PSPINC Official Company Blog

What’s New Newsletter Vol. 136 “Taking Risks as a Small Business”

Oct

6

Business success rarely ever happens overnight. But a lot of successful endeavors include some form of risk. And larger businesses can likely recover easily if it doesn’t pan out. However, it isn’t as easy for small businesses. But a business will never grow if they play it safe forever. The key is taking small but calculated risks. And doing it often.

A big risk, while it can lead to a big reward, can also be detrimental if it doesn’t work out. Instead, take smaller risks frequently when it comes to your small business. That way, it’ll give you a better idea of what works and what doesn’t. In the workplace, encouraging creativity is a great first step. But it’ll only make a difference if you execute some of your employees’ ideas.

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.

1404 140th Place N.E., Bellevue, WA 98007

PSPINC Creates Tools For Your Business

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc. is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington and provides domain, web, and email hosting to more than 40,000 companies of all sizes around the world. We design and develop our own software and are committed to helping businesses of all sizes grow and thrive online. For more information you can contact us at 800-232-3989, by email at info@pspinc.com or visit us online at https://www.pspinc.com.

#blog #branding #business #businesstips #digitalmarketing #marketing #marketingdigital #marketingtips #officetips #pspinc #pspincwhatsnewnewsletter #risks #risktaking #smallbusiness #technology #web

Pass Wizard Now Supports One-Time Password Authentication

Oct

5

We’re pleased to announce that Pass Wizard now supports one-time password (OTP) authentication. On top of text message two-factor authentication (SMS 2FA), it’s now easier for you to add another layer of security using common authenticator apps to generate a new OTP every 30 seconds.

How to Enable OTP Authentication

otp authentication pass wizard interface

To enable OTP authentication in Pass Wizard:

Log in to Pass Wizard
Go to your settings page in the upper right corner
Under General -> Multi-factor authentication, select Authenticator App option
Connect your account to your choice of authenticator app by either scanning the QR code or manually entering the key. While Pass Wizard’s new OTP authentication should support all authenticator apps, we recommend:

Google Authenticator

Microsoft Authenticator

2FA Authenticator (2FAS)

Enter the code displayed in your authenticator app to confirm the connection
After you successfully connect your account, Pass Wizard will prompt you to enter the one-time password displayed in your authenticator app the next time you sign in.

What is Pass Wizard?

pass wizard login on laptop and authenticator app open on cell phone

Pass Wizard is a password management system designed and developed by PSPINC that allows you to store passwords securely. With the free account, you can store up to 30 passwords. If you upgrade to the paid Pro account, you can save an unlimited number of passwords and gain access to our group sharing features, which include sharing specific passwords with a group.

To safely protect your data, Pass Wizard uses a multi-factor authentication (MFA) system via SMS or OTP, designed with ultra-high security and encryption technology. We will continue to not only improve Pass Wizard’s easy functionality, but also its security measures. If you still haven’t signed up for Pass Wizard, sign up for free today!

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.

1404 140th Place N.E., Bellevue, WA 98007

PSPINC Creates Tools For Your Business

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc. is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington and provides domain, web, and email hosting to more than 40,000 companies of all sizes around the world. We design and develop our own software and are committed to helping businesses of all sizes grow and thrive online. For more information you can contact us at 800-232-3989, by email at info@pspinc.com or visit us online at https://www.pspinc.com.

#2fa #announcement #app #authenticatorapp #blog #business #cybersecurity #marketing #mfa #otp #otpauthentication #passwizard #password #passwordmanagement #passwords #paswordmanager #pspinc #security #smallbusiness #tech #technology #update #web #website

What is Smart Technology?

Oct

4

The most commonly used term when it comes to smart technology is smartphones. But in recent years, smart technology has only gotten more popular. Now, many people own some kind of smart device, whether it’s just a smartphone or a voice assistant device like an Amazon Echo or a Google Home. In fact, the global smart home platforms market reached $20.5 billion in 2021, and it’s only expected to continue rising, according to Future Market Insights.

But what exactly is smart technology? According to Netlingo, smart technology originally stood for “Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology”. But in recent years, it’s widely associated with inanimate objects talking back to users and guiding their behaviors. Currently, there are three types of smart technology:

1. Smart Devices

a woman's finger pushing down on the toaster s there's two slices of bread inside

Smart devices are programmed for a specific use and can provide a level of automation. Examples include microwaves, coffee makers, and toasters. But more of these devices are connecting to a network, which only makes it hard to distinguish smart devices from smart connected devices.

2. Smart Connected Devices

someone looking at the smartwatch on their wrist

Smart connected devices are like smart devices except they’re connected (hence the name) to a network. Users can then control and monitor them via Bluetooth, LTE, Wi-Fi, and/or cellular connectivity. Examples include smartphones, smart doorbells, and smartwatches.

3. IoT Devices

a person holding up their phone next to the lock on the door, which signifies it's a smart lock

Lastly, IoT devices are software-defined products that are a combination of product, application, analytics, and the internet/network. Examples include smart locks, AI, security cameras, and irrigation sprinklers.

Regardless of the type, many consumers appreciate the sustainability aspect of smart technology. There’s also the added convenience people gain as users can tap a button or use voice command to turn off the lights and automate processes like grocery deliveries. Using all of these processes, smart devices can even analyze your habits, make them more efficient, and reduce overall costs for things like heating. So, because of all the benefits it provides, it’s no surprise that so many consumers have bought into the smart technology trend.

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.

1404 140th Place N.E., Bellevue, WA 98007

PSPINC Creates Tools For Your Business

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc. is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington and provides domain, web, and email hosting to more than 40,000 companies of all sizes around the world. We design and develop our own software and are committed to helping businesses of all sizes grow and thrive online. For more information you can contact us at 800-232-3989, by email at info@pspinc.com or visit us online at https://www.pspinc.com.

#ai #blog #bluetooth #business #convenience #efficiency #internet #iot #lte #mobile #network #smallbusiness #smartdevices #smartdoorbell #smartlocks #smartphone #smarttechnology #smartwatch #sustainability #tech #technology #trend #web #wifi

What’s New Newsletter Vol. 135 “Encourage Creativity”

Sep

29

One of the most difficult parts of owning and running a small business is standing out from the competition. But the great thing about having a small business is the space to be creative and try new things. In a bigger company, it’s hard to make big changes because it has to go through so many people before it gets approved. At a smaller company, we can achieve things much quicker and take more risks in hopes of watching them succeed.

For example, Hasbro is one of the largest toy companies in the world today. But it originally started as a textile company in 1923. Throughout the years, Hasbro transformed into a school supply company before settling and excelling as a toy company in 1942. Their claim to fame, however, didn’t come until ten years later when they introduced Mr. Potato Head to the public on TV. Companies like Hasbro remind us that the opportunities are endless. And creativity is something we should celebrate. While the switch from a school supply company to a toy company must’ve been massive, it also paid off exponentially. So, don’t be afraid to step out of the box with your business.

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.

1404 140th Place N.E., Bellevue, WA 98007

PSPINC Creates Tools For Your Business

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc. is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington and provides domain, web, and email hosting to more than 40,000 companies of all sizes around the world. We design and develop our own software and are committed to helping businesses of all sizes grow and thrive online. For more information you can contact us at 800-232-3989, by email at info@pspinc.com or visit us online at https://www.pspinc.com.

#advertising #blog #business #businesstips #creativity #example #hasbro #marketing #marketingdigital #marketingtips #mattel #mrpotatohead #pacificsoftwarepublishing #pspinc #pspincwhatsnewnewsletter #sales #smallbusiness #toycompany #whatsnewnewsletter

5 Ad Campaigns Every Business Can Learn From

Sep

27

Creating successful ad campaigns can be tricky. It consists of striking the perfect balance between targeting the right people, producing creative content, and ensuring it’ll resonate with your audience. But a big part of marketing consists of trying new things and learning from other businesses’ successes. So, here are five successful ad campaigns that every business can learn from.

Nike: Just Do It

In 1988, Nike aired its first commercial that used the now-iconic tagline, “Just Do It, which came from Dan Wieden, the founder of ad agency, Wieden + Kennedy. Everyone else, including the people at Nike, didn’t think they needed a tagline. But eventually, they let Wieden try out his idea. After the commercial aired, the success was conclusive and immediate: people loved it. In the years following it, Nike focused the tagline on female empowerment ad campaigns, where it thrived even more. Today, “Just Do It” is a staple in Nike’s marketing efforts and the brand continues to focus on inclusivity. While that wasn’t the original idea, “Just Do It” applies to all athletes, regardless of age, ethnicity, or gender. So, focusing on inclusivity helped Nike thrive off this slogan.

California Milk Processor Board: Got Milk?

The idea behind the “Got Milk?” campaign revolved around the inconvenience and frustration that came with running out of milk. Previously, the milk industry marketed itself as the healthier drink option, promoting the calcium and protein benefits. But in 1993, Jeff Manning, California Milk Processor Board’s new executive director, realized consumers knew milk was good for them. The problem was that they didn’t care. So, he tried a different approach: this campaign focused on what people lost rather than what they could gain. And it’s something you can try for your next marketing campaign.

Skittles: Taste the Rainbow

Whether you like it or not, you’ve probably seen at least one of these Skittles commercials. People remember these ads because they’re too weird not to remember them. And the imagery they use of placing Skittles in unlikely or impossible scenarios sticks out. The “Taste the Rainbow” commercials are untraditional, to say the least. But it works for them. And at the time, it was a very risky move to show Skittles in strange or even disgusting situations. But if there’s one thing that this overall campaign has taught us, it’s that creative ads work. Even if they are unconventional, they’ll, at the very least, will be memorable.

Old Spice: The Man Your Man Could Smell Like

The Old Spice ads are ones everyone recognizes. The commercials portray a sense of humor that proves to their audience that they’re not afraid to make fun of themselves. Plus, they targeted their ads toward women, even though they’re selling men’s body wash. In 2010, ad agency Procter & Gamble pitched this concept to Old Spice after discovering women made up 60% of men’s body-wash purchases. If they hadn’t done any marketing research, they would’ve never thought to market a men’s product to women. While it’s fun to be creative in the marketing industry, it also has to be backed up by research for it to work effectively.

Always: #LikeAGirl

For a long time, the brand, Always, led the feminine-hygiene sector. But around 2010, they realized they were losing out on the 16–24-year age group. Unfortunately, it’s also the time when women exhibit more brand loyalty over ones they like, according to their research. So, while they knew their products were great, it wasn’t enough anymore. When conducting research, they discovered that girls’ self-esteem drops twice as much as boys’ during puberty. They just had to figure out why. When they did, Always used that to their advantage by connecting it back to the brand’s core values, which consisted of self-confidence. And it worked in inspiring and encouraging a conversation online about what it means to do something “like a girl”. A lesson we can learn from Always is to double down on brand equity. Especially if you can inspire a conversation the way Always did.

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.

1404 140th Place N.E., Bellevue, WA 98007

PSPINC Creates Tools For Your Business

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc. is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington and provides domain, web, and email hosting to more than 40,000 companies of all sizes around the world. We design and develop our own software and are committed to helping businesses of all sizes grow and thrive online. For more information you can contact us at 800-232-3989, by email at info@pspinc.com or visit us online at https://www.pspinc.com.

#advertising #always #blog #branding #business #businesstips #digitalmarketing #gotmilk #justdoit #likeagirl #marketing #marketingdigital #marketingtips #nike #oldspice #sales #skittles #smallbusiness #tastetherainbow #tech #themanyourmancouldsmelllike

PSPINC What’s New Newsletter Vol. 134 “Listening to Others”

Sep

22

Communication is one of the most important aspects of running a business. But communication goes both ways. You can’t just speak; you have to listen too. Here at PSPINC, we encourage everyone to speak up, even if it’s about something small. But most problems generally start small, so it’s our chance to tackle them before they get too big. But listening is about more than just trying to prevent disasters, it also inspires trust and loyalty in your employees.

With more trust comes new ideas. An open line of communication among workers makes them feel more valued at the company. Therefore, they’re more likely to share their ideas, through a casual conversation or a formal pitch. If the person at the top encourages these behaviors, it’ll establish a culture of interactive listening. As a result, people will work better together, and they’ll also be happier working for you overall.

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.

1404 140th Place N.E., Bellevue, WA 98007

PSPINC Creates Tools For Your Business

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc. is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington and provides domain, web, and email hosting to more than 40,000 companies of all sizes around the world. We design and develop our own software and are committed to helping businesses of all sizes grow and thrive online. For more information you can contact us at 800-232-3989, by email at info@pspinc.com or visit us online at https://www.pspinc.com.

#blog #business #businesstips #marketing #marketingdigital #marketingtips #newsletter #officetips #pacificsoftwarepublishing #pspinc #pspincwhatsnewnewsletter #smallbusiness

What is Apple’s New eSIM?

Sep

20

Last week, Apple released its newest iPhone model, iPhone 14. Among the new features listed was the eSIM, a digital SIM that eliminates the need for a physical SIM card. SIM cards are small data cards that tell phone service carriers more about who's using the phone and, SIM stands for subscriber identity module.

However, an eSIM isn’t a new concept. When Apple released the iPhone X, it supported what Apple calls Dual SIM, allowing users to use a physical SIM card and/or an eSIM. And every model following it supported it as well. With the iPhone 14, Apple eliminated the SIM tray, forcing customers to use an eSIM.

The Benefits of an eSIM

iPhone on a black table with a nano sim card and insert on the side

For starters, eSIMs eliminate the pesky task of inserting the nano SIM card. It became enough of a chore that Apple started adding the metal ejector tool with their iPhone products in 2010 after teaming up with Liquidmetal. Additionally, eSIMs allow users to install multiple phone lines. According to Apple, you can store at least eight eSIMS on one device, two of which can be active at any time. And it can all be done under one mobile data network.

As far as security is concerned, eSIMs need to be registered with a phone plan. With that being said, it makes it easier for law enforcement to trace phones back to their owners. Port out scams, where thieves steal SIM cards and swap them to gain access to all the data on a victim’s phone, also become infinitely harder. It’s still a possibility, but thieves will have to steal the entire phone to get to a person’s data on an eSIM.

The Fallbacks

Charming woman talking on smartphone in airport<br />

While an eSIM sounds great, there are also some disadvantages. Because users have to register with a phone plan, there’s no way to remain anonymous. Therefore, it’d be impossible to use an eSIM-only phone as a burner. For travelers, eSIMs may also pose a significant obstacle. Unless their phone plan supports unlimited international texting, calling, and data capabilities, they’ll have to pay more for disposable phones, if they’re available, or pay more for roaming fees.

How to Activate an eSIM

According to Apple’s website, iPhone 14 users will be prompted to activate their eSIM when setting up their new device. For those with older models (iPhone X and up) that want to activate their eSIM, users will need to have iOS 14.5 or later, as well as a wireless carrier that supports eSIM. Then, Apple gives instructions on activating the eSIM manually or using eSIM Carrier Activation, eSIM Quick Transfer, a QR code, or a carrier app.

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.

1404 140th Place N.E., Bellevue, WA 98007

PSPINC Creates Tools For Your Business

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc. is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington and provides domain, web, and email hosting to more than 40,000 companies of all sizes around the world. We design and develop our own software and are committed to helping businesses of all sizes grow and thrive online. For more information you can contact us at 800-232-3989, by email at info@pspinc.com or visit us online at https://www.pspinc.com.

The term "QR Code" is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED.

#apple #appleevent #benefits #blog #business #carriers #cons #dualsim #esim #fallbacks #ios #iphone #iphone14 #iphones #iphonex #liquidmetal #mobile #phone #phonecarriers #pros #scams #security #sim #simcard #tech #technology #update

PSPINC What’s New Newsletter Vol. 133 “Serving Your Customers”

Sep

15

As a business that sells to other businesses, it’s hard to sell and retain those customers sometimes. But what we’ve found very helpful is taking the focus of our company. Instead, we put the focus on our customers. It’s not about trying to get what we need from them; it’s about giving them what they need. When asking them how we can help them, it shows how much we care about them rather than just trying to push our products on them. While we do still want to make money, customers don’t like feeling like that’s the end goal.

If what you’re selling fits with what they want and need for their business, that’s great. But if it doesn’t, the relationship with them doesn’t have to end there. The customer’s best interests should still be at the forefront of how your sales team deals with customers, even if it means they won’t buy from you right now. In turn, they won’t only remember your business, but they also might recommend you to other people just based on their friendly interaction with you. This overall effort will, at the very least, give customers a great perspective on your business. They’ll see your business as one that genuinely cares about the well-being of their customers, even if it doesn’t result in a purchase.

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.

1404 140th Place N.E., Bellevue, WA 98007

PSPINC Creates Tools For Your Business

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc. is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington and provides domain, web, and email hosting to more than 40,000 companies of all sizes around the world. We design and develop our own software and are committed to helping businesses of all sizes grow and thrive online. For more information you can contact us at 800-232-3989, by email at info@pspinc.com or visit us online at https://www.pspinc.com.

#b2b #blog #branding #brandperspective #business #businesstips #customers #customerservice #customersupport #marketing #marketingtips #newsletter #officetips #pspinc #pspincwhatsnewnewsletter #retention #sales #selling #service #smallbusiness

PSPINC What’s New Newsletter Vol. 132 "Perseverance"

Sep

8

Every business, big or small, fluctuates. There are years where we’ve excelled, but there are other years where we could’ve done better. But we’re still standing. And it’s largely because we didn’t quit. Thousands of businesses fail every year because their company founders gave up too easily. Fighting through the hard times isn’t easy. And the worldwide pandemic has been challenging for everyone, not just business owners. But the key to making it in business is perseverance.

Think of it like an athlete. Regardless of what sport it is, when you see someone fall, you also watch them get back up. I’ve seen athletes with serious injuries still push away paramedics because they wanted to finish the game. Even if it meant they lost the game, they persisted regardless. It’s easy to let your self-belief waver. Failure is part of the journey. But if you truly want to be an entrepreneur and believe in what you’re doing, you need to shake off the self-doubt. Otherwise, you’ll just be another one of those thousands of inspiring entrepreneurs that quit too soon.

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.

1404 140th Place N.E., Bellevue, WA 98007

PSPINC Creates Tools For Your Business

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc. is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington and provides domain, web, and email hosting to more than 40,000 companies of all sizes around the world. We design and develop our own software and are committed to helping businesses of all sizes grow and thrive online. For more information you can contact us at 800-232-3989, by email at info@pspinc.com or visit us online at https://www.pspinc.com.

#blog #business #businessowner #businesstips #entrepreneur #entrepreneurs #marketing #marketingtips #perserverance #pspinc #sales #smallbusiness

Announcement: DENREI’s 5th App Release Out Now!

Sep

6

We’re excited to announce that we’ve updated our mobile app for our secure online community platform, DENREI! For users in both the U.S. and Japan, the app's available for download in the App Store. If you already have the app, please update the latest version from the app store.

In this fifth app release, we’ve made the following updates:

Added a push notification to inform members about new followers and follow requests. If a user has the "Require approval for members to follow your emails" setting on, a follow request push notification will appear. This allows users to be aware of new followers without having to open the application.

Made various UI improvements and bug fixes.

To learn more about DENREI's amazing features, head over to our blog announcement blog post. To sign up, download the free DENREI app today! Only available for iOS users.

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.

1404 140th Place N.E., Bellevue, WA 98007

PSPINC Creates Tools For Your Business

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc. is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington and provides domain, web, and email hosting to more than 40,000 companies of all sizes around the world. We design and develop our own software and are committed to helping businesses of all sizes grow and thrive online. For more information you can contact us at 800-232-3989, by email at info@pspinc.com or visit us online at https://www.pspinc.com.

#app #apple #appstore #appupdate #blog #business #community #communitybuilding #denrei #ios #iphone #mac #mobile #pspinc #smallbusiness #tech #technology #update #web #webtools

PSPINC Official Company Blog

freespace

What’s New Newsletter Vol. 136 “Taking Risks as a Small Business”

Pass Wizard Now Supports One-Time Password Authentication

How to Enable OTP Authentication

What is Pass Wizard?

What is Smart Technology?

1. Smart Devices

2. Smart Connected Devices

3. IoT Devices

What’s New Newsletter Vol. 135 “Encourage Creativity”

5 Ad Campaigns Every Business Can Learn From

Nike: Just Do It

California Milk Processor Board: Got Milk?

Skittles: Taste the Rainbow

Old Spice: The Man Your Man Could Smell Like

Always: #LikeAGirl

PSPINC What’s New Newsletter Vol. 134 “Listening to Others”

What is Apple’s New eSIM?

The Benefits of an eSIM

The Fallbacks

How to Activate an eSIM

PSPINC What’s New Newsletter Vol. 133 “Serving Your Customers”

PSPINC What’s New Newsletter Vol. 132 "Perseverance"

Announcement: DENREI’s 5th App Release Out Now!

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Skittles: Taste the Rainbow

Old Spice: The Man Your Man Could Smell Like

Always: #LikeAGirl

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