Prof. Appel – Internet Voting Debate – Part 1 of 3: Introductory Presentation

Professor Andrew Appel of Princeton University laid the groundwork for the Internet Voting Debate held at the Fourth Annual UOCAVA Summit 2010 in Munich, Germany on Friday, March 19, 2010. Please note, this is section 1 of 3 of this illuminating presentation.

Online Marketing & SEO

It has been predicted that magazine display advertising revenues will be overtaken by web advertising revenues in 2007 (Carat). TV advertising companies are looking to the World Wide Web as an alternative to traditional advertising (JupiterResearch) as an increasing number of viewers are switching to ad-free services (Alan Sugar).

Online marketing is an attractive alternative for small and large brands to reach their target audience. Search engine optimisation is an essential element of online marketing and increases the visibility of a web site in the organic, unpaid results of the major search engines.

Effective SEO is a complicated process. An experienced and professional SEO supplier should be able to provide the following services:

Code optimisation

For maximum visibility in the major search engines, a web sites code needs to be clean and well organised. Infrastructure considerations also need to be made to ensure that search engine spiders are not faced with obstacles or given inappropriate information when attempting to access content. Code optimisation involves meeting certain web standards, applying logical structure and meaning to information and clearing the path to content.

Content optimisation

Body content must be relevant to a users search query if a page is to be selected by the search engines for the results pages. More importantly, content should be engaging, original and updated regularly to gain both the search engines and a users interest. Organisation of content, on the page and throughout the site, is paramount in determining the relative importance of chosen keywords and phrases. Content optimisation increases the relevancy of a page to a users search query and therefore its chances of being considered a good match. It can apply to copy, images, rich media and the accessibility of content.

Off-site optimisation

Due to the democratic nature of the internet, a web sites reputation is based on the volume of relevant and trusted inbound links. These are interpreted as votes by the search engines. The more votes a websites receives, the stronger its reputation will be, and the higher it will usually rank. Off page optimisation seeks to encourage the linking behaviour of relevant and trusted web sites to the target website, and thus bolster the target websites reputation.

Analytics & reporting

Understanding user behaviour and where they came from is essential for judging the effectiveness of SEO strategies and the usability of a website. Analytics can also be used to measure return on investment (ROI). Monitoring navigational paths, referring sources, content performance and conversion goals gives the information necessary for making informed decisions and visitor cost per acquisition.

Mini Audits

An initial review of a website will quickly determine exactly how much effort is required to meet objectives and a web sites potential for generating revenue. Mini audits are by no means a full search engine optimisation strategy. However, they provide a cost effective way of establishing the strengths and weaknesses of website and identifying areas for improvement.

Agency Solutions

On occasion, web design or marketing agencies require assistance with their client-side SEO work. This can either be because they lack particular skills in-house or simply don’t have the resources at that point in time. In these situations it is sometimes necessary to hire a freelance SEO contractor for consultancy, training or outsourcing of services.

Search Past and Present Electoral Rolls Online

It’s a sad fact of life that people are often parted, never to find each other again. In the past century, the dramatic upheaval posed by certain enormous historical events – World War One, World War Two and the Holocaust among the many – has meant that brothers, sisters and friends have been forced apart. Finding these people again has proved, for many, difficult and often causes years of heartache, pain and misery.

The wonders of technology and the internet, however, have made it much easier for people to find each other among the throes of today’s heaving – and widely dispersed – population. Many websites today allow people to search the electoral register for particular individuals – all you have to do is enter a name into a database and you’ll be able to find the person you’re looking for. 192.com, for example, is the largest UK people finder, with over 200 million names and addresses and access to Electoral Rolls from 2002-2007.

Better still, you can use electoral rolls to look for a people all over the country – from old school friends to old flames. In the UK, the right – and obligation – to register for voting extends to all British, Republic of Ireland, Commonwealth and European Union Citizens. So if you’re looking for someone who lives in Britain, but is not a UK citizen, you needn’t worry – as long as they have registered to vote sometime in the last five years, it’s highly possible that you’ll still be able to find them using any online electoral roll search.

The UK Electoral Register for 2007 will contain information on the voter’s full name and address. So, you’ll be able to contact the person you’re looking for quickly and easily.

Searching such a vast database of names may seem daunting; but many sites offer advanced search facilities, so you can narrow down or widen your results. Moreover, sites will sometimes offer tips on how to get the best from your electoral roll search results. These tips may include basic details, like whether or not you need to pay for your search, but can also incorporate more interesting queries such as establishing whether or not you can remove yourself from the electoral roll, or how to find someone by searching by their spouse’s name. By following these basic search rules in your electoral roll search, you’re likely to find the person you’re looking for online.