PSPINC Official Company Blog

Happy Birthday to PSPinc: A Timeline of our History

Jul

2

This month PSPinc turns 32 years old. In that time our company has evolved quite a bit, so today let's stroll down memory lane and reflect on our timeline of events.

PSPinc was born in July 1987 on Mercer Island, Washington. Working in his apartment, Ken Uchikura started the business with a vision to introduce U.S. PC software technology to the Japanese market. The Japanese PC market was behind, and Ken believed introducing U.S. tools would help the Japanese PC market grow.

In the late 80s, PSPinc focused on developing tools that would help U.S. companies create “double-byte enabled software” for overseas markets. Chinese, Japanese and Korean are all double-byte languages. English is a single-byte language. Back in those days, multiple languages were not supported on computer platforms in Japan. Ken helped U.S. software companies close this language gap by helping them understand the differences.

In the early 90s, the PC market along with Macintosh started to emerge in Japan, allowing PSPinc to introduce more business and consumer products to the market. PSPinc localized and distributed over 100 products to Japan between 1987 to 2000. Some of those are: Symantec Timeline for DOS, Bungie Software Pathways into Darkness, Marathon, and other titles.

During the 90s, PCPinc also introduced KanjiWORD and KanjiKIT. These products helped non-Japanese Windows software read and write Japanese characters – eliminating the need to buy the additional Windows software in Japanese.

In 1995, PSPinc explored the possibility of emerging into the business of the Internet, which was still very new at the time. We soon discovered it was not cheap to have a server for our business. Therefore, PSPinc innovated and developed the tools and software needed to reduce the hosting costs – launching our first hosting service in January of 1996.

Today, we provide our hosting and web services to over 40,000 businesses worldwide, continuing our (ad)venture of creating better technology for the future.

#Blog #BusinessTips #ENnews #PSPSoftware #PSPinc #SmallBusiness #Technology

Marketing to Generation Z's Purchasing Power

Jun

27

On Tuesday we talked about Generation Xers and Millennials. Today, we’re taking a look into the up and upcoming Generation Z. We’ll look at how our marketing efforts will need to change in order to reach them.

Before we start, let’s identify Gen Z. They are the generation after Millennials and are often called Post-Millennial, Homeland Generation, and iGeneration. They were born between the mid to late 90s and the 2000s, meaning most of them are now teenagers and will be entering the workforce in a few years. That’s important for businesses because Gen Z's purchasing power will increase soon.

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So how do we market to Gen Z?

Share Values

Gen Z cares about environmental, socio-economic, and political issues more than any other generation (including Millennials) according to NRF. This generation spends money on companies whose values align with their own. Will you have a positive impact on the world, or are you just here to make money?

Find your company’s core values and purpose and communicate this clearly to Gen Z.

Meaningful Communication

It’s difficult to earn this generation’s loyalty. They expect interactions with brands to be meaningful and personal. Feeling like a cog in a giant machine just won’t do. This means your company needs to open up meaningful discussions and ask for feedback.

Mobile, Mobile, Mobile

Everything is happening on mobile devices for Gen Z. Businesses need to optimize their mobile websites, apps, and social networks if they plan on reaching this group of consumers. Optimizing your social networks means finding out how Gen Zers use each social channel and creating content for each one specifically.

Privacy

This generation understands, perhaps more than anyone else, what’s happening online. They know the importance of privacy and look for companies to be transparent and committed to keeping their information safe.

#Blog #BusinessTips #ENnews #GenZ #GenerationZ #ModernWorkforce #PSPinc #SmallBusiness #Technology

Millennials & Gen Xers in Today’s Workforce

Jun

25

Millennials are now the biggest generation in the workforce, with 95 million people between the ages of 20 to their late 30s. With that many millennials working their way up the corporate ladder, we’re sure to see some changes in company cultures. But, how do millennials and Gen Xers differ? And how do they work together in today’s business world?

Communication

Perhaps the biggest gap between these generations is the ways in which they communicate.

Gen X grew up with landlines, mail, pay phones, and beepers and prefer to have conversations face-to-face. Although this group were early adopters of email – they did not grow up with communication supplemented by technology. This does however give them an advantage when communicating with Millennials, compared to Baby Boomers.

Millennials grew up with the Internet, cell phones, and social media. To an outsider, it seems like they communicate in a completely foreign language. Millennials are experts when it comes to communication through texts, social media apps, and memes. But, they still believe important conversations should be had in person.

Work Life

When it comes to work life, Gen Xers idealize loyalty and working long hours to be valued by their organizations. They hold onto jobs longer than millennials and expect to be taken care of by their companies in return for their loyalty. They are okay with less work-life balance and accept the typical nine to five work day.

Millennials have a more relaxed view of work life but that doesn’t mean they take it any less serious. They came into the job market with less security and end up changing jobs more often. It’s important for them to find value in their jobs and feel as though they are making a difference. They dress more casual and prefer to live in cities so it’s important for companies to offer more remote work options.

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These two generations have one major thing in common – they both want to be respected in the workplace.

Together, Gen X and Millennials can fill in the gaps left by the other, to create a fully functional and successful workplace. One way to do that is by offering mentorship within your companies. Giving these groups an open environment to talk and challenge each other can be extremely beneficial for individuals and companies alike.

#Blog #BusinessTips #ENnews #GenX #GenerationX #Millenials #ModernWorkforce #PSPinc #SmallBusiness #Technology #Workforce

5 Marketing Trends in 2019

Jun

20

Check out the following 5 marketing trends that can help your business stay on track with the ever-changing landscape of the digital business world.

1. Use audio to reach new audiences.

There may be more screens in front of us than ever before, but audio is far from being dead. Think about all the ways audio has been integrated into our lives, from the smart speakers we talk to, the podcast we listen to, and the music we stream. Creating audio content can be an attractive way for your audience to interact with your business. One easy way to start creating audio content is to try a free trial of our service – Click It Audio.

2. Be the expert in your field.

This is a trend that is unchanging. When was the last time you worked with a company that was uninformed in their area of expertise? If you have knowledge in a certain field you should be sharing that with your customers. This can be in any form as long as you’re proving that you have a passion and knowledge in that area. An easy way to become a leader in your field is to start your own blog.

3. Be aware of security updates.

Last summer we covered the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) set in place by the European Union. Security is still high on our trend list in 2019 because of upgrades to TLS and requirements by Google and other companies to have SSL certificates for your websites.

4. Create native ads.

Have you ever liked or commented on an Instagram or Facebook post - only to realize it was an ad? More brands are taking a less obvious approach to their marketing by creating native ads that are more subtle and blend into the platform environment. Google search results ads blend into the list of results and can appear to be organic versus paid. The same goes for social media ads that appear to be normal posts, but are in fact, ads.

5. Show CEO transparency.

Following CEOs on social media has become a common way to keep up with the “personalities” of our favorite brands. CEOs like Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and John Legere attract millions of social followers. Putting a face and personality to your company’s online presence isn’t just for Fortune 500 companies. Small businesses can take a page from Elon’s playbook by becoming the company’s spokesperson. CEOs that step into a spotlight and interact with their customers on a direct basis can help improve their businesses trust, authenticity, and relationship with their customers.

#2019Trends #Blog #BusinessTips #BusinessTrends #DigitalMedia #DigitalTrends #ENnews #Google #Marketing #OnlineMarketing #PSPinc #SmallBusiness #Technology #WebTrends

Why Your Business Needs SSL Protection

Jun

18

image source: pixabay.com

SSL is your front line of defense and protects your sensitive information as it zips across the Internet. We wrote about the importance of SSL on our blog last summer, find it here!

SSL (Security Sockets Layer) is the process of encrypting sensitive information, providing authentication, and trust to your website visitors. SSL makes data that travels between computers or servers impossible to read.

TLS (Transport Layer Security) is a more secure and updated version of SSL – but it’s still more commonly referred to as SSL. When you buy SSL, you’re essentially buying the most up-to-date version of TLS.

Google announced last summer that websites without SSL certificates would rank lower and be labeled as “Not Secure” in the URL. Businesses who have SSL will receive a boost in their ranking and visual cues such as a green URL or lock icon to show they are secure.

Buying an SSL certificate will benefit your business in 7 ways:

1. Protects against hackers
2. Provides authentication and trust
3. Chrome will display your website correctly
4. Improved search engine ranking
5. It’s inexpensive
6. Improved website speed
7. SSL has been upgraded to TLS

Not sure if you have an SSL certificate?

Even if you’ve lost touch with your website developer, we can help with SSL certificates. If you have any questions, or want more information on how SSL affects your business, email support@pspinc.com or call 1-800-232-3989.

#Blog #BusinessTips #DataSecurity #ENnews #Encryption #PSPinc #SSL #Security #SmallBusiness #TLS #Technology

What we Learned from Facebook’s Privacy Breach

Jun

13

image source: pixabay.com

Last year, Facebook founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, was asked to answer questions from congress regarding improper privacy practices, but how well do you know the backstory?

Facebook’s trouble came when the New York Times published a story about election consultant, Cambridge Analytica, gaining users’ personal data via Facebook. Cambridge Analytica saw opportunities from a Facebook app, “This is My Digital Life,” to give out personality tests to users. The app, which users downloaded, harvested personal information from the users and their friends. The professor who made the app gave the information to Cambridge Analytica so they could influence users with targeted ads during the presidential election.

So why was Facebook responsible for this privacy breach?

Facebook knew that Cambridge Analytica had gained the data and requested Cambridge Analytica delete it. But in reality, the data was never deleted and Facebook neither followed up nor went public about this incident back in 2015.

The moral of the story is: When we have any sort of privacy breach, small or not, as a business owner it is very important to come clean to your customers, take the necessary actions, AND FOLLOW UP! It’s not an easy thing to admit you made a mistake, but in the long run it’s the only way you can retain your customers’ trust and stay out of hot water.

The other moral of the story is: Be wary of surveys or personality tests or even seemingly innocent quizzes on social media platforms. It’s best to ‘not click on’ or download any new apps or give out any information because you don’t know if the source or app developer can be trusted.

#Blog #BusinessTips #DataHarvesting #ENnews #Facebook #PSPinc #PrivacyBreach #SmallBusiness #Technology

Be Aware of Credit Card Identity Thieves

Jun

11

image source: pixabay.com

"Carding" became a thing in the 80s as the use of credit cards became more popular. It’s a form of fraudulent activity where your credit card (or bank account) is hacked and used to purchase expensive goods. It’s sad there’s a group of bad people taking advantage of something that is supposed to make our lives more convenient. These hackers are also known as “carders.”

Be aware of these common techniques carders use for hacking:

Malware

Carders can embed malware onto your computers and devices, trying to steal your personal and login information. Scan your devices with anti-spyware and anti-malware software regularly. Don’t click on any links you don’t trust.

Phishing

Hackers pretend to be legitimate service providers with phishing emails/sites that will trick you into entering your personal or credit card information. Do not click any emails warning you to take action immediately – always check to make sure they are legitimate first. Most of those emails and websites look like the real thing, even though they’re not. For example, the IRS will never email you to enter your info online. General rule of thumb, if an email is asking you to verify or enter personal data, don’t do it unless you call or check with the source from a website you know is legitimate.

Carding Forums

There are many forums for hacker wannabes to visit. It is said Russian carding forums are bigger than anywhere else. They exchange stolen identities and credit card information.

Always, always check your statement; do not click any links that ask you to make payments, and stay on top of your credit card and bank activity! If and when you find questionable activity, please call your financial institution right away.

#Blog #BusinessTips #Carders #Carding #ENnews #Hacker #Hacking #Malware #PSPinc #Phishing #SmallBusiness #Technology

The Dangers of Smart Phone Connectivity

Jun

6

image source: pixabay.com

I don’t know what I would do without my smart phone. I use it to check traffic so I can find the best route in the morning. I use GPS to go to my meetings, no more printed maps. I use it to check-in for flights and show my e-ticket. I don’t even carry cash or credit cards because it’s all on my phone, including person-to-person money transfers using Venmo.

Everything is available to us on our phones, which is very convenient, but also risky.

When you’re using an app on your smart phone, be aware you are connected and at risk of being hacked. You share a lot about you and your behaviors through your smart phone. So here are some tips to keep in mind when using your phone:

- Use a PIN to unlock your device. In fact, biometrics are probably safer so it may be time for you to consider upgrading your device with one that uses fingerprint or a facial recognition to unlock your smart phone.

- In public places such as an airport or coffee shop, be careful and mindful of choosing “Free WiFi” because there may be people nearby who are literally “listening” and waiting for you to enter your passwords onto your Virtual Private Network, or onto an unsecure website.

- If you need to get connected in public places, use your cellular service instead of the Free WiFi.

- Bluetooth is not safe from cyber attacks either, so only pair with trusted devices and turn off connectivity if you suspect you’re in a public place where cyber security could be an issue.

- Be wary of apps you download on your phone. Remove it if you don’t need it and don’t install it if it isn’t from a trusted source.

All this “connectivity” and convenience comes with more responsibility. Just like our physical security, we need to be mindful of the things around us (i.e. our phones) that could pose a potential threat.

#Biometrics #Blog #Bluetooth #BusinessTips #CyberAttacks #Devices #ENnews #Hackers #PSPinc #Passwords #SmallBusiness #SmartPhones #Technology #Wifi

The Importance of a Strong Password

Jun

4

It began with the ATM PIN and passwords have since become prevalent in our daily lives, a critical piece in our IoT way of life. With all of our personal information online, and internet hackers becoming more sophisticated, it’s now more important than ever we protect our information with strong passwords.

Password “strength” is a way to measure its effectiveness. As our computing power increases, so does the bad guys’ technology. They can systematically scan different logins with possible combinations. This technique is called “Brute-Force Attack.” They run the possible combinations by machines hoping to get a match before their fake attempts are blocked by the system.

If you use a short, easy combination, the likelihood of your passcode getting cracked increases much faster. So, what constitutes a good password?

Today we recommend:

- Using 8 to12 digits minimum
- Mixing lowercase and uppercase
- Mixing numbers and special characters

Do not use common words like “password” or “1234” for your password. Make sure you update your passwords once in a while. Hackers are getting smart - they don’t scan the possible password combinations all at once; they may go slowly so the system is less likely to flag them as hackers.

Consider this: It may be a pain to determine a “strong password” and try to remember it, but how much more painful and inconvenient would it be if your information was hacked? Stay ahead of the hackers and protect your identity and accounts with passwords they can’t crack!

#Blog #BusinessTips #CyberHackers #CyberThreats #ENnews #Hackers #PSPinc #PasswordStrength #Passwords #SmallBusiness #Technology

5 Tips for Responsive Websites

May

30

image source: pixabay.com

If you’re in the position to have a responsive website designed for your business, here are 5 things to consider that will make it worthwhile.

1. Minimize

A website that is displayed on a mobile device has a smaller screen and less real estate than a desktop monitor. Look over each of your pages and decide what information is absolutely necessary. Design your pages with minimal content to keep them from appearing too busy and messy.

2. Hide Content

Another useful technique for minimizing the amount of content on a single page is to hide it. You can do this by simply deleting content or by using dropdown buttons that expand text or images.

3. Scalable Images and Graphics

Visiting mobile websites with extra large or too tiny images can be frustrating. If possible, use a responsive image or graphic that can respond to the screen size. If you can’t, or don’t know how to make an image responsive, try using two different sized images for desktop and mobile.

4. Clickable Buttons

Take a few minutes to think about the layout of your website. Are the buttons displayed large enough on mobile? Is it hard to click on a link, image, or button with your thumbs? Give users plenty of space in-between clickable objects.

5. Fonts

Fonts go hand-in-hand with creating clickable buttons. Because of the smaller screen you should consider how your fonts would be displayed on mobile devices. Clear and easy to read fonts will be greatly appreciated by your site visitors.

Bonus Tip:

When users browse your website on mobile devices they have different features than when they browse on their desktop. The main one being that they can make calls directly from websites.

#Blog #BusinessTips #ENnews #MobileWebsites #PSPinc #ResponsiveWebsites #SmallBusiness #Technology #WebDesign #Websites