PSPINC Official Company Blog

Back from Japan

Oct

26

Our founder and CEO, Ken Uchikura, just got back from his trip to Japan and brought back some snacks for us to try at our Bellevue office! Thank you, Uchikura-san!

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 #business #businesstips #customerservice #customersupport #digitalmarketing #ecommerce #marketing #marketingdigital #marketingtips #pspinc #smallbusiness #tech #technology

How Businesses Can Improve Their Referral Programs

Oct

25

Word-of-mouth is one of the most underrated yet effective marketing tactics today, even in the face of growing digital avenues. It’s why so many companies have a referral system or an affiliate marketing program in place. A referral system utilizes recommendations and word of mouth to grow a business’s customer base and network. An affiliate marketing program is a little more specific and is more suited for individual content creators looking to easily monetize their content via a unique affiliate link. Then, content creators make money when users purchase using that unique link.

It can be as simple as inviting your Facebook friends to download a game to get in-app purchases or adding an affiliate link in your blog post. So, it’s not surprising that affiliate marketing grew exponentially in the U.S during the pandemic, from $6.2 billion in 2018 to $9.1 billion in 2021, according to The Performance Marketing Association (PMA) and PwC. And it’s only expected to grow even more in the next few years. But just because you have a referral system in place for your business, it doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to succeed. Referral programs only work if brands get valuable referrals and referrers get meaningful incentives to make their effort worthwhile. When done well, it can be the competitive advantage your brand has when customers are choosing which brand to go with when looking at similar products.

Components and Benefits of an Effective Referral Program

delighted black female barista serving coffee in cup in cafe<br />

When it comes time to create a referral program for your business, the most important thing to keep in mind is simplicity. Upon looking at the page, potential customers should know exactly what they’d have to do as the referrer and what they’d gain from it. Those incentives shouldn’t only be clearly outlined, but worthwhile for customers. If customers don’t find value in your referral program, they won’t want to take part in it. Once they are part of it, open communication between everyone involved will be the key to success.

The popularity of referral and affiliate programs is largely because of how beneficial they can be for businesses. It’s much easier to generate new leads when compared to other channels. Referral programs essentially ask referrers to aid in marketing your brand and products, converting them from current customers to brand advocates. Referral programs will help increase customer engagement, conversion rate, customer loyalty, and overall brand awareness. And it’ll give your business a better idea of who your loyal customers are and how to improve their overall experience with the brand.

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.

#affiliatemarketing #affililate #benefits #brand #brandawareness #business #businesstips #contentcreation #digitalmarketing #loyalty #marketing #marketingdigital #marketingtips #onlinemarketing #referral #referralprogram #smallbusiness #technology

What’s New Newsletter Vol. 138 “Simplify the Purchasing Process”

Oct

20

Regardless of what kind of business you’re in, the end goal is the same: increase sales for your company. There’s a lot that goes into getting a potential customer across the finish line. All of these are outlined in a customer journey. But even after you attract customers enough to get them interested in what you’re selling, you can still lose them during the purchase process.

The best way to combat this problem is by simplifying the overall process. If customers find it too hard to purchase from you, they’ll simply walk away. With e-commerce giants like Amazon, it’s essential to make the checkout process as easy as possible. So, evaluate your overall purchase processes regularly to make sure there isn’t any friction that will stop potential customers from buying from you. After all, you can’t fix a problem if you don’t know it exists.

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 #business #businesstips #customerservice #digitalmarketing #ecommerce #marketing #marketingdigital #marketingtips #newsletter #pspinc #pspincwhatsnewnewsletter #sales #smallbusiness #tech #technology #web

How Businesses Can Grow with Influencer Marketing

Oct

18

Over the last few years, influencers have only become more common. More people today create content on social media in the hopes of becoming an influencer. With the growing popularity, businesses found it beneficial to engage in influencer marketing, which involves working with influencers to help grow their business online.

So, it’s no surprise how much the influencer marketing market has been steadily growing. According to the Influencer Marketing Benchmark Report from 2022, the global influencer marketing industry will reach an estimated $16.4 billion this year. With more customers spending more time online, it’s only accelerated over the last two years, jumping from $6.5 billion in 2019 to $9.7 billion in 2020.

Why Influencers?

Woman in Black Dress Sitting Beside Sofa Vlogging

Influencers are ideal partners for small businesses because many are seen as experts in their niche. But even if they aren’t, potential customers trust their recommendations more than other sources, especially brand-owned content. And despite the popularity of digital marketing tactics like paid search, 88% of people trust word-of-mouth recommendations more than digital ads, according to the Nielsen 2021 Trust in Advertising Study.

Influencers specialize in creating authentic content that people respond to. It only makes it easier for people to trust them, and to feel like they know them. In fact, the 21st Century Social Circle report from 2019 claims 50% of millennials feel they know social media influencers better than their friends do. And seven out of 10 trust their opinions just as much as the friends they know in real life.

Working with Influencers

Man with Professional Camera Filming Outdoors

While there are many influencers out there, it’s essential to choose one that fits with your brand. It’s tempting to pick the most popular one that will reach the largest audience. But your influencer marketing campaign needs to make sense to appeal to potential customers. Not just for your business, but for the influencer as well. It’s not about getting the biggest audience possible; it’s about reaching the right people. And the best way to do that is to choose an influencer with a similar voice, audience, and one that will be a natural fit with your brand. The best way of figuring this out is through extensive research into potential influencers and branded campaigns they’ve done in the past.

After that, it’s just a matter of reaching out to them. Businesses shouldn’t just choose one or two influencers to reach out to, and rather, 25-50 influencers. And this is primarily because many will just ignore your message, so contacting more will better ensure you’ll get a response. In this message, remember to point out the value you’re providing them. Other than that, it’s important to communicate clear guidelines while still giving influencers the room to be creative with the overall campaign. And if you’re lucky, it could become a consistent and collaborative partnership, resulting in more effective campaigns in the future.

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 #branding #business #businesstips #digitalmarketing #influencermarketing #influencers #marketing #marketingdigital #marketingonline #marketingtips #paidsearch #ppc #sales #smallbusiness #socialmedia #tech #technology #web #wordofmouth

What’s New Newsletter Vol. 137 “Content Marketing”

Oct

13

As a business, it’s important to build trust with your customers. But it’s even more important for small businesses. While your website may have an “About Us” or perhaps even a “History” page, it may not be enough for potential customers. People want to know more about the companies they buy from. Especially younger generations. Customers increasingly want to buy from brands that have the same values that they do. And it’s why we see big brands support different social issues, even if they are controversial.

For small businesses, one way to build trust easily is through content marketing. Content marketing involves creating and sharing content online, through social media, videos, and/or blog posts. The content itself isn’t explicitly promoting anything though. Instead, it demonstrates your company’s expertise. This blog post is an example of content marketing, by the way. And while website traffic is the only directly measurable thing you can track, it will undoubtedly grow your business sustainably. So, while creating content that isn’t directly selling may seem counterintuitive, it’s well worth it in the long run.

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 #business #businesstips #contentcreation #contentmarketing #customers #digitalmarketing #growth #marketing #marketingtps #newsletter #pspincwhatsnewnewsletter #sales #smallbusiness #socialmedia #video #web #website

What is Blockchain?

Oct

11

You’ve probably heard of blockchain before, especially with the growing craze of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency. But blockchain isn’t just for finances, it’s just where it’s gained the most buzz in the last couple of years. Blockchain, simply put, is a database made up of a transparent network where users can trade with one another without the need for an intermediary.

Blockchain works differently from a typical database, as it structures data into blocks (hence the name). When entering new data, it comes in as a new block. Users are also unable to go back to modify already entered data. But as it updates itself, the new data is later chained onto the previous block, ordering them in chronological order. Users in a blockchain network can see everything that happens within that network. To ensure transactions are secure, blockchain uses cryptography to encode them.

Blockchain Use Cases

An obvious example of blockchain is Bitcoin. The easiest way to think of Bitcoin is thinking about how you obtain goods and services. Generally, you pay with traditional currency and the merchant gives you the product in return. Then, money’s put in a bank where it’s managed by other people. Blockchain allows users to manage the transaction on their own in a way that’s transparent and immutable. And that is essentially what Bitcoin is.

Another example is how Walmart and IBM worked together to bring about transparency to the food supply chain. In 2018, Walmart did two test runs using Hyperledger Fabric, a blockchain created by IBM. One with pork, and one with mangoes. Today, Walmart can trace over 25 products from 5 different suppliers to their origin because of this partnership. As a result, Walmart’s food supply chain is much more transparent and easier to track. And this wouldn’t have been possible without blockchain.

The Benefits of Blockchain

round silver and gold bitcoins on top of dollar bills

Blockchain embraces the idea of transparency and encourages trust. Users can see every step of transactions in its entirety. For security reasons, they can’t see every little detail as cryptography encodes those details. But they can at least see enough of the details to know it occurred. Because users can’t alter past data, it results in timely, accurate, and secure data.

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.

#banks #bitcoin #blockchain #blog #business #businesstools #currency #cybersecurity #ecommerce #finance #foodsupplychain #ibm #security #softwaredevelopment #tech #technology #transparency #walmart #webdevelopment

Announcement: DENREI’s 6th App Release Out Now!

Oct

6

We’re so excited to announce that we’ve updated our secure private messaging broadcasting app, 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 the sixth app release, we’ve made the following updates:

Added a zoom and download feature for images to make it easier for users to see image details they may miss from afar.

Revamped the “About” section of the app and added release notes, release dates, and the link to the DENREI website to inform users more about DENREI and how to stay up to date with DENREI app changes.

Made various styling and UX improvements and minor bug fixes to improve our members’ overall experience with the DENREI app:

1. With a single click of a button, users can now delete and/or approve followers, making it easier to manage followers.

2. Users can now reply to a follower without going back to the top of the message now that we’ve added the “Reply” button to the bottom of messages.

3. The inbox, side menu, community, and incoming messages now look a little different as we’ve partially changed the background color and font size to make them easier to see and understand.

4. To make it easier to manage folders, we've added icons next to each folder name as well as a button to create a new folder.

5. The language-setting button is now a drop-down menu, making it easier to see your language preference.

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.

#announcement #app #blog #business #cybersecurity #denrei #mobile #mobileapp #pacificsoftwarepublishing #pspinc #security #smallbusiness #socialmedia #softwaredevelopment #tech #technology #update #web #webdesign #webdevelopment #website

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

PSPINC Official Company Blog

freespace

Back from Japan

How Businesses Can Improve Their Referral Programs

Components and Benefits of an Effective Referral Program

What’s New Newsletter Vol. 138 “Simplify the Purchasing Process”

How Businesses Can Grow with Influencer Marketing

Why Influencers?

Working with Influencers

What’s New Newsletter Vol. 137 “Content Marketing”

What is Blockchain?

Blockchain Use Cases

The Benefits of Blockchain

Announcement: DENREI’s 6th App Release Out Now!

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

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People Who Wowed This Post

Components and Benefits of an Effective Referral Program

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Working with Influencers

People Who Wowed This Post

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Blockchain Use Cases

The Benefits of Blockchain

People Who Wowed This Post

People Who Wowed This Post

People Who Wowed This Post

How to Enable OTP Authentication

What is Pass Wizard?

People Who Wowed This Post

1. Smart Devices

2. Smart Connected Devices

3. IoT Devices

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