Christopherson Business Travel ? Managed Travel 2.0: Resources ...

In September I first wrote about the concept of Managed Travel 2.0. In the weeks since, there has been much additional information by way of blog posts, emails, and news, both for and against this concept as it continues to be a ?hot? topic of 2012. While its principles are unique, shocking to some, and encouraging to others, I sense it will be a while before corporations are comfortable giving so much freedom to travelers. Scott Gillespie discusses this in a post on his blog, Gillespie?s Guide to Travel+Procurement, and essentially boils the difference between traditionally managed travel and Managed Travel 2.0 down to one word: Freedom. He lists the principles of Managed Travel 2.0 as follows:

1. Shop anywhere?? period
2. Book anyone ? as long as the supplier is?safe
3. Book anywhere ? as long as employer gets the data fast
4. Book anything ? so long as the trip is in budget
5. Pay with the corporate card

On another site, BusinessTravelNews.com, CEO Alan Tyson discusses his misgivings about this business travel trend in a post called, Perspective: Shooting Holes In Travel 2.0. Having worked with financiers thru the years, I fully understand his concerns. His article goes on to suggest that traveler satisfaction with a trip is not what matters?it?s the traveler?s satisfaction with his organization regarding the trip that does.

The final article to read regarding this idea of Managed Travel 2.0 is by David Jonas, titled, Study: Travel Policies Work, And will Continue To Do So. This study, conducted by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives and AirPlus, reports few signs of employee resistance to traditional managed travel.

Hopefully, these articles and resources will shed a bit more light on the subject and I will surely keep you posted as more is revealed.

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Source: http://blog.cbtravel.com/?p=7981

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Boehner opens door to tax hikes, shifts U.S. fiscal cliff talks (reuters)

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SEO Trends to Keep an Eye On in 2013 - Small Business Trends

As we approach the end of the year it?s obviously a nice time to take stock and make sure all your logistical ducks are in a row, and that?s true of SEO and online marketing as well.

Lots of smart folks have already made some really interesting predictions and talked about key factors to consider in 2013.

I won?t focus on any specific crystal ball work, but I do want to call out five important trends that small businesses will want to keep an eye on in 2013.

1. Link Diversification is Increasingly Important

It?s obviously part of the focus in this post, and indeed it?s a really important SEO issue that?s become incredibly important in 2012 with Google?s Penguin updates, and will likely continue to be important.

From a small businesses perspective the important thing to keep in mind here is that a lot of SEO short cuts (such as spending a couple hundred dollars a month with an overseas SEO firm, or a firm that primarily leverages overseas labor) to get a lot of low-quality links with very aggressive and specific anchor text (meaning if you run Paul?s Plumbing and your company is located in Newton, Massachusetts, you would use ?Newton MA plumbing company? to link to your site).

What Does this Mean for Small Businesses?

The important thing to note here is that it?s not ?always wrong? to get a link with targeted anchor text, and getting a stray link from a site that?s low quality won?t sink your site, but the links to your site need to be a mix of different qualities, with different linking texts, that don?t look the same as a spammy link profile. Some of the other trends will talk a bit more about how best to get there.

2. Content Thickness & Quality is Increasingly Important

Since a lot of those lower cost, more aggressive tactics no longer work, that means that the tactics that do work are and will likely to continue to be things that require more (or ?thicker?) unique content and content of a higher quality. The good news here is that in a lot of ways high quality content works and will continue to work even better, because the lower quality tactics are no longer competing with it in the search results (because that content doesn?t rank).

What Does this Mean for Small Businesses?

The biggest factor here for small businesses is that the $xxx per month outsourced, hands-off link building service will no longer be a viable option for getting quality search traffic. Small businesses will need to start to focus on creating solid content (or having some solid content created for them). In some cases, unfortunately, it?ll become more expensive to maintain the same rankings. The benefits are that this type of content (unlike getting 500 links from forum profiles) can drive referred traffic and have other benefits for your business outside of SEO.

3. Google Authorship May Become Increasingly Important

As Google rapidly updates their algorithm and looks for additional ways to sort signal from noise in search results, one thing to keep an eye on is Google Authorship. For those unfamiliar, this is effectively a means for an author to identify a page or post as his or her work to Google, and those posts are then highlighted in search results with information about the author.

What Does this Mean for Small Businesses?

This is a fairly simple, low-cost opportunity to implement authorship to get some additional ?real estate? in search results for your content, and also to build the authority of your Google profile in the event that authorship becomes a more important ranking factor. There is a great list of resources here that should get you or your developer started on implementing and understanding authorship.

4. The ?Shrinking Organic Search Result?

There has been a lot of talk about Google?s shrinking SERP and the fact that results from a single domain taking up entire search results are getting more prevalent. This can mean that specific domains may get more of the search engine real estate, and/or it can mean that the search results are simply showing more ads and more Google properties.

What Does this Mean for Small Businesses?

Unfortunately this really means that small businesses need to pay closer attention to alternative means of getting attention and traffic outside of SEO ? if Google is ?shrinking? the organic SERP by including more ads, it?ll likely become important for your business to understand how to get included in those ad blocks and how to optimize for them, whether they be traditional AdWords, Google Shopping, or otherwise.

5. Increasing Importance of Mobile & Video in SEO

None of this is news, but more and more people are using smartphones and tablets and the technology around consuming video on the Web is consistently making improvements. None of this is likely to be interrupted into 2013, so it?s important to understand how you can be well positioned to show up in various types of mobile and video search results in 2013.

What Does this Mean for Small Businesses?

The first step here is awareness ? it?s important to think about how your customers and prospective customers behave when they?re looking for you. Not every small business needs to focus deeply on mobile and video, and of course you have limited resources, so ask yourself questions like:

• Do my customers / prospects look for services like mine on smartphones and tablets?
• What sorts of services are they likely to search for my business and businesses like mine on (Yelp, FourSquare, Google? Many of these types of sites and apps outside of Google can become a ?search engine? as soon as someone starts querying them for information)?
• If I create a video is that likely to reach my customers and prospective customers?
• How much effort will it take to better position myself for exposure through mobile or video search?
• Is that effort going to be worth it based on how much of my customer and prospective customer base is I?m likely to reach?

The good news is that while there are a lot of mobile-specific search optimization tactics, much of the work you?d typically do around good old fashioned marketing will help you to rank well in mobile searches. Video for small businesses can be a bit trickier, and of course can have a lot more benefits than just SEO. This is a great guide to thinking through a video strategy ? just from the length of the post you can see there are several moving pieces to consider.

In general, I think most of the trends we?ve seen in 2012 and are likely to continue to see into 2013 are centered around:

• Short cuts & lower cost SEO not working
• Higher quality content and additional work being required to be successful (in some case to maintain or regain the same rankings you?d previously gotten for cheap)
• The higher barrier to entry being an opportunity for some to get very high return for the additional spend and effort required to create good content
• Google continuing to move into certain verticals more and more aggressively, so that understanding additional traffic opportunities through paid channels (and channels completely unrelated to search) becomes increasingly important

So small businesses will want to think about how this should impact their overall content strategy, as well as what it means for SEO as part of an overall marketing mix.

SEO Photo via Shutterstock

About Tom Demers

Tom Demers is a co-founder and managing partner with Measured SEM, a search engine marketing consulting firm specializing in paid and organic search marketing. Learn more about Tom by following him on Twitter @TomDemers or find him on Google Plus.

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Source: http://smallbiztrends.com/2012/12/5-seo-trends-for-2013.html

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Schools in Houston County Georgia - Warner Robins Real Estate ...

View Schools in Houston County Georgia in a larger map

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Whether you are relocating to Houston County Georgia or are already familiar with the area, one of the most important things to consider is where your kids will attend school in the area. Public or private, the schools in Houston County offer prospective students a quality education, a safe learning environment, and have dedicated staff who want your children to excel academically.

As a note, Georgia law requires students attend a public, private school, or a home study program from their sixth to their 16th birthdays. Public Kindergarten is available in every school system, but it is not mandatory. All students are required to use?the?Georgia Department of Education, Georgia Performance Standards curriculum.

Houston County Board of Education
1100 Main Street
Perry, GA 31069-3531
Phone: (478) 988-6200
Fax: (520) 568-5110

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Houston County Georgia Elementary Schools

Bonaire
101 Elm Street
Bonaire, GA 31005
Phone: (478) 929-7826

Centerville
405 N. Houston Lake Boulevard
Centerville, GA 31028
Phone: (478) 953-0400

David A. Perdue
115 Sutherlin Drive
Warner Robins, GA 31088
Phone: (478) 988-6350

Eagle Springs
3591 Highway 41 North
Byron, GA 31008
Phone: (478) 953-0450

Hilltop
301 Robert Bryson Smith Parkway
Bonaire, GA 31005
Phone: (478) 929-6113

Kings Chapel
450 Arena Road
Perry, GA 31069
Phone: (478) 988-6273

Lake Joy
985 Lake Joy Road
Warner Robins, GA 31088
Phone: (478) 971-2712

Lindsey
81 Tabor Drive
Warner Robins, GA 31093
Phone: (478) 929-7818

Linwood
420 Education Way
Warner Robins, GA 31098
Phone: (478) 929-6360

Matt Arthur
2500 Highway 127
Kathleen, GA 31047
Phone: (478) 988-6170

Miller
101 Pine Valley Drive
Warner Robins, GA 31088
Phone: (478) 929-7814

Morningside
1206 Morningside Drive
Perry, GA 31069
Phone: (478) 988-6261

Northside
305 Sullivan Road
Warner Robins, GA 31093
Phone: (478) 929-7816

Parkwood
503 Parkwood Drive
Warner Robins, GA 31093
Phone: (478) 929-7822

Pearl Stephens
215 Scott Boulevard
Warner Robins, GA 31088
Phone: (478) 929-7895

Quail Run
250 Smithville Church Road
Warner Robins, GA 31088
Phone: (478) 953-0415

Russell
101 Patriot Way
Warner Robins, GA 31088
Phone: (478) 929-7830

Shirley Hills
300 Mary Lane
Warner Robins, GA 31088
Phone: (478) 929-7824

Tucker
1300 Tucker Road
Perry, GA 31069
Phone: (478) 988-6278

Westside
201 Pleasant Hill Road
Warner Robins, GA 31093
Phone: (478) 929-7820

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Houston County Georgia Middle Schools

Bonaire
125 Highway 96 East
Bonaire, GA 31005
Phone: (478) 929-6235

Feagin Mill
1200 Feagin Mill Road
Warner Robins, GA 31088
Phone: (478) 953-0430

Huntington
206 Wellborn Road
Warner Robins, GA 31088
Phone: (478) 542-2240

Mossy Creek
200 Danny Carpenter Drive
Kathleen, GA 31047
Phone: (478) 218-7538

Northside
500 Johnson Road
Warner Robins, GA 31093
Phone: (478) 929-7845

Perry
495 Perry Parkway
Perry, GA 31069
Phone: (478) 988-6285

Thomson
301 Thomson Street
Centerville, GA 31028
Phone: (478) 953-0489

Warner Robins
425 Mary Lane
Warner Robins, GA 31088
Phone: (478) 929-7832

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Houston County Georgia High Schools

Houston County
920 Highway 96
Warner Robins, GA 31088
Phone: (478) 988-6340

Houston County Career Academy
1311 Corder Road
Warner Robins, GA 31088
Phone: (478) 322-3280

Northside
926 Green Street
Warner Robins, GA 31093
Phone: (478) 929-7858

Perry
1307 North Avenue
Perry, GA 31069
Phone: (478) 988-6298

Veterans
304 Piney Grove Road
Kathleen, GA 31047
Phone: (478) 218-7537

Warner Robins
401 South Davis Drive
Warner Robins, GA 31088
Phone: (478) 929-7877

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Other Schools in Houston County Georgia

Lake Joy Primary
995 Lake Joy Road
Warner Robins, GA 31088
(478) 953-0465

Perry Primary
1530 Sunshine Avenue
Perry, GA 31069
(478) 988-6160

C.B. Watson Primary ? Under Construction
401 Dover Street
Warner Robins, GA 31088

Houston County Crossroads Center ? Alternative School
303 South Davis Drive
Warner Robins, GA 31088
(478) 929-7828

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Houston County Georgia Private Schools

Houston County GA has several private schools, some of which are identified below.? Check with the individual school for enrollment, grades covered, and class times.

Christ United Methodist School
511 Russell Parkway
Warner Robins, GA 31088
(478) 923-2867

Christian Fellowship Academy
621 Walnut Street
Warner Robins, GA 31093
(478) 975-0806

Sacred Heart Catholic School
250 S. Davis Drive
Warner Robins, GA 31088
(478) 923-9668

The Westfield School
250 S. Davis Drive
Perry, GA 31088
(478) 923-9668

Warner Robins Christian Academy
2601 Watson Blvd
Warner Robins, GA 31093
(478) 922-1201

Westside Christian Academy
1101 Dunbar Road
Warner Robins, GA 31093
(478) 784-9153

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Houston County Georgia School Links

Houston County Board of Education

HOCO Graduation Requirements

Houston County GA Bus Routes

Houston County School Zones

Houston County Schools ? Wikipedia

So, What Schools are the Best in Houston County?

As always, Houston County School information is provided as a courtesy by Anita Clark Realtor?with Coldwell Banker SSK in Warner Robins GA.

~ Anita ~

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About Anita Clark Realtor

Anita Clark has written 876 posts on this blog.

Anita Clark Realtor+ sells Warner Robins Real Estate and provides community information as a service to the public. You can contact her at (478) 960-8055 or via email at anita@cbssk.com.

Source: http://sellingwarnerrobins.com/2012/12/schools-in-houston-county-georgia-2/

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Efficient Storage Solutions Using Your Garage | Home Improvement ...

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Source: http://kumanagra.blogspot.com/2012/12/efficient-storage-solutions-using-your.html

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Fidel Castro named candidate for Cuban National Assembly

HAVANA (Reuters) - Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro's political career may go on for a while, at least symbolically, even though he no longer holds the country's top political positions.

He is still a member of the National Assembly and on Sunday was nominated for another term, despite not having attended any regular sessions during the current legislature and the fact that he is rarely seen or heard from anymore.

Elections for a single slate of deputies for the single chamber legislature are held every five years, with the candidates nominated by municipal governments after selection by commissions.

The election is scheduled for February 3, 2013.

"The leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, will head up the representation of 25 candidates to the Cuban parliament for the Santiago de Cuba municipality," Cuban television said on Sunday.

Castro, 86, handed over the presidency to his brother Raul in 2008, and the younger brother, 81, succeeded him as First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party in 2011.

The elder Castro underwent life-threatening intestinal surgery in 2006, from which he never fully recovered.

Castro nevertheless was elected to the National Assembly in 2008, his seat on the podium next to his brother Raul remaining empty ever since.

Raul Castro was also nominated as a deputy on Sunday. To formally remain president he must be a deputy in the assembly.

The municipal councilors in Santiago de Cuba unanimously approved the brothers' nominations. Since 1976, they have represented Santiago, the cradle of their revolution.

At its first session in February, the National Assembly must ratify the country's top political jobs.

Fidel Castro last appeared in official photographs in October, when he was shown walking outside on a sunny day on what appeared to be a farm.

He wore a straw hat and red plaid shirt, and used a walking cane.

The pictures were published to squash rumors he was dead or dying because in June he abruptly stopped writing the regular columns he had published in the official media since taking ill.

An article, written by Castro and which accompanied the photographs, announced he had given up his local media columns.

"I stopped publishing 'Reflections' because surely it is not my role to occupy the pages of our press, dedicated to other work the country requires," he said.

As for how he spends his time now, Castro wrote, "I like to write, and I write. I like to study, and I study."

Castro wrote a message to the Venezuelan people on Saturday, in which he hailed his prot?g? and the South American country's president, Hugo Chavez.

Chavez is currently recovering from a fourth cancer operation in Cuba amidst speculation he will not be able to begin a new term as president in January, after winning re-election in October.

(Reporting By Marc Frank; Editing by Jeff Franks and Jackie Frank)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fidel-castro-named-candidate-cuban-national-assembly-213609112.html

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Michigan Senate OKs new emergency manager proposal

LANSING, Mich. (AP) ? The Republican-led Michigan Legislature cleared the way Thursday for GOP Gov. Rick Snyder to sign a replacement for an emergency manager law struck down by voters, delivering another punch to Democrats still reeling from this week's passage of right-to-work legislation limiting unions' power.

The Senate approved the legislation mostly along party lines that contains key provisions from the rejected law but comes with more choices for local school districts and communities deemed by the state to be in a financial emergency. The House passed the bill Wednesday night.

The new version proposed by Snyder and GOP legislative leaders gives four options to those governments: accepting an emergency manager; undergoing bankruptcy; going through mediation; and entering a consent agreement similar to an existing one between the state and Detroit.

The legislation also includes a $770,000 appropriation to cover managers' salaries, a provision that would prevent a second defeat at the polls because spending bills are legally shielded from referendums.

As with the rejected law, the manager would have the power to change or cancel contracts, but local officials also could develop an alternative plan provided it generates equal financial savings. Should a local government choose an emergency manager, the state would pay for the manager, and local officials would have the option of removing the manager after one year and with a two-thirds vote of its governing body.

The state has been operating since under a previous law that gives managers fewer powers, but leaders argue it's inadequate to deal with failing cities or schools.

Snyder and other backers of the plan argue adding the choices and other steps to provide more local input respect the will of the voters.

Democrats see it as a blow to democracy because it subverts local control. They say it's the same as the rejected law with an opportunity for distressed communities to "pick their poison."

Highland Park Democratic Sen. Bert Johnson offered several changes that failed to garner support, including one that would have enabled a consent agreement between the state and financially struggling local government that's "binding to both parties" and lasts for no more than two years.

"What we need is a partnership," he said. "We do not need a dictator in Lansing."

Hillsdale Republican Sen. Bruce Caswell said he voted no because he was "following the dictates" of his constituents who voted against the emergency manager bill.

Opponents also contended the measure was being rushed similar to the way right-to-work legislation reducing union strength sailed through the legislative process in recent days amid widespread protests at the Capitol. But supporters noted that the emergency manager bill was considered during a committee hearing this month.

Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville disputed critics' claims that it's merely a rehash of the failed law with poisonous extras.

"There are very different paths they can take," he said. "These are usually people who are in a situation that has a financial emergency. They're saying, 'Don't help us, don't help us, and you give us another option, we don't like that either.' The problem isn't being solved."

Richardville said the only option some local officials are leaving themselves is bankruptcy.

"And they'll have the option to choose that if they want, but I don't think they'd be representing their people very well if they did that," he said.

The new emergency manager proposal was announced last week on the same day that Michigan Treasurer Andy Dillon said he'll likely order a review of Detroit's municipal finances, a 30-day process that could lead to a state takeover of its largest city that's deep in debt and has a budget deficit of more than $200 million.

Since the spring, Detroit and the state have been partners in a consent agreement that allows limited state oversight of Mayor Dave Bing's fiscal restructuring plans. Tied to the deal is millions of dollars in bond money held in escrow by the treasurer's office and released to Detroit when certain benchmarks are achieved.

The deal averted the placement of an emergency financial manager in Detroit.

Managers are in place in Benton Harbor, Ecorse, Flint, Pontiac and Allen Park, as well as in the Muskegon Heights, Highland Park and Detroit school districts.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/michigan-senate-oks-emergency-manager-proposal-232949504.html

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