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County Mayo has craggy mountains trails, unspoilt sandy beaches, wonderful walking and cycling routes as well as a host of traditional towns and villages to discover. To discover a fine selection of self catering accommodation, see our cottages in County Mayo.
This beautiful and inspiring region in the west of Ireland has plenty to offer visitors both on land and water. There are miles of dramatic coastline and many Blue Flag beaches, mountains and hills to climb, beautiful lakes and fast running rivers.
Explore the towns and villages including Westport, formerly voted 'Best place to live in Ireland' by the Irish Times, here you'll find fine restaurants, traditional music and water sports in nearby Clew Bay or Ballina to the north situated on the river Moy; the 'Salmon Capital of Ireland'. Anglers will enjoy fishing on the River Moy, or fly fishing at Burrishoole or Errif - both brown trout and salmon are common here.
Ireland's largest island, Archill Island, sits just off shore and is accessible by bridge from the mainland. Here there are lovely sandy beaches and the opportunity to follow the 'Atlantic Drive' that takes you through some spectacular scenery.
There are plenty of opportunities for horse riding, golf and of course excellent walking - why not visit Croagh Patrick, Ireland''s ''Holy Mountain'', which offers breathtaking views from the top? Other walks suitable for the more experienced include Nephin Mountain Walk and Mweelrea Mountain Walk.
Mountain bikers should head for 'The Great Western Greenway', a trail of some 42km following the old Westport to Archill railway line. It's suitable for both avid enthusiast as well as families who fancy a day out by bike.
Apart from the cycling, walking and Blue Flag beaches there lots for families to do including pet farms and the Roola Boola Children''s Art Festival, which takes place in Castlebar every October bank holiday weekend.
Look out for the farmers markets, which have been part of small town life here for the last century. Check out Achill Farmers Market every Friday or Westport Market on Thursdays - both are great places to pick up local produce to prepare a delicious meal back at your cottage!
County Mayo is the perfect destination for those looking to get back to nature and escape the stress of urban life - browse our range of holiday cottages in County Mayo today and plan your holiday in Ireland.
3 reviews
Idyllic setting.
Detached barn conversion for 4.
This refurbished barn in the grounds of the owner's home is situated in one of the hidden parts of Ireland and boats wonderful views of Lough Mask from the rear garden. The delightful holiday home has timber floors, exposed stonework and a wood burner. It stands on an elevated site with wonderful views of Lough Mask in the distance. Less than an hours drive away lies the National Parks Kylemore Abbey and Connemara. Ideal for walking enthusiats, this area of Mayo has some of the most amazing scenery and walks around the quiet roadways, woods, hills and mountains, which the owner has thoughtfully made a booklet together for guests to take advantage of. Joyce Country, the Connemara National Park and Westport are all within easy reach, whilst the county town of Castlebar, with its range of amenities, shopping and restaurants, is 18 miles away. A lovely lake beach with picnic area is nestled just a mile away and is perfect for a family day out with your children. Fishing, boat hire and gillies available locally. Shop and restaurant 1¼ miles, pub 2 miles.
Ground floor: Living/dining room/kitchen. First floor: 2 bedrooms: 1 double with en-suite shower room and toilet, 1 twin with en-suite shower room and toilet. Separate toilet.
Woodburner in living room (initial fuel included). Oil central heating, electricity, bed linen and towels included. DVD. Stereo/CD. Microwave. Washer/dryer. Dishwasher. Freezer. Enclosed garden with furniture. Ample parking.
2 reviews
This pretty holiday cottage has been lovingly renovated with a modern kitchen added to it, making it comfortable and cosy, yet retaining its original charms. It boasts a wonderful location with the grounds backing onto the River Moy (salmon fishing available) and there is a riverside picnic table for those who enjoy outdoor dining. Swinford 2 miles, and Foxford, 6 miles, both with restaurants and pubs with traditional music sessions. The pretty town of Westport, 30 miles, is worth a day trip and Galway is only 60 miles for those wishing to visit. Achill Island, 50 miles, has wonderful unspoilt scenery and there are lovely beaches in Enniscrone, just outside Ballina,18 miles, as well as a championship golf course. Shop, pub and restaurant 2 miles.
All on ground floor: Living room with wooden floor. Dining room/kitchen with double sofa bed (for alternative sleeping) and tiled floor. 2 bedrooms: 1 double (4ft), 1 bunk both with wooden floors. Bathroom with shower over bath and toilet.
Woodburner in living room (no fuel provided). Oil central heating, electricity, bed linen and towels included. Satellite TV. DVD. CD. Gas hob. Electricity oven. Microwave. Washer/dryer. Freezer. Enclosed lawned garden with sitting out area and furniture. Parking (2 cars). No smoking. NB: The cottage backs onto the River Moy via a gated walkway, 110 yards. Drop in garden.
3 reviews
Mountain views.
Wing of property for 4.
Wonderfully located, this comfortable single-storey property is close to mountains and the lovely village of Louisburg. This property adjoins the friendly owner's home and is beside a working farm. This is a great location for surfing, walking, climbing and fishing with a local adventure centre offering water sports. There are music pubs, restaurants and shops in the village and craft shops and galleries in Westport, 12 miles away. This property is on the Wild Atlantic Way and the Great Western Greenway, which are fantastic walking and cycle routes which start at nearby Westport, with bike hire available locally, this property is ideal for cycling enthusiasts. Boasting views from the kitchen and sitting-out area, this property is also perfect if you wish to just sit back and relax in the haven of peace and tranquillity. Mountain View is also a perfect place to spend your day climbing. Shops ¼ mile, pub and restaurant 1 mile.
All on ground floor: Living/dining room/kitchen. 2 bedrooms: 1 double (5ft) with en-suite shower room and toilet, 1 twin. Bathroom with shower over bath and toilet.
NSH and electricity by meter reading. Bed linen and towels included. T/ cot. High chair. Video. DVD. microwave. Washing machine. Tumble dryer. Dishwasher. Freezer. Lawned garden with patio and furniture. Parking (2 cars).
1 reviews
Cappacurry Lodge is a totally restored and refurbished farmhouse only 2 miles from Ballinrobe with views of Croagh Patrick and is only 500 yards from Ballinrobe Golf Course. The holiday property has been restored to a very good standard yet maintains the cottage feel. Ballinrobe makes an ideal holiday base with mountains to be walked, Lough Mask to be fished (ghillies and boats available locally), several golf courses in the area and Connemara, Westport, Galway, Ashford Castle and Cong all within easy access for day trips. Shop, pub and restaurant 2 miles.
All on ground floor: Living/dining room with high beamed ceiling and wooden floor. Kitchen with tiled floor. 2 double bedrooms with wooden floors, one with en-suite shower room and toilet. Bathroom with shower over bath and toilet.
Oil central heating. All fuel, power, bed linen and towels included. CD. Electric cooker. Microwave. Washer/dryer. Enclosed gravelled garden with sitting-out area and furniture. Parking (3 cars).
4 reviews
Commanding stunning views over the Furnace Lakes to Clew Bay beyond, this homely, single-storey property sits peacefully amid large landscaped grounds. Situated on the Wild Atlantic Way tourist driving route, it is a perfect spot to get away from it all, yet only 4 miles from the thriving harbour town and angling centre of Newport, with castle, abbey, good restaurants, pubs, shops and boat trips. The extraordinary 28-mile Bangor Trail (Newport to Bangor Erris) passes by the door, with Nephin Beg mountains and Letterkeen Forest easily reached. Just 2 miles from the holiday property and with lovely views, the Great Western Greenway Cycling and Walking Trail, stretching 26 miles along the old Westport/Achill railway line which closed in1937, is open all year round and is ideal for cycling or stretching your legs. Westport (10 miles) is well worth a visit for Westport House (castle of the O'Malley clan). Newport is on a cycle track and bike hire is available in the village. Golf, fishing, riding and boating locally. Treen Bay 2 miles.
All on ground floor: Living room. Dining room with wooden floor. Kitchen with tiled floor. 3 bedrooms: 1 double, 2 twin, both with en-suite shower room and toilet. Bathroom with toilet.
Oil central heating, electricity, bed linen and towels included. DVDs. Microwave. Washer/dryer. Dishwasher. Fridge/freezer. Small garden with patio. Barbecue. Ample parking. Ground floor facilities. NB: Pond and drop in garden.
5 reviews
Set in its own grounds.
Detached cottage for 5/6.
This 19th century cottage is beautifully set in its own grounds just 2½ miles from the busy town of Castlebar and ½ mile from the pretty village of Turlough. The holiday cottage has been totally refurbished making it comfortable and cosy. Starting at Turlough the 8km cycle/walk way meanders into Castlebar where bike hire is available. Locally there is an equestrian centre and national museum of country life, while in Castlebar, there is an abundance of restaurants, swimming pool, cinema, golf, bowling, tennis, activity centre and lots more. Westport, Ballina, Foxford and Knock Airport are all within 20 miles (approx. 32km), while Galway is just one hour away. Shop ½ mile.
All on ground floor: Living/dining room. Kitchen. 3 bedrooms: 2 double, 1 single with additional pull out single, all with wooden floors. Bathroom with shower over bath and toilet.
Open fire in living room (initial fuel included). Oil central heating and electricity by meter reading. Bed linen and towels included. Satellite TV. DVD. Washing machine. Enclosed garden with patio and furniture. Parking (4 cars). No smoking.
4 reviews
This beautifully restored, 200-year-old cottage stands detached within 2 acres of landscaped gardens at the shore of Clew Bay and at high tide you can step over the fence straight into the sea for a swim. It is situated just 1 mile from the Great Western Greenway cycling and walking trail, and is less than 1 mile from the Wild Atlantic Way. Carefully decorated to a good standard, with a woodburner, a spacious, well-equipped kitchen, sea views to the front and the Nephin Beg Range as a backdrop. The holiday cottage is just 5 minutes' drive from Newport town with its castle, abbey, cycle hire and boat trips. Discover the beach and breathtaking scenery at Mulranny a few minutes further along the Wild Atlantic Way, or Westport, a bustling Georgian town, home to Westport House and Gardens. This is the perfect base from which to explore Clew Bay, Croagh Patrick or Connemara. The area offers walking, climbing, fishing, golf and cycling in stunning surroundings. Visitors are sure to be impressed and delighted by its outstanding beauty. Shop, pub and restaurant 3 miles.
Ground floor: Living room with patio doors. Dining room/kitchen with breakfast area and tiled floor. Utiilty room. 1 double bedroom. Wet room with toilet. Steep ladder-style stairs to first floor: 2 bedrooms: 1 twin (zip and link, can be 6ft double), one with double sofa bed (reduced head height).
Woodburner in living room included. Gas central heating, electricity included, bed linen and towels included. Freeview TV. DVD. CD. Electric cooker. Microwave. Washing machine. Tumble dryer. Dishwasher. Fridge/freezer. Enclosed lawned and gravelled garden with patio. Barbecue. Parking (3 cars). NB: No children under 5 years.
0 reviews
Situated 3 miles from the main road, this detached, stone built single storey cottage is pleasantly isolated with only ponies and donkeys as neighbours. The pretty village of Pontoon is only minutes away and offers fishing opportunies with boat hire and ghillies available on Lough Conn. The bustling town of Castlebar is 8 miles away and has all the attractions of a large town, restaurants, cinema, swimming pool, shops, golf course, pony/horse riding and museums. Shop 3 miles, pub and restaurant 5 miles.
All on ground floor: Open plan living room with slate floor/dining room/kitchen. 2 bedrooms: 1 double, 1 bunk. Shower room with toilet. Separate annex: Double bedroom with free-standing bath. Separate toilet.
Open fire in living room. Electric heaters (€2 meter). Bed linen and towels included. Satellite TV. DVD (small library). Radio/CD. Electric cooker. Microwave. Utility with coin-operated washing machine and tumble dryer. Freezer. Fridge/freezer. Enclosed garden, courtyard, patio and furniture. 1-acre grounds. Barbecue. Parking (3 cars). Natural water supply from borehole. Ground floor facilities.
3 reviews
With uninterrupted sea and mountain views, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the edge of the Ballycroy National Park, this bright and spacious, detached, single storey holiday property is ideally located for nature lovers and watersport enthusiasts. It is set on a private road with no through traffic - except maybe some sheep! The local village of Mulranney has pubs, shops, hotel with leisure centre, restaurants and a Blue Flag beach. Ballycroy village is within 10 minutes' drive. The sheltered bay in front of the house is ideal for windsurfing or canoeing with swimming from the shingle shore. There is a dinghy sailing school, and free salmon and sea-trout fishing available nearby. Shops, pubs and restaurants 8 miles.
All on ground floor: Living/dining room with wooden floor/kitchen with tiled floor. Utility room. 3 bedrooms: 2 double, one with en-suite shower room with toilet, 1 twin, all with wooden floor. Bathroom with shower over bath and toilet.
Open fire in living room (initial fuel included). Oil central heating and electricity by meter reading. Gas, bed linen and towels included. DVD. Gas hob. Electric oven. Microwave. Washing machine. Tumble dryer. Dishwasher. Fridge/freezer. Large enclosed garden with sitting-out area and furniture. Ample parking. NB: The sea is 150 yards from the property (fenced).
8 reviews
In a superb, secluded setting by the seashore, with its own pebble beach just 50 yards away, this single-storey cottage is surrounded by a wonderfully rugged coastline, with a view of Clew Bay from the patio. Set on the owner's working farm, it is beautifully furnished, with great attention to detail and its own garden. It is set on the Wild Atlantic Way, close to the beautiful beach at Old Head with Croagh Patrick as a backdrop. There are miles of beautiful, quiet country road walks, many along the coastal route. The Greenway cycle/walking route starts in Westport and continues all the way to Achill. Within 1½ miles there is a choice of lovely sandy beaches, perfect for surfing, and there are daily ferries out to Clare Island from nearby Roonagh Quay. The village of Louisburgh (1 mile) offers excellent pubs and a good restaurant. Westport, 14 miles, is a town of picture-postcard prettiness, with a small zoo, lake and park as well as a heritage centre dealing with local history. Sea angling can be arranged from here, as can salmon fishing and boat hire.
All on ground floor: Living/dining room/kitchen. 3 bedrooms: 2 double, 1 twin. Shower room with toilet.
Multi-fuel burner in living room (initial fuel included). Oil central heating and electricity by meter reading. Bed linen and towels included. Cot. High chair. Satellite TV. DVD. Microwave. Washer/dryer. Dishwasher. Partially fenced garden with furniture. Parking (2 cars).
Sited on an organic farm.
Bungalow for 8
This large, well-appointed, modern holiday cottage, which sleeps 8, is situated on an environmentally friendly, working, organic farm located a short drive off the Swinford to Aclare Road. Ballina, at 15 miles, provides a centre for activities such as golf, fishing, equestrian, walking and sites of historical interest. This property is ideally located for the outdoor holiday with miles of unspoilt walks, many in the Ox Mountains, 9 miles, or around Lough Talt, where boat hire and fishing are available. Tubbercurry only 12 miles. There is also a Blue Flag beach at Enniscrone, 25 miles away. Cycle hire in village. Shops and pubs 2 miles.
Ground floor: Living room. Dining room/kitchen. Utility room. 2 bedrooms: 1 double with en-suite shower room and toilet, 1 twin. Bathroom with bath, walk-in shower and toilet. First floor: 2 bedrooms: 1 double with en-suite shower room with toilet, 1 twin.
Open fire in living room (initial fuel included). Oil central heating and electricity by meter reading. Bed linen and towels included. Video. DVD. CD. Microwave. Washing machine. Freezer. Garden and furniture. Ample parking. No smoking.
4 reviews
Located 1 mile outside the bustling town of Westport, tucked away beside the river, this beautifully restored granary is tastefully presented and furnished to a very good standard. The living accommodation is found on the first floor and gives way to a balcony to take full advantage of the magnificent views out over Clew Bay and beyond. Westport is one of Ireland's best known and popular visitor destinations and has many excellent restaurants and pubs serving delicious local fayre. Winner of the National Tidy Town Award, it makes an enjoyable day out for all the family. For those who enjoy walking, Crough Patrick soars 2,510ft and offers panoramic views. Local activities include golfing, fishing and walking. Alternatively, there is a choice of six beautiful sandy beaches to choose from nearby.
Ground floor: 4 bedrooms: 3 double, two (5ft) with en-suite shower room and toilet, one with Velux, 1 twin with en-suite shower room and toilet, wooden floor and Velux. First floor: Living room with beams and French doors. Dining room/kitchen with marble tiled floor. Bathroom with shower over bath and toilet.
Woodburner in living room (initial fuel included). Oil central heating by meter reading. Electricity, bed linen and towels included. Travel cot and high chair (on request). CD. Microwave. Washing machine. Tumble dryer. Dishwasher. Large enclosed garden with patio and furniture. Landscaped grounds. Parking. NB: Garden leads to a stream.
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cottages.com is a trading name of Wyndham Vacation Rentals (UK) Ltd. Registered in England and Wales.
Registered Office: Spring Mill, Stoney Bank Road, Earby, Lancashire,BB94 0AA, UK
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"Charleston is a fabulous city that offers so much in the way of history, great places to eat, and friendly people. We enjoyed walking and exploring. Our daily activities were always enhanced by our return to the comfort and charm of the Wentworth Mansion."
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subset: commoncrawl


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No place to park
So it just took me a half hour to get logged in cause I forgot my password. Why would you keep this article a secret? Shouldn't this info be public knowledge?
The Case FOR Cameras on the Driver
Imagine that; the CEO of a company selling said cameras telling us why they are a good idea. A typical fertilizer salesman with a mouth full of samples.
Do your drivers hate their PAP machines?
I am a driver, and have sleep apnea, I'm one of the oddballs that don't fit what was considered the typical person to have sleep apnea at 5'9" tall and 165 lbs I was far from overweight.
I never disclosed my condition at my medical examination and always passed with a 2 year card in hand, I was seeking treatment, but could never tolerate the mask long enough to hit the 70% usage, I tried everything my doctor recommended, nothing including surgery worked, until last year, I now have the Inspire implant to treat my sleep apnea, and I feel great and am sleeping like a baby for the first time in years, I do believe there should be testing for sleep apnea across the board, but with that, their also has to be reasonable time frames wrote into the regulation, 90 day card to get tested and start treatment if needed and a year card on the first follow up, then if the person is compliant, and over the 70% useage there should be no reason they don't get a 2 year card, sleep apnea is a serious condition, but anyone who is being successfully treated wouldn't abandon their treatment.
Debate continues over CDL training time minimums
Could simulators be included in the 30 hours BTW? What about including them in refresher or remediation training?
Q&A: When a move to smaller engines makes sense
The key is TORQUE. Fleets want light weight,and lower price. Fleets spec for higher payloads Without torque drivers will be sitting in the right lane, creeping up hills wasting time and burning fuel.. If a Truck is spec'd this way resale value is significantly diminished.
CVSA's 2016 Roadcheck puts emphasis on tire safety
Companies / Drivers should bone up on the FMCSA tire violations , especially the Out of Service Criteria. The only change in tire violation for the 2016 Out Of Service is any object that is stuck between dual tires, this now an OOS. Beyond that , remember that the minimum tread depth on a steer tire is 4/32 and a non-steer tire is 2/32.
Debate continues over CDL training time minimums
So 24 of 26 groups involved in the process determine that 30 hours BTW is a good number, yet the ATA feels their position outweighs all the others? 30 hours is the minimum that should be required, 60 would be more like it. Many states require more than 30 hours BTW to get a car license, the standards for a CMV should be higher.
FMCSA takes 'first step' to sleep apnea rule
thanks for your comment as my daddy said follow the MONEY
Do your drivers hate their PAP machines?
it is a scam the only people that feel better is the Dr. that sells it to you and all the people that are making money off of it
I have been on it for 6 mouths and it has done nothing but cost money my sleep has been the worst of my life if you need good but they are shoving this thing down every face
I have taken two sleep studies they were all over the place high and low
just like my daddy said follow the MONEY
Debate continues over CDL training time minimums
never thought in my life I would disagree with the ATA ,are you kidding the more time a student spends BTW the better prepared they are to deal with the problems they encounter on the road
Do your drivers hate their PAP machines?
I have worn a mask for the past 34 years. I do not lie down without putting on the mask. I have found that the Nose Pillows are more effective than the face masks and provide the required assistance during an event. For me that is about 100 per night.
Your April 11 Pre-Trip: What commercial drivers conceal
May 14 of 2016 will be the two year mark since the Medical Card rule changed. Up until 5-14-14, a driver could get a DOT physical from just about any medical professional. On 5-14-14, the rule changed to only Federally Registered Medical Providers can do the checkups.
Now that the last of the " unregistered" DOT physicals are about to expire, be very cautious of a current or new driver who gets his own physical. Make sure that the medical professional listed on the card is on the FMCSA list found on their website as the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners.
You may wish to even call them to verify that your driver DID get his physical there. Drivers who cannot pass a physical may go to extremes to make up a fraudulent card. If they get caught, they will be put OOS and you as a carrier may well be penalized for not checking.
Andy Blair
Do your drivers hate their PAP machines?
First of all I am a driver, getting tested and receiving my CPAP machine was the best thing ever. I now enjoy restful sleep and wake up with energy. The biggest issue that I have found is the difficulty finding machines with a humidifier; then, finding one with a reservoir to hold enough water for the night. Using A/C or heat in the bunk dries the air out terribly. I have an older machine that I use with a large reservoir, but is unable to give reports that are needed for DOT. My newer machine will generate the reports, but needs refilled at least once over night.
How often the OSA test is needed is key, it is expensive and time consuming. I was told that my large tonsils are the cause of my OSA. I cannot understand why a driver would not use this technology to ensure a good nights sleep, but I don't feel that I should suffer through all of the proposed extra steps every year to be certified because of another driver doesn't use his PAP properly.
Truckers skeptical about new driver training proposal
training today is better than ever. You can pull up most anything on the internet and YouTube has some great stuff available.(amongst the junk) Anyone hiring a driver should ask a candidate just what has your training consisted of, when did it happen, can you varify it, and who provided it. A road test of one hour would reveal a lot and a short but useful knowledge test can really help seperate the wheat from the chaffe ! Training should be performance based and not timed based. Carriers should be helpd accountable as to how they vetted a candidate and courts should hold those who didn't to the fire.
Truck parking crackdown spurred by political donor in North Carolina
Sooo, rather than finding a solution, and offering that solution to drivers, you wake them up, and cute them, based on false data corroberation, and send them on their way?? Political donor or no, Look for a Means to provide ample, Safe Parking for truckers, rather than whine and complain, saying, "They're an eyesore". Putting on a B****-fest never solves the problem. Working together towards a better end for all parties, on th other hand, takes initiative, patience, and cooperation. All the ticket - fest by the state police did, was make a bunch of drivers that much more disrespectful of the complaintant, and the police.
Truck parking crackdown spurred by political donor in North Carolina
Regardless of the source or motivation of the crackdown the fact remains that this is an illegal practice which can create a potentially fatal crash.
I have to agree with the highway patrol that even one death is too many when the potential can be avoided by compliance with the law.
I find it curious that the reporter chose to slant the article toward justifying violating the law.
Do Your Pre- and Post- Trip Inspections the Right Way
Great Article!
Truck parking crackdown spurred by political donor in North Carolina
NC should invest in creating some additional parking areas for truckers. They don't park on ramps because it is a great, peaceful place to take their breaks. They park there because there is no other place to park. It's only going to get worse. Maybe those political donors should start a campaign to finance new rest areas by making the first donation!!!
Measuring the cost of weigh station stops
Drivers/companies need to pay attention to their BASIC scores in Safersys.org. When they start to see certain violations / scores on the rise....ACT and do something about it.
One bad inspection is not going to sink the ship but repeated violations will cause scores to climb and make you more attractive to getting stopped. As a former DOT officer, I used the Safersys scores a lot in determining who to inspect. If a company has pretty good scores, I was LESS interested. If they had high scores, THEY were coming in for some quality creeper time.
Diesel, DEF prices stay steady while gasoline spikes
If this is going to keep going on a lot of problems are to arise and I am sure that all this price rise shall also result in a difficult time for average families to survive too. Coz no matter what the salaries are not hiking. :::
These two factors are related to truck crashes but researchers don't know why
"Physically exhausted" is obvious: the driver is nodding off at the wheel, that's not baffling at all.
And neither is it surprising regarding the medical issues found in drivers: 99% of doctor offices do not have weekend hours, and those that do are "doc-in-the-box" or "minute clinic" outfits, that hesitate (sometimes vehemently) to prescribe long-term medications. Bottom line: drivers don't have adequate access to decent medical care; and when you factor in the fact our "weekends" (when we get one, which can be rare) are really just 34 hours long, because the carriers expect us to drive on Sundays to be on site by early Mondays, it follows that no one should be surprised at the atrocious state of drivers' health.
We need better access. We need more time at home, and more time daily, so we can address our stress. 10 hours a day is not enough; nor is 34 hours a weekend. We work hard enough as it is, the HOS rules as they are now make it that much harder for us to take care of ourselves.
New study focuses on timeline and cost of autonomous trucks
What a load. Pun intended.
One more way for the fed to be all up in your business.
Who's liable when someone is killed?
Automate this!
New study focuses on timeline and cost of autonomous trucks
Sorry guys
FMCSA: California trucker an 'imminent hazard' to public safety
This guy is just bad news to be driving anything. I would hope that his intrastate operating privileges would also be revoked to drive anything, much less a CMV.
Financial security and the driver shortage
The trucking industry is relying on millennials to "save the day"? God help us!


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Sarah's Key (Elle s'appelait Sarah) [Blu-ray] (Bilingual)
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An intrepid journalist brings the past to life in this gripping drama. An American based in Paris, Julia Jarmond (Tell No One's Kristin Scott Thomas) has been working on a piece about a French atrocity while planning to move into an apartment that belongs to her husband Bertrand's family. During the course of her research, she finds that 10-year-old Sarah Starzynski (Mélusine Mayance, a sparky presence) lived in the same Marais flat until 1942 when French authorities wrenched Jewish citizens from their homes during the notorious Vél d'Hiver Roundup (Julia's daughter is only a year older). Unbeknownst to anyone but her parents, Sarah locked up her 4-year-old brother in a hidden closet in hopes of returning to set him free him later, but the trio ends up in a transit camp en route to Auschwitz. Sarah will eventually escape, but the years to come will not be easy. In adapting Tatiana de Rosnay's novel, director Gilles Paquet-Brenner, the son of a deportee, moves back and forth between Sarah and Julia, who finds out she's pregnant in the midst of trips to Florence and New York, but Bertrand doesn't share her joy. A French farmer (A Prophet's Niels Arestrup) and a food writer (Aidan Quinn) also figure into Sarah's story, which merges with Julia's as she finds a way to carry on her legacy. Much as in Julie and Julia, the past proves more compelling than the present, though Scott Thomas holds the narrative together with the force of her talent. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
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Generally, movies are not great at capturing the detail and character development of a book - and often the visualization can conflict with the way a reader interprets the event as described in the book. Having said that, the movie Sarah's Key does a very good job of covering the period with context....and keeping the viewer engaged until the end (which ends abruptly and with many questions unanswered). Sarah is highly believable as is her family in the beginning of the film. The actual reporter who covers the story was in fact born in France though in the film/book was made an American who moved to Paris and married a Parisian. This doesn't significantly impact the accuracy of the event but does create an element that could perhaps detract from the core story.
I really can't say more without giving away the outcome of the film but might suggest if you haven't read the book yet....watch the movie and then read the book....which will complete some of the detail left out in the film. This is the reverse of my usual recommendation re: book/film. It is a very compelling film.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
The plot drives you forward with the fascinating and harrowing story of a young girl named Sarah set amidst the round-up of Jews in 1942 France. Sarah's tale is intercut with modern sequences in which Kristin Scott Thomas plays a journalist about to inhabit an apartment once occupied by Sarah's family. Scott Thomas becomes intrigued by the history of the residence as her husband's family acquired the property late in 1942. This leads her to be obsessed in finding out the truth of the those that were forced to give up the apartment. While Scott Thomas is terrific, it is Sarah's tale that really resonates. Sent to the camps, divided from her family, desperate to find her brother--I was captivated, horrified, and excited by her journey. She is a great character leading the viewer on a devastating path. A moment halfway through the story stands as one of the highpoints in film this year. But after that moment, Sarah all but disappears from the film. Instead of being a pivotal lead, she becomes more of an enigma. And the focus shifts firmly to Scott Thomas tracking down the girl. This mystery element is fine, and has its moments, but nothing compares to Sarah's own voice.
The difference between the first half of the film and the second is like night and day. One is a story lived, one is a story told. It is a dichotomy that is also showcased in the novel, but I didn't feel the void left by Sarah's absence so astutely on the page. Melusine Mayance is unforgettable as the young Sarah, and Scott Thomas is at the top of her game. Whether or not you've read the novel, this is an easy recommendation. It is top tier filmmaking for adult audiences. The first hour of "Sarah's Key" is burned into my brain! I would rate the film in two parts: 5 stars for the first half, 4 stars for the second half. So, for me, this ranks at 4 1/2 stars which I will gladly round up for its power and scope. Check it out! KGHarris, 11/11.
The best movie I've seen in 2011 so far is Sarah's Key (2010). This French-English import is one of those little "sleeper" movies that totally surprises you and blows you away when you see it. Sarah's Key has a very emotional core to it that really looks into the human condition from multiple perspectives. And it searches for the "truth" within. This is a movie much in the vein of Schindler's List (1993), The Pianist (2002), The Reader (2008), and The English Patient (1996). It's not exactly "light" fare. But it's also not quite as dark as Schindler's List or The Pianist. I found the weaving of the two main story lines, one past and one present, to be perfect. It's not always easy for a filmmaker to pull together past and present set stories, with actors playing the same character at various ages, but director Gilles Paquet-Brenner found a way to do it brilliantly. And the same can be said for the way he weaves together both French and English languages into the movie. I never felt like I was "working" to follow the dialogue through reading subtitles. Granted, the movie is only partially subtitled. Parts of it are in English and parts are in French.
The story centers around the events of the French round-up of its own Jewish citizens in July 1942. That's right...the French, not the Germans. Of course I'm sure the French were feeling pressure from the Germans during the time. And yet it's hard to overlook the fact that the French were just as guilty of genocide as the Germans and Russians. One can truly understand why there was a "World" war at this time. Sarah's Key is simply sharing another piece of the puzzle that we've been reluctant to look at until recently because of how ugly the puzzle is. The impact of this ugly mindset at the time spreading from country to country across the globe must have been like a virus, gradually infecting each host and getting them from within. The opening scenes with the capture of Sarah's family and their move to an internment camp at Auschwitz are gripping to say the least. Sarah, played brilliantly by young actress Mélusine Mayance, makes a choice on how to save her younger brother from the horrors she anticipates will fall upon them. But that choice has consequences, as we soon find out. I don't want to give too much of the story away, since it is much better to let the movie unfold it for you.
Kristin Scott Thomas plays a modern journalist, investigating this historic incident, while at the same time unravelling a very personal and ironic connection to it. The film does require that you let go of what could be too "coincidental" for reality. But remember, this is a fictional movie at the end of the day, inspired by real events. And movies by their very nature, are contrived to some degree. I never found myself getting lost in my mind thinking about how unrealistic some of the story arcs were. Instead, I simply felt emotionally engaged in the suspenseful and thrilling discovery of all of the secrets that Sarah's Key possesses. And I credit all of the talented artists who contributed to making that possible in this film. The writing, editing, cinematography, production design, acting, music and sound are top notch for this small indie film rumored to be made for less than $10 million. Sarah's Key is an amazing accomplishment for so little money, and a reminder to Hollywood that it's not the size of the budget of a movie that really matters for its quality. To me its the assembly and collaboration of many talented people unified to tell a great story.
There are two scenes that really stand out for me in the film. The first being the opening with Sarah and her brother tickling and giggling with each other under the covers in bed. The director is clearly showing us the innocent fun times of childhood. The camera work there and that little slice of "happy" to start the film with are an incredible contrast to the darker more "adult" tone of the rest of the film. The second scene that really caught my eye is when Sarah and a fellow young female companion are floating in a murky, muddy river, cleansing themselves. Both of these scenes are just small, idealized, dreamy cinematic sequences that on their own, offer needed artistic moments of escape from the story. Within any horrific context, there's always still something beautiful to be discovered and seen if one looks for it. And director Paquet-Brenner shares that.
Music composer Max Richter has created an unbelievably perfect music score for Sarah's Key that not only elevates the film, but is an incredible work to listen to all on its own. The score has mostly a classic sound to it, but Richter also incorporates bits of modern music composition and style as well. It's one of the best film scores I've heard in years. Within the film, the score gives many scenes their emotional gravity, as is typically the case. But something about Richter's music here stands out from the typical score. And you'll know it when you hear it.
I could spend a lot more time discussing the themes, ideas and incredible filmmaking prowess present in Sarah's Key, but I firmly believe in letting movies speak for themselves as well. I've given you a little to chew on and hopefully inspire you to see this film, even though on the surface (or by its book cover), Sarah's Key looks like a "heavy" film. I challenge you to watch it and grab on to it in some manner. It's movies like this that really give cinema its name. And I'm glad to see that we are still making these films, especially within the broader worldwide cinematic context we are now within.
At the end of Sarah's Key, my eyes were red from the tears that flowed throughout the film. And my mind was speechless as I just embraced the very strong emotional connection I felt with the story and the film. I'm personally always looking for movies that can give me that kind of experience. Don't get me wrong, I love the epic, action-filled extravaganzas like Inception (2010) and Saving Private Ryan (1998) as well. But it's small films like Sarah's Key that more often fill my cinematic diet now with the nutrition that I need.
A serious story of the French persecution of their Jewish citizens during WWII, Sarah's Key is an impelling tale of a young girl's struggle with her captivity and the consequences of her actions. Set in Paris in 1942 and 2009, The film switches back and forth between the 1940s and 2000s as the plot develops.
The story is told by an American journalist Julia Jarmond (Kristin Scott Thomas) who in 2009 discovers that her French husband's family bought a dwelling that had been occupied by a Jewish family before the internment. Julia becomes fascinated with the history and resolves to discover the truth concerning the events of 1942.
The Jewish family Wladyslaw and Rywka Starzynski and their children are rounded up by the French police in 1942. The family lost all their possessions, them they were separated and sent to different work camps before being transported to Auschwitz.
Unlike many films about the Holocaust, Sarah's Key does not focus upon the death camps or the killing of thousands of Jews. Instead, this story is about Sarah who locks her little brother in a closet to protect him when the French police come to arrest her father. Unfortunately the police take her and her mother as well and sarah is unable to return home to release her brother from the closet. Sarah becomes focused upon escaping the police so she can rescue her brother.
The film does show some of the initial suffering of those Jews who are arrested by the French. There are several graphic scenes of police brutality and indifference of the general population to the plight of those captured.
Julia Jarmond Kristin Scott Thomas is excellent as Julia Jarmond, and Niels Arestrup is outstanding as the French farmer who aids Sarah. However ten year old Melisine Mayance carries the movie as the young Sarah Starzynski. Mayance is talented and according to her director (DVD special effects) a gifted natural actress.
Sarah's Key is a gripping movie. The story is based upon a best selling novel.
I recommend this film.
The other story, set in 2009, is about an American journalist Julia Jarmond (Kristin Scott Thomas), who, after inheriting the apartment Sarah lived in (the fact Julia does not know), starts investigating the truths about the events that happened about 67 years ago.
Based on Tatiana De Rosnay's book of the same title (which I haven't read), "Sarah's Key" employs a double narrative in which the story goes back and forth in time, and like most double narrative structure, one half of the film is less interesting than the other. I don't think we need the story of Julia, a character we really don't care, despite Kristin Scott Thomas's fine acting for which she was nominated for César.
The real star, or I should say heroine, of the film is Mélusine Mayance playing young Sarah, who has to go through grueling hardships to keep her promise with her little brother. Unfortunately she exits the story a bit too early, and the film slowly loses momentum after that. Why didn't filmmakers focus one story instead of two when they should have known that the film is "Sarah's Key," not "Julia's"?
Those who want to know more about "Vel' d'Hiv Roundup" may be interested in a 2010 French film "The Round Up" (" La Rafle") starring Gad Elmaleh, Mélanie Laurent and Jean Reno.


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Organic SEO Blog
Organic SEO Techniques for Higher Search Rankings
Organic SEO is arguably the most powerful online marketing strategy being used today for most businesses. A successful organic SEO campaign needs to include a combination of various strategies and techniques, including building link popularity, publishing high quality content, establishing keyword relevancy, creating a social media presence, and other organic SEO methods.
Establishing Keyword Relevancy
The success of organic SEO depends on how precisely and strategically keywords are used throughout the site's content. Without unique and high quality content that's properly keyword optimized, it's not only difficult but aimless for a site or blog to rank highly in Google, Yahoo, Bing or any other popular search engine.
Keywords are basically the central focus in which web users submit to search engines to find a particular result. Search engines focus a lot on keyword relevancy and density when crawing, indexing and ranking a site.
Therefore, it's important to ensure precise keywords are used on specific pages of your site, and in balance moderation or density. The right keyword density means a website will appear more natural and relevant to Google without seeming over-optimized. When selecting the relevant keywords, it's a good idea to write down words that are applicable to a site and the related topics.
Creating a Social Media Presence
The benefits of social media have sky-rocketed these days and there is more that is expected with time. Social signals play a role in SEO and achieving a higher ranking and as a result, every business must employ the use of social media and social bookmarking.
Social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Pinterest and many others give webmasters great power to boost their search engine optimization efforts. Through sharing of blog posts across social media platforms, a business is able to gain quality social traffic to their website. If the readers enjoy the content , they can like and share it widely with just a click of the mouse. This increases the inflow of traffic which allows a site to climb to the top of search engine rankings.
Building Link Popularity
Perhaps one of the most effective organic SEO techniques is building and properly maintaining links to a site. There are many ways of achieving this with one of them being exchanging URLs through social media marketing and blogging. In fact, link building contributes more to page ranking than other factors considered by search engines.
Another worthwhile strategy to link building is writing and submitting informative and quality articles to article directories. The articles should contain the keyword and link back to a site's URL. These are natural ways to generate link popularity for SEO while exposing your content to new potential clients. For instance, well optimized surgeons and medical professionals will often publishing in-depth articles related to their specialties and services to educate potential patients.
Optimizing the Website
This organic SEO method serves to increase a site's usability. Through rearrangement a site's architecture and links, pages within a website become easy to find and navigate. By doing this, users can easily find the information they need. Besides, search engines are able to crawl a site and find pages.
A website also needs to be optimized on mobile phones owing to the widespread use of smartphones. Websites that are usable on multiple devices stand higher chances of ranking higher than competitive sites.
Design a SEO-friendly Website
It's not advisable to add too many JavaScript and flash elements given that web crawlers may not be able to index data in flash and JavaScript elements. These components centers on not just SEO, but the grander scheme of web presence optimization. To learn more about SEO-friendly web development and web presence optimization, visit WebPresenceGroup.net.
On application of effective organic SEO strategies, business owners will greatly benefit. However, it's good to take note that these techniques keep on evolving on a daily basis. Ethical techniques generate the most positive results.
5 Tips for Effective SEO Copywriting & Content Marketing
SEO is all about understanding keywords in a particular market and audience, and how to properly apply those keywords to a site's content. While content marketing is producing interesting and valuable content, and distributing it to drive traffic to your business, SEO is more focal to keyword usage and copywriting.
Both are different, but when you combine the two strategies the results would be simply amazing. For SEO and content marketing, effective web content and copy are the junctions. In the processes of writing and optimizing your website content for SEO, the following SEO copywriting tips can prove to be highly effective.
Step 1: Know Your Target Market And Audience
Content marketing makes content to the target market. For an effective SEO content, it is mandatory to know the audience. Then only you can create content and map content. Google Analytics is the best source to find the group of audience for the particular market.
If you have zero experience with Google Analytics, perform a research to familiar with it. Google Analytics gives you the demographics of website traffic and tells about audience. If once you know the audience and their language, you can start writing content for them.
Step 2: Organize Content Strategically Across Your Website
Create a sitemap and content structure for your quality web content. You should group them by theme and organize with main categories and subcategories. it is better to group content with categories rather than dumping them on a single page. When people are redirected to your website from the search results, they are to be engaged and they should like to come again.
So, you need to concentrate more on mapping content and categorizing them. Just imagine the site Amazon without the subcategories.
Step 3: Match Your Content With The Search Results
Search Engine Results Page is important for all main pages. So, optimize it in a most interesting way and that must be exactly matched with readers expectations and search queries. You have to provide rich text to google, then only it will recognize your site as the way you thought.
Find the related keywords for your category. You use the keyword planning tool of Google. It will help you find the keywords surrounding your category and subcategories. Researching keywords is very important to know the reputed Google search queries. You can make use of these keywords to make content belong to your category.
The true method to make your website to come first on search results is creating content that are rich with keywords highly searched. You will get traffic when people search the exact terms. Your website will be given first preference for the search queries. This is the foundation to web presence SEO.
Step 4: Know The Basics Of Formatting On Page Text For SEO
Once you finished your work on creating categories and subcategories and sitemap for your website, then it is the time for thinking about populating each with quality content. If you are maintaining your old website, then rewrite and reformat the content to make it SEO friendly. This is particularly important in doing SEO audits for ecommerce sites Follow the basic tips step but step carefully.
1. Use H! tag for formatting title of the blog post. Search engines search for H1 and H2 tags only. Google easily reads the content and titles that are formatted using H1 header file. All other text must be smaller than header file.
2. You are advised to add introductory text for each content for your page. The page description and keywords along with header is important for engaging readers with your website.
3. Google will consider your site as a high quality site and helps to engage reader with your content.
Step 5: Know Basic Rules For Formatting Images For SEO
It is very important for the effective website content to add images like you add formatted headings for text content. Here I shared the important techniques for optimizing images for your content. This points are originated from SEO blog.
1. Using plain English, create alt description and and an image title for each image.
2. Except the logos, use jpeg or png format images to save load time. Also, adjust the size and quality accordingly.
3. Try to use unique and new images so that visitors can find your site uncommon.
4. Add strong and engaging content for all image captions, if you prefer them.
5. Use each image exactly for which it is defined. For example, don't use logos for infographics.
This is just the tip of the iceberg for effective SEO copywriting and content marketing. Stay tuned here at OrganicSEOCopywriters.com to learn more.
How Content Marketing Can Increase Your Site's Organic Search Traffic
Content marketing is an effective communication strategy that involves the creation, sharing and publishing of content, for the primary purpose of increasing a brand's visibility as well as to build a brand's reputation and web presence.
When done correctly, content marketing can lead to an influx of high-quality inbound links as well as an increase in organic traffic as well. Let's take a look at how content marketing can help to increase organic traffic and some tips to utilize when it comes to formulating an effective content marketing strategy.
Said in simple terms, once you understand what the key components of content marketing are, you will be able to see how it can help to increase organic traffic. You can also leverage content marketing for aspects of SEO, social media, and optimization of your web presence. Therefore, let's take a look at 5 basic steps that an ideal strategy should consist of.
1) Create An Audience Persona
The first thing you need to do is to create your audience personas. This is due to the fact that your content needs to be about things that your ideal audience would love to learn about. As such, before you even contemplate the possibility of creating your content, you need to figure out who you target buyers or audience is. Basically, what kind of person do you want to read your content?
2) Define Your Personas' Common Search Terms
Once you have created your buyer persona, or in essence have gained a good perspective of the type of people that you want to read your content, you need to create a SEO-focused keyword list that is based off your audience's common search terms. Why? Because optimization of your content (or SEO) is how you get organic traffic from content marking. A good rule to remember is this:
- Your target demographic searches for something.
- You create content for which your target demographic is searching.
- With SEO best practice, you brand can get more organic traffic.
3) Determine the Type of Content That Your Persona/Audience Loves The Most
Once you have determined some good topics for content that you can create that relates to your audience's most common search terms, you need to determine the best type of content to utilize to increase engagement. Remember, the type of content that you create should be based off the needs of your audience.
Meaning that, if your audience performs search terms that are related to installing a laptop hard drive, an article may not suffice, but rather a video. Alternatively, if your audience wants to learn about 20 different ways to increase their productivity, they may find an article that they can go back and re-read, to be more valuable than a video.
When it comes to determining the ideal type of content that you should be focusing on, some of the questions you should keep in mind, include:
- What is your audience search for through Google?
- What is your audience's intent behind their searches?
- What are the problems that they are trying to solve?
- Which type of content would encourage them to either, click, stop or consume?
4) Develop A Personality That's Attractive To Your Audience
Every successful brand has their own unique personality and style. If you think about it for a second, you more than likely gravitate towards people who are like you. In the same breath, people will gravitate towards brands, that portray a personality or style of their own.
As such, not only do you need to figure out what your audience needs, you need to figure out how they like it styled. This takes some content marketing creativity but will ultimately help shape your voice and tone in your work.
5) Demonstrate Some Consistency In Your posting Frequency
At this point, you have gained some perspective on who your audience is, what they want and how they are going to receive it. Now, you need to figure out how often this is going to happen. Some tips to consider when it comes to doing just that, include:
- Take a look at "Curata's Content Marketing Pyramid," it can give you some great insight as to how frequently you should be posting, based on your content type.
- Determine how frequently you should be posting based on your audience's behavior, i.e. when are they the most active?
- Create a calendar and schedule your posting.
Conversion-Driven SEO Copywriting Tips for Ecommerce Sites
Writing SEO-friendly page copy can be a creative challenge for ecommerce, but it can also be a fun challenge for some copywriters. Because many poorly-optimized ecommerce sites use product manufacturer copy that's duplicated on many other related sites, the SEO value of their pages is weak. Very weak.
This where the skills of a creative SEO copywriter come into play. This mission behind this professional is to scribe inspiring content that motivates users to take action. In most cases of ecommerce SEO, the desire action is to buy something.
So in this quick post, we're going to fire-off a few conversion-driven SEO copywriting tips that are designed to help ecommerce sites realize greater sales (and of course, greater rankings.)
We love the word "resonate." As an SEO copywriter (in any context) it's paramount that your writing voice matches that of ecommerce brand. Parallel, your writing voice must also resonate with the target market, which is often related to the ecommerce brand.
A good example of this is backcountry.com. The product description copy that they produce is not only unique, but's entertaining. For instance, take a gander the product description copy for backcoutry's Arc'teryx Sidewinder SV Jacket:
Not that's creative copy, and only about 30% of what's actually on the page. Clearly backcountry.com has a nice budget for SEO and copywriting services.
Stoke Emotions
You don't need to be an expert in consumer behavior psychology to understand the emotional appeal that goes into shopping online. You just need to have a bit of empathy and understand the feelings behind a consumer's purchase. This is often best achieved by asking yourself a few questions:
- Is the product I am writing for a NEED or a WANT?
- How does (or will) a consumer identify with the product?
- Is greater status achieved when the product is acquired?
- Does the product provide personal solution?
- Does owing the product impact an individuals personality or outlook on life, love, and happiness?
Stoking the emotions takes going deep. But when done successfully, your ecommerce SEO-friendly copy can be the captivating message that translates into more sales.
Portray "The Goods"
You can write copy that sounds poetic and beautiful, but if it doesn't portray the product's features and benefits ("The Goods,") then it will miss the mark. This where you become more of an ecommerce SEO marketer than a creative.
Showcasing the product specifications, primary features, and benefits is essential when writing ecommerce SEO copy. Bulleted lists are a great way to achieve this. Additionally, use of tables can make conveying such information a bit more organized and easy to absorb. People want to know if the product is going to fit, so don't leave this important element out of the mix.
Are you savvy SEO copywriting with a few pointers to share? We'd love to hear your input about writing conversion-focused content for ecommerce sites. Let us know in the comments below.
Plastic Surgeon SEO: The Importance of Premium SEO Copywriting
A plastic surgeon can be a very highly technical worker who will place a strong focus on many important aspects of a patient's body. It only makes sense that such a person has a website that is designed with care.
Plastic surgeon SEO practices will especially have to work with care, not only make someone easy to find online but also more appealing. Copywriting is one part of a plastic surgeon's SEO work that needs to be managed with care.
Everything Must Be Explained With Care
All of the terms that will be discussed and posted in a copywriting project will need to be covered and understood with care. In particular, the copywriting process must work with the following points:
- Any words that might be confusing to people who are expected to read the copywriting result will have to be discussed and explained as well as possible.
- Surgeon SEO projects must be done by people who understand the many terms that come within the field. A writer needs to understand this in order to have a much easier time with writing something of use.
- The SEO copywriter also has to organize all the content in different sections on the different types of procedures that a surgeon can manage.
SEO for Surgeons Should Be Very Organized
Everything that is involved in the surgeon SEO practice must also be organized with a sensible solution that is very easy to manage. As advocated by surgeon SEO firm, OptimizedSurgeons.com, plastic surgeon SEO practices may work well if the copywriting process is explained with care and is easy to figure out.
The surgeon SEO process must be done with organization as a means of making a site easier to spot on a search engine. This organic SEO practice for surgeons can include a few smart aspects relating to the following features:
- Points on how surgical procedures are carried may be explained to enhance the plastic surgeons SEO campaign.
- Information on how the recovery process and how follow-up appointments work may also be profiled in any surgeon SEO campaign as it offers value to visitors.
- It's best to cover points on the initial visits that patients have too. This is to give people ideas on how different procedures are planned based on one's specific requirements.
The ways how surgeon SEO copywriting processes are to be used by a plastic surgeon for one's website will be important to explore. A good copywriting process is important as it will ensure that it will not be all that tough for anyone to understand the benefits that come with getting in touch with a surgeon like this. After all, the SEO copywriting work that is being done here is to be made in the voice of the professional who is offering certain services to patients.
10 SEO Copywriting Tips for Flawless On-page Optimization
SEO undoubtedly happens to be one of the most effective online marketing strategies, which can enable you to earn top rankings with search engines, enhance your website's visibility, and more to the point drive traffic to it.
However, unlike what some individuals may like to think, this process isn't static and what might have worked yesterday might not work today. This has unfortunately led quite a number of webmasters to get penalties for going around search engine optimization the wrong way.
The following are 10 SEO copywriting tips for flawless on-page optimization. These website optimization tips that will not only help land your company's website top rankings, but also drive help to drive quality traffic to your website.
1. Utilize related keyword, grammatical variations and synonyms
For those who might perhaps be not in the know, Google and most other major search engines use what is known as latent semantic indexing (LSI) approach to effectually associate search results with a user's objectives. This definitely means that by providing alternative or closely related keywords to your main one, you stand a higher chance of landing improved SERPs rankings. This technique also enables you to cast your net wider ensuring that you can easily engage a much broader target audience.
2. Provide solutions to your prospects problems
Most browsers are always on the lookout for products and services that offer viable solutions for their distinct needs and preferences. By taking the initiative to create content that dwells on the provision of credible answers to all the conceivable queries your prospects might have. As well as elaborating on the various facets of your given niche, you can effortlessly earn top rankings and heightening your site's visibility. This naturally drives more traffic to it, which you can convert into leads.
3. Write lengthy, in-depth quality content
It has been firmly proven that the average web pages ranking on Google's first SERP usually goes to content that have a word count of more than 2,000. Additionally, in-depth content in most cases than not, receives more shares and link than short, ambiguous content. So it is a shrewd SEO tactic to create content that comprehensively addresses a given topic and offers valuable information to your readers. This can go a long way in cementing your credibility as a "thought leader" in your niche and of course improve your ranking.
4. Focus on getting more shares and links to your content
The more shares your articles receive, the more they will be referred on authoritative websites (more quality links). This is one of the metrics Google and other search engines use to evaluate the relevance of a website's content. Focus on writing exquisite content that is guaranteed to get shared on all the platforms that matter. This includes authoritative blogs, industry bigwigs sites, newsletters and of course the popular social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Linkedin and so on.
5. Write your content for humans, while still optimizing for search engine "bots"
SEO is a 2-pronged strategy that is geared to spark the interest of potential prospects while also earning credibility with search engines. It can sometimes be very difficult to strike the ideal balance between these two goals. However, at all times always try to create high quality content with natural keyword integration that will effortlessly engage your audience and at the same time earn you top rankings with proper on-page optimization.
6. Pay closer attention to your web pages title tags and meta descriptions
Title tags and snippets (meta descriptions) are the first things Google considers when it comes to indexing web pages. The combination of these two are the first information users see on SERPs. It is consequently extremely important to pay a lot of attention when crafting title tags and snippet, especially keyword integration. This will ensure more people click on your web pages. As most well-informed individuals might readily know click-through-rates (CTRs) are still a significant factor in search engine rankings.
7. Utilize long tail phrases
Long tail keywords have a substantially smaller search volume, but usually draw more focused leads that you can effortlessly convert and even close. If you're SEO niche is highly competitive, then opting for less competitive, highly unique long tails is the way to go. And even if your SEO strategy is targeting short-tail keywords, you can still capture search engine exposure by creatively implementing long-tails in the copy and establishing keyword relevancy on these longer terms.
8. Avoid keyword stuffing, seriously
This happens to be a perennial SEO problem, and to effectually address it, Google and all major search engines continually make algorithms that are designed to weed out content that they deem to try ranking manipulation. As a rule integrate keywords naturally with your SEO copywriting and avoid excessive repetition.
9. Avoid over optimizing link anchor text
Google deems overly optimized links as a positive sign of ranking manipulation, which can lead to penalties. Try to keep your web pages URLs as natural as possible. Use naked, branded URLS and long-tailed phrases. This is critical for proficient SEO and website optimization in today's day in age, as many companies are getting penalized and losing their search engine visibility entirely, which can cripple a company.
10. Make use of Google+
Google+ is destined to play a crucial factor in SEO, and functionalities like author rank will enable Google to associate ranking factors to individual authors, not only the websites that host content. It is prudent to ride with this wave. Setup a Google+ profile, include appropriate authorship markup, claim ownership over all content you post, begin to build author rank as well as become active in your circles. Dong this will in no time earn credibility for all your content regardless of where they are posted.
Stay tuned on our organic SEO blog to learn more great tips for SEO copywriting and website optimization.
SEO-friendly Schema Markup in Simple Terms
Schema markup is becoming quite the rage in the SEO community, as it's becoming an integral element to on-page SEO (even SEO copywriters are adopting Schema into their practice. In essence, Schema markup (which is standardized by Google, Yahoo, and Bing) has been developed to better communicate to search engines what the content of a webpage is all about. In turn, search engines can better understand and interpret the semantics of a page's content, more efficiently.
There are a variety of different HTML tags that make up Schema markup. To delve deep into what all the tags, types, properties, and other elements that encompass Schema markup, visit the official site Schema.org. Here you can learn the in's and the out's of how to integrate Schema for better SEO.
Example of SEO-friendly Schema Markup
The basis of Schema markup is the application of div and span tags, in addition to other specific properties that more precisely define the semantics of a page. Below is a general framework of how we might markup an author attribute or profile:
<div itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/CreativeWork">
<h1 itemprop="about">All About Schema for SEO</h1>
<div itemprop="Author" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Person">
Created by: <span itemprop="name">Billy Bob</span>
Born: <span itemprop="birthdate">December 4, 1986</span>
<span itemprop="genre">SEO</span>
<span itemprop="keywords">SEO, Schema, Ranking Factor</a>
Although all this content is wrapped in these tags, the front-end appearance of this page will look like:
All About Schema for SEO
Created by: Billy Bob
Born: December 4, 1986
Topic of Article:
Diagram, SEO, Ranking Factor
This is can all seem a bit technical and. So it's important to examine each component in order to see how it works:
Itemscope is a shortcode for determining what sort of a thing you are examining about. It typically accompanies the itemtype shortcode which is for labeling your page/passage with reference to what it is about rather than the search engines relying upon the number and position of your catchphrases. In this case, we utilized the itemtype "CreativeWork" on the grounds that my web journal section falls under that class.
Itemprop is a shortcode for distinguishing the properties of that which you have determined an itemtype for. For instance in this code, I recognized what the properties of itemtype Creativework is about utilizing the itemprop="about". In English, we're telling the web index that this page is about CreativeWork and its regarding "All About Schema for SEO."
You could see a few itemprop codes inside this short set of words in light of the fact that we attempted to determine the properties the majority of the itemtypes to the extent that we could. We figured this may have a positive effect on web indexes. The more particular, the better. It's likewise more work. You can have countless itemtypes, itemscopes and itemprops.
Start Using Schema to Improve SEO
Schema can be integrated on online store product pages for better ecommerce SEO, as well as small businesses website for local SEO. The possibilities are quite limitless in apply Schema markup to your SEO practice.
Have you been using Schema markup for SEO? Have you noticed any positive changes in your keyword rankings?
Let us know in the comments section below!
Five Rules for SEO-friendly Web Design
A solid web design is the basic necessity for any business looking to increase its online exposure. Whether the website of a business functions as a presentation of services, an infomediary, or an online store, an SEO-friendly web design is essential to maximize its marketing potential.
Without SEO, even the most visually-appealing, creative, and content-rich websites will not receive the amount of visitors it deserves. For this reason, SEO-friendly web design is critical during the initial stages of development. Below we underscore some of the crucial steps to creating a good website by using the best practices of SEO-friendly web design.
1. Thorough Keyword Research
Any search engine operates on the basis of indexing and searching keywords present on many different websites. Finding the right keywords for any venture and focusing on them in the content means that the search engines will more easily access the site and then more often present it in their search results.
In this step of the web planning process, everyone must balance out the need to go global with the necessity of staying focused on a clear topic. A very broad website that features many different kinds of content will probably receive less attention from the search engines than a website which targets a clear group of topics.
2. Staying Accessible to Search Engines
Many times, a business will be offered a very dynamic and responsive web design, possibly through the use of Flash programing language. Although Flash offers this option, at the same time it brings many problems to the search engine bots (also called crawlers) which automatically index any new website.
If these find parts of the website inaccessible or unreachable (or even the entire website), they will simply leave it, which defeats the entire purpose of the endeavor. Instead, using regular HTML code, even the newer generations like XHTML, will not provide difficult a challenge for the search bots. Ensure your web design is SEO-friendly for crawlers, before having to either go back to the drawing board, or invest in website optimization services.
3. Being Accessible to the Visitors
In the modern world, only a fraction of visitors to any website come through regular desktop or laptop run browsers. A big portion of search engine queries comes from mobile devices like smartphones or tablets. In the coming years this trend will only continue to grow as more and more people start to use them. A website must be designed so that it takes this fact into consideration, and it should be easily accessible on any of these devices to boost its SEO-friendly web design.
4. Integrating Social Media
A modern SEO process must be aware of the incredible potential of the social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, Pinterest and many more. A web page which was shared on these networks will also receive a boost in the search engine rankings due to the fact that it is clearly popular amount large number of users. Having an online infrastructure which easily allows sharing, tweeting or pinning is the necessary base for this important segment of any SEO-friendly web design strategy.
5. Incorporating Rich Media Content
A website is not only built from words. Any successful website also includes images, videos, sound files, or any other kind of rich media content. Although search engines cannot listen to podcasts or watch YouTube videos, they can read their titles, alternative text, links, and descriptions. These should be carefully written and they should also follow the same keyword optimization as the rest of the website.
Today, getting recognized and indexed by big search engines like Google, Bing or Yahoo is of paramount importance. By using these guidelines, any website can greatly benefit from a design that is both appealing to the visitors and very SEO friendly to search engines.
An optimized web presence will produce many possible benefits while a weak one will only provide an illusion of owning something which doesn't fulfill its potential. SEO is one of the key avenues, and a solid web design is the portal.
Why All SEO Copywriters Need to Understand Co-Occurrence
Now more than ever, SEO copywriters must be mindful of the link anchor text they choose. Google is cracking-down on sites that display unnatural anchor text (for both outbound and inbound links.) Even internal links throughout a website should be relatively natural to avoid penalization..
In many cases, SEO copywriters are responsible for site linking and anchor text writing; and only the mindful SEO copywriters will respect the rules of Google Panda and Penguin. The adaptive SEO companies that evolve their core concepts and service principles will thrive.
One concept that should be top of mind for all SEO copywriters is co-occurrence.
Understand Co-occurrence. Re-think On-Page SEO.
Co-occurrence was coined back in 2012 by the grand daddy of Moz.com Rand Fishkin during a Whiteboard Friday presentation. Rand explained the roots of co-occurrence by sharing examples of completely un-optimized websites that ranked highly in Google for competitive keywords. Backlink scans of these websites showed little to no optimized anchor text in the link portfolio.
The reason why these websites rank so highly is co-occurrence - the occurrence of certain (key)words in the text surrounding a link can influence the keyword relevancy of that link.
For example, think of a blog post that mentions the word "auto insurance" several times in one paragraph. There's a completely natural outbound link in the paragraph to another website. Based on the idea of co-occurrence, Google may find the website receiving the link relevant on "auto insurance."
Co-occurrence has create quite a stir among the SEO community. Spanning from local SEO to ecommerce SEO, many different search marketers are being mindful of co-occurrence in their SEO practice.
SEO copywriters in particular need to keep this principal in mind. Rand's compelling evidence makes a strong case about co-occurrence that most definitely influence SEO copywriting best practices.
Why SEO Copywriting Must Never Be Overlooked
SEO copywriting is an underrated yet essential aspect of an SEO campaign. By communicating to both website visitors and search engine spiders, it's the SEO copywriter who balances keyword inclusion with quality and compelling page copy.
Well optimized content instructs a spider on how a website should be indexed, and thus its relevancy to select keyword categories. Just as important, quality SEO copywriting has meaning and value to its readers, and thus attributes to more conversions.
Below we make the argument why SEO copywriting must never be overlooked in your SEO program.
1. Web Copy Lays the Foundation
The central goal of a SEO copywriter is to help a website become more relevant on specific keywords. Creating content in this fashion entails more than just a high volume of keyword inclusion. SEO copywriting is an art of acute planning, structuring, and writing.
The SEO copywriting process begins with breaking down a website, and determining the insides pages that are "optimizable" with respect to certain keyword objectives. Those keywords that cannot be optimized internally may be appropriate as new pages to expand upon, or covered through other online mediums.
Page structure is also essential, such as using a balance of header 1's and header 2's, along with strong tagging and cross-linking with perfect anchor text. These minute details go under-appreciated in the SEO profession. But often times, a robust and informative page with 300 words (or more) of well-structured copy will always have an upper hand.
Well researched and well executed copywriting can present a website to the search engines with precise keyword targeting. Just take a gander at the "Keywords" tab in your Google Webmaster Tools. Keyword relevancy via content is the foundation to SEO. As a result, further optimization efforts, such as link building and content marketing, are way more effective.
2. Strong SEO Copywriting Converts Visitors
Unlike well-versed SEO companies that staff in-house copywriters, often times many SEO firms choose to outsource their copywriting are often delivered the "fluff" content. That is, poorly optimized copy that rants on and on - a group of empty sentences that simple state what is and never seem to get very creative or very specific.
The difference between the "fluff" copy and really awesome copy are words that speak to specific audience through the voice of a specific brand. Great SEO copywriters highlight the unique features and benefits, and communicate creatively to the market. They also write with stealth keyword inclusion.
Conversion-driven copywriting is the result of diligent research and brand immersion. This includes learning about the business and its unique selling propositions, as well as exploring the competition and determining the ideal course of action. Before a SEO copywriter starts writing, it is essential he or she understand how competitive, and thus feasible certain keywords targets are. Good copywriters are able assess the overall strength and keyword potential of a website to gauge the plausibility of achieving a high ranking.
3. Title & Meta Description Prowess
The third reason why SEO copywriting is King derives from the Page Title and Meta Description. These critical elements make up the search listing that users see after submitting a keyword query. In short, the Title and Meta Description serve as the ad copy that sells the webpage.
Tailoring an awesome Page Title and Meta Description is a craft. Only 72 characters of the Page Title are displayed in Google's results, so it is vital to respect both keyword inclusion and the essence of the message.
There are no defined rules to writing the ideal Page Title, however the better SEO copywriters will agree that a concise, compelling, and keyword-friendly title is best. Like tailoring a headline for an article, the central purpose of a Page Title is to define the page in few words.
Meta descriptions are just as important because they supplement users with more information about the page and help support a great Page Title. Solid descriptions hint at what the page is about and how the page can benefit its target audience. And with more room to write, SEO copywriters are able to pitch their listing with additional creativity and allure.
4. Double-Stacks Deliver an Impact
Although overlapped into technical SEO, one of the most powerful tools in SEO copywriting is internal cross-linking. Especially for large websites, such as ecommerce stores with multiple product categories, cross-linking relevant webpages can work magic in the search results.
When two highly keyword-relevant pages are cross-linked with the proper anchor text, the results can display a "double-stack" in the search results. This is when to two listings of the same domain are shown together. A double-stack is significant because it doubles your search exposure while reducing that of your competition.
Although double-stacks are somewhat unpredictable, there are a couple of SEO copywriting techniques that help promote such results. Typically, the two pages being cross-linked must be highly relevant to one-another and the website as whole.
The Takeaway
Before unleashing your organic SEO campaign, make it priority to ensure that the copy is spot-on. This means choosing the right keyword phrases and including a proper balance of those keywords in the copy. It also means choosing the right help, and not making the mistake of buying fluff content.
If you plan to optimize your own website, take the time to research highly relevant keywords as well as the competitiveness of each. Targeting overly-competitive keywords that simply sound attractive may be a wasted effort.
Lastly, be mindful of your target audience when you construct your content. Always write with a purpose and always write with a direction.


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Indexing Education
HotChalk promises to provide the online numbers. INTERVIEW | by Victor Rivero Their own company numbers are pretty astounding. Now they're spreading the number love. Founded in 2004, HotChalk is one of the leading providers of free education content on … Continue reading
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Two charged in deer poachingOctober 10,2012Two charged in deer poaching
ROYALTON Two men were charged for deer poaching in Royalton recently.
Mikel Brady of Randolph and Joshua Hill of Bethel, both 23, shot at a decoy deer on Oct. 5, police said Tuesday. They face charges of taking deer in closed season, taking deer by illegal means and possession of a loaded rifle in a motor vehicle.
According to police, the gun was shot and discarded in the woods before Brady and Hill drove away. Vermont Fish and Wildlife officials tracked down Brady, Hill and a 15-year-old juvenile and searched the truck. No gun was found but Vermont Fish and Wildlife officials said that Brady called his brother to retrieve the firearm. The gun was located nearby along a road a short time later.
Brady and Hill face fines up to $1,000 per charge, 60 days in jail and a three-year suspension of licenses to hunt, fish and trap in Vermont.
To report poaching call 800-752-5378 or visit www.vtfishandwildlife.com.MORE IN This Just In
MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury Police arrested Ronald Bean, 52, on two counts of... Full StoryMore than 26,000 people were without power when severe thunderstorms rolled through the state in... Full Story A Rutland man was allegedly drunk and playing Pokémon Go when he crashed his... Full Story
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Cardinal Bernard Law resigned as archbishop of Boston and begged forgiveness from the people who were hurt by his "shortcomings and mistakes" in repeatedly covering up for pedophile priests. The archdiocese may file for bankruptcy to protect itself from the many lawsuits filed by people who were molested by men of God. Henry Kissinger resigned from the independent commission investigating the September 11 attacks because he was unwilling to reveal the names of his clients. Trent Lott apologized at least four times for saying that the country would have been a lot better off if Strom Thurmond had been elected president in 1948, when he ran on a platform opposing the "social intermingling of the races." The national media suddenly realized that Lott had been saying things like that for years, and hasty surveys of his legislative record revealed many, many votes against civil-rights measures or anything that could be so construed. Yasir Arafat denounced Osama bin Laden and told him to stop using Palestine to justify terrorism. Al Gore declared that he will not run for president in 2004. Jimmy Carter smiled very widely as he received the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo and blew a kiss to soprano Jessye Norman, who sang songs in his honor. Carter noted in his speech that "the world has changed greatly" since he left the White House. Marvel Comics revealed that it will publish a comic book with an openly gay character named the Rawhide Kid. Argentina granted legal status to homosexual couples. Britain proposed to grant transsexuals the right to marry under their chosen sex. A British vicar told a church full of young children that Santa was dead and that reindeer would burst into flames if they traveled fast enough to deliver presents to children all over the world. American non-Christians told pollsters that evangelical Christians are better than prostitutes but worse than lawyers or lesbians.
Iraq was upset that the United States took possession of the only copy of its weapons declaration that was given to the United Nations Security Council; Norway and Syria, nonpermanent members of the council, complained that they would receive only edited versions of the document. The U.S. warned that it reserves the right to use nuclear weapons on Iraq if necessary. President Bush said that North Korea's plan to restart a nuclear plant was "unacceptable" but for some reason did not threaten to invade the country or carry out a "regime change." Scientists said they could detect early signs of schizophrenia in brain scans. New polls in South Africa revealed a growing nostalgia, even among blacks, for apartheid. Congressional Democrats said that the 2000 census missed 6 million people, including 1.2 million Hispanics and 750,000 blacks; the census also counted 3 million people twice. Several major Western museums issued a statement defending their right to keep antiquities stolen from other civilizations during colonial times. Archaeologists named a dinosaur after Michael Crichton, the author of Jurassic Park; the beast will be known as Crichtonsaurus bohlini.
President Bush selected John W. Snow, a railroad executive who used to work in the Ford Administration, to replace Paul O'Neill, the former Ford official whom he fired last week, as secretary of the treasury. A newspaper columnist reported personal information about John Poindexter, the Iran-Contra conspirator in charge of the Pentagon's Total Information Awareness project, including his private phone number, his address, the amount he paid for his home, and the fact that it is covered with artificial siding; others then posted satellite photos of Poindexter's home on the Internet, and hackers posted details about his local Verizon telephone switch. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was thinking about launching a propaganda campaign aimed at friendly countries. Russia's Interior Ministry announced new rules requiring police officers to go door-to-door as part of a "getting to know you" campaign; the officers will do so every three months, and they will collect "social, economic, and demographic" data on residents, whose participation will be voluntary. Two Spanish warships intercepted a shipment of Scud missiles from North Korea off the coast of Yemen; American forces confiscated the missiles but later had to give them back after the president of Yemen called Dick Cheney and complained. The Pentagon's missile defense system failed another test. Cherie Blair, the wife of the British prime minister, was the subject of a massive media scandal involving her "lifestyle adviser," a former topless model, and the adviser's ex-con husband. The British government proposed fining the parents of children who play hooky. There was a movement afoot in Austria to stamp out Santa Claus. North Korea denounced the new James Bond movie and said that America is "the headquarters that spreads abnormality, degeneration, violence, and fin-de-siecle corrupt sex culture." The announcement also declared that America is "the root cause of all disasters and misfortune of the Korean nation." A policedog in St. Petersburg, Florida, bit off a robbery suspect's penis. Thousands of gentoo and Magellanic penguins were found paralyzed and dying on the beaches of the Falkland Islands. Canada ratified the Kyoto Protocol. Fish fell from the sky in northern Greece.
More from Roger D. Hodge:
From the October 2010 issue
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In Havana, the past year has been marked by a parade of bold-faced names from the north — John Kerry reopening the United States Embassy; Andrew Cuomo bringing a delegation of American business leaders; celebrities ranging from Joe Torre, traveling on behalf of Major League Baseball to oversee an exhibition game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban national team, to Jimmy Buffett, said to be considering opening one of his Margaritaville restaurants there. All this culminated with a three-day trip in March by Barack Obama, the first American president to visit Cuba since Calvin Coolidge in 1928. But to those who know the city well, perhaps nothing said as much about the transformation of political relations between the United States and Cuba that began in December 2014 as a concert in the Tribuna Antiimperialista.
Estimated temperature of Hell, according to two Spanish physicists ' interpretation of the Bible:
Department of Applied Physics, University of Santiago (Santiago, Spain)
The ecosystems around Chernobyl, Ukraine, are now healthier than they were before the nuclear disaster, though radiation levels are still too high for human habitation.
A TSA agent in Seattle was arrested for taking up-skirt photos of women in the airport, a Maryland police officer was arrested for taking up-skirt photos of an off-duty colleague, and the Georgia Court of Appeals ruled that taking up-skirt photos is legal in the state.
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"Matt was happy enough to sustain himself on the detritus of a world he saw as careening toward self-destruction, and equally happy to scam a government he despised. 'I'm glad everyone's so wasteful,' he told me. 'It supports my lifestyle.'"