Friday 25 May 2012

How Could Creatine Monohydrate Help You?


There are a large number of supplements that can help you in your quest for a stronger, leaner body. Discover how creatine monohydrate could help you.

Creatine is one of the most well-known and well used of all bodybuilding supplements as it is so effective at helping to improve muscle. Essentially it is a compound that is created within our liver, kidneys and pancreas as a way to reload our energy levels.

If taken in suitable and sensible levels it can be an effective sports supplement and there is much research to support these claims. It is however worth noting that as with many things, some people have reported to have not seen any great changes from taking this supplement.



What does it do?

The main uses of this supplement are all based around its ability to help replenish energy levels within our bodies via the formation of creatine phosphate.

Creatine may help to replenish a molecule known as ATP which when broken down will release energy to help our muscles contract. Research shows that the more creatine within the cells of our muscles, the more efficiently ATP is replenished; thereby increasing energy levels. Sources include meat and fish but our muscles are capable of storing more than we can obtain from food, so taking a creatine monohydrate supplement will mean the stores within our bodies are maximised. Overall this means greater energy levels to train harder and more effectively.

Research indicates that creatine could help to encourage muscles to grow by stimulating the synthesis of protein. As a result of this, if the muscles are then exercised in the correct way, muscle growth could be greatly enhanced.

It may also help to buffer the effects of lactic acid and therefore help to improve the way our bodies recover post workout and prevent muscles becoming fatigued so early during the workout itself.

In many cases it can help to increase a person’s body weight and in most cases this can be quite prominent. This generally occurs in the first month that the creatine supplement is first used and gains can be around the half stone mark. Research has indicated that those people who take this supplement will gain considerably more lean body mass then that gained by those who are not taking the supplement.


Creatine is available in a number of different forms but creatine monohydrate is the most popular form since it has little taste and will dissolve in water. There are many other forms including creatine phosphate, creatine pyruvate and creatine citrate but these are not thought to work quite as well.

Creating An E-Commerce Website




The world of e-commerce is the fastest growing retail environment today and this shows no sign of slowing. More and more companies are realising the benefits of conducting their business online. Whilst trading on a global scale over the internet brings previously unheard-of opportunities for even start-up companies, this does also mean a huge amount of competition. If you are setting up your own e-commerce business it is vital that you get your website right, as this represents the public face of your company.

Here are some things to bear in mind when your website is being constructed:

Design: Your website should not be over-cluttered with unnecessary information or graphics. Rather, it should be bold and simple, and designed to present your products in the best possible way. If you are a small start-up company you probably won’t have a full-time designer on board, so the best thing to do is hire an e-commerce web design company. They will be able to work with you to create a website design to suit your business and one that will appeal to your target audience.

Ease Of Use: But it is not enough for your website to look right. Another job of an e-commerce web design company is to put it together in such a way that it is easy for customers to navigate. The point of your website, after all, is to convert visitors into paying customers and they will lose interest if they can’t find the products they are looking for. Work with your web designer to ensure the links are as simple and integrated as possible.

Bringing In Visitors: Of course, in order to get those sales you have to attract visitors to your website. Online marketing methods such as email marketing and pay-per-click can work very well in driving traffic to your site. It also pays to bring in an SEO consultant to boost your search engine rankings. Otherwise, no matter how elegantly laid out your website is, clients will not be aware of your existence and will buy the products they need from one of your many competitors. You can’t afford to let this happen.

Security: Many people are still wary of buying online because of the fear of credit card fraud. You should ensure, therefore that your website has an easy, efficient and safe payment processing system. An https checkout page means that the site is protected and PayPal is the secure payment method of choice, so make sure you offer this. The majority of people who purchase online will feel reassured if they are able to buy through PayPal.

Why Hire JCB Telehandler Machines?




If you need to hire JCB telehandler machines then it is important that you understand what the different options are. This article will give you a brief insight into the uses of telehandlers and what to consider when hiring one.

Telehandlers are a cross between a fork lift and a crane and are a great addition to any building or construction industry. If you are looking to hire JCB telehandler machines then you will find they come as stabilised telehandlers, without stabilisers and compact telehandlers. These all vary in their overall height and maximum lift capacity etc. so it is important that you know exactly what you will be using your telehandler for so that you can select the correct one. You should also have the necessary qualifications to be able to operate this type of machinery as without prior knowledge of the amount they can safely lift at a certain height they can prove to be very dangerous.



Stabilised telehandlers range in size from between 10-17 metres and come with multiple stage boom mechanisms. Once the stabilisers on these telehandlers have been fully extended they will help to make the machine much safer; allowing it to lift to greater heights and with larger loads. This does not affect how manoeuvrable the machine is though, so it will still be suitable for a variety of different projects. When you hire JCB telehandler machines you will see that they have been created to offer supreme performance for those in the construction industry who may have projects requiring the lifting of heavy loads to a number of storeys high. As standard, this range of stabilised JCB telehandlers have hydraulic self-levelling stabilisers as well as a low boom line to offer increased safety and visibility. One of the advantages to hiring is that the maintenance and care of the machine will be the responsibility of the hire company!

The smaller JCB telehandlers that you can hire offer a much more flexible option since they take up less room and are therefore a great option for sites with limited space but that still require a powerful machine. This makes them ideal for small yards and sites with their all-round site performance, lifting large loads several storeys whilst still being incredibly easy to manoeuvre. Once the boom has been fully retracted, most of these telehandlers will have an overall height of just 2m.

If you are thinking about  hiring JCB telehandlers then you will need to think about the size of your project, the size of your site and the average weight of your loads and the heights you will need to reach. If you have any problems or queries then contact customer services who will be happy to answer your questions and offer advice.

Enjoy A ‘Monster’ Of A Holiday Break – With Family Self-Catering Holidays Loch Ness




If you haven’t yet visited stunning Loch Ness with your nearest and dearest then you’re missing out on a treat, because this place offers an abundance of fun for all the family.

The legendary Loch itself is 20 miles long and 1 mile wide – and at its deepest point reaches 700 feet. Loch Ness is surrounded by a crop of charming villages and pretty towns like Drumnadrochit, Fort Augustus, and picturesque Dores, with its long shingle beach stretching out to meet the horizon. And no visit to this charismatic region would be complete without checking out magnificent Inverness, gateway to the Highlands, which was granted city status by the Queen in 2000.

Self-catering holidays in Loch Ness are the perfect way to enjoy the holiday of your dreams: your itinerary; your pace. With something to suit all ages and every budget too, your family can be as leisurely or as active as you choose to be



You are promised a real treat with your self-catering holidays Loch Ness accommodation. These family lodges which sleep up to 4 offer every facility you could want to ensure your stay is both comfortable and memorable.

There is so much to do on your visit to the Highlands that the days won’t seem nearly long enough, and the kids are certain to be enthralled by attractions like the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition and Nessieland (both at Drumnadrochit). There are also theme and adventure parks, an eco-park and dolphin cruises – not to mention a vast array of sports venues and arts and crafts facilities.

We promise you’ll never run out of ideas for things to do, though you may find yourself looking forward to some well earned rest and relaxation courtesy of your state-of-the-art self catering lodge.

Or if you’re a fan of touring and you’d prefer to bring your caravan or motorhome that’s fine too. With plenty to explore right on your doorstep, self catering holidays in Loch Ness make the perfect choice for getting away from it all.

Whilst you cannot be guaranteed a sighting of Nessie during your visit, unfortunately, there’s every chance you could spot a dolphin, a grey seal, or even a porpoise during your Loch Ness vacation.

Wherever your Highlands adventure takes you and whatever you get up to, the whole family is guaranteed to fall in love with stunning Loch Ness. Why not check out the wonderful facilities and letting availability online today? Then start planning your ‘monster’ of a holiday!

Why And How To Recycle Your Ink Cartridges




If you work in an office or have an inkjet printer at home then you will know how quickly ink cartridges can be got through. This is becoming an increasing problem, as it has been estimated that around 60 million inkjet cartridges are thrown away each year in the UK alone. Of these, only around 15 per cent are recycled. The sustainability benefits of recycling your cartridges, whether for office or home use, are pretty clear. If you think that each cartridge, made from engineering grade polymers, can take around 1000 years to decompose in a landfill site, then that 85 per cent not being recycled represents a pretty hefty burden on the environment.



Added to this environmental aspect is the financial burden that throwing away inkjet cartridges can place on the average tax payer. Transporting household or office waste to landfill sites costs the consumer via the medium of landfill tax. You can help cut these costs and make a little extra money for yourself at the same time by taking your used cartridges back to suppliers in exchange for cash. Also, bear in mind that re-manufactured cartridges can sometimes cost as little as 50 per cent of the price of the original cartridges.

If you have bought your ink cartridges online then the supplier will often run a scheme whereby you can return them to be recycled in exchange for money. It’s worth checking with them beforehand to find out what the prices are and which types of cartridges they will accept back. It is usually then a simple matter of filling in a form and getting a date for when they will be collected. If you have not bought your cartridges online, local suppliers such as WH Smiths will sometimes have recycling schemes so get finding out.

If you are really keen on recycling and want to go further you could even arrange for your neighbours’ ink cartridges to be collected as well. Or if you work in a large office, why not take charge of collecting the cartridges from each department so they can all be done efficiently in one go?

Aside from recycling, you can also save on your ink costs by refilling your toner or inkjet cartridges yourself. You can’t do this with every kind of cartridge, but where you can it’s a simple enough process and the original supplier should be able to provide you with detailed instructions so there’s no chance of getting it wrong. Like recycling, re-filling the cartridge is a much greener, more cost effective and more efficient way of managing your printer ink usage.

Wednesday 16 May 2012

Banners And Signs Bring Your Marketing Messages To Life!

If you’ve already successfully tried using banners and signs as a means to advertise your business then I’m sure you won’t need reminding what brilliant marketing tools they can be.

There are many benefits to using banners and signs to direct potential customers to your launch, promotion, or offer, but three of the main reasons successful businesses return to using banners and signs to carry their key marketing messages are:

They’re cost-effective
They’re versatile
They get attention

Let’s face it, all advertising is not without risk. No-one can say for sure whether a particular form of advertising will work or not. Print advertising in particular can prove outrageously expensive with no guarantee of getting a return on your investment. Direct mail can be a tricky medium to get right even with several rounds of testing. And as for social media? Well, it’s not everyone’s bag. And it’s so time-consuming.

That’s not to say you steer away from these forms of marketing media. No form of marketing should be done in isolation. The vast majority of advertising campaigns need to include a mix of media to be effective.

Utilising the pulling power of banners and signs to get your marketing messages in front of the right people is one of the most cost-effective marketing solutions there is. Particularly if you are located in a place where there is likely to be a large footfall of your target demographic.

We are often reminded of the need to repeat our marketing messages frequently in order to penetrate the subconscious of our target audience. Don’t they say we need to exposed to an advertisement around 7 times before we ‘consciously’ take notice of it?

If that’s the case, then could you afford to run your print ad a minimum of 7 times with no guarantee of success? Would you even want to?

Well cost is one thing you won’t need to fret over if you choose incorporate banners and signs into your marketing mix. They’re something you can use on an ongoing or an occasional basis as you please.
If your business could use the advertising power of a banner or sign, then it’s really easy to get a customised banner or sign made up for you. It’s quick too – usually within 24 hours.

So if you’re looking for a cost-effective, versatile, advertising solution that’s bound to command attention, bespoke banners and signs are exactly what you need.

Whey Protein Powders Deliver A Powerful And Fast Acting Nutrition Boost

Did you know protein is made up of amino acids – 9 of which are essential for the repair and maintenance of body tissue and also for our general wellbeing and good health?

Some of the benefits of amino acids include:

Repairing body cells
Building (and repair) of muscles and bones
Source of energy
Metabolism regulation and balance

So why use whey protein powders as part of your daily routine?

Because they are soluble whey protein powders are fast-acting – quickly absorbed by the body – and they start working right away.


Of course, sportsmen and women regularly use whey protein powders in their eating programme, to keep their body in shape, but they are equally helpful to those of us who don’t get as much exercise as we might like.

Unfortunately, as we age our bone mass declines. According to the authors of “Healing Moves” Mitchell and Krucoff: "Age-related declines in muscle and bone mass can lead to frailty and fracture – the primary reason older adults wind up in nursing homes."

The authors suggest one the best ways older people can retain their independence and enjoy a better quality of life, is through strength training – a proven way to increase bone density, improve muscle power and promote better balance.

In women, concerns about osteoporosis generally set in after the menopause and many women have been known to turn to calcium supplements to counteract problems such as brittle bones and bone fractures.

According to another author, Kathy Keeton, calcium supplements aloneare simply not enough to guarantee bone protection. In her book: “Longevity”, Keeton stresses the need for regular strength and resistance training in order for the body to retain calcium. She also states the importance of using magnesium and other essential nutrients “to assimilate calcium into your bones.”

As regards aging, the good news is, our training does not have to be of Olympian proportions for us to enjoy a better quality of life for longer. If weights and bench presses aren’t your thing, then activities like brisk walking, stair climbing, and dancing promote good mechanical stress within the skeletal system.

You’ve heard the saying “use it or lose it”, well that’s certainly true when it comes to aging and mobility.
If keeping fit and enjoying life as you get older is something that’s important to you, then whey protein powders can help protect your immune system and strengthen your bones and muscles, allowing you to stay active for longer.

How Ecommerce Website Designers Can Help Your Online Business Be More Profitable


Running an ecommerce business?

If you’re selling goods or services online, then how well you understand your customers’ motivations could impact on how well your website performs – and ultimately how many sales you make. In other words, understanding your customers’ buying habits and key concerns about doing business online is crucial to your overall business success.

It’s simply not enough to focus on the numbers of visitors your website attracts on a daily or weekly basis. You need to go into more depth. You need to view your business website dispassionately from a customer’s perspective.



The three key purchasing indicators you need to examine closely are:

Your bounce rate When visitors land on your website’s Home page, how long do they stay for? A high ‘bounce rate’ could suggest that your content isn’t sufficiently engaging. Equally it could indicate that your visitors’ expectations aren’t being met – perhaps the keywords and terms you are currently ranking for don’t realistically reflect the true nature of your business?

Conversion rates It’s not unusual to attract a sales conversion rate of around 3%-4% given the fact that many people go online simply to browse. Achieving anything less than this could be a pointer that all is not rosy and certainly would be worthy of further investigation.

Basket abandonment (lost sales) Putting goods into the shopping basket and then abandoning the transaction at the last minute can be a common problem for the online retailer. But if this is something that you are encountering a lot of, you really need to get to the crux of the matter and discover the main reason your customers are not following through with their purchases.

Typically common reasons are:

i. The checkout procedure is overly-complicated.

ii. Delivery/ shipping price is too high.

iii. Customers are using your site to make price comparisons.

iv. Customers are not ready to purchase/ deciding to save purchase for later.

Whatever the main reason your customers aren’t completing their purchases, armed with the right information you will be in a stronger position to tackle the issue.

If you’d like to know more about how professional ecommerce website designers could help your company become more successful and profitable by addressing the key purchasing indicators and other main issues which affect ‘the customer experience’, then kindly get in touch by phone, email, or via the website.

Ecommerce website designers’ services make a sound investment for any business owner serious about increasing their customer conversion rates, whilst reducing the incidences of basket abandonment and bounce rates.