A short history of Irish whiskey

Irish whiskey is reported to be one of the fastest-growing spirits in the world. The first record of Irish whiskey dates back to 1405, making it one of Europe’s earliest distilled beverages and around 90 years older than its Scottish counterpart. Despite experiencing a period of decline in popularity during the 20th Century, sales are now on the increase, attracting fans from across the globe. Continue reading A short history of Irish whiskey

What you need to know about Power of Attorney.

As we are becoming an aging population we need, unfortunately, to think about what we are going to do in our later years. It isn’t something that anyone wants to really consider but the time may come when you are not able to make decisions for yourself if you become too ill or incapacitated. It is very important for you have something in place and at least when you have it done you don’t have to worry about it again. This is meant as a brief explanation as to what is involved but if you want a good Cheltenham Power of Attorney  then a visit to https://beesandco.com/our-services/power-of-attorney-cheltenham/  is a very good place to start as they will help you through this difficult choice. Continue reading What you need to know about Power of Attorney.

Celebrity wedding Mother of the Bride style inspiration

It can be difficult for any mother of the bride to select the perfect outfit. Choosing a style that is flattering, elegant and appropriate which will look good in the all-important photographs is a hard task for any woman, but when your daughter just happens to be famous then the question of what to wear becomes even more difficult.  You could suggest a selection of Bodycon Mini Dresses from sites like https://umay.co.uk/collections/mini-dresses/bodycon-mini-dresses and let her choose. Continue reading Celebrity wedding Mother of the Bride style inspiration

The delights of an N gauge railway set.

We’ve all been there. We want a really kicking train set with a brilliant throw back to the age of steam where we can imagine that we’re on the footplate driving the train or we are the station master directing the pace of the rail freight and organising the passengers to their destination. But, there is one tiny little snag (and little is a well chosen word here), you live in a one bedroom flat or a family home with no room to swing a cat or anything else. However, help is at hand, you can find that with an N gauge railway you will be able to build full and exciting sets in a really reduced space. Continue reading The delights of an N gauge railway set.

Drive traffic to your website with these 10 great ways

The internet is crucial for sales, reputation and brand management – so driving traffic to your website is increasingly important.

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In 2015 in the US, 64% of all sales in-store were influenced by the internet.

1. Advertise

The most obvious but most effective way of driving traffic to your website is to advertise. Yes, you will need to pay for it, but the results are often worth it. Customise your paid strategies to suit your needs.  Handing out leaflets to houses with a discount code for example is a good way to point to your website.  A company like Lazy Juice who are a Gloucester Vape Shop did a very successful drop and got some great traffic from it.

  1. Variety is the spice of sites

    Vary the format and length of your content to appeal to different types of readers. Use video, audio, infographics, and pictures, as well as text.3. Social life

    Great content is not enough – you have to make sure that people can find it! So you need to utilise your social media channels such as Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Pinterest and Instagram.

    4. Headline act

    Without an awesome headline, even the most inspiring content will often go unread. Always try and pick the headline that you believe will generate the most traffic.

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5. SEO – because it’s worth it

Optimising your content for on-page SEO is still a worthwhile use of your time. Make the most of image alt text, create internal links, and use meta descriptions. If you are looking for someone to help with your internet presence then take a look at professionals.
6. Go guest blogging

Getting yourself a guest post on a popular and reputable website can increase traffic to your own site.

7. Get guest bloggers on your site

Invite people with similar interests to write a guest blog on your site. By sharing and linking to their guest article, they can bring new readers to you.

8. Target long-tail keywords

These keywords account for the majority of web searches, so ensure that they are being targeted as part of your paid search/SEO work.

9. Stay LinkedIn

You should be posting your content to LinkedIn regularly, as doing so will boost traffic and increase your profile.

10. Write smart

Check out the sites that get the most traffic and then look at ways to create content that those pages would really want to link to.

 

Covering External Community Areas in Three ways

Public external spaces, such as those outside schools, retail parks and offices, are ideal areas for people to meet and work. However, they are not always practical in inclement weather or on particularly hot and sunny days. However, there’s a number of ways that external spaces can be covered to enhance their use. For example is there enough lighting for the collection times especially when the days get shorter as safety has to be key when it comes to your children.  A Lighting Specialists company found at sites like encapsulite.co.uk will be able to tell you what kind of lighting will suit your needs best and what kind of prices you might be looking at. Continue reading Covering External Community Areas in Three ways

Energy efficiency in your loft conversion

For homeowners looking to achieve a little extra space for their family often choose to convert the loft. It’s a popular move for homes tight on space to maximise square footage and hopefully add value to their property. So popular, in fact, that around every 4 in 10 homes in London has a form of loft conversion.

Loft conversions, as useful as they are, can be about more than adding space and act as a great opportunity to take on matters of energy efficiency in your home. It’s a chance to upgrade lighting to top performing LED bulbs, updating an old boiler to a more efficient one or install insulation.

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Every loft conversion requires building regulation approval. Whilst it is the homeowner’s responsibility, a good contractor should help with the approval process. As part of the approval, energy efficiency ranks highly with a strong focus on minimising possible heat loss. Heat loss must be kept to a minimum during a loft conversion by placing insulation between rafters and underneath them and ensuring the continuity of wall and roof insulation as well.

Most conversions will be completed with the standard amount of insulation as required by building regulations, but it is wise to ask for more. A higher level of insulation can keep a loft conversion better protected from extremes of temperatures, improve sound proofing and also save money on energy bills.

To prevent a loss of heat through any lighting fixtures in the loft conversion, try Downlight Covers from a site like https://www.thermahooddirect.com

As well as insulation, it’s important to think about energy efficient windows. Insulation will be pointless if the windows are inefficient. A+ rated double or triple glazed windows will offer the best savings on energy bills. This grade of windows will provide the benefits of a warm, cosy room, great sound proofing and a reduction in the accumulation of condensation.

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Keeping a loft space warm in winter is another important factor and this can be achieved by adding more radiators that are controllable with thermostatic valves. Smart home devices are now available which can help to control the heating throughout the whole house from an app on a smartphone. Controlling heating this way can help save money and make a home more energy efficient, so having a loft conversion could be the perfect time to invest in some new digital devices. For those with controllable heating, they could be seeing savings of up to £120 each year.

Six ways to inspire the people around you

Some powerful words can make a big difference in someone’s life, and being able inspire isn’t a skill reserved for a rare few. Here’s a look at six ways to make an impact.

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1. Be authentic

Genuinely care for the other person and show that compassion. Be true to yourself and be confident and comfortable with yourself; you want to display a strong sense of self so that you’re showing the same personality no matter who you’re talking to. Authenticity and honesty are inspiring, and it will also help in building two-way trust.

2. Listen Up

There’s a difference between listening without hearing and actively listening. Absorb what the other person is saying and process it. This will allow you to ask questions to follow up as necessary and to respond in a deeper, more meaningful way. Make eye contact, as this will help you maintain concentration while encouraging the other person to actively participate in what you’re saying.

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3. Show Your Human Side

Everyone has flaws; it’s part of being a human being. Admit your mistakes and don’t be afraid to show your weaknesses because that in itself is a strength that will encourage others.

4. Be bold

In order to inspire, you need to think outside the box. Be expressive and reach beyond the basics, keeping your hopes high and your dreams big. That kind of ambitious desire will ignite excitement and motivation.

Stay calm and confident, show enthusiasm and hold your ground. When challenged in life, show how you’ve faced it. Show how you’ve persevered and grown stronger as a result. An inspirational speaker like https://www.adventureman.org/motivational-speaker/ will do just that and can inspires many people.

5. Give A Helping Hand

As a source of inspiration, you want to encourage and nurture rather than give standardised advice. Help someone to help themselves and give them the tools to figure out what they want and how to get there. That freedom will empower them.

6. Share your inspirations

Acknowledge the contributions of others, and pass along the things you’ve learned. What has inspired you or made a mark on your life in a positive way? Are there certain thoughts, theories, books, quotes or films that you think could motivate or be of benefit to someone else?

Five considerations when choosing a dry film lubricant

When considering a lubricant to employ in an industrial context, there are a wide range of choices out there. One of the first questions to answer is whether you should use a dry or oil-based lubricant for the job.

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According to Science Direct, one of the biggest factors for people who choose to go for a dry lubricant is superior cleanliness, along with increased performance in conditions with extreme temperatures or within a vacuum. Oil-based lubricants are fantastic for certain applications, but if you’ve already decided that your lubricant will be dry, let’s look at some key factors to consider.

Why does the part need to be lubricated?

Have other types of lubricant failed in previous installations, or has an issue of sticking just emerged with the part? Does your part idle for a large amount of time, then spring into action when required? Is there noise when this part interacts with others? Carefully considering these key points about lubrication can help you narrow down the lubricant to be employed in your system.

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Check out the substrate

Dry film lubricants all cure at different rates and at different temperatures. It is important to select surface treatments that will cure at the temperatures employed during the application of the parts. This is vital to ensure that all parts perform at the optimum level. If the lubricant needs to sit at temperatures higher than 300 degrees F to cure, its use must be carefully considered.

Are the parts plated?

If the parts to be treated are plated, to reduce corrosion, but also require lubrication in order to perform at a high level, the correct lubricant is essential. Some platings can break down at high temperatures, rendering the lubricant useless.

Does the coating need to be food safe?

If the parts that need lubricated are to be used in the production of food, ensuring that the lubricant is safe is essential. Talking to the experts at https://www.poeton.co.uk/treatments will help you choose the correct lubricant. Some lubricants are manufactured with food safety in mind and others are not, so the application of these parts is a hugely important consideration.

What about corrosion?

Some dry film lubricants also protect against corrosion. Selecting an appropriate lubricant for this can help if your parts are to be installed in less-than-favourable conditions.