Tailor Your Deck and Patio for Your Preferred Activities

When homeowners make a list of their priorities and favorite things, they’ll find that their deck or patio “fits”. Some decks and patios fall short because the homeowner’s priorities aren’t considered. Smart and innovative homeowners take deck and patio design to new levels of style and usefulness by building around what they love to do. The best decks and patios are those that are designed around what the homeowner loves to do.

Once the homeowner prioritizes and defines exactly what they want and hope for out of their decking and patios, they can build decks and patios that exceed anticipations. Some wish lists are common, when it comes to designing backyard patios and decking. Homeowners want areas for family gatherings and entertaining; they also want perfect places for their kid’s activities. Homeowners want to take advantage of their swimming pool and surrounding areas; sometimes, they just want a deck where they can unwind and relax.

For homeowners whose favorite thing is entertaining, eating, and family gatherings, their decks and patios should be zoned. This means that to maximize decking and patio space, they need to divide it without being choppy. There should be zones for eating, cooking, and socializing; divided by plants, furniture, or arches. These decks can also be multi-leveled to further zone the patio or deck while still having an open and inviting deck.

For families who have a pool and whose private time centers on that feature, decks and patios should be designed around the pool. There should be safe walkways, sunning areas, and areas on decking for food and drinks. Safety is a big concern around swimming pools, so be sure to have your decking design and patio construction lend itself to level surfaces to avoid tripping or inadvertent falls. Be sure to add kid features and play areas far enough away from the pool, with level patios for games and other kid-type activities.

Hammocks and comfortable seating facing the beautiful surroundings is the finishing touch for homeowners with relaxation on their minds. For homeowners whose first priority is to simply relax, design a deck that has a great soothing view. Design the decks to overlook gardens, trees, and water features that encourage relaxation.

You no longer have to spend hours finding info about paver patio Alexandria.

George Huguely trial delayed. Defense expert offers analysis.



http://wtvr.com/videobeta/?watchId=26d19a05-09b4-48e1-bbf6-5c2ab2dd9059

Richmond area in line for a rainy day

Today’s forecast calls for a 90 percent chance of rain, mainly after 11 a.m., with a projected afternoon high near 57 degrees.



http://www2.timesdispatch.com/weather/2012/feb/16/richmond-area-line-rainy-day-ar-1693598/

Huguely trial suspended for day; defense lawyer ill

Judge Edward Hogshire tells jurors court will resume Friday morning.



http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2012/feb/16/5/huguely-trial-starting-late-today-defense-lawyer-i-ar-1693956/

Ex-Meadowbrook High dean faces solicitation charge

Stephen S. Floyd was among 58 people arrested in a three-day undercover operation that targeted prostitution-related crimes in Chesterfield.



http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2012/feb/16/ex-meadowbrook-high-dean-faces-solicitation-charge-ar-1694025/

VCU reports man with knife tries to rob student on campus

A Virginia Commonwealth University student was not injured when she was confronted by a knife-wielding man who attempted to rob her at the school’s main academic campus in downtown Richmond.



http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2012/feb/16/1/vcu-reports-man-knife-tries-rob-student-campus-ar-1693541/

Wording your SMS for Maximum Impact

An SMS marketing campaign is an exciting opportunity for most businesses. An SMS reaches people directly, and far more successfully than emails. While about 97% of all marketing emails find their way straight into the spam folder, 98% of such SMSes are actually read by consumers. However, to use an SMS marketing campaign successfully, you have to be smart. You have only 160 characters to make an impact.

The first thing you should do, especially if you are sending an SMS to existing clients, is personalize your message. Start with a greeting and the name of the person. If the greeting does not fit within the 160 characters, make sure you retain the name. People will feel a lot better about reading your ad if they feel that you bothered enough to remember their identity.

It is vital that you cover all essential details relevant to your offer. These could include the name of your brand, the product name, the address of your store or even your website. If there are gaps of information that leave people wondering about who you are or how to get in touch with you, the effectiveness of your campaign will decline sharply. Additionally, the best SMS campaigns are those that convey a special offer or discount right away, along with a strong call to action. So, apart from your main offer, if you say something like ‘register today for an additional 10%’, your SMS is likely to generate a lot more interest.

Sometimes, 160 characters aren’t enough for the kind of message you have in mind. In this case, instead of sending out long messages, send a short one, directing them to your website for more information. Remember, the audience hates reading long, complicated messages. The simpler your mobile marketing campaign, the more effective it is bound to be.

You don’t have to spend hours on the Web looking for information about mobile apps for business.

VCU reports man with knife tries to rob student on campus

A Virginia Commonwealth University student was not injured when she was confronted by a knife-wielding man who attempted to rob her at the school’s main academic campus in downtown Richmond.



http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2012/feb/16/1/vcu-reports-man-knife-tries-rob-student-campus-ar-1693541/

George Huguely trial delayed. Defense expert offers analysis.



http://wtvr.com/videobeta/?watchId=26d19a05-09b4-48e1-bbf6-5c2ab2dd9059

Democratic Sen. Phil Puckett says he will vote for "Personhood Bill"

The Russell County Democrat believes life begins at conception, and he’s not concerned about any possible backlash within the caucus over those beliefs



http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2012/feb/16/democratic-sen-phil-puckett-says-he-will-vote-pers-ar-1694136/