Green roofs, which are also known as rooftop gardens, are becoming ever more common in this day and age. Green roofs are extensions of existing roofs on both residential and commercial buildings.

Green roofs on commercial and residential structures provide an array of different types of benefits. In a growing number of municipalities, a requirement exists for the inclusion of green roofs on certain types of commercial buildings. If you are contemplating a green roof for your business, whether because of a requirement in your community or because it is your voluntary decision, there are some factors regarding rooftop gardens that you need to bear in mind.

Basic Components of Green Roof or Roof Garden

At the heart of a roof garden system is layers that form the foundation of a green roof. A key to the system is to ensure that it is fully waterproof and does not allow seepage into the building.

The typical rooftop garden has between six to seven layers. Beginning from the bottom and moving upward, a green roof “foundation” begins with a high quality waterproof membrane. On top of the membrane is a root repellant system followed by what sometimes is considered an optional layer of insulation.

Next, a green roof is layered with a drainage layer followed by a filter cloth for fine soils. The next lawyer is a lightweight growing medium or type of soil substrate. Finally, at the top, a green roof is completed with plants of different types.

In most cases, an additional step is taken to assist with drainage, fire control, and access to permit roof maintenance. This usually consists of a shallow layer of gravel, or pebbles, that is placed around the outside perimeter of the rooftop garden.

Essential Benefits of a Green Roof

As noted previously, there is an array of different types of benefits associated with a green roof. One of the key benefits associated with a green roof is a reduction in heat loss and in energy consumption during colder months of the year. In warmer months, a green roof can assist in reducing the cooling load on a commercial building.

A broader benefit of a green roof is that it can lower urban air temperatures. For this to be accomplished, there must be a concentration of green roofs in metropolitan area. This is one of the reasons why some municipalities are making green roofs a requirement for certain types of commercial structures.

A green roof also assists in reducing storm water runoff. It also provides increased sound insulation. The installation of a green roof improves a building’s LEED rating. A roof garden also increases the lifespan of a roof.

Types of Green Roofs

There are two primary types of green roofs in place in this day and age. These are intensive and extensive. The primary underlying differences between these two types of green roofs are accessibility and required maintenance.

Intensive green roofs are designed for human interaction. These types of green roofs have easy access and more elaborate landscapes. These roofs include things like small trees, shrubs, fountains, and walking paths for human enjoyment. As a result, these types of green roofs require more in their construction and maintenance.

Extensive green roofs are designed to be self-sustaining and require minimal maintenance. These types of roofs are not designed to human interaction. Extensive green roofs also feature different types of vegetation. These types of roofs feature vegetation like self-seeding sedums, certain types of grasses, mosses, and meadow flowers which require very little irrigation and maintenance of any type.

Scaffolding and Creating a Green Roof

In order to fully install a green roof, and tend to perimeter matters, scaffolding oftentimes is utilized. Scaffolding can be an invaluable piece of equipment in the creation of a green roof.

The key to making the best use of scaffolding in creating a green roof is to make sure all safety considerations are met. This includes properly assembling and placing the scaffolding in the first instance, making sure people are properly trained on use of a scaffold, and ensuring that materials used on a scaffold are secured appropriately.

Cost of a Green Roof

The cost associated with a green roof depends on a variety of factors, including whether an intensive or extensive derivation will be selected and the location of the building on which a rooftop garden will be created. With that noted, there are now professionals with experience in installing green roofs in many major municipalities. These pros can provide estimates on the cost of installing a green roof on a commercial structure.

Jessica Kane is a professional blogger who writes for Scaffold Store, the favorite and trusted scaffold supplier of the largest contractors.

The internet has truly revolutionized the way we go about in our everyday lives. Never before has it been easier to stay in contact with people, to get things delivered to you without you even having to step out of your house and even better to earn money.

Yes, the internet has triply made a life for many people so much more comfortable and more comfortable. For example gambling, a pastime for many people around the world has become one of the significant sources of income for many people; no hyperbole.

When you compare casinos to online casinos, there is a vast difference in the amount of money that is being handed out online versus what is being paid in a real-life casino.

And for many who don’t like the idea of working or like the idea of putting in any effort in attaining something of worth – gambling is very much the panacea for their worries of working.

However, that is only one means for making money online. There are many other ways in which you can start making money online and in this article we have taken the liberty to compile a list fo a few ways to which you can get started in making money online TODAY.

So if you are eager to quit your job and want to say goodbye to your nightmarish boss and employees, then this is the article, for you.

The Many Ways to Make Money Online

# 1 – Affiliate Marketing

First off on our list affiliate marketing and affiliate marketing is without a doubt one of the went ways to get money online. If you have no money to invest in starting a business or have no money to spend on the program, then affiliate marketing is the business model for you.

Why, because most affiliate programs are free to join. Not only are they free to join but they are also a great place to learn about how to market. The programs will give you tutorial and plans that you can implement to start getting your products out there.

# 2 – Dropshipping

Drop-shipping is also another great way to start making many online. With this business model, you may have to spend a little money but heck like the saying goes you ahem to send money to make money and with this business model you can also start to build your brand.

The concept behind drop-shipping is that you purchase an item overseas at a small price and then sell it on your social media platform or your website at a much higher prove and you purify on the difference.

# 3 – Gambling

For the people who don’t like to put in work but want maximum payout then gambling is very much the place for you to start. Now with online casinos the chances of you winning are much higher than had you decided to visit a real-life casino.

Why is this you may ask because online casino must pay out to their players. The Gambling Association makes this a mandatory rule that all online casinos must follow otherwise that website will be shut down.

So if you have been having a hard time at the casino why not just whip out your phone and start playing endearing TODAY.

How sweet is that?

The Many Ways to Make Money Online

There are so many ways to start making kidney online today. The internet has indeed made life easier for many, and if you have been looking for a means to get money then these are just a minute amount of ways in which you can start making money online; as there are many many more.

Many business people think they can use social media, search engines and websites to replace the magic tool of business cards. But that is far from the truth. No matter how social media and search engines have transformed the business and communication landscape, business cards still matter!

As a small business owner or corporate professional, you cannot afford to take business cards out of your marketing matrix. You have to understand the role of business cards and how important it is to your success. You also have to ensure that you get the best design possible for your business cards.  

A crappy looking business card is not going to earn you any point. And this why you have to be adamant about the design as well as the text you put on your business card. Whether you are looking for handyman business cards or travel agent business cards, you want the best design possible that projects success and professionalism.

While many people think the internet era has killed business cards that is rather contrary to fact. It has rather created new uses of business cards. Today, you can have your business cards either in a digital form or in print. Your business can be shared and distributed to many people to help you build your network.

If you think business cards are dead, rethink your option. The following are reasons why business cards are still not dead and useful for business growth:

1.    Networking Tool
Networking is one of the primary ways to connect with people, know them and build new relationships. Some of these people can end up being customers, partners or even investors. Whether it is an event, a party or social gathering, you want to make sure you are ready with your business card. Your business card will enable you to professionally connect with people and build rapport.

2.    Great First Impression

We live in an age where people have a short attention span. When you meet a new potential client or investor, it is important you get prepared with your elevator speech and business card. You need to quickly let them know what you do and what you stand for. But because there are a lot of things on people’s mind, just talking is not enough, you’ll need to give them your professionally designed business card.

3.    Easy and Effective Marketing Tool

Your business card is not just a card with your contact details on it. It’s an important marketing tool for your business. Sometimes people might not have their phone or a pen at hand. Your business card will serve as a medium to market, promote and showcase your business.

The design and outlook of your business card will tell a potential customer that you are serious and committed to what you stand for. With a few words and your business card, you can end up getting new clients, closing deals and improving your bottom line.

Designing a business card be a lot of hassle. That is why top-notch firms like Basic Invite makes it easy to get a new, custom business card for your business with almost unlimited colors, custom samples and address capturing service. Right now Basic Invite is offering 15% off with coupon code: 15FF51. If you are looking for foil cards, they are available in gold, silver and rose gold. You can choose either flat or raised foil cards on all business card designs.

Running your own business is no mean feat.

It gets even more demanding when you run a family-themed operation, since that means that you do not only have to provide top of the line services but of such kind that you would actually be comfortable in offering them to your own kids – because if you do not want your own family to avail the type of services that you are providing, then they might not constitute to being family friendly after all.

That is why, whether you already run a family-centric business or are planning on starting one, being worried about what you would add to the community while also making enough profits to make ends meet is an understandable concern that stems out of one’s sense of responsibility and family values.

Keeping this in mind, starting a Snapology franchise is one of the best business decisions that you could make not just from a parental and family-friendly perspective but also from a commercial standpoint, as the company does not only offer educational and recreational programs that let children thrive positively, but also provides a viable and sustainable source of income to the owner of its franchise.

What is Snapology?

Founded in 2011 by the sister-duo of Laura and Lisa Coe, Snapology is a family-owned business itself which is currently searching all over the country to find likeminded people who would be able to represent the company’s values of making learning fun for kids.

Instead of sticking its name on existing operations for the sake of being “present” in local communities, Snapology is working with locals to help them build their own franchise business which embodies the company’s signature characteristics of propagating for education through things as fun as Lego blocks, while also helping the respective business owner find their own commercial identity in their area, with Fairfax, Virginia being one of them.

Snapology works on a model of utilizing Lego blocks and creative themes to allow children to explore their creative, logical and analytical sides, which educates them in a broader perspective in the fields of arts, math, and even science without ever letting them feel bored.

The company has various programs that are spread across the areas of educational classes, summer camps, and birthday parties in order to encourage kids to tangibly build their ideas, which also adds to the imperative skills of development and communication on a broader range. These programs and parties are designed to cater to kids starting from those in preschool to those up to the age of 14.

Why Owning a Snapology Franchise Makes Sense from a Business Perspective

Needless to say, the company has a business model that is family friendly and adds value to building qualities that everyone wants to see in their kids in order for them to succeed in life, since the whole notion of putting hard work to build something and the sense of accomplishment that comes from it is reason enough for anyone to support programs which supplement this growth in the younger generation.

And when that building comes from something as popular and as effective as Lego blocks, then you know that you are onto something. The Danish toymaker started manufacturing its revolutionary line of building blocks in 1949, and since then, it has become a household name due to its effectiveness in building creative and cognitive skills in children of all ages.

While Lego had always been popular, it reached all new heights of success with the release of The Lego Movie in 2014, which shattered box office expectations and tripled the company’s sales as compared to its business in its recent past at the time.

The increase in demand that followed by kids and parents to buy Lego toys was actually applauded by experts since it alluded towards the fact that children were interested in activities that were bound to enhance their learning experiences.

Granted, we are into a timeline that is 4 years later and well into the era of even more tablets and digital games, but the upcoming release of The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part has all the potential for history to repeat itself, which could once again see kids flocking towards Lego-powered activities and demanding for Lego themed birthday parties, creating a propitious opportunity for any Snapology franchise owner to provide the required solutions to these interested customers while also taking satisfaction from the fact that they are earning a living by making a positive difference in the world around them.

Since Snapology is actively looking for interested individuals to join its mission, all that anyone has to do to get on the path of being a franchisee is to contact the company through its website, with the Snapology team taking care of the rest of the communication process accordingly.

Over the years, email marketing has become one of the most popular digital marketing channels with an estimated ROI of $44 to $1. Such returns illustrate an apparent and obvious effectiveness in email marketing. The question is, how do you measure this effectiveness? Most people rely on click-through rates and open rates, but research has shown these parameters are not as dependable.

So, which techniques are reliable? Let’s take a look.

1. Website Traffic

The website traffic coming from your email marketing campaigns should give you a good idea whether your efforts are bearing fruit or not. You will need to integrate your web analytics and email campaign.

This will help you measure the amount of traffic derived from your unique email campaigns. Through the data collected, you’ll get to see the percentage of website traffic that your emails generate.

1. Email Conversion Rate

The conversion rate is another reliable metric. Measuring how many people clicked an email link is the conversion rate. Measuring this rate entails identifying the number of people who completed a desirable action, dividing that total with the number of emails sent, and then multiplying the result by 100.

The resulting percentage should be a steadfast illustration of whether email marketing is working or it’s a dud.

1. The Bounce Rate

Basically, the bounce rate measures the number of inactive visitors to your website. The visitors that leave instantaneously without any activity are said to have “bounced”. In effect, if readers are landing on your page and bouncing immediately, then there’s a problem with your email marketing campaign.

The problem may also be with your landing page content. The content should be properly aligned with your email to get the reader hooked the moment they land on your page.

1. Spam Complaints

Some people just won’t like your emails or the content. The usefulness or the relevance of the content will be lost to them and as such, they might mark your emails as ‘spam’. The percentage of spam complaints measured against the number of emails sent is indicative of the success derived from your email campaign.

Measuring this rate entails identifying the number of people who marked your email as spam, dividing that number with the number of emails sent, and then multiplying the result by 100. A high spam complaint percentage should act as a warning that a change is needed, and fast.

1. Measure the ROI

At the end of the day, your Return on Investment (ROI) is the only measure that really counts. In essence, the efficiency of an investment will determine whether your email campaigns are profitable or just a drain on your resources.

Measuring ROI is quite simple, you take the revenue gotten from email campaign-related sales, subtract the money invested in the email campaigns, and then multiply by 100. The resultant amount will be a clear indicator of whether your email marketing strategies are working or not. Stacked against the other determinants, ROI should ultimately be the measure that determines whether you need to stick or twist.

Katrina McGhee is an author, speaker, entrepreneur and a strategic advisor for cause related organizations across America. For over 20 years, she served as a senior executive for two of the world’s most recognizable non-profits, revolutionizing the way women were ignited to take charge of their health. Realigning her knowledge and experience of inspiring wellness on a global scale, Katrina now serves as a women’s empowerment advocate, an inspirational leader and a pioneer of social responsibility. Whether she’s transforming a corporate culture or inspiring individuals to achieve unimaginable success, McGhee is a powerful agent of change.

Formerly the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Director of Marketing for the American Heart Association, McGhee’s work in the non-profit world gained her national recognition as a leader in the world of wellness. As a high level executive, she was on a strong path to a, “perfect life,” until she underwent a radical life revolution. After so many years of what she calls, “running the universe,” the women’s wellness champion crashed and burned. McGhee realized that, in trying to manage everything, she lost control of the most important thing – her own life.

Armed with a steely determination to love herself while still serving others, McGhee transitioned her life away from her high level status in corporate America and, in 2012, she created Loving on Me.  Loving on Me is THE online “inspiration destination” encouraging women to defy their status quo and embrace purposeful, empowered living. For the past six years, through Katrina’s example, and via blog posts, videos and a thriving social community, over fifty thousand women have joined her tribe, getting equipped with the tools they need to lead in every aspect of their lives. Affectionately known as LoveLights, the tribe also supports organizations committed to the education, empowerment and well-being of women around the world.

Katrina’s first book, “Loving on Me! Lessons Learned on the Journey from MESS to MESSAGE,” defines her quest to inspire women to aim higher. This tale of transformation chronicles McGhee’s own journey toward self-worth while providing readers with the tools they need to ignite their own personal revolution. Readers are inspired to “go get their more,” by examining a world of endless possibilities and releasing the limiting barriers imposed by themselves and others.

McGhee is passionate about helping people reach their highest heights in all aspects of their lives. With years of business experience, she is uniquely poised and skilled at igniting change at individual and corporate levels in areas including leadership, personal branding and business development. Through her Loving on Me Academy, she provides online courses that empower audacious women to lead, inspire and succeed. She also offers customized corporate training programs to foster excellence among the next generation of nonprofit leaders, and shares her transformative messages of self-love and empowerment as a featured speaker at conferences and educational events.

September 13, Katrina McGhee joined the Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF) as they launch their new Leadership Development Workshops (LDWs). Women’s empowerment, gender equality and career advancement have been some of the most discussed news topics of the past year. These one day WFF LDW workshops, coming to 12 cities this fall, will enable women to accelerate career growth through with nationally-recognized speakers, supported by 365-day content and ongoing learning touch points with workshop leaders and fellow participants.

Workshop co-leader, McGhee says of her role with the LDWs, “participants will not only be equipped and ready to take the next step in their leadership journey, they will also have built a strong network of other women leaders with whom they can learn, network and grow throughout the year.” In addition to the full-day workshop, registration includes membership, monthly webinars, quarterly networking & Book of the Month Online Meet Ups.

The workshops launch September 13, in Dallas, TX at the Westin Galleria, 13340 Dallas Parkway. Sessions follow in 11 cities throughout the fall: Minneapolis, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, New York, Toronto, Orange County, Denver, Washington, D.C. and Orlando. Visit https://workshops.wff.org to learn more and for registration details.

Katrina’s empowering new book, “Be Bold, Be Brilliant, Be YOU, Lessons from the C-Suite to Catapult Your Career,” will be available November 23, 2018, which falls on Black Friday this year.

McGhee believes in, and is an example of, BOLD action. Her goal is to inspire big thinking, while delivering the tools that ignite life-affirming transformation to everyone she meets. Through it all, she works passionately to inspire women around the world to love and embrace themselves and each other, and to be empowered to be in the driver’s seat in every aspect of their lives.