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miercuri, 19 martie 2014

Photos: Army Veterans Receive the Medal of Honor

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Photos: Army Veterans Receive the Medal of Honor

Yesterday, President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to 24 Army veterans in recognition of their valor during major combat operations in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Take a look at the pictures from yesterday's ceremony, and find out more about the honorees.

12 days: One thing we all can do

Hi everyone,

At the end of the day, most folks aren't going to sign up for health insurance simply because Barack or I say that it's a good idea.

They're going to get covered because their friends and family members reach out to them and tell them: "I care. And I want to make sure you're looking out for yourself. So get signed up."

So with just 12 days to go until the deadline for getting health insurance in 2014, I'd like you to do something right now:

Think of someone you know who doesn't currently have health insurance. Maybe it's a friend or a coworker who you know has been meaning to sign up, but just hasn't gotten around to it yet. Maybe it's a family member who still hasn't taken a look at the options in the health insurance marketplace. Maybe it's you.

And I'd like you to please hit "forward" on this email.

That's how you can remind them that they've only got 12 days left to get covered in 2014. It's how you can let them know that you're paying attention, and that you want to make sure they follow through.

That's what this all really comes down to: Looking out for one another, and being accountable to one another.

Send that personal message right now by passing this email along to someone you know who needs to see it.

Tell them to visit HealthCare.gov, and to get themselves enrolled for health coverage. Tell them you care.

That's the only way this works, and it truly could not be more important.

Thank you for all that you're doing -- for yourself, and for the people you love.

First Lady Michelle Obama

When Building Communities Isn't the Best Way to Build Links

Posted: 18 Mar 2014 04:15 PM PDT

Posted by John-Henry

This post was originally in YouMoz, and was promoted to the main blog because it provides great value and interest to our community. The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of Moz, Inc.

I entered SEO as a link builder. In 2010, my job was easy and my toolset mainly consisted of article marketing software, directory submissions, comment posting and link networks. Fast forward four years >> I now solely create visually engaging content in an effort to scale link building. I didn't make this career shift because "link building is no longer effective;" quite the opposite: I changed focus from manual to scalable link building because I now work in more competitive industries and my clients generally need 100+ links per asset to move the needleâ€"content helps me meet that demand to acquire large amounts of new linking root domains at once.

Over the past two years I've become obsessed with content (and Reddit, unfortunately). I've started to keep the companies that are producing the best and most successful digital content on my radar. Two companies that have recently started to stick out are Movoto and Airbnb. Both are scaling link acquisition via content, but they are going about it in entirely different ways. Airbnb is growing its own grassroots community, while Movoto is actively targeting existing and passionate online communities with its content marketing.

Before we dive in, both companies are growing rapidly in terms of organic search according to SEMrush:

Airbnb

Movoto

Both of these companies are starting to do exceptionally well in the SERPs, primarily due to either growing (Airbnb) or targeting (Movoto) an audience.

Perception, product, and content

Airbnb and Movoto are both trying to rank for extremely competitive terms, however their content marketing strategies couldn't be further from each other, and that fact hinges mainly on two aspects of these businesses' models:

The length of the customer purchase journey
The probability of repeat purchases

First, let's think about both of these sites' customer purchase journeys and their customer lifetime value (LTV). Airbnb is selling rentals, which someone could need multiple times a year. Movoto is selling homes. The price point and level of commitment required from the customer are wildly different. More importantly, people generally only look for a new home during or after a major life event, like marriage, death, having a baby, or getting a new job. On the other hand, you could decide to take a random weekend ski trip at 4:15 p.m. on a Friday and book an Airbnb almost instantly. If Airbnb customers really enjoy their Airbnb experience, there's a good chance that they will rent another Airbnb and continue to add to the company's bottom line. However, no matter how awesome a time someone has buying a home, there's a very small chance that they will decide to repeat the experience anytime soon.

Movoto and Airbnb's business models differ in the sense that Airbnb is incrementally extracting value out of customers over a long period of time, while Movoto is most likely getting 100% of the customer's LTV at the first purchase.

For Airbnb, creating their own community is a pragmatic marketing strategy for keeping users engaged. I theorize that's why most of Airbnb's content is either about their business, their community of users and hosts, or about their product.

Where Airbnb is winning in content

Charitable efforts: During Hurricane Sandy, Airbnb community members put up displaced New Yorkers for free, generating 300 linking root domains.

Really unique homes: Some of the listings on Airbnb are naturally link worthy, like this igloo or this treehouse. As Airbnb grows, and more interesting and unusual listings pop up, these interesting listings will continue to scale Airbnb's link acquisition.

Dev blog: Airbnb is up to some pretty impressive stuff in terms of technology and development, and they regularly share their innovations with the dev community. Like this post on isometric JavaScript which earned more than 130 linking root domains.

Neighborhood guides: These gorgeous neighborhood guides have built 130 links to date, however, they also accomplish a lot more. I asked Dennis Goedegebuure, head of SEO for Airbnb, why they created these amazing guides:

"The Airbnb Neighborhoods were created to help guests visiting a certain city finding the right place to stay. Where hotels tend to be concentrated in one part of town, Airbnb's are more spread out. We have found that the Neighborhoods are not only helping our guests to find the right place which matches their interest, but also help the cities to see guests traveling to parts of those cities which usually are overlooked by tourists. This has had a profound economic impact on local businesses, and their Neighborhoods.

The Neighborhood pages have been created with the typical guests & hosts in mind first. Delivering a best in class user experience, both from a content standpoint, as well as making it easy to navigate, has proven to be successful for Airbnb. This is where I would like to point out that content does not only include the written text, but the story is told in the form of images, which were specially taken for this project with the storyline in mind. This gives every page a unique peek into the characteristics of the Neighborhood, which makes these so useful for people planning to visit that city, as well of the locals exploring their own city."

Product/community blog: Airbnb has a bit of a leg up here in terms of link acquisition. Because they are a prominent company disrupting an established industry, pretty much anything they do is newsworthy. However, when you take a look at their blog, it's not so much a place for them to market themselves as it is a forum to address critical issues, consumer concerns, and changes with the product. It's racked up a lot of links over time (1900+ linking root domains), but it's racked up way more hearts and mindsâ€"and most likely converted a fair amount of users into first time renters by alleviating their pain points while researching the product.

One-off content marketing efforts: The Airbnb Annual Report is an amazing piece of content marketing â€" but it also speaks to how savvy Airbnb is when it comes to marketing itself. By showing the community how quickly Airbnb is growing (and how much money is out there for hosts to make) Airbnb is educating people about the company trajectory, its product and the future of the industry as a whole â€" all through beautiful, product-centric, interactive content.

The overarching theme of Airbnb's content

All of Airbnb's content keeps the brand, its product and the Airbnb community in the front of the users mind. Airbnb relies on a community in order to function, and because that community is inclusive, empathetic and charitableâ€"it's one of the most marketable aspects of the Airbnb brand. Airbnb also faces certain challengesâ€"like regulation and challenges from the hospitality industry. Because their business model is still being established, they need those hearts and minds on their side to fight for them and champion their product.

Movoto is taking a different path

Because a home purchase is so infrequent, constantly trying to grow a community through ongoing social media and brand-centric content marketing could get tiresome for readers, especially because those interacting with the brand would most likely have little motivation to purchase a home until a major life event occurs. However, Movoto still needs to scale link building, and in order to do that without building a community of their own, they must engage an audience in a way that causes them to share and tweet the content they produce.

Targeting existing audiences

Movoto creates content that appeals to pre-existing audiences. They are also great at picking their subject matterâ€"they choose topics that are popular enough to be covered in mainstream press, but also appeal to the hardcore niche fanboy sites.

Their most successful content takes some type of pop-culture reference or hot topic, applies it to real estate, and then earns press from both big news sites and mid-level authority blogs. The Harry Potter Hogwarts Property Evaluation Infographic may be the best example of this strategy in action:

It's earned links from over 140 domains including mainstream sites like Daily Mail, Fox News, and Daily Finance, and it also earned links from fan sites like Nerdophiles, Toy To The World, and Potter Talk.

Movoto is creating and marketing useful, fun and informative content that directly appeals to a particular niche audienceâ€"but it also has a larger mainstream appeal. Because Movoto executes content well in terms of information and visualsâ€"they are racking up links and quickly rising in the rankings. They've also produced a number of successful interactives, like How Many Legos Would it Take to Build your House, or alternatively How Many Tetris Blocks.

Many of Movoto's blog posts have earned over 100 linking root domains, primarily due to their ability to target an audience that will engage and share content online. Because they don't have to structure their communication around a growing community, like Airbnb, they are free to be pretty creative with their subject matter and publish things that are going to get a strong response (like 54,000 shares on Facebook for that post alone).

Community building isn't for everyone. It's best suited for communal products

As digital marketers we're quick to champion new strategies that result in increased traffic, links and social sharesâ€"but it's important to consider how our marketing efforts fit with the overall business model. After all, it's not just links and shares we're after, we are all trying to grow businesses in the most cost effective manner possible.

Community building really only makes sense for communal products. So, while it's the perfect growth strategy for a product like Airbnb, it makes no sense for a real estate site like Movoto. If you're stressing over social singles and your lack of community engagementâ€"maybe you don't have a product that the community can get behind and actively supportâ€"and there's nothing inherently wrong with that, you just need to go elsewhere for your links because that's what your business model demands.

Sign up for The Moz Top 10, a semimonthly mailer updating you on the top ten hottest pieces of SEO news, tips, and rad links uncovered by the Moz team. Think of it as your exclusive digest of stuff you don't have time to hunt down but want to read!

Seth's Blog : The rotten fish problem

The rotten fish problem

On the first day, all the fish at the fish stall are fresh.

Some sell, some don't.

The second day, the sold fish are replaced by newer, fresher fish. The unsold fish remains, even though it isn't so attractive.

By the third day, of course, the unsold fish is noticably unfresh, and it doesn't take much effort to avoid them.

At this point, part of the fishmonger's stock is demonstrably unappealing, bringing down the quality of the entire counter.

Pretty soon, of course, the dropoff in business means that the owner can't afford to buy the freshest fish, even to replace his sold inventory, and the end is near.

The alternative? On day two, discard the unsold fish.

Obvious, but difficult. So difficult that we rarely do it. We'd rather lower the average and see if we can get away with it instead.

• Email to a friend •

marți, 18 martie 2014

Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis

Ron Paul vs. USA Today on Crimea; Reflections on "High Costs" of USA Today Proposal
Union Goon-Squad "THUGs" Own Pennsylvania (Literally)
Treasury Department Places "Real Value" on Digital Currencies, Sees No Widespread Criminal Bitcoin Use; Virtual Currency Rules Coming Later This Year

Ron Paul vs. USA Today on Crimea; Reflections on "High Costs" of USA Today Proposal

Posted: 18 Mar 2014 08:16 PM PDT

A pair of articles on USA Today, one by Ron Paul, the other the view of the editorial board of USA Today, proves that even when the facts are laid out, hypocrites remain hypocrites.

Ron Paul's View

Crimea Secedes. So What?

Residents of Crimea voted over the weekend on whether they would remain an autonomous region of Ukraine or join the Russian Federation. In so doing, they joined a number of countries and regions — including recently Scotland, Catalonia and Venice — that are seeking to secede from what they view as unresponsive or oppressive governments.

These latter three are proceeding without much notice, while the overwhelming Crimea vote to secede from Ukraine has incensed U.S. and European Union officials, and has led NATO closer to conflict with Russia than since the height of the Cold War.

What's the big deal? Opponents of the Crimea vote like to point to the illegality of the referendum. But self-determination is a centerpiece of international law. Article I of the United Nations Charter points out clearly that the purpose of the U.N. is to "develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples."

Why does the U.S. care which flag will be hoisted on a small piece of land thousands of miles away?

Critics point to the Russian "occupation" of Crimea as evidence that no fair vote could have taken place. Where were these people when an election held in an Iraq occupied by U.S. troops was called a "triumph of democracy"?

Perhaps the U.S. officials who supported the unconstitutional overthrow of Ukraine's government should refocus their energies on learning our own Constitution, which does not allow the U.S. government to overthrow governments overseas or send a billion dollars to bail out Ukraine and its international creditors. ...

USA Today Editorial Board View

Show Putin the High Cost of Conquest

When President Vladimir Putin addresses Russia's parliament Tuesday, he will almost certainly announce, just two weeks after a remarkably bloodless invasion and just two days after Sunday's secession vote, that Crimea is rejoining Russia.

Most Russians and Crimeans, bursting with patriotic pride, will cheer, egged on by Putin's propaganda machine, which had crushed dissenting voices. The mild sanctions imposed by the Obama administration and Europe, to protest Russia's seizure of Crimea from Ukraine, will be dismissed or ignored.

So far, the Obama administration, with no military option, has responded appropriately: rallying allies, preparing an escalating series of economic sanctions and pressing Putin diplomatically. But threats need teeth to be credible, and Putin will relent only if he believes that his actions will have devastating consequences.

The immediate step, freezing assets of a few officials close to Putin, is a minor warning shot. The firepower can by multiplied many times by imposing embargoes, cutting Russia off from the international banking system or other measures — if Europe is willing to bear the cost. ...

Reflections on "High Costs"

Notice how the USA Today editorial board want to show Putin the "high cost" when in actuality it would be Europe that must be willing to bear the cost, not the US. Russia can and would shut off natural gas delivery to Europe if the USA Today got its way.

And speaking of "high cost of conquest" the USA today ought to mention we wasted trillions of dollars in Iraq and Afghanistan with virtually nothing to show for it but a mountain of debt and well-warranted global hatred of US war-mongering.

The US learned nothing from Vietnam, nothing from Iraq, and nothing from Afghanistan.

Warmongers like McCain think the solution to this mess is sanctions coupled with sending missiles to the Czech Republic.

History Lesson

The USA Today also ignores history. Crimea was given to the Ukraine by Nikita Khrushchev in 1954. Was that gift constitutional? Putin makes a very reasonable claim that it wasn't.

As long as we are discussing history, inquiring minds just may be interested in European Border Changes Over Last 1000 Years.

Link if video does not play: European Border Changes over Last 1000 Years

US Hypocrisy

The US is quite willing to have a vote, provided the vote is going the way the US wants.

And speaking of votes, where were the US hypocrites when technocrat after technocrat leader was installed in Italy and Greece undoubtedly against the constitution of those countries, without a vote.

The US bombed into submission Iraq and Afghanistan halfway around the globe but protests when Russia protects its clear military interests on its own border, a border that was given away (most likely unconstitutionally).

Now we protest the vote was not fair and was against Ukraine's constitution. Please spare me the sap.

I am tired of US warmongers and hypocrites who think "might makes right" but only when it is the US leading the aggression.

1000 years of history as well as an ounce of common sense says this is not our battle. We should stay out of it.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com

Union Goon-Squad "THUGs" Own Pennsylvania (Literally)

Posted: 18 Mar 2014 01:27 PM PDT

A "goon-squad" group named The Helpful Union Guys (THUG), members of Ironworkers Local 401 set fires, started riots, and took crowbars to the competition in an effort to protect union jobs.

THUGs stalked women, took baseball bats to a Toys R Us site, and even torched a Quaker meetinghouse that dared to use non-union labor.

Philly.Com reports 10 leaders of Ironworkers Local 401 charged in racketeering indictment.

They called themselves "the Helpful Union Guys" - "THUGS" for short - and woe awaited any contractor who dared cross them by hiring non-organized workers.

For, federal authorities alleged Tuesday, this "goon squad" of members of Ironworkers Local 401 set fires, started riots, and took crowbars to the competition in an effort to protect union jobs.

FBI agents arrested 10 of the union's leaders Tuesday morning, including longtime head Joseph Dougherty, in a racketeering conspiracy case that appeared to affirm long-standing business complaints over the tactics employed by Philadelphia unions.

Prosecutors alleged that Dougherty and others have cost contractors hundreds of thousands of dollars over at least three years, and were indiscriminate in choosing their targets - equally willing to break skulls with baseball bats at a Toys R Us work site in King of Prussia or torch a Quaker meetinghouse under construction in Chestnut Hill.

According to the 49-page indictment, Dougherty, 72, coordinated the campaign of sabotage and extortion, urging members to picket, threaten, and destroy the property of contractors who ignored threats against hiring nonunion employees.

At the meetinghouse work site, prosecutors said, three union members cut steel beams and set fire to a crane in December 2012, setting the project back weeks and costing the contracting firm, E. Allen Reeves Inc. of Abington, more than $500,000.

Several state representatives who received money from THUGs donated it to charity.

Proving he is willing to be bought and owned by unions, State Rep. Brendan Boyle, a Democrat running for Congress in Pennsylvania's 13th District - defended the ironworkers' contribution of $10,000 to his campaign last year.

End Union Thuggery

An article in today's Philly.Com by Katie Packer Gage says End Union Thuggery.

There is something gravely wrong in our nation when government sanctions the intimidation and bullying of one group of people by another. But that's exactly what is happening in Pennsylvania.

Sarina Rose, an executive vice president for development for Post Brothers Apartments, was stalked and harassed by union organizers. Protesters persistently followed her throughout her private life, even taking photos of her children, ages 8 and 11, at their bus stop in Abington. The situation dramatically escalated when "one union leader loudly cursed at her in front of a packed restaurant and mimicked shooting her," according to an Inquirer report last month.

What had Rose done wrong? Nothing, but she was part of a company that elected to hire a mix of union as well as nonunion labor to complete a construction job.

Unfortunately, the authorities could do nothing. In Pennsylvania, union workers are allowed to act with impunity against citizens, and it has been approved by both the legislative and judicial branches of government.

As The Inquirer reported: "Thanks to a little-known provision protecting parties in labor disputes from prosecution for stalking, harassment, and terroristic threats, Rose said, she was left powerless to stop the nearly constant baiting. The men who dogged her at all hours walked free."

In August, some members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly introduced legislation to remove the exemptions permitting certain types of harassment in labor disputes. Unfortunately, the bill has not progressed since receiving committee approval in October, in large part because the state Fraternal Order of Police came out aggressively against it.

Fortunately, we do not live in a country where veiled threats of murder, like those directed at Rose, can be made without someone standing up for the rule of law. We live in a country that requires equal protection for everyone. Pennsylvania law, however, denies such protections to victims of union thuggery under the false pretext of protecting free speech.

In March 2013, I addressed this issue in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "This special 'carve-out' grants union organizers the ability to disrupt the business of ... local employer[s], trespass on their property, and violate their personal property rights. In essence, it gives unions license to 'obsessively pursue' individuals 'to the point of harassment.'"

Pennsylvania's elected officials should immediately pass legislation removing any exemptions to stalking and intimidation laws. Protecting the state's citizens is an obligation, not a choice.

Source of Union Power

As I have mentioned on numerous occasions, unions get their power via threats, intimidation, coercion, bribery, and cash contributions to corrupt politicians.

There is no excuse for such actions from unions.

Yet, threats and even stalking of women by union thugs it is not only tolerated but protected by state statute.

As one might expect from corrupt politicians on the take, rather than change the law, legislators backed off after the biggest goon-squad of all, the Fraternal Order of Police, fought the measure.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com

Treasury Department Places "Real Value" on Digital Currencies, Sees No Widespread Criminal Bitcoin Use; Virtual Currency Rules Coming Later This Year

Posted: 18 Mar 2014 10:46 AM PDT

In statements that all but endorse bitcoin and digital currencies, Treasury's Cohen Sees No Widespread Criminal Bitcoin Use.

The U.S. government sees no evidence of "widespread" use of virtual currencies such as Bitcoin to evade sanctions or finance terrorism, the Treasury Department's top official targeting money laundering said.

"Terrorists generally need 'real' currency, not virtual currency, to pay their expenses -– such as salaries, bribes, weapons, travel, and safe houses,' David S. Cohen, the undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.

''The same is true for those seeking to evade sanctions,'' Cohen said in a speech at the New York headquarters of Bloomberg News.

Cohen rejected arguments that regulation would drive virtual currency innovation out of the U.S., saying ''the opposite is true'' in this new industry.

''Financial transparency can help bring stability to the virtual currency market and security to its users and investors,'' Cohen said. ''And that is what we are trying to do through sensible, flexible and -– to use a word from the tech world -– scalable regulation.''

At the same time, Cohen emphasized that the government would err on the side of squeezing innovation if necessary for law enforcement purposes.

Cohen said that the Treasury Department places "real value" on financial innovation such as digital currencies.

"Advancements in technology that allow entrepreneurs and businesses to innovate, grow and hire are crucial to our country's long-term success," Cohen said.

Cohen has served as undersecretary since 2011. He first joined the Treasury in 1999 and, while working for its general counsel, helped draft part of the Patriot Act that granted the regulator new tools to thwart money laundering and terrorist financing after the Sept. 11 attacks.

New York financial regulators also have been working on a response to Bitcoin. Benjamin Lawsky, the state's superintendent of financial services, announced last week that his office is accepting applications to operate exchanges for Bitcoin and other digital currencies. He plans to propose a set of rules for virtual-currency firms by mid-year.

As I stated before, bitcoin is here to stay. Wall Street wants High Frequency Bitcoin Trading and the Treasury has taken a hands-off approach.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com