For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master’s house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.”

“Why?” asked the water bearer. “What are you ashamed of?”

“I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts,” the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, “As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.”

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again the pot apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We’re all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, God will use our flaws to grace his table. In God’s great economy, nothing goes to waste.

Don’t be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and you too can be the cause of beauty. Know that in our weakness, we find our strength.

- Author Unknown

Metadata increasingly functions as a resource, not just for search engines, but for internal technologies and information handlers who want quick and accurate access to given information. That’s why it’s getting applied to such a broad field of technologies: from online campaigns to internal database setups, metadata is becoming more of an engineering principle for promoting, handling and storing valuable data, including both messaging and core content.

What is Metadata?
Essentially, metadata is “data about data.” It encompasses a range of identifiers that point to more substantial data sets, for instance, a file or web page. The metadata in this case is composed of keywords, tags and other elements that help to describe and define what’s in any given data location.

Using Metadata in Page and Site Design
Most platforms for SEO page creation have metadata tools built into their interfaces. WordPress, Joomla and other systems have easy fields for adding metadata that may not show up on a page, but will be referenced by search engines, and can help catalog and identify where professionals have built into a URL destination within a greater domain.

Many of these elements can be added in “plain text” though they may later show up as HTML tags or other ‘coded’ identifiers. However, using metadata is just one common consideration for those trying to renovate a demand for high traffic, increase brand visibility or otherwise drive business. In commercial contracts between small to midsize businesses and their SEO contractors, metadata is one of those basic building blocks that often factors into the equation when both parties negotiate prices and results for a campaign.

Whether a business is selling car parts, squirrel deterrents to insurance or data handling systems, many of the principles of online SEO and marketing remain the same. The syntax of web marketing methodology doesn’t change, only the message. That’s why metadata and related techniques are so important to SEO for any industry.

Questions about using these kinds of “references” should be brought to the table in initial talks with the people who will be handling the design of a web-centric campaign. Why? Because sometimes, it’s not the words that SEO pros use visibly, but those that are built into a hidden “structure” that help to explain what a tech object is and how it works within a greater system. That’s why it’s not always “what you see is what you get,” and why negotiating these data handling techniques is so important.

Adrienne Erin is a blogger who loves to write about internet marketing. You can see more of her work by following her Twitter, @adrienneerin.

Jacksonville Home Care – 159
Jacksonville Nursing Home Care – 0
Jacksonville Home Nursing Care – 0
Jacksonville In-Home Care – 94
Jacksonville In Home Senior Care – 14
Jacksonville Home Care For Elderly – 41

Online Bubble Games – 122
Bubble Games Online – 0
Play Online Bubble Games – 56
Play Bubble Games Online – 0
Play Free Bubble Games Online – 119
Play Free Online Bubble Games – 155

Play Sonic Games – 11
Free Sonic Games Online – 4
Free Online Sonic Games – 5
Online Sonic Games – 4
Sonic Games Online – 4

Online Zombie Games – 13
Free Online Zombie Games – 20
Free Zombie Games – 11
Zombie Games Online – 18
Play Zombie Games – 162

Custom Made Fish Aquariums – 3
Custom Built Fish Tanks – 4
Custom Made Fish Tanks – 3
Custom Fish Tanks – 6
Custom Made Aquariums – 4
Custom Aquarium Tanks – 7

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said, “Yes,” but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.

When the carpenter finished his work, the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front-door key to the carpenter. “This is your house,” he said, “my gift to you.”

The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then with a shock, we realize we have to live in the house we built. If we could do it over, we’d do it much differently. But we cannot go back. You are the carpenter. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall.

“Life is a do-it-yourself project” someone has said. Your attitudes and the choices you make today, build the “house” you live in tomorrow. Build Wisely!