40 Actionable Email Marketing Tips That Will Boost Results

40 Actionable Email Marketing Tips That Will Boost Results Email marketing is complex. From list building to copywriting to measurement, there’s always something new to learn and improve. For marketers and business owners with limited time, it can be difficult to keep up with. This post covers 40 important email marketing tips, along with actionable advice to help you implement them right now. Even if you’re an experienced email marketer, you’re sure to pick up at least a few new tactics. 40 Actionable Email Marketing Tips That Will Boost Results via @ Table of Contents: 10 Email Subject Line Writing Tips 10 Email Copywriting Tips 10 General Email Marketing Tips 10 Email List Building Tips 10 Tips for Writing Better Email Subject Lines Success starts with strong subject lines. According to Hiten Shah, â€Å"33% of email recipients open email based on the subject line alone.† You may have heard some variation of that figure before (different reports suggest a range between 30% to upper 40%). The key takeaway here is that paying attention to subject lines matters, and a little extra effort up front can boost the results of your entire email. 1. Test Every Subject Line Before Delivery Wouldn’t it be great if it were possible to test every subject line before you hit send? With the Email Subject Line Tester, there is. This free tool (which is also built into ) makes it easy to optimize subject lines and see how they’ll look in recipient’s inboxes. Enter your subject line: Then, get your score (and more): You can use it free as much as you’d like here. 2. Use a Real Person’s Name in the Sender Field Getting an email from an actual person feels more friendly than one from a brand. So, use an employee’s name in the sender field, rather than your brand name. For bloggers or solo consultants, your name might double as your brand. But, larger retail and B2B brands can benefit from this strategy, too. This example from Threadless shows how both can be combined: Most email service providers make it easy to edit the sender field. Consider using the name of the individual sending the email, or the best point of contact should a recipient have questions. Sending marketing emails? Use a real employee's name in the sender field:3. Add Personalization People want to feel like they’re more than just a number. So, to further make your emails more personable, include the recipient's name. Here’s an example of a plain-text email from Michael Hyatt using personalization: Make email marketing more conversational with personalization4. Use Power Words Subject lines should inspire readers to take action. So, include power words that motivate audiences to open and click. Use this cheat sheet: Use power words to increase #email open rates5. Experiment With Numbers and Stats According to a study from YesWare, including a number (like an interesting stat or percentage) can influence a modest increase in clicks and replies: There are at least a couple reasons this might be the case: Numbers are concrete. Subject lines that make vague promises are less compelling than those that state specific claims or benefits. For example, â€Å"Save 25%† is more useful than â€Å"Save Money.† Sometimes, stats are hard to believe (even if they’re accurate). And you just have to click for confirmation. So, if you have stats or interesting percentages to share, consider including them. Experiment with numbers and stats in #email subject lines6. A/B Test Subject Lines No study nor external data point will ever be as meaningful as your own results. One of the best ways to get insight into what works for your audience specifically is to A/B test as much as possible. Subject lines are one obvious email element to split test, and most email service providers make this easy. Here are some shortcuts to help documentation to get you started: MailChimp Campaign Monitor Active Campaign Constant ContactAre you using A/B testing on your #email subject lines? If not, you might not be as successful as...7. Create a Curiosity Gap According to Wordstream, a curiosity gap  is: The curiosity gap is a theory and practice popularized by Upworthy and similar sites that leverages the reader’s curiosity to make them click through from an irresistible headline  to the actual content. By creating a curiosity gap, you're teasing your reader with a hint of what's to come, without giving all the answers away. How powerful can leveraging an informational gap be for copywriting? For Copyhackers, powerful enough to drive a 927% traffic increase to a pricing page. Imagine what it can do for your email marketing. To incorporate this technique into your subject line writing, do this: Identify the beginning and end of the story in your email. Leave out crucial information in the middle. Now, done poorly, this is an easy recipe for cheesy clickbait. But, it can also be a simple formula for carefully crafted copy that piques curiosity (and gets more clicks on your emails). Here are some examples of what this might look like in practice: â€Å"The easiest way to achieve your goal isn’t what you think.† â€Å"What’s the fastest way to achieve [GOAL]?† â€Å"Should you use this tactic to achieve [GOAL]†? All of these examples leave something out, that can only be learned by clicking through to read the email. Create curiosity gaps in your email subject lines to get more opens.8. Make Use of Available Preview Text Preview text appears in some email clients after the subject line. Usually, this space will be filled with copy from the email itself, if no preview text is specified. Leaving it blank is a missed opportunity, though, as it offers a chance to give your subject line more context. Here’s a great example from MarketingProfs: The subject line inspires urgency (â€Å"last call†), while the preview text offers more specifics (exactly how long the offer will remain, and how much can be saved). This example from Stone Temple Consulting follows a similar principle: Making use of preview text is simple: write your subject line, then add context. Here are some ideas: Tease an offer, then add more specifics. Include information about additional content in your email (that isn’t implied by the subject line itself). Ask a question in your subject line, and use the preview text to tease an answer. Get creative with it and see how it impacts opens and clicks. Writing email subject lines? Don't forget to leverage space in the preview text field.9. Never Use All-Caps Just don’t. It sounds like you're shouting in your reader's face. Avoid all-caps in email subject lines (and get 39 more email marketing tips here):10. Experiment With Emojis Emojis are more than just fun illustrations. They can actually help improve opens on emails. In fact, according to Kim Courvoisier (formerly from Campaign Monitor), â€Å"brands that are using emojis have seen a 56% increase in their unique open rates.† Impressive. Will you achieve similar results? There’s only one way to find out: experiment! To quickly grab emojis you can copy and paste into your own emails, visit GetEmoji.com: Could emojis help increase your email open rate? 10 Email Copywriting Tips Strong copywriting skills are essential for effective email marketing. Here are ten different ways to sharpen yours. Recommended Reading: The Email Copywriting Process You Need to Get More Conversions 11. Keep It Brief Whether you’re writing subject lines or body copy, make everything as long as it needs to be, and no more. Here are some basic guidelines to follow: Keep sentences under 25 words, and paragraphs under three sentences. These are considered basic best practices for web writing. Aim for 17-24 characters when writing subject lines. There’s no real â€Å"best subject line length,† but shorter copy is more likely to avoid getting cut off on mobile devices. Get to the point. Every word and sentence in your email should serve a clear purpose. If it doesn’t, then remove it. Here’s an example from Google. It’s extremely brief and concludes with a simple CTA: Keep your #email marketing copy brief.12. Include One CTA (But Don’t Be Afraid to Include It In Multiple Locations) Including a single call-to-action is a classic piece of email marketing advice. But, what about including that one CTA in multiple locations? This is a simple tip that can help increase clicks by placing a link at multiple spots where a reader is likely to be scanning across your copy: This email includes a CTA in each of the following places: Header graphic. Inline text. Conclusion CTA button. If one item doesn’t entice clicks, there’s a chance the next one might. Consider including one #email call-to-action in multiple places.13. Add a PS If You Need Extra Links Newsletters and roundups, by their nature, include multiple links to various pieces of interesting content. But, if you’re writing a plain text email, it’s best to direct readers toward one location. For plain text emails though, if you have additional content to share, there is one place you can turn to: your PS section. "Check out this example from Sujan Patel, co-founder at Voila Norbert, which lists information about his upcoming speaking appearances: Some other things you could consider including might be: Related articles or blog posts. Upcoming events. Recent company news announcements. This is an easy way to get extra eyeballs on stuff you want to promote, without distracting from your core call-to-action. Get more email traffic by including additional links in a PS after your signature.14. Offer Something Valuable Great copy won’t save a crappy offer. If what you’re selling isn’t worth your audience’s time, there’s nothing you can do to salvage success. Before sending an email, ask whether it passes the following criteria: â€Å"Is the content or offer this is promoting high-quality?†Ã‚  This is obviously somewhat subjective, but if you’re sending email simply because you feel like you have to, it may be better to hold off. â€Å"Would I even want what I’m selling?† Put yourself in your readers shoes. If you read this email from another brand, would you even remotely care? Be honest. â€Å"Is there anything that could make this email more valuable?† An additional PS, a related piece of content, or something else? Never send a marketing #email if you don't have anything valuable to offer.15. Always Put the Reader First No one wants to listen to a brand talk exclusively about itself. Brands that solve problems for people, though? Those are the ones that get heard. When writing email copy, put the reader’s interest first: Strong Example: â€Å"Cut your grass 35% faster with new, sharper mower blades.† Weak Example: â€Å"Our new mower blades are 35% sharper.† The first example establishes a clear benefit and helps the reader envision themselves spending less time mowing their lawn. The second example isn’t bad, but it puts the company first, and fails to make as strong a connection between product improvement and tangible consumer benefit. Put your reader first when writing #email #marketing copy.16. Sell Benefits, Not Features This is another classic piece of copywriting advice, and one that directly ties into the previous tip. Generally speaking, customers care more about benefits than features. A sharper mower blade isn’t important because it’s sharper; it’s better because it means the customer can spend less time mowing their lawn. Here’s an interesting example from MailChimp: Now, this could have been some superdry copy about GDPR. But, odds are, if GDPR means anything to you, you already know what’s up. So, it instead focuses on how MailChimp made creating GDPR-friendly forms easy enough to do in a few clicks. Perfect. Selling benefits, not features is #email #marketing #copywriting 101:17. Maintain Message Match Between Email + Landing Page Copy You’ve sent out an awesome email. Your unsuspecting reader clicks, compelled by your copy, only to find the landing page doesn’t exactly sound like the email. Maybe the offer is different. Or, the theme of the copy isn’t quite aligned. Whatever the case may be, strive to maintain a consistent experience with your copy throughout the entire experience, from first click on a subject line, all the way through to a conversion on your landing page. Here’s a basic example of this done well, starting with a subject line from Adobe: Based on this text, one can assume the email will link to something with interesting photography from Tokyo. Once clicked, the headline on the body content makes it clear the reader is getting what they thought with this email: After clicking the button, the first thing you see is a blog header using the same banner image from the email: The body copy in the blog post also follows through on the story the reader expected based on the initial subject line: One consistent experience, from start to finish. That’s what marketers should always aim for. Make sure email copy matches the message on your destination landing page.18. Avoid Generic Templates There’s nothing wrong with using a template as a starting point. But, everyone has seen the same plain text email templates, repeatedly. So, if you’ve seen something similar sent before, it’s time to go back to the drawing board, and come up with something fresh. That’s all there is to this tip. Say no to generic templates. Writing outreach emails? Say no to generic templates.19. Develop a Distinctive Voice Everyone gets too much email in their inbox every day. To stand out, developing a distinctive brand voice is important. Create a brand voice chart similar to this one from Content Marketing Institute: Write more engaging #email copy by developing a distinctive #brand voice:20. Make Copy Skimmable Dense paragraphs of text typically perform poorly for email. So, keep sentences brief, and cut down paragraphs to a sentence or two (three at the max). Here’s an example from Siege Media that’s clear and easy to skim: Don't make readers work! Make your #email #marketing copy skimmable instead. 10 General Email Marketing Tips Here’s a roundup of basic (but often overlooked) tips that, while small, add up to delivering a better experience for your subscribers. Recommended Reading: The Best Email Calendar Template You Need to Manage Marketing Newsletters 21. Make it Simple to Unsubscribe Once you’ve got people on your list, you probably want to do everything you can to keep them there. So, why make it easy to unsubscribe? Because it creates a more positive experience. Someone might be interested in your brand, but just doesn’t want your emails anymore. If its tough to get off your list, that positive brand sentiment can quickly evaporate, to the extent they choose a competitor instead. This can be as simple as making the unsubscribe link clear and easy to find: In this example, the unsubscribe link is subtle and unobtrusive, yet easy to find for anyone looking for it. Making email unsubscribes easy creates a more positive experience with your brand.22. Don’t Pay For Lists There are lots of reasons you shouldn’t send emails to a paid list. Here are a handful: None of those people will understand why they’re getting email from a company that may or may not have ever heard about. A lot of those people are liable to unsubscribe and they won’t convert anyway. Worse, you could violate the CAN-SPAM Act. This could be extremely bad news for your business. Build your list fair and square, and avoid paying for lists. Avoid paying for #email #marketing lists:23. Use Mobile-Friendly Design Check out these mobile email stats from Campaign Monitor: Emails that don’t render properly on mobile devices may get deleted in under three seconds. At least 50% of email opens happen on mobile devices (an exact number is tough to pin down, but that’s a lot). Mobile users check email 3X more frequently than desktop users. 52% are less likely to buy from a company if their mobile experience is poor. What do all these numbers mean? In short, you need to provide subscribers with a strong mobile email experience. At a basic level, make sure you’re using responsive templates for designed emails (most modern email service providers should make this easy), and easily skimmable text for plain-text emails. If you’re working with a developer building HTML emails, explain the importance of optimizing for mobile devices (if they’re not already on board). Use the stats above to build your case. Are your marketing #emails mobile-friendly?24. Add Alt-Text to Images and Buttons Image alt-text  helps tell web browsers and email clients more about the contents of an image. It’s useful for two reasons: Helping the visually impaired understand what your images are. Providing context for images in case they can’t load. Here’s a brief tutorial on how to do this with Constant Contact (other email service providers work similarly): 25. Send Email at the Best Times for Most Opens and Clicks The best time to send email will differ depending on your audience. But, there’s been plenty of research done to give us some solid starting points. Follow these guidelines: Are you sending your #marketing #emails at the best times?26. Plan Your Email Schedule Around the Best Days to Send, Too Start with a schedule that looks like this: Here's how to pick the best days to send #marketing #email27. Manage Your Email Marketing Schedule on a Calendar Calendars and planning tools help build consistency. Consistency helps deliver results. Instead of slipping on your sending schedule, get it organized. If you haven’t downloaded the email calendar included in this post, grab it for free. Or, if you’re a customer, use its email integrations to map out all your sends (alongside the rest of your marketing projects and campaigns). If you’ve got some time, this demo recap video shows how it works: Email calendars make planning newsletter sends easier28. Optimize Your Email Sending Frequency Consistency is key to success. But, that doesn’t mean you should stick to doing things exactly the same way you always have, indefinitely. Smart marketers optimize their approach based on performance data over time. Email marketing should be no exception. Once a month, consider analyzing your email marketing sending frequency and note: Which times perform best? Which days perform best? Do open rates appear to drop off once a certain number of emails are sent? Are you getting a high number of complaints about excessive email (and do those complaints correlate with a drop in opens)? Gather this data using the in-app analytics in your email service provider. Then, adjust your schedule accordingly. Are you optimizing your #email sending frequency based on data and performance?29. Add Whitelisting Instructions to Your Emails Whitelisting  is a simple process email recipients can use to make sure messages from a certain sender go straight into their inbox (rather than a SPAM folder). According to Campaign Monitor: â€Å"Many email senders link to whitelist instructions from their email campaigns, to ensure that their campaigns are delivered straight to the inbox for as many recipients as possible. A common approach is to add a short message to your email content, like, â€Å"To keep receiving emails from us, please add us to your address book†. Head here to find a free code snippet  you can use to drop a link like this in your email. Make sure your emails get read! Learn all about whitelisting (and get 39 more great #email...30. Create Unique Email List Segments The subscribers on your email list may have unique interests or different backgrounds. Sending the same messages to different groups of people might not always get similar results from each one. For example, if you run an auto parts ecommerce site, customers interested in Honda Civic accessories might not be interested in information about pickup trucks. How could a marketer in this situation keep both groups equally engaged? By segmenting their email list based on interests. Here’s how to get started using four different email service providers (each of which integrate with ): MailChimp: Getting Started with Segments List segmentation in Campaign Monitor Active Campaign: How Do I Create a Segment of a List? Constant Contact: Create More Targeted Lists Using SegmentationUse list segmentation to make sure the right emails get to the right people 10 Email List Building Tips Without an email list, you’ll have no one to market toward. Use these 10 tips to build up your list and get more leads into the funnel. Recommended Reading: 21+ Easy Ways to Build an Email List That Will Skyrocket by 140% in 1 Year 31. Create Valuable Gated Content Upgrades Content upgrades are downloadable freebies gated behind an email opt-in form. To get these configured on your blog, website, or landing pages, you may need to get some developer help. But, once you’re ready to roll, here are some great ideas for content upgrades you can try: Templates. eBooks. PDF guides. Research reports. Slide presentations. White papers. Case studies. Ivan Kreimer wrote a great guide on creating content upgrades here. In the struggle to build an email list, content upgrades are your secret weapon.32. Include a Sticky CTA on Your Website Here’s an example from the Blog: If you don’t have the capability to set this up yourself, work with a developer to add an email signup CTA somewhere on your blog or website homepage. Use a CTA on your website to drive more #email signups33. Mention Subscriber Count to Leverage Social Proof Another note to make your sticky CTAs more effective: include some social proof. Mentioning your subscriber count (once you have some subscribers) shows potential leads that you’re offering something of value. Leverage social proof by mentioning your subscriber count in your email signup call-to-action:34. Include a Signup Link in Personal Emails If you email folks around your industry with your own work email account, drop a link in your signature to get your company’s email newsletters, too. If you email folks around your industry with your own work email account, drop a link in your...35. Launch a Contest (With an Email Opt-In Form) Contests and giveaways are a great way to gather email signups. You can do this in one of two ways: With a physical entry form (for brick-and-mortar stores). An online content with a signup landing page. Running a worthwhile contest can take a lot of effort. But, it’s worth it to build up a highly engaged email list. Fortunately, Matthew Barby has created an incredibly in-depth guide here. [Tweet "Contests are an awesome way to build #email #marketing lists:] 36. Run a List-Building Social Media Campaign If people are following you on social media, they’re obviously interested in your brand. So, why not get them onto your email list? Run a creative social campaign directing to your email signup page. customers can easily create cross-channel social campaigns: Create a social media campaign promoting your #email newsletter to get more sign-ups37. Optimize Your Email Opt-In Confirmation Process If you use a single opt-in process, email subscribers will be added to your list as soon as they complete a form. However, if you use a double opt-in process, subscribers will need to click a confirmation link on an email they’ll receive. The second option helps cut down on junk signups (if someone is going to bother to click the confirmation link, you know they really want to be on your list). But, if the confirmation email goes into a SPAM folder, you could miss out on subscribers. Follow your email service provider’s guidelines on using double opt-in processes effectively: MailChimp Campaign Monitor Active Campaign Constant Contact Use a double opt-in process to improve lead quality on your email list38. Use Wistia’s Turnstile to Turn Video Viewers Into Email Subscribers If you use Wistia for video hosting, don’t overlook using Turnstile  to add email opt-in forms to your videos. Find a video in your library and go to Timeline Actions: Then, click add Turnstile: You can then configure your video so viewers need to enter an email address to watch. Use Turnstile in @wistia to turn video viewers into email subscribers39. Try Exit Intent Pop-ups Once someone has spent some time on your site, make sure you don’t lose them after they leave. Exit intent pop-ups make it easy to capture email signups when people start to move their cursor to leave your site: Here are some exit intent popup examples  created with OptinMonster. Get more email signups with exit intent popups40. Add an Email Signup Link to Your Website Footer ’s Head of Demand Generation, Nathan Ellering, says you can expect a footer link to contribute around 1% to your overall list growth. But, they’re also extremely easy to add, and every little bit helps. Ask your developer if they can throw in a footer link to your email signup page.

Key Performance Indicator analysis for "Be More Dog" Essay

Key Performance Indicator analysis for "Be More Dog" Campaign - Essay Example 2007.  Pg 21). In the campaign of ‘Be More Dog’, 02 were given a philosophy and theme by VCCP that applies all over its business and its marketing communications. The brand is also given by the campaign a personality that brings it together with all types of customers. This is important for 02 because it is faced by stiff competition from its competitor’s network. In considering the joint and mutual effect of the brand’s message, creative, perceptions, and media touchpoints – including the experience of the brand, competitor media, and word of mouth on the brand’s KPIs and brand tracking (Christophel, D. 2009.  Pg 32). The analysis will be carried out on three aspects i.e. identifying, pinpointing, and benchmarking (Kerzner, et al 2013 pg 40). In identifying, KPI is a success whenever the brand attributes has contributed to the target customers’ sharing behaviors, consideration and purchase. The message that is communicated in the campaign is that life is really great in the 21st century. There is much stuff that should surprise us, but people are too tired for them to be appreciative of the things that surround them. In pinpointing, we look at the contribution of the message, hoe creative was it executed, and how successful is the media that drives the perception of those attributes (Pinheiro Bohl, et al. 2007 pg no. 33). From the campaign, VCCP packaged the idea in a way that was very creative (Brioschi, E. T. 2007 pg 51). The ad by 02 takes a cat that is well known for being disinterested and lethargic that comes to the decision of making a change in its life so as to become more of a dog, ( an animal that is well known for unbelievable levels of showing enthusiasm. The pictures of sticks being fetched and holes being dug by cats. It idea well triggered in our brains. By ‘being more dog’, this will drive people to utilize more technology and services and that’s a good

ART IN THE NEWS PAPER Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

ART IN THE NEWS - Research Paper Example Pachacutec reformed the city after he took over the throne in 1438 in which he built new streets as they appear today. The city resembles Puma and the Coricancha is located in the tail of the animal (News Central 2015). The city is the holiest in Incan according to myths related to the city. The temple was built around 1200 AD using the style of the Incas, which got many praises from Pedro Sarmiento Gamboa, an early Spanish historian. In his book, Sarmiento was overwhelmed by its evenness and beauty. The temple was between four main highways, connected to the four districts of the empire, and represented the importance of religion (News Central 2015). The temple was a symbol of unity and the cultural practices, which were diverse in the territory of the Incas. The temple provided housing for more than 4,000 priests and had captivating scenery especially the shadows cast by stones on the Andes Mountains. The temple had four main chambers with the dedication to the stars, the moon, thunder, and rainbows (News Central 2015). There was gold that filled the Coricancha and one of the chambers had a giant sun disc that reflected sunlight which provided light to the whole temple. The emperor used to sit in a sacred space, which was illuminated by the sun during the summer solstice. Cusco played a very important role for the success of the empire although there were disputes over the next Inca. There was an epidemic of smallpox brought by the European explorers in the 1530s, which resulted to chaos in the empire (The Guardian 2015). Francisco Pizarro of Spanish captured the empire during the chaos and demolished most of the Coricancha, melted all the gold sculptures and sent them to Spain. Afterwards, they put up a Cathedral on the same site, which was later destroyed by the earthquake. However, the foundations of the temple were left intact and today it attracts many people as tourists. Th e

The Benefits of Social Media Essay Example for Free

The Benefits of Social Media Essay Computers have been around since the 1950’s, and now, they play an important role in what we do on a day to day basis. They help us connect to the internet, which enables us to see almost anything we can think of. Social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, are growing trends on the internet that people cannot seem to get their hands off of. According to Statistic Brain (2014), 58% of people use at least one source of social media, and around 1. 4 billion people worldwide use Facebook. It was also calculated that the average amount of minutes spent on a social media site in one month is 700 billion minutes (Statistic Brain, 2014). Social media has been around since the 1970’s, and has increases substantially, and continues to do so as well (Golbe, 2012). Social media is a way for us to contact and stay in touch with old and new friends. Even though social media is mostly seen as just a communication factor, many do not realize that it also has many benefits that it provides to everyone that has the capability of using it. In Andrew Keen’s (2012) article, he talks about social media being a trap to us humans who are involved in taking part in it (p. 429). He talks about how we are able to share every single bit of information about ourselves to anyone at any time we are shown the opportunity too. He believes that we should not be able to have the ability to share almost everything about ourselves to other people. He mentioned that you will only be able to find pure happiness if you are being left alone, and not having the capability to share our life with other people (p. 429). In this case, that is not true. Pure happiness does not come from being alone, and not being able to share anything with anyone. PBS (2011) mentioned that Psychologist researches have come to a conclusion that â€Å"happiness is made up of pleasure, engagement, and  meaning†. Engagement involves other people that you surround yourself with or may come in contact with, and so can pleasure. Therefore being alone does not create pure happiness. Parent Further (2013) also proves this point wrong, by mentioning that â€Å"kids can gain social confidence from interacting with other people online,† which will help them with new situations that involve social interaction that they will face in their later on lives. Social media can also help with improving relationships and making new friends, and what are relationships and friendships without being able to share things with those people? Friendships and relationships are all about knowing the other persons you are surrounding yourself with. In order to do that, one has to be able to communicate and be capable to share things. So, as you can see, just because we share things with other people, does not mean we will not be happy. Sharing things can help us with many areas in our day to day lives. Schools, teachers and students also benefit from the use of social media as well. Social media helps teachers and students to be able to connect outside of school with academic questions, and help when they need it. Parent Further (2013) mentions how social media, such as Moodle, Digg, and other sights have become increasingly important in school for communication between the students and teachers. With the use of the social media that the teachers are using, to have outside of school conversations, it helps children build stronger school communities. They also mention how students are also able to explore their interests more through social media, by getting in contact with others and being able to exchange their knowledge, along with learning from the others knowledge as well (Parent Further, 2013). According to Ritu Pant (2013), 96% of students, that are allowed access to internet, use at least one social media piece. Out of that 96%, 59% of them talk about educational topics on their social media page, and 50% of those students talk specifically about schoolwork that they are participating in. ProCons (2014) talks about how social media helps students do better in school as well. They mention that â€Å"after George Middle School in Portland, Organ introduced a social media program to engage students, grades went up by 50%, chronic absenteeism went down by 33%, and 20% of students school-wide voluntarily completed extra-credit assignments†Ã‚  (ProCons, 2014). Therefore, social media helps teachers and students increase their involvement with the school and their education. Social media also has many other benefits. It can help companies in multiple ways. Madhur Chaturvedi (2014) mentions how â€Å"social media websites have become an important platform for businesses to engage with customers, prospects, employees, and candidates†. ProCons (2014) mentioned how large chain businesses use social media to quickly disperse new information with all their managers and employees. It also helps businesses create a faster and more efficient way of looking for new employees. Most business uses social media to target and reach out to employees through advertising the job openings to the community. According to ProCons (2014), â€Å"64% of companies are on two or more social networks for recruiting because of the wider pool of applicants and more efficient searching capabilities. 89% of job recruiters have hired employees through LinkedIn, 26% through Facebook, and 15% through Twitter. One in six job-seekers credit social media for helping find their current job. 52% of job-seekers use Facebook for the job search, 38% use LinkedIn, and 34% use Twitter†. Social Media also allows companies to reach out to and interact with their customers. Companies use social media to get immediate customer feedback on certain items or things dealing with the company, so if it is disliked, they can make quick changes to ensure that their customers will be satisfied (ProCons, 2014). Companies also include a tab on their social media content that is just for their customers, allowing customers to interact with the company and give feed as well (Chaturvedi, 2014). That last thing that it helps companies out with, is being able to advertise their products in a fast, easy and efficient way. According to Chaturvedi (2014), sale leads generate from social media, because of the capability that companies have to advertise through social media. Social media also helps protect our society in many ways. It can helps us to become more aware with our surroundings, by informing us of any situations that may put us through any harm. According MPA Degree (2006-2014), â€Å"government leaders and agencies are increasingly harnessing the powers of social media to both connect with the public and extract  information†. They use social media to help defuse riots, by following â€Å"rabble-rousers† on Twitter, and using hints and clues to pinpoint where the riots exact location and time will be. They are also using it to prepare for disasters as well. They share posts on social media that inform the society what to do in case of an emergency, and how to always be prepared. MPA Degree also mentions how the government uses social media to warn the society of weather tragedies, like earthquakes and hurricanes for example. They mentioned how the 5.9 earthquake that hit the Northwest in the 2011, was broadcasted on Twitter b efore the earthquake even happened, in order to get the word out to many people (MPADegree, 2006-2014). According to ProCons (2014), the US Military uses social media to help prevent suicides from occurring. Health clinics also use social media to tell patients when vaccines are in, and why they should get that certain vaccine. The Boston Health Commission used Twitter to help inform their followers of the vaccine available for the H1N1 breakout that occurred. The law enforcement also uses social media to catch and prosecute criminals. It was surveyed that 67% of â€Å"federal, state, and local law enforcement professionals . . . think ‘social media helps solve crimes more quickly’† (ProCons, 2014). They also mention how NYPD uses a tracking device that helps catch criminals who talk about the crimes they committed online (ProCons, 2014). ProCons also talks about how a nine-year old student, Martha Payne, shared a blog about her schools lunch, and how it was exposed everywhere. This blog led to the creating of the â€Å"Friends of Never Seconds† charity to he lp feed children globally. Social media helps protect us citizens from harm and discomfort that the world will see. Social media is used everywhere across the world. About 58% of the world uses social media is some sort of way, whether it is through Facebook, Twitter, Moodle, etc., people are always using it (Statistics Brain, 2014). Just by listening to stories and hearing about them, social media really does not have a good reputation. Social media is seen as useless or a hurtful factor that we should not give as much recognition too that we do. People find it hurtful to our society and children, but that is not the case. Social media is very beneficial in many positive ways. Instead of hurting us, like a lot of people think, it helps us in very important ways. It helps students and teachers become more engaged in their education, and it with helps raise grades and participation rates in the students themselves. It also helps our society in multiple ways. When businesses use social media, they are benefiting from it by excelling in their performance, and the community benefits as well by being able to give feedback on what is good and what isn’t. Lastly, it helps with protecting the communities. Weather it is through emergency warnings, or tracking devices, social media is a factor that plays a great role in protecting us. Overall, social media plays more of a beneficial factor than a harmful one, so therefore, we should continue to use it to our advantages. References Chaturvedu, M. (2014). Effective social media strategies – four tips, four benefits. Oracle. Retrieved from http://www.oracle.com Globe, G. (2012, September 6). The history of social networking. Digital Trends. Retrieved from http://www.digitaltrends.com Keen, A. (2012). Sharing is a trap. In K. A. Ackley (Ed.), Perspectives on contemporary issues (pp. 425-429). Boston: Wadsworth MPA Degree (2006-2014). How social media is being used by the government. MPADegree.org. Retrieved from http://mpadegree.org Pant, R. (2013, July 18). The use of social media in schools. Socialmedia Today. Retrieved from http://socialmediatoday.com ParentFurther (2013). Benefits of online social networking. ParentFurther. Retrieved from http://parentfurther.com PBS (2011). What is happiness?. This Emotional Life. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org ProCon (2014). Social networking. ProCon.org. Retrieved from http://socialnetworking.porcon.org Statistic Brain (2014). Social networking statistics. Statist ic Brain. Retrieved from http://statisticbrain.com

Australian Family Law Essay -- Family Law

In this day and age there are many variations of what constitutes a couple or family in comparison to many years ago. Long ago the idea of a ‘nuclear family’ was considered the norm; it consisted of the conventional husband, wife and children . But as our society progressed through the years this definition became less conventional and criticisms were made, this definition of ‘family’ did not account for gay unions, soul parents nor did it acknowledge the prevalence of extended family. The definition of family has changed over time, as have the socially defined roles of mothers and fathers. Within these varied family units, situations occur in which divorces and separations take place and a lot of the times these tricky situations may involve children, which can make an already tricky situation even more problematic. There are pieces of legislation which are in place which aim to protect the best interests of a child during the time their parents are going t hrough divorce but sometimes these avenues can be more problematic and ultimately destroy unions whereas other avenues of dispute resolution such as mediation, albeit with its own criticisms, helps to keep relationships afoot in that it provides an opportunity for peaceful and mutual agreements to be made in a more laid back environment. In the Commonwealth of Australia’s Constitution Act s 51, powers of the Commonwealth Parliament to legislate on family law subjects is laid out, it states: â€Å"The Parliament shall, subject to the Constitution, have power to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to: (xxi) Marriage: (xxii) Divorce and matrimonial causes; and relation thereto, parental rights and the custody and guardianship of inf... ...amily Law, 4th edn, Lexis Nexis, Australia McDonald, P 1984, Can The Family Survive? - Change in Australia, Discussion Paper no. 11, Australian Institute of Family Studies, accessed 10 April 2012 http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/dp11.html Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act s 51, Prepared 2003, Accessed 3 April 2012, http://fedlaw.gov.au/comlaw/comlaw.nsf/440c19285821b109ca256f3a001d59b7/57dea3835d797364ca256f9d0078c087/$FILE/ConstitutionAct.pdf Commonwealth Consolidated Acts, Family Law Act 1975, Australasian Legal Information Institute (Austlii), http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/fla1975114/ Goode v Goode (2006) FamCA 1346 (http://www.familylawwebguide.com.au/attachment.php?id=43&keep_session=21863255) Marriage Act 1961 (Cth) Family Law Act 1975(Cth) †¢ s 60I †¢ s 60CC †¢ s 60CC (3)(a) †¢ s 60CE †¢ 61DA †¢ s 65DAA

Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 18

That night, Damon invited me to play cards with some of his soldier friends, who were camped out for the moment in Leestown, twenty miles away. â€Å"I may not agree with them, but damn, can they play a good hand and drink a good pint,† Damon said. I'd found myself agreeing, eager to avoid Father and any questions about vampires. But by the time twilight rolled around and I hadn't seen any sign of Katherine or Emily, I wished that I hadn't agreed to accompany Damon. My mind was still jumbled, and I wanted a night with Katherine to reassure me that my desire was leading me in the right direction. I loved her, but the practical, sensible side of me was having trouble disobeying Father. â€Å"Ready?† Damon asked, clad in his Confederate uniform, when he stopped by my bedroom at twilight. I nodded. It was too late to say no. â€Å"Good.† He grinned and clattered down the stairs. I glanced wistfully out the window toward the carriage house, then followed him. â€Å"We're going out to the camp,† Damon yelled as we passed by Father's study. â€Å"Wait!† Father emerged from the study into the living room, several long branches filled with tiny, lilac-like purple flowers in his arms. Vervain. â€Å"Wear this,† he commanded, tucking a sprig into each of our breast pockets. â€Å"Y shouldn't have, Father,† Damon said ou tersely, as he plucked the sprig out of his pocket and shoved it into his breeches pocket. â€Å"I've given you latitude, son, and given you a roof. Now all I ask is that you do this,† Father said, slamming his meaty fist into his palm so hard, I saw him wince. Thankfully, Damon, usually so quick to pounce at any sign of weakness, didn't notice. â€Å"Fine, Father.† Damon shrugged easily and spread his arms as if in defeat. â€Å"I would be honored to wear your flower for you.† Father's eyes flickered with rage, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he simply broke off another sprig and tucked it into Damon's coat pocket. â€Å"Thank you,† I mumbled as I accepted my own branch. My statement of thanks was less for the flower and more for Father showing mercy on Damon. â€Å"Be careful, boys,† Father said, before retreating to his study. Damon rolled his eyes as we walked outside. â€Å"Y shouldn't be so hard on him,† I mumbled, ou shivering in the night air. The summer-like day had become a chilly fall evening, but the mist that had been everywhere last night had lifted, giving us a been everywhere last night had lifted, giving us a crystal-clear view of the moon. â€Å"Why not? He's hard on us.† Damon snorted as he led the way to the stable. Mezzanotte and Jake were already bridled and stamping their hooves impatiently. â€Å"I had Alfred get everything ready. Thought we'd need a quick getaway.† Damon swung his leg over Jake's back, then galloped him down the path and turned in the direction opposite of town. We rode in silence for at least a half hour. With just the sound of the hooves and the sight of the moon peeking through the dense foliage, it felt like we were riding into a dream. Finally, we began to hear sounds of flutes playing and laughter and the occasional gunshot. Damon directed us up over a hill toward a clearing. Tents were set up all over, and a piper played in the corner. Men were walking around, and dogs were stationed at the entrance. It was as if we'd arrived at a mysterious, hidden party. â€Å"Hello, sir?† Two Confederate soldiers came up to us, their rifles pointed toward us. Mezzanotte took a few steps back and whinnied nervously. â€Å"Soldier Damon Salvatore, sir! Here on leave from General Groom's camp down in Atlanta.† Immediately, the two soldiers relaxed their rifles and tipped their hats at us. â€Å"Sorry 'bout that, soldier. We're gearin' up for battle, and we're losing our men like flies, before they even hit the battlefield,† the taller soldier said, stepping up to pat Jake. â€Å"Y and not because of typhus,† the other, es, smaller, mustachioed soldier said, obviously pleased to share this information with us. â€Å"Killings?† Damon asked tersely. â€Å"How'd you know?† the first guard asked, stroking his rifle. I glanced at the ground, unsure what to do. I felt that Damon was getting us into a dangerous situation, but I didn't know what I could do to fix it. â€Å"My brother and I are coming from Mystic Falls,† Damon said, jerking his thumb back as if to prove that was the direction we came from. â€Å"The next town over, past the forest. We've had some of our own trouble. People are saying it's some type of animal.† â€Å"Not unless it's an animal that only goes for the throat and leaves the rest of the body untouched,† the mustachioed soldier said knowledgeably, his tiny eyes flicking back and forth between us. â€Å"Hmm,† Damon said, sounding suddenly uninterested. But then he changed the subject. â€Å"Any good games of poker going on tonight?† â€Å"Right there in that clearing by the oak trees.† The small soldier pointed a little ways off into the distance. â€Å"Have a good evening, then. I thank you for your help,† Damon said with exaggerated politeness. We walked in the direction the soldier pointed, until Damon stopped abruptly at a small circle of soldiers, huddled around a fire and playing cards. â€Å"Hello! Soldier Damon Salvatore on leave from General Groom's boys,† Damon said confidently as he slid off his horse and glanced around the faces lit up by the campfire. â€Å"This is my brother, Stefan. Can we be dealt in?† One ginger-haired soldier glanced at an older, grand-fatherly type whose arm was in a sling. He shrugged and gestured for us to sit on one of the logs set up around the fire. â€Å"Don't see why not.† Adrenaline seeped through my veins as we settled down and took our hands. Mine was good: two aces and a king. I immediately threw in some rumpled notes from my pocket, making a bet with myself. If I won money, then everything would be fine with Katherine. And if I didn't, then †¦ well, I didn't want to think about it. â€Å"All in,† I said confidently. After we settled the game, I wasn't surprised to emerge as the victor. I smiled as I took the pile of money and carefully put it in my pocket. I grinned in relief, finally feeling sure in my love for Katherine. I imagined what Katherine would say. Smart Stefan, maybe. Savvy Stefan. Or maybe she'd simply laugh, showing her white teeth, and allow me to take her into my arms and twirl her around and around the room†¦. We played several more hands after that, during which I lost the money I had won, but I didn't care. The first hand had been the test, and now my heart and mind felt remarkably light. â€Å"What are you thinking?† Damon asked, taking a flask from his pocket. He held it toward me, and I took a long swig. The whiskey burned going down my throat, but I still craved more. It didn't seem that any of the other soldiers were up for another hand. The five we were playing with had drifted off to chew tobacco, drink more whiskey, or tearfully talk about their sweethearts back home. â€Å"Come on, brother, you can tell me,† Damon encouraged. He took the flask, swigged from it, then passed it back toward me. I took another, deeper drink and paused. Should I tell him? Any hesitation I had earlier had disappeared. After all, he was my brother. â€Å"Well, I was thinking about how different Katherine is than any other girl I've met †¦,† I began evasively. I knew I was treading into dangerous territory, but part of me was dying to know whether Damon also knew Katherine's secret. I took another sip of whiskey and coughed. â€Å"How's she different?† Damon asked, a smile curving on his lips. â€Å"Well, I mean she's not,† I said, sobering up as I frantically tried to backtrack. â€Å"I just meant that I noticed that she is–† noticed that she is–â€Å" â€Å"That she's a vampire?† Damon interrupted. My breath caught in my throat, and I blinked. I glanced around nervously. People were drinking, laughing, counting their winnings. But Damon was simply sitting there, the same smile on his lips. I couldn't understand how he was smiling. And then a new, darker thought appeared in my mind. How did Damon know that Katherine was who she was? Had she told him? And had it been the same way, in the misty predawn, in bed? I shuddered. â€Å"So she's a vampire. What of it? She's still Katherine.† Damon turned to look at me, urgency in his dark-brown eyes. â€Å"And you won't say anything to Father. He's half crazy as it is,† Damon said as he scuffed his boot against the ground. â€Å"How did you find out?† I couldn't stop myself from asking. Suddenly, a shot was fired. â€Å"Soldier down!† a uniformed boy who looked to be about fourteen yelled as he charged from tent to tent. â€Å"Soldier down! Attack! Out into the woods!† Damon's face paled. â€Å"I need to help. Y little ou, brother, go home.† â€Å"Are you sure?† I asked, feeling torn and suddenly frightened. Damon nodded tersely. â€Å"If Father asks, I drank too much at the saloon and am sleeping it off somewhere.† Another shot was fired, and Damon took off into the woods, blending into the sea of soldiers. â€Å"Go!† Damon yelled. I ran in the opposite direction to the now-abandoned camp and dug my heels into Mezzanotte, whispering in her velvety ears and imploring her to go faster. Mezzanotte rode through the forest faster than she ever had before; once across the Wickery Bridge, she turned, as if she knew exactly how to head home. But then she reared and whinnied. I held on with my thighs and saw a shadowy figure with golden-brown hair, arm-in-arm with another girl. I stiffened. No women would be out after dark unaccompanied by a man in the best of circumstances, but definitely not in these times. Not with the vampire attacks. The face turned, and in the reflection on the water I saw a pale, pointed face. Katherine. She was escorting little Anna from the apothecary. All I could see were the dark vines of Anna's curls, bouncing over her shoulders. â€Å"Katherine!† I yelled from the horse, with a strength I did not know I possessed. Now, instead of wanting to hold her, I wanted to use my arms to restrain her, to make her stop carrying out the awful thing she was about to do. I felt bile rise in my throat as I imagined finding a jagged branch and ramming it into her chest. Katherine didn't turn around. She held Anna's shoulders tighter and led her into the forest. I kicked Mezzanotte hard on the flanks, the wind whipping against my face as I desperately tried to catch up with them.

Standardized Testing Is The Best Answer For Students

Standardized testing in the United States education system went from a onetime only test called Compass test and has become a once a year maybe more test called the MEAP. There is much debate as to whether this frequency of testing is the best answer for students. This reoccurring testing can teach students valuable skills that would benefit the students later in life. People worry that every child is not the same and some test better than others, while others claim test taking is a skill they should improve. Standardized testing has altered the focus in education; it has created high stakes, which now effects schools, teachers, and students. My experience with standardized testing has not been a very pleasant one. Standardize testing reinvents the structure of education but should it be the main focus? â€Å"Persuaders often use repetition their likelihood of making a connection with audience members† (Borchers 26). The argument used for supporting standardized testing, uses the fact that it will help our children learn and our teacher to keep on the same pace throughout the country. The argument against standardized testing is that it puts too much pressure on students and teachers. This is repetitive told to teachers, parents and state legislatures when this issue is debated. â€Å"Standardized testing in the 19th century was originally used to compare different teachers’ evaluations of identical student’s work or to compare teacher’s marks† (Phelps). When thisShow MoreRelatedEmphasis on Standardized Testing Essay1525 Words   |  7 PagesAll throughout ones educational career, students are required to take standardized tests to show their progress and if they meet certain requirements they could qualify them for higher educational opportunities. Some common standardized test include: Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), American College Testing (ACT), Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Missouri Assessment Program (MAP), and Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL). Standardized tests are designed so that each person taking the test hasRead MoreStandardized Testing Is An Epidemic Rising All Over The Country1175 Words   |  5 PagesStandardize testing is an epidemic rising all over the country. Many ask what standardize testing is? Standardize testing is defined as any form of test that requires the same question to be answered, in the same concept, and that is scored using a consistent manner, which is unfair to the tester (â€Å"Standardized Test†). Testing the students for the rating of the teachers and the placement of the schools is absolutely absurd. This academic issue is nationwide and especially in West Virginia. What mightRead MoreStandardized Testing And Standardized Tests1204 Words   |  5 PagesYou must mark all your answers on this answer sheet. Use only a No. 2 pencil. You may not use a pen.   When you fill in the circles, make heavy black marks.   If you make a mistake, era se it completely.   Make no stray marks. Do not make any marks on the back of the answer sheet. These instructions are something we have all nearly fallen asleep to over our years of standardized tests. I myself can be included with you in that experience and I hope to give you a little more information on these all tooRead MorePros And Cons Of Standardized Testing1201 Words   |  5 Pages Standardized testing is all based on your performance as a student on a specific day, time and place. What it doesn’t show is how you perform on a day to day basis. These types of test can be given in any type of form that requires test takers to answer the same questions, and is then scored in a â€Å"standard† or consistent manner. Students should not have to take standardized test because of many reasons. As a human I have days where I’m tired and didn’t get enough sleep the night before or it isRead MoreStandardized Testing Should Be Required1107 Words   |  5 PagesStandardized testing today is used in almost all schools and universities. These tests are designed in a certain way that are administered and recorded in a reliable method. Standardized testing is where all the test takers are obligatory to answer the same set of examinations. These exams sometimes have multiple choice or true or false questions, and the test takers are given a time frame to answer all the problems. Standardized testing is used to compare the performances of the individuals in aRead MoreAmerica s Educational System Must Improve Nationally By Removing Standardized Testing1287 Words   |  6 Pageseducational system could improve nationally by removing standardized testing. American has recognized some of the flaws the education system has presented and chose to fix them; however, one of these problems has been standardized testing, which has not been identified nor changed. Standardized testing inflicts many problems to students that need to be fixed immediately. From inefficient teachers to poorer school systems, standardized testing needs to change because it deteriorates America’s educationRead MoreStandardized Testing Is Not As Harmless1394 Words   |  6 Pagescountry, students, teachers and parents are preparing. Students are staying up past midnight for hours of fact drilling and studying. Teachers are giving extra homehork and cramming and extra information that may be needed. Parents are trying to help their children study in hopes they will pass, but they often only make it worse as they add to the ever increasing stress load of the impending doom of standardized testing. Standardized Testing is not as harmless as it seems. It often affects students onRead MoreUsing Standardized Testing Within Our Education System1455 Words   |  6 PagesFilling in Bubbles is Useless Standardized testing is used excessively in the United States to determine where a student should be placed. It determines what classes a student should take, how the school is scoring as a whole, and even provides information on how well a teacher is teaching the material. However, there seems to be a huge argument on whether this type of testing is actually beneficial. One controversial argument is that it only proves how well a student is able to memorize the materialRead MoreWhy Class Test Are Not Effectively Working937 Words   |  4 PagesSince the 1800’s, standardized testing has been a part of our American Education system as a way to measure our student’s academic achievement. In 2002, the George W. Bush era, No Child Left Behind Act had mandated standardized testing be implemented in all of 50 states across the country. Since this act has been implemented, the rankings of United States for math had slipped fallen from 18th in the world, to now a ranking of a meager 31st place as of 2009. Schools use standardized tests to determineRead MoreStandardized Testing And Its Effects On Students1194 Words   |  5 PagesStandardized Testing Rise and shine. Dress yourself and get to school. Sit through class after class while teachers try, to the best of their ability, to stuff bundles of knowledge into your head for the oh-so-important standardized tests. Go home and try to make sense of this sea of information for your good and your school’s. Repeat. This is the normal routine for students to undergo in order to reap acceptable grades on standardized tests. The cost of these tests aren t worth the so-called