PSPINC Official Company Blog

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 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

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

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

What is Experiential Marketing?

Sep

6

Experiential marketing is, in essence, marketing your product, service, or brand through an experience. In today’s digital age, many consumers hate ads. They disrupt their overall experience and keep them from the content they wanted to see. There’s a reason why ad blockers have gained so much popularity in recent years. Experiential marketing counteracts that by promoting your brand in a non-intrusive way. The perfect example is Coca-Cola’s Happiness Machine campaign from 2010. The overarching idea behind it was that happiness is contagious. And they proved their point when people shared their various items with people from the otherwise ordinary Coca-Cola vending machine.

Framing your brand’s marketing strategy with an experience is a completely different approach from traditional advertising. Many marketing tactics aim to get the most amount of viewership. But experiential marketing focuses more on customer engagement. To do that, brands need to focus on evoking an emotional response from people and using technology to make that experience memorable. The best way to do that is by telling a captivating story while incorporating relevant brand elements. And around that story, the visual details need to reflect the brand’s overall vision and deliver a stimulating customer experience.

Benefits of Experiential Marketing

two coca cola vending machines placed next to each other

For businesses, experiential marketing differentiates them from their competitors. And for truly great experiences, customers will not only remember your brand, they’ll perceive your brand in a positive light. And customers feel special about experiencing something unique that many people haven’t experienced before. If they enjoy the event, they’ll recommend your brand to others, essentially creating brand advocates. And even with all the different marketing avenues out there today, word-of-mouth is still one of the most effective marketing tactics. Additionally, the customer engagement that experiential marketing provides leads to increased return on investment (ROI), customers, and sales.

With so many distractions out there today, experiential marketing breaks the traditional marketing mold of disrupting customers’ experience. Instead, it elicits an emotional response through engaging visual storytelling. And while traditional methods strive for increased reach and awareness, experiential marketing aims to grow engagement and maintain interest memorably. In the end, customers are happier throughout the entire customer journey, and it results in higher retention rates. For small businesses looking for more long-term marketing success, experiential marketing is worth a try.

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 #brand #brandadvocates #branding #brandperception #business #businesstips #cocacola #customerengagement #digitalmarketing #engagement #experience #experientialmarketing #marketing #marketingdigital #smallbusiness #tech #technology

PSPINC Official Company Blog

freespace

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

How Businesses Can Grow with Influencer Marketing

Why Influencers?

Working with Influencers

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

What is Apple’s New eSIM?

The Benefits of an eSIM

The Fallbacks

How to Activate an eSIM

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

What is Experiential Marketing?

Benefits of Experiential Marketing

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