100 Reasons To Focus On Blog Readabilityâ€Not Traffic

100 Reasons To Focus On Blog Readability- Not Traffic The purpose of content marketing isnt to increase blog traffic. Yet here we are, focusing on things like  getting more social shares  or growing our email list- things that have numbers we can measure.  In the midst of all of this focus on growth, we missed on  something incredibly important: How do we get people to read our content? Youd be surprised at how much money and effort youre putting into content that isnt being read. 100 Reasons To Focus On Blog Readability- Not Traffic via @JulieNeidlingerWhy People Arent Reading Online Content Lets put a number on it: Less than half of your blog readers actually read past 100 words. Thats 100 reasons you should focus on creating content that keeps readers interested in your entire blog post. Thats a real bummer if youre writing long-form blog posts of 2,000 words or more. In 2013, Slate author Farhad Manjoo wrote an article about how people don’t read online content. Manjoo asked a data scientist to analyze Slate’s traffic, and discovered that online readers have a dismal ability to focus. By the time readers scroll to the 100-word mark, half of them have decided to leave, though some will share the partially-read post on their way out the door. Less than half of your #blog readers read past 100 words. Heres how to fix that.Manjoo, a writer, was bothered. He noted the poor connection between shares and blog readership. Lots of social action didn’t mean deep reading, and content that was fully read didn’t always generate many tweets. Manjoo’s article was shared an impressive 13,000 times, with a majority of those shares, if the research was correct, from people who didn’t read past a few introductory paragraphs. Like Slate, you put time and money into creating great content. You assume that if it was shared, it was (mostly) read. Wrong. There is a lack of blog readership happening that those sharing numbers can’t measure. You can stop reading now if you don’t care if anyone reads your content. Banner blindness and desensitization When the web was new, maybe readers noticed banner images. This is no longer the case, however. It’s called banner blindness, and it means that repeated exposure to banner images and other marketing techniques have left readers desensitized. Even if a banner graphic or pop-up modal is important, you’ve unwittingly used a form that your reader has been trained to ignore and skip. How bad is this ability to ignore? According to HubSpot, the average clickthrough rate of display ads is 0.1%, with half of those being accidental. Readers are learning to tune things out, and this includes your content. Your best work, your most clever copy, your beautifully designed ad. Unnoticed. There is so much content marketing spilling over the dam that readers, in doing everything they can to maintain focus, have learned to block out what they think isn’t important- just like they learned to ignore banner ads. To cope with all of the content, readers default to skimming and skipping. Elmore Leonard and the skippable parts In his 10 Rules Of Writing, author Elmore Leonard ended his list with this: Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip. Leonard understood how people read books, whizzing by solid paragraphs of purple prose to get to the dialogue. The dialogue, after all, is where the characters develop, where they interact, where the action happens. Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip. - Elmore Leonard How do people read online? They read just as Leonard warned us about. They skip what they think is unimportant. They skim until they see something interesting. According to Tony Haile, CEO of Chartbeat (the same company that Slate used for data analytics) 55 percent of online readers spend less than 15 seconds on a page. Why aren’t they reading the whole thing? People are reading under time constraints. They are reading in hyperspeed. A bulleted list tells them that they can grab information quickly. Paragraphs that have more than one idea won’t fly. Every paragraph’s first sentence must be a lede. They don’t have time to read a lot of copy. They’re busy looking for something to share, not a meaty thesis that they have to think about. People are only reading what they think is relevant. Researcher Jakob Nielsen found that readers are skimming first, deciding whether or not there are enough indicators that tell them to read. They want to see keywords highlighted through the copy, whether as subheaders, bold text, or color. They don’t want to see clever subheadings. People want the conclusion first. They warm to the inverted pyramid style of writing that is familiar to journalists, laying out the conclusion first. 80 percent of a reader’s time is spent â€Å"above the fold†, i.e. before they have to start scrolling. Everything important has to be at the top. People don’t have time for snake oil. Readers look for cues that you and your copy can be trusted. They don’t like marketese (â€Å"best ever!†), and they want to see outbound links. In essence, skippable parts are the author’s vanity at the expense of readers’ time. Your content must be built for skimming. Unfortunately, content marketers are busy creating long-form posts because search engines seem to prefer them, according to Neil Patel of QuickSprout. They compound this insult using questionable graphics and call-to-action techniques because the analytics â€Å"prove† that this works. This is a problem. With the explosion of content marketing techniques that are built for  traffic hits and analytics rather than readers, we have trained our readers to ignore our content. Have we trained our readers to ignore #contentmarketing like they ignore banner ads?There is less and less leeway when it comes to getting  your content noticed in a crowded arena with weary and unwilling readers. It’s do-or-die within in a few seconds.  It has to happen in 100 words. How To Get People To Read Your Content Nielsen’s research suggests that only 20 percent of your web copy is read. How do you feel about that? You probably hoped for a better return on your financial and time investment. Your introductions really do matter. Introductions start with the hook- that matters. You have to avoid the initial bounce of readers who click in and out in an instant. But past the hook? Your first 100 words are important. Write headings that tell what the content is about. People are skimming the internet, so be sure your headings and subheadings are clear. Avoid vague headlines. That way, if someone is skimming, they know what your content is about and whether or not it's worth their time to read. If they determine it isn't worth their time... You have to let some readers go. Not everyone wants to read every piece of content you create. Perhaps a  team blog has a leg up on solo blogs in that having a team of bloggers with different writing styles  and topic ideas  means you'll have a good mix of content. Some content is a hit, some is a miss, and some topics your regular readers don't care about. That's fine. You must make your content fit how people want to use it. You may wish to write 5,000-word blog posts, but your readers may only want cursory coverage. Bend your content to fit how it will be consumed. Not getting comments? Not getting much discussion on content toward the end of a long post? Readers not sharing s from the end of your posts? Then maybe your readers want shorter posts. Stop fixating on clicks, hits, and conversions. What happens after the click is as important. Medium.com understood this from the beginning, and chose to measure how much a piece of content is read versus whether someone clicked through to it. This is your takeaway: readers use your content how they want to, not how you want them to.

Introduction to Externalities

Introduction to Externalities When making the claim that free, unregulated markets maximize the amount of value created for a society, economists either implicitly or explicitly assume that the actions and choices of producers and consumers in a market dont have any spillover effects onto third parties who are not directly involved in the market as a producer or a consumer. When this assumption is taken away, it no longer has to be the case that unregulated markets are value-maximizing, so its important to understand these spillover effects and their impacts on economic value. Economists call effects on those not involved in the market externalities, and they vary along two dimensions. First, externalities can be either negative or positive. Not surprisingly, negative externalities impose spillover costs on otherwise uninvolved parties, and positive externalities confer spillover benefits on otherwise uninvolved parties. (When analyzing externalities, its helpful to keep in mind that costs are just negative benefits and benefits are just negative costs.) Second, externalities can be either on production or consumption. In the case of an externality on production, the spillover effects occur when a product is physically produced. In the case of an externality on consumption, the spillover effects occur when a product is consumed. Combining these two dimensions gives four possibilities: Negative Externalities on Production Negative externalities on production occur when producing an item imposes a cost on those not directly involved in producing or consuming the item. For example, factory pollution is the quintessential negative externality on production, since the costs of pollution are felt by everyone and not just those who are producing and consuming the products that are causing the pollution. Positive Externalities on Production Positive externalities can occur during produciton such as when a popular food, such as cinnamon buns or candy, produces a desirable smell during manufacturing, releasing this positive externality to the nearby community. Another example would be adding jobs in an area with high unemployment can benefit the community putting more consumers with money to spend into that communitry  and also reducing the number of unemployed people there. Negative Externalities on Consumption Negative externalities on consumption occur when consuming an item actually imposes a cost on others. For example, the market for cigarettes has a negative externality on consumption because consuming cigarettes imposes a cost on others not involved in the market for cigarettes in the form of second-hand smoke. Positive Externalities on Consumption Because the presence of externalities makes unregulated markets inefficient, externalities can be viewed as a type of market failure. This market failure, at a fundamental level, arises because of a violation of the notion of well-defined property rights, which is, in fact, a requirement for free markets to function efficiently. This violation of property rights occurs because there are is no clear ownership of air, water, open spaces, and so on, even though society is affected by what happens to such entities. When negative externalities are present, taxes can actually make markets more efficient for society. When positive externalities are present, subsidies can make markets more efficient for society. These finds are in contrast with the conclusion that taxing or subsidizing well-functioning markets (where no externalities are present) reduces economic welfare.

Tthe Role of the Fashion Buyer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Tthe Role of the Fashion Buyer - Essay Example The essay "Tthe Role of the Fashion Buyer" concerns the fashion buyer. In this perspective, the roles of a merchandiser and a buyer are complementary but deviate to distinct paths. In a traditional aspect, buyers focus on the visual aspects of garments while merchandising focuses on the analytical and numerical aspects of garments. A buyer’s principal objective pertains to identifying market appropriate garments that can as well satisfy the company’s profit requirements. This overall responsibility split into several roles. To begin with, it is crucial to consider types of buying roles in terms of high street and high end perspective. This splits in terms of retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers. In high street fashion, a buyer may be involved with stocking a shop that deals with designer brands. However, high street fashion deals with other garments apart from designer brands. In a multiple retail store, a buyer would concern with a whole process of product developm ent and arranging delivery of finished products. In independent clothes’ retailing, a buyer purchases garments from wholesalers and sell at one’s suitable price. In terms of a multiple retail store, a buyer possesses several specific tasks. To begin with, a buyer should select a range of garments that satisfy an optimum profit plan. Target margin refers to the profit that occurs after deductions of discounts and unsold stock. In this sense, a buyer’s task pertains to maximizing sales, of purchased stock, and minimizing unsold stock. Besides, a buyer should consider specific profit margin for single products. This necessitates that a buyer works with a merchandiser for a proper mix of stock. In addition, they observe trends of other businesses for interpretation to target customers. In addition, a buyer has a task of identifying a reliable supply base. Buyers must be knowledgeable of ineffective suppliers’ effect on sales and eventual profits (Jackson & Sh aw 2000, p. 67). More importantly, it is vital for a supplier to consider quality in terms of the cost that the supplier imposes. Furthermore, a buyer should consider the reputation of a manufacturer and supplier in terms of unethical practices. The media are so sensitive that it can pull down a major fashion store because of such an affiliation. After choosing a dependable supplier, a buyer considers the input from entities such as design garment technology and merchandising. This necessitates a process whereby the buyer negotiates of cost prices to supplies. This requires a buyer to possess skills of negotiation in terms of levers. Besides, buyers should evaluate and research on relevant and research market (Entwistle 2009, p. 57). This information is so diverse that it should include future fashion trends, past and current sales. In addition, the buyer should evaluate a consumer’s closest need. Buyers should also check competitor stores for evaluation of garments and price s. Besides, buyers should establish communication channels with the management, suppliers and product teams. For instance, supplier communication is vital for realistic, accurate and realistic about the specific terms of a placed order. Product range entails significant presentation in which creative details are clearly evaluated. In addition, buyers have the mandate of considering supplies within the constraints of a store’s budget. Other parameters include consideration such as historical orientation on sales and color trends. In addition, a

Fast-food Restaurant and Reasons for Obesity Research Paper

Fast-food Restaurant and Reasons for Obesity - Research Paper Example First Problem (Genes) Genes have an impact upon each facet of human physiology and adaptation and hence obesity is no exception. Obesity essentially runs in families which further suggest the fact that it might have genetic reasons. It can be stated that an explanation of the obesity epidemic needs to include the role of the genetic and that of the environment. According to the ‘thrifty genotype’ hypothesis, the genes that assisted ancestors to sustain for longer time are now being challenged by the surroundings where the food is found in abundant. Although there is decline in the rate of physical activity and increase in the rate of calorie intake that is responsible for obesity, it needs to be considered that these trends are being practiced on the background of genetic variation in the population. The individual’s genetic background can be considered as a significant determinant related to vulnerability to obesity. It needs to be remembered that people with obesity related genes are not intended to be obese. However, they are likely to have a greater risk related to obesity (BBC News, 2009). Second Problem (Eating Habits and Physical Activity) Eating habits and physical activity can be considered as one of the main reasons behind obesity. It can be observed that Americans are found to be consuming higher calories in the present times. Only 10% of the Americans are found to be consuming a healthy diet in keeping with the federal nutrition recommendations (World Health Organization, 2012). The diet of the Americans is found to be too high in terms of saturated as well as trans fat, refined sugars and is low in terms of fruits, vegetables, calcium and fiber which increases the likelihood of obesity. Moreover, it has further been found that nearly 50% of the American adults do not obtain the suggested amount of the physical activity. It is the regular exercise that assists in preventing obesity by a significant extent (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). Solution to Genetic Problem With the assistance of the new molecular tools as well as resources, studies can be undertaken in order to seek common obesity gen es in the near future. These genes can assist in the determination of the root causes of the problems related to obesity. It will also potentially advocate new therapies or interventions and thus offer tools in order to comprehend how people respond to their environment in order to become obese or remain lean. In the modern day context, it is significant for the obese people to work hard in comparison to others in order to maintain a healthy body weight by means of long-term and sustained lifestyle alterations. Although it is difficult to change people’s genetic make-up and to control the environment however the obese people can learn regarding controlling the lifestyle choices that they make (Lyon & Hirschhorn, 2005). Solution to the Problem of Eating Habits and Physical Activity Consumption of less

Climate Change and National Security Essay Example for Free

Climate Change and National Security Essay That same month, the UN Security Council—at the initiative of the UK government—held its first-ever debate on the potential impact of climate change on peace and security. In October 2007, the Nobel committee recognized this emerging threat to peace and security by awarding former vice president Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change its peace prize. In November 2007, wo think tanks, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), released another report on the issue, concluding from a range of possible scenarios of climate change that, â€Å"We already know enough to appreciate that the cascading consequences of unchecked climate change are to include a range of security problems that will have dire global consequences. †2 The new interest in climate change and national security has been a valuable warning about the potential security consequences of global warming, but the proposed solutions that accompanied recent efforts have emphasized broader climate policy rather than specific responses to security threats. Because the links between climate change and national security are worthy of concern in their own right, and because some significant climate change is inevitable, strategies that go beyond long-run efforts to rein in greenhouse gas emissions are required. This report sharpens the connections between climate change and national security and recommends specific policies to address the security consequences of climate change for the United States. In all areas of climate change policy, adaptation and mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions) should be viewed as complements rather than competing alternatives—and the national security dimension is no exception. Some policies will be targeted at adaptation, most notably risk-reduction and preparedness policies at home and abroad. These could spare the United States the need to mobilize its military later to rescue people and to prevent regional disorder—and would ensure a more effective response if such mobilization was nonetheless necessary. Others will focus on mitigation, 2 CSIS/CNAS, The Age of Consequences: The Foreign Policy and National Security Implications of Global Climate Change, November 2007; available at http://www. cnas. org/climatechange. 2 which is almost universally accepted as an essential part of the response to climate change. Mitigation efforts will need to be international and involve deep changes in the world’s major economies, such as those of China and India. As a result, the processes of working together to craft and implement them provide opportunities to advance American security interests.

The Revolution and Low Income :: Social Issues, Family Size, Poverty

This paper tells how certain factors characterize family size. Also, tells why poor people in evolving countries usually have large numbers of children. Most people are persuaded by their family values and environment. However, some people are faced with the challenged of survive. Generally, poor people have so many children due to lack of education and no resources to take care of their children. Another is revolutions for human determined family size. The rich nations are above average and middle-income nations are average; unlike, the low-income nations are below average (p.198). There are other key factors that also determine, â€Å"why poor people having larger families?† This essay will answer the following questions: 1.) Describe the factors that influence family size? 2.) Why do poor people in developing countries typically have large numbers of children? The Factors that Influence Family Size In reading Chapter 8 revolutions gave Homo sapiens an authoritative role of the outlook that humans are defined as revolutionary. The revolutions played a major part in humans coming out of confined cultures to the universal human cultures today (p.194). There are five factors that influence family size. Wright and Boorse (2011) suggested they are: 1.) Neolithic Revolution - changed the way human lived. The shift from hunting & gathering to agriculture led to permanent settlements, the establishment of social classes, and the eventual rise of civilizations (p.194). 2.) Industrial Revolution - changed the ways by how the world produced its goods. During the 17th and 18th the human population were a billion strong. This was not political, social or cultural revolution but economic (p.194-5). 3.) Medical Revolution - improved medical conditions for humans. In the late 1800 Louis Pasteur and others indicated diseases were originated from bacteria, viruses and parasites (p.196). 4.) The Green Revolution - the effective use of pesticides, and improved fertilization, irrigation, mechanization, and soil conservation techniques. This happened around World War II (p.196). 5.) The Newest Revolution - internet, computers, nanotechnology, robotics and solar technologies (p.197). Therefore, revolutions have empowered family growth due to evolvement of tools, medicines and technologies. In today society hands tools are mostly operated by batteries or electricity. Also, there are preventative measurements that keep you from contracting diseases. Besides, computers and others technologies updates everyone on what is happening in the world today. Why Poor People have Large Number of Children According to Wright and Boorse (2011) defined poor people have large number of children as a result of income and sociocultural conditions (p. The Revolution and Low Income :: Social Issues, Family Size, Poverty This paper tells how certain factors characterize family size. Also, tells why poor people in evolving countries usually have large numbers of children. Most people are persuaded by their family values and environment. However, some people are faced with the challenged of survive. Generally, poor people have so many children due to lack of education and no resources to take care of their children. Another is revolutions for human determined family size. The rich nations are above average and middle-income nations are average; unlike, the low-income nations are below average (p.198). There are other key factors that also determine, â€Å"why poor people having larger families?† This essay will answer the following questions: 1.) Describe the factors that influence family size? 2.) Why do poor people in developing countries typically have large numbers of children? The Factors that Influence Family Size In reading Chapter 8 revolutions gave Homo sapiens an authoritative role of the outlook that humans are defined as revolutionary. The revolutions played a major part in humans coming out of confined cultures to the universal human cultures today (p.194). There are five factors that influence family size. Wright and Boorse (2011) suggested they are: 1.) Neolithic Revolution - changed the way human lived. The shift from hunting & gathering to agriculture led to permanent settlements, the establishment of social classes, and the eventual rise of civilizations (p.194). 2.) Industrial Revolution - changed the ways by how the world produced its goods. During the 17th and 18th the human population were a billion strong. This was not political, social or cultural revolution but economic (p.194-5). 3.) Medical Revolution - improved medical conditions for humans. In the late 1800 Louis Pasteur and others indicated diseases were originated from bacteria, viruses and parasites (p.196). 4.) The Green Revolution - the effective use of pesticides, and improved fertilization, irrigation, mechanization, and soil conservation techniques. This happened around World War II (p.196). 5.) The Newest Revolution - internet, computers, nanotechnology, robotics and solar technologies (p.197). Therefore, revolutions have empowered family growth due to evolvement of tools, medicines and technologies. In today society hands tools are mostly operated by batteries or electricity. Also, there are preventative measurements that keep you from contracting diseases. Besides, computers and others technologies updates everyone on what is happening in the world today. Why Poor People have Large Number of Children According to Wright and Boorse (2011) defined poor people have large number of children as a result of income and sociocultural conditions (p.

Midterm part 1

Prior to the sixteenth century, racism – in the modern sense of that term – was practically unknown. Oppression and slavery had existed, of course, but before the beginning of the African slave-trade, these had never been based on skin color. Racism, like all forms of oppression, is ultimately rooted in a capitalistic economic system that relies on heavy-handed control and oppressive authority in order to maintain itself and concentrate the greatest amount of wealth into as few hands as possible. When there â€Å"legal† controls and sheer force begin to fail, it becomes necessary for the â€Å"ruling class† to create a mythology.   In early Virginia, this mythology took the form of what was essentially a â€Å"divide and conquer† strategy. Those Englishmen who came to the Chesapeake region of their own volition in the early 17th century fell into one of two categories; landless gentry, generally the younger sons of aristocrats – and landless peasants who came as indentured servants in hopes of receiving land of their own land once the term of their service contract had expired.   The Portuguese had started the African slave trade over a century earlier. The English had made attempts to enslave the local native Indians, but as the Indians were masters at surviving in their home environment, it was nearly impossible to keep them as slaves. Africans, uprooted and separated from their culture and isolated in a foreign environment seemed an ideal solution (Zinn, 25-27). While Eric Fone argues that white Englishmen in Jamestown and the Chesapeake area had varying degrees of â€Å"liberty,† the fact is that true liberty depended on the ownership of land. In Fone’s â€Å"spectrum,† the freest people were those who of course owned their own land. Indentures were somewhere in the middle of this scale, enjoying a â€Å"partial† freedom. This may have been true, depending on your definition. An indenture agreed to become a virtual â€Å"slave† for a term of seven years – which is what indentured servitude entailed – a peasant could get passage to North America and a land grant of fifty acres once their period of servitude was completed. However in practice, this rarely happened; indentured servitude was so harsh that many died before the terms of their contract was over (Fone). Others ran off to join local Indians (the reverse, significantly, was never true), or gave up their claim to land in exchange for a shorter term. Despite underlying racism on the part of some English gentry (mostly stemming from cultural associations with the color black), the nature of slavery at that time was different from it was later to become. African slaves during the early history of the colony had many legal rights similar to those of indentured servants. The line between indentured servitude and slaver could often become blurred. There was no real reason to separate black and white during the first seventy years or so, nor deny blacks the status that was extended to any other worker. In fact, Africans slaves and English indentures did the same work, often side-by-side. There is documented evidence of fraternization, socializing and even sexual relations across racial lines (Zinn, 31-32) By the time the Virginia colony was viable and indentured servants lived long enough to complete their terms, arable land had become unavailable, due to the increasing number of landless gentry who had managed to acquire large estates – often illegally. This led to serious tensions between the growing numbers of indentures who were unable to claim the land to which the law (in theory) entitled them, and the large estate owners who controlled the best acreage. Eventually, there was an uprising by the landless working class against the landed gentry. After â€Å"Bacon’s Rebellion,† the ruling class, began to understand the precariousness of their position.   One problem was the possibility of further uprisings among disenfranchised Englishmen. The other was that of a slave uprising. The worst case scenario was that in which white indentures and black slaves should join forces.   Since these two groups faced many of the same problems, this was a real possibility. The answer was to pursue a strategy of â€Å"divide and conquer.†   Beginning in the 1660’s, a number of increasingly oppressive â€Å"slave codes† were legislated.   Eventually, this turned Africans into something less than human from a legal standpoint. Masters could literally beat a slave to death without legal repercussions; a slave could be dismembered as a form of punishment; manumission was made far more difficult. Most significantly, a 1670 law specified that African servants were slaves for life, and children born to slave women were automatically slaves as well. Next, the gentry began extending privileges to the landless working class, giving them a greater stake in Virginia society. The vote was extended to more white Protestant males than before, and the House of Burgesses – which represented the lower classes – was granted more power. Further action was taken to make western lands available to settlement. The result was that these token privileges reinforced an idea among poor and working class whites that they were somehow â€Å"better† than the Africans. The irony lies in the fact that if Africans had never been imported to Virginia, indentured white servitude would certainly have become institutionalized. The Virginia colony – and perhaps all of America – may very well have become the feudal society wished for by today’s trans-national corporate capitalists and their neo-conservative lap dogs in the current U.S. Administration and Congress. Works Cited Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty! An American History.   New York: W.W. Norton,   2006. Zinn, Howard. A People’s History of The United States (3rd ed.) New York: Harper Collins, 2003.

Neighbourhood watch research study

Aim of study: Lethbridge, a small suburb has implemented a small neighborhood watch program. The study aims at examining the impact of the program on volumes of complaints about victimization, fear of crime, and deviant behavior or unsociable acts such as graffiti or disorderly behavior that cause annoyance in the local neighborhood Scope of Research study: The research study on Neighborhood watch will proceed along the following steps. Prompt attention to problems of the study. Personal contact with community leaders and police executives involved in study Data collection by survey, observation, inspection and examination Informal interviews with local residents Drafting questionnaire and schedules Pre-testing questionnaires and schedules Examination of results of pre-tests to detect and eliminate inconsistencies Drafting revised final questionnaires Outlining field interviews Analyzing collected data Drafting of final report Source of research design: This research design has been inspired by the Design used by Samuel Stouffer in his studies of the American Soldier. It is a routine design, which is at once practical for applied research as well as rigorous to scientific prescription. Progress of research- The problem under research was identified- whether the Neighborhood watch program has led to a decline in complaints of victimization and fear of crime, unsocial acts and suspicious behavior that may cause annoyance or alarm to the local residents. A systematic analysis of the problems involved study of crime figures and public perceptions of the sense of security before and after commencement of the program, evaluating the extent and application of community mobilization and sensitization, checking of documentation relating to actual implementation, assessment of the quality of collaboration among local residents and the integration of the beat police into the program. Neighborhood watch being one of the acknowledged strategies in community policing, the study would also consider if crime prevention and other objectives of the program could have been better achieved if neighborhood watch was combined with other strategies commonly adopted in the community policing paradigm. To make the study academically meaningful and empirically sound, community leaders and beat officers were interviewed to elicit important information like public perception of the sense of security in the local neighborhood and to collect figures of reported crime as well as victimization before and after program, extent of community participation, nature of crime prevention strategies such as target hardening by means of physical measures as well as by community mobilization to promote social cohesion, the employment of other location specific tactics if any etc Collection of Data on the fear of crime including a) complaints on crime, suspicious activities reported, deviant behavior b) Any Increase/decrease in complaints over a period d) No of people enrolled neighborhood watch scheme e) Partnerships with other resident associations Informal interview with people concerned- Interview with citizens will unfold information on the motivation, efficacy and success of the Neighborhood watch program. Particular emphasis on whether collaborative efforts to promote safety in the neighborhood has lead also to a sense of ownership of the neighborhood by all individual residents and the creation of a community of interests despite the heterogeneous nature of the community.   Also how community mobilization and cooperative crime prevention efforts promote social cohesion, which in turn brings about understanding local problems that ultimately lead to crime. A Questionnaire and Schedule can be designed and distributed in each target home. It will contain questions on fear of crime, the level of security enjoyed by them, on their awareness of psychological or other criminogenic factors that contribute to crime, deviance or antisocial tendencies among the young, shared values on the objectives and methodology of community crime prevention, perceptions on problems that confront the Neighboutrhood Watch program, any areas that need reform and community evaluation of the success of the program A pre-testing drive of questionnaires and schedules can be undertaken. The results of the Pretest can be examined and scrutinized to check for inconsistencies or errors. A thoroughly revised and final questionnaire can be devised and distributed. Results of field interviews may be outlined. Collected Data maybe analyzed. A final report is presented. The results should indicate positive impact of Neighborhood watch programs on reducing crime and the fear of crime in this area. Theoretical background of the Study: a) Effective crime prevention is achieved not by policing alone, but through the cooperative effort of the community based on a mature understanding of the causative factors of crime. The community in this context is the local neighborhood that has a commonality of interests in prevention of crime and in enhancing the sense of security of all local residents. If the community is properly mobilized and educated, it can evolve joint and collaborative strategies that can break the crime triangle- the victim, the offender and the location- at a suitable point. Neighborhood watch is one such strategy. b) The Study assumes that the best way to enlist Community collaboration in reducing crime is through two means-1) Physical Means- This is called as Target Hardening in which each home is assessed for its vulnerability to victimization and measures are designed to deter the offender from gaining easy access to the potential victim. This can be most effectively attempted at the stage of planning construction and if this has not been possible, then through suitable modification of existing structure. Target hardening can be more effective if, in addition to physical restructuring, the immediate neighbors undertake to keep a watch on the potential victim’s premises and access points in order to detect and report any suspicious activity to the police promptly. c) The Study further proceeds on the less obvious assumption hat that target hardening through physical measures can be most effectively supplemented by eliminating alienation and anonymity in the local neighborhood by means of community mobilization and social cohesion. This is because when local residents come together in a spirit of fraternity and mutual support, they are able to see more clearly criminogenic factors, whether on account of deviation or neighborhood decline and disorder. It is then possible to identify local problems of petty annoyance or disorderly behavior that when neglected ultimately lead to crime and to devise effective strategies to find suitable solutions through a process of constant consultation and consensus. d) The Study also assumes that today the idea gaining currency is that prevention of crime-especially crime involving neighborhoods is a responsibility that must be shared by the Police as well as the citizens in a spirit of partnership. The police has traditionally promoted the idea that they are exclusively responsible for crime control and that the community has no role whatever in the matter. The community on its part seldom understands or appreciates that factors that cause crime such as poverty or psychological aberration is beyond the capacity of the police to control. As a result crime prevention strategies in the past placed too much reliance on the police agency as crime fighters. Sociological research and field experiments conducted in the USA during the 1970s clearly brought out the fact that an increase in police presence hardly ever led to a decline in crime; stringent enforcement at best led to displacement. On the other hand, foot patrol, which brought the police and the community closer, did in fact have a positive impact in reducing crime and the fear of crime in the community. Neighborhood watch as an effective crime prevention strategy evolved from the important realization that the police alone cannot solve the problems of crime and disorder and that the community is the best resource for controlling crime. The community policing philosophy that has changed the profile of policing in many democratic countries has emerged from this realization of the role of community participation in policing efforts and its partnership with the police in identifying local problems that lead to crime and in devising effective solutions for local problems. e) The Study also takes note of the fact that field experiments conducted in many States and cities in the USA demonstrate that not only police effectiveness in controlling crime is enhanced by community policing strategies such as neighborhood watch, they also help the police to earn legitimacy from the community, that is qualitatively different from legitimacy accorded by law alone. The police also therefore stand to gain such strategies of crime prevention undertaken in partnership with the community. Findings and recommendations:   For crime control society has traditionally relied on formal police organizations and their time-honored practices of deterrence such as random patrol, fast response, strong armed enforcement represented by terms such as zero tolerance and investigation and prosecution of offenders. But police ineffectiveness and police inadequacy in dealing with crime have been sufficiently well documented. Community policing that has replaced the traditional enforcement style of policing is based on the assumption that the police need to develop positive relations with the community, involve the community in the quest for crime control and crime prevention and further pool their resources with those of the community to address the most pressing concerns of its members. The police strategy is adapted to fit the needs of particular neighborhoods and neighborhood watch happens to be one that suits most communities, once they have been properly mobilized and educated. The Study has been based on the assumptions of the community policing paradigm and has relied upon the responses of members of the community which is the local neighborhood in this case and empirical data collected through official police sources to develop a reliable understanding of the impact of neighborhood watch on important concerns of the community such as crime and the fear of crime and victimization, neighborhood decline and disorder and the lack of social cohesion that results from a fear of crime and distrust of others. Though the program alone will not be capable of eliminating crime and disorder entirely by itself, the Study amply demonstrates that in combination with other strategies of community policing it can go a long way in reducing crime and the fear of crime and additionally bring about greater social cohesion. The Study however shows that there are certain minimum conditions for mobilizing a local neighborhood for effective participation and collaboration in crime prevention work. First of all, people must understand the need to cooperate is vital from the point of common security. People must also come to believe that there are solutions to the problems of insecurity that they confront each day and solutions must be such that they can comprehend. People must also be able to develop faith in the efficacy of the new method. These are conditions that are not easy to fulfill, but if the proper police leadership takes up the challenge of mobilizing and educating the community, it should not be too difficult a task as several experiments have shown in many parts of the world. Neighborhood watch is moreover a very visible and demonstrable strategy that can earn trust and credibility if it is properly managed. The Study therefore shows that neighborhood watch is a program full of potential and promise if motivated leadership of the police and the local community initiates it REFERENCES- 1.Bucqueroux and Trojanowicz 1990 â€Å"Community Policing- A contemporary perspective† Anderson publishing Co. Cincinnati. 2. Bayley, David H.1998   â€Å" What works in Policing† Oxford University Press 3.FriedMann, Robert.R 1992   â€Å"Community Policing† Harvester wheat Sheaf. 4. Goldstein H.1977 â€Å" Policing a Free society â€Å" Ballinger publishing. 5. Manning K.1978† Policing- A view from the Street†- Goodyear Publishing co. 6.Rosenbaum Dennis P.1994 â€Å" The Challenge of community Policing† Sage.                        

The Magic LinkedIn® Formula

The Magic LinkedIn ® Formula My e-book, How to Write a KILLER LinkedIn ® Profile, enumerates 18 â€Å"Mistakes to Avoid† as well as 7 â€Å"Bonus Tips.† That’s a total of 25 items that I think are important for every LinkedIn ® user to understand and implement (actually more than 25, since many of the chapters have subpoints as well). Nevertheless, on Wednesday I will be giving a presentation at American Family Insurance’s DreamBank on â€Å"Top Five LinkedIn ® Mistakes.† Not 25, but 5. It’s not easy to choose the top five, but I managed to do it. Not only that, but I even narrowed it down to three general categories. I call this my â€Å"Magic LinkedIn ® Formula† and even if you’re unable to attend my presentation live on Wednesday, you can benefit from the formula. Success on LinkedIn ® comes down to what I have dubbed the â€Å"3 Ls† (not to be confused with the class of students in their third year of law school): Locatability Likeability ALiveness 1. Locatability If no one finds you on LinkedIn ®, there’s not much point in having a profile. Unless you are in a rare situation where you prefer not to appear in LinkedIn ® searches, easy locatability means you will get in front of the people searching for someone like you. For job seekers and business owners, being found by a target audience is one big key to success. Increasing your locatability entails two main actions: 1) putting the right keywords in the right places, and 2) growing your network aggressively and appropriately to at least 500 connections. A combination of well-placed keywords and a robust network is a winning LinkedIn ® strategy. 2. Likeability Just because someone finds you on LinkedIn ® doesn’t mean that person will contact you. If your profile is sloppy, incomplete, unfocused, or off target, you will probably be skipped over for someone with a better presentation. If, however, people like what they see, they will be more likely to request a connection or conversation. Likeability means sounding like a human being and not a robot; listing accomplishments without bragging; having an attractive photo and format; and putting your personality onto the page. The more you distinguish yourself as unique, the more you will encourage valuable interaction. 3. ALiveness I like to say that having a LinkedIn ® profile is like having a gym membership. You only get value from it if you do the work! Sitting on your butt will not get you 6-pack abs †¦ or a new client or job through LinkedIn ®. Aliveness on LinkedIn ® includes but is not limited to updating your profile, participating in groups, sharing valuable information, engaging in discussions, and taking relationships off line to the phone or even a coffee shop! That’s my Magic LinkedIn ® Formula: Locatability, Likeability and ALiveness! Are you using it? If you already are doing everything listed above, great- you are a power LinkedIn ® user. In that case, I recommend that you dive more deeply into How to Write a KILLER LinkedIn ® Profile for the fine points that will bring your LinkedIn ® success up even another level. I’ll have time for QA at my DreamBank presentation on Wednesday, and you get to participate too. What burning questions can I answer about my Magic LinkedIn ® Formula and your LinkedIn ® profile challenges?

Geographic Information About Morocco

Geographic Information About Morocco Population: 31,627,428 (July 2010 estimate)Capital: RabatArea: 172,414 square miles (446,550 sq km)Bordering Countries: Algeria, Western Sahara and Spain (Cueta and Melilla)Coastline: 1,140 miles (1,835 km)Highest Point: Jebel Toubkal at 13,665 feet (4,165 m)Lowest Point: Sebkha Tah at -180 feet (-55 m)Morocco is a country located in Northern Africa along the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It is officially called the Kingdom of Morocco and it is known for its long history, rich culture and diverse cuisine. Moroccos capital city is Rabat but its largest city is Casablanca. History of Morocco Morocco has a long history that has been shaped over decades by its geographic location on both the  Atlantic Ocean  and the Mediterranean Sea. The Phoenicians were the first people to control the area, but the Romans, Visigoths, Vandals and Byzantine Greeks also controlled it. In the 7th century B.C.E, Arabic peoples entered the region and their civilization, as well as  Islam  thrived there.In the 15th century, the Portuguese controlled the Atlantic coast of Morocco. By the 1800s, though, several other European countries were interested in the region because of its strategic location. France was one of the first of these and in 1904, the United Kingdom officially recognized Morocco as part of Frances sphere of influence. In 1906, the Algeciras Conference established policing duties in Morocco for France and Spain, and then in 1912, Morocco became a protectorate of France with the Treaty of Fes.Following the end of World War II, Moroccans began to push for independence and i n 1944, Istiqlal or Independence Party was created to lead the movement for independence. According to the United States Department of State in 1953, the popular Sultan Mohammed V was exiled by France. He was replaced by Mohammed Ben Aarafa, which caused Moroccans to push for independence even more. In 1955, Mohammed V was able to return to Morocco and on March 2, 1956, the country gained its independence.Following its independence, Morocco grew as it took over control of some Spanish-controlled areas in 1956 and 1958. In 1969, Morocco expanded again when it took control of the Spanish enclave of Ifni in the south. Today, however, Spain still controls Ceuta and Melilla, two coastal enclaves in northern Morocco. Government of Morocco Today the government of Morocco is considered a constitutional monarchy. It has an executive branch with a chief of state (a position that is filled by the king) and a head of government (the prime minister). Morocco also has a bicameral Parliament which consists of the Chamber of Counselors and the Chamber of Representatives for its legislative branch. The judicial branch of government in Morocco is made up of the Supreme Court. Morocco is divided into 15 regions for local administration and it has a legal system that is based on Islamic law as well as that of the French and Spanish. Economics and Land Use of Morocco Recently Morocco has undergone several changes in its economic policies that have allowed it to become more stable and grow. It is currently working to develop its service and industrial sectors. The main industries in Morocco today are phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, the making of leather goods, textiles, construction, energy,  and tourism. Since tourism is a major industry in the country, services are as well. In addition, agriculture also plays a role in Moroccos economy and the main products in this sector include barley, wheat, citrus, grapes, vegetables, olives, livestock,  and wine. Geography and Climate of Morocco Morocco is geographically located in Northern Africa along the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Algeria and Western Sahara. It also still shares borders with two enclaves that are considered a part of Spain - Ceuta and Melilla. The topography of Morocco varies as its northern coast and interior regions are mountainous, while its coast features fertile plains where much of the countrys agriculture takes place. There are also valleys interspersed between Moroccos mountainous areas. The highest point in Morocco is Jebel Toubkal which rises to 13,665 feet (4,165 m), while its lowest point is Sebkha Tah which is -180 feet (-55 m) below sea level.The climate of Morocco, like its topography, also varies with location. Along the coast, it is Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and mild winters. Farther inland, the climate is more extreme and the closer one gets to the Sahara Desert, the hotter and more extreme it gets. For example Moroccos capital, Rabat is locat ed on the coast and it has an average January low temperature of 46ËšF (8ËšC) and an average July high temperature of 82ËšF (28ËšC). By contrast, Marrakesh, which is located farther inland, has an average July high temperature of 98ËšF (37ËšC) and a January average low of 43ËšF (6ËšC). Sources: Central Intelligence Agency. (20 December 2010). CIA - The World Factbook - Morocco.  https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mo.html Infoplease.com. (n.d.). Morocco: History, Geography, Government, and Culture - Infoplease.com.  infoplease.com/country/morocco.html United States  Department of State. (26 January 2010). Morocco.   state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5431.htm Wikipedia.org. (28 December 2010). Morocco- Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morocco.

It has been said that the UK supermarket sector is an oligopoly Essay

It has been said that the UK supermarket sector is an oligopoly - Essay Example ...................................... Conclusion............................................................................................................ References It has been said that the UK supermarket sector is an oligopoly Introduction The UK supermarket sector is most definitely properly defined as an oligopoly based on the market structure that guides its business principles, the relevance of the consumer in building business strategy, the level of interdependence between competing supermarket companies, and the sector’s influence in pricing and supply within its market. An oligopoly is defined as â€Å"a market dominated by a small number of participants who are able to collectively exert control over supply and market prices† (investorwords.com, 2011, p.1). It is the interdependency between the few firms, such as Morrison’s and Aldi, that makes this market sector an oligopoly in relation to marketing efforts and pricing structures that drive strateg ic intentions. This paper describes the market characteristics of the supermarket sector in the UK that label these businesses as part of an oligopoly. The market structure All of the major supermarket competitors in the UK maintain a high degree of market share in the foods industry and are affected little by smaller competitors in terms of profitability. An oligopoly is able to affect the market by maintaining this high market share and control by being able to influence pricing negotiations with suppliers who rely on their continued successes in order to, themselves, remain profitable. This is what characterizes an oligopoly when a market is dominated by only a handful of large-scale competitors. In this structure, firms can have either differentiated or non-differentiated products offered to consumers where advertising and marketing objectives characterize one of the most important features related to business strategy and competitive behaviours (Boyes & Melvin, 2005). Why is th is? Supermarkets rely on consumer attitudes and behaviours to ensure they remain profitable which are always subject to fluctuating demand schedules and eating habits. Also based on price, consumers will choose one competitor over another in this market structure which drives the necessity for more innovation in marketing and the routine environmental and competitive analyses required to remain successful and profitable. Under macroeconomic theory, an oligopoly is considered to be the most realistic market structure since there are a diverse range of externalities and internal business behaviours that impact whether the firms gain higher volumes of market share in a local or international region (Boyes & Melvin). These supermarkets in their oligopoly maintain a downward-sloping demand curve where the shape of the curve is directly related to consumer behaviour patterns and the behaviours of competition in relation to strategy, marketing and advertising. This is why the supermarket s ector in the UK is considered the most realistic of market structures as the importance of competitive behaviours and marketing are in-line with contemporary business practices with most non-supermarket organisations. Because of their dominance in this market sector, suppliers are made weak when considering consumer-based commodity products (quickmba.com, 2011) as they rely directly on the purchasing power of the supermarkets to maintain their production levels, adequate staffing and overall operational strategies related to the intent of building higher profitability. This gives