Monday, August 11, 2014

8 Ways to Get Your Posts Seen More on Facebook

Businesses are in a tizzy these days because the posts on their Facebook Pages are reaching fewer people. A recent study estimated that brand posts on Facebook are typically seen by about 6 percent of a page’s fans, and that figure is expected to fall further this year. The decline has created a growing tension between brands, which have used social media for free marketing for a decade, and Facebook, which is trying to boost its thriving advertising business and manage a deluge of content from individual users and Pages. One company went so far as to “break up” with Facebook because of its page’s declining reach, which yielded a “sorry I’m not sorry” response from the social network.

Despite the angry reaction, Facebook will continue to nudge brands toward paying to reach more of their fans. But there are some strategies page owners can implement to make their free posts more effective. Here’s a guide to making your Facebook Page work for you in the pay-to-play era.

Target Your Posts

Hidden in Facebook’s myriad settings options is the ability to target Page posts to specific users based on their age, gender, location, relationship status and other criteria. Brandon McCormick, Facebook’s director of communications, wouldn’t say whether a targeted post gets a greater organic reach within its subset of users than a post broadcast to all a Page’s fans. But anecdotal evidence from TIME’s Facebook account indicates that targeted posts reach a large percentage of the fans they’re aimed toward in some cases. Even without a boost in reach, a smartly targeted post is more likely to engage those users that do see it. Brands can enable post targeting by selecting “Edit Settings” from the “Edit Page” drop down menu in a Page’s admin panel.

Use Photos, But Make Them Original

Plain-text status updates have secretly been one of most effective types of posts for boosting organic reach for years, but the company announced in January that it would be reducing the distribution of text posts and increasing distribution of others. Photos, when used correctly, can be a win for both audience engagement and reach, and they align with the increasingly visual nature of the social network and its spinoff apps. But be wary of “meme photos,” stock images with humorous or dramatic text layered over them. Facebook has reduced their reach in a quest to promote what it deems “high quality” content.

Post at Odd Hours

Figuring out the best time to post on Facebook has been an elusive goal for social media practitioners for years. Consider this, though: with 757 million people now visiting Facebook every day, maybe you don’t want to post something at the same time as everyone else. If the type of content you’re posting might appeal to people who are awake late at night or early in the morning, try posting during off-peak hours. Remember that it’s easy to schedule a Facebook post in advance.

Start a Conversation

An increasing number of items that appear in the News Feed show a user’s friends engaging with other content—liking, commenting or sharing a post from another friend or Page. If you can get a conversation started with a post by asking a question, it’s more likely that your Page will be pulled into other users’ feeds. Make sure the questions are pertinent to your organization, though. “If you’re a small restaurant, [fans] would rather see what your specials are that night than for you to ask how their day is going,” McCormick says.

Be Engaging

This may seem obvious, but remember that Facebook’s ultimate goal is to keep as many people as possible glued to the social network for as long as possible. If your posts keep people engaged, as measured by likes, comments, shares and time on screen, the social network will reward you with further reach. Spam up your page with excessive posts that no one likes or comments on, and your reach is likely to decline even faster than everyone else’s. The company now regularly resurfaces content that is more than 24 hours old if it’s receiving heavy engagement from users. “Brands are competing for a very, very small pool of space when they’re looking for organic reach,” says Nate Elliott, principal analyst at Forrester Research. “The best way to do that is to offer relevant content that attracts user engagement.”

-Promote With Other Pages

Get mentioned in a post by another brand, and your Page could show up in the News Feeds of users who don’t already like your organization. Facebook added this feature in February, but stressed that such cross-promotions have to make logical sense in order to earn extra reach. Ensuring that the two Pages have a large pool of overlapping fans can help. Pepsi, for instance, could mention its subsidiaries like Frito-Lay and Gatorade in a post, or a city tourism page could work to cross-promote that town’s popular restaurants.

Hop on a Trending Topic

Facebook took a cue from Twitter earlier this year and introduced trending topics that attempt to summarize the biggest news of the day. When users click on a trending topic, they see a mix of content from other users and Pages about the story. Posts from friends or Pages a user is connected to get higher placement in the trending feed, so if the topics are relevant to your brand, consider joining the conversation or providing a useful link.

Buy an Ad

Facebook, of course, says this is the most straightforward solution. The company has simplified its ad unit offerings in the last year in effort to attract more customers. “If you’re a business, advertising is probably the best bet for you because what you really care about is guaranteed reach,” McCormick says. “It’s not a great marketing strategy throw something out there and hope somebody sees it.” He points out that Page fans still matter for paid posts because Facebook offers discounts on ads that can be delivered with a social context (basically showing a user that one of their friends also likes the brand featured in an ad). More Page fans means more opportunities to provide this context and buy cheaper ads.

Source: Time

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Monday, August 4, 2014

Nigeria Confirms Second Ebola Virus Case

Doctor Tests Positive for Virus After Treating Victim

Nigerian health officials wait to screen passengers at the arrival hall of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Monday. Associated Press

Nigerian health authorities said they had confirmed a second case of Ebola in Africa's most populous nation and quarantined eight additional people, all of whom helped treat a Liberian-American who died of the disease in Lagos in July.

Nigerian health authorities confirmed a second case of Ebola in Africa's most populous nation and quarantined eight additional people. Dr. William Karesh discusses the outbreak on the News Hub with Sara Murray. Photo: Getty Images.

"One of the doctors who attended to the American-Liberian victim has tested positive for Ebola virus," Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu told reporters on Monday in Abuja, Nigeria's capital. "He is being treated at an isolated facility."

Mr. Chukwu said eight more health workers have been quarantined and that 62 other people who came into contact with the deceased Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer, are being monitored for signs of illness.

Nigeria's second case shows one of the biggest challenges facing health workers in West Africa: patients in denial that they have Ebola.

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Mr. Sawyer, a consultant at the Liberian Finance Ministry, had recently seen his sister die from Ebola and was exhibiting the virus's hallmark symptoms by the time he arrived in Lagos from Monrovia on July 20, said Jide Idris, Lagos State's health commissioner. The consultant told hospital workers he thought he was suffering from malaria for two days, during which time they didn't take the precautions such as wearing protective suits that are typically prescribed to prevent Ebola's spread. He died there on July 25.

Nigerian officials moved swiftly to identify and monitor everyone who came into contact with him at the airport and the hospital where he died, but news that one of those doctors contracted the disease raised fresh fears that the disease could take root in Lagos, Africa's most populous city.

The Ebola outbreak that began in February is the worst on record: On Monday, the World Health Organization said the death toll had reached 887 in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, as well as Nigeria, as of Aug. 1, an increase of 158 since it released figures on July 31.Mr. Chukwu said on Monday that officials would try to isolate the disease even if it pops up outside of Lagos. "Emergency centers have been set up in all states to tackle any Ebola outbreak if reported," he said.

The WHO said there have been more than 1,600 cases of Ebola since the disease emerged in West Africa this year.

An American doctor who contracted the disease after working at a treatment center in Liberia was flown to an Atlanta hospital last week to receive top-flight treatment in isolation. Officials plan to bring a second American infected at the same center to the same Atlanta hospital this week.

The outbreak prompted the presidents of Liberia and Sierra Leone to stay home this week rather than attend a historic summit among about 50 African leaders and U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C.

Source: Drew Hinshaw -The Wall Street Journal

see: www.gooddeedsmall.com

Child Anxiety

Symptoms of anxiety in children and information about child anxiety disorders

What is Child Anxiety?

Just like adult anxiety, children can also suffer from anxiety. In fact, anxiety in children should be expected at specific times during development and is in those cases regarded as normal (for example, the first day of school). Some children may also suffer fromexcessive shyness and may struggle to adjust to new situations.

They may not yet have the ability to vocalize their feelings, nor the coping skills needed to manage them - making their fears and anxiety even more difficult for them to cope with.

Most children have short-lived fears, and quickly grow out of them as they learn through experience that there is no real danger in the things they fear. For example, a child will learn that there are no monsters under the bed or that when mom leaves for work, she will come back at the end of the day. This is regarded as a routine part of development.

Some children are more anxious than others and may need additional reassurance or help from a professional, especially if an Anxiety disorder is suspected. Anxiety becomes a problem if it begins to affect your child’s daily routine and functioning or if it is causing your child significant distress.

When is Child Anxiety Normal?

It is normal for all children to experience certain anxieties at specific developmental stages.

Between 7 and 11 months, healthy youngsters will often feel anxious around unfamiliar faces.
Between 7 months and the 3 years, most children experience anxiety when separated from
their caregivers.

Young children may have short-lived fears, such as fear of the dark, storms, animals, or ‘monsters’,
and they often develop temporary ‘phobias’ after particular bad experiences. A child may fear
dogs after being bitten by a dog.

When they start going to school, they are subject to school concerns such as ‘fitting in’,
academic and social pressures, and other anxieties that arise as a result of developing
an independent sense of self.Anxieties such as these are normal and should resolve over time
and through reassurance.

Diagnosing Child Anxiety

Recognizing child anxiety disorders can be tricky since the symptoms of anxiety in children are often different to those we observe in adults. Moreover, children of different ages and temperaments may display different symptoms. Here are some tell-tale signs and symptoms of child anxiety:

Bed wetting
Nightmares or night terrors
Avoidance of certain activities (such as school or social events)
Being overly clingy and crying easily
Frequent feelings of panic and fear that disrupt activities
Constant worrying about future events
Difficulty making friends and being overly shy
Low self-esteem and lack of confidence
Fears of embarrassment
Fears of making mistakes
Compulsive behaviors (such as checking under the bed or in the closet before bedtime)
Extreme resistance to any change
Recurrent physical symptoms, such as stomach ache or headache, without an apparent cause

What Causes Child Anxiety?

Separation anxiety is very normal in young children and usually subsides with age. Faced with separation from familiar people, your child may throw tantrums, refuse to go to school or become insistently clingy, tearful or manipulative. If an older child or teenager persists with this behavior, they may have separation anxiety disorder and professional help may be required.
Change and fear of the unknown. Like adults, children often fear the unknown and are cautious in new and unfamiliar situations. The first day of school, meeting new people or moving neighborhoods can be an anxious time for your child.
Traumatic events. Unpleasant or bad experiences can lead a child to believe that certain things are ‘dangerous’ or threatening. This could include an embarrassing social situation, or one that caused physical harm or fright (such as a dog bite or a near accident). In particularly distressing situations there is the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and your child may need professional counseling.
School related problems. Your child may be anxious about something going on at school such as bullying, trouble making friends, or a strict teacher. In some cases the anxiety may stem from difficulties coping with school work and a Learning Disorder may be the root cause.
Family problems. A disturbance in the home environment may cause your child to feel anxious. Hearing or seeing parents continually fight can be particularly distressing for your child and make them feel insecure. Other family issues that may lead to an anxious child are separations and divorce, death or illness in the family, and inconsistent or harsh discipline.
Learned behavior. Children can often ‘pick up’ or adopt anxious behavior from parents. This is especially true for children with over-protective or overly anxious parents (who themselves may suffer from an anxiety disorder).

Help for Child Anxiety

Anxiety in children may be managed in a variety of ways. Recognizing child anxiety disorders is the first step. Methods used in treating child anxiety may be conventional (allopathic) or involve a more holistic approach.

Conventional Medical Treatments for Childhood Anxiety

When treating child anxiety it is important that your doctor do a full medical examination in

order to exclude physical causes unrelated to anxiety. This will involve a medical consultation

as well as certain tests – for example blood tests.

The conventional or allopathic approach to treating child anxiety is to treat it with prescription

medication to relieve the symptoms of anxiety as well as tricyclic or SSRI antidepressants to treat the

condition from more long term point of view.

In severe cases, especially when there are high levels of restlessness, doctors will prescribe medication

which has been intended to treat psychosis. A combination of these drugs may also be prescribed.

Doctors may also refer your child to a psychologist for assessment and therapy. Be sure to research

the options thoroughly before deciding what is best for your child.

Unfortunately it is not uncommon for doctors to prescribe high schedule psychiatric drugs as a first option afterrecognizing child anxiety disorders. Before agreeing to this course of action, make sure

that you read up on the side effects and potential for addiction of the drugs your doctor is

recommending and seek a second opinion if you are not happy with the advice you are getting.

Many children end up taking a cocktail of high schedule drugs in order to deal with the side effects of

the medication that was first prescribed. Considering the fact that there are safer and equally viable

alternatives, it is not necessary for children to be subjected to this (see below for more information).

Holistic Approaches

Research has shown that a combination of treatment interventions has the best chance of success in the

treatment of anxiety conditions. Here are some more alternatives to investigate:

Self-Help Techniques

There are a number of books available for parents with anxious children. These can be especially

helpful in teaching parents strategies to assist their anxious child while promoting positive parenting

techniques that help build confidence and good self image.

Play Therapy

Play therapy with a qualified psychologist can be very beneficial to a child struggling with anxiety.

Through the power of play, children often re-enact their fears and anxieties and are able to come to

solutions and happy endings for their own problems. Play therapy is also a useful tool in communicating

with young children to determine the root cause of the anxiety as they play out specific themes.

More Information on Child Anxiety

Anxiety as a Symptom

If you do feel that your child’s anxiety is not age-appropriate or out of the normal range, seek a

professional opinion as one of the following disorders or medical conditions may be the underlying cause:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Specific Phobia
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Learning Disorder
Depression
Hyperthyroidism or hyperparathyroidism
Hypoglycemia
Vestibular or inner-ear disorders

Tips for Parents

Encourage your child to discuss his/her fears with you. Children who are encouraged to talk
about their concerns and feelings, will feel comforted and less alone. By listening to your child, you
may also discover what the underlying problem is and therefore find ways to help. Suggest that
your child write a story or draw a picture of scary things, and look for clues to help you understand
his fears better.
Reassure and comfort your child. Children need lots of hugs and assurance that they are
safe and understood. It is important to acknowledge their fears as being real to them and
not trivialize their
feelings. What children fear may seem silly to you, but that doesn’t make the emotion any less real.
Watch out for your own anxieties and worries. In some cases, anxiety is a learnt response and
children may be picking up on your tensions. You are your child’s best model for behavior!
Teach your child relaxation techniques like deep breathing during anxious moments,
counting to 10 or self-soothing statements. These methods can help to empower your child and
will provide the inner confidence needed to overcome the fears.
Routines and plenty of warning before change can go a long way to making your child feel
more secure and less anxious. Explain new situations in advance in a simple, friendly manner.
(Try role playing to prepare for upcoming situations)
Remind your child of old fears that they overcame. This will provide the courage and
confidence to face current fears. Always praise children’s efforts and successes when they do
confront these anxieties.
Do not accommodate your child’s fears. If your child fears something, don’t purposefully
avoid it as this will reinforce the need for escape and confirm the ‘reality’ of the danger. However,
DO reassure your child and try to help him or her through the situation successfully.
Source: Natural health US
www.gooddeedsmall.com

Anger

Anger management techniques and information about anger disorders

What is Anger?

What Causes Anger?

Help for Anger

What is Anger?

Everyone has likely experienced anger at some time throughout their life. Some people become angry more often than others, and have regular, intense outbursts. Others tend to bottle their feelings, and then explode or erupt without warning - like a volcano.

Anger is a basic human emotion and a natural reaction to situations beyond our control. There are a number of things that can trigger or contribute to anger such as the actions of another person (treating an animal unfairly), an event (favorite football team is beaten), stress (losing the new account at work), expectations not being met, feelings of hurt, disrespect, humiliation, embarrassment, jealousy and sadness.

Anger is healthy and depending on how it is managed and expressed, anger can be positive or negative. Anger has positive consequences when angry feelings help you address a problem or issue with yourself or another person and rectify the situation.

Dealing with anger positively enables you to put negative emotions into perspective. When you want to let off steam, feel frustrated or upset, there are constructive ways to channel your anger like listening to music, running or going to gym. These are often used in treating anger disorders.

Expressing anger in a negative way leads to various unhealthy behaviors such as violence and aggression. You may become out of control and threatening to others. When anger interferes with your ability to think or act clearly, this can cause you to invite unnecessary trouble to yourself.

If anger hampers your personal relationships with friends and family, leads to violence, creates trouble in your professional life and people fear your temper, you may be suffering from anger disorders and treating angerbecomes essential.

What Causes Anger?

Anger disorders are many times a consequence of anger that is suppressed or bottled deep within. If the individual never admits or exposes anger, and puts up a good front and therefore hides their true feelings, anger disorders can occur. Individuals who have being hurt badly or experienced some form of abuse and trauma have difficult expressing emotions, and tend to internalize their anger.

This emotion is often transferred to other more harmful behaviors such as drug and alcohol addiction, eating disorders or self harm. Negative consequences of suppressed anger can also result in tension, depression, and a breakdown in relationships.

Certain bodily reactions take place when a person experiences the emotion of anger. Heart rate and blood pressure increase and breathing becomes shorter and faster. An individual may also become flushed, hot and sweaty, start to shake and clench his or her jaw.

As much as the signs of anger may differ from person to person, people express their anger differently. Some may begin to yell, be abusive and insulting, break down doors or resort to fist fights, throw things, storm out, while others may become quiet, depressed and introverted.

Help for Anger

Poor anger management also affects your physical health and can cause high blood pressure, chronic lower back pain, stomach problems and heart disease. It can also lead to anxiety, as well as thoughts of suicide, therefore treating anger is of upmost importance.

The good news is that there are solutions and ways of coping better through anger management techniques.Treating anger is fundamental if you want a happier, more fulfilling life.

Learn Anger Management Techniques

Some anger management techniques include the following:

Identifying the cause of your anger

Speaking to a close family member or friend about how angry you feel

Practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises, meditation or yoga

Engaging in physical activities such as aerobics, brisk walking, running or dancing

Reducing your stress levels by having a massage, listening to music or reading a book

Doing something creative such as painting , sketching, writing poetry or scrap booking

These anger management techniques can be very helpful however, if you feel angry all the time and have trouble controlling all your negative emotions, seek professional help from a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Source: Natural remedies US

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