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Navigating 2024’s Digital Landscape: 8 Strategic Trends for SMBs

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 09:09:32 GMT

Sponsored ContentDigital marketing is fast-evolving, and staying on top of consumer trends can be intimidating for many small businesses with limited budgets. The good news is that new tools are making it easier to implement strategies that were only accessible to big brands with deep pockets just a few years ago. Embrace these top strategic trends to win in 2024’s digital landscape:1. Contextual AdvertisingContextual advertising prioritizes relevance, user experience, and personalization by targeting ads to specific user segments. It analyzes the context of digital content to ensure the ad displayed to each viewer is relevant to the content and their interest. Dynamic ad placement and real-time optimization can help boost engagement and click-through rates (CTRs) to increase your marketing ROI.2. Social Media MarketingCombine organic reach with social media advertising to engage the right audience, build brand awareness, and drive conversions. Tailor your campaigns to fit your busi...

Palestinians stream into southern Gaza town, fleeing bombardment

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 09:09:32 GMT

By Najib Jobain, Samy Magdy and Jack Jeffery | Associated PressRAFAH, Gaza Strip — Tens of thousands of Palestinians streamed into an already crowded town at the southernmost end of Gaza in recent days, according to the United Nations, fleeing Israel’s bombardment of the center of the strip, where hospital officials said dozens were killed Friday.Israel’s unprecedented air and ground offensive against Hamas has displaced some 85% of the Gaza Strip’s 2.3 million residents, sending swells of people seeking shelter in Israeli-designated safe areas that the military has nevertheless also bombed. That has left Palestinians with a harrowing sense that nowhere is safe in the tiny enclave.People arrived in Rafah in trucks, in carts and on foot. Those who haven’t found space in the already overwhelmed shelters put up tents on roadsides slick with mud from winter rains. With the new arrivals, the town and its surrounding area are now packed with some 850,000 people, mo...

Five arrested after San Jose raid uncovers illegal gambling, prostitution, weapons

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 09:09:32 GMT

SAN JOSE — An investigation into illegal gambling led to the arrest of five people and the discovery of nearly three dozen guns, hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition and 500 pounds of marijuana, police said Friday.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | San Jose cop behind racist texts had large cache of weapons seized because of message about shooting Black attorney Crime and Public Safety | 6-year-old Mountain View boy shot on Christmas Crime and Public Safety | Burglars hit wine cellar of Los Gatos restaurant Crime and Public Safety | Suspects threaten officers in Campbell bar brawls Crime and Public Safety | Lawsuit accuses former Santa Clara County sheriff of retaliating against key witness in gun-permit probes Officers arrested the three men and two women Wednesday after serving a warrant in the 2400 block of Autumnvale Drive, according to a statement from Lt. Jaime Jimenez. All fi...

Antioch: Two of three suspects take plea deals in fatal gas station shooting

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 09:09:32 GMT

ANTIOCH — Two of three men arrested in connection with a 2021 shooting have accepted plea deals, court records show.Raymond Jenkins, a suspect in the killing of 25-year-old Johnta White, pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced in October to 16 years in state prison. His co-defendant, Daniel Lee Whigham, accepted a conviction of accessory after the fact with a two-year prison term and two years probation, court records show.Jenkins was intially charged with murdering White to benefit a street gang, court records show.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Oakland police officer killed in shooting along city’s waterfront Friday morning Crime and Public Safety | Teen charged with involuntary manslaughter, not murder, in East Bay homicide Crime and Public Safety | Two good Samaritans shot in broad daylight during East Bay gas station robbery Crime and Public Safety | Two youths killed in Eas...

Long Beach gets rare waves with mega swell — and they glowed at night

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 09:09:32 GMT

It’s a rare sight to see waves crashing in Long Beach  – it’s even more rare to see them glowing.A bioluminescence phenomenon appeared up on the peninsula Thursday night, the dinoflagellates – tiny plankton that turn a bright neon blue when agitated at night – lighting up with the crashing waves.The big waves making headlines across California this week snuck into Long Beach’s swell window, which doesn’t happen often because of the breakwater rock jetty that sticks out and blocks wave energy. But with just the right swell direction, waves are created.Bioluminescent waves in Long Beach made a rare appearance during the big-swell event on Dec. 28, 2023, making the surf glow neon blue. (Photo courtesy of Patrick Coyne)Bioluminescent waves in Long Beach made a rare appearance during the big-swell event on Dec. 28, 2023, making the surf glow neon blue. (Photo courtesy of Mark Girardeau/ Orange County Outdoors)Bioluminescent waves in Long Beach made a rare appearance during the big-swel...

Colorado mother wanted for murder of 9-year-old daughter, 7-year-old son

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 09:09:32 GMT

A Colorado Springs woman is accused of killing her 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son and attempting to kill her 11-year-old daughter on Dec. 19, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department.Kimberlee Singler, 35, is wanted on suspicion of multiple counts of first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, child abuse and assault.Law enforcement responded to a 911 call about a burglary in the 5300 block of Palomino Ranch Point at 12:29 a.m. on Dec. 19 and found Singler and her 11-year-old daughter with injuries as well as the bodies of Singler’s 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son, according to Colorado Springs police.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Cold case team’s recommendations in JonBenét Ramsey murder case under review Crime and Public Safety | Ex-student found competent to stand trial for stabbing deaths near UC Davis Crime and Public Safety | Teen charged with involuntary manslaughter, not murder, in East ...

Political ‘swatting’ incidents may prompt heavier penatlies

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 09:09:32 GMT

By Jeff Amy | Associated PressATLANTA — A spate of false reports of shootings at the homes of public officials in recent days could be setting the stage for stricter penalties against so-called swatting in more states.U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Georgia U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost have been among the victims.Several Georgia lawmakers targeted say they want increased penalties for swatting, like laws enacted this year in Ohio and Virginia. Similar bills are pending in other states and Congress.Here’s a look at the issue and what could be done about it:WHAT IS ‘SWATTING’?Swatting is the act of making a prank call to emergency services to prompt a response at a particular address. The goal is to get authorities, particularly a SWAT team, to show up.Calls in multiple states in recent days featured the voice of a man calling himself “Jamal,” claiming he had shot his wife because she was ...

Analysis: Jets limping to finish line of another season filled with losses and disappointment

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 09:09:32 GMT

One more game.That’s all that’s left in a season that went terribly wrong for the New York Jets just as it was getting started. And it’s ending just about how most thought it would when Aaron Rodgers tore his left Achilles tendon four snaps into his regular-season debut with the team — with lots of losses and disappointment.The Jets (6-10) clinched their fourth straight season of double-digit defeats with a 37-20 drubbing in Cleveland on Thursday night. “I got a chance, obviously, to watch it on the plane and again this morning,” coach Robert Saleh said Friday. “Pretty much what we thought coming out of the game.”Translation: It was an uncharacteristically rough first half for the defense, which came in ranked No. 3 overall but allowed Joe Flacco to carve it up as the Browns raced to a 20-7 lead in the first quarter and 34-17 at halftime. “Defensively, the first quarter, just a little bit off,” Saleh said. “It just wasn’t like us, in terms of from a precision stand...

Estos fueron algunos de los peores destinos de 2023 por el exceso de turistas. Cómo evitar las multitudes el año que viene

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 09:09:32 GMT

(CNN) — Tras varios años de declive inducido por la pandemia, el sector de los viajes no solo está de vuelta, sino en pleno auge. Según el Consejo Mundial de Viajes y Turismo, se espera que el sector recaude unos US$ 9,5 billones en 2023, un 95% más que antes de la pandemia.En ningún lugar es más evidente este auge que en los destinos turísticos más populares del mundo, muchos de los cuales han registrado cifras récord de visitantes en el último año.Estos aumentos pueden ser beneficiosos para las economías locales y las empresas hosteleras, pero también conllevan notables desventajas: aumento del ruido, la contaminación, el tráfico y la presión sobre los recursos públicos; una menor calidad de vida para los residentes; y una experiencia inferior para los visitantes, por nombrar algunas.No es de extrañar que muchos imanes turísticos de todo el mundo, incluidos varios centros europeos, hayan creado iniciativas y restricciones destinadas a combatir los problemas del turismo exces...

Trump ha quedado fuera de la boleta electoral en dos estados. ¿Puede postularse aún a la presidencia?

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 09:09:32 GMT

Primero, la Corte Suprema de Colorado falló que el expresidente Donald Trump no era elegible en ese estado para postularse de nuevo a la Casa Blanca. Luego, la secretaria de Estado de Maine determinó lo mismo para su región. ¿Quién será el próximo?Ambas decisiones son históricas. El máximo tribunal de Colorado fue el primero en aplicar a un aspirante a candidato a la presidencia una inusual prohibición constitucional contra quienes “hayan tomado parte en una insurrección”. La secretaria de Estado de Maine, demócrata, fue la primera alta funcionaria electoral en sacar unilateralmente de las boletas a un aspirante amparándose en esa disposición.Pero ambas decisiones están en pausa mientras se desenvuelve el proceso judicial.Eso significa que Trump permanece en las boletas en Colorado y Maine y que su destino político se encuentra ahora en manos de la Corte Suprema de Estados Unidos. El fallo de Maine probablemente nunca entre en vigor por sí solo. Su principal impacto es incrementar l...