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Amazon did $60.5 billion in sales in 3 months (Q4 2017).
And you're here to get your piece of that $60.5 billion.
Your timing is good.
For the first time in history, 2017 saw over 50% of units sold on Amazon coming from 3rd party sellers like you.
What do you need to do to get paid?
1 simple thing: appear in search results when a customer does a search.
They buy your product. And boom — your yacht's parked at the marina.
This is called "ranking".
So, you might be wondering: OK, how do I rank?
This is your definitive step-by-step guide to ranking on Amazon and making more money.
There are 3 stages:
STAGE 1: Page
STAGE 2: Performance
STAGE 3: Push
Now, an overview.
Then, we'll cover 10 actionable steps for each Stage.
STAGE 1: Page = making your listing good.
STAGE 2: Performance = keeps all your listings and account on Amazon's good side.
STAGE 3: Push = actively marketing your good listings to taste the $60.5 billion
Going deeper...
▶ WHAT: aka "Listing Optimization". The content of your Amazon listing (includes text content, photos, pricing, and category). Operates on the level of your individual product listings.
▶ EFFORT: 1 time. It's "set it and forget it" 一 do it once and enjoy passive benefits.
▶ EFFECT: it's necessary but not sufficient for ranking… which means that it gets you a seat at the $60.5 billion dollar table, but doesn't guarantee that you'll eat.
▶ WHAT: aka "Account Optimization". Operational actions you take on behalf of your seller account to stay on Amazon's good side (includes fulfilment, inventory management, and feedback). Concerns your whole seller account (above the listing level).
▶ EFFORT: Ongoing. You need to maintain a high level of performance. That said, most processes can be automated once you find what works.
▶ EFFECT: a healthy seller account maximizes earnings across your product lineup and keeps you from getting banned. Always good. This is more defense than offence.
WHAT: aka "Marketing". Specific activities you do to make more money on Amazon.
EFFORT: Ongoing and active. As much or as little as you want.
EFFECT: This determines whether you rank or tank. If ranking was a race:
- Good "Page" is a good, well-functioning car
- Good "Performance" is your maintenance and license to drive, and
- the "Push" is stepping on the gas
When Stage 1, 2, and 3 are completed in order, you rank on Amazon and make money.
And now, here's exactly what you need to do.
3 stages. 10 steps per stage.
Let's go.
Meet Owen.
He's about to buy something on Amazon.com.
Let's watch.
By the time he's done, you'll understand exactly how to improve your page to make more money on Amazon.
Owen works at a bank. He sits for 7 hours a day, so his back gets sore.
Owen's co-worker Rupert (pictured below taking "sweet shots for my Instagram") leans over and tells Owen to try a foam roller.
Rupert's a weirdo.
But when it comes to health and fitness, he knows his stuff.
Our friend Owen belongs to the 64% of American households with Amazon Prime (Forbes).
When he needs something, he searches Amazon first (like 55% of all product searches, reports Recode).
He punches in "foam roller" on Amazon.com.
On his laptop, he gets this:
On his phone, he gets this:
You might be wondering: how does Owen's story help you make more money?
It tells you what's important.
Need a hint?
This heatmap via Seomaxx.com really brings it home.
When deciding which to buy, shoppers like Owen first consider: your main photo, title, then price.
This isn't just about Owen (sorry, Owen).
It's about the millions of Owens searching Amazon every second for what you sell.
Do these 10 things to make sure Owen buys from YOU and not your competition.
1.1 Main Photo: make it Compliant & Clickable
Fact 1: Western eyes read left to right
Fact 2: humans (like Owen) process visuals 60,000x faster than text
That's why Amazon starts search results with pictures.
Your main image is 'make or break'. If there's 1 thing to outsource to a professional, this is it.
Here's what Amazon tells you about your main image:
Images must accurately represent the product and show only the product that's for sale (i.e. Owen orders, UPS delivers, he cuts the smiley-face tape, and what's in the box? That's what's in the photo).
MAIN images must have a pure white background (RGB values of 255, 255, 255).
MAIN images must show the actual product (not a graphic or illustration), and must NOT show excluded accessories, props that may confuse the customer, text that is not part of the product, or logos/watermarks/inset images.
The product must fill 85% or more of the image.
Images should be 1000 pixels or larger in either height or width, as this will enable zoom.
- JPEG (.jpg) is preferred.
We'll return to your other 6 other photos as we follow Owen through to purchase.
The next thing Owen sees is your title...
1.2 Title: Brand Yourself & Rank for Keywords
Owen probably doesn't read the whole thing (especially on mobile, where it's truncated).
But, he wants to know 2 things:
1. your product is reputable, and
2. your product is actually what he's looking for
Here's the formula for your perfect title:
[Brand Name] + [Main Keyword] | [Other Keywords]
ProSource Sports Medicine Foam Roller 33 cm x 15 cm/ 61 cm x 15 cm (13" x 6" / 24" x 6" ) with Grid for Deep-Tissue Massage and Trigger-Point Muscle Therapy, Multiple Colors
This formula answers Owen's 2 questions:
(1) The product has a brand behind it; it's not some generic item.
Your objection: "my brand isn't big enough to put my brand name first". The other perspective: "it'll never be big if you never mention it". Plus, Amazon is increasingly rewarding "brand" behavior. We'll talk about this in Stage 2: Performance.
(2) The main keyword "foam roller" is right behind the brand name. This tells Owen that we have what he's looking for.
The seller also hits other major keywords like "Deep-Tissue Massage" and "Muscle Therapy" in a way that's punctuated, easy-to-read, and grammatically sound.
What are your "best" keywords?
Those with the highest-traffic and highest-relevance to your product. You can discover which keywords those are by using a tool like MerchantWords.
Amazon's technical notes on your title:
- Product title length must not exceed a maximum of 200 characters (including spaces) in all categories. Some of the categories may have a different maximum title length than 200 characters. To know the accurate maximum title length for your respective category, please refer to your category-specific style guide.
And from the document "FBA Product Title Requirements":
- Capitalize the first letter of each word
- Do not use ALL CAPS
- Conjunctions (and, or, for) and articles (the, a, an) should not be capitalized
- Don't capitalize prepositions with fewer than five letters (in, on, over, with)
Seconds after scanning your title, Owen checks your price...
1.3 Price: be High Value, not Low Price
The important thing isn't being the cheapest; that's a race to the bottom, and your profits will get competed away.
Rather, be the best value.
4 ways to do this are:
(1) Position your product for a specific type of person. For example, this is a foam roller for athletes. Athletes (and other demographics) pay more for a brand that "gets" them and their needs. As the quality and specificity of your solution increase, so do your margins.
(2) Be the Rolls-Royce of your market: build a deluxe feature set and charge a lot. Owen doesn't know much about foam rollers. So, he uses the common heuristic "expensive = good". In areas you're unfamiliar with, I bet you do this too. Example: Hyperice charges $199 for this vibrating roller. Warning: you need the photography and product quality to justify your pricepoint or it's game over.
(3) Clear functional improvement that's obvious from your main image. For example, this foam roller emphasizes an "extra firm" aspect, obvious from its plastic shine. Other rollers don't reflect light like that. Firmness is going to be important to some people. Warning: make sure it's a feature that customers care about and is under-served.
And lastly, you can...
(4) Bundle. Add related products to your offering. You increase your overall ticket price, padding your margins in the process. Warning: the bundle must make sense, or else you eliminate the Owens that just want a foam roller and don't want to pay extra for stuff that they feel is unnecessary.
On the topic of getting Owen to click us and not the other guy, there are coupons…
1.4 Coupons: Catch The Eye, Get the Click
You can create public coupons in Seller Central in the Advertising > Coupons section.
This creates an orange tag next to your product in search results.
This increases clicks and gives shoppers a reason to buy now (how long will your sale last? No one knows).
Here, a seller who's lower on Page 1 uses a coupon to get more clicks. At first glance, it's on par with a Best Seller badge.
Side note: coupons are limited to sellers with a Feedback rating of 3.5+. More on seller performance in Stage 2.
1.5 Keyword Density: More Keywords = More Chances to Win
Remember how Owen found us in the first place?
He searched for a keyword: "foam roller".
But what if his back muscles were hurting and he searched "muscle therapy" instead?
If our listing is missing the keyword "muscle therapy", we can't show up in search and we lose the sale.
So, you must do thorough keyword research, which looks like this:
Go on MerchantWords.
Enter "foam roller" and download the results of that search.
But don't stop there.
Go into the suggestions from the "foam roller" search. Download those, too.
Go to Amazon and type "foam roller" into the search bar. See what it suggests.
The keywords at the top of the suggestion dropdown are most-searched. Bottom = least-searched.
Scour the internet for keywords related to your product and compile them into 1 document.
Prune the list until you've found the keywords with the highest-traffic but also highest-relevance to what you sell.
More good keywords, more chances to win.
Now, back to Owen.
Assuming that Owen likes what he sees:
- Good main photo
- Good title
- A price that makes sense
- A coupon
He clicks on your listing.
But, you haven't won the sale just yet. Owen is taking a closer look, but must be compelled to buy. Don't trip at the finish line.
1.6 Other Photos - 2 Product Glamor + 4 Hero Shots
Owen clicked on your listing based on your main image.
The main image represents your 1st and most important image slot.
But you get 6 more chances to convince Owen to buy. Here are Amazon's notes for these:
MAIN images should be supplemented with additional images showing different sides of a product, the product in use, or details that aren't visible in the MAIN image.
- All props or accessories must be presented in a way that do not cause customer confusion.
Of these 6, I recommend 2 on-white product shots.
Show curves, contours, different angles.
- Shows Owen what he's getting.
Shows off high-quality materials (remember to be over 1000px so your pictures can zoom). For example, this seller uses their 2nd image to emphasize the foam.
So, that's 2/6 down.
Then, 4 "hero images" showing the product is use (and more importantly: enjoyed!).
This is a psychological trick.
Humans are empathetic, social animals. When we see pictures of other humans, we automatically put ourselves in their position.
It's not about the foam roller anymore, is it?
It's about imagining yourself— young, in a nice house, 10% body fat, toning your core before a blissful day at the beach.
Your photos must promise a compelling post-purchase future.
Remove the friction of imagining how the product will make the future better by just showing them.
It's a future so valuable that they'll gladly pay you to make it happen.
1.7 Bullets & Description: Keyword Rich & Persuasive at the Same Time
Owen likes your photos, but he hasn't quite made up his mind.
He scrolls down and sees your 5 bullet points.
And further down – your description.
2 things to do in your Bullets and Description:
(1) Put more keywords in.
(2) Convince Owen to buy.
The keywords that you didn't have space for in your title but are still high-traffic/high-relevance go here.
Recall: more keywords = more chances to win.
We've already talked about keyword research, so let's focus on using sales copy to convince Owen to buy from you.
He's on the fence. Your text needs to push him (and his $50 order!) onto your side.
Humans can be complicated.
But when it comes to online shopping? Not so much.
In fact, Scott Galloway of market research firm L2 calls Amazon our collective "large intestine" providing a pipeline of pleasurable goods to households around the world.
There are only 8 things people really want: the "Life Force 8".
Coined by Drew Eric Whitman in Cashverti$ing (2008), all people want is:
Survival, enjoyment of life, life extension.
• Enjoyment of food and beverages.
- Freedom from fear, pain and danger.
- Sexual companionship.
- Comfortable living conditions.
- To be superior, winning, keeping up with the Joneses.
- Care and protection of loved ones.
- Social approval.
You'll see best results by using (at least!) 3/8 throughout your listing.
More is better. But, implement them naturally.
Most sellers only list features.
Not you.
You press the 8 buttons that actually drive purchase behavior.
Listing features without benefits adds friction to the Owen's buying decision.
Because he needs to read the feature and then translate it into a benefit. Don't make him think.
✕ DON'T: SiliBoy silicone baking mats eliminate the need for cooking oil. Easier and healthier!
✓ DO: want the very best for your family? SiliBoy mats cut oil from your cooking, which means easier and healthier meals for everyone.
LF8 Trigger: Care and protection of loved ones.
✕ DON'T: this blouse hugs your curves and makes you look great.
✓ DO: married 20 years? Doesn't matter. This blouse will give him "first date butterflies" all over again.
LF8 Trigger: Sexual companionship (we got a little 'Cosmopolitan' there… because it works!)
✕ DON'T: powerful, impressive, hand-crafted in Italy. Invest in a true "power tie".
✓ DO: it's not just a tie — it's your reputation. Put it on, close that deal. Discover what "power tie" really means.
LF8 Trigger: To be superior, winning, keeping up with the Joneses.
But wait, there's more!
Here are 12 killer sales copy tactics to make more money. Very powerful. Use ethically.
(1) Say "You"
Speak in the 2nd person: address the reader as "you" because, like hero images, it puts Owen in the driver's seat. You'll find that your ears perk up.
(2) Use Short, Simple Words
Don't lose the sale because of complicated text. Big words add friction.
Make it easy! 5th grade reading level.
- "use", not "utilize"
- "different", not "disparate"
- "lots", not "myriad"
But if a complex word is the right tool, use it. Everything in its time.
(3) Use the Active Voice, Not the Passive Voice
Always use this sentence structure:
✕ DON'T: The race was won by Wario.
✓ DO: Wario won the race.
Why? Our brains think in "Active" order: "item #1 does something to item #2." Not "item #2 had something done to it by item #1".
Easy to read = more sales.
For more tips like this, I recommend The Elements of Style (1918) by William Strunk.
(4) Use Stories as Trojan Horses
Use stories as Trojan Horses for your sales message.
Don't give Owen a list of features.
Tell him the story of an office worker whose back was killing him ("sitting is today's smoking!"), and how your foam roller made him a new man: surging with energy, ruthlessly efficient, and noticed by that cute girl at the gym.
LF8 Triggers:
- Survival, enjoyment of life, life extension.
- To be superior, winning, keeping up with the Joneses.
Heck, the power of stories is why "Owen" (and Rupert) exist in the first place — it's easier to convey how to rank on Amazon by showing how Owen shops instead of:
Step 1: buy low, sell high
Step 2: blah blah blah
Step 3: write bullet points
(5) Loss is 2x More Persuasive than Gain
Sure, give LF8 benefits.
But also...
Tell Owen what he'll lose if he fails to buy. As Jordan Peterson says: you should have a "heaven" to reach for and a "hell" to run away from. That's 2x the motivation.
Weird fact:
Humans are disproportionately loss-averse.
Anecdotally: loss is 2x more effective than gain. In other words: if you lost $50, you'd need to win $100 to get over that loss.
For example, tell Owen that:
- his household wastes $150/year because his current curtains don't keep the heat in
- he spends $200/year on cooking oil when baking mats do the same thing for 1/10 of the cost
- the sunglass industry is a monopoly. Cut out the middle-man. You deserve designer frames without the designer markup.
(6) Mental Imagery
Use words that conjure mental pictures.
✕ DON'T: This car accelerates incredibly fast.
✓ DO: This car accelerates like a scalded cat.
Which is better?
"Incredibly fast" = abstract concept. Hard for Owen to imagine the benefit to him.
"Scalded cat" = concrete object. Owen has seen cats and knows: geez, that's fast.
(7) Aren't Questions Better?
Questions are better than statements (except for this one).
Questions make Owen think, then answer the question in his head.
Adding to that...
(8) Hypnotic Language Patterns
Danger: extremely overpowered (use ethically)!
✕ DON'T: why invest in silicone baking mats?
✓ DO: you might be wondering: why invest in silicone baking mats?
Hypnosis: if Owen wasn't wondering this, he is now! You're a traffic cop directing his thoughts to the desired destination.
✕ DON'T: you'll feel amazing when you use the FoamMe foam roller.
✓ DO: I wonder if you realize just how amazing you'll feel when you use the FoamMe foam roller.
Hypnosis: this is as close as you'll get to Inception in real-life (unless this isn't real life). It's a gentle suggestion that tells Owen to "realize" something on his own, and subsequently take ownership of the idea.
✕ DON'T: get the very best for your family.
✓ DO: you're here because you want the very best for your family.
Hypnosis: an undeniable statement that makes Owen feel understood, as if your product is designed just for him. When the buyer feels you're uniquely suited to solve their problem, price elasticity increases.
(9) Use "Because" & "Imagine"
The word "because" raises compliance to requests from 60% to 94%.
You're waiting in line to use the photocopier. You approach the current user and try to cut the line.
"Excuse me, I have 5 pages. May I use the Xerox machine?" [60% compliance]
"Excuse me, I have 5 pages. May I use the Xerox machine, because I have to make copies?" [93% compliance]
- "Excuse me, I have 5 pages. May I use the Xerox machine, because I'm in a rush?" [94% compliance]
The word "imagine" triggers a mental "try-on". It's the mental cousin of the physical "puppy dog close" and "car test drive".
"Imagine" is the Free Trial of the mind.
(10) Use Social Proof & 123s
Has your product been endorsed by experts?
Are there studies?
How many customers have you helped?
Tout these numbers.
The literal numbers.
Use numerals (e.g. "60,000") instead of writing the number (e.g. "sixty thousand") because digits stop the eye. More on-page engagement = more money!
(11) No Guarantees
Don't give a guarantee.
Not because it isn't persuasive (guarantees are very persuasive!) but because it's against Amazon's rules. Save it for your Shopify!
(12) Selling Supplements? Know Your Stuff
Selling supplements can be lucrative. But, look into:
- Getting Ungated
- FDA Regulations, Claims
- other stuff
1.8 Search Terms: Your Last Chance to Include Good Keywords
Search Terms are the only part of the Amazon listing that's invisible to shoppers.
Think of them as tags.
Many platforms use tags (#hashtags, for example) to make content discoverable. It's nothing new.
In this case, it's a string of words (mostly nouns and adjectives) about your product.
When you add them to your listing, this tells Amazon that these terms are relevant to your product. Then, you have a chance of showing up for them.
Zoooooming on in, let's check out 3 tips from Amazon's world-famous "Optimize Listings for Search & Browse".
Your Search Terms must be...
You sell a popcorn maker. Don't include terms like "Ice cream, cones, bakery, obama, etc."
More interestingly, "ice cream" and "cones" are food (and you have a popcorn maker, so you might think this is OK), but the association is too loose.
Another Example:
You sell a TON 3057 20-oz. Jacketed Fiberglass Claw Hammer.
Acceptable Search Terms would include: "nail pounder, nail puller, ripping tool", because they're synonyms— alternative names that the customer would use in search.
Amazon doesn't reward keywords that appear more than 1x.
So, if a keyword is anywhere else (your title, bullets, description) you don't need to include it in the Search Terms section.
The same goes for pluralization and capitalization (you don't need "Color, color, Colors, colors, etc.") and punctuation (no dashes, commas, conjunctions, etc.).
Amazon wants unique, relevant nouns and adjectives written as a string.
A string with the words in the most logical order.
Example (in Amazon's words):
"A customer is more likely to search for 'big stuffed teddy bears' than for 'teddy stuffed bears'".
Moreover pt. 2...
A string of words, original in the listing, no punctuation, in the most logical order, and within your character limits (limits vary by product category).
Usually, Amazon shows you your character limits right there in Seller Central.
And lastly, your Search Terms must be...
Your product is "Wood Bamboo Temple Wayfarer Sunglasses Green Frame" and you put "amazing, good quality, trendy fashion 2014, best seller, etc.".
These are subjective, not an objective description. Sorry.
Ironically, the line as to what's subjective vs. descriptive is itself subjective, so use your best judgement.
You can, for example, list topics related to the product.
Amazon says "Time travel" is an acceptable Search Term for the book "The Shadow Beast (An Adventure in Time)".
Ready to cash in on these ideas?
Let's write yours.
Concrete example:
"Yoga mat" (classic Amazon FBA private label product, strong competition).
STEP 1: search the keyword "yoga mat" on Amazon.com.
STEP 2: copy/paste the top 10 product titles into WordCounter.com.
Hit "Go". This gives you a sense of what keywords are used most frequently. In this case, we see:
Yoga: 13 (i.e. appears 13 times in titles among the top 10 sellers)
Mat: 12
Exercise: 10
High: 7
Density: 7
Thick: 7
Pilates: 6
Strap: 6
STEP 3: pop these keywords (one at a time - "yoga", "exercise", "pilates", etc.) into a tool like MerchantWords, which gives you a whole family of keyword ideas along with monthly Amazon search volume.
When I pop "pilates" into MerchantWords, for example, I get these other keyword ideas:
pilates mat: 59,700
pilates equipment: 35,200
pilates workout: 18,800
pilates accessories: 18,000
STEP 4: work them into your listing.
Now, you know to include the keywords "equipment", "workout", and "accessories" in your Search Terms (or elsewhere in your listing).
The best keywords are at the intersection of:
High-traffic + high-relevance to your product.
And remember:
Put your very best in your title. Your second best in your bullets. Your third-tier in your description. And any unused keywords in your Search Terms.
Want to enjoy the benefits of an optimized listing without the effort and annoying learning curve?
1.9 Brand Name: Build Legitimacy (and Rank for Keywords?)
In choosing your brand name, consider:
The name of the seller on Amazon (i.e. your company) should match the brand name in the title. Avoids confusion. Builds trust.
And, for bonus points: include a high-traffic keyword in your brand name. That way, you're building brand recognition and ranking for keywords at the same time. Optional.
1.10 Category & Subcategory: Get it Right or Suffer Forever
When editing your listing, head to "More Details" then find "Category (item-type)".
This allows you to classify your item as you see fit.
Accuracy is key; the category should be true to the product.
This affects your sales because shoppers often browse by category. If you're in a category that isn't relevant to you, fewer sales.
One way to determine what category to choose is to look at a batch of 15 competitors (if there are any!), and see how they're categorized.
Then, check their estimated monthly revenues with a tool like Jungle Scout to see if there's a correlation between where listings are categorized and their revenues.
Here's your action plan...
(Scenario 1) If competitors are all in the same category and have good revenues, use that same category.
(Scenario 2) If competitors are all in the same category and have bad revenues, what will you do differently?
(Scenario 3) If competitors are in various categories, check their monthly revenues to find a correlation between category and sales.
(3.1) If category doesn't affect revenue, choose the category that's more accurate for your product.
(3.2) If category does affect revenue, choose the category with more revenue.
And remember, some Amazon categories require sellers to be "ungated" in order to sell there.
So, of course, don't choose a product category that you're not allowed to sell in.
Here's the full list of Amazon's gated categories.
The most notable ones include Beauty, Clothing, and Health & Personal Care.
Being a "good Amazon seller" is too vague.
Let's break it down into 10 "Do"/"Don't" items.
Most multi-million dollar Amazon FBA sellers are doing these 10 things right.
Let's play!
2.1 Sourcing: Have a Unique Name & Form Factor
✓ DO: Sell a Private Label Product
Good: you source a product from a factory and print your own logo on the product.
Better: obvious logo + you make specific physical modifications that enhance the product. You improve its value to the existing target market. Or maybe, you make changes to add value for a certain type of person.
Best: logo + physical improvements + a distinctive form factor that becomes synonymous with your brand over time.
> Razer - it's for people who prioritize gaming. Sharp, fun, bright LEDs.
> Apple - you buy it to impress people. It looks great and just works. Round, modern contours.
> Mountain Equipment Co-op - an outdoors aesthetic.
> Starbucks - your comfortable third place between work and home.
✕ DON'T: Sell a Retail Arbitrage Product
Sell retail arbitrage products and compete for the Buy Box. Great way to cut your teeth. But, I want you to make a meaningful amount of money.
By definition, RA is selling a product that already exists, so it's hard to add value and therefore margin.
2.2 Brand: Build a Brand so You Can Charge More
✓ DO: build a brand and aim for Amazon Brand Registry.
#trendalert: Amazon is making structural changes that favor brand builders.
Meet Amazon Brand Registry. If you're registered, you get:
- increased protection against counterfeits and listing hijackers
- the use of Enhanced Brand Content, which improves on-page conversions
- other stuff? We'll see
I can see Amazon building a suite of benefits only available to registered brands. An "Amazon Prime"-like offering for 3rd party sellers. This is speculative, but I think the trajectory is correct.
To become brand registered, you need:
A brand name that has a live registered trademark.
Government Registered Principal Trademark Registration or Serial Number.
Images of the brand's logo.
Images of products and packaging that carry the trademarked brand name. If the product is not branded, the packaging must be branded.
A list of product categories (e.g., apparel, sporting goods, electronics) in which the brand should be listed.
A list of countries where the brand's products are manufactured and distributed.
Normally, objects have a set market price. Toilet paper: $7. Burger and Fries: $10. Windex: $5.
Brand lets you to shatter this price ceiling, transcending the margins of a typical physical product business.
Luxury brands add value by infusing their products with an intangible story via marketing over time; a shared fiction that most people believe. A brand.
Eventually, the product emits a social signal (usually tying the owner to a successful Life Force 8 trait: affluent, fun, youthful, etc.).
Branding is a function of widely-spread curated messages over time. But, it's the only thing that allows physical products to transcend their inherent marginal cost. Worth it.
✕ DON'T: sell products that:
- have a generic brand name
- are commodities with set market prices
- have no room for differentiation or branding
- have no trademark and Brand Registry potential
2.3 Inventory Management: Always Be in Stock
✓ DO: stay in stock 100% of the time.
Know this:
How long does it take your supplier to make more product? Are there any events (famously, Chinese New Year in February) that will slow your production schedule? Ask your supplier for a copy of their calendar. Know when they're working.
Know this:
If your current sales increase by +25%, +50%, etc. how much runway do you have? Produce well before then.
If your item is oversized, Amazon limits how many units you can keep in FBA warehouses at one time, so inventory management is even more crucial in these cases.
✕ DON'T: run out of stock.
Worse than the lost sales is lost ranking. Use AsteroidX to add additional sales to your lineup anytime!
2.4 Fulfillment: Use FBA, not FBM
✓ DO: use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA).
In other words: ship your inventory to an Amazon FBA warehouse prior to selling it. It then becomes eligible for Prime. Amazon handles shipping and most customer service. This guarantees fast shipping times, which means more happy customers.
And anecdotally, you enjoy better ranking than similar products from sellers who do the shipping themselves.
✕ DON'T: ship products to Amazon customers yourself. Hard to beat Amazon's 2-day shipping. Plus, you're on the hook for negative feedback re: shipping.
2.5 Customer Questions: Answer ASAP
✓ DO: answer customer questions on your listings. Add keywords to your answers, while you're at it. It might help to index the listing.
✕ DON'T: ignore customer questions.
2.6 Consolidate Related ASINs into Parent-Child
✓ DO: if you're selling different products, but the only difference is size or color (or some other minor difference) list them under a parent-child relationship. All your traffic, 1 place. This encourages cross-sells.
✕ DON'T: your product comes in red, blue, and yellow. You list each as a distinct ASIN.
2.7 Performance: Pre-Purchase Metrics on Point
✓ DO: keep the page content (text and photos) relevant to maximize these metrics:
- Time on Page & Bounce Rate
- Exit Rate
Conversion Rate
Take care of customers, and Amazon will take care of you.
✕ DON'T: use keywords that aren't related to your product, even if they're high-traffic. Tempting, but you get punished on engagement metrics.
2.8 Performance: Post-Purchase Metrics on Point
✓ DO: maximize these seller performance metrics:
- Order Processing Speed
- Order Defect Rate (ODR)
- Perfect Order Percentage (POP)
Accomplish these by using FBA.
Also, inspect your inventory for quality defects prior to shipping to an Amazon FBA warehouse.
Use FBM fulfillment.
Send inventory to Amazon without a quality inspection.
2.9 Packaging: Frustration-Free & Compliant
✓ DO: enroll into the Frustration-Free packaging program.
Favored by customers by definition (no one pays an extra $3.00 for "Frustration Packaging"), and therefore Amazon. See the pattern?
Prep and package your products in compliance with Amazon's standards. Special rules apply if your product is:
- Loose in the box
- Sold as a set
- Boxed
- Polybagged
- Case Packed
- Expires
- Has Liquid
- Has Sharp Edges
- Has Batteries
✕ DON'T: ignore Amazon packaging standards. Like a bouncer turning away a guy in a t-shirt for a dress code violation, inventory can be rejected when it hits an FBA warehouse.
2.10 Badges: Become Amazon's Choice
Amazon is hunting for the "best" product in each micro-category and labelling it "Amazon's Choice".
It points online shoppers in the right direction. Less thinking = less friction = more sales. Sure.
But also: Alexa.
Alexa represents a growing share of Amazon orders. When a customer does a search using their voice, Alexa can't return dozens of simultaneous results like on mobile/PC.
Voice forces Alexa to present the buyer 1 initial choice (i.e. "Amazon's choice").
There's nothing you can do to force the badge.
Take care of the other 9 Performance points above to maximize your odds: strong brand, in stock, FBA, attentive to customer questions, strong pre/post-sale metrics, good packaging.
Ignore points 1-9.
Stage 1: PAGE. Your listing has lots of keywords and persuasive sales copy.
Stage 2: PERFORMANCE. You take care of customers, and Amazon takes care of you.
These 2 are necessary but not sufficient for making the money you want.
"foam roller"
In Stage 1, we saw that another keyword for foam rollers was "muscle therapy".
You did keyword research and included "muscle therapy" in your listing. But, so did other savvy sellers.
If 2 sellers both have "muscle therapy" in their listings, which one does Amazon show on Page 1?
The one with more sales.
Specifically: "relative sales velocity". How many sales are you making (in the past and recently) compared to your competition?
This brings us to Stage 3: PUSH.
Or, marketing.
Or, "ranking" on Page 1 of search results for your keywords.
70% of all sales are made on Page 1. So if you're not there, you're losing 70% of your earnings.
Another way to think about it:
We have the wood. Now, the match.
We have a tuned-up car. Now, the gas.
We have a good spacecraft. Now, escape velocity to reach orbit.
Here's what happens next.
Amazon ranks products based on "relative sales velocity". In other words: how many sales are you making compared to your competitors?
The average page 1 swaddling blanket seller sells 850 units/month. That's 30 sales/day. If we want to rank on page 1 for "swaddling blanket", that's the gap we need to close.
Email me at firstname.lastname@example.com with your main keyword and I'll send you a free estimate for your product.
It's like building a resume.
Amazon wants sales history (they want to know that the product has sold consistently on a daily basis in the past because this is as good an indication of future success).
The longer you've been making sales in general, the better (with a 30-day track record being better than a 14-day one, assuming daily sales are stable).
History is great, but Amazon asks: "what have you done for me lately?" That's sales velocity.
Are recent sales trending up? Down? Flat?
More recent periods are weighed more heavily (i.e. making 20 sales/day in the last 7 days affects ranking more than if you made 20 sales/day for 7 days... 3 months ago). Old news!
Based on these 2 factors, Amazon gives you a Best Seller Rank (BSR) which is always in flux based on the sales you're getting + what your competitors are doing.
We need sales to get the ball rolling.
Catch 22: how does a new listing get sales without any prior sales?
It's like: how do you get a job without any prior experience? (like those darn millennials)
You'll hear a lot of different tactics— and we'll discuss the best ones— but it always comes down to this:
Promote your product at a discount to an audience that's likely to buy it.
Promote: you need a group of people.
Discount: sellers offer a discount because it gives shoppers a reason to buy now instead of later. Also, it gives you the ability to sell a consistent number of units per day.
Audience: Facebook, or Amazon. We'll discuss where to find audiences.
We're not interested in making a profit per sale.
In fact, it's fine to lose money on each individual sale as long as it's part of a larger strategy to rank on Amazon and enjoy the money made from long-term, organic sales. Budget permitting, of course.
Did you see the SpaceX rocket launch?
You need these giant rocket boosters to get the ship off the ground.
But then, once you're in orbit and gravity weakens, you can coast. Relax. The system works for you, now, instead of pulling you down.
You need enough sales history and velocity to rank and once you do, the organic sales start happening on their own because of your pagerank and you can ease off promotional sales.
The goal isn't to sell at low prices forever; only until you hit escape velocity.
But until this tipping point, it pays to be aggressive.
The system won't tip in your favor unless you apply this initial force.
There's no logical reason for the algorithm to favor you over someone who's making more sales (in the past and currently).
So then, the million dollar question: how get initial sales?
Here are 3 proven ways.
It's all the same concept: sell to a group of people who are likely to buy and send them a coupon code along with your Amazon link. Everything else is secondary.
Amazon product launch services build up a large group of targeted Amazon shoppers. We take your Amazon link and coupon codes and distribute them to ready-to-buy shoppers.
In our case, we unique Amazon single use codes so that they can't be used multiple times. More on how to create those here.
Shoppers are notified of your deal by email and online.
Sellers control how many coupons they submit so that they can control how many sales they get per day. This builds a consistent sales history and velocity. It works well and is automated.
Same idea, but you get the shoppers from Facebook yourself. This allows for full control over the process,
Here's what it looks like:
- create a new campaign
- choose the Lead Generation option (which allows shoppers to pop their names and emails into a form)
- target people who live in the United States and speak English as a native language (assuming you're running your promotion on Amazon.com, the US property)
- start at $5/day. Work your way up as results start to come in. Common but obvious error: if you're not getting results, don't spend more
- make the offer something like: "Want this swaddling blanket for $1? Enter your name and email here and we'll send you a coupon!"
Or, pick the Traffic objective and drive the traffic to a landing page (built with a website tool like Wordpress, Shopify, or Clickfunnels - that's in order of cost/goodness for you) that offers a general-use coupon code.
This is less secure (because a general code can be shared and used an infinite number of times), but avoids the logistical difficulty of assigning a unique code to a unique shopper once you find them.
Facebook ads are pay-to-play, but remember it's OK to invest money acquiring early customers because, again, the objective is to rank and make organic sales that way.
3.6 Amazon PPC
Skip the line and appear on page 1 starting today… for the right price!
You know for a fact that the shoppers you'll reach are (1) on Amazon already and (2) searching for a keyword related to your product, so you'd be remiss not to include this in your strategy.
There's no offering single use coupon codes here for a deep discount, but this can still drive sales especially if your public price is compelling.
At the beginning, think of PPC as "buying data". Maybe not initially profitable; you're buying information on which keywords work and which don't.
Run an Automatic campaign at $10/day.
After 7 days of Automatic, make Manual campaigns centered around keywords that work well in Automatic. Follow the money.
Sales are king.
And reviews are queen.
In the short-term, focus on getting your 1st review. Preferably a good one. The marginal benefit of going from 0 to 1 review is very high.
By the time you have 50 reviews, conversion rate increases by 4.6%. That's a permanent conversion boost that's worth a lot of money over time.
Asking your family and friends is out of the question because the reviews will be tracked and removed.
Focus on sales (as we've been doing) because every new sale can be converted into a review. One precedes the other.
Realistically, expect a 'purchase-to-review' conversion rate of 1 - 5%.
Amazon prompts shoppers about reviewing their purchases on their end. This process is responsible for a baseline review rate of 1%.
And on your end, focus on getting sales (through launches, Facebook ads, and PPC) and then use Amazon's native Buyer-Seller messaging system to contact people who bought.
Ask them for honest feedback as part of your customer service sequence.
2 notes on policy compliance:
When using Amazon's Buyer-Seller messaging system, make sure that you stay in compliance with Amazon policy by asking for an honest review.
Not a "five-star review".
Not "good" feedback.
Just their honest opinion.
(2) The Deal = only discuss reviews post-purchase
The buyer should have no conception that they're getting the discount because they're expected to review.
It's not a trade, so not this: "I'll give you a discount if you review". Amazon banned this practice in October 2016. Asking for reviews is more like an afterthought. A chat you have with the buyer post-purchase. Framing it as a part of your customer service sequence is safe:
"Hey, how was your experience with the product? If there's anything we can help with, feel free to let us know. We love our customers and want to make sure that you have the best experience possible."
Automate your post-purchase message sequence with a service like Feedback Genius or Salesbacker.
Here's an example schedule:
Email 1: Your item has been shipped! (bonus inside)
Send the customer an email letting them know the product has been shipped. Consider a value add, like an image showing different ways to use the product. Or, a written list of 10 things to try out-of-the-box.
Email 2: How's everything?
The product is scheduled to have arrived. Ask if everything is to their satisfaction. Deal with negative feedback here before it ever gets published as a review. Be liberal in issuing replacements and refunds for the greater good.
Email 3: What do you think?
3 days pass. If all is good, ask for the review. Something like: we love feedback. Your honest opinion of the product will help thousands of people make a better decision. Here's the link to do so.
Here's your entire action plan in 1 place:
The average page 1 swaddling blanket seller sells 850 units/month. That's 30 sales/day. This is the gap we need to close.
Giveaways are good if you can offer a discount that's significant, you can get a lot of sales and control the quantities. I see this everyday.
Facebook is good if you want maximum control over who you reach (because Facebook offers extensive targeting) and what price you want your product to be. You can offer any %-off, but it's better to set it to a "gotta have it" deal.
Use both in conjunction to get sales rolling.
You've established a baseline.
You have regular everyday sales with a launch platform (say, 20 of our 30 target daily sales). PPC can provide the other 10.
Launch an Amazon PPC campaign on Automatic, first. A modest budget. $10/day or something. This generates additional sales closer to full price.
So, you have a mix of 3 sales sources (giveaways, Facebook, and Amazon PPC with AsteroidX).
Phase 1:
> 66% from discounted sales
> 33% from Amazon PPC
= 30 sales/day
The objective is to slowly, like a highway merge ramp, shift proportions from low-priced sales to high-priced ones, while maintaining our daily sales history and velocity at all costs.
Phase 2:
> 50% from discounted sales
> 50% from Amazon PPC
= 30 sales/day
Phase 3:
> 33% from discounted sales
> 33% from Amazon PPC
> 33% from organic sales (because we're ranking now)
= 30 sales/day
The discounted sales and PPC have driven sales. You are ranking on Page 1, 2, and 3 for some keywords.
The million dollar question: can you "stick the landing"?
Whether your rank "sticks" depends on the organic demand for the product once it becomes visible on page 1 or 2.
Do organic Amazon shoppers actually click and buy it?
This is determined by the work you did in Stage 1 (Page). As well as getting your first review here in Stage 3.
Another tip to "stick the landing":
As soon as you start ranking for keywords (i.e. you're getting sales from customer searches), try lowering your public retail price on Amazon (MSRP).
This way, organic traffic that finds you with convert more easily.
If our swaddling blankets normally sell for $30, we lower the public retail price to $15 for 3 days, enjoy more organic sales, rank higher, appear higher for keywords, etc.
Rinse and repeat.
Maintain daily sales velocity at all costs: increase giveaways, Facebook ad spend, AsteroidX PPC ad spend as needed on slow sales days.
Once you're on page 1, eventually increase your price to normal levels. You keep the ranking, but sell for a higher price. Congratulations — you are now profitable!
Later On:
The sales "diet" of a mature, ranking product might look like this:
> 33% Amazon PPC
> 66% from organic sales
(> with giveaways and Facebook to drive additional sales as needed)
= 30+ sales/day
Altogether, here's the progression. Discounted sales pave the way for organic ones.
Use these 3 virtuous cycles to make money faster:
(1) Amazon PPC Compounding
From running pay-per-click campaigns, you know which keywords generate sales. Add those keywords back into the written text of your listing, so you appear for them organically.
(2) Page 1 Compounding
Organic sales beget more organic sales. Page 1 sellers have an inherent advantage because they're on page 1. It's theirs to lose at that point.
(3) Product Portfolio Compounding
Once your 1st product is a success, roll the profit back into more products so that you build a portfolio of strong players.
This will take time, and looks the worst at the beginning.
Most people quit. That's why business success is synonymous with "never giving up".
Flywheels take time to gather speed. People quit before the speed ever picks up.
If you like this concept, I recommend The Slight Edge (2011) by Jeff Olson.
I hope this helps.
To start your product launch, consider https://www.asteroidx.me/
PPC is the most affordable way to get new listings off the ground and start getting organic sales. It can be done at a profit, so you're able to build sales history and velocity for 1 or many ASINs.
Also, you don't have to worry about the infamous sales "death spiral" where you have a slow sales day, so Amazon ranks you lower, so you have a slow sales day, so Amazon ranks you lower, etc.
Check out https://www.asteroidx.me/ to get started now!
Questions? Email email@example.com


text:
Zoé Or - Sublime Oil
Regular price
Zoé Or is an illuminating & nourishing body oil.
Infused with Macadamia oil and Organic Rosehip oil, the Sublime Oil slightly illuminates, nourishes, and softens the skin. Its all-natural pigments envelop the skin with a golden veil and a subtle tanning. A few drops of the Sublime Oil can also illuminate hair.
The ritual: always shake the Sublime Oil prior using to spread the mineral pigments evenly in the bottle. Then, apply the elixir on areas to illuminate.
Ingredients: carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil** macadamia ternifolia (macadamia) seed oil sesamum indicum (sesame)** helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil** camellia oleifera (camellia) seed oil** ricinus communis (castor) oil** rosa canina (rosehip) seed oil** hydnocarpus kurzii (chaulmoogra) seed oil borago officinalis (borage) seed oil fragrance rosa damascena (rose) flowers** cedrus atlantica (cedarwood) bark oil** tocopherol* cupressus sempervirens (cypress) oil juniperus communis (juniper) oil calendula officinalis (calendula) flowers** jasminum officinale (jasmine) flowers vanilla planifolia (vanilla) extract micas.
*Derived from plants or fruits

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh: Mangalayatan University has joined hands with National Institute of Design (Ahmedabad) to launch a joint program in Design. This new endeavor of Mangalayatan University will enable the University to offer a holistic and comprehensive program in Design to its students with an added advantage of NID's expertise in the Design industry. Further, this partnership will help NID to extend its reach in NCR region and make its exceptional curriculum and faculty available to students in the region.
NID, which is India's premier institutes in design education is well known for its courses in Product Design, Furniture and Interiors designing, Ceramics and Glass designing, Animation, Textile Designing etc. There are immediate plans to introduce courses specific to product design in Mangalayatan University's core engineering syllabus, giving MU students an additional dimension in their skills.
Speaking on the association, Dr. S. C. Jain, Vice-Chancellor, Mangalayatan University, said, "We are glad that NID has chosen us as partners for this project. With our background of academics, our students will have an edge over the others with the added knowledge in the field of design. I am sure that this initiative will help our students to become more knowledgeable to excel in future, so that they can become even more innovative in their careers. We look forward to a long association with NID."
Added, Mr. Shashank Mehta from NID, "We are excited to work with Mangalayatan University. Coming from an academic background, Mangalayatan University recognizes the importance of product designing and we are confident that they will be able to use this association to make the learning more advanced and cultivate quality skills in their students."
The two institutions have agreed to communicate on a regular basis to exchange views and reports on accomplishments and developments and will also conduct regular seminars to enable idea exchanges, faculty trainings and student exchanges, enabling members of both organizations to benefit from each other's strengths.
The National Institute of Design (NID) is internationally acclaimed as one of the foremost multi-disciplinary institutions in the field of design education and research. The BusinessWeek, USA has listed NID as one of the top 25 European & Asian programmes in the world. The institute functions as an autonomous body under the department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. NID is recognised by the Dept. of Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR) under Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India, as a scientific and industrial design research organisation.
NID has been a pioneer in industrial design education after Bauhaus and Ulm in Germany and is known for its pursuit of design excellence to make Designed in India, Made for the World a reality. NID's graduates have made a mark in key sectors of commerce, industry and social development by taking role of catalysts and through thought leadership.
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text:
Broadcaster and author, Melvyn Bragg, ex-footballer and survivor of an on-pitch cardiac arrest, Fabrice Muamba and MP for the constituency where the 2011 riots started, David Lammy MP, were just three of the speakers who participated in 'The Gathering', Canterbury Diocese's two day festival of faith.
Around 700 people attended events that formed part of the two day event which took place in Canterbury Cathedral and precincts on Friday 31 May and Saturday 1 June.
In his keynote address, which took place in the Cathedral Nave on Friday 31 May, David Lammy, Labour MP for Tottenham and ex-government minister, told Christians it was 'time to turn up the volume' and talk about the need to transform society.
Mr Lammy, a practicing Christian, said it was time for Christians to stop talking about women and gay people, get out of their buildings and into their communities. People of faith, he said, also needed to challenge politicians, business and community leaders about the direction society is heading.
The keynote speaker on Saturday 1 June, Lord Melvyn Bragg, argued that William Tyndale was the 'greatest Englishman' who has ever existed for his work in translating the Bible into accessible English in the sixteenth century.
Praising both the impact the King James Bible had on the English Language and the radical impact it had on British culture, he said: "William Tyndale's English Bible gave the people of England the liberty to think, rather than the duty to believe." Saying that Tyndale should 'no longer be erased from history' he said Tyndale had used his genius to make available a monumental body of knowledge which enabled even the most humble person to 'know God'.
On Saturday afternoon, Ex-Bolton Wanderers footballer, Fabrice Muamba, whose heart stopped beating for 78 minutes following an on-pitch cardiac arrest in March 2012, spoke movingly about the impact faith and prayer had on his miraculous recovery.
He said: "Prayer was the biggest medicine, the biggest factor in my recovery." He continued: "The incident showed that God can work miracles."
Children and families were entertained at 'The Gathering' with activities including a model railway exhibition by Hornby, costume trails, magic shows and godly storytelling, which all took place in the Cathedral Nave.
Participants also completed a picture of the Cathedral created from 51,400 lego bricks.-Ends-
Photo Shows: Fabrice Muamba and Mark Jones at Canterbury Cathedral
For further Information: Emily Shepherd, Director of Communications, Canterbury Diocese – 07876 210 446 or firstname.lastname@example.com
More information about The Gathering – http://www.the-gathering.co.uk/


text:
Looking for an awesome salad to bring to a summer bbq? Look no further! This is the best potato salad recipe (if you ask me!) Chunks of baby red potato are mixed with loads of crispy bacon, crunchy pickle, cheese, chopped egg and a few other ingredients. This deliciousness is then tossed in a creamy mixture made with mayo, Dijon mustard, cider vinegar and dill. Sounds good, right? This one will disappear fast!
The Best Potato Salad = Simple, Tasty Ingredients. So, What Goes in Potato Salad?
What makes for the best potato salad? Simple, tasty ingredients. Nothing complicated and I like that. This recipe is like a classic potato salad amped up. It has a few extra ingredients than you may normally find, but nothing complicated and probably ingredients you already have on hand. I always say that good food doesn't have to be complicated, just tasty. Once you make this easy potato salad recipe, there's no going back – it'll be your go-to!
At its core, it includes –
- Potatoes (obviously)
- Mayo
- Salt
- Pepper
Then, if you really want to make your salad extra special throw in some yummy add ins like –
- Crispy bacon
- Chopped boiled egg
- Cheddar cheese
- Pickle (so good)
- Green onion
- A few other seasonings, like dill and cayenne
What's the Best Potato for Potato Salad?
I love to use red baby potatoes for homemade potato salad. They have thin skins and are not too starchy. And because they are thin-skinned, I always love to leave the skin on (actually, usually for all potato recipes I do that). I enjoy the little bit of texture its gives. Just make sure the potatoes are scrubbed clean and picked over before using.
Another reason why I love using baby red potatoes in this salad is because when they are boiled, they retain their shape well, which is exactly what you want when making a chunky potato salad. Nobody want mushy, broken up tatos, do they? Red potato salad – yep! That's the way to go!
Though I am using 'baby' red potatoes in this potato salad, I do cut some of them, depending on their size. Like with any produce, there are variations in size, with some potatoes being smaller or larger. The larger ones I cut into chunks, the itsy bitsy ones, I left whole. Just make sure that they are bite-sized and all about the same so that when the potatoes cook, they cook evenly.
Steps to Making this Red Potato Salad Recipe
- Boil clean, cut, red baby potatoes. Drain, rinse, dry.
- Boil eggs.
- Cook bacon until crisp. Remove excess grease
- Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl.
- Drizzle over dill infused dressing and stir to combine.
- Garnish with extra bacon and green onion, if desired.
- Dig in!
Can You Make Potato Salad the Day Before? Does Potato Salad Need to Be Refrigerated?
Yes and yes! Just store in the fridge, covered. I made this salad the day before a family get together and it tasted just as good the next day as it did the day of.
How Long Does Potato Salad Last?
This salad is best enjoyed within 3-4 days, though, I don't think that will be a problem – after all, this is the best potato salad recipe 😉 After that, toss it.
Tips for Making this the BEST Potato Salad
- Red baby potatoes are the best choice in this salad.
- If you can't find or don't have baby potatoes, no worries! Just use the regular sized ones and cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Don't overcook your potatoes. Start with a pot of cold water, add potatoes, bring to a boil, salt and cook for 8-10 minutes or until fork tender. If they are overcooked, it will be too mushy and nobody wants that!
- After the potatoes are cooked, I always drain and rinse with cold water. I then place on a tea towel lined baking sheet and allow the potatoes to dry out a little before adding the rest of the salad ingredients and dressing.
- If you want your salad less or more 'wet' from the dressing, then simply omit or add mayo, about a tablespoon or so at a time until you've reached your desired consistency. It's always easier to add than to take away.
- I always like to reserve a little bacon and green onion for garnish to give this potato salad a pop of colour.
- Want this potato salad to be straight up vegetarian? Just omit the bacon.
Next time when you're asked to take a dish to a potluck or bbq this recipe will be your go-to. I know it's mine!
Don't ya just want to grab that lil' tato from your screen?
What Goes with Potato Salad?
Hope you try this iconic summer salad! It's really good! I'm kinda hopin' you guys will think it's the best potato salad you ever put in your pie hole too 😉
To all my fellow Canadian friends who will be celebrating Canada Day on July 1st, HAPPY CANADA DAY!!! Hope it's filled with fun, friends and good eats!
Until next time, take care and chit chat again soon 🙂
Best Potato Salad Recipe {with bacon and pickles}
- 2 lbs baby red potatoes -scrubbed clean and cut into bite-sized chunks
- 2 eggs -roughly chopped
- 6 oz bacon -few slices. Reserve a little for garnish (optional)
- 1/2 cup pickle -chopped
- 1/2 cup cheese -cut into small cubes (I used marble)
- 3-4 stalks green onion -chopped, plus a little for garnish (optional)
- 2/3 cup light mayo
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp cider vinegar
- 1 tsp dried dill
- 3/4 tsp salt -plus more for water when boiling potatoes
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp cayenne
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- In a medium pot, fill with cold water. Add potatoes. Bring to a boil, season water with salt (about 1/2 tsp). Cover with lid slightly ajar and cook 8-10 minutes, or until potatoes are just fork tender. Drain, rinse with a little cold water and drain again. Place on a tea towel lined bacon sheet to dry out a little.Note - you can cook eggs with the potatoes if you wish. Otherwise cook them separately until they are hard boiled.
- Meanwhile, place bacon on a sheet pan (in 375F oven) and bake 15-20 minutes until crispy. Drain on brown paper towel.
- Place cooked potatoes in a large bowl. Add cooked chopped eggs, crumbled bacon, pickle, cheese and green onion. If desired, reserve a little green onion and bacon for garnish (optional).
- Mix together mayo, Dijon mustard, cider vinegar, dill, salt, pepper, cayenne, onion and garlic powder. Pour over potato mixture and mix to combine. Garnish with green onion and bacon, if desired. Enjoy!


text:
by Yohann Delalande, originally posted on his blog.
Last weekend, I attended the Chimériades for the 2nd time, a gaming holiday set in a Provençal castle at a two-and-a-half-hour drive from my place. An exceptional convention with a bit of an intimate touch, and always full of awesome guests of honour, like Jeff Richard and Ken Rolston this year.
The Chimériades are organized every other year, and two years ago, I discovered the world of Glorantha there. I won't bore you with the details, but suffice to say that since then, I've tried to make my way into this world, managed to run some games, and even had a few people discover Glorantha as well.
So, for this 5th iteration of the Chimériades, I found it natural to give back what was given to me there, two years before, meaning I strongly felt like running a game of HeroQuest Glorantha. Besides, this convention was also going to celebrate Glorantha's 50th anniversary. So I knew I had to be a part of this celebration somehow. What I didn't expect though was to see five expert Gloranthans registering to my table (I had kind of actually expected them to run their own games). I have to admit that I got intimidated.
Then that daunting evening came, and due to logistical reasons, we had to start an hour later than scheduled. Everyone, myself included, was pretty tired, and we still had to create the players' characters before our game. Let's say that everything was there to start on the wrong foot.
But the contrary happened: I had the time of my life! Well, what I mean is that I tremendously enjoyed this game.
So, let me tell you a bit about what happened.
Our heroes
- Sir Gareth, a jaded old knight, initiate of Humakt (played by Alex)
- Atouron, a drunken knife thrower, initiate of Eurmal (played by Eric)
- Lulu, a troll-loving farm girl, initiate of Ernalda (played by Emmanuel)
- Varanis Arandaughter, an avenging warrior, initiate of Babeester Gor (played by Grégory)
- Samara Ligne-Claire, an amazon astrologer, initiate of Yelorna (played by Jean-Paul)
Our spectator
- Hervé, provider of learned advice to the GM
The premise of the adventure
It's the night of Winds Day, Death Week, Dark Season, 1621 ST at Whitewall. The Lunar troops, and more particularly the Lunar College of Magic, have launched a brand-new attack on the fortress, only to be thwarted again by the besieged, unknowing that behind those walls, there are only two dozen people remaining, while the rest have managed to sneak out
Actually, King Broyan and his own troops are hiding in a forest nearby, the Troll Woods, waiting for the Orlanth's Ring to rise up again from the Underworld. At that moment, the Orlanthi's magic would reach its apex, and the King's plan to crush the enemy between the hammer and the anvil would undoubtedly succeed. What could go wrong when even the stars themselves are right?
The Adventure
So, the characters, who belong to King Broyan's troops, have been tasked to distract the Lunars while the rest is preparing their attack from the rear. And being in the Troll Woods, Lulu decides to call her trollinet friends to wreak havoc in the camp, but she only manages to reach a handful of them. However, this is enough to start a little commotion. Meanwhile, Atouron uses his Illusion Rune to amplify the sounds of the attacks on the fort, to focus the Lunars' attention to what's happening there. Varanis decides to slay the first Lunar she sees, an officer who just stepped out of his tent, and Sir Gareth takes put on the uniform from the dead body to give some random orders to the Lunars.
Samara, on her unicorn, Arthax, becomes increasingly worried as she notices that the Orlanth's Ring should have already risen up in the sky. She closes her eyes and tries to look into the stars to see the future. She suddenly feels a dead wind, the earth decaying and falling down into darkness, chains of silver locked by the Moon rune, and all around, an ancient feeling of revenge on love spurned.
When Samara opens her eyes, she can feel that the wind has stopped. The planets from Orlanth's Ring are nowhere in the sky. At the same time, the small clay amulet representing Ernalda that Lulu wears breaks from within and crumbles. Orlanth and Ernalda are dead indeed, and a grave danger threatens the Earth Goddess in the Underworld.
Our heroes then decide to undertake a heroquest to walk down into the Underworld, and to do that right away without reporting back to King Broyan. They go to the best place for that: a clearing in the forest with ring of statues depicting the Hendriking Kings, where they are buried. However, Lulu decides to use her Earth rune to find a hole between tree roots: without any effort, a huge tree replies to her by opening its roots like a woman opening her legs, and with a square as a gateway. In the meantime, Samara rides back to the Lunar camp, abducts a Lunar and slices his throat on the roots to pay for the crossing of the Styx with blood.
Descending a dark tunnel, they reach a crimson-purple-hued river, the Styx, with Jeset the Ferryman, a gaunt figure, waiting for them. The price for the crossing having already been paid ahead of time, they enjoy some quiet time basking in the darkness of the realm of the dead.
Sir Gareth prays Humakt, who gives him some insight on the presence of Nontraya, the Undead Emperor and his army of talokans, his demons.
Samara blindfolds herself and her unicorn, and reflects on the latest events.
Varanis dips her axe into the Styx and imbues it with the power of Death.
Lulu suddenly remembers, thanks to Sir Gareth's insight, details of the Dead Point heroquest, and the necessity for Nontraya to believe Ernalda is dead, but also for her worshipper to her from Ty Kora Tek: "She sleeps, she is not dead.â€
Atouron decides to catch some Stygian water in a little vial and suddenly, a scroll gets into it, like a message in a bottle. He takes it out and a huge ancient map with unreadable, watered down writing on it unfolds before them all. But none of them is able to decipher it.
Suddenly, they can hear a funeral at a distance, with cries, bells and chimes. There's a procession slowly moving toward a huge gate, and all around, hills with figures on their top. Our heroes then land and getting closer, they can see an army of talokans, with, among them, ghosts and other dead creatures. Samara quickly understands that Ty Kora Tek has forged an alliance with Nontraya. Then a pale figure, Nontraya, mounted on a huge horned wolf gives his orders to his army, which rushes down the hill.
Varanis dashes to the nearest enemy, and Lulu calls on her Darkness rune to summon her troll friends. Suddenly, the sky in the Underworld breaks, rocks fall like the ceiling of a cave collapsing, and a horde of trolls fall down like rain. Before attacking Nontraya's army, an Elder troll turns her head to Lulu and says: "you called us, there's a price to pay". Atouron decides to join the procession, when Samara reminds everybody of the heroquest: Nontraya and his talokans have to witness a dead Ernalda, which means they have to be kept alive.
That creates a huge internal conflict within Sir Gareth, an old warrior who has served Humakt all his life, who has seen everything and swore to Humakt to kill any undead he would encounter. But in order to achieve the heroquest, he decides to sacrifice his sense of community with the priesthood of Humakt. He thus manages to stand by the procession instead of taking the fight to the undead.
Stopping at the Gates of Death, Atouron can see Nontraya and his demons approaching. He decides to use his Illusion rune to enhance the appearance of death on Ernada, while seeing through it at the same time: a withered-leaved woman, chained with silver locked by the Moon rune, and with a pregnant womb, hidden by the Eurmali's illusion though.
Nontraya asks his talokans to bear witness, and all agree that the Earth goddess is dead indeed before leaving. However, Ty Kora Tek still needs to say the words, and she will at one condition. Ernalda has kept escaping the clutches of death too many times, and one has to sacrifice themselves by passing the Gates of Death in order to save Ernalda.
Sir Gareth then steps in and passes the Gates of Death, which close behind him. Ty Kora Tek then whispers the words: "She sleeps, she is not dead.†At the same time, wails break the silence, and a flowery girl is born from Ernalda. This is Voria, the Goddess of Spring. Atouron leaves the map on the sleeping body of Ernalda, a map which is actually the Great Compromise and takes the baby girl with him back to the world of the living.
The Epilogues
Back at the surface, each hero goes their own way.
Samara starts telling the legend of Sir Gareth to the rebel troops of King Broyan as an example of selflessness and bravery. And shrines in his honour start to be built along the roads.
Varanis adopts Voria and rears her with a vengeful spin to her education.
Lulu, holding on to her promise to the Elder troll, spends a few years among the trolls, eating like them, living like them, and the powers or her Earth rune and Darkness rune start to shift and replace each other.
Atouron gets back to King Broyan's army and keeps getting drunk.
Sir Gareth, now dead, meets Humakt, who rejects him as his initiate broke his vows. The Death god tells him that from now on their links are broken and that Sir Gareth has to walk his own path. Our hero can then feel that above in the Dragon Pass, some people start to put their faith on him, and he turns into a minor god.
Conclusion of this whole post
This is the 4th time I've run the Dead Point heroquest, with each time a new spin to the story, and I think that even though it's far from being as satisfactory as I'd like this adventure to be, I lived an amazing gaming session, all that thanks to my fantastic players.
To be frank, I feel regenerated by this gaming session, by the smiles of my players, by the way, as the GM, I could dive into the adventure myself, immersing into the Underworld without drowning to death and getting back to the surface with a failed quest.
The Chimériades is a convention where good things happen and fantastic people meet to create amazing stories. And that was one of them, just one among many.


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General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) – Help & Advice
GDPR is now law, to assist with the understanding of the new data protection laws we have produced a number of help and advice guides as below.
Help & Advice Guides
What's the best way to demonstrate GDPR compliance?
While there's no way as yet to gain an official GDPR certification, it's still important that you are able to demonstrate compliance if you need to.
Simple guide to GDPR compliance & data destruction
A simple guide to understanding GDPR compliance with regard to data destruction.
Your five-minute guide to data retention and GDPR
A quick read to understand the GDPR and data retention.
Privacy, security and the GDPR: a chance to see through your customers' eyes >>
The GDPR is not just a technical issue, it potentially touches each area of your business.
GDPR: the three big risks to your business >>
A Citrix research study highlighted 3 major risks that could impact British firms on GDPR compliance.
The GDPR and data destruction >>
Data destruction completes the data trail in any GDPR compliance audit.
How will GDPR affect your school?
There are some important differences in the GDPR compared with the earlier Data Protection Act. Schools need to be aware of their data protection responsibilities to comply with the new law.
Busting GDPR myths with the ICO
There have been many misleading articles and advice circulated with regard to the GDPR. We help uncover the facts.
Twelve ways you can start preparing for GDPR right now
Summary of a 12 point plan to start preparing for the GDPR.
The UK Data Protection Bill and GDPR – what's going on?
The UK Data Protection Bill was published September 2017, what does this mean with regard to data protection law and the GDPR?
What will the new EU General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) mean for you?
Why is GDPR happening, how will it affect you and your business?
Other GDPR resources
ICO's Guide to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is the UK's independent authority, upholding information rights in the public interest. The ICO take enforcement action and are responsible for implementing fines for non-compliance and data breaches regarding Data Protection Law.


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Two Killed In Reservation Crash
Eight-Year-Old Girl Among Fatalities
A woman and an 8-year-old girl were killed Friday night when the pickup truck she was driving left an unpaved road and the two victims were ejected.
The single-vehicle crash was reported around 6:15 p.m. Friday about five to seven miles north of Interstate 40 just west of the Rio Puerco Exit on the To'hajiilee Navajo reservation, west of Albuquerque.
Deputies working with Navajo tribal police on the case say four people were ejected from the pickup.
Bernalillo County sheriff's spokeswoman Michelle Arviso-Devlin says five people were in the 2000 F-150 pickup. Three were in the cab, two were in the truckbed.
Two children -- including the 8-year-old girl who died -- were the ones in the truckbed.
She and the driver were pronounced dead at the scene, and the others were taken to an Albuquerque hospital.


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Senior Lecturer
0131 455
Senior Lecturer, Teaching Fellow
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Laboratory Technician
0131 455
Skelton, F. (2018). Now conferencing but hardy and rewarding public engagement: Unplugged at the Fringe with the Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas. Cognitive Psychology Bulletin,
No abstract available.
Item is conference review.
Huxham, M. (2005). Extended induction tutorials for 'at risk' students. Ulster: The STAR (Student Transition and Retention) Project
Biology students at risk are identified through the completion of a
diagnostic test, which is based on the characteristics of early leavers.
Those students identified as bei...
Graham, H., Raeside, R., & Maclean, G. (2018). Understanding the status of underrepresented groups in the Information and Communication Technologies. Edinburgh: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
This report presents the findings of a research project commissioned by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to explore the barriers facing under-rep...
Scottish Funding Council
The project will produce recommendations for the application of gamification to the training product, informed by the company context, with a design led by the latest academic research in gamification...
Edinburgh Innovations Ltd
The textile industry is based largely on the use of cotton, leather and oil derived polymers and these industries are resource intensive and not sustainable. For example, cotton production requires va...
05 September 2018
Dr Calum Neill will co-host an international conference at Ghent University on the 21st and 22nd of September to launch his new co-edited book, Reading Lacan's Ecrits: From 'S...
Tajsiak, A. Reduced credibility of non-native speakers: accent and processing fluency in the perception of native and foreign-accented speech. (Thesis). Edinburgh Napier University. Retrieved from http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/463344
Reduced credibility of non-native speakers: accent and processing fluency in the perception of native and foreign-accented speech.
Harris, P. J. (2016). The relationship between stress and retention within science undergraduates, their use of support and the potential remedial effect of stress education. (Thesis). Edinburgh Napier University. Retrieved from http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/453554
Students experience stress due to many factors including educational unpreparedness, financial strain and the inability to integrate socially. This mixed methods study aimed t...
Hounsell, D., Falchikov, N., Hounsell, J., Klampfleitner, M., Huxham, M., Thomson, K., & Blair, S. (2006). Innovative assessment across the disciplines An analytical review of the literature. York: The Higher Education Academy
In universities, where the choice of methods of assessment is devolved, such methods can differ by subject area, by course and by institution. Yet while devolution offers scop...
Garden, C., & Ennis, L. (2018, January). Constructing Active Learning Experiences. Presented at ALIEN (Active Learning In Edinburgh Napier) Staff Conference, Edinburgh Napier University, Craiglockhart Campus
There are many methods for stimulating Active Learning in the Higher Education classroom. Active Learning occurs when higher-order thinking is invoked during learning events, ...
Neill, C. (2015, May). 'Ethics, discourse, experience'. Presented at Association for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy in Ireland, Dublin
Neill, C. (2015, March). Through a glass darkly: the fantasmatic figure of the immigrant. Paper presented at Psychoanalysis and Politics Spring Symposium, Migration, Exile and Polyphonic Spaces, Spanish Psychoanalytic Society, Barcelona
Neill, C. (2015, March). 'Repetition / Interpretation / Failure: Towards an Ethics of Discourse Analysis'. Presented at Manchester University, Discursive Practice Workshop., Manchester
"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." Embarking from Beckett's famous lines from Worstward Ho, this paper considers the import of the quota...
Malone, E., & MacNab, A. (2015, January). Can we enable students to reach their potential through engaging with feedback – a feedback pathway?. Presented at The Teaching Fellows Conference, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh
In response to our experience and supporting evidence [1] that students may not engage with, understand or use their feedback, we have created and introduced a 'feedback pathw...
Neill, C. (2014, January). 'O Cursed Spite: On Ethics and Time'. Paper presented at Symposium Depsychologizing / Deneurologizing Modern Subjectivity, Ghent
Neill, C. (2012, December). 'On imaginary identification and the possibility of meaning'. Presented at Psychosocial Studies Seminar, Birkbeck College, London
Neill, C. (2012, May). ''The logic of fantasy': comments on Lacan's seminar XIV'. Presented at Cardiff University Inter-disciplinary Psychosocial Seminar Series, Symposium on the Unconscious., Cardiff University
Neill, C. (2012, February). 'Sarah Lucas and the photographic gaze'. Presented at Stills Gallery, Theory of the Image, Stills Gallery
Dr Calum Neill will co-host an international conference at Ghent University on the 21st and 22nd of September to launch his new co-edited book, Reading Lacan's Ecrits: From 'Signification of the Phall...
4 September 2018
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€9.95 €29.95
A beautiful pouch handmade in Guatemala. This one of a kind piece has been created out of recycled fabrics of Huipil, a traditional hand embroidered garnment worn by the Mayan women of Central America. You can use this as a toilet or pencil bag, or as a clutch.
Only one available!
Size: approx. 25x17cm
Material: cotton
Sold Out
Spread some love with this fun bag! Our beautiful and playful word bags are handcrafted by...
Sold Out
This t-shirt by cool Spanish brand The Hip Tee has a lovely star pattern of...
€19.95 €49.95
This beautiful bracelet is a statement piece! It is handmade of brass and all materials...


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Sign up for our free weekly email alerts to special offers, discounts and deals not available to other customers.
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Premium full-grain leather with laser-cut perforations and stitching details. Soft textile lining.
Compression-molded EVA footbed topped with premium full-grain leather. Anatomically correct contour for a personalized fit and sustained comfort over time.
Non-marking rubber and gum rubber outsole with island inspired pod design.
Decorative stitching on footbed
Hand-sewn whipstitching
Soft nylon toe post
Embroidered logo
Item: Olukai 10239
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Flooring Depot: Laminate wood floor installation
FlooringDepot: Install kaindl laminate wood flooring, using lock joining system. www.flooringdepot.co.za
Video Rating: 3 / 5
The best way to clean laminated wood floors is with a combination of vinegar and water, while traditional wood cleaners should be avoided. Prevent wax buildup when cleaning laminated wood floors with help from a professional house cleaner in this free video on housekeeping tips. Expert: Rachel Yatuzis Contact: www.greenkleeninc.com Bio: Rachel Yatuzis is a professional house cleaner in Nashville, Tenn., specializing in using everyday household items for cleaning purposes. Filmmaker: Tim Brown
Video Rating: 4 / 5
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Atlantic Hotel Sail City Bremerhaven
ATLANTIC Hotel Sail City
Go on a journey of discovery to the unique world of knowledge and adventure in the Klimahaus® Bremerhaven 8° Ost. In the evening, you can then recharge by enjoying a set menu in our STROM restaurant.
To learn more about Klimahaus® Bremerhaven: www.klimahaus-bremerhaven.de
Please note that the City of Bremen charges a city tax of 5 % plus VAT on the net costs for overnight accommodation per room per night for private stays. This tax is already included in the price.
from 120,00 €
per person in a Comfort Queen(size) or
Comfort King(size) room
from 40,00 €
single room surcharge
On request and subject to availabilityBook now
u Central room reservation Y +49 (0) 1806 500-555* h firstname.lastname@example.com
ATLANTIC Hotel Sail City GmbH
Central room reservation
Am Strom 1
27568 Bremerhaven
* 20 ct/per call from a German land line, 60 ct/per call from German mobile network
* 20 ct/per call from a German land line, 60 ct/per call from German mobile network
Website by redeleitundjunker.de


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Useful links...
Download apps and documents
Learn arabic writing: An easy, online introduction to learning arabic writing
Grammar A comprehensive summary of Egyptian Arabic grammar
Word of the day
Dictionary formats...
Online: use it on any computer, tablet or phone that has a web browser
application offering a comprehensive set of reference and learning tools
app that you can use wherever you are: no internet connection needed.
iOS: apps for iPhone and iPad
Kindle eBooks for dictionary, thesaurus and grammar
PDF: dictionary, thesaurus and grammar
This page gives you a list of all words in alphabetical order.
If you are not sure what to do, just follow these instructions, or for more information go to the help page.
Once you have found roughly the right place, you can click
and to go up or down a page.
Click to expand the details for a word.


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Automechanika Frankfurt is the world's leading trade fair for the automotive service industry and is unique with regard to product-range breadth and depth.
The fair is the shop window for innovations in the automotive aftermarket across the entire value chain.
We look forward to seeing you in September 2018, from the 11th to the 15th, hall 8, stand G41 at Automechanika Frankfurt, the world's leading international fair dedicated to the Automotive Aftermarket.
As an international meeting place for all market participants from the industry, dealership trade and maintenance and repair segment, it provides a major platform for business and technological knowledge transfer.
Piusi consolidates its international position with its participation in this important event showcasing its latestinnovative products for garages and fluid handling sector. At the Piusi stand you will have the opportunity to see, first hand, the solutions we offer, along with the newest products.


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Archives by Category 'Black Fiction'
Review: Wonderful and Wild by Simona Taylor April 7, 2011 | Black Fiction, Reviews, Romance
Publisher: Arabesque Copyright: 2004 Published: May, 2004 Pages: 319 Form: Paperback Author: Simona Taylor Mahalia 'Hailie' Derwood, celebrated fantasy novelist, dreams of bringing her most cherished character to life in the form of a graphic novel. But she gets much more than she bargained for when artist Darius Grant is chosen to bring her vision
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Review: Passin' by Karen E. Quinones Miller March 21, 2011 | Black Fiction, Reviews
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing Copyright: 2008 Release Date: February, 2008 Pages: 291 Form: Paperback Author: Karen E. Quinones Miller Buy The Book: B&N | Book Depository Hailing from a long time color struck family, Shanika Jenkins is the family's golden child due largely to her very fair skin and unusual blue eyes. Descended from a
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Review: Up To No Good by Carl Weber March 17, 2011 | Black Fiction, Reviews, Romance
Publisher: Dafina Kensington Copyright: 2011 Release Date: Feb, 1 2009 Pages: 363 Form: Paperback Author: Carl Weber Buy The Book: B&N |Book Depository Deacon James Black has always been a ladies man, much to the chagrin of his two kids Jamie and Darnel, and every lady he's been with that ever hoped for more. Including
Read More...


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Description: American Bulldogs are a large muscular breed. They are generally stalky, with long muzzles and a square-shaped head. The coat color is usually white with red, black, or brindle patches.
Size: Males are 20-27 inches and females are about 20-24 inches tall.
History: The origin of the American Bulldog is not very clear. Some believe it was brought over to America by colonists and used as a farm dog. They helped heard livestock, guard the farm and protect its families from vermin.
A second theory is that this so-called breed is made up. The ABD is a mixture of multiple breeds put together over a long period of time.
The third theory is that the English Bulldog was bread with other breeds to create or develop the American Bulldog that we see today.
Temperament: This breed is known for its stable temperament. The American Bulldog is loyal and protective to its family. They are alert, curious, bold, and fearless. The ABD can work well with other breeds and live with them too, but it works best if they are raised with them.
Grooming: The American Bulldog doesn't require much care when it comes to grooming. The ABD sheds short coarse hair that should only be washed once every two months. Due to allergies, this breed can also have sensitive skin. The most important thing to remember is their ears. They need to be cleaned regularly or they can contract yeast infection.
Health: This breed has been known to be generally healthy. Like all other breeds, the American Bulldog has certain health concerns. Due to the selective breeding, not all ABD are affected. You should research the blood lines before purchasing a puppy from a random breeder.
It has been said that American Bulldogs tend to have hip and elbow dysplasia. Allergies are also common in this breed. Most veterinarians will tell you to give your dog a specific daily dose of Benadryl. ACL tears, bone cancer & problems with the kidney and liver have also been reported.
Exercise: Due to the American Bulldogs high energy and muscular build, these dogs require daily exercise. They were bread to work, so getting outdoors for a walk or jog will make them very happy.
Lifespan: The ABD has a lifespan of 10-15 years.
Trivia: This working breed not only shows its skills outside on the farm, but also has talents on the big screen. You can watch famous American Bulldog actors on the movies Homeward Bound, Cheaper by the Dozen, and Little Rascals.
Sources: https://www.akc.org/breeds/bulldog/breed_standard.cfm


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Before starting toilet training, look for signs your toddler is ready. Beginning too soon can be frustrating for both of you and can make the whole process take longer. If you've started the process, find out how often to ask kids-in-training if they need to go to the bathroom, and whether it's true that girls tend to ditch the diapers sooner than boys. Looking for a shortcut? Our video shows you how to potty train in three days – it really does work for some families.
From dealing with accidents and visiting public bathrooms to keeping your child interested and handling unsolicited advice, potty training has plenty of challenges. You're not alone if your child refuses to poop on the potty or won't even sit on it. Learn how to solve common toilet-training problems, and find out whether girls are easier to toilet train and why it's easier for boys to start by peeing sitting down.


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5. Desember: "You better be good, or Krampus is coming for you!"
The 5th of December is Krampus-day, celebrated in Bavaria, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Czech Republic, and North Italy. (In Northern Germany, he is known under the name of Knecht Ruprecht, "Servant Rupert").
Krampus is the counterpart to St. Nicholas, the bishop who rewards all good children. Instead of bringing sweets and small gifts, Krampus is coming to fetch the disobedient and misbehaving children. He is a terrifying looking demon, dressed in goat-fur, with goat feet, dark hair, horns and a tail, carrying chains and a cow-bell to announce his coming.
He is carrying a basket on his back where he is going to put the bad children and take them away with him. It was a common warning for children to behave better if they didn't want to be taken away by Krampus (even my Grandma said that to me and my brother, although she might not have meant it that seriously).
The name comes from either Old German Krampen, which means claw, or from the Bavarian word Krampn, meaning something lifeless or withered. There are different versions of his origin. In Norse mythology, he is said to be the son of Hel. Besides that, his looks resembles that of the Greek-mythology Satyr.
In Austria, as well as in the whole alpine area, the custom of Krampus-processions was very popular, until the inquisition forbade under penalty of death to dress up like a devil. However, in some remote areas the custom survived. From the 17th century on, it was common that St. Nicholas and Krampus went from house to house together to reward the good, and punish the bad children.
Similar to the custom of exchanging Valentin's cards in America, there existed Krampus-cards in Austria. They were mostly showing Krampus and an obviously disobedient child/children, whom he is going to take away. These cards usually contain rhymes or short poems, with serious or humorous content, e.g.:
Für's Schlimme gibt's vom Krampus Strafe,
St. Nikolaus belohnt das Brave
("The Krampus punishes the wicked,
St. Nicholas rewards the good")
In Austria, although slowly declining, Krampus-day is still celebrated. There are Krampus-processions where people dress up with fur costumes and wood-masks to scare people by ringing bells and swinging whips. While these processions mostly take place at some market place or city center, the house-to-house march is more common in the countryside.
I still can vividly remember what Krampus-day was like when I was a child in Styria, Austria. The day began in a tense mood of awaiting, similar to Christmas-Eve, only scarier. Although my brother and I were pretty sure that we'd been good all year, one could never be sure if it was good enough for Krampus. In the evening, we prepared small baskets or shoes that we put in front of the door, in the hope that St. Nicholas would put some peanuts, mandarins and chocolate in it. Then we had to wait. Gathered between our Grandma and Grandpa, my brother and I waited silently for the slightest sound of ringing bells or jangling chains. (Sometimes, my father played jokes on us by rattling a chain in the basement).
Eventually, they arrived. St. Nicholas splendidly dressed in his traditional vestments, wearing the mitre and carrying his crozier, and Krampus with his birch, all in black, tall and vicious looking (it didn't really help to know that he only was one of the older boys from our neighborhood; it was still very scary.) Some years later, my brother and his friends dared each other to go out, provoke the Krampus, and run away without being caught. My brother and I clung even tighter to our Grandparents when St. Nicholas asked us if we've been good. We answered "yes", but to proof this, we had to say a prayer. After that, they both were satisfied and left, but not before filling our baskets with candy.
Although this custom came up as a warning for children to behave, and the figure of the Krampus was invented as counterpart to point out the good virtues of St. Nicholas, it lost its original meaning and turned into an evening that is all about dressing up, candy and harmless thrill.
Eva Stachel


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the Wasatch Front Disaster Planning
One of the most critical parts of managing a business in the Wasatch Front is ensuring business continuity. These plans should include plans for the facilities, instead of only items like data and emergency power backup.
Our Paul Davis First Response Program is designed with property owners and managers in mind. It includes complete disaster planning assistance for facilities with the ultimate objective of rapidly restoring the property to usability, speeding claims and reducing disruption to tenants in the event of a disaster. If you want a complimentary consultation, just call Paul Davis Restoration of Utah today!
First Response Program Services
- Disaster restoration consultation and planning
- Total property cleanup, restoration, and reconstruction
- Cleaning & Restoration of contents (such as textiles, documents, fixtures, computers, electronics)
- National call center available 24/7
- Priority emergency services within hours of a catastrophe
- Consultation with your insurance carrier regarding policy guidelines
Why Paul Davis?
- 24/7 Priority services – You'll get priority emergency services in the Wasatch Front, UT after a disaster, which reduces the severity of a loss, minimizes repair expense, and gets your business back on track quicker.
- Professional consultation – Minimize damage and improve your awareness by developing an emergency plan.
- Business acclimation – Our familiarity with your properties will help expedite mitigation work and streamline the restoration process.
- Peace of mind – Your plan will be comprehensive, easy to deploy, and will put your minds at ease.


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Find us on:
Sponsor: Prevent Cancer Foundation
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States and the second leading cause of death from cancers that affect both men and women. Colorectal cancer affects people in all racial and ethnic groups and is most common in people age 50 and older.
The good news? If everyone age 50 and older got regular screenings, 6 out of 10 deaths from colorectal cancer could be prevented. Communities, health professionals, and families can work together to encourage people to get screened.
We can use this month to raise awareness about colorectal cancer and take action toward prevention. Communities, organizations, families, and individuals can get involved and spread the word.
Here are just a few ideas:
We've made it easier for you to make a difference. This toolkit is full of ideas to help you take action today. For example:
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month! Use this toolkit to help spread the word: https://healthfinder.gov/NHO/MarchToolkit.aspx
True or false? You need to get tested regularly for colorectal cancer starting at age 50. Answer: True. The best way to prevent colorectal cancer is to get tested regularly starting at age 50. Learn more: http://1.usa.gov/11Y4avW
When it comes to colorectal cancer screening, you have options. Decide which screening test you prefer: https://healthfinder.gov/HealthTopics/shared-decision-making/colorectal-cancer-screening
DYK? Regular #PhysicalActivity can help reduce your risk for colorectal cancer. Take steps to #GetActive today: http://1.usa.gov/UNrlVO
Screenings are medical tests that check for diseases before there are any signs or symptoms. Learn more: http://1.usa.gov/YF2MIq
Find out which colorectal cancer test you prefer with this fast and easy quiz: https://healthfinder.gov/HealthTopics/shared-decision-making/colorectal-cancer-screening
Smoking can put you at risk for many diseases, including colorectal cancer. Take steps to quit: http://bit.ly/2kuGwCh
Adapted from the Prevent Cancer Foundation.
For more information and materials, contact the Prevent Cancer Foundation at firstname.lastname@example.com.
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Best Buy is offering the Philips Shoqbox SB7200 series portable Bluetooth speaker for $79.99 with free shipping. That's $70 under retail, which retailers like Apple are currently charging, and within $12 of the best price ever. It features a rugged splas/drop-proof design, a built-in mic for speakerphone functionality, and a swipe sensor that allows you to skip songs with the wave of your hand. Special pricing only available for the black model. Rated 4 out of 5 stars.
Put your savings towards a second Shoqbox and pair the two units up to create a stereo system of left and right channels.
Philips – Shoqbox Sb7200 Wireless Portable Speaker For Most Bluetooth-enabled Devices – Black
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