors comply with SEO guidelines using little to no effort. The tool uses a fill in the blank form which generates essential HTML elements for SEO.

The ability for the less tech-savvy to manage a site is what our web designers and clients appreciate most about WordPress. Content can be added and modified without any knowledge of HTML or CSS. It is as simple as clicking a button to create a new page. Creating the content for the page is similar to using MS Word. Simply type your content and insert pictures or videos. WordPress will automatically apply your theme and styles to the content you ad.

WordPress themes allow the average client to have substantial influence on the design with minimal effort. By browsing through themes, a client can choose a starting point. Once a theme is decided upon, elements from other themes can readily be implemented too. These themes allow a client to have a great deal of creative influence if they wish, without requiring the technical knowledge. A site can be as close to or as far from a template as desired.

The typical WordPress site by Cascade e-Commerce Solutions Inc. has all the functionality of a WordPress site, but without the appearance of a cookie cutter creation. CeSI sites are unique, professional and allow anyone to generate the content.

For more examples of CeSI WordPress implementations explore the following websites:

• www.petresort.com
• www.northwestgoldcoast.com
• www.smart-service.com
• www.wacustomcontracting.com

Even more CeSI sites can be found at www.4cesi.com

Tags: Business Advice, Services by Kevin Cushing
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What if the opinion of every customer you have ever had was instantly available for your review? Or, what if everyone, including new potential customers had access to these opinions? Essentially, they do. The increasing importance and proliferation of review sites has made reviews powerful tools for consumers. Reviews could be powerful for a business too, or it could be a pretty scary concept.

Sites like Yelp, Google Reviews and Trip Advisor provide reviews of consumer services like restaurants, hotels and tours. This soapbox for consumers amplifies the footprint of a business’ performance. If a business performs poorly everyone will have that information at their fingertips. However, the opposite is also true. If your business provides a valuable service, this is a way for customers to find you.

For business owners like Captain Jim Maya of Maya’s Westside Charters, these platforms are great. Captain Maya’s success is a shining example of what a good reputation can do for a business. Captain Maya has earned a 96% rating on Trip Advisor from more than 50 reviews. His services earn praise and rave reviews from customers. In turn, new customers seek out Maya’s Westside Charters because of its reputation.

When things are going well it provides a supply of new customers, and simplifies business operations by closely linking success to customer satisfaction. Alternatively, if a business is getting negative responses on review sites it can be very damaging. Many savvy consumers visit review sites to vet a service before they buy. Get too many negative reviews and a business will scare away these savvy consumers.

Although a consumer seeking out reviews is just the tip of the iceberg. The search giant, Google, has taken a liking to reviews. In June 2011, Google reached more than 80% of the search engine market share. With Google’s size and affinity for reviews, it is becoming less and less likely that someone will be able to find a business on the web without getting a glimpse of reviews and consumer feedback.

Popular review sites rank very highly in Google, meaning content on these sites that is related to a business will likely be included in search results, maybe even more prominently than the business itself.

You also won’t be able to get directions from Google Maps without catching wind of the business’ reputation. Google displays information from prominent review sites on the business’ Maps listing.

The new Google Related tool is another way that Google incorporates consumer feedback into web browsing. A small toolbar at the bottom of every website pops up which includes what Google has deemed to be the most relevant results. Since Google loves reviews they will put these in the related toolbar. For a business with negative reviews or a bad reputation these opinions will be displayed while visitors browse their site.

With the growing prominence of consumer opinions on the web it is important to take a proactive approach to your business’ reputation. This means monitoring your reputation on a regular basis and actively cultivating a positive reputation online.

Captain Jim Maya is a client of CeSI. In addition to our regular internet marketing services that we provide for him, we do online reputation monitoring. We receive updates whenever something new is published about Maya’s Westside Charters. The most recent updates included: “The Perfect Whale Watching Trip!!!”, “Great whale watching experience!” and “Could not have been better!” It is fun for us to get updates like this and see a client doing well.

If a client were to ever receive a bad review, maybe a fraudulent one from a competitor, then we would catch it early. In this event we would notify the client, contact the review site and let the client know what more they can be doing to correct the problem.

If you want more information regarding how to protect your business’ hard earned image, email kevin@4cesi.com or phone 206-244-9092.

Tags: Business Advice, Services by Kevin Cushing
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As an internet marketing company that works with small to medium sized businesses we are in a unique position to witness some very exciting times in our clients’ lives. One of these times is the start of a new business. Just recently we assisted in the launch of Solid Rock Memorials.

Solid Rock Memorials provides decorative engraved rocks for a variety of occasions, with an emphasis on memorializing lost pets. This concept did not come together overnight. Many business ideas are realized because the owner experiences the need for the products or services first hand. Carolyn Bing, founder of Solid Rock Memorials, had dealt with the pain of a pet’s short lifespan first hand and recognized the need for these memorials back in 2006.

After being laid off in 2009 Carolyn decided it was the right time to pursue the opportunity she realized several years ago. Carolyn began researching the opportunity. After taking a class at the local community college on business plan preparation she put together a proposal and borrowed the money needed to start Solid Rock Memorials.

Carolyn along with her husband, Howard, procured the equipment, learned to use it and began compiling a product catalog. Carolyn and Howard paid attention to the requests of their early customers to help them create a catalog of stock products that could be offered in volume. They also understood that some customers wanted a more personal touch on their rocks so they continued to offer custom rocks. Once they had established product offerings they prepared to distribute them to the world.

Solid Rock Memorials first developed a sales strategy. They formed relationships with veterinary centers to make their products available to those who have recently lost pets. Solid Rock Memorials also made plans to attend trade shows in order to showcase their products.

The last piece of the puzzle was a platform to sell their products. Since they wanted to keep their business operating out of their home garage, they needed a website that could market their offerings, act as a product database and offer online sales. Our company, Cascade e-Commerce Solutions Inc., used Silverstripe, an open source database system, to create a custom website that would do all of this, http://www.solidrockmemorials.com. Now, Carolyn and Howard are able to market and sell their products to customers way beyond their previous reach. Customers can go to the website, search by categories such as pets, home and garden, faith, celebration, business and more. They can choose from stock images or order a custom engraving, pay online, and have their memorial rock shipped directly to their door.

Since the launch of their new website, Solid Rock Memorials has begun making online sales. We are excited to see the progress Solid Rock Memorials makes as they grow. One of the best parts of being in our business is watching the launching and evolution of a business.

At CeSI we have a great appreciation for the entrepreneurial spirit and would love to take part in your company’s evolution.

Tags: Services by Kevin Cushing
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It takes guts to pursue your dreams. For every one person that drops everything, moves to Hollywood and serves burgers between auditions, there are ten others that dream of doing just that. For many different reasons most of us are content to let dreams live in our minds. Sheila Lengle is an exception, someone who wouldn’t give up on her dreams.

Sheila’s great passion is art. She had an environmental design business in Southern California in the 80’s. By the 90’s, Sheila had moved to Seattle, was on to her second art gallery, The ec’Collective Gallery & Studio Cafe and literally lived in the place. She was living an artist’s dream.

In the new millennium Sheila was confronted with a couple of those reasons why some people’s passions escape them. She needed open heart surgery in 2002. This would have been a big enough obstacle by itself, but Sheila also didn’t have insurance. She was forced to sell her gallery. Fast forward a few more years to 2008. She was diagnosed with cancer and had to run a gauntlet of treatments.

For a while Sheila had accepted these as reasons to surrender her dreams. Sheila says, “I had no passion or purpose in my life.” This was until she was motivated by her friends who inspired her and helped her realize that she needed art back in her life. She credits her friends and her art for giving her “a true sense of self again”.

Since last December things have been different. She is finding herself as a person and as an artist. Her art focuses on flowers because they contain the “verve” and “colors” she felt her life had been was missing.

Sheila describes herself as being “on the verge”, being almost who she is supposed to be. She has been doing all the right things to position herself for success: marketing, networking, participating in art walks and even getting her work in Alki Arts, a West Seattle art gallery.

Sheila believes that she is supposed to be making a living by selling her artwork. She doesn’t plan to be a starving artist either. She says half-jokingly, “What needs to happen is people must see my work, then buy it, then after that, buy more and tell all their friends about how wonderful it is.”

Ultimately Sheila would like to support herself with her art. That is the person she is supposed to be.

Artist Sheila Lengle

To see more of Sheila’s artwork visit www.lengleart.com.

Tags: Services by Kevin Cushing
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iFLY Seattle Grand Opening
What: iFLY Seattle indoor skydiving/vertical wind tunnel grand opening
Where: Tukwila
When: August 15th
Go to: www.iflyseattle.com

Back to School Resource Fair
What: A fair for families who live in SeaTac, WA to help kids get back to school with free haircuts, backpacks, school supplies, immunizations, child ID cards, learning and community resources.
Where: Valley Ridge Park
When: August 18th, 10am – 2pm
Go to: www.anglelake.org

Sunset Supper at the Market
What: Sample food and drink form some of the area’s best restaurants in Pike Place market.
Where: Pike Place Market
When: Friday, August 19, 2011, 7:30 – 11pm
Go to: www.pikeplacemarketfoundation.org

Movies in the Park
What: Free showing of movies for the whole family
Where: Lake Burien School Park
When: August 19th and August 23rd
Go to: www.burienwa.gov

Downtown Renton Art and Antique Walk
What: Art and antiques up and down the downtown streets with paintings, multi-media, pottery etc.
Where: Downtown Renton
When: Saturday August 20th 11am – 6pm
Go to: www.artsunlimited.org

Art in the Garden
What: Thirty northwest artists will display their work in the Bellevue Botanical Garden
Where: Bellevue Botanical Garden
When: August 26th – 28th
Go to: www.gallerybythebay.com

Incredible inflatable fun at the Downtown Park
What: A variety of inflatables in all shapes of sizes for kids and adults
Where: Bellevue Downtown Park
When: August 27th, 12pm – 8pm
Go to: www.bellevuewa.gov

Seattle Marathon 10k Race
What: The first annual Seattle Marathon 10k Race
Where: Downtown Seattle
When: August 27th
Go to: www.seattlemarathon.org

Bumbershoot
What: Seattle’s Summer Music Festival
Where: Seattle Center
When: Labor Day Weekend, September 4 – 6
Go to: www.bumbershoot.org

Seahawks vs. Cardinals
What: The Seattle Seahawks home opener
Where: Centurylink Field
When: September 25th
Go to: www.seahawks.com

Tags: Services by Nicholas Nair
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Since dentists rely so heavily on referrals it is essential for a dentist to have a solid reputation. However between patients and the business aspect of running a practice a dentist already has plenty to deal with. Realistically, a dentist is not going to monitor her reputation online while waiting for a patient’s anesthesia to kick in.

Many dentists make the mistake of thinking their work will speak for itself. Unfortunately the reality is that satisfied patients don’t often chime in on dentist reviews and ratings. There is some truth in the old adage, “no news is good news”. Those that are upset or angry are actually the ones most likely to voice an opinion.

One of the biggest challenges a dentist can face is building a reputation from nothing, or tougher yet repairing a tarnished reputation. While it used to be that a patient would only share their experience in the dentist’s chair with their close friends and family, modern technology now complicates the situation. Patients, or anyone else for that matter, can tell the entire world what they think of their dentist and her practice by posting comments on social media sites like Facebook or business review sites like Yelp.

Given the difficulty involved in constructing and maintaining a solid reputation it is no wonder that many dentists don’t find the time to get it done, or simply don’t know where to begin. This doesn’t mean however that there is no hope.

A local startup has taken on the task of defending the reputations of dentists with their innovative dental marketing solutions. The Seattle Company, Dentscape monitors dentists’ reputations.
Those dentists who have neglected their reputation online, and don’t even know where to begin can take advantage of Dentscape’s Reputation Radar service. Reputation Radar is a dentist marketing service that searches the internet for reviews of a specific practice and analyzes these reviews to give the practice a reputation rating. This notifies the dentist of reputation issues and takes a proactive approach.

If a dentist’s online reputation proves to have holes the dentist can secure Dentscape’s Reputation Builder. www.dentscape.com.

Tags: Services by Kevin Cushing
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A trip to the airport can be pretty crazy. The typical traveler has an hour or two of jumping through hoops before takeoff.

Wait in line. Get ticket. Wait in line. Remove shoes. Security pat down. Sprint to gate. Wait in line some more. Squeeze into middle seat.

And this is an ideal scenario. No travel day is complete without at least one “Oh BLEEP!!!” moment. Maybe you forgot about that nice bottle of wine you were carrying that you can’t get through security or maybe the kids’ stroller broke. You can quit chugging wine in the security line and your kids don’t have to run as fast as their little legs can take them.

Ken’s Baggage & Frozen Food Storage, Inc. helps SeaTac airport travelers with “Oh BLEEP!!!” moments every day. Almost 30 years ago two Port of Seattle police officers decided to give up the stresses of police emergencies to help people survive their travel emergencies.

Over the years Ken’s Baggage & Frozen Food Storage, Inc. has had a few competitors providing some of the same services, but none of them did enough to keep up with Ken’s Baggage. Their competitors didn’t know that in order to last they had to do it all. Ken’s Baggage is available for travel emergencies like last minute shipping, copies and faxes, cell phones, calling cards, car problems, a notary public and more. But Ken’s doesn’t only help with travel emergencies, or they might just be called Ken’s “Oh Bleep” Moments. In fact Ken’s offers services that the savvy traveler with a full passport and a diet of airplane peanuts will plan ahead to use. Veteran travelers plan ahead to use their services when hauling extra luggage. Cruise ships and fishing lodges refer travelers to Ken’s Baggage & Frozen Food Storage to transport and store perishable goods. Adventurous travelers with a long layover use Ken’s Baggage to store their luggage while they ride the light rail downtown to Pike Place and enjoy the Seattle sites luggage free.

If you haven’t been convinced to use Ken’s Baggage you can be late to get home because your car battery died, your kids can struggle with a broken stroller, your client can miss that fax, and they all might forgive you. Except when you put rotting fish in the overhead bin, no one will forgive you for that.

For contact details go to www.kensbaggage.com

Tags: Services by Kevin Cushing
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Traveling with children? You may or may not realize the implications that come with bringing little ones on board. Here are 5 “I’m traveling with children” mistakes to avoid:

Red Eye Flights.
It might seem like a brilliant idea to save precious dollars by booking the redeye now, but you might realize you’re not quite the next Einstein pretty quickly when you wake up in the middle of the night to try and corral tired and grumpy kids.

Free Shuttle Rides. A family vacation may not be the best time to rope a friend into driving you to the airport. Travel can be tough on kids and subjecting your friends to stressed out kids is a surefire way to strain a friendship. When traveling with kids try simplifying things with reliable and convenient airport parking with shuttle.

50lb Bags. If your kids are struggling to drag their bags across the dirty airport floor as you rush to catch your flight they won’t be happy campers or you could end up carrying all the bags plus the kids. An easy way to avoid this problem is to do a practice run; try having your kids carry or wheel their bags around the house to make sure they can handle their luggage before you leave.

In Flight Boredom Blues. Traveling can be a real bore for a kid. Plan some fun. You don’t want to worry about your kid being restrained by an air marshal. Plan ahead for this with some activities or games. A kid’s travel pack is a great way to keep your kids occupied for a few hours.

Airplane Food (or the lack thereof).Save your kids from the airplane food. Plenty of kids can be picky eaters so beware. They will probably like airplane food even less than you. This is an easy problem to avoid. My favorite solution is to make traveling a special event for kids, break the rules for once and do the junk food at Burger King or a Frosty at Wendy’s. The airport has plenty of options in terms of dining so regardless of what you feed them, just make sure their bellies are full before bringing them on the plane.

Remember to adjust your travel plans for the little ones next time you travel; for the children, yourself, and the weary business traveler trying to sleep in the seat in front of your kid.

Tags: Services, Travel by Kevin Cushing
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Looking for fun things to do in Seattle during the summer? While we may not have the brightest weather on the planet, we’ve got a wide variety of activities, events and attractions that are brilliant rain or shine. Take a look at the city’s summer must-dos for families and friends before summer ends.

Sports:
Mariners Games: Enjoy watching a game with the family at Safeco field, a modern ballpark with a great views and great fans. While at the game choose from a slew of tasty restaurants to enjoy delicious Seattle food at the park.

Sounders Games: One of the most unique sports experiences is a Sounders game. This team is Seattle’s hidden sports gem. Nowhere this side of the Atlantic can a soccer fan find a better place to watch a soccer match. If you ask a Sounders fan, the roar of the crowd and atmosphere in the stands rivals that of any stadium abroad.

Outdoors:
Crystal Mountain: With hiking, horseback riding, views and dining all at the same place, Crystal Mountain is a “can’t miss” summer destination. During summers that follow a particularly good winter, lucky visitors can even experience skiing during the summer months. If you are looking to experience the outdoors this summer make sure to include Crystal Mountain on your list.

San Juan Islands: Offering incredible views, water activities and sunshine, the San Juan Islands are a great escape. Enjoy the sights of the Puget Sound and fresh air riding a Washington ferry over to the islands. Once you’re there you will find plenty to do, from whale watching, hiking and kayaking to shopping and eating at the area’s delicious restaurants.

The City:
Duck Tours: Tour the City of Seattle with the Ride the Duck tour. Explore the city from these distinct amphibious tour vehicles. See the city’s sights on the ground then take a tour on the water in the same vehicle. Experience the city in a unique way by trying a Ride the Duck tour this summer.

Pacific Science Center: The Pacific Science Center is a fun and educational museum which helps its visitors experience science in a new and interesting way. While many claim they are just there for the children, don’t let them fool you, it’s a thrill for adults too.

Seattle Center: Visitors can relive their childhood by living it up at Seattle Center’s amusement park. Or see the iconic space needle and the local favorite musical fountain. Before you leave check out the shopping Seattle for some tourist memorabilia.

Seattle’s summer has so many choices that it would be impossible to list them all, let alone experience them all. This list is a start if you want to try. However, if you manage to tackle this list you’ll at least feel like you have seen a bit of it all.

If you’re still looking for more things to do in Seattle, head over to www.seattlesouthside.com to find more ideas.

Tags: Services by Kevin Cushing
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Making a major purchase such as purchasing a home can be painful.  But it doesn’t have to be hard.  Joshua Mangels of Need a Mortgage Now.com aims to make the home buying and refinancing process as painless as possible.  Whether you’re a weathered real estate buyer or it’s your first time, Joshua explains each step in understandable terms, helping you get the best loan to fit your situation.

Joshua’s website www.needamortgagenow.com offers up information and frequently asked questions and has an online form that allows you to schedule a phone consultation regarding your specific questions.  Below is some information to get you started.

Mortgages: “A mortgage is a loan secured by a property/house and paid in installments over a set period of time”, says Joshua.  It “secures your promise that the money borrowed will be repaid.”  Because there are different types of mortgages that offer different advantages to the customer, it is best to speak with Joshua to truly understand these differences.

Home Loan Types: There are many different types of home loans.  For example, Federal Housing Administration (FHA loans) aim to make housing more affordable, especially for first time home buyers, whereas jumbo loans are loans for amounts that are larger than most mortgage loan providers will cover and Veterans Administration loans are loans reserved for individuals who have served in the United States military.

Refinancing: Refinancing involves replacing current mortgages or loans with a new debt obligation that has different terms.  This change in terms may provide the home owner with additional cash to pay for college tuition, a home remodel or health bills or it may result in a lower interest rate or lower monthly payments or a shorter term to pay off the mortgage in a shorter amount of time.

With years of experience, Joshua Mangels has the heart and ability to offer the best option to every homebuyer.

To learn more about Joshua, mortgages, home loans or refinancing and how Joshua can help you go to www.needamortgagenow.com or to request a phone consultation go to www.needamortgagenow.com/appointment/.  If you want to hear more from Joshua you can read his blog by going to http://www.needamortgagenow.com/blog/ or check out his Facebook page

Tags: Services by Amanda Dorough
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Trying to get your business into the social media scene but fear the time, effort, and the cost it takes to effectively run a social media campaign?  I am here to tell you that you can start doing it without taking your focus away from other important aspects of your business and run it by yourself without the need for expensive social media firms. Impossible you say? Take a peek at a small local Seattle business, Smart Service, and see how Mike Corbin, the owner, tackled this enormous task.

Mike wanted to utilize some form of social media, but was concerned with how difficult it was going to be to start up a campaign and then maintain it. He went to Cascade e-Commerce Solutions (CeSI) for help. CeSI informed Mike that blogging is a simple and low cost form of socially interacting with his market and is a great way of getting his business attention on the web. After a brief setup using WordPress, which CeSI helped with, Mike was ready to roll. After only a few short posts, Mike was receiving a steady amount of comments and questions on Subaru models, Subaru maintenance, and Subaru head gaskets. In fact, head gaskets turned out to be an extremely hot topic that generated a significant amount of buzz; the flood gates were opened! By responding to the reader’s questions and concerns, Mike quickly became an online go-to expert on Subaru head gaskets. Currently, Mike adds a couple of new posts per month to maintain his online status and readership in addition to creating potential new customers for his business at Smart Service.

With a small amount of help from CeSI, Mike has successfully implemented a social media platform that is simple to startup, quick and easy to maintain, and all at a very low price. Congratulations Mike! The key to his success was his helpful and timely response to his readership. Anyone can start a blog, but interaction with the readers is what truly matters. On that note, would you like to be considered for a spotlight story in our newsletter? Please let us know by contacting us at info@4cesi.com, see you next month!

Tags: Services by Jordan Comar
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When I was younger my friends and I loved playing a game called MASH.  With a little creativity and numbers it would predict who we would marry (I’m still waiting for Justin Timberlake to propose), how many kids we would have, how much money we would make and where we would live.  Sometimes my friends would list amazing options, and I would walk away marrying my crush, living in a mansion with 3 kids and very rich, but usually my friends were not so kind and I would find myself marrying a bum and living in a shack with our 34 kids.  Although I was disappointed at the time, as I look back I am eternally grateful that this game doesn’t have the ability to predict the future.  Not only because I would be mighty tired with 34 kids, but because I no longer want the same things I wanted when I was 13.  I don’t need to be rich, or to marry a superstar, and a twenty bedroom mansion isn’t what I dream about at night.  Instead I dream of a cozy home that as Goldilocks would say is not too big and not too small but “just right”.  The Northwest’s Lexar Homes delivers that “just right” house to families of all sizes.

Based in Centralia and with offices in Washington, Northern Idaho and Eastern Oregon, Lexar Homes is ready to come to you.  Unlike traditional housing contractors Lexar doesn’t build their homes in tight developments where every square foot is more expensive than a car and the backyards are too small to fit a barbeque in, instead you have the choice to either buy the land they’ll build your house on, or choose a home on a lot already in production.  Lexar Homes gives you the control to create and customize you’re home and choose your property size. Your closest neighbor could be 20 miles away, or 20 feet away, it’s up to you!

Lexar Homes also offers something traditional developments don’t offer, selection.  While developments may offer 3 or 4 different home designs Lexar has more than 20 home floor plans to choose from. From small homes to a home for a large family, Lexar has a home for everyone.

For those of you who are a little more visual, you can find virtual tours of most homes and detailed floor plans of all homes on the Lexar Homes website.  The virtual tours give you a chance to see what it would be like to walk through the house, from the front door to the kitchen, utility rooms, living room, bathrooms and bedrooms and the blueprints give you an idea of where each room is in comparison to each other.

For all of us looking to break free of the development but still wanting enjoy a great energy efficient new home, Lexar Homes is truly the best in the Northwest.  If you would like to learn more, visit the Lexar Homes website at www.LexarHomes.com

Tags: Services by Amanda Dorough
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As we’ve suffered through a rough economy these last few years, Americans have sought new ways to save money.  Out of this came more and more segments on The Today Show about how to cut corners and save, as well as new TV shows like Extreme Couponing.  I’ve even taken to the coupon fad myself, eagerly anticipating the Sunday paper, then taking out my scissors to garner such deals as 50 cents off Lucky Charms or even better, the elusive buy one get one free coupon.

Saving money on travel is equally as important and with fuel prices driving airfare higher why not consider vacationing a little closer to home? Northwest Travel Deals.com wants you to get out and enjoy our corner of the country while saving money.

Snag a deal on a weekend at the Oregon Coast, or another to sip wine in Walla Walla. Northwesttraveldeals.com has discounts on both these vacations and many more around the Northwest, featuring travel deals in Washington, Oregon and Northern Idaho.

In the Seattle Area alone, Northwest Travel Deals offers more than 80 deals to visitors and locals alike with hotel packages and activities around the Puget Sound.  If you have friends or relatives coming to town this is the perfect site for them to find both entertainment and a hotel.

Everyone loves to travel and it doesn’t have to be expensive, NorthwestTravelDeals.com wants to help you get out and enjoy your vacation, even if it is close to home. So check it out, and get out and travel!

Tags: Services, Travel by Amanda Dorough
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The Romans built the first aqueduct more than 2,000 years ago.  Designed to carry fresh water to Roman cities and to dispose gray water into sewers they were an engineering marvel, and made the acquisition of water easier for the common man.  One thousand years later, amongst years of drought, a man in Palermo, Sicily, developed an aqueduct to bring drinking water to his community.  The people were so grateful they began calling him Mr. Bevilacqua, which means Drinkwater in Italian.

Later the Bevilacqua family immigrated to the US, and since that time they have served as plumbers or contractors in every generation and in every setting imaginable. Now, nearly one thousand years after Mr. Bevilacqua built the aqueduct, the Bevilacqua family continues to bring drinking water to their communities.

Here in Seattle, father and son, Fred and Anthony Bevilacqua, operate Acqua Plumbing.  Backed by generations of family knowledge and experience, they are able to tackle any plumbing problem and emerge victorious.   Offering services from gas piping to drain cleaning Acqua plumbing is available 24-hours a day to fix plumbing emergencies as they arise.

The Bevilacquas have also committed to educate other plumbers.  Refusing to keep their vast generational knowledge to themselves they strive to help make other plumbers better through their Acqua Continuing Education Program.

Although plumbing jobs aren’t glamorous, someone’s got to do it, and Acqua plumbing and the Bevilacqua family are among the best in the Northwest.  Learn more at www.acquaplumbingllc.com.

Tags: Services by Amanda Dorough
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Selling a service is different from selling a product. Selling a service involves making more of a human connection and a commitment because what you are selling is more than an object. Selling a service, even when selling installation of a product, includes understanding the customer and selling the personality, knowledge, and skills of those who will be providing the service.

Effectively selling a service includes giving very honest, helpful and free advice. While strong, pushy and forward sales tactics can work to sell a product, this tactic usually won’t work when selling a service and most certainly will prevent a sale from moving into a long term ongoing service relationship. If your business sells a service, a different approach is critical.

In fact, it is possible to stand out and even win over a customer because you approach a service sale differently, the right way. One business that sells differently is Ethos Windows and Doors. Bill White, the founder of Ethos, saw things could be done a lot better. He left employment of one large service provider to start his own window and door company so that he could be free to sell through relationship building rather than high pressure sales. He knew by taking a better approach to communicating with potential customers, understanding what their needs are and then backing this up with excellent service delivery, he could make the whole experience much more pleasant for customers and fill a void left by others in the industry.

Take a hint from Bill’s success and adopt better sales practices in your business. Here are a few things you can do to make your sales team a little less abrasive and with any luck get a few more sales:

1. When someone makes a statement that would move towards ending the conversation let it go. Either they have made up their mind and simply don’t want to have to say “no”, or they really do need to think about all the information you have already given them. If the latter is true you can often do more harm than good by getting a bit pushy and aggressive. If you have brochures or informative materials, giving these to the prospect and then making a timely exit can the best next step. The brochure you leave with them will put your best foot forward, give them the time and space they need and provide them with your contact information for when they make up their mind.

2. Once the customer has expressed that they want to purchase your products or services you can stop selling. Your sales routine will wear on the customer and you only risk moving the sale in the wrong direction. Once they want to buy, focus on completing the transaction. At this point, instead of pushing the benefits of your best energy efficient windows and doors you can ask them for a time to bring out your exterior door installation specialist. Continue to be friendly and answer any questions, but there is no need to keep selling.

3. Instead of trying to be persuasive, try to understand what the customer is looking to get from the transaction. Then you can take an educational approach to your sales. If you focus on what the customer’s needs and you address these needs, you will build credibility as an expert in your field. Once you have demonstrated that you are an expert and recommend the right products and services, you can also be the source for those goods. In the case of Ethos Windows and Doors this means understanding that what the customer really wants is a quick, affordable and professional installation that will offer lasting, measurable energy savings.

Ethos Windows and Doors focuses on treating customers right, understanding their needs and educating them about their options. Rather than a traditional sales approach, Ethos prefers to help prospective customers make informed decisions regarding how to get the most attractive, affordable and best energy efficient windows and doors.

Tags: Business Advice, Services by Kevin Cushing
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Remember learning the painful lesson of sharing as a child? One local business is helping other businesses learn to share and saving them money in the process.

You don’t often see businesses apply principle like sharing. However, thanks to Stratus Rack some businesses are sharing with each other and saving handfuls of money in the process. Stratus Rack is helping businesses save money by allowing them to securely share web servers.

Businesses have no interest in sharing superhero toys and candy. Although sharing other things can save money. Stratus Rack uses virtual servers to help share business server hosting and save money. After all, saving money is much more fun than parents making you share your X-Men toys with your sister (she doesn’t even know who Magneto is).

Sharing web servers? Ok, so businesses don’t pool their allowances and go server shopping together, but two or more unrelated businesses often share a server.

How and why? It just makes sense. Hosting centers have impressive large and powerful machines providing dedicated servers. For small and medium sized businesses it doesn’t make sense to pay for what they don’t need. Stratus Rack partitions part of a server for each business. This is kind of like the imaginary line your parents drew down the middle of the car to keep you and your sister from bickering. The difference is with a virtual server you won’t even notice another business and they certainly can’t take your juice box.

A virtual server with Stratus rack is just like having a server to yourself except you don’t have to pay for what you don’t use. You get all the benefits of a dedicated server: a 100% uptime guarantee, low latency and a redundant data center.

Next budget meeting earn a few brownie points and save your company some money by suggesting your business go Dutch on Seattle virtual server hosting.

For more information, including pricing and online signup, visit http://www.stratusrack.com/.

Tags: Business Advice, Services by Kevin Cushing
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In our modern internet based world a website can make or break a company.  If a website appears old or boxy it can lose its visual appeal to the visitor and come across as cheap or unprofessional.  Bellevue based Faith Network produces websites that are anything but outdated or unprofessional.

Specializing in websites for churches and Christian organizations, Faith Network’s web creations are sleek, hip and come equipped with extras such as blogs, podcast management, dynamic calendaring and photo/video galleries among many others.

Some of Faith Network’s clients have included Seattle’s Christian Faith Center and the stop human trafficking website StopChildTraffickingNow.org as well as many other churches and faith based organizations around the country.  To learn more about Faith Network or inquire about a website for your business visit their website at www.faithnetwork.com.

Tags: Services by Amanda Dorough
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It seems that every thriving company has a “go to” person when it comes to technology questions.  In one company that person is Joe.  Joe was not born a “geek” and he didn’t go to school for technology.  He is just a guy who remembers every piece of technology and software that his company has ever bought and he remembers why and how each piece relates to the others.  So whenever anyone has a question about a legacy system or a new system, the refrain is “Go ask Joe.”

In another company this person is Maureen.  Again, Maureen didn’t go to school for technology.  Instead, she is just one of those intrepid people who isn’t afraid to figure out how to turn on and off a server or computer, and she can calmly answer technology questions with simple step by step instructions.  Because her company has staff worldwide, the refrain is “Call (or email) Maureen.”

In yet another company it is Emmy.  Emmy actually took a few basic computer courses in high school, but she was not a technology major and her warmth and energy dispel any characterization as a “geek”.  But, she loves gadgets and so she has become the go to person for her company’s executives and sales staff.  Whenever they have questions about their handhelds and GPS systems, the refrain is “Text Emmy.”

The Joes, Maureens and Emmys of the world are just the kind of folks that soundtraining.net serves.  These people are largely self-taught and have become indispensible in their respective companies.  They don’t have time for regular college courses and really only need “just in time” training and step by step practical manuals.

Don R. Crawley of soundtraining.net provides accelerated and on-site IT training in topics such as Cisco ASA security appliances , Cisco Router, Linux Servers, Bind DNS and Customer Service Training for IT Professionals.    In addition to being an accomplished author, speaker and trainer, Don is also an actor, voiceover artist and narrator and a regular blogger for Computer World.  Well traveled in all 50 states, as well as Canada, Australia and the U.K., Don has led numerous seminars and speeches for anyone from the customer service rep to the techie computer geek.   Speaking on the topics of customer service and motivational and inspirational topics, Don povidess the tools, tips and advice to strengthen skills at work and in everyday life.

Don also has authored books on technology topics.  Two of his most recent books, “The Accidental Administrator: Cisco ASA Security Appliance: A Step-by-Step Configuration Guide” and “The Accidental Administrator: Linux Server Step-by-Step Configuration Guide“, are written for the Joes, Maureens and Emmys of the world.

For more information, visit www.soundtraining.net and http://amazon.doncrawley.com

Tags: Authors, Classes & Training, Services by Elizabeth Paulsen
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There’s a new bakery in town! On September 17, 2010 Blue Vanilla Bakery opened it’s doors in the heart of downtown Des Moines on the corner of Marine View Drive and 225th, just beneath the Butler Bar and Grill.

A partnership between three generations, Blue Vanilla Bakery is truly a family affair. Mother and daughter, Margie and Ashley Nelson, are the creative brains behind the store’s beautiful and delicious offerings from the calm decor to the amazing food and drink.

From the second you walk in the door the atmosphere is warm and inviting. You’re immediately presented with a glass case filled with all manners of baked goods, from cookies to muffins and cakes, and to your left you’ll find a colorful chalkboard listing all the many different foods and drinks the bakery offers.

If you’re worried about getting stuck in the lunch rush, Blue Vanillas large foyer and dining area have plenty of room for everyone. The tables are generously spaced and the large windows let in plenty of natural light, allowing for a causal and friendly atmosphere.

On our visit, the bakery wasn’t very busy, which was surprising considering how perfect and delicious their food was. In order to give a thorough evaluation (and because everything just looked so good) we ended up ordering a variety of sandwiches, soups, and drinks. Everyday the bakery has a different lunch special including a couple soup and sandwich varieties. A list of the daily speicals can usually be found on the Blue Vanilla Bakery Facebook page and they are also listed near the bakeries register if you decide on a more impromptu visit.

After ordering it doesn’t take long before they start showing up at your table with plates, presenting one delicious item after another. We were also impressed by the way they put each dish together. Every sandwich came complete with a side of kettle cooked chips, and the bowls of soup came with a nice soft roll.

The soup of the day on our visit was Mulligatawny, a soup I had never heard of let alone tried, but I decided to be brave and order a bowl. I was in love from the first bite and would have licked the bowl clean if it were socially appropriate. These feelings were shared by my co-workers as they ate and finished their various soups and sandwiches around the table.

Although our stomachs were near bursting, filled with our lunches and delicious lattes, our mouths watered as we stared at the display cases filled with desserts. We once again decided to order a variety and soon our table was filled with an eclair, snicker doodle, chocolate chip cookie, pecan sticky bun and a raspberry muffin, each one as tasty as the next, and this was only a small sampling of the bakeries offerings. We left the bakery not only filled, but completely satisfied and in the happiest of moods.

If you’re looking for a sweet treat, great coffee or a satisfying lunch you should take a trip to the Blue Vanilla Bakery, where your tastes will be satisfied and your expectations will be more than fulfilled.

Want to know what on the lunch menu for each day? Check out their facebook page to find up to date lunch offerings here http://www.facebook.com/pages/Blue-Vanilla-Bakery/141668829197768.

To learn more about Blue Vanilla Bakery, what they offer, and their hours, check out their website at www.bluevanillabakery.com.

Tags: Dining, Services by Amanda Dorough
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One of the primary providers in a woman’s healthcare routine is a gynecologist.  The decision making process of selecting one can be based on many different factors.  Many times, having a doctor highly recommended by a friend or family member is how we base our decision.  Other times, you may take into consideration what your personal needs might be.  Do you need a gynecologist who is also a practicing obstetrician?  Do you have a preference in having a male or female doctor?  Finding a gynecologist who is accepted by your insurance plan is also something to consider, but many of us will make our decisions based on word of mouth from people we know and trust, by asking questions, and inquiring about the doctor’s experience and skill. 

As a highly skilled and respected doctor, Dr. Myong J. Roe, MD is a board certified gynecologist with over 40 years experience.  Serving in the US Navy as a resident in Obstetrics and gynecology, Dr. Roe eventually opened a practice in Auburn, WA.  From 1986 through the present, he currently is on staff with St. Francis Community Hospital, but operates his own practice in Federal Way, WA.  Dr. Roe’s medical specialties include gynecology, general women’s health, gynecological surgery as a minimally invasive surgery specialist, and urogynecology.   Dr Roe is also an expert in the areas of most female cancers, endometriosis, pelvic organ prolapsed and urinary incontinence.  While he currently no longer practices as an obstetrician, his calm and caring bedside manner provides a comfortable environment for his patients as he listens to your needs, questions and concerns. 

For more information on Dr Roe, details on his medical specialties, and what to expect at your first appointment, go to:  http://www.federalwaygynecologist.com/

Tags: Health, Services by Michelle Leonard
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With a new year comes new years resolutions. We start out with good plans, intending to keep our resolutions but somewhere along the line we lose the motivation we need to keep going. It’s said that less than 10% of people who make resolutions actually stick to them. Finding the tools to turn intentions into actions and learning how to stop making the same choices that are keeping you from your accomplishments can start with having a clear plan. By doing so, you can take the outcome of your goals from failure to success.

There are many training programs and seminars directed toward people who feel stuck, struggle with confidence and self-esteem, have troubles setting goals and keeping focus, or those who just want to start over. But with endless directions where do you begin?

Experienced Life and Executive Coach, Patricia Eslava Vessey has developed an effective and powerful way to help transform and empower people through her successful seminars, coaching and hypnosis. As the owner and CEO of Integrity Coaching and Training Systems, Patricia has combined her 30 years of experience from social work, fitness and leadership training, life coaching, and hypnotherapy to help people transform their lives. Using life coaching as one approach, this provides individuals and groups new skills in learning how to visualize and achieve goals while creating confidence in managing life changes and challenges. Hypnosis is another method that Patricia offers in a professional environment with one-on-one or group settings. The techniques learned through this self hypnosis instruction can be a highly effective tool for making the changing process easier while becoming more open to others feedback and ideas.

A series of hypnosis CD’s are available and are a helpful tool designed to give you the support to succeed in making the changes in your life you are seeking. Fitness training and wellness programs are also available with specialized personal training for businesses, health clubs and individuals. Stress management, weight loss and stop smoking programs are customized and designed to meet the needs for individuals and for companies and their employees.

For more information on Integrity Coaching and Training Systems, visit: http://www.integritylifecoach.com/

Tags: Services by Michelle Leonard
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Seattle Southside has a new home! On May 13, 2010 the leading tourism and destination marketing organization in South King County moved into their new visitors center located on 176th Street in SeaTac near International Boulevard. The close proximity of the center to SeaTac Airport makes it easily accessible to travelers and its signage can even been seen from the airport’s new Light Rail platform.

Visitors can come to the center to pick up brochures, book a hotel or to ask Seattle Southside’s knowledgeable staff any questions they might have during their Seattle stay.

Open Weekdays 9am-5pm; Weekends 10am-4pm.

www.SeattleSouthside.com

Tags: Around Seattle, Services, Travel by admin
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With all the different types of counseling these days, the search for the right therapist to meet your specific needs can be difficult if you are uncertain about what you need.  There is a difference between counseling and psychotherapy yet many professionals practice both.  Counselors are trained to provide help with defining problems, decision making, advice and guidance.  Psychotherapy involves behavioral therapy techniques to improve physical and psychological well-being while building awareness that can help individuals discover sources of mental and emotional pain and work towards the healing process.  Psychotherapy can be of help with a variety of issues such as anxiety, anger, panic attacks, relationship problems, nightmares, insomnia and many other issues and emotions.

Gillian Vik of Madison Valley Counseling offers a compassionate and encouraging approach to help people work through the changing process in their lives while providing emotional support for those individuals and their families.

As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Gillian received her Bachelors Degree from Fairhaven College and holds a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology with Emphasis in Depth Psychology. As an experienced therapist, Gillian has additional training in trauma disorders and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.  Participating in consultations and supervision with other mental health counselors ensures that Gillian provides the highest quality therapy and participates in her own therapy on an ongoing basis.  Since 2007, her private practice is based in Seattle, Washington where she counsels individuals in all types of life transitions and situations for group and individual sessions.

For more info about Gillian Vik and her private practice, go to: http://www.madisonvalleycounseling.com

Tags: Services by Michelle Leonard
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As summer comes to a close and autumn approaches, the weather will change.  And as Washington’s typical September rains arrive, focus from yard improvement projects will turn to indoor home improvement projects.  This is where Anacapri Construction enters.

Anacapri Construction is a locally owned and operated construction company serving the Seattle area.  The contractors at Anacapri bring a strong knowledge of multiple fields of construction that make them the perfect choice for any job around the house.  Contractors at Anacapri specialize in the areas of tile installation.  Not only will Anacapri’s contractors install the tile perfectly in any room of a home, but they will customize the tile patterns to customer’s requests. Their work is beautiful and flawless.

Another area of specialization for Anacapri Construction is in kitchen remodel.  From plumbing to cabinet installation, contractors at Anacapri can tackle any kitchen project with professionalism and attentiveness to detail.  The contractors work hard to create the design requested by customers and maintain quality in their work.

Anacapri Construction is the perfect choice for any home improvement or remodeling project.  To learn more about Anacapri’s specialty job capabilities or get a quote, view their website at: www.anacapriconstruction.com.

Tags: Services by Michelle Leonard
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