Your Child’s Preschool: Getting the Kids’ Backpacks is the Easy Part!

The first laugh, first step, first tooth… If you’re like most parents, your child’s newborn and toddler years flew by faster than you could have imagined. At the age of about three, your child is considered a “preschooler” and can be encouraged to start learning in a classroom setting. Choosing a preschool can be a complicated task; it may be the first time your child will be away from you for longer periods of time, or you may not know what you want in a preschool.  Preschool may be the first time your child will get a chance to learn in an educational setting and may be the first time that your little one is in someone else’s hands for longer periods of time. It is important to try and choose the right environment for your child – not only from an educational standpoint, but also a social one as well. Here are 10 Steps to choosing the right environment for your preschooler. 

Step 1: Start your research early! Most preschools start registration in January or February before the school year starts. You should start doing your research a couple of months before that deadline so you have a chance to find the appropriate school.

Step 2: Make a list of the attributes you would like your child’s preschool to have. Mainly, think about what kind of learning environment is most important to your family. Many preschools focus on learning through play, while others focus on a more traditional educational approach. Some schools incorporate a bit of both, while others are more extreme in their values systems, like the Montessori schools. None of them are better than the other, it is simply a matter of what suits your child’s personality the best. (It’s always good to include a couple of schools that do not teach based on the method you think you prefer, just to compare.)

Step 3: Make sure the price is right! It is pre-school, not college so make sure the monthly fees for the preschools on your preliminary list are within your family’s budget. Some preschools are more expensice due to the cost and use of learning materials, while others are less expensive but run as a “co-op” (parents are expected to volunteer their time to help clean, make snacks and organize events.) The price should never be the determining factor but you definitely have to factor the costs in as it will be a consistent charge for two years.

Step 4: After you have made a list of preschools that “fit the bill”, schedule visits with them. Ask if you can bring your child and sit in for a partial or even a whole class. Use this time to observe the way the teacher interacts with the class and how the class responds. Your child may be a bit shy at first, but ask yourself if you can actually se your child forming a good relationship with the teacher. Also take not of the class sizes – smaller class sizes can be beneficial but can also take away from the socialization aspect of the school.

Step 5: Talk to the Director or teacher about their disciplinary tactics. Many parents forget to ask about this and then later find that they disapprove of the teacher’s methods.

 Step 6: Review a list of the preschool’s policies:

• Are children allowed to use the bathroom whenever they need to go, or are there set times?
• Are children required to wash hands, use hand sanitizer before and after snacking?
• What is the sick-child rule?
• Are snacks built in to the fees?
• Is there an emergency evacuation plan?
• Is there any mention of religion at the school? If so, how heavily focused is the program on this topic?
• What are the end goals the teacher hopes to achieve in two years?
• What is the school’s policy on reporting problems or achievements to parents?

Step 7: While on your tour, take a look at the organization of the class. Even play-based programs should be well structured and have a fairly strict schedule. Children so well when given routine activities on a consistent basis.

Step 8: After visiting the facility, think about the big picture and whether or not your child (and future preschoolers) will thrive in the environment. Don’t forget your involvement either; will Mom and Dad thrive? Parents are often expected to have at least a bit of involvement with the school as well so make sure it is a good fit for everyone. Weigh all of the benefits and flaws out together and see what cancels what out.

Step 9: Call references that the school has given you and ask around to friends, family and neighbours to see if they have comments that are positive, negative or anything at all to say about the schools.

Step 10: As always, parents should trust their instincts. If a school looks like the right fit on paper but you’re still getting that “not-quite-right” feeling then don’t enroll your child there!

Preschool is a time for learning, exploration, social development and fun. Choosing your preschool should be about the same experience. Finding an environment where your little one can grow stronger every day will help them gain the independence and knowledge that they need to flourish in the coming years.

Lilly Gordon is a freelance writer and web publisher. She is a Mom of two and is an expert on preschool, kids backpacks and all things children!

From Web Design to PPC: Online Marketing Tools Every Business Needs

Marketing strategies will play a huge part in every company’s success. That’s why it’s recommended that businesses large and small create a marketing plan. But what tools are the most successful? Which strategies get you noticed? For every product, service and organization, it varies. Tools and strategies should be chosen based on the goal of the plan; but there are 5 online marketing tools that are guaranteed help make every company’s plan pop and ultimately help reach those end marketing goals. A good web design, newsletters and more will reach your target audience and get your message across.

1.       Website: A necessary marketing tool in the new millennium, websites are crucial to the success of most businesses now. As a good portion of shoppers make their decisions based on online research, if your web site doesn’t have the information to help those visitors make their decisions, your company might not get a second glance. Having a URL isn’t enough – a good web design is the best route to take. Clean, streamlined information-packed sites will give you a leg up on the competition. Make sure your site is easily navigable and has a call to action; whatever your goal is for visitors should be easy to see.

2.       Social Media: This encompasses Facebook, Twitter, YELP, LinkedIN, Hunch and more. Companies should create their free accounts and use these tools to manage their online images, as well as promoting products, spreading company news and gathering informal market research. Day by day these companies grow and become more important to online visibility… 400 million Facebook users are registered – a global audience for companies and products galore.

3.       Blog: These tools can be touch and go but offer genuine sounding boards for company news and ideas – not only for business owners, but also for employees, customers, industry affiliates, potential customers and more. A company blog offers value for website visitors and can be incorporated by website designers quite easily to most sites. There are also free blog sites that offer the chance for smaller companies to promote company’s mission and valuable information month after month, providing followers with industry information in a more casual way.

4.       Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Ads: These ads generally work better than tradition print ads for three reasons:

·         Companies pay only when the ads are clicked on.

·         The ads link directly to the company’s website.

·         The ads are extremely targeted.

Using platforms such as Google and Facebook, you can direct your ads at people in the demographic that you choose and ensure that they see it every time they do a web search. The demographical information is based on the shopper’s surfing trends that these companies collect. Having fine-tuned these algorithmic tools, you can bet on a good return rate.

5.       Email Newsletter: Newsletters are still great tools for information dissemination. Although the paper versions are out of fashion, the email version is right on track with most companies’ marketing goals. A monthly newsletter will keep your patrons, website visitors and potential prospects informed, engaged and entertained. A good web design will include email newsletters directly on the company site as well as downloadable versions for site visitors.  Be sure to have an easy-to-use (and see) sign-up form as well.

Making use of these 5 online marketing tools is a company’s best bet for success. Using them in tandem and to the best of your abilities will enable you to provide not only value to your visitors, clients and audience, but also for your company as well.

Lilly Gordon is a freelance writer and web publisher. She is well-versed in online marketing and is currently researching Edmonton website design and Edmonton web designers.

5 Tips for a Great Web Design

Let’s face it – if you don’t have a website, you may as well be yelling out “Yabba-Dabba-Do!” Actually scratch that – even Fred Flintstone has his own site these days. But having a website doesn’t guarantee a great conversion rate. To try and flip those website visits to sales or potential sales, you need a great web design. And to have a great web design, you need to practice some basic tips so your website can go from Bedrock to “punk rock” in no time.

Tip 1 – Layout: Make sure your layout is consistent and uses well-defined white space. Every page should have the same feel and be streamlined – no clutter allowed. The header and footer of the page can remain the same on all pages to provide visitors with a reminder that they are still on your site no matter which link they click. Also, try to use fonts that are normally installed on most computers. Make sure your site is viewable from any browser, at any resolution. Your business’ branding and logos should always be an integral part of the planning.

Tip 2 - Usability: Your website design should be easy to use and navigate. The sitemap should be simple and clearly named. Also, using breadcrumbs (leaving a navigational trail) for your users is key – that way they can get back to a previous page without getting confused. Make sure to put the most popular links front and center. Also, design a custom 404 page for those who get a little off-track on your site. A custom 404 page has the ability to keep people on your site and direct them back to another starting point. Your social media accounts should be linked to your site as well with icons that are prominent on at least the home page; this makes it easier for visitors to connect with your company on different platforms.  One thing that many companies seem to forget are the header and footer of the site: put the company’s main contact info in there so people don’t have to search for it. If you have Flash components, make sure they can load properly and quickly.

Tip 3 – Optimization: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is often put on the backburner for a web design when in fact it should be done in tandem. You could have the greatest site in the world but if no one can find it then it’s not going to be effective in any way. Optimization can be done during website design or after – it’s never too late! Your company will need to have search terms pinpointed for its target audience and then incorporate these terms into the copy and the metatags and page title tags so Google will take notice (fingers crossed).

Tip 4 – Copy: If your website doesn’t send a message, it’s not worth it’s domain fee. The copy on your website should be streamlined, targeted and able to get your company’s message across. It should also give visitors a clear direction of what you want them to accomplish while visiting your site; this is the “call to action”. Whether you want people to read the blog, contact the company or buy your product, you need to have it clearly stated on your landing pages. Beyond simply selling, your copy should reflect the company’s style and branding as well.

Tip 5 – Testing: Testing a website and the elements of the site (like those tricky Flash animations) are one of the most crucial stages of web design. Unfortunately most companies skip this step and launch their sites with broken links, animations that won’t load and checkout forms that won’t process. If you don’t take the time to test, it will cost you visitors in the long run. Even if you’re behind schedule a bit, push your launch date back until everything is near perfect.

Web design isn’t rocket science, but it’s come a long way in the past few years.  The number of websites on the internet guarantees that your company’s site has to be well designed, well structured and well tested. After all, if Fred and Barney can learn to propel a car with their feet, then your company can achieve a kick-butt web design that doesn’t crash every time it loads… Right?

Lilly Gordon is a freelance writer and web publisher. She is well-versed in online marketing and is currently researching Edmonton website design and Edmonton web designers.

Insurance Broker vs. Insurance Companies: Are There Advantages?

Insurance is a necessary purchase – not one that you can take weeks to consider or simply decide not to make. It is a kind of protection against unseen forces –those that can bring a homeowner or company to their knees in an instant. Many people rush out to find the most publicized, well advertised insurance agencies – searching for the lowest rate possible. While this can save some stress on your wallet, it may not give your family or your business the best coverage, or the best service. Insurance Brokers on the other hand may be a better option; especially for those who are first time insurance buyers or for smaller companies. 

When most people purchase insurance through a company, they are promised lower rates, better service and consistent payment reductions due to “good behavior”. This is especially true for car insurance and motorcycle insurance. But unfortunately, the reality is, unless a change comes down the pipes that will affect all insurance holders, this will probably not happen. Customers have to be ever-vigilant over their policies and hound agents and companies to lower their rates. Brokers on the other hand, have a more personal relationship with their clients, and because of this their customers often benefit from better service and much better knowledge about the insurance industry in general. 

Also stemming from this more intimate relationship is the ability to have a policy that’s tailored especially for you. Insurance brokers are committed to finding the best options for their customers – it’s their purpose. (That’s not to say that brokers aren’t out to make cash –they need to eat too.) In fact, independent brokers usually charge an admin fee on top of the rates. Larger insurance companies can often promise rates so low potential clients get so impressed they sign on the dotted line without a second though… but at what cost? Some of the policies are so basic your home, vehicle or company wouldn’t stand a chance recouping any losses.

Larger companies’ lower rates can also lead people to believe that they have an advocate in their agent. Unfortunately, agents tend to be more experienced with the administrative side of policies and the insurance industry; rather than looking for the best options for their clients, while brokers are required to have a license which generally comes with more education and experience. Brokers will ensure that your home insurance, auto or commercial insurance policies are thorough and correct. 

If ever you have to put in a claim through your agency (which most of us have to do at some point) you may find that speaking to the people at the “National Office” or the call centre employees just doesn’t cut it. An insurance broker, on the other hand, lives right in your city, maybe even your community, and has the time to sit down and make sure you are taken care of with compassion and speed.

Yes, there are advantages to a large insurance company or an agent who works for one: you’ll be promised a dirt cheap rate, and you just may be lucky enough to qualify for one. But you’ll never speak to the same person twice, and probably never figure out what your policy covers exactly. An insurance broker is there to be an advocate and to make sure that you’re back is covered, no matter what.

Lilly Gordon is a freelance writer and web publisher. She is currently researching Commercial Insurance and insurance brokers in Alberta.

Home Insurance Claims: Help, my house flooded – now what?

Home Insurance is a necessary purchase. It provides a sense of protection, even for the protectors of the house. It’s a special message that says “Don’t worry; we’ve got your back.” But what happens when there’s an accident… the hot water tank blows up, the basement floods, there’s too much rain…?  What do you do after the flood? Most policy owners don’t read or even look at their policies before there’s a claim to make. When that time comes will you know what to do?

Step 1: Don’t Panic. Accidents in the home can be life threatening. After your family’s safety is ensured - it’s time to take a step back and realize that your home is a structure, the possessions are only material objects. If you’ve had a bad flood, it’s important to take stock of what is there. If you’ve had a smaller-scale accident, take heart in the fact that you will most likely be replacing some old items and try to salvage what you can.

Step 2: Do whatever you have to do to stop the damage from spreading (without putting yourself in harm’s way). Don’t pile wet items on dry carpet or leave the damage to get worse – turn the water off, etc. . . After the immediate brouhaha is over –don’t touch anything… It’s time to make a phone call. 

Step 3: Call your insurance broker, pronto. If you do not have a broker, call the local rep from your company.  This is the time to chat about your deductible and decide whether or not you want to make a claim. Take a really good look at the damage… most deductibles are $500 - $1000.

Will you have to:

·         Replace carpet?

·         Replace damaged items?

·         Repaint?

·         Fix structural damage?

·         Replace drywall?

If you have answered “yes” to any of the above questions, it is wise to pay the deductible and get the help you need to resolve any issues. Even if you have to dry out your carpet rather than replace, you will still need new underlay and professional drying equipment. Consider the damage, repair and labour before you decide not to make the claim!

Step 4: Record the Incident. Before the restoration crew or insurance broker comes to your house to take stock of the damage, get your digital camera out and snap pictures of everything was damaged by the surprise flood. Make a list of the possessions damaged by the water, but don’t move anything. Insurance claims usually include the service of packing and moving your possessions and that includes damaged items.

Step 5: Be fair and fill out all of the necessary paperwork in order to not only have your house back to the way it was, but also to replace items that may have taken a hit. Don’t pussyfoot around –you pay a high price every month for insurance, and this is when you’re extremely glad you do. On the same note, don’t be greedy. Insurance brokers and companies will be fair but they will not re-do your house for nothing! Also, make sure that the restoration company involved has direct contact with the insurance company and knows exactly what they will and will NOT cover. 

Step 6: Sit back and enjoy the fact that someone else is doing the work! For the minimum price of a deductible, you can have a new room, new basement or new floor! At least take heart in that and maybe consider a change of paint colour or flooring. Always wanted hardwood instead of carpet ? This may be the time to switch – the flooring company will find your previous floor cover and match the price – you only have to pay the difference.

Step 7: After the work has been completed, take a walk around and look at the quality of what has been done. If you are not 100% satisfied with the work, do not sign off on it. It is the restoration or construction company’s job to make things look good and do the job properly. Don’t be afraid to say “Can you please touch this up?” 

Every claim process is a bit different, and every situation is unique. A minor flood is a stressful situations to have to go through, especially if you have personal items damaged in the process. Remember that all will be well again, with the help of your insurance broker, your restoration company and some patience!

Lilly Gordon is a freelance writer and web publisher. She is currently researching Edmonton Insurance Brokers.