The Evolution of Workforce Composition

From an evolutionary perspective, I don’t think it’s fair to compare today’s proportions of women to men in the workplace without also considering that ratio at some point in the past. Only a few decades ago the percentage of women in the workforce was much smaller than it is today and C-Level positions were even more disproportionate in years past.

Equality takes time, regardless of prejudice. For example: If, instead of “Men” we had 100 “Red” workers and instead of “Women” we had 15 “Blue” workers, equalization of the workforce numbers would take a long time even though there are relatively equal numbers of Reds and Blues in the country. If we have to wait until Reds retired before we brought on new workers, and then exactly half of the positions went to Blues, we’re looking at more than a few generations before we see relative equality.

Statistical theory suggests that progress towards a 50/50 world will slow down the closer we get.

Compensatory Evolution

I don’t really buy the whole “women are paid less” argument either. I agree that they are paid less (can’t deny the facts), I just think it has more to do with this evolution of Blues catching up to the Reds than anything else. Thirty years ago there were still many more men than women entering the workforce each year and a lot of those men are just entering the peak of their most profitable working years. For that reason alone, we should expect significant differences in the between the average compensations of men and women. We’re still in an evolutionary shift of compensation equality (in favor of women) and there are certainly other factors holding down female compensation, but we’re making good evolutionary progress here.

You can click this image to see the full data set for Table 13.

Social Evolution

The one part of this that gets all the focus/blame as for why women aren’t equal in the workplace is social evolution. This is the category that includes bias, stereotyping, persecution, racism, sexism, etc. It is this social evolution of the workplace that causes all the problems, but, like all the others, it requires time to evolve.

In the same way that peak salary workers entered the workforce thirty years ago, so did a generation of less socially evolved men and women. And before that, a generation even less socially evolved. The good news is, with each generation since we have become more socially evolved. Social equality is getting closer, but it, like any evolution, takes time. Let’s just make sure our current and future generations keep heading in the more equal direction.

The Evolution of Women in the Workplace is a post from: Tim Staines' Weblog

This is a great example of how SEO’s break down the value of different types of links and it shows why the quality consultants in this industry provide value to their clients, in excess of what a designer/developer would typically call “SEO.”

From Twitter on the evening of 5/20/2010:

timstaines: @bill_slawski if U could get a site wide link from a site with ~50 pages or 1 in-content link on 1 page of same site, which would it be?

bill_slawski: @timstaines There are so many other factors that I would want to look at besides whether a link were site wide or in main content of a page

timstaines: @bill_slawski there are many other factors, but consider it a brand new page on the site with 1 link vs. a site wide link on 50 other pages

bill_slawski: @timstaines Which are people more likely to click upon, the sitewide or the single link? That’s the first thing I would look at.

bill_slawski: @timstaines Are there just a few sitewides, and are they in a prominent place?

timstaines: @bill_slawski just a few site wide externals and 25 sitewide internals

bill_slawski: @timstaines Is the page one that has evergreen content, and will be visited on a regular basis? A blog post that will get stale over time?

timstaines: @bill_slawski 5 PR5 pages, 10 PR4 pages, 20 PR3 pages, 10 PR2 pages, 5 PR1 pages

timstaines: @bill_slawski let’s call it a resource page

bill_slawski: @timstaines Good. The page being a resource page makes the analysis more difficult.

timstaines: @bill_slawski just trying to come up with a scenario that would happen in real life

bill_slawski: @timstaines Is the topic of the page fairly relevant to the anchor text in the link. How relevant is the anchor text to the other pages?

timstaines: @bill_slawski page created on the same subject as the link

bill_slawski: @timstaines Would the page likely be considered an authority page, as in a HITS version of Hubs and Authorities?

timstaines: @bill_slawski it could eventually, but right now it’s a brand new page

bill_slawski: @timstaines That would make the single page more attractive, and the decision harder, especially considering the PR of the other pages.

bill_slawski: @timstaines Right, and you’re presenting a scenerio that would make the decision a difficult one.

bill_slawski: @timstaines A sitewide would mean that one of the links would be on the homepage of the domain, which probably has some decent value, too.

timstaines: @bill_slawski you can answer it at many points in time if you like . . . now and PR1 PR2 PR3 PR4 PR5 – heh

bill_slawski: @timstaines At this point, I would question how prominently that sidewide would be on the page. Sidebar? Footer? Banner? Commercial text?

timstaines: @bill_slawski part of content in the footer

timstaines: @bill_slawski I think the one page link would have to be on a PR5 page to make it close

bill_slawski: @timstaines If the internal link structure of the site was reasonable, the page would likely gain some PR fairly soon.

timstaines: @bill_slawski agreed

bill_slawski: @timstaines How likely would it be that people would scroll to see that footer?

timstaines: @bill_slawski likely that they would see it, but it’s probably not a highly clicked element

bill_slawski: @timstaines if the sitewide stands out in some way, and would stand a chance of getting clicked upon, I would be more likely to consider it.

timstaines: @bill_slawski right, I’m still trying to build up the one pager a bit

bill_slawski: @timstaines I might be a little more tempted to chose the page, but it might not hurt to have variety in the backlinks to your pages

timstaines: @bill_slawski I would take the site wide link still, but if I had two or three pages with backlinks in the body it’s a different story

bill_slawski: @timstaines It’s tempting to create a scorecard for the reasonable surfer features for a decision on link placement like this.

bill_slawski: @timstaines But trying to gauge which features to use, and how might weight to give each would be hard.

timstaines: @bill_slawski yeah, create your own little algo in your head

timstaines: @bill_slawski right, I still believe that the most important factor is that its on every page vs. 1 page

bill_slawski: @timstaines Is the page being linked to on the same domain, or a different one?

timstaines: @bill_slawski different domain, for a different organization on a similar topic

timstaines: @bill_slawski dang, we’ve got half a blog post here already

bill_slawski: @timstaines Pretty close to one.

bill_slawski: @timstaines If the link weight being passed from the sitewide footer links was 1/10 of the main content link, & the new page became a PR 4?

bill_slawski: @timstaines I think that would be a positive for both, especially if the anchor text was related to the topics of all the pages.

bill_slawski: @timstaines A feature not included in the reasonable surfer patent: do sitewide links diminish in value because they are sitewide?

timstaines: @bill_slawski let’s say the linking site in generally related to the anchor text and the target page

bill_slawski: @timstaines The single page link might be more of a gamble, considering its newness, but I think it could be pretty close.

timstaines: @bill_slawski then you have to ask if it because they are sitewide, or just that they are common

timstaines: @bill_slawski i.e. does a link that shows up on 10 pages of a site have as much or more value than a sitewide

bill_slawski: @timstaines Good point. Possible that relevant sitewide (anchor text, topical cluster) w/o commercial text > irrelevant w/commercial text

timstaines: @bill_slawski I’m sure this will be an ongoing discussion – but I’m headed to bed, thanks for the convo

bill_slawski: @timstaines Thank you, Tim. definitely worth considering more…

brianchappell: @bill_slawski @timstaines great convo guys. Just had fun reading through that.

_______________

It’s kinda funny that today’s SEOmoz Whiteboard Friday covers a similar topic. I honestly hadn’t seen that post until I Googled “value of site wide links” for this post. They are already ranking at the top of the second page, by the way.

Again, I’ll be building this post out further in the future. Any suggestions for what should be added?

Site Wide Links OR An In-Content Link is a post from: Tim Staines' Weblog

A few years ago I got a quote from Area Roofing, Windows & Siding Co. That’s not their real name, but you get the idea, they’re a local small business. At that time I was only interested in getting my windows replaced, so the quotes I received for siding and roofing were not that relevant. We ended up selecting a different company to install the windows, but the quote process with their salesman (we’ll call him Joe) was well done and professional.
As a result, I recognized the company name when I recently searched for “roofing company Annapolis” or some similar phrase. I called and left a message with their answering service, and “Joe” showed up to give me another quote within a day or two. Everything is rolling along very well. I’m a happy customer.
Joe and I shake hands and recognize each other.

The Background

So here’s a little background story. At the time I was in the process of selling my house. There’s a big red Realtor sign in my front yard. I’m getting quotes because I’m going to put on a new roof at the buyer’s request. I acknowledge and agree that the house needs a new roof and I’m going to purchase that roof from someone.

The Sales Pitch

Joe says something like, “Oh yeah, you definitely need a new roof.” I’m thinking to myself, ‘Joe, I didn’t call you all the way out here for you to tell me I need a new roof. I know I need a new roof.’ I’m slightly annoyed, but it’s no big deal. I’m still buying a roof from someone and Joe’s here right now, so he’s got a really good shot. And I let it go. ‘Customer service’ starts when that first contact is made, and in my opinion it’s one of the things that a small business should be built on.
I also declined to comment when Joe informed me that I should have done this a few years ago when he had provided me with the initial estimate, “the shingles were much cheaper,” he explained arrogantly. You see, at this point I don’t really care how much shingles cost in 2008. All I want is a quick and painless end to the new roof project. If Area Roofing, Windows & Siding can be within a few hundred bucks of the other quotes I’m getting, and deliver the new roof within a short time frame (two weeks), they’ve pretty much got the job.
So on April 23rd Joe gave me a printed, line item quote after he took some measurements and input the data into his laptop: $4,010.00. I’m still relatively impressed with the quote process, which  remained efficient and professionally delivered. Joe is the sales guy, so I guess it’s his job to tell me I need a new roof. Maybe he’s disappointed he didn’t get the window job, so he felt like needling me on all the money I could have saved on shingles (which was maybe 15% of the total cost). So after receiving two similarly priced quotes, I decide to go with Area Roofing.

The Coupon

Joe comes to pick up the contract the next Monday. We had received an Area Roofing coupon in the mail for $50 Off and presented it to him at the same time we were handing him the signed quote. Joe says something like, “Oh, I don’t know about this. I’ll have to ask the boss. You guys have already signed the contract.” At this point, I just said “Ok, do what you can,” thinking to myself  ’the boss,’  we’ll call him Kent, must be the decision maker.
Now keep in mind that the coupon says “Please Present After Estimate is Given,” and this is the first time I’ve seen Joe since he handed me the estimate, i.e. the first time I’ve had a chance to present the coupon. It also says “Not Valid On Prior Contracts” and Joe has chosen to interpret the signed contract that he has not physically touched yet, as a prior contract. I’m starting to wonder ‘What’s next?’ and keeping my fingers crossed for the best.

The Sign

Did I mention my house was for sale? Big red Realtor sign? I know, let’s put a roofing company sign right there too. I’m sure that will help the owners sell this place. Yeah, let’s also put a banner on the roof that reads ‘This Roof Has Issues,’ that will really put the buyers at ease.
I removed the sign, called Joe, and left a message asking him not to replace the sign. My experience with Area Roofing is not great at this point, but I’m in it for the long haul. Fingers still crossed.

The Buyers

Our buyers deserve and will receive a post dedicated specifically to them, but they play a part in this story too. They called Area Roofing, talked to Joe, and then tried to tell us that Joe said the roof needed new perforated soffit after Joe had provided me with a quote that did not include new soffit. That Friday, when Joe handed me his quote it included a ridge vent, something not previously in place, to allow for ventilation in the attic. The soffit was overkill and our buyers were overstepping their bounds by contacting the roofing company directly.
I called Joe to find out what was going on and he said something like, “What have I gotten myself into here?” and I said, “I don’t know, what did you tell the buyers?” This little incident is one I blame on the buyers more than Joe, but Joe is now digging himself a reputation hole with me.

The Job

Meanwhile, sprinkled in with all that drama, I get a call from Kent saying he can put me on the schedule for the install on May 4th, nine days after I signed the contract. Good news! Kent gets a point back for Area Roofing. The roofers show up on May 4th and are finished the same day. Great News! Kent calls me to get payment and informs me that the total was $50 less than the quote price. Oh yeah, Kent gets it. It’s not something to hesitate on or argue about. It’s 1.25% of the job, and there’s good profit in roofing. The coupon should have never been an issue to Joe, and it wasn’t an issue to Kent.

The Invoice

My Realtor requested a copy of my paid invoice on 5/11. Our closing was on 5/14 and I’m sure my invoice from Area Roofing is in the mail. In the meantime I need to get a copy of it sent to me via email or fax. So I call Joe.
Joe says he can’t send it and that Kent would have to do it. He tells me Kent doesn’t have the invoice anymore because he mailed it to me. He also told me I “should have mentioned this earlier.” I literally laughed out loud at Joe, and then, as politely as I could, I asked for Kent’s number. Joe called me back and gave me Kent’s number a few minutes later and I had a copy of the invoice within the hour, via email.

The Lessons

I really hadn’t even considered writing this post until my very last interaction with Joe on 5/11. I have a zillion other things to worry about right now, but I just could not pass up the documentation of this process. And I think there are a few things small businesses and their staff can learn about customer service from my experience:

• Know when to stop talking. Several times during this process, Joe chose to dig himself deeper into the reputation hole when he didn’t have to. He could have easily avoided my mounting distaste by knowing when to STFU. But he finally dug so deep with that last interaction that he hit a pipe and it exploded into this post, which would have included the actual business name had Kent not handled everything so well from his end.
• Forget the past, live in the now.
  • If you’re quoting a customer for a second time, years later, just forget about the first quote. Unless they are getting a better deal, nothing good can come from talking about the old quote.
  • If a customer needs a receipt from you, give it to them. In the format they want. Without putting up a fight.
• Read your situation. If your sales process and services require a significant amount of interaction with a customer, try to get a feel for them. Know that things like selling a house are potentially stressful and that they might not respond the same way the average customer would.
• Use common sense.
  • Just because you always put a sign in the yard before you do a job, doesn’t mean it’s always OK (see previous point).
  • When a customer hands you a coupon with your name on it, accept it.
  • Don’t talk to anyone, other than the guy who is paying the bill, about a job.

There are other lessons mixed in there too. What did I miss?

Customer Service, Local Business & How You Should(n’t) Do It is a post from: Tim Staines' Weblog

Here’s the article that sparked our discussion: http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/2009/09/10/obamas-health-care-speech-in-plain-english/

*It’s important to note that Old Friend started with pleasantries, and I’m only using pieces of his email.

People see what they want to see, not necessarily the reality of the situation. Is that a accurate depiction of the market since January 20th? No, the Dow is up over 14% since then. Photo Credit: George Bentley

The first thing he writes is pretty much par for the course. For some reason, many conservatives are just AGAINST the current administration. Before they say anything else, they will let you know they just don’t approve of anything Obama is doing, no way, no how.

Old Friend: I am strongly opposed to the direction this administration is taking the country . . . I’m wary of federal officials trying to leverage their authority to expand government intervention.

Me: Regarding the direction the Obama Administration is taking this country, what direction is that? From where I’m sitting that direction is out of a recession, towards a positive opinion of the USA on the global political level, towards significant positive action on climate change, and generally leaving the country in a better place than it was when he came into office.

I try not to react to individual details of any plan. I read and understand details, but then put them into a little formula in my head. My calculations on recent contentious issues have usually resulted in a “this is generally better than what we had before” conclusion, in favor of the current administration. That said, I think most of the plans presented by Dems start out way too far left, and I’m glad we have the Republicans there to call out and eliminate the crazy parts of these bills.

The second point he makes is also a conservative status quo argument. He picks out a detail that might look like an egregious omission or oversight on the part of the Obama Administration and then proceeds to ask a number of questions that try to further prove that ‘Obama doesn’t know what he’s getting himself into here.’ Honestly, I feel that there are a number of good reasons to take issue with the proposed legislation, but this isn’t one of them.

Old Friend: How many people are truly uninsured because they can’t afford it?  I’ve heard Obama say 30 million and 60 million, which is a significant difference.  How much coverage does each uninsured individual need?  How do they calculate how much insuring 30 or 60 million people with different needs would cost (an elderly woman on food stamps with heart trouble vs. a recent college graduate with no major ailments, for example)?  Government officials can’t really know the answer to either question, it’s impossible for them to–how could they possibly make an accurate count?

Me: To your concern over accurate count, I’m not sure I understand why that’s particularly important, even from a cost calculation standpoint. The proposed system is supposed to be self contained from a cost perspective. When we put the uninsured and underinsured into health insurance plans from the government the coverage is supposed to pay for itself. The premiums collected are meant to cover the costs of treatments. If they can’t afford the coverage it comes out of their taxes (tax rebates to pay for their premiums). [Currently] if you don’t have insurance and you can afford it, you’re part of the problem because when you go to the emergency room the rest of us are paying for you, that will no longer be an issue.

From a personal perspective on this, I work for a small company (3 employees) and my wife is self employed. We’re healthy and fairly young. My employer doesn’t pay my health insurance because I chose a compensation plan that allowed me to make more dollars in exchange for not being covered. We buy our own basic health insurance, but it’s the cheapest we could find because we’re only concerned with covering ourselves for a catastrophic injury or condition. We pay all other medically related costs out of pocket (doctor visits, prescriptions, etc.), so we’re pretty much getting screwed out of over $2,000/year by our insurance company. Now I’m not complaining, we could choose to pay $4K/year and have our visits and prescriptions covered, but we would lose financially in that scenario too.

Insurance companies employ teams of people to find reasons to deny claims and increase profits. Photo Credit: UN1SON

The problem with current costs is lack of competition and insurance company profiteering. There really isn’t much difference in premiums between what we would pay for checkup and prescription coverage and what an unhealthy 50 year old couple would pay, and that’s just wrong. I think the proposed legislation would provide for many levels of coverage (from both government and private insurers) that aren’t currently available. Now I’m not saying we would definitely switch to a government plan if one was available, but I sure would take a hard look at the cost/benefit analysis and take advantage of covered preventative doctor visits if I could get them for what I’m paying currently. And that’s where I see a real benefit, making preventative health care more affordable will mean less catastrophic health issues for everyone in the country. Less catastrophic issues means less money spent on them by insurance companies which means lower premiums for everyone.

What I’m not in favor of is government handouts that don’t produce some sort of return on investment. Welfare for instance, is a total joke. Yes there are people out there that truly need it, but for the most part our welfare system provides an incentive for people to not work. Our unemployment system is also heavily abused, we need to do something to clean up the corruption and abuse in those types of systems because they don’t do much to provide a return on the investment so the money goes in and never comes back out. Health care is different, if it’s done correctly it will pay us back.

Opposition to Obama & Healthcare Reform is a post from: Tim Staines' Weblog

I love that this post ranks on the first page of Cuil (along with a bunch of other posts from this site): http://timstaines.net/2008/06/28/5/

I have to admit that this pretty much proves (from my perspective) that Cuil is a significantly less useful search engine than Google.

Let’s see if Cuil ranks this one on the first page for a search on ‘Tim Staines.’

Google vs. Cuil is a post from: Tim Staines' Weblog

Solid Search Engine Optimization is time consuming and detailed work that doesn’t result in overnight windfalls of profit or massive upward shifts in traffic to a site. Sure there are ways to profit on the quick if you’ve worked hard to build a system that allows you or your team to respond to current events AND you have a business model built around doing just that. But developing that system is time consuming and detailed work; just ask Brent Payne at Chicago ‘s Tribune network.

My point is this: Search Engine Optimization is something that should be researched before being purchased. If you are the consumer of SEO services that cost you $2,000/yr or more (quality SEO, like any other service that will boost business, has a cost), you should take an hour or more and read about it before you buy the service or sign a contract. Here’s a good place to start.

Keep in mind that SEO is a marketing activity, and an important one. Everyone searches for everything. If they hear about “IT” on the radio or see IT on TV or in print, they are going to look for IT on the web, and they’re going to use a search engine to find IT. When they don’t hear about IT or see IT they are still they going to look for IT on the web when they don’t know what IT is. Here are several different ways to think about what SEO does for your website and your company, and make sure to read the comments too.

The last thing I want to say on this topic is that Search Engine Optimization is essential to getting the most out of your website. If you run a business and have a website, but you don’t have time to learn and implement SEO for yourself, you should seriously consider hiring a good Search Marketer to do it for you. Your website isn’t doing you any good if it’s not driving business through your doors, making your phone ring, or filling up your Inbox. The potential return on your SEO investment can be enormous, and if you talk to qualified Search Marketers, they should be able to get a feel for the magnitude of potential benefit within a few minutes of talking with most small and medium sized businesses.

Search Engine Optimization – A necessary evil? is a post from: Tim Staines' Weblog

So I wanted to write a blog post about all the things I have learned in the past couple of years so that I could sharpen my arguments and try and convince them to act with more respect for the environment. I found something as I was researching sites like these:

• http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/
• http://www.unep.org/Themes/climatechange/
• http://www.pewclimate.org/
• http://www.noaa.gov/climate.html

What I stumbled upon was this site that has all the answers: http://gristmill.grist.org/skeptics

So anyone who wants to argue with me from now on is going to get directed straight to this website so they can either enlighten themselves or choose to continue being misinformed and unaware of their ignorance.

Instead of arguing with my friends and family about this, I will make a point to only inform them that they are misinformed and direct them to where they can find the resources that reveal the true story.

Short and sweet, just the way it should be!

Tim Staines

Some of my Friends and Family are Climate Change Skeptics is a post from: Tim Staines' Weblog

The building was constructed on pilings, as there is no solid ground for a foundation. It sits roughly half way between Tangier Island, Virginia and Crisfield, Maryland . . . don’t try to look for it on Google Earth; with a full-time population of one, it doesn’t seem to be on the radar (or satellite) for the high technology world, and that’s exactly the point.

You have to see this place to believe it, and I will add some amazing pictures to this post if I can figure out how. But what I really want to convey is how inspired I was to have had the chance to visit this place. Everything about it and CBF is incredible. We were fortunate enough to hitch a ride on the Karen N., a huge, diesel powered, jet-drive propelled, work of art that is Captained by Shawn Ridgely, a long-time friend of mine.

This beast is 40+ feet long, has an 18″ draft, and cruises at 20+ knots . . . if you’re not a boater, that’s like a bus that can carry 25 people at highway speeds and fit into your local parking garage. He teaches kids about the Chesapeake from the southern tip of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, which happens to be where we boarded. From there, we took an hour ride to our destination, arriving a couple hours before dusk.

We might as well have been in the South Pacific. The island serves as another CBF Learning Center, housing kids for 2 to 3 days at a time, and educating them on some of the issues that affect the Bay while providing them with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience this magical place first-hand. You cannot leave without feeling moved. The whole facility is run with electricity produced by three solar panels and the occasional stationary bike ride for some added water pressure. Adam, our host and the current manager of the Center, lives there full time. His only connection to the modern world, besides a weak cell phone signal and a marine radio, is a 20foot Carolina Skiff that he uses to cross the miles of open water between the island and the closest civilization.

We had a great night with a wonderful sunset and perfect temperatures, and then headed off to our third CBF station the next day. The Isobel Island Learning Center is managed by Willie with the help of Lauren, two of our bunk nights from the previous night. We all went into Tangier, had lunch, and visited the newly opened museum. If you haven’t been, you need to go. Tangier will be another blog post all together.

So here’s the deal, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation owns and manages some incredible facilities. They provide a service to our generations to come, by opening everyone’s eyes to the issues that challenge the Bay’s health. I love the Bay, I miss it when I haven’t been around it for a while, I don’t take it for granted, I am amazed by almost every place that I visit within its reach, and I don’t want to lose it. If you haven’t experienced any of these feelings, you need to. Check out the CBF website and find something that interests you. Sign up to go to one of their centers, grow your own oysters, donate some money.

Do something! It will change your life, I promise.

Tim Staines

An Amazing Adventure in Our Back Yard is a post from: Tim Staines' Weblog

I don’t have an iphone or a blackberry, because I’m connected enough as it is, but I do now have this blog, and a Twitter account, and I’m trying to get a grip on Digg and Reddit and Sphinn. They seem to be more necessary for my line of work.

Most of my friends aren’t even aware of this networking driven sub-culture that could potentially dominate communications over the next twenty years. They still use IE, and manipulating their ipod is the leading edge of their technological expertise (which isn’t necessarily bad). I think there’s a good chance that the skill of adopting technologies sooner than later is becoming mandatory for success in many ways.

Before computers and swift technology advancement you didn’t really need to pick up on things quite as fast. It would be decades before a more efficient way of doing something came to market, so you could learn how to apply your skill and you never really had to worry about learning that new skillset because you would be retired or in management before the innovation changed your process.

Now, improvements are occurring so fast that adopting and keeping current with new efficiencies in your field is critical to not falling behind. This is still a relatively new phenomenon, but it’s one that is only going to become more exaggerated over time. So help your friends out, tell them about the tech tools they could benefit from, get them to join LinkedIn, or set them up with a Blog. They’ll thank you for it later!

Early Adopters is a post from: Tim Staines' Weblog

http://www.google.com/support/faqs/bin/blogsearch/about_pinging.html/

UPDATE:

Looks like they redirected the URL above to the generic help page when they should have redirected it to:

http://www.google.com/help/blogsearch/pinging_API.html

Google Help not so Helpful is a post from: Tim Staines' Weblog