KronikMedia Makes It To The Top 100 Global Small Business Blogs

The Internet Marketing Blog www.kronikmedia.co.uk/blog is now ranked as a Top 100 Small business blogs by Technorati which is recognition of the continued effort of the London based team over the past four years.

Technorati, which was launched in 2002 is the primary authority for blog influence in the world. ?It is a blog search engine and directory that tracks over 200 million blogs across all categories. It is, without a doubt, regarded as the supreme authority for measuring blog rank and influence.

It awards an authority score as well as a rank to each blog for relevance, popularity and influence within its niche.? The Technorati authority score has become the most widely used measure of a blog?s overall influence ? the higher the authority score, the more influential the blog is said to be. Technorati rank on the other hand has become the main measure of a blog?s overall ranking ? with No.1 rank indicating the top blog.

Additionally,? Technorati also maintains an active list of the top 100 blogs within each category. These include business, small business, finance, fashion, real estate, science, politics, and more.

We?re pleased to let you know that this blog is now featured in the Top 100 Small Business blogs globally. We are one of the few UK blogs to make this category. The ranking is updated on a daily basis and fluctuates from time to time. However, our blog has been consistently ranking in the Top 100 small business category typically from 70 to 85.

On the best day it even made it to a respectable 39. Please see image below.

Other notable blogs in the Small Business Top 100 list include three of Google?s blogs, the popular business blog Inc.com, and the world?s largest online social media magazine, Social Media Examiner.

The Internet marketing blog that can be accessed on www.kronikmedia,co.uk/blog was started in 2008 by a team of E-Commerce and Online Marketing consultants from London.? The blog represents the combined effort of the team who are involved with researching latest trends in e-commerce and internet marketing and creating articles, tutorials and posts on help businesses apply an effective online marketing strategy to promote their brand and acquire new customers online.

?As the editor of this blog, it is a great feeling and a small sense of accomplishment to see our efforts recognised by Technorati. Our success can be largely contributed to our team who have worked daily to research and prepare quality content and most importantly to our entire community who have supported us by participating actively on our blog, and regularly commenting and engaging with our content. Without them, we would not be able to do what we do or have our work recognised.?

To get the most from this blog and to learn how you can promote your business online, sign up for the RSS Feed to get daily updates on new posts, or join our mailing list for a monthly round-up of posts on how to build a successful web presence.? The opt-in sign-up form is located on the sidebar on the right of this blog.

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Source: http://www.kronikmedia.co.uk/blog/blog-in-technorati-top100/6112/

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Rams Owner Buys Large Montana Ranch ? CBS St. Louis

Stan Kroenke (L) looks on during a 2011 NBA game. (Getty/Doug Pensinger file)

GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) - Sports tycoon Stan Kroenke has bought the 123,000-acre Broken O Ranch near Augusta in northwestern Montana.

The Great Falls Tribune reports (http://gftrib.com/QxLLjs) the real estate mogul who owns the NFL?s St. Louis Rams, the NBA?s Denver Nuggets and the NHL?s Colorado Avalanche closed the deal in the last week.

The sprawling ranch spans three counties and includes more than 20 miles of the Sun River west of Great Falls. It was put on the market late last year for $132 million. The sale price wasn?t disclosed.

The Broken O Ranch was assembled during the last two decades by William and Desiree Moore, founders of the Kelly-Moore Paint Company. William Moore died in 2004 and his wife passed away in 2010. Their children decided to sell the property.

Information from: Great Falls Tribune, http://www.greatfallstribune.com

? Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Source: http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2012/12/01/rams-owner-buys-large-montana-ranch/

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Holiday Design Lessons from Top Online Retailers; Tis the Season ...

While most people were pre-occupied with their tryptophan-induced food comas last week, I was busy taking part in the madness that holiday shopping has become. Although I did hit up a few of my favorite stores on foot, the majority of my Christmas budget has already been spent online. Apparently I wasn?t the only one hovering over my computer. ComScore reported that online shopping on Black Friday surpassed $1 billion for the first time. This is an increase of 26% from 2011. Since numbers like this are difficult to ignore, I have compiled a list of excellent examples of sites that have optimized aspects of their sites perfectly for the holiday season.

The Holiday Homepage

Way back in the 90s, before the dawn of online shopping, large department stores like Macy?s, Bloomingdale?s, and Saks Fifth Avenue would splurge on extravagant displays of holiday cheer. The stores would be filled with the sounds of the season, and twinkling lights lined the windows with glee.

While this adornment continues at most stores, retail giants have begun splitting their holiday decoration budget with the web. Luckily for many small businesses, revamping the look of an online store for the holidays is much more cost-effective than the decadent displays mentioned above.

Take a look at the Express homepage.

The first aspect I?d like to note is the ?holiday? button to the right of the top navigation. A simple, red call to action that drops down to the following four items:

1-??? Watch the Video

2-??? Browse the Catalog

3-??? Shop Our Gift Guide

4-??? Shop Gift Cards

The most notable of these options, in my opinion, is the ?Shop Our Gift Guide? link, which takes you to this page:

I love the functionality of this page. With the click of a button, you can filter the gifts by gender, color and price. In addition, when you hover over one of the images, you have the ?Express View? option. Instead of opening the item in a new tab, a pop up with basic product information appears. This emulates the type of ?browsing? a shopper would do in a physical store. Think about it. When you are searching through a shelf full of shirts, for example, you pick one up and examine it and then return it to its place in exchange for another nearby item. You don?t look at it, walk around to find it, put it back and then return to your original place. Online retailers need to make shopping and browsing quick and easy. On this page, Express has done just that.

Shipping

According to research by Wharton marketing professor David Bell, a free shipping offer that saves a consumer $6.99 is preferable over an outright $10 discount from the purchase price. Another study reports that the number 1 reason a consumer will not make a purchase is that the shipping cost is too high. By offering free shipping, online retailers level the playing field. For example, overstock.com is offering free shipping on any order, with no minimums and no weight limit, stating ?FREE SHIPPING on Your Entire Order (even the big stuff)?:

Another important aspect of holiday shipping is, of course, when the packages will arrive. Macy?s, for example, guarantees that orders placed by December 20 will arrive by Christmas. Realistically, they aren?t promising much here- an order placed on December 20 will still have three full business days for processing and shipping. However, to the consumer, this detail does not matter. Macy?s deadline on the homepage gives the user the correct expectations and peace of mind for shipping from the moment they land on the site.

Finally, it is vital that online retailers maintain communication after a purchase is made. Once again, put yourself in the position of a shopper at a physical store. After you hand over that credit card and scribble a signature, the newly purchased product is returned to you immediately. There is no wait. There is no wondering when or if it will get to you. Instant gratification.

Obviously, same-day delivery is unlikely to become a web standard in the near future, so retailers need to do the next best thing: send an email. When a purchase is received, a confirmation email needs to be sent immediately. In that email, be sure to include the following:

1-??? Details on the product(s) purchased

2-??? A confirmation number

3-??? A phone number and email address to contact for any questions or concerns

4-??? The expected delivery date

5-??? Shipping information and a tracking number

6-??? Payment information

7-??? Any gift wrap/special instructions indicated on the order

In addition, retailers often send an email to notify shoppers that their order has been shipped. Although it is not as vital as the initial confirmation email, it?s a great opportunity to create a better relationship with the user. Also, a notification email is much more likely to be opened than a standard HTML email. In the notification email, why not add some related products or a special offer to entice your client to return?

The Payment

Two main payment-related aspects in optimizing usability for online shoppers include security and personalization.

To assure shoppers that your site is safe and that they are not at any risk, be sure to include the logos that emphasize your site features Norton, McAfee or whichever security software utilized.

Be sure to include as many payment options as possible, including major credit cards and PayPal accounts. In addition, offering a ?remember me? option for payment and shipping information is a great way to speed up a user?s purchase, and to increase chances of converting. Another benefit to creating an account for users is the ability to collect other information to retarget in the future. An example would be American Eagle?s easy email signup.

All AE asks of us is an email, zip code and birthdate. Can anyone guess why a retailer would want your birthdate? Most retailers send a special offer during the birth month of their clients to get them back online or back in the store.

Stocking Stuffer Section

As I discussed before, free shipping is a huge incentive for shoppers to complete their purchases. If a there is a minimum price that must be spent in order to receive free shipping, utilize a ?stocking stuffer? section. For example, Urban Outfitters has included a page full of smaller, lower priced gifts to help users meet their $50 minimum. Does this practice need to be limited to the holiday season? Absolutely not. You?d just have to change the name from ?Stocking Stuffers? to something like ?Shop Our Under $50 Bargain Bin?.

Important Information to Include

When shopping online, users must have higher confidence in a store than when they shop in a physical store. Because they cannot actually feel the product before the purchase, it is important to convince your user that this product will yield satisfaction. How do you do this? Provide answers to all of their questions. When you walk into a department store, employees often swarm you to offer assistance. When you are shopping online, the same presence needs to be available. Offer a customer service number to answer questions, or install a live chat button that connects users with a representative. In addition, be sure the sites size chart, return policy, guarantee information, and FAQs are highly visible.

The Bottom Line

The best way to keep your users coming back to your site is to create a good product or service, provide excellent customer service, and make both of the aspects easy to get to. The fact of the matter is this: online shopping is at an all time high this year, and it?s not going to decrease any time soon. As online shopping standards increase, there will be less tolerance for businesses that neglect their websites, and only the most efficient, easy to use and trusted sites will remain forerunners in e-commerce

Do you need a more creative design for your online store this holiday season? Contact Optimum7 for help.

Source: http://www.optimum7.com/internet-marketing/web-design/holiday-design-lessons-from-top-online-retailers-tis-the-season-for-optimal-usability.html

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MLS Cup 2012: Los Angeles Galaxy Vs Houston Dynamo In Rematch

By Keith Hickey, Goal.com

The Dynamo travel to the Home Depot Center in a rematch of last year's showpiece occasion against the Galaxy.

PROBABLE LINEUPS

LA Galaxy (4-4-2): Saunders; Franklin, Meyer, Gonzalez, Dunivant; Wilhelmsson, Beckham, Sarvas, Magee; Keane, Donovan.

INJURY REPORT
OUT: DF Leonardo (R knee inflammation); MF Kyle Nakazawa (back spasms)
QUESTIONABLE: DF A.J. DeLaGarza (L knee sprain)

Houston Dynamo (4-3-3): Hall; Sarkodie, Boswell, Hainault, Ashe; Boniek Garcia, Clark, Davis; Carr, Bruin, Ching.

INJURY REPORT
PROBABLE: FW Calen Carr (L hamstring strain); MF Ricardo Clark (L adductor strain)

DID YOU KNOW?

• This game is a rematch of last year's MLS Cup final. The Galaxy defeated the Dynamo 1-0 on a second-half goal from Landon Donovan.


• LA captain Landon Donovan has twice been named the MLS Cup final MVP, winning the award for his performances in 2003 and 2011. Veteran Houston striker Brian Ching picked up the accolade for his display in the 2006 final, when he scored in the 114th minute to force penalties and then stuck home the winning spot kick.


• The Home Depot Center will be hosting its fifth MLS Cup final, more than any other venue. The Galaxy will be playing in their league-highest eighth final.


• If the Galaxy wins, Bruce Arena, already the first and only coach to win three MLS championships, will be the first to four. If Houston wins, Dominic Kinnear will be the second to a treble of titles, and the first to win all three with the same club.


• This will be Donovan's sixth final appearance, a record shared with Jeff Agoos and Brian Mullan. A win for LA would tie him with that pair for most MLS Cup wins, with five. All three were part of the San Jose Earthquakes team that lifted the trophy in 2003.


• A Galaxy win would tie them with D.C. United for most MLS championships, with four. A loss would set a new record, with five unsuccessful appearances.

Follow @GoalUSA on Twitter.

Also on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/01/mls-cup-2012-galaxy-dynamo-becham_n_2224676.html

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Lindsay Lohan in legal trouble again - The Nation

November 30, 2012 12:41 pm

Lohan, 26, starred in Mean Girls and Parent Trap but has experienced numerous alcohol and drug related issues in recent years and has been jailed several times for probation violations.

The Los Angeles case revolves around her involvement in a June traffic accident, after which police determined she lied to them when she claimed she was not driving the Porsche that caused the wreck, the Los Angeles Times reported. She was charged with three misdemeanour counts of obstructing or resisting a police officer, providing false information to a police officer and reckless driving.

Celebrity website TMZ.com reported that Lohan was arrested around 4 am Thursday in New York when she tried to flee the Club Avenue night club after allegedly punching another female clubgoer in the face.//DPA

Latest stories in this category

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Lindsay-Lohan-in-legal-trouble-again-30195330.html

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Caring for Aging Relatives in Their Home ? Part 2 - Elder Care Cafe

In a previous post we talked about the decisions a family must make when they realize their loved one needs additional care. The family should gather to discuss important issues and make decisions based on the needs of the loved on and the needs and ability of family members.

In this second article discussing the question regarding whether relatives can handle the in home care required, we will discuss the support team the aging senior(s) will need when they stay in their own home. It takes a village to keep seniors safe and sound, even when they have?lived in their home for a long time.

First of all, there are certain situations to consider when both parents are still alive and at an advanced age. People are living well into their nineties now and it is conceivable that both your mom and dad will do so. That will open up a whole new set of challenges for family members to have two people to care for rather than just one. Some adult children are finding they have seniors on both the wife and the husband?s side of the family requiring care. That puts an unimaginable strain on a marriage.

As they work through the process of getting care for their family member, what families soon learn is that it takes a team to fully support the elderly. Here are a few of the team members they may want to consider.

Primary care physician. He or she is the first level support and someone you will want to get to know. The primary physician can usually direct you to a myriad of community resources that will make your job as a caregiver much easier. Sometimes they may direct you to one resource, and from there a whole group of options open up. Take advantage of every bit of information you can get so that you can make informed decisions.

In-home care support. Aides and sometimes nursing staff will visit a home on a regular basis depending on the need and to assess the situation. They will discuss with the family what support they offer and what the senior needs, and make informed decisions from the information they receive. Some of the duties they perform have to do with direct patient care, while others help provide respite for the caregiver.

Outside help. Some areas, at least in the United States, have senior centers that will pick up your loved one and take them to a facility where they can spend time with other seniors, eat healthy meals ? usually breakfast and lunch, and see health care workers who will assess their current physical, mental and emotional condition. Staff doctors can prescribe drugs and other items the senior may need.

Family members. The amount of support the elder or the family members need depends on the level of care the senior requires. At the very least, someone should be available to make sure the person is able to get out of bed in the morning, eats healthy meals, and is able to wash and clothe themselves. If they become bedridden, further decisions must be made as to their care.

Additional outside help. Depending on whether the senior is living alone or a caregiver is living in the home as well, they may need someone to clean house, purchase and deliver groceries at least once a week, and perform other in-home care. When the caregiver is a family member, they often have a full time job and must continue with their work hours in order to support the senior and themselves, and pay the bills. That puts an added stress on the caregiver, who then may need to seek the help of others as mentioned above in order to keep food in the refrigerator and the house in good order.

Family members should also consider who will take care of the yard, snow removal, and maintenance issues if the senior(s) is living in their own home. If they are living in an apartment, the level of need for outside help is not as great.

There are a great many decisions family members need to make as their parents age. This article only addresses the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the number of questions that will need to be answered and the amount of resource that is available to seniors depending on where they live. Due diligence in researching and seeking answers to the questions will help everyone involved provide the best care possible to those in need.

You can find part one of Caring for Aging Relatives in Their Home by clicking on this link.

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Related Posts:

Source: http://www.eldercarecafe.net/caring-for-aging-relatives-in-their-home-part-2/

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West Point chapel hosts its first same-sex wedding

WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) ? Cadet Chapel, the landmark gothic church that is a center for spiritual life at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, was hosting its first same-sex wedding Saturday.

Penelope Gnesin and Brenda Sue Fulton, a West Point graduate, were exchanging vows in the regal church in an afternoon ceremony attended by around 250 guests and conducted by a senior Army chaplain.

The two have been together for 17 years. They had a civil commitment ceremony that didn't carry any legal force in 1999 but had longed hoped to formally tie the knot. The way was cleared last year, when New York legalized same-sex marriage and President Barack Obama lifted the "Don't ask, don't tell," policy prohibiting openly gay people from serving in the military.

The brides both live in New Jersey and would have preferred to have the wedding there, but the state doesn't allow gay marriage.

"We just couldn't wait any longer," Fulton told The Associated Press in a phone interview Saturday.

Cadet Chapel, she said, was a more-than-adequate second choice.

"It has a tremendous history, and it is beautiful. That's where I first heard and said the cadet prayer," Fulton said, referring to the invocation that says, "Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never to be content with a half-truth when the whole can be won."

The ceremony will be the second same-sex wedding at West Point. Last weekend, two of Fulton's friends, a young lieutenant and her partner, got married in another campus landmark, the small Old Cadet Chapel in West Point's cemetery.

Fulton has campaigned against the ban on gays in the military as a board member of two groups representing gay and lesbian servicemen and servicewomen. She was part of the first West Point class to include women.

Fulton said the only hassle involved in arranging her ceremony came when she was initially told that none of West Point's chaplains were authorized by their denominations to perform same-sex weddings.

Luckily, she said, they were able to call on a friend, Army Chaplain Col. J. Wesley Smith. He is the senior Army chaplain at Dover Air Force Base, where he presides over the solemn ceremonies held when the bodies of soldiers killed in action oversees return to U.S. soil.

The couple planned on adding other military trappings to their wedding, including a tradition called the saber arch, where officers or cadets hold their swords aloft over the newlyweds as they emerge from the church.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/west-point-chapel-hosts-first-same-sex-wedding-185326592.html

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