Submitted by: Glenn VanLand

A starter drum set can be an ideal investment for anyone who is preparing for purchase. Although there are all kinds of products on the market, you may feel quite constrained budget wise, if you have not considered a starter set. These sets provide you with a full drum set without the big price tag that is normally associated with purchasing these units. Best of all, they look awesome, work great and they give you the appeal you are after. Why should you consider a starter drum set over a larger, fuller set?

It is your first set, it doesn’t need to be a full drum set. Starter drum sets have plenty of the pieces, features, and qualities you’ll find in a full set. But it will also be more affordable, easier to play, and more appropriate especially if its for a young child or toddler. Starter drum sets are better than ever, with a greater selection and excellent quality, and should definitely be something you consider if buying your first drum set.

No matter if you are purchasing a drum set for a child or yourself, the initial investment may be holding you back. It is expensive to buy a full drum set right out the door. The question that you may not like it or that your child may not like it, holds many back from investing in the set. More so, it can be difficult to learn that after a couple weeks of owning that large, professional set that your child does not want anything to do with it.

On the other hand, if you purchase starter drum sets instead, you do not have nearly the risk involved. Drum sets are not cheap instruments. If you are buying a drum set for a child, you’re not real sure if it something they are going to like (there’s really no way to know). It only makes sense to want to find ways to make a less risky investment, if only to make it more comfortable to make a junior drum set purchase.

A starter drum set is less costly. This means a lower initial outlay of money on your part, for those “what if” situations you cannot forecast. It provides your child or you with the ability to select the type of drum set that you desire. For example, a variety of versions are available to accommodate any requirement you may have. You can still improve from having the starter drum set for instructional use. It is a fully functional set, just without many of the bells and whistles of the larger, full configuration drum kits.

Are you sure, they will play? Are you confident that what you are buying is the best drum set for you? If not, a starter drum set really can minimize the risk to you. Keep in mind that these drum sets are not any less functional. They possibly aren’t the name brand you’re familiar or have all of the features of other models, but they are well-designed, high quality drum sets that definitely are excellent instruments for learning to play.

Is a starter drum set the right thing for your child? Chances are it is, especially if they have never drummed before or if you desire to keep the budget low until you are sure they love drumming. Let their true drummer out without breaking the bank.

About the Author: The author owns the

FirstDrumSets.com

website where parents and new drummers can find, learn about, and buy their first

Child Drum Set

.

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byadmin

Although Driveway Paving In Middletown CT is often contracted, it is a chore than can be done by the DIY enthusiast. It is not an overly difficult job, however, it may be dirty. If you elect to seal your own drive, here are a few pointers that may come in handy:

Choose the right time: You will need to keep your eye on the weather forecast, the temperature should hover from 70 to 90 degrees F and the temperature should stay that way for at least three days; the day before the sealing, the day of the sealing and the day after. Not only should the temperature have ideal temperature, there should be no rain during these three days.

Prepare the driveway: The driveway, to look excellent after sealing must start right. Before attempting driveway sealing in Middletown CT, make sure that any and all weeds that may be growing through the drive are completely removed and the drive is power washed clean from any small stones and dirt. Once the drive is clean, you will be able to spot any cracks or holes, these cracks need to be filled. If your drive is concrete, then mix as must cement as required and fill the cracks. If the driveway is asphalt, get a cold patch kit at the hardware and apply it on the cracks. Cold patch is ideal as there is no need for a heat source.

Choose the sealer: This is one place where price really does count. The very high quality sealers will cost more, but in the long run, actually work out to cost less. When doing Driveway Paving In Middletown CT, look for a sealer that promises the longest life, and guarantees it. The pail that the sealer is packed in gives the approximate coverage per coat, once you have determined the area of your drive and any other surface to be coated, determining the amount of sealer to purchase is easy.

Application: There are sealers that say they do not need to be stirred, stir them anyway. Starting at the garage door, pour a puddle of sealant on the drive. Using a squeegee as well as a stiff brush, spread the puddle to the largest area possible. Two coats are superior to one thick coat so spread it as far as possible in anticipation of the second coat.

As you are working, look at what you have done repeatedly. By looking at your work from different angles, you can assure that the coating is the same all over the drive. If there are any spots that you missed, they will show up as you review your work.

When it’s done, keep cars, people and pets off the drive for about 24 hours and then keep your car off it for a week to allow for complete curing.

To eliminate all the work of doing your own driveway sealing in Middletown CT, contact the professionals at Sullivan Paving Co., Inc. They have the skills, the people and the right sealer for a long lasting job.

Submitted by: Rich Brooks

With the New Year right around the corner, we often resolve to improve our behavior, health, or personal relationships. Let me tell you, you’re wasting your time. I’m OK, you’re OK.

It’s our Web marketing that’s a mess.

We’ve got out-of-shape Web sites, directionless Web marketing, and we’re lost at the search engines.

It’s time to stop worrying about self-improvement and start worrying about Web marketing-improvement!

While every business has different goals and needs, please consider these twelve items in creating your own Web marketing plan for next year. Rearrange the order to fit your own schedule in 2006.

January: Set up a Web marketing budget.

I know, this is your favorite part: the budget. However, once you’ve decided how much money you plan on spending quarterly or monthly, deciding

what

to spend your marketing dollar on becomes much easier. You’ll also want to

carve out some time

for your Web marketing endeavors. After all, a lot of the following to-do’s are more about time than money.

February: Audit your Web site (beginner.)

Often we’re surprised or dismayed at the material that’s on our Web site: bios of ex-employees, links to sites that no longer exist, a 2001 pricelist. Spend some time reviewing the content on your Web site and get rid of anything that’s out-of-date or no longer expresses who you are. Nothing turns off prospects faster than a neglected Web site.

March: Audit your Web site (advanced.)

Review your traffic reports and decide if your navigation needs to be updated. Maybe certain parts of your site are getting a lot of traffic and should be further promoted on the home page. If other sections or pages are being ignored they may need to be removed…or promoted. Fill out all the Web forms (contact, search, etc.,) and read the “hidden text” that appears on landing pages. Rewrite the copy that seems dated or incorrect.

April: Start reading blogs in your industry.

Download a newsreader (I recommend NetNewsWire for Mac users) or set up a free account at Bloglines. To find blogs in your industry you can do searches at Technorati or check out BlogCatalog among others. Make sure you’re reading the blogs of your competition

and your clients.May: Start your own blog.

You knew that was coming, right? Blogs are becoming an important, perhaps essential, part of business communications. No matter the size of your organization, a blog can be a great way to connect with your clients…and your clients-to-be.

June: Subscribe to your competitors’ email newsletters.

This is a fantastic (usually) free resource of advice that is targeted towards your clients. Shouldn’t you know what your competition is recommending? Maybe they know something you don’t!

You probably know many of your competitors already and can visit their Web site to see if they offer an email newsletter. However, you can Google “

your industry

+ email newsletter” to find some ezines that are new to you. (You should also be reading your clients’ newsletters as well; you can’t know too much about their business.)

July: Start your own email newsletter or jumpstart your subscriber rate.

If you’re not publishing an email newsletter you’re missing out on one of the most cost-effective Web marketing tools at your disposal. Use an Email Service Provider (ESP) to manage your subscriber list and publish an ezine regularly.

If you’re already publishing an email newsletter

try some new ideas to increase your subscriber base

. Offer a free article for new subscribers, raffle off a prize to one subscriber each month, or advertise on a complementary newsletter.

August: Troll discussion boards in your industry.

There are discussion boards on every topic under the sun, and certainly a few in your industry (or your target audience’s industry.) By reading posts at these discussion boards you can get an understanding of what prospects are looking for and create products or services that meet their needs.

By posting responses you can quickly establish yourself as an expert and create links that drive traffic to your Web site while improving your site’s ranking at the search engines!

September: Start listening to podcasts.

The New Oxford American Dictionary named “podcast” its 2005 word of the year, so maybe you shouldn’t wait until September before you tune in.

Whether podcasting ever becomes a part of your Web marketing, it’s important to understand how podcasting works and how other companies (including your competition) use it. Visit the iTunes Music Store or a podcast directory like Podcast Alley and start sampling some podcasts. Not sure where to start? Adam Curry’s PodFinder show (available at the iTunes Music Store) highlights new podcasts each episode.

October: Consider starting your own podcast.

I can’t recommend podcasting for every business, or even most businesses. I still believe there are more effective ways to communicate with prospects and clients. However, some businesses will benefit from offering a podcast. Keep in mind your target audience, and whether they will be downloading audio to their computer or mp3 player.

November: Submit some of your articles to article directories.

A great way to increase your “findability” at the search engines is to have a lot of quality incoming links. One proven method to do this is to have articles you’ve written appear on other Web sites that link to yours. To get your articles posted at other Web sites check out article directories such as The Phantom Writers and iSnare.

December: Add share this page functionality to some or all of your Web site.

As people suffer from information overload, they rely more heavily on the recommendations of friends and family. Make this word-of-mouth advertising easier by allowing site visitors to quickly “share this page” with a friend or colleague. You can even include your own marketing message embedded in the email that arrives at the friends’ mailbox.

About the Author: Rich Brooks is president of flyte new media (

flyte.biz

) a Web design and Internet marketing firm. He writes an an email newsletter and blogs regularly at

flyteblog.com

on Web marketing. His podcast, flyte: Web strategies for small business, is available at

flytecast.com

.

Source:

isnare.com

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