Tuesday, November 26, 2019
55 Easy Ways To Write Headlines That Will Reach Your Readers
55 Easy Ways To Write Headlines That Will Reach Your Readers According to Copyblogger, 8 out of 10 people will read a headline. However,à only twoà out of 10 tend to proceed to read the rest of your content. Yikes, right? This is reallyà important to understandà before you publishà your content. Even if your content isà truly unique and innovative, a weak headline will ruin its chances of being super successful. Fortunately, data and analytics canà help youà write great headlines that will instantly capture the attention of your readers. Heres yourà ultimate guide to writeà a great headline, backed by research. 55 Easy Ways To Write A #Headline That Will Get The Best Results Understanding How To Write Headlines Well 1. Write At Least 25 Headlines For Everyà Piece Of Content Your headlineà makes your first impression with readers. A strong headline can drive more clicks. A weak one can send traffic away. That's why it's important to spend time getting them right. Upworthy's well-publicized process suggests writing 25 headlines per blog post.à That might sound like a lot. However, if anything, you could consider this the bare minimum. Some will be better than others. Some, in fact, will be downright terrible. That's okay though. You have to burn through bad ideas before you can find what works. 2. Use The Headline Analyzer It's not enough to guess at what a good headline looks like, though. You need a data-backed way to sort winners from losers. This is where the Headline Analyzer comes in: 1. Type in a few different headline options. 2. The Headline Analyzer will list them for easy comparison purposes. 3. Scroll down to find your Score and Word Balance. Theà Headline Analyzer is also built right into yourà social media calendar in to help you write the best headlines right where youà organize everything else. Recommended Reading:à 25 Scientifically Proven Ways To Write Better Headlines For Your Blog 3. Focus Your Headlines On Helping Instead Of Telling Have a look at the most popular Google searches- they're mostly about solving a problem in the easiest and fastest way. This Mashable post entitled, "How to Pay, Exercise and Take Photos Using Apple Watch", gained more than 1,500 shares- mainly because it addresses an issue owners of this cutting-edge device find relevant to their experience. Pro Tip: "How to" headlines get you instant bonus points with 's Headline Analyzer. 4. Suggest The Best Way To Do Something Successful headlines connectà with common searches and address a real target audience looking for the most effective strategies for solving their problem. Contentà starting with "The best way to..." has the potential to go viral super quickly. Look at this articleà from Entrepreneur entitled, "The Best Ways to Do Market Research for Your Business Plan"- it was shared more than 6,000 times! Pro Tip: Headlines with "best" and "better" also score higher with 's Headline Analyzer. 5. Give Advice For Improvement Instead of persuading your readersà to do something, show them why it's worth the time to do it.à Addressing the reasons and motivations of your readersà serves as theà basis for a really powerful message. Consider this extremely popular postà entitled, "Why You Should Forget Facebook". The headline promises to resolve the cognitive dissonance it creates. After all, why should anyone want to ignore the largest social network? A headline like this one practically guarantees traffic. 6. Provide Solid Evidence To Support Aà Claim There's nothing more powerful than the "Backed By Science" claim. Insights derived from research are considered more accurate, relevant, and attractive. Have a look at this post from Inc.com on "10 Productivity Strategies Backed By Science". It hasà more than 1,100 shares- primarily because readers consider scientific findings credible. Headlines Backed By Science Get The Best Results7. Share Your Experience "What I learned" is another great headline strategy. Speaking to your readersà from experience, you'll not only gain their trust, but also promise a solution that really works. A striking example of this kind of contentà is "What I Learned from Being a Broke, Unemployed Graduate"à published on Entrepreneur. That article'sà 19,000+ shares speak for themselves. 8. Avoid Clickbait The era of clickbait supremacy is over. Audiences have caught on. If your headline over-promises and under-delivers (which clickbait does 100% of the time), readers will leave disappointed. 9. Ensure Your Headline Aligns With Yourà Content Your headline should accurately reflect the angle of your content. Ask yourself these two questions: What's the point of this content? Whatà is the most important point this contentà makes? If your headline doesn't address each of these points, it's time to start over. 10. Include Numbers In List Headlines Writing a list? Include how many items it includes right away. This gives readers a clear idea of what to expect. 11. Experiment With Open- And Closed-Ended Questions Open-ended questionsà are great for encouraging discussion (e.g. When Are The Absolute Best Times To Send Email?). Closed-ended questions, meanwhile, are effective for inspiring curiosity (e.g. Do You Send Email At The Absolute Best Times?). Test each to see what performs best for you. 12. Hint At Something Interesting Leave out just enough detail to get readers interested (without falling into the clickbait trap). For example, something like, "This New Car Door Design Is Changing The Game", might get an audience interested in knowing exactly how that hypothetical car door design works. 13. State Aà Problem (And Offer Aà Solution) It can be tough to stoke a problem and offer a solution in one headline. However, when done well, this technique can offer a solid emotional one-two punch. Here's a great example from Fast Company: It introduces a problem (one that readers might not even recognize as a problem). It then promises to show what the solution might be. 14. Include Aà Stat People love to see numbers in headlines. This is especially true when they seem difficult to believe. If you have a powerful stat in your contentà (like in this example), put it in your headline. 15. Know Your Audience Make sure you know who your real audience is, and understand what their interests are. You can do this with a little bit of research in Google Analytics. 16. Speak Like Your Audience, Too Use words and language your audience uses. That includes the same types of jargon and technical terminology. You can get a sense of how your audience talks and what words they use simply by participating in social media conversations with them. 17. Be Relevant And Topical The best written headline is useless if your audience doesn't care. Craft headline copy that targets relevant topics and discussions happening in your industry or niche. Likewise, avoid straying onto topics outside of your scope. 18. Aim For Headline Analyzer Scores Of 70 Or Higher Anything lower needs improvement. Holding yourself to this standard will ensure you write more effective headlines. Understand How Emotions Impact Headlines Thisà studyà fromà Moz shows that readersà like contentà that isà either understated and features up to one superlative word or goes overboard with superlatives toà show why the content is worth reading. What does it mean for you? If you want your contentà to go viral, your headline must be located at one of those two extremes; otherwise it won't catch anyone's attention. Here are some words invoking both positive and negative sentiments: 19. Understand What Word Balance Means The Headline Analyzer breaks down words into four categories. Common:à These are words frequently used in English. They're recognizable and easy to read terms. Uncommon:à These phrases are used less frequently in common English. They're effective for creating intrigue. Emotional:à Hit your readers right in the feels. Literally. These words drive action by targeting desired emotions. Power:à These words inspire feelings of motivation and empowerment. For examples of each category, download the Headline Analyzer tear sheet included in this post. 20. Use Positive Superlatives For Aà Strong, Emotional Headline Positive superlatives that will help you in headline writing are as follows: best, always, fastest, easiest, most, greatest, largest, funniest, hottest, strongest, biggest, ever, perfect, top. 21. Try Negative Superlatives To Draw On Fear And Doubt A study by Outbrain showed that headlines featuring negative superlatives performed 30% better than those with positive superlatives. What are negative superlatives? Never, worst, nothing, no one, no way, by no means, none. Featuring words like stop, avoid, or don't in your headline is a good idea, too. Pro Tip: Use the Headline Analyzer to understand whether your headline's sentiment is positive or negative. Neutral headlines tend to perform worse than extremely positive or negative headlines. 22. Front-Load Your Headline Structure Make sure that your superlative- whether it's positive or negative- is always at the front of your headline. "7 Worst Mistakes Of Young Startups" sounds much better than "7 Mistakes Made by Young Startups That Are Worst". 23. Going Extreme Can Be Worth It This study from Startup Moon showed that using aggressive or violent words like kill, fear, andà dead actually generates more social shares.à If these expressions fit your context and aren't offensive to anyone, use them to draw even more emotion from your readers. Recommended Reading:à Proof That Emotional Headlines Get Shared More On Social Media 24. Be Careful With Humor Like avoiding ambiguity, avoid puns or jokes. Your headline must be understandable outside of its context. 25. Invoke Urgency Is your contentà time-sensitive? Use words that inspire urgency. For example,à say you're writing about an upcoming event with a registration deadline. Something like, "Register For Our Webinar Before Time Runs Out", lets readers know they're on the clock. 26. Make The Unbelievable Aà Reality If your contentà includes something strange but true, use that to your advantage. For example, an article aboutà 55 kids playing soccer against two pro soccer starsà deserves a hyped up headline. If your contentà is good enough, your headline will sell the story without resorting to cheap clickbait tactics. Understand Ideal Headline Lengths Aà Kissmetrics study shows that readers tend to absorb only the first three words and the last three words of a headline. Keeping a headline no longer than six words will help readersà easily process it and reduce the interaction cost involved in grasping its meaning. If you can't limit your headline to six words, bear in mind that it's the first and last words that count most. Use this knowledge to your advantage by including attractive keywords in these places. Here's what toà remember when writing your headline: 27. Understand The Media Types Where You'll Use Your Headline The length of your headline depends on what you want to do with it- different lengths work for different media like emails, social networks, search engines, and language engagement. 28. Avoid Ambiguity And Get To The Point If you want to follow the traditional strategy, write headlines that are information and keyword-rich, match the expectations of your target audience, and are understandable even when taken out of context. This also means keeping them relatively brief (if possible). Use keywords at the beginning of headlines, then get to the point with as few words as possible.29. Know The Best Length For Your Language If you want your headline to perform well, consider the following for English: It should be between 60ââ¬â100 characters and 16ââ¬â18 words long. Remember that every language has its own rules- only testing can unveil what really works. Recommended Reading:à What Really Is The Best Headline Length? How Do Your Headlines Appear? Moz also surveyed their respondents about their headline capitalization preferences. And guess what? Apparently, 21% of them admitted that they liked to be shouted at with headlines written in capital lettering. If you want to go for a safer approach, just capitalize your words in title case- 64% of respondents reported to like this. 30. Choose Aà Strong Typeface Choose a font that has a strong visual impact and a personality but also fits the body text. Here's a guide from CrazyEgg to help you find the right font. 31. Size Your Headlines To Stand Out Make your headline visibly larger than body text. Its size can make it really eye-catching, even when pushed to extreme. According to a study by Smashing Magazine, most of the best blogs' most popular headline sizes range from 20ââ¬â36 pixels, or about 2.5 times larger than your body copy. 32. Use Color To Grab Attention 67% of people say black is the best choiceà to help them comprehend the content, but other tints can add some contrast and visual interest. 67% of your readers say black headlines help them easily comprehend your message.That study covered byà Cutting Edge PR found 17% of people like bright colored headlines and another 52% say dark colored headlines make for good comprehension. 33. Align Your Headlines For The Biggest Impact Centered headlines are most powerful visually, left-centered are more conservative and formal. Avoid justifying headline type- it can lead to bad lettering. Recommended Reading:à The Perfect Blog Post: Simpler Is Better Polish Your Headlines With Google Your headlines deserve to be found. Here's how to use Google to sharpen your headlines and ensure you optimizeà themà for SEO. 34. Write For Search Engines To Help Your Readers Find Your Content Search engines will favor headlines that are shorter than 70 charactersà (which is relevant if your title tag is the same as your headline). Make sure your headline includes your target keyword as well. 35. Find Words Your Readers Are Looking For With The Keyword Planner Use Google Keyword Planner to understand theà search terms your target audiences look for. Google's official support documentation explains how to use it. 36. Try Using A Suggested Search Term In Your Headline Just type the first words of your headline to see whether the auto-fill suggestions are similar to it. Ubersuggest is an easy, free tool that surfaces actual autocomplete data: 37. Look For Related Search Terms This list appears at the bottom of your search page and shows you what terms areà related to the one you typed. That feature helps people shake upà their searches to find relevant and related information. Recommended Reading:à An SEO Driven Approach To Content Marketing: The Complete Guide 38. Narrow Your Search Results Google Advanced Search will help you to narrow down your search results to see trends for a given region, language, andà time frame. Keep Your Headlines Crisp And Clear Readers prefer explicit headlines that clearly state what they're going to get from reading the content. Headlines featuring numbers- used extensively by a viral content platform, BuzzFeed- appeal to 34% of readers. List posts also get some of the most shares of any content type. With that in mind, here is how to write a headline with clarity: 39. Use "You" To Address Your Readers Address yourà reader as you.à This simply grabs your readers' attention and helps them relate the headline to their personal experience. 40. Promise Aà Solution To Aà Problem Use that will, to, and soà in your headlines. This kind of headline already promises a certain value to be taken from reading the content. Think about how powerful these headlines sound: 41. Help Your Readers See Aà Better Future For Themselves Think about this headline for a minute: "How To Do ___ That Will Help Youà ___". That headline- and others like it- clearly states the purpose of the contentà and boosts its accuracy in tackling one specific action or problem. 42. Keep It Simple Readers skim on the web, whether on social media, their email inboxes, or in search results. Use simple headlines with clear language to hook their attention fast. Overly complex headlines may get passed over if they're too difficult to read. 43. Simple Doesn't Have To Mean Generic (Don't Be Generic) Genericà headlines get buried and forgotten. If you wouldn't read an article based on a headline you wrote, scrap it and write more until you score a winner. Pro Tip: The Headline Analyzer will tell you when you write a generic headline. 44. Be Specific Narrowly focus onà the one topic your contentà is about. Consider the main point and benefit of your post, and get granular byà telling your readers exactly what your contentà contains. For example, "How To Write Headlines Better" is less specific than "30 Ways To Write More Emotional Headlines." 45. Avoid Passive Voice Use active instead of passive voice. Active is easier to understand when scanning for interesting headlines. For example,à turn a passive headline like "30 E-Books Written By Astronauts" headlines into "30 Astronauts Wrote 30 E-Books To Help You Become A Better Leader". Recommended Reading:à These Lazy Writing Mistakes May Be Turning Off Your Readers 46. Include Words That Reference Additional Content If your blog post includes an infographic, guide, template, or other downloadable content, reference it in your headline. This gives readers added incentive to click, and provides more detail about the content your blog post includes. Here's a recent example on our own blog: How To Build A Social Media Editorial Calendar The Easy Way (Free Template). Know Your Competition (And Beat Them) If you've ever wondered how much content is created daily, here's your answer: According to A Day in the Internet infographic by MBA Online, 2 million new blog posts, 294 billion emails, andà 864,000 hours of videos are uploaded to the Internetà every single day. This means that you're competing against lots of content. Being aware of such a degree of competition should only help you to work harder on your headlines and make them stand out from the crowd. Here's how to make sure your headlines are better than those of your competition: 47. Differentiate Your Headlines From The Competition Research what your competitors are doing. Identify the expressions, keywords, and phrases your competitors use in their content. From there, you will understand how to make your headlines stand out. For example, review your competition quickly for the 46à previous points (skim through their headlines with this information in mind), then brainstorm how to write headlines that will trump theirs. Research competition's headlines, then brainstorm how to brand yours for industry recognition.48. Publish Headlines That Brand Your Content Make it easy for searchers to identify key differences between your content and the stuffà other people publish- otherwise you risk inducing a choice fatigue. If you feel like your headlines sound exactly what may publish on a competitor'sà site, writeà 25 more headlines and choose one with the most unique angle. Imagine the possibilities if a reader could read your headline and know it's your content just by its tone. That's the goal you should aim for. 49. Try Headline Ideas You Haven't Experimented With Before Be creative! Don't be afraid of testing new content on your audience. Even if your headline doesnââ¬â¢t bring a lot of traffic, you may get new ideas on what might. Recommended Reading: 43 Data-Driven Headline Ideas From 1,000 Of The Most Popular Posts 50. Use Social Media For Simple A/B Testing Twitter makes quick and easy A/B testing easy. Simply try writing two different headlines, and use them as tweets to promote your content. Make sure each headline includes a different variable (for example, one could be negative, and the other positive). Then, see which performs best. Over time, you'll develop a clear picture of what clicks with your audience. 51. Contradict Common Wisdom Is there a commonly accepted "truth" you want to challenge? Write a headline that clearly contradicts it. Try something like, "Why {Insert Action} Doesn't Actually Help {Insert Benefit}". These types of headlines can generate a lot of attention (as long as you have data and evidence to support your counter-claim). Repurpose, Repurpose, Repurpose Great headlines deserve to be read. In fact, they deserve to be read more than once. These tips will teachà you how to repurpose them for maximum mileage. 52. Recycle Your Old Ideas With New Headlines And Angles Recycle your content. Aà great evergreen piece of content can be easily recycled under a different headline based on thorough research meant to broaden the gap between you and your competition. 53. Consider Every Platform Where Your Headline May Appear It's likely your contentà will be shared on social media. It'll probably be in your email newsletter, too. Try to write headlines that can easily be adjusted for multiple formats (such as social media posts and email subject lines). 54. Try Alternative Headlines For Social Media What works well for a blog post might not work as well on social media.à Consider writing alternative headlines to promote blog posts across various social channels. This can also be an easy way to test different types of messaging to see what resonates most with your audience. 55. Condense Headlines For Email Headlines that perform well in emails are usually around 50 characters long and feature the strongest words at their beginning. The Headline Analyzer can help with this. First, enter a headline. Then, scroll down to find the section pictured below: Recommended Reading: This Is The Way To Write Email Subject Lines That Get More Clicks Go Forthà And Write Better Headlines Now The data from this postà proves that headlines are crucial for getting your content read, increasing your social shares, and improving your brand. Headlines areà the first thing your readersà will see, and it's your job to convince them to click and read your content. Even if you only use one of the 55à tips from this post, you'llà be able to add a touch of uniqueness to every piece of contentà you publish. Oh! And don't forget to download kità toà help you write better headlines.
Friday, November 22, 2019
11 Best Writing Blogs to Master the Craft of Creative Writing
11 Best Writing Blogs to Master the Craft of Creative Writing 11 Best Writing Blogs to Master the Craft of Creative Writing Writing blogs are some of the best resources to become a better writer, which lets be real, is the goal of all writers.You already know this:Writing is hard.Itââ¬â¢s so difficult, in fact, that there are countless writing tips and resources online dedicated to helping you better understand and improve the craft.We here at Self-Publishing School are even committed to giving you the best advice out there.But we wanted to offer you more by highlighting blogs about writing that contain solid advice for writing.Weve compiled a list of the best writing blogs on the internet for you to learn and grow from.Here are the best writing blogs weââ¬â¢ll cover for you:The Write LifeWriters DigestWrite to DoneThe Write PracticeCount Blogula by Jenna MoreciThe Creative PennTerribleminds by Chuck WendigDaily Writing TipsBetter Novel ProjectWell-StoriedShayla RaquelIf Youââ¬â¢re Ready to Start Writing NOW Watch This FirstDonââ¬â¢t waste any more writing time than you already have.Before we get into the meat of which writing blogs are the best and what unique qualities they have to offer, letââ¬â¢s set you down the path for success.Youââ¬â¢re here because you want to learn which blogs about writing are the best.We get it. In fact, we already put together a free training guide for you with all the information you need to know.Join Chandler Bolt at his FREE Webinar Training as he reveals the exact tactics and strategies he used to write and publish 6 bestselling books in a row and how he used them to build a 7-figure business in less than 2 years!Spots are limited!Click Here to Save Your SpotBest Writing Blogs for Tips and AdviceIf youââ¬â¢re not quite serious yet about getting your book published yet, weââ¬â¢ve put together a list of the best writing blogs to learn how to write a book from.Letââ¬â¢s dive into exactly what these writing blogs have to offer and why you should be paying close attention to them if you want to improve your writing, start you r book, and publish it on Amazon (or wherever else you want to publish it through)!#1 The Write LifeIf youââ¬â¢ve been searching through for writing blogs long enough, youââ¬â¢re probably already aware of all The Write Life has to offer.This blog about writing is a fantastic resource for writers of all kind.Whether youââ¬â¢re looking to write a book for the first time or jump into the freelance writing community, The Write Life has you covered.They even have tips for blogging and marketing. All the bases are covered!Make sure to check out their helpful writing blog posts and read the comments for extra help from their dedicated community.Click here to check out this writing blog!#2 Writerââ¬â¢s DigestIf you love writing tips by writers, this is one of the top writing blogs to visit.This writing blog is all about uncovering your potential through real, easy-to-follow blog posts that simplify more complicated issues in the writing community.They even host competitions, f eature blog posts by editors, and give you insights to events they host or even attend.If youââ¬â¢re someone who loves to physically join a writing group, youââ¬â¢ll love this writing blog and all it has to offer.Click here to check out this writing blog!#3 Write to DoneThere are a lot of different avenues writers have to be aware of when it comes to building a successful career from their work.And Write to Done gives you just that!Being both a creative writing blog along with covering nonfiction writing, Write to Done teaches you how to master a number of different techniques and habits geared toward helping you succeed in the literary world.You donââ¬â¢t want to miss out on all the writing advice they have to offer along with motivational material to help you keep it up.Click here to check out Write to Done.#4 The Write PracticeThe Write Practice is a massive source of helpful information for writers everywhere. They cover writing blog posts touching on topics revolving around key writing practices, writing exercises, and even writing prompts to get your mind stirring.You wonââ¬â¢t be without help with The Write Practice.Not only do they offer free help through their blog posts, but they also have programs, writing contests, and help involving your author platform in general.Click here to check out The Write Practice.#5 Count Blogula by Jenna MoreciJenna Moreci is an Award-Nominated Self-Published Author with two novels on Amazon, in libraries, and on shelves all over the country.Count Blogula is her writing blog where aspiring authors congregate to ask specific writing, marketing, and publishing questions to be answered by this wildly successful Youtuber and Self-Published Author.Moreci is honest (sometimes brutally in the best way), real, and lets all writers know what it truly takes to make a career out of writing.Head on over to her blog if you want to scroll through pages and pages and pages of free writing advice by someone who has been through it all before.Click here to check out Count Blogula by Jenna Moreci.#6 The Creative PennIf your goal is to make writing a job, itââ¬â¢s worth giving The Creative Penn a read.This website has writing blog posts covering topics from genre-specific writing advice to marketing to publishing tips.Joanna Penn is an Award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and she runs The Creative Penn to teach others how to reach her level of success with their books.She has a number of writing-specific books available for purchase along with podcasts, courses, specific tools, and more. This is one of the best blogs about writing to add to your arsenal.Click here to check out The Creative Penn.#7 Terribleminds by Chuck WendigChuck Wendig has a must-acquire-a-taste-for personality. Heââ¬â¢s curt, brutal, and gives humor to his writing tips and advice for aspiring authors.His writing blog covers topics ranging from his own personal work and the work of others to hel p you specifically ask for.Youââ¬â¢ll never be bored with Wendigââ¬â¢s unique delivery style and real advice.Click here to check out Terribleminds by Chuck Wendig.#8 Daily Writing TipsDaily Writing Tips is exactly as it sounds; they give writing tips for aspiring authors daily.Their advice ranges from writing-specific to motivation to oddities, like words that Shakespeare invented.If youââ¬â¢re someone who wants to improve the craft of writing with very specific tips and tricks, this is the place to frequent. Youââ¬â¢ll never want for more help with Daily Writing Tips.Click here to check out Daily Writing Tips.#9 Better Novel ProjectIf you love doodles along with writing tips, this is the site for you.Better Novel Project has a number of different writing blog posts centered around helping you become a better writer.From NaNoWriMo content to blog posts all about genres, writer life, character development, and even writing scene-specific details.Itââ¬â¢s easy to get lost the abundance of content available for you on this writing blog so be careful, but get your fill.Click here to check out Better Novel Project.#10 Well-StoriedKristen Kieffer is the author behind Well-Storied, as well as an author of fantasy and writing resources.Not only does she offer great writing advice, but her dedication to helping writers uncover their true abilities is nearly unmatched.You can check out her free courses, listen to the podcast, and even participate in her community chats.Well-Storied has an abundance of help in the writing-world and youââ¬â¢ll be better off by tuning in regularly!Click here to check out Well-Storied.#11 Shayla RaquelShayla Raquelââ¬â¢s writing blog is filled to the brim will knowledge regarding all aspects of writing. From prepping to writing to marketing, she has you covered.As an editor and seasoned writer herself, Shayla works one-on-one with authors nearly every day. She has edited over 300 books and launched Amazon Bestselle rs making her experienced and competent! Click here to check it out Shayla Raquel!All of these writing blogs have something unique to offer that you wonââ¬â¢t find any anywhere else. When it comes to learning any craft especially writing itââ¬â¢s important to broaden your search and learn as much as you can from as many talented minds as you can.ARE YOU READY TO BECOME AN AUTHOR ON YOUR OWN?Your writing blog and expertise could be up here one day with some of the best!But you have to commit to taking action and writing your book first.And weââ¬â¢re here to help you on your journey to write, market, and publish your book. But only if youââ¬â¢re serious about making this a reality.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Midterm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words - 1
Midterm - Essay Example This means that people and business organizations are on a continuous journey that requires them to experience various processes and practices consciously or unconsciously. In this case, business organizations are expected to be abreast of the changing factors that can affect their profitability and other management aspects. This paper examines the concept of change and how it can be used by organizations to create and enhance their effective performance and success. It focuses on a Chinese Company, Alibaba Holdings, which has navigated its path to reach its current levels of excellence in business performance. The company has recently been listed on the New York Stock exchange in a bid to remain competitive and enhance its market position (Lianna, Jessica & Ryan, 2014). Currently, the pace by which globalization has been taking toll on businesses has quickened tremendously. Business executives and owners have been increasing their call for flexibility, agility and innovativeness from various business functions (Robertson, 2006). This development is aimed at positioning businesses strategically to tackle the rising challenges in competition and other factors in the external and internal environment. Amidst all these persistent calls, one thing has often been largely ignored, that is, organizations are creatively designed in order to search for competitive advantages that are sustainable. In addition, the fact that stability in business practices is just not desirable and effective, but attainable as well, has been an issue buried deeply in managerial psyche, but has been bolstered by periods of practice and theory (Christopher & Edward, 2006). It is important to understand that the popularity that is often associated with efforts for process improvement that range from overall quality management to various kinds of sigma provides are enough evidence for
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Kwanzaa Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Kwanzaa - Essay Example Umoja means unity (Ramirez, 2012). It mandates that every person that traces their descent from Africa must institute and maintain unity among themselves and a goodwill spirit as well. According to Ramirez (2012), it implies instituting family unity, unity across races in which each individual belongs, unity among the African American community and unity with Africa as a motherland. The purpose of this principle is to create a strong bond among the various entities, personalities and characters that share a common ancestral lineage. This is the second principle. It is a Swahili word, which translated means self-determination (Ramirez, 2012). Self-determination depicts the motivation in an individual to support intrinsic or natural tendencies that concerns with effective behavior and healthy mannerism. In this context, Kujichagulia principle indicates the importance of maintaining ones original identity as well as defining oneself and creating a special identity that relates to ones origin (Ramirez, 2012). It demands that the African Americans be proud of themselves and their origin, which ultimately enables them to communicate with sincere joy and pride. It also enables them institute effective interpersonal connection with other ethnicities, races and cultures. Ujima means collective duty and responsibilities (Ramirez, 2012). It directs the African community in working together to produce results that promote the greater welfare of the community. According to Ramirez (2012), it requires the African society to support one another in needy circumstances and in resolving social problems, that one or a few individual cannot address effectively. Ujamaa means cooperative economics (Ramirez, 2012). According to Ramirez (2012), this principle encourages African Americans to support local businesses in their respective communities and to accord preferences for local suppliers and
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Tech Environment Essay Example for Free
Tech Environment Essay The company I am continuing to work with is US Airways Group. There is plenty of hard and soft technology to list for the domestic environment. Some of the hard technology used in the domestic environment is aircraft, security system, and safety gear. Some soft technology used in the domestic environment is management, government regulations that govern the procedures of the company, and training for employees. The hard technology I listed above is the obvious technology the air line company utilizes yet there is more hard technology being used. The soft technology being used is essential to the success of the company which I will capitalize on later. I stated the hard and soft technology of the domestic environment but this same technology is used in the global environment also. Hard technology used within the global environment is aircraft, customs operatives, and safety gear. Soft technology used within the global environment is management, different government regulations than the domestic environment, and guides who help foreign travelers from different countries. Although the hard technology is about the same as it is in the domestic environment you may see some outdated equipment within the global environment. The soft technology used such as guides to assist foreign travelers may not be found within the domestic environment due to a large majority of passengers residing within the domestic environment. There are technological barriers for the domestic and global environments. Within the domestic environment there are flaws such as the security system. People find ways to breach the security system and are able to sneak items that should be able to sneak past the system such as drugs and weapons. Of course we do the best we can but this is the nature of the beast and we can always better our systems. Another technological barrier is that we need more foreign employees that can communicate with foreign passengers who travel within the domestic environment. It can be hard to travel within a location where you do not know anyone and no one understands your language. Within the global environment there are technological barriers also. I stated earlier that the technology in some locations is not as good as it is in the domestic environment. This is unfair to the passengers and to the people who work for the company. There should be up to date equipment for the global environment just as there is in the domestic environment. Another barrier is that customs can be difficult to deal with. I always hear of horror stories dealing with customs because they may take a long time to process certain individuals through or the rules are interpreted differently. The barriers can be overcome in both the domestic and global environments. The flaws within the security system are currently being corrected as we speak according to sourcesecurity.com. They have stated that ââ¬Å"turning security weaknesses into strengths, using perimeter and surveillance solutions together, use of video analytics software and managing airport access control systemâ⬠will better the security in airports significantly (Smith). I believe if those principles stated are applied then the security in airports will be safe as can be. The fact that we need more translators or guides that can speak other languages can be fixed. We need to create a job that specifically guides passengers from other countries to their next gate or to taxi services to get passengers to their next destination without any issues. The barriers within the global environment can be corrected just as they can be corrected in the domestic environment. The fact that the technology within the global environment needs to be up to the same standards is an issue that should be addressed. ââ¬Å"To raise efficiency or establish a better competitive position, firmsââ¬â¢ efforts are oriented towards developing capabilities to absorb, adapt and master technologies often developed elsewhere in a process of technological learningâ⬠(Goedhuys, Janz, Mohnen, 2008). I honest believe this is the only remedy for providing up to date technology, the company has to make it a priority to provide the same technology to the global environment. The customs can be corrected by provided a print out of what is allowed and what is not allowed to be brought into or out of a country a passenger is traveling through. The information is available online but some older passengers arenââ¬â¢t as savvy with technology so they may not r eceive the same information. With this tactic there is not any excuse for not knowing what is expected when going through customs. The strategies I stated above will be successful, only if they are applied. Without application the strategy will be a failure. Within the domestic environment the security system can be significantly improved and decrease the risk for terrorist attacks greatly. This technology needs to be protected by requiring a security clearance for all employees who work for the company. This way you have a thorough back ground check on everyone who works for US Airways Group and the risk for inside information getting out to enemies of the United States is low. Within the global environment technology needs to be advanced. The company can protect this technology by only providing the technology to its global counterparts and not the competition.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
James Clavell Essay - Taipan and Shogun :: essays research papers
James Clavellââ¬â¢s Exploration Of Ancient Oriental Customs James Clavell certainly had his work cut out for him when he chose to write his ââ¬Å"Asian Sagaâ⬠series of novels. Exposing the customs and culture of the ancient Orient is a daunting task for even the most qualified professional. However, to do so with an intriguing and entertaining medium is verging on impossibility. Until the last two centuries, both China and Japan remained time capsules that held within them unique societies based on radically different values and perspectives. This national seclusion in China and Japan was a direct result of the countriesââ¬â¢ trade policies and their view of foreigners. Both countries believed that their country was truly the ââ¬Å"land of the Godsâ⬠and that all foreigners were inferior. This belief lead to laws that acted as force fields to repel Western society. Clavellââ¬â¢s in-depth biography explains how Clavell spent part of his life as a prisoner of war in Japan (JamesClavell.net, par. 2), and thus was able to coupl e his experiences with his natural gift of story telling. Throughout James Clavellââ¬â¢s novels Taipan and Shogun, Clavell cleverly intertwines the plot with beliefs and customs of ancient Hong Kong and Japan, respectively. Clavell does not merely present the oriental culture, but he incorporates all of his characters in the process of portraying the different aspects of their way of life. In doing this, Clavell is able to educate the reader without losing their interest. Throughout the two novels, Clavell stresses the importance of ââ¬Å"faceâ⬠and honour to the Oriental cultures. Early on in the novel Shogun, Clavell opens the readerââ¬â¢s eyes to the absolute importance of honour. Honour, in Japan, came in many forms. A person of low status was always expected to honour a superior by treating them with the utmost respect. One of the most important ways to pay respect to a superior was by bowing to à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à them. Clavell demonstrates that this ritual of bestowing honour was extremely important when one man is purposefully disrespectful by ââ¬Å"rise[ing] deliberately, without bowingâ⬠(Clavell, 1975, 34). The astonishing result of this disrespect is that ââ¬Å"the [superiorââ¬â¢s] killing sword made a hissing silver arc and the manââ¬â¢s head toppled offâ⬠(Clavell, 1975, 34). Although this seems extremely ridiculous and uncalled for, the reader realizes that if a samurai broke their code of honour, or bushido, then they had shamed themselves forever. When this occurred, their life no longer had meaning and was disposable at the will of their superiors.
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Case study Business policy
The Midwest suburb dealer was once a top Daimler-Chrysler dealer for three years in a row ending 2007. During this time, the dealer was the envy of the entire Midwest car market because of its spectacular sales performance along practically all categories of vehicles. For so many years, the dealership was an apple of Chryslerââ¬â¢s eyes. At the end of the year 2008 however, the dealership dropped to the lowest rung in all 87 Midwest dealers.From a sterling performance of $1.2 billion group revenues in 2006, the dealership revenues slid to just $120 million during 2008 or just a mere 10 per cent of its peak performance. What happened to an erstwhile enviable dealer becoming a corporate issue of great proportions? The financials are obvious but what non-financial factors were responsible for the steep decline in revenues?The critical incidents: Pre 2005-2007The Midwest Chrysler dealer commenced business in May 1995 as a used car dealer starting off with a $2 million investment from the partnership of John Clarkson, an accountant by profession; and Stephen Howell, both in their early thirties.The partners agreed that John Clarkson will become the general manager for three years with the other partner Stephen Howell, a former used car salesman, becoming the general manager for three years as well starting 2003 to 2005 after which John assumes back the position from 2006 to 2009.The dealership did very well selling used cars up to 1999 when the partners found an opportunity to become an exclusive Chrysler dealer. From the $2 million investment, above industry returns jacked up total resources to $20 million by December 2001 and revenues of $50 million.à A sales force of 20 topnotch salesmen from competing dealers were recruited and formed into a cluster sales force of two and assigned in nearby counties and further beyond the state.Sales commissions were increased to 5 percent above industry to sustain the drive of the twenty account executives.à By the end of 2002, total revenues hit $86 million with total assets of $36 million. Upbeat sales were triggered by aggressive selling of both new and old line of cars, supported by aggressive financing from every financial services outfit available in the area.Motivated by the sales trend, the company further increased its sales force by another ten and covered nearby states of Missouri, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky and Wisconsin, all considered bright areas for almost every Chrysler variant.Thanks to the aggressive sales force that dominated the dealership from 2002 to 2005.By the end of 2005, total corporate resources reached $140 million with revenues hitting $600 million. At this point however, several financing firms were starting to distance themselves from the Midwest dealer for one significant reason: the account executives have been referring subprime buyers, demanding and collecting bigger commissions, proposing too aggressive financing terms than before and threatening to form their ow n financial services group to siphon the good accounts and refer subprime accounts to the local financiers. The sales force was discovered to have favored certain financiers.The general manager at this point was Stephen Howell whose term started 2002 and ended 2005. It was he who conducted an aggressive hiring of account executives that generated the unprecedented revenues. Hiring of new employees was likewise intensified that bloated the dealer workforce by more than 30 non-productive employees without real assignments. Many of these workers were referred by the account executives.Howell accommodated these referrals without referring to the budget control systems adopted by the company, one of the several internal control systems put in place by Clarkson before he stepped down in 2002. Ã
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Comlaw Aropa Assignment Essay
Question 1 Offer is an expression of willingness to enter into a legally binding contract on the terms proposed once the offer is accepted. This letter is an offer since the terms proposed are complete and it is communication to the offeree. The letter was definitely sent to Andrew by mistake since the company makes this offer only to their regular customers and to those who have signed long term supply contract. Andrew did not satisfy both these conditions. According to the case of McMahon v Gilberd & Co, the ââ¬Ërewardââ¬â¢ for each returned soft drink bottle is made to their customer only. Technically, the bottle dealer is not their customer and therefore the case was invalid. In conclusion, although Andrew replied to the offer before the deadline, the company has no legal obligation to supply Andrew. Question 2 In this situation, Sarah has met the term of the offer as she has expressed willingness to enter into a legally binding contract. The reply from Sarah shows that she agreed to accept the offer for 300 tonnes. Her request to collect the fertilizers in early October is merely a request for information since she is willing to pay for the delay. It is not a counter offer by Sarah as she is willing to collect the fertilizers if the company does not agree to her request. Therefore, the offer is still valid as she was only requesting for more information. Similarly, in the case of Stevenson v McLean, the plaintiffs telegraph was only a request for information and is not a counter offer. Thus, the offeror has legal obligation to sell to the plaintiff since he has accepted the offer via post. The email sent by the company to Sarah on 21 July to revoke the offer is invalid because she has already accepted the offer. Revocation of offer can only be done before the communication of acceptance by the offeree. The method of reply used by Sarah through email is valid as long as it is not less advantageous to the offeror although the offer was sent via post. In conclusion, the company has the legal obligation to supply fertilizers to Sarah since her acceptance of offer is valid.
Thursday, November 7, 2019
buy custom Research Methods and Critical Thinking Skills
buy custom Research Methods and Critical Thinking Skills Ebola Virus Outbreak with Absence of a Vaccine Introduction The first discovery of Ebola virus was made in the year 1976. The virus was then in two countries, Sudan and Zaire. In Sudan, 284 people got infected by the virus. The mortality rate then was over 53 percent. A few months later the Ebola-Zaire virus emerged in Yambuku. It was more virulent and had a higher mortality rate of 88 % with 318 people infected. Tremendous efforts were put in place by the researchers with the aim of identifying the virus natural reservoir but all was in vain. Ebola Ruston emerged in Ruston Virginia from the monkeys that were transported from the Philippines. It was the third strain of the virus, which has been discovered in the United States. The third strain saw people get seroconverted by the virus; however, they did not develop the hemorrhagic fever. Ebola cote d Ivore was discovered in 1994 (Li and Chen, 2013). It was an accident that occurred with an ethnologist who was performing a necropsy on a dead chimpanzee in Tai forest.
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Printable Homeschool Record Keeping Forms
Printable Homeschool Record Keeping Forms These printable homeschool forms are ones that I have used in my homeschool support groups. These are for your personal use or use in your homeschool support group as is or modified. Attendance Record Form - Use this form to keep track of the school days for your student.Authorization for Transfer of Records - This form can be used to request your childs record from the previous school.Printable Biography Lesson Plan - Biography lesson plan with forms and sample pages.Course of Study - This is a course of study form that Ive been using for years.Emergency Medical Release - Emergency Medical Release Form for use in a homeschool support group.Homeschool Memory Books - Printable memory books for different levels to capture memories of the school year.Physical Education Record Keeping Form - Keep track of the activities performed each day to assure you meet the physical education requirement for your state.Progress Report - Progress Report form to record the progress made and material covered during the quarter.Reading List - Reading lists arent usually required, but I like to keep a list for reference in later years.Registration Application - Registration Applicatio n Form for a support group. Science Report Forms - Report forms for your student to use when doing a science project.Special Needs Forms - Forms to help with some of the unique things you need to track.
Sunday, November 3, 2019
Illegal immigration and Middle East profiling Essay
Illegal immigration and Middle East profiling - Essay Example Turning to positions various political philosophers would have taken on these two global phenomena, we need to closely scrutinize their thoughts on citizenship, liberties, freedom, and human rights. Focusing on Aristotle, his idea of citizenship is equated with virtue. That there is more to citizenship than living in a particular place or sharing in economic activity or ruling under the same laws. He contends that it is a great privilege to be a citizen and had a set of duties. He has certain freedoms that non-citizens do not have and obligations like political participation and military service. In his definition and subsequent argument, he refers to illegal migrants as the vulgar, that is, those who are incapable of citizenship, which leads to virtue. More importantly, those migrants are actually migrating in search of work or rather to become laborers. According to Aristotelian thinking, it is impossible to pursue virtue when one is a laborer. Laborers exist like slaves for the be nefit of male free citizens now that citizens are similar in stock and free. (Cohen and Fermon 114). This would be taken to mean that he does not advocate for non- citizens mixing with citizens, and in any case, therefore, the migrants who are laborers will always remain inferior to citizens and would not enjoy equal rights and liberties. In his argument of a good citizen, he contends whether the virtue of the good man and the excellent citizen is to be regarded as the same or as not the same. That a good man is the one who lives in accordance with virtue and finds happiness in doing so. The Middle East profiling is as a result of evil deeds that have informed such scrutiny. His position would then be that a virtuous person should be protected from the evil one and thus my posit is that, he would support such profiling, but as is typical in his ideas, in moderation. Saint Augustine of the city of god fame is on the worldview that we have a sinful nature and only by the grace of God that we can be saved. His philosophy is closely intertwined with the bible and God as the focal point. That we must obey governments to restrain us from being sinful (Cohen and Fermon 141).He believes in giving everyman his due. From this discussion therefore, illegal migration is sinful and like all other sins, evil. In the case of Middle East profiling, it is also sinful because God would not allow it, as we should all remain co-equals and colleagues. Rawls philosophy is anchored on reasonable pluralism. That is, he is more accommodating to divergence. He contends that, stability of society is organized around justice and he believes in respect for human rights. He postulates that, societies and countries lacking the conditions necessary for a decent or just regime should be assisted to realize it. By assistance, he does not recommend intervention, rather, to necessitate that country to achieve a just regime. These principles, he posits, should govern one nation in relation with t he other. His position in regards to illegal migration would then be that they should be accommodated, and their countries be assisted to achieve conditions that would enable citizens to be comfortable in a just regime which would restore peace and get into the path of economic progress. The same can be said on
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