Sunday 30 December 2012

National locksmith companies and content theft | Locksmith Blog

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As you may know, running  a locksmith business and a good website is tough work!

I for one work hard to take original photos and write new content for my websites and locksmith blogs.

However in recent weeks iv noticed a lot of my images getting ripped off and used on other locksmith sites.

Ok you expect this to a certain degree its the price you pay for popularity on the web, however it really begins to P me off when rival locksmith companies, particularly national advertisers use images of me opening locks and working.

This is both a breach of UK copyright laws and im sure some form of human rights laws.

Firstly; I do not wish to be associated with a rogue poor performing national locksmith company that rips off its customers.

Secondly; no credit is ever given for the use of your image or content and you will never benefit from it in the way of extra exposure or locksmith work.

In fact this content theft can be harmful to your own locksmith website as Google penalises duplicate content and can sometimes leave the offenders locksmith website ranking above you in the SERPS!

A good tool to detect content theft is here at copyscape

So if you do spot this kind of content theft from your own sites you must act!

Firstly contact the locksmith company directly, usually they have no knowledge of the theft of content as its usually left to an independant web designer.

If they cannot get the content removed or at least link back to you in some form for the use of your work then it is worth threatening legal action to remove the content from the locksmiths website.

I'v found that a lot of these locksmith companies are incredibly difficult to contact as they usually only display a premium rate number and no working email address or physical address.

All the more reason to support the NO to nationals campaign over at http://www.locksmith-directory.org.uk and make sure these crooked locksmith companies die off as quickly as they spring up.

Wednesday 12 December 2012

Cold Weather lock problems | Locksmith Blog

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During the colder months we locksmiths are going to be seeing an increase in multipoint lock failures.

upvc and composite doors are prone to shrinking in the colder climate and will often stiffen up during the winter season.

If your door starts to show resistance on the handle when pushing upwards usually accompanies by some sort of crunching sound you should get your door adjusted as soon as you can.

Repeated stress on the locks gears will undoubtedly lead to failure, usually at the most inconvenent of times in my experience with patio door repairs.

Adjustment is usually a quick job for a skilled locksmith who will tweak the hinges and keeps to ensure the lock is meshing smoothly with the frame.

It is part and parcel of owning a plastic door and will usually need readjusting in the summer months when things heat up a little.

Here is another good article on door repairs written by Rickthepick.

Have a merry Xmas and a happy new year.