Product Management The Role of Analytics

Product Management The Role of Analytics More than a hundred years ago, the concept of analytics might not have meant much in the minds of business owners and managers. Product developers and managers probably didn’t even know what the word “analytics” meant. But things have changed since then, and now analytics is seen as something crucial for the improvement and ultimate success of product management.And it is not just in product management, either, because analytics is now everywhere. Practically any part of an organization or business that makes use of, and generates, data will find itself dealing with analytics. © Shutterstock.com | BloomuaIn this article, we will explore 1) analytics definitions, 2) key concepts of analytics, 3) main uses of analytics in product management, and 4) top analytics tools for product managers.ANALYTICS DEFINITIONBut what, exactly, is analytics?Analytics was derived from the Greek word analytika, which translates to “science of analysis”. In the context of business, it is the analysis of often large sets of business data, through statistics, mathematics and, nowadays, computer software and applications. Some even go so far as to say that it is a word coined from the combination of the phrases “analysis of data” and “statistics”. When they say “analytics”, it is all about numbers (and crunching them).To strictly stick to the translation “science of analysis” would seem unfair to analytics, however, since, more than a science, it is now seen as a process, which involves the use of skills, technology, applications, and business practices.The gen eral purpose of business analytics is to study past performance in order to gain valuable insights into the current state of the company, and make decisions based on historical data. In product management, the goal is basically the same, although the application of analytics is more precise.Analytics used in product management measures the current state of the product, and how the customers or users are doing with it. For it to properly qualify as analytics, it must involve a series of measurements, since analysis cannot be done on a single measurement alone.Let us say that the business has a wealth of data generated. However, it has poor analytic tools. This means that all that data will be rendered useless since the management cannot act on the wealth of information that it has. Therefore, it is not enough to have the data on hand; what you do with the data afterwards is the real game-changer.There is one major reason why analytics is deemed to be an important aspect of product ma nagement: improvement. Without the measurements, there is no way for a product team to know whether the product actually meets the needs of the users or not. The product team will also be unable to make informed decisions on whether they should make changes on the product or keep it as it is. In the event that they did make a change, having zero analytics would also mean that they will never know whether the change they implemented was effective or not.In short, much of the success or failure of a product rides on analytics, and on how it is used.KEY CONCEPTS OF ANALYTICSAnalytics also goes by other names, such as “metrics” and, simply, “data”. For purposes of discussion, let us use “analytics” and “metrics” to refer to the same thing.There are four key concepts in analytics: data points, segmentation, funnels and cohorts.Data points refer to the collected individual data that also happen to be measurements of particular items. Basically, data points are the measurem ents, supported by the dates and times that the measurements were made. Data points are important since they facilitate sorting or classification of measurements later on. For example, the product team can opt to analyze trends by plotting the individual measurements chronologically, or per a specific category.Segmentation takes place when people that share a common trait or characteristic are grouped, and subsequently assessing the usage of the product depending on the groups. Examples of the most common groupings are according to demographics (e.g. age groups, gender, location, region, country etc.) and technical or utilities (e.g. type of devices used, operating systems utilized). The usual method would be getting all the measurements and taking the average. That’s not how it goes with analytics, however, since the latter allows trends and patterns to be developed by taking the measurements together. In this way, it would be easier for the product team to focus on the groups of users that have the most impact or make the most difference.  The primary consideration that one should not forget when it comes to segmentation is that the trait or characteristic must be quantifiable; otherwise, there would be no way to accurately measure it.Funnels are used to measure or quantify the flow or journey that users take in relation to your product. You can follow the flow of their actions, from the time they make their choice of products to when they add the product to their cart up until they check it out. Funnels will show analysts where there is a “leakage”, or where there is a hold-up in the flow. They can then take a closer look on the reasons why there are such leakages. For example, in the checkout process, many users discontinue and do not make the final checkout because the modes of payment are limited. The product team can then look into how this can be rectified or improved, such as finding ways to offer more modes of payment.Cohorts play a vital role in cohort analysis where grouping is conducted using two determinants: a specific point in time and a certain characteristic of the users. This allows the product team to perform analysis on how the behavior of users change or evolve over time. This is especially useful when it comes to long-term analysis, or when you want to see the value of the user or customer in the long run.MAIN USES OF ANALYTICS IN PRODUCT MANAGEMENTNowadays, product management is becoming more data-driven, whether product managers and product teams like it or not. They may not be too keen on the idea of wading through huge amounts of data, but it is a reality that, without data, effective product management is just not possible.Let us take, for example, an online store for women’s apparel. Through analytics, the team found out that 80% of the users who visited the website’s homepage are more likely to create an account. Out of those who created accounts, 75% are much more likely to make a first purchase, and half of that group is likely to become long-term customers.So what does this mean for the product management team? They will focus all their efforts to improving the website and the product offerings to convince more visitors to create an account, purchase, and keep coming back as a long-term customer. These decisions would not have been arrived at without analytics playing a crucial role.What role does analytics play in the product management? We take a look at what analytics can do.1. Analytics is a useful aid in understanding user and customer behavior.It is not just the marketing team of a business that ought to be in the know when it comes to their users’ and customers’ behavior. Product teams should also be aware and, most importantly, understand why their users and customers are buying their product, and how they are using the products that they have purchased. It is not enough to know what the customers are saying about the product; what they actually do with the pro duct is actually more important.2. Analytics is a tool that is used for the measurement of product progress.Product teams find it more comfortable to rely on quantifiable data in order to make decisions on moving forward with products. Guesswork may be employed, yes, but a strong product team knows that data that is verifiable holds more water and, thus, a more persuasive driver. Their confidence in making decisions is definitely more solid, since they know that they are on the right track.Analytics is very useful when tracking the performance of the product team, particularly with respect to the products they are developing and managing. They are clear on what features are working and which ones aren’t; which are already fully operational and which ones need more work. In the event that adjustments have to be made, such as tweaking some features a bit or adding a few functions, analytics will inform them if the changes they have applied are actually solving the problem.You can sa y that analytics will help you create a better product roadmap. The combination of data and feedback that you will get through analytics tools will enable you to create a roadmap that is more well-rounded and detailed. You will know where your product currently is, what you want it to be, and how you can get there.3. Analytics is used in order to prove product ideas’ viability.One of the huge challenges constantly faced by product teams is proving that their ideas actually do work. It is easy to state or declare that they have a brilliant idea; proving that it is truly brilliant (meaning “sellable” and “profitable”) is another thing.Thanks to various analytics tools, coming up with plausible explanations and proofs that an idea is truly brilliant becomes easier. Adding a new feature to a product, for instance, becomes justified (or not) once analytics has entered the picture.Testing, such as split testing  and using live-data prototypes, is something that product teams fin d themselves conducting on a regular basis, and there are also many analytics tools that can be used for this purpose. When testing, the team cannot afford to spend too much time. What they want is to test the product, learn, adjust, and pivot, if necessary. The decisions must be made fast. With analytics, this is possible.4. Analytics enables making informed product decisions.It used to be that most product decisions were based on opinions which are, at their core, subjective. There was a time when many business decisions, even product-related ones, were intuitive by nature. This is a bit tricky in an organizational setup since there is a hierarchy involved, despite the fact that there is a product team in place. Everyone â€" from top management to each individual member of the product team â€" has an opinion. With so many differing opinions, everything becomes convoluted, and the decision-making gets affected, often negatively.Thanks to analytics, making decisions is easier and mo re objective, since there is data to be relied on, instead of subjective opinions. There are many ways to gather these metrics, including running tests and conducting surveys. Data collected from these activities will then be used to influence opinions, adding more than a little degree of objectivity to them. The result would be more informed and, therefore, accurate, data-based decisions on product management.This does not mean that product managers should ignore their intuition altogether. Some product managers are gifted with that “sense”, and there is nothing wrong with putting stock on it. However, it would still be a good idea to proceed with caution, and backing up your intuition with data is definitely a wise idea.5. Analytics also provides further inspiration for product work.Product teams are responsible not only for product management but also product development. Thus, they are always on the lookout for product ideas and other opportunities to come up with new produc ts, or new innovations to their already existing products.Usually, it would seem that the common method used to come up with new product ideas and product opportunities is through observation. However, analytics changed that perception a bit by allowing product teams to make use of data to become inspired with new or better product ideas.All the data gathered using analytics tools are potential sources of the next “brilliant product idea”. Product opportunities, just like any other type of opportunity, often springs up where we do not expect them, and there is very high likelihood that you will find these opportunities with the help of analytics.Now here is a very important point that every product team must always remember: analytics provides the numbers, but not the reasons. It answers the question, “what is happening?” but not “why is it happening?” Product managers are told what their customers are doing, but not really why they are doing it.On its own, analytics is a very powerful tool for product management. However, product teams should never overlook the importance of delving deeper into the qualitative aspect, instead of solely focusing on the quantitative data provided by analytics. Applying analytics alongside the many qualitative techniques available will ensure that the product team has a strong hold on product management.TOP ANALYTICS TOOLS FOR PRODUCT MANAGERSOne of the reasons why some product teams are not yet fully embracing the concept of analytics is that it looks somewhat complicated. It involves data, numbers, statistics… does that mean the product managers have to know their math, as well?At a glance, it does look that way. However, things are changing, and for the better. There are now loads of analytics tools that business can choose from, and they just keep getting better and better. Don’t know math? That’s fine; the tools will do the math for you.It appears that developers of these applications and software are desi gning them from the point of view of the users â€" the product managers â€" so they are becoming more and more user-friendly. Some tools are straightforward and very easy to install, easily squashing away any doubts and apprehensions that product managers may have about using them.Let us take a brief look at some of the analytics tools that are highly recommended for product management teams.Google Analytics: The internet giant has been releasing many useful tools (and is still doing so), and Google Analytics is arguably one of their best.Geckoboard: One good thing about Geckoboard is that it is not just designed for use by the product team. It can also be adapted for use by sales, marketing, and support. It creates performance reports that can be shared to everyone involved, in all channels, and across devices.Segment: What happens when the team is using multiple analytics tools simultaneously? Monitoring all of them becomes a pain. This is where this analytics tool, aptly called â €œSegment”, comes in. It displays all the data in one dashboard, so there is no need to toggle between and among tools, and be confused.CrazyEgg: CrazyEgg offers a heatmaps platform that is extremely useful when you want to know why users that visit your webpage leave at a specific time. This tool is clearly made to allow product managers to optimize their product management strategies.Mixpanel: Mixpanel is a great tool since it offers funnels and segmentations. Product teams can build database engines, customized in accordance with their preferences.Qualaroo: Conducting surveys is one of the oldest tricks in the data-gathering book, so to speak, but creating surveys with the right questions is not as easy as it seems. Collating the results of the surveys later on and arranging them in an understandable order is just as challenging to product managers. Qualaroo simplifies this by helping product managers create the best surveys, with custom options that allow them to target their users better.

The Ideological Origins Of The American Revolution Essay

Bailyn, Bernard. The Ideological Origins of the American Revolutions. Cambridge: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1992. Thesis: In The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution, Bernard Bailyn argues that the ideology of the American Revolution was inspired by a variety of source such as enlightenment writers, past revolutions, and political corruption in the homeland of England. Themes: A theme that is prominent throughout the text in many forms is liberty. One of the causes of revolutionary thought is in America is the thought that liberty was being threatened in England, and therefore would spread to America. Liberty became a dream for some in America once independence from England was obtained, as slavery thrived here in irony. Liberty branched out past the physical sphere as well as Freedom of Religion became based on the idea of religion being the liberty of conscious (263). Another theme of the text is fear. Fear of loss of liberty in their homeland drove many colonists to begin thinking in Revolutionary terms, as previously mentioned. There was also fear on the English-side of an American rebellion. Fear is what drove England to force a standing British Army on the Americans. These fears would not subside and would eventually lead to war as neither side would back down. Evidentiary Base: One of the biggest primary sources that Bailyn utilizes is pamphlets from the pre-Revolutionary Revolutionary-era in America. Pamphlets, as BailynShow MoreRelatedThe Origins Of Cold War1550 Words   |  7 PagesThis research looks at the origins of Cold war, the political, ideological and economical rivalry between the United States and Soviet Union. This research draws upon mostly primary sources including memoirs, interviews and scholarly studies of cold war era conflicts. 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Sydney’s Cross City Tunnel - 3258 Words

INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE: THE SYDNEY CROSS CITY TUNNEL OPIM-5668 Project Risk and Cost Management Feb 18th, 2011 Sourabhdeep Singh Khanna Hiren Gonsai John Celis Winston Spencer Executive Summary In 2000, Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Limited (CKI) was faced with a great opportunity to invest in a transportation project in Australia. The group was particularly interested in investing in Australia due to the country’s stable regulatory environment and economic growth. This project presented a good chance for the firm to continue with its globalization strategy and achieve its global ambitions in transportation infrastructure project investment. In September 2000, the Australian’s Roads and Traffic Authority†¦show more content†¦A number of traffic calming measures were introduced, but this did not solve the problem. In fact those changes created numerous disruptions, increased traffic congestion, and provoked a large number of complaints from road users. The CCT has started to attract significant political attention, negative media and a strong resistance by the community. So what went wrong? It is evident that CKI and its partners need to act quickly and implement a plan that could allow them to get this project back on track and achieve the project goals. Analysis of the Problem In order to determine the best course of action, we need to first understand how we have come to this point and why the project is not providing the expected results. The following questions will help us in our discovery process: 1. What are the merits of having private-sector participation in financing of the Sydney CCT? A privately financed project was a specified from of PPP that involved not only private sector financing but also controlling ownership. PFPs differed. From the outsourcing or construction by the government. There has been widespread adoption by Governments across the world of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) as a way of providing public infrastructure. Grimsey and Lewis report that the UK version of PPPs,Show MoreRelatedAustralia’s Banking Industry31559 Words   |  127 PagesPersons Universities – Total Enrolled Students % of Total Population Melbourne 3,996 2,114 1,979 90 4.5 179 4.5 Sydney 4,504 2,379 2,223 142 6.4 251 5.6 New York City 8,364 3,994 3,609 315 8.7 446 5.3 London 7,754 4,052 3,676 332 9.0 426 5.5 Hong Kong 7,004 3,695 3,504 210 6.0 102 1.5 Singapore 4,988 3,030 2,906 158 5.4 53 1.1 1. For New York City, the closest available figure for population, mid-2008 is used. The latest data available for students is from 2008. State-wide public and private institutionRead MoreLibrary Management204752 Words   |  820 Pageswere subjected to the â€Å"what† and â€Å"how† without understanding the â€Å"why.† Even when examples and forms, such as budgetary and personnel evaluation forms, were available, these were mostly regional or type-of-center specific and did not reflect a broad cross-section of libraries and information centers in the United States, not to mention the rest of the world. The second edition was broader in scope. While maintaining its usefulness as a basic text, it also served as a primary source of information and

Rebel Women vs. Yankee Women Free Essays

Rebel Women vs. Yankee Women Many stories have been told about the Civil War; there is the story of Gettysburg, Stonewall Jackson’s death, Robert E. Lee leading his solders, and many more. We will write a custom essay sample on Rebel Women vs. Yankee Women or any similar topic only for you Order Now However, we only hear the smallest amount of information about what the wives of these soldiers are doing. It would be interesting to dig deep into the details of the support army general wives gave, what the government expected from women of both sides of the war, and the main differences of lifestyle back on the home front. Women were a huge part of the Civil War and supported the soldiers in many ways. My goal is to find the difference between the support Robert E. Lee’s wife and George Meade’s spouse gave. Robert E. Lee was an outstanding leader so it is a wonder what sort of support he received other than from his soldiers and assistants. George Meade was also an interesting character of the war and took reign at a difficult time, right before Gettysburg; he would have needed some emotional support. Mary Anna Randolph Custis was General Lee’s wife, married in 1831. Even though many women were not educated, Custis had a fine education and was intelligent. Mary’s mother, Molly, was a huge advocate for freeing slaves and eventually had Mary believing in the same rights. They tried to weaken the harsh conditions of slavery and let their own slaves free. However, they were not quite convinced African Americans should be part of the society. 1 Mary had many suitors; she turned down requests from distinguished cousins, Sam Houston and two sons from the Revolutionary war hero, Harry Lee. It was believed that there were few worthy of her love, but Robert E. Lee claimed it. He was a distant cousin to her and a childhood friend. Although others thought their finances and sexual life was a scandal, they were wedded. The life of a military wife that Mary had to begin living was a worry to General Lee. She grew up sophisticated and had a wealthy life. Mary, even though she missed her childhood home, followed Robert Lee to his field posts. She spent much of the time drawing and would only return home for pregnancy or illness. Through the war she had wished her husband would leave the army, but she stuck with him through it. It is not odd to wonder how she mustered the strength to raise seven children, follow her soldier husband and stay sane. Many would say that focusing on her artwork helped with the extensive traveling. After Virginia succeeded, Mary told her husband that she would support any choice he made. 2 Mrs. General Lee was a very loyal wife and showed her support towards the Confederates after feeling pushed away by the North. She would visit hospitals of soldiers and knit socks for the ill men. A neighbor tells this about the Lee home: â€Å"People came to talk of victory or sorrow; they could stay here if they had nowhere to go†¦The brightness of her nature amidst uncertainty and pain, was wonderful. †3 An inspirational image of her is her sitting on her home porch knitting while there is fire in the street. How to cite Rebel Women vs. Yankee Women, Papers

The History of Computer Technology Essay Example

The History of Computer Technology Essay Throughout the last 60 years, computer technology has advanced from simple phone relays to machines with almost full consciousness. As we tried to make computers better, the size began to change as well. The size of a computer went from small to room size and down to the credit card sized computers of today. From the size of a computer to the power consumption of one; the computer has changed and evolved to an item almost any American can’t go minutes without. During the nineteen thirty’s mechanical calculators were being produced and trying to be improved on. Any computer that was fast, at the time were giant room size punch card readers. The machine would be replaced, but with another room sized machine. These computers used a binary code but in a physical capacity. George Stibitz was a man that worked in â€Å"The Bell Telephone Laboratories†. George created the first electrical binary circuit and started the computer revolution. His idea is the basis for almost every computer until the relays were outdated by the small transistors and vacuum tubes. The calculators were not for your math homework. Almost every one of these computers were used for military reasons. Most bombing plans were created and done with the computers. The only problem with these computers is that they had no memory so almost every time they had to have an input anytime a new calculation was entered. The scientists working on these computers noticed the problem. But John von Neumann a famous mathematician at the time, had plans for a computer with digital storage and the ability to store a program. This computer was called EDVAC, this was a step into a smaller computers. Since there was finally digital storage, there was no need for physical plugs or switches to transfer data. These were switch boards, plug boards, punch cards and paper readers. But EDVAC wasnt the first computer to do this John von Neumann just had the first idea for the idea. We will write a custom essay sample on The History of Computer Technology specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The History of Computer Technology specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The History of Computer Technology specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer On June 2

Practice Your Inferencing Skills With This Worksheet

Practice Your Inferencing Skills With This Worksheet How are your inferencing skills? Need some inference practice? Of course, you do! The reading comprehension portions of many standardized exams will ask inference questions – those that ask you to infer, or make an educated guess, about the content of the passage – along with the standard questions about main idea, authors purpose, and vocabulary in context. Teachers, feel free to print the following PDFs for easy practice in the classroom:Inference Practice 3  Worksheet | Inference Practice 3  Answer Key On Being Found Guilty of Treason Robert Emmet Born in 1778, died in 1803; became a leader of the United Irishmen, and in 1803 led an unsuccessful rising in Dublin; escaping to the mountains he returned to Dublin to take leave of his fiancà ©e, Sarah Curran, daughter of an orator, and was captured and hanged. MY LORDS:What have I to say why sentence of death should not be pronounced on me according to law? I have nothing to say that can alter your predetermination, nor that it will become me to say with any view to the mitigation of that sentence which you are here to pronounce, and I must abide by. But I have that to say which interests me more than life, and which you have labored (as was necessarily), your office in the present circumstances of this oppressed country) to destroy. I have much to say why my reputation should be rescued from the load of false accusation and calumny which has been heaped upon it. I do not imagine that, seated where you are, your minds can be so free from impurity as to receive the least impression from what I am going to utterI have no hopes that I can anchor my character in the breast of a court constituted and trammeled as this isI only wish, and it is the utmost I expect, that your lordships may suffer it to float down your memories untainted by the fou l breath of prejudice, until it finds some more hospitable harbor to shelter it from the storm by which it is at present buffeted. 1 Was I only to suffer death after being adjudged guilty by your tribunal, I should bow in silence, and meet the fate that awaits me without a murmur; but the sentence of law which delivers my body to the executioner, will, through the ministry of that law, labor in its own vindication to consign my character to obloquyfor there must be guilt somewhere: whether in the sentence of the court or in the catastrophe, posterity must determine. A man in my situation, my lords, has not only to encounter the difficulties of fortune, and the force of power over minds which it has corrupted or subjugated, but the difficulties of established prejudice: the dies, but his memory lives. That mine may not perish, that it may live in the respect of my countrymen, I seize upon this opportunity to vindicate myself from some of the charges alleged against me. When my spirit shall be wafted to a more friendly port; when my shade shall have joined the bands of those martyred heroes who have shed their bloo d on the scaffold and in the field, in defense of their country and of virtue, this is my hope: I wish that my memory and name may animate those who survive me, while I look down with complacency on the destruction of that perfidious government which upholds its domination by blasphemy of the Most Highwhich displays its power over man as over the beasts of the forestwhich sets man upon his brother, and lifts his hand in the name of God against the throat of his fellow who believes or doubts a little more or a little less than the government standarda government which is steeled to barbarity by the cries of the orphans and the tears of the widows which it has made. 2 I appeal to the immaculate GodI swear by the throne of Heaven, before which I must shortly appearby the blood of the murdered patriots who have gone before methat my conduct has been through all this peril and all my purposes, governed only by the convictions which I have uttered, and by no other view, than that. of their cure, and the emancipation of my country from the super inhuman oppression under which she has so long and too patiently travailed; and that I confidently and assuredly hope that, wild and chimerical as it may appear, there is still union and strength in Ireland to accomplish this noble enterprise. Of this I speak with the confidence of intimate knowledge, and with the consolation that appertains to that confidence. Think not, my lords, I say this for the petty gratification of giving you a transitory uneasiness; a man who never yet raised his voice to assert a lie, will not hazard his character with posterity by asserting a falsehood on a subject so important to h is country, and on an occasion like this. Yes, my lords, a man who does not wish to have his epitaph written until his country is liberated, will not leave a weapon in the power of envy; nor a pretense to impeach the probity which he means to preserve even in the grave to which tyranny consigns him. 3 Again I say, that what I have spoken, was not intended for your lordship, whose situation I commiserate rather than envymy expressions were for my countrymen; if there is a true Irishman present, let my last words cheer him in the hour of his affliction. 4 I have always understood it to be the duty of a judge when a prisoner has been convicted, to pronounce the sentence of the law; I have also understood that judges sometimes think it their duty to hear with patience, and to speak with humanity; to exhort the victim of the laws, and to offer with tender benignity his opinions of the motives by which he was actuated in the crime, of which he had been adjudged guilty: that a judge has thought it his duty so to have done, I have no doubtbut where is the boasted freedom of your institutions, where is the vaunted impartiality, clemency, and mildness of your courts of justice, if an unfortunate prisoner, whom your policy, and not pure justice, is about to deliver into the hands of the executioner, is not suffered to explain his motives sincerely and truly, and to vindicate the principles by which he was actuated? 5 My lords, it may be a part of the system of angry justice, to bow a mans mind by humiliation to the purposed ignominy of the scaffold; but worse to me than the purposed shame, or the scaffolds terrors, would be the shame of such unfounded imputations as have been laid against me in this court: you, my lord [Lord Norbury], are a judge, I am the supposed culprit; I am a man, you are a man also; by a revolution of power, we might change places, tho we never could change characters; if I stand at the bar of this court, and dare not vindicate my character, what a farce is your justice? If I stand at this bar and dare not vindicate my character, how dare you calumniate it? Does the sentence of death which your unhallowed policy inflicts on my body, also condemn my tongue to silence and my reputation to reproach? Your executioner may abridge the period of my existence, but while I exist I shall not forbear to vindicate my character and motives from your aspersions; and as a man to whom fam e is dearer than life, I will make the last use of that life in doing justice to that reputation which is to live after me, and which is the only legacy I can leave to those I honor and love, and for whom I am proud to perish. As men, my lord, we must appear at the great day at one common tribunal, and it will then remain for the searcher of all hearts to show a collective universe who was engaged in the most virtuous actions, or actuated by the purest motivesmy countrys oppressors or I? 6 I am charged with being an emissary of France! An emissary of France! And for what end? It is alleged that I wished to sell the independence of my country! And for what end? Was this the object of my ambition? And is this the mode by which a tribunal of justice reconciles contradictions? No, I am no emissary; and my ambition was to hold a place among the deliverers of my countrynot in power, nor in profit, but in the glory of the achievement! Sell my countrys independence to France! And for what? Was it for a change of masters? No! But for ambition! O my country, was it personal ambition that could influence me? Had it been the soul of my actions, could I not by my education and fortune, by the rank and consideration of my family, have placed myself among the proudest of my oppressors? My country was my idol; to it I sacrificed every selfish, every endearing sentiment; and for it, I now offer up my life. O God! No, my lord; I acted as an Irishman, determined on delivering my country from the yoke of a foreign and unrelenting tyranny, and from the more galling yoke of a domestic faction, which is its joint partner and perpetrator in the parricide, for the ignominy of existing with an exterior of splendor and of conscious depravity. It was the wish of my heart to extricate my country from this doubly riveted despotism. 7 I wished to place her independence beyond the reach of any power on earth; I wished to exalt you to that proud station in the world. 9 I wished to procure for my country the guarantee which Washington procured for America. To procure an aid, which, by its example, would be as important as its valor, disciplined, gallant, pregnant with science and experience; which would perceive the good, and polish the rough points of our character. They would come to us as strangers, and leave us as friends, after sharing in our perils and elevating our destiny. These were my objectsnot to receive new taskmasters, but to expel old tyrants; these were my views, and these only became Irishmen. It was for these ends I sought aid from France; because France, even as an enemy, could not be more implacable than the enemy already in the bosom of my country. 10 Let no man dare, when I am dead, to charge me with dishonor; let no man attaint my memory by believing that I could have engaged in any cause but that of my countrys liberty and independence; or that I could have become the pliant minion of power in the oppression or the miseries of my countrymen. The proclamation of the provisional government speaks for our views; no inference can be tortured from it to countenance barbarity or debasement at home, or subjection, humiliation, or treachery from abroad; I would not have submitted to a foreign oppressor for the same reason that I would resist the foreign and domestic oppressor; in the dignity of freedom I would have fought upon the threshold of my country, and its enemy should enter only by passing over my lifeless corpse. Am I, who lived but for my country, and who have subjected myself to the dangers of the jealous and watchful oppressor, and the bondage of the grave, only to give my countrymen their rights, and my country her indepe ndence, and am I to be loaded with calumny, and not suffered to resent or repel itno, God forbid! 11 If the spirits of the illustrious dead participate in the concerns and cares of those who are dear to them in this transitory lifeoh, ever dear and venerated shade of my departed father, look down with scrutiny upon the conduct of your suffering son; and see if I have even for a moment deviated from those principles of morality and patriotism which it was your care to instill into my youthful mind, and for which I am now to offer up my life! 12 My lords, you are impatient for the sacrificethe blood which you seek is not congealed by the artificial terrors which surround your victim; it circulates warmly and unruffled, through the channels which God created for noble purposes, but which you are bent to destroy, for purposes so grievous, that they cry to heaven. Be yet patient! I have but a few words more to say. I am going to my cold and silent grave: my lamp of life is nearly extinguished: my race is run: the grave opens to receive me, and I sink into its bosom! I have but one request to ask at my departure from this worldit is the charity of its silence! Let no man write my epitaph: for as no man who knows my motives dare now vindicate them, let not prejudice or ignorance asperse them. Let them and me repose in obscurity and peace, and my tomb remain uninscribed, until other times, and other men, can do justice to my character; when my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then, and not till then, let my epitaph be written. I have done. 1. Which of the following statements about Robert Emmet is best supported by the passage? A. He was a patriot, willing to die for his cause. B. He was a traitor, dishonoring his country. C. He was a liar, vilifying noblemen. D. He was a hero, ambitious for glory. Answer and Explanation 2. Based on the information in paragraph two, one could infer that the government in Robert Emmets time was: A. weakening. B. disorganized. C. oppressive. D. permissive. Answer and Explanation 3. It can be reasonably inferred from Robert Emmets speech that he is most concerned about this after his death: A. not finishing the task of finding freedom for Ireland. B. leaving behind a young wife and small child to fend for themselves. C. being characterized as a villain by people who didnt understand his motives. D. a poorly written epitaph about the role he played in the downfall of the United Irishmen. Answer and Explanation 4. It can be reasonably inferred from the passage that the Robert Emmet believed a partnership with France could: A. help gain control of the government to benefit Emmet. B. overthrow Irelands tyrannical rulers to free Ireland.    C. undo all the work he had done to free Ireland. D. sentence him to death for treason. Answer and Explanation 5. Based on the information in the passage, Robert Emmets tone could best be characterized as: A. quarrelsome. B. offensive. C. angry. D. passionate. Answer and Explanation

How To Reduce Your Website’s Bounce Rate In One Step

How To Reduce Your Website’s Bounce Rate In One Step You’ve arrived, but feel lost. Or confused. Youre being bombarded with stimuli. Or too many choices. You’re unsure what to do next. I know exactly what you’re going to do next. You’re going to leave. You’re off in search of a place where you feel comfortable, confident, more â€Å"at home.† Now here’s the rub. You actually were at someone’s home- their home on the web- their home page, but something went terribly wrong. The problem’s simple enough. The home page isn’t simple enough. The host made you work. As a website visitor, you don’t want that. And as a website host, your goal must be to invoke a sense of belonging. The Number One Way to Reduce Your Website’s Bounce Rate #Marketing by @feldmancreativeThe goal of a home page is to get the visitor to click Bounce rate, which is revealed in your analytics, indicates the percentage of web site visits where only a single page was viewed. Translation: zero clicks. For a blog site, you need not get overly concerned about bounce rate. One-and-done visits are common. However, those that enter your site via its home page are likely to be first-timers. In this case, a high bounce rate is deadly. So how do you inspire a visitor to click a page deeper into your site? You interest them. And how do you interest your visitor? You communicate an idea that is easy to understand and memorable. Marketers often describe such ideas as â€Å"sticky.† Made to Stick, the bestselling book by Chip and Dan Heath, spells out the formula with six principles. The first, and perhaps, most vital, is simplicity. I’ll paraphrase from the book where they ask and answer the question, â€Å"How do you find the essential core of your ideas?† They submit you must be a master of exclusion. You must relentlessly prioritize. The book’s chapter on simplicity also offers the following: It’s hard to make ideas stick in a noisy environment You must weed out ideas, even if they’re important, in an effort to highlight the most important one Uncertainty- caused by multiple choices- tends to paralyze readers Powerful ideas are compact and meaningful Is your homepage simple? Does it elicit the response you want from visitors? If it’s not clear and compact, it’s time to review and revise it. It’s time to simplify. What’s in it for me? If you’ve studied copywriting even a wee bit, you’re likely to have read the â€Å"WIIFM† lesson. A common derivative of it goes: readers don’t care about your company or product; they care about themselves. I want to say you get the idea. I want to say everybody does. But they don’t. In fact, I don’t think it’d be outrageous to say a painfully large majority can’t (and maybe never will) comprehend the concept. And it’s a pity because when you shine the spotlight on yourself, you lose business. Your headline has a job to do While your typical web-browsing human is obviously not a goldfish, researchers like to explain his or her average attention span falls short of the little orange pucker’s. This means your job is to create a page, which is capable of expanding the average attention span. You need to grab ‘em fast. This is the headline’s job. The headline on your home page is the first line the visitor reads and therefore the most important line on your entire website.