On May 6, the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 cleared the U.S. Senate with bipartisan support. The Act – perhaps better known as the Internet Sales Tax Act – was sponsored by both liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans.

Under current law, online retailers are typically only required to collect sales tax if they have a physical presence – such as a retail store, office building or warehouse – in the state where the person making the purchase lives. This is the why you probably already pay sales tax for online purchases from large retailers such as Wal-Mart, Apple, Gap, Target or Home Depot (unless, of course, you live in one of the five states that do not have a sales tax).

For example, if a Washington state resident purchases a shiny new flat-screen TV from Newegg.com, no sales tax would be collected. However, if the same TV were purchased from Amazon.com (headquartered in Seattle, Wash.) or from a local independent electronics retailer, the buyer could pay a hundred dollars or more in sales tax. Interestingly, current law in most states requires the consumer to pay a “use tax” when sales tax is not collected by the online retailer; however, few people do so and states rarely enforce these laws.

The Act now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration. Advocacy coalitions and trade associations on both sides of this issue are gearing up for battle as the House Ways & Means Committee prepares to consider the Marketplace Fairness Act. These coalitions are enlisting heavy hitters from a wide range of Fortune 500 businesses and organizations to take their message to Capitol Hill. These third-party advocates add instant credibility as proponents and opponents alike attempt to shape policy and influence decision-making.

Proponents of the Act include state governments and local municipalities that fear losing out on collecting much-needed sales tax revenue, as well as a broad spectrum of both brick-and-mortar and online retailers seeking to level the sales tax playing field. Opponents of the legislation include organizations, such as the Heritage Foundation, National Taxpayers Union and Americans for Tax Reform. Additionally, online retailers, such as eBay and Etsy that largely consist of small, independent third-party sellers, are also opposed to the legislation. These groups believe this law would force small businesses to comply with the sales tax laws of more than 9,500 different taxing districts around the country and possibly subject them to onerous auditing by other states.

Who’s right? Some claim the Act will benefit only the large online retailers. Others believe it will serve as a lifeline for the “mom & pop” brick-and-mortar stores on Main Streets around the country. Still others point out that it will help the big-box outlets who, in turn, will continue to put the “mom & pop” shops out of business. Then there are those who believe it will put the small online retailers and third-party sellers out of business. Fairness may be in the eye of the beholder, and the Marketplace Fairness Act is making for some unusually strange bedfellows.

Whether you agree or disagree with the perceived fairness of this proposed legislation, most everyone agrees that the days of tax-free online shopping are numbered. As our nation is a hub of online businesses it is important that businesses, big and small, understand the potential ramifications of this proposed law and prepare accordingly.

What are you looking forward to most in your new position?

I’m most looking forward to contributing to the strong growth, success and momentum that’s been building at Nyhus. The Operations Manager is a new and unique role where I’ll have an opportunity to still lean on my extensive agency experience as a public affairs practitioner while also focusing more broadly on my interests in finance, planning and business management. My new position also presents an exciting opportunity to build on my strengths and passion around project management and organizational development. I love planning and forecasting, and this new role provides plenty of opportunities to use my favorite software tool – Excel!

What will your new role at Nyhus include?

In my new role, I’ll focus on spearheading a wide-range of internal initiatives that will drive improved client service and agency success. I’m looking to identify operational efficiencies, implement best practices gained through our memberships in organizations like the Council of PR Firms and Public Affairs Council, strengthen our new business development activities, and ensure that our team has the tools they need to provide the smartest counsel possible to our clients.

What is your proudest career moment?

My first job out of college was with the National Conference of State Legislatures in Washington, D.C. I had an incredible opportunity to play a key role in a national project to help states implement the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). I was able to utilize my research, writing and policy analysis skills to lead a program where I inventoried and analyzed all of a state’s job training services and workforce development programs, identified overlap and redundancies in service offerings, provided recommendations for implementation of WIA, and presented my findings and recommendations to legislative committees and executive policy staff. It was an amazing opportunity as a 23- or 24-year-old to travel around the country to work on these projects and have the results of my work published and presented publicly.

What’s one thing about you that would surprise me?

In high school, I taught myself to play guitar, formed a band and grew shoulder-length hair. That would probably surprise most folks. And for spending money in college, I worked as a stagehand at our local music venues. It was the best college job – I assisted with set up and tear down of stage, sound and lighting equipment for artists like KISS, Garth Brooks, the Fugees, Yani, Brooks & Dunn and Sheryl Crow. And I’d get to see the shows for free!

If we came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare for us?

I love to cook! I’ll cook just about anything but I try to focus on cooking meals that are lower in calories, fat, cholesterol and carbs. I’ve found that SkinnyTaste.com is a great website for healthy meal ideas and inspiration. For company, I’d probably whip up something like a broccoli and chicken casserole, a chicken sausage and kale stew with white beans and tomatoes, a killer turkey chili, or maybe the best pulled pork you’ve ever had (an all-day affair: it’s grilled, slow cooked AND baked)! Regardless of what we eat, it will be paired with one of my favorite wines from Dusted Valley, Balboa or Sleight of Hand Cellars.

The Remarkable Similarities between Barack Obama and George W. Bush: According to a new Pew Research Center poll, the study found a few similarities between current president Barack Obama and his predecessor, George Bush. Currently, 56% of people believe Obama is a “strong leader.” Back in 2005, 55% of people thought Bush was. The two leaders also found a common ground in their “ability to get things done,” as Obama scored a 50% to Bush’s 49%. These findings suggest a president’s leadership and effectiveness tend to be viewed through a partisan lens. What do you think? Surprising? [Image courtesy of Getty Images]

Google Wins Advertiser of the Year with These Ads: The 54^th annual Clio Awards were held this past week, which honors the top advertising professionals in the industry. The award for Advertiser of the Year went to Google for their remarkable efforts in various campaigns including Build with Chrome, 100,000 Stars, Google Display and Google Fiber. When asked how Google removes itself from the advertising clutter, the chief creative officer said, “Always start with rabid empathy and always strive for radical simplicity. Know the user, know the magic and connect the two.” [Image courtesy of Google via YouTube]

Hypnotizing Repetitive Patterns Captured In Urban Environments: Jared Lim’s photography series captures urban scenes that at first glance appear to be digitally cloned patterns. Lim’s “geometry, lines, curves, pattern and abstract designs” are incorporated into these pieces of work. [Images courtesy of Jared Lim]

The Beauty of Cinemagraph GIFs: Jamie Beck and Kevin Berg have mastered the art of combining still photography and video to create cinemagraph GIFs. In these eye-catching images, there are typically only one or two small elements in motion while the rest is still, creating gorgeous juxtaposition between motion and motionless. [Image courtesy of All-That-Is-Interesting.com]

According to a recent Today Show survey, 7,000 U.S. mothers admitted to suffering from Pinterest stress, worrying they are not crafty enough. I must come clean: I am one of the 7,000. As a first-time mom I feel the pressure to be the best and most perfect mom. I secretly compete with strangers on Pinterest to host the best kid’s parties, make the tastiest kid’s recipes, and create home-made keepsakes of my son’s firsts. I have wasted hours of precious sleep obsessively pinning projects and spent even longer attempting to complete those projects. What began as a great resource for decorating a nursery has turned into an obsession to be the next Martha Stewart.

My house is filled with supplies purchased for projects that either failed or were never completed out of frustration. Pretty soon I’ll be able to open my own craft store. I have canvas boards, paint supplies, knitting needles, fabric, and more kitchen cookie cutters than you’d ever need. My poor son has been forced to participate in my many Pinterest-inspired projects. At the height of Christmas card season, I was inspired by Pinterest to create a homemade card featuring my son sitting in front of the Christmas tree in an open gift box wearing a Christmas hat. I spent time decorating a box with white paper a gorgeous red bow and finding the perfect outfit and hat. The tree was decorated, my son was dressed in a photo worthy outfit and Santa hat, and the camera was ready. This was going to work perfectly! Then I placed him in the box and reality set in – babies do not sit still. He squirmed, pulled his hat off, ripped the wrapping paper, and tried to get out of the box. Despite my many attempts to distract him, my hopes were dashed. My perfect photo shoot ended in tears… for both of us.

Lucky for us Pinterest-obsessed, a mom in California has created Pinterest Fail, a blog dedicated to Pinterest projects gone wrong, where frustrated moms can post visual proof of their calamities. While hilarious, the blog serves a deeper purpose, reminding us that we are not all Martha Stewart and some projects are not doable in the real world. It is reassuring to know that I am not alone and that other people’s attempts to make oven-dried strawberries have failed. Martha Stewart may have the time and skill to dedicate to making fancy Hungry Caterpillar cakes, cake pops, custom hats and onesies for a first birthday party, but as a working mom I certainly do not. I can’t promise I’ll stop pinning or pressuring myself to be more crafty, but I can promise that for my son’s next birthday I will not be making his themed cake from scratch.

My advice to others obsessed with Pinterest, including myself – give yourself a break. Your kids, family, and friends will love you no matter how crafty and creative you are. Spend less time developing your craft library and more time making memories. And if you have any extra free time, I recommend spending it visiting Pinterest Fail.

What are you looking forward to most in your new position?

There are some seriously smart people at Nyhus. It’s humbling and exciting at the same time. And, since Nyhus’s disciplines are more integrated than ever before, I’m really looking forward to seeing what that integration and smart thinking can do for our clients. Seeing the passion and commitment to our communities was a huge draw for me, and I’m thrilled to be a part of that moving forward.

What will your new role at Nyhus include?

My new role at Nyhus will include helping to further integrate the public relations and marketing practices, which will facilitate bringing the full range of the considerable brainpower at Nyhus to bear on our work. I’m looking forward to using all of that to develop award-winning creative for our clients and for Nyhus.

What is your proudest career moment?

I recently worked with a large environmental agency client. The work directly led to decreased air pollution in Pierce County. What more could you ask for in a career than helping people live healthier lives? I’m immensely proud of that work, and would love to have more opportunities to directly impact the quality of people’s lives. 

Any advice for aspiring marketing pros?

The best marketing people I know have a firm grasp of economics. Knowing the realm of marketing and communications is a wonderful start, but people who understand how it all fits into the bigger economic picture tend to be very valuable. Also, having a discerning eye when it comes to graphic design is important. Having these skills will make you well-rounded and a sought-after professional.

What’s the best joke you’ve ever heard?

I actually used to do standup. I heard one of my favorite jokes back when Howard Schultz first bought the Seattle SuperSonics. A comedian friend of mine had a great joke:

“Starbucks created a new drink, and they are calling it ‘The Sonic’. They make it with 9 shots, but only one makes it in the cup.”

Hill Clout: 4 Big Underperforming States, Plus a Pair of Overperformers:  The Roll Call Clout Index tracks the influence each state has on national affairs. The index is based on the notion that the states with the most people, and thereby the largest congressional delegations, tend to have the most influence over national lawmaking and the federal purse strings. Not surprisingly, states such as California, Texas and New York have sat at the top of the list. However, a recent study just came out suggesting a shift in the rankings. Check the list to see how your state fared. [Image courtesy of Roll Call]

The History of LinkedIn: A Brief 10 Year Celebration [INTERACTIVE INFOGRAPHIC]: LinkedIn celebrated its 10^th anniversary earlier this week as the leader in professional social media networking. The company now has over 225 million members with an average of two new members joining every second. A well-done, interactive infographic in the article illustrates the company’s journey from its start in a living room to becoming an internationally recognized social network with over 3,700 employees.

How Top Brands Are Using Instagram Since the Facebook Buy [STUDY]: A year after the Facebook acquisition, Instagram has 100 million monthly active users and has attracted 67 percent of the top brands in the world. Some of these companies, including MTV, Starbucks and Nike, are successfully using Instagram to increase brand awareness. Even though Twitter and Facebook still reign as the top social media networks, companies have realized the importance of visual marketing. According to the infographic below, of the top 100 brand on Instagram, a staggering 98% shared their Instagram photos to Facebook. [Image courtesy of Simply Measured]

Now You Can Comment on Facebook Posts Directly from Bing: Starting today, Bing users will be able to comment on relevant posts from their Facebook feed pertaining to their search subject. With this new feature, it will now be easier to like a friend’s post, comment or see the original post. This is just another move Bing has made in the last year in an attempt to incorporate social results with social media. Great news for your productivity? [Image courtesy of Microsoft]

Everyone’s heard the famously wry admonition that “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.” In an amusing irony, even this trusty condemnation of statistical dishonesty is itself of shadowy origins. Some say Twain, some Disraeli, and some attribute it to various others.

The dusty historical sentiment, however, has never been truer. Even as we’ve developed incredibly sophisticated technologies to slice and dice and count the numbers, the distortions, manipulations and fabrications still abound. Whether characterized as statistics, metrics, data or quantification, the old saying still stands: figures don’t lie but liars figure.

Social media is a perfect example. For Facebook and Twitter, the digital world places heavy emphasis on the importance of large follower numbers. But are such numbers reliable? Skewed numbers and statistics affiliated with social media accounts have recently stirred controversy both in the political and entertainment realm.

During the 2012 presidential election, Mitt Romney bought “followers” on Twitter via an online buying service. Romney miraculously managed to increase his follower count by 117,000 or nearly 17 percent. But there were nagging doubts. So Barracuda Labs, an IT company based in  California, analyzed Romney’s new “followers.” Barracuda found that 25 percent of these claimed devotees had never tweeted, and 10 percent had suspended accounts. Twitter-buying services such as TwitterTechnology.com can provide any account with 500 new “followers” for as low as $4.

Nor are such practices confined to the anything-goes world of political campaigns. In fact, it’s even more common for celebrities to try to boost online clout with purchased fan numbers. Justin Bieber was crowned the “King of Twitter” earlier this year after surpassing Lady Gaga as the most-followed person on the social media platform. But a recent joint study conducted by statistics portal Statista, SocialBakers and Twitaholic discovered that nearly 17 million of Bieber’s followers are fake.

Although Bieber still has over 18 million legitimate followers, these inflated numbers can be incredibly deceiving for marketers, who use this information to target budgets for ad-buying. Such falsified followers can cause a significant problem for ad-buying agencies and sponsors. Advertisers understand how powerful social media can be as a medium for reaching a target audience. But digital marketers now have to be much more wary  when using platforms like Twitter or Facebook. Advertisers spending substantial sums to reach large numbers in targeted markets are understandably unhappy when ad expenditures disappear into nothingness.

Similar falsifications and inaccuracies arise in calculating Facebook “likes”. Fortunately, there are resources that can help determine whether Facebook “likes” or Twitter “followers” are real. Online tools such as Crowd Booster or Simply Measured can be beneficial in seeing whether users are engaged, and whether social media data is authentic.

The simple lesson is clear—it’s good to have a healthy skepticism and informed awareness about statistics, metrics, and data. Sometimes the numbers do lie. Even about Justin Bieber.

Meet Heidi:

What are you looking forward to most in your new position?

We have an incredibly talented and diverse team at Nyhus. I’m most looking forward to working with some of the smartest minds in marketing, communications and advocacy. The enthusiasm to do great work here is contagious.

What will your new role at Nyhus include?

My role will primarily focus on building cross-functional capabilities at Nyhus to provide the most innovative and effective solutions for our clients. That means I get to work with every department and am encouraged to push boundaries to create new opportunities.

What is your favorite thing about working in marketing and communications?

Ultimately, working in marketing and communications is all about telling a good story to the right audience at the right time. How we do that changes over time as tools and techniques evolve, but the core of what we do remains the same. And I don’t think it’s possible to get tired of a good story.

What’s the best part about your new job so far?

Everyone always says the people, and they’re right. I have been incredibly impressed with the caliber of professionals here. These are people at the top of their game who could work anywhere but they see the vision of Nyhus and choose to be a part of building this future.

What’s the best joke you’ve ever heard?

I don’t know if it’s the best joke, but it’s my favorite because it reminds me of my grandfather who told it A LOT.

Q: What do sea monsters eat?

A: Fish n’ Ships.

We often hear that the world is interconnected—that we need to treat our environment as a whole if we hope to ensure its long-term health. Well, the same could be said for a company’s approach to its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy. A holistic sustainability strategy is the new standard, as The Harvard Business Review writes in a new report titled, “The Performance Frontier: Innovating for a Sustainable Strategy.”

“By now most companies have sustainability programs. They’re cutting carbon emissions, reducing waste, and otherwise enhancing operational efficiency. But a mishmash of sustainability tactics does not add up to a sustainable strategy. To endure, a strategy must address the interests of all stakeholders: investors, employees, customers, governments, NGOs, and society at large. To do that, it has to increase shareholder value while at the same time improving the firm’s performance on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) dimensions.”

According to the study, creating a successful CSR strategy depends on a company first prioritizing its most “material” ESG issues— the ones that have the greatest impact on a firm’s ability to create shareholder value. These priorities can be as wide ranging as emissions, water and energy use, waste management, labor practices, community development, employee safety and executive compensation.

Next, a company must assess the impact that improvements in each priority area will have on financial performance – whether it’s cost-reduction, revenue growth or both. The goal is to identify synergies between sustainability improvements and the bottom line. This is achievable by monitoring specific changes in financial results:

“Companies can make an informed estimate of the slope of the performance-frontier curve for any pair of ESG and financial variables by determining whether each incremental improvement in ESG performance causes a corresponding positive or negative change in financial results—or has no impact.”

Finally, after deciding which issues to focus on, the study recommends determining how your company compares to its peers on these specific priorities.

“If your firm’s performance in an area—say, energy use or labor practices—falls short of industry benchmarks, getting it up above par is a first priority. At the very least it will mitigate your risks, since stakeholders tend to focus on industry laggards in campaigns aimed at increasing corporate ESG performance. Many improvements, such as reducing manufacturing waste, involve minor or moderate innovations that can enhance efficiency and, therefore, financial performance. Those sorts of innovations are increasingly necessary (but not sufficient) to ensure competitiveness.”

Large and growing companies are under increasing pressure to develop CSR strategies and create economic value in ways consistent with the interests of customers, employees and society. This puts extra pressure on companies to develop a holistic sustainability strategy, structured methodically and communicated effectively to the broader community.

This places pressure on communications professionals as well. Communications and public affairs agencies must take the same comprehensive, integrated approach as their clients. A holistic CSR strategy requires a holistic communications approach in which we’re closely involved with client companies at each stage of this process, helping develop CSR priorities and messaging consistent with bottom lines, mother earth and a public increasingly interested in seeing companies do what is right for our environment. Interestingly, some agencies are evolving their own CSR practices to put sustainability in the forefront of their own business models.

Such developments have intriguing implications. As Andrew Last, CEO of the PR firm Salt, observed in a Guardian op-ed titled, “Using PR as an agent for change in corporate sustainability”:

“What if public relations’ role was not about managing reputation or winning favour for past acts of philanthropy but engendering positive future change and accelerating progress on key sustainability issues?… This is where public relations may have a more dynamic role; as an agent for change rather than to gloss up reputations.”

Learn more about Nyhus’ Corporate Responsibility philosophy on our website.