Fun Friday: "Thriller" Album Turns "30"

The "Thriller" music video is dubbed the most influential music video ever.  The album is the best-selling album of all time.  "Thriller" has spent the most weeks (37) atop the Billboard 200 of any album by a single artist.

A less statistical fact from "Thriller": the song and video helped to shatter the racial divide on the radio and on MTV.

Interested in a little more "Thriller" info?

"30 Cool Facts About 'Thriller'" will boggle your mind with tidbits and trivia.

Check out Yahoo! Music for little-known facts about "Thriller."

One of Jackson's co-writers remembers working with him in an NPR interview.

Check out these 10 facts about the "Thriller" music video:


 Think you've seen everything "Thriller?" Check out these inmates from the Philippines that are, actually, pretty good at choreography. How's that for rehabilitation?

 

Now, beat it.

iGenius - Online Training, a Case Study


You might think that an online training system that provides courses for a wide variety of employees and situations in a large geographic area sounds like a pie-in-the sky idea--too expensive and too time consuming.  You'd be wrong! DMI Studios' iGenius is an online training system that helped Construction Resource Management do just that!

Construction Resource Management (CRM) is a Wisconsin-based captive service provider for three construction companies specializing in asphalt, bridges and overpasses: Payne and Dolan, Northeast Asphalt and Zenith Tech. These companies strive to provide top-notch infrastructure construction throughout Wisconsin and Michigan.  CRM worked with DMI to develop websites for each of their companies and during the course of a general strategy session, the pipe-dream of web-based employee training came up. We suggested iGenius and the plan took off!

iGenius - a diamond in the rough


In 2004, DMI Studios created iGenius --a customizable framework that encompasses the essential elements businesses need in a training program--scalability, cost effectiveness and consistency.  DMI built the iGenius solution to easily adapt to a multitude of situations including human resources, sales training, education, or any situation where a web-based learning program is needed.

By implementing the iGenius solution, CRM now facilitates online training in a slide-show manner for their employees..  The training courses can incorporate any combination of audio, video, Flash, text and/or images.  Each training session is then followed up with a test to measure comprehension.  CRM can easily log in to the iGenius solution to see which employees have watched various training sessions, taken tests and quizzes and, ultimately, passed the course.

Flexible to meet business needs


The genius that is iGenius, is the flexibility and freedom CRM has within the framework. Site Administrators have the ability to: 
  • Upload employee info and download employee course scores.

  • Assign employees to courses or certificates (groups of courses) by company, area, job position or individually.

  • Grant access to employees to take courses at any time, from any computer connected to the Internet.

  • Create courses from existing or new materials.

  • Add variations on the same question to ensure that, when a quiz is retaken to taken by another employee, it's slightly different,

  • View reports that provide data on employees, courses and comprehension tests.

  • Input offline course scores so all employee data resides in one place.

Scalable for any situation


CRM uses the iGenius solution in conjunction with classroom training, for internal training and OSHA required training.  So far, CRM's iGenius solution has over 1,100 users and 60 courses. Some example courses are: 
  • About Our Company

  • Entry Level DOT/CDL Driver Training

  • Defensive Driving

  • Harassment in the Workplace

  • Aerial Lift Safety

  • First Aid

In addition, the iGenius solution is tied into CRM's employee Intranet. This creates one central location for employees to take courses, get employee forms and info, view project photo galleries, and any relevant company information.

In all, the iGenius solution has been a great asset for CRM.  "Utilizing the iGenius system has allowed us to provide cost efficient, customized training to our employees," says Dawn Pratt, Human Resources Manager / EEO Officer for CRM.  "In addition we are able to post documents, photos albums of workers, important information, benefit forms and a host of other important employee related information that creates a one-stop shop for our employees.  It has worked out to be a very beneficial endeavor for both the company and the employee. Working with DMI has been a dream and they are so receptive to make it work just like we want it!"

It's just one more way DMI Studios builds more than websites--we build business!

If you'd like to see a test drive of the iGenius solution, we'd love to have you kick the tires, so to speak. Contact us today!

Cyber Monday - Is It For Real?

Image Source
"Cyber Monday" was appropriately coined in 2005 by a Shop.org press release that year.  Their research indicated a major swing in online sales on the Mondays following Thanksgiving.  Increasing access to high-speed Internet, the need to shop online while kids are asleep, and the need to complete unfinished holiday shopping are reasons sighted for the Cyber Monday madness.  In response, online retailers took note of the trend and created specific sales and promotions beginning in 2005.

Is Cyber Monday really the biggest online shopping day of the year?


According to comScore, since they began tracking e-commerce activity in 2001, consumers spent $1.028 Billion online on Cyber Monday 2010, making it the biggest spending day of the year.  Prior to that, Cyber Monday was not the biggest sales-day of the year.

Cyber Monday shopping since 2005:


Cyber Monday still only represents a small portion of total holiday sales (online and traditional), however the importance of the sale day is increasing each year.  Its beginnings were humble (and mostly hype), however Cyber Monday 2011 was the highest online sales day on record!

Ever Changing.  


The latest tech trend is the increasing use of mobile devices for online shopping.  The most common platform for mobile browsing is the iPhone.  Practical Ecommerce notes Black Friday mobile browsing was higher than Cyber Monday browsing, probably because most people were away from their work computers.


Takeaways

  • Black Friday and Cyber Monday are important eCommerce dates for virtually all retailers.
  • The number of consumers using mobile devices for shopping is increasing rapidly.
  • Many shoppers are doing so from their work computers.

For even more Cyber Monday info, check out Information Experts Infographic.

Happy shopping!

Black Friday Infographic

Are you planning to head out on Black Friday?

Here are a few tips to get you through the day:

  Black Friday Cheat Sheet
Via: NerdWallet

PCI Compliance Guide - Internet 101

The Internet can be a great source of revenue for small business.  However, it can also be a great source of frustration for those that may not know the rules of business on the World Wide Web.

One such issue is PCI Compliance.
"The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of requirements designed to ensure that ALL companies that process, store or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment."   - PCI Guide
Ultimately the PCI guidelines are to protect the consumer and businesses.  Credit card data that is easily hacked into is a huge security issue for consumers.  And, businesses that knowingly store this data in an unsecured location are helping these hackers do what they do.

Do I need to be aware of the PCI Guidelines?   

If you transmit, accept or store credit card information, then the PCI Compliance guidelines apply to you; regardless of the size of your business or organization.  These transactions can occur via the web or over the phone.  

My website has an SSL, so I must be covered.

An SSL Certificate is a secure webpage that credit card transactions occur on.  Though, an SSL certificate will not secure the server on which credit card data may be stored; thus they are vulnerable on the server.  An SSL Certificate is not enough to secure all credit card data, but it is an important component in secure credit card transactions.

Tip:  How do I know if a webpage is secure?  The URL should begin with "https://" 

I use a third-party to process transactions, so they'll take care of this.

Not necessarily.  It is important that your third-party vendor is PCI Compliant, however some of the transaction data may still be saved on your servers.  Using a third-party may cut down your risk, but it's best to be sure your customers' data is safe.

Okay, where do I begin?

The first piece of information to gather is this:  How many VISA card transactions has your business or organization processed in the last 12-months?  
Level 1 - 6 million or more VISA transactions per year.
Level 2 - 1 million - 6 million VISA transactions per year.
Level 3 - 20,000 - 1 million VISA transactions per year.
Level 4 - Fewer than 20,000 VISA transactions per year.
Most small-to-medium sized businesses fall in Level 4.
Assuming you're a Level 4 business, these are the following steps you need to take to ensure PCI Compliance:

  1. Find which Validation Type your business falls under.  

  2. Take the Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) --the instructions will assist you as to which questionnaires to fulfill.

  3. If you store cardholder info or if your processing systems are connected to the Internet, you'll need to complete and gather evidence of passing a vulnerability scan.  Scans must be conducted by a PCI SSC Approved Scanning Vendor.   

  4. Complete the appropriate Attestation of Compliance

  5. Submit the SAQ (Self Assessment Questionnaire), data of passing scan (if applicable), and the Attestation of Compliance (found in document with SAQ), along with any other requested documentation, to you acquirer.

Where can I find the standards online?

If you need a hand tackling PCI Compliance for your business, we would be happy to help!  We've been down this road with many of our clients and can leverage that knowledge for you!  Simply contact us today!


Useful Links
PCI Compliance Guide
Official PCI Security Standards Council
PCI Compliance Checklist by the Better Business Bureau

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This post is the part of a series of Internet 101 information topics. As always, when class is dismissed, you're welcome to contact us if you have any questions or would like any additional information. If you don't feel at the head of your class, don't worry, we took notes.

Local Search - Claiming Your Brand's Online Identity

Image: IT Jargon
Googled your business lately?  Customers are using search engines to find your address, phone number and service information as well as to determine your credibility.  Not pleased with the search engine results for your brand?  Take heart, there are steps you can take to claim your brand's identity online.

The Basics - Your Website

Your brand's website is the first step to claiming your business identity.  Start with a Contact Us page with your business's address, phone number and relevant information.  Be sure to include the cities you provide services to on your website as well.  Blog posts that are sporadically sprinkled with the areas you provide services to will round out your local search results.

Low Hanging Fruit - Social Media

Create a business page on Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn for free.  Be sure to fill out as much information as you can on each site.  List the hours your business is open, street address, services provided and any relevant imagery as well as a link to your website.  This information will, 1) provide search engines with your address/phone number to list in their results and, 2) add a credibility to prospective customers.

Online Directories - A Little Time, But Well Worth It

A number of directories exist that will list your business information for free.  Here are a few of our favorites:
google.com/placesforbusiness
local.yahoo.com
bing.com/local
In addition, there are a multitude of smaller directories out there well worth claiming as well.  A great way to check out if you're listed properly is to use a search tool.  You can easily see the directories where you're already listed and the ones you'll need to visit and add your information. Some of the notables are:
yext.com
getlisted.org
ubl.com
These services provide listing information for free but then charge to help you fix your listings. If you want to save some cash and fix your listings yourself, it's not hard but it will take time.  Many of the listed directories will have you verify your ownership of the business information through a phone call or post card.

As with your brand's social media profiles, be sure to fill in as much relevant information as each directory allows to lend credibility.

Create Engagement

A great enhancement to your directory listings is customer reviews.  What is the best way to get a review?  Simply to ask. If you do receive reviews, many directories allow you to respond to it.  Thank commenters for their patronage, respond to so-so reviews and address any negative reviews.

Why Claim My Brand's Identity?

Time is a commodity.  Why should you spend time on these business directories?

1.  Almost all of these are free!

2.  Free traffic to your website or front door!

3.  Search engines cross-check these directories.  The more directories that have your info listed properly will lend to the credibility of your brand's online presence.

4.  Ensure search engines are giving customers the proper info--not an old address or phone number.

5.  If you don't claim this information, someone else may.
Wait, what?  That's right.  We've had a client who had their brand's identity claimed by a competitor.  Their name, address and phone number were marked as:  "Out of Business."  Ouch!  Immoral.  And, not good for business.   Claim your brand's info before someone else does!

Tips

* Be sure you use the same address and even format the address the same way in every instance.  "123 Main Street, Suite 23" looks different to search engines than, "123 Main St. Ste. #23."  Be consistent.  Every time.

* Adding a photo of the exterior of your business is a great way to help customers become acquainted with your business before they even get in their car!

*Spread these tasks out over a month.  That way, you won't be overwhelmed by the process.

* Keep checking periodically, even after you've made your changes.  If a site or directory you've missed is feeding other directories, your work can be unravelled.


A few other great articles to on improving your local marketing

5 Ways to Improve Local Search Results for Business
How to Claim Your Online Identity and Keep It Relevant

News from Search Engine Strategies Conference- Chicago


This week, DMI Studios has been knee deep in all things Search Engine Marketing while attending the SES Conference & Expo in Chicago #SESCHI.  SES provides marketing professionals, brand advertisers, agencies, and business leaders with the knowledge and tools needed to traverse the dynamic digital landscape. Translation- the best and the brightest gather together to share ideas and talk about what’s new and trending.

While our brains are still brimming with everything we’ve learned, we thought we give a few quick highlights and interesting facts.

Google:
  • Over 200 data points are used by Google to determine organic positioning.  The top 3 are Site Structure, Frequency of Updates and Linking- Content really is king!
  • 100 billion queries per month come into Google.
  • 16% of Google inquiries have never been seen by Google before.
  • 80% of queries have no exact match.
  • 40% searches are over 3 words long.
Bing:
  • 5.6 billion queries per month come into Bing.
  • Bing controls 30% of the US Market.
  • Bing has 151 million unique users.
  • Bing claims to have 46 million users that don’t also use Google.
  • Bing users spend on average 5.4% more per transaction than Googlers.


Google Shopping:
  • There's 1 billion products in Google Shopping.
  • Google Shopping boasts over 100,000 retailers.
  • By submitting themselves for review by Google, a retailer can become “Trusted” by Google.  Google reports a 5-10% gain in orders for stores that have become trusted.
Social Media:
  • Social campaigns on Facebook or Twitter can also help with other campaigns like content marketing, link building, brand awareness, lead generation and SEO.
  • Social Media can be used as a way to get others to do your work for you- spreading the word about your brand.
  • Twitter processes about 1 million tweets per week.
  • 20% of all tweets are invitations for product info and 48% are to introduce a brand.
  • 25% of internet users go to a website after learning about it on some form of social media.
  • 500 billion minutes a month are spent on Facebook.

Cool Stuff:
  • Wal-mart.com does 1/20 the sales of Amazon.com.
  • Google is offering up to $10,000 a month in free Pay Per Click ads to Non-profit organizations.
  • Mobile marketing accounts for only 1% of ad spend but 23% of web use.
  • Local Search comprises 40% of all mobile traffic.

Whew!  That was quite a brain dump!  We’d be more than happy to talk with you about more ideas and options that could impact your business- just give us a day or two for the swelling in our heads to go down!

Content Management - A Powerful Tool

Content is king.  Consumers are looking for up-to-date information about virtually every brand--your brand.  How can you deliver timely content and keeps costs down?   Content Management can be the silver-bullet in your brand's arsenal.

One client of DMI Studios that leverages our Content Management System is Port Washington, WI.  Port Washington needed a website that combined the identities of their tourism industry, chamber of commerce and main street programs.  In addition, each identity had a wealth of information that would need to be routinely updated.

When searching for a web design agency that was up to the task, Kathy Tank, Executive Director for Port Washington Tourism Council knew she could look to DMI Studios.  "I knew [Brad of DMI Studios] well enough to know that he would not misrepresent what DMI could do, just to get the deal.  When I talked about the challenge we had, needing a website for three distinct entities, combined into one website, without any of the entities losing their identity, [Brad] said he knew DMI Studios could come up with a solution."

The challenge was steep.  Port Washington needed a website for the three separate entities that was easy to navigate and consolidated, yet distinct for each identity.  In addition, each entity had differing needs for DMI's Content Management System.  

Once the website was created, Port Washington was armed with a unified brand for three entities and DMI's Content Management System.  Now, their dedicated staff are able to update the website quickly and easily; making visitportwashington.com the go-to website for their distinct audiences.

"People say it [the website] looks very professional, and being able to update it when needed helps us to keep the site vibrant and up-to-date with the latest information.  That makes Port Washington able to compete with the big guys." says Kathy.

Websites have precious few moments to capture a user's attention before they click away and find another source for information. About the website DMI created, Kathy notes, "People say [our website] is easy to navigate and they can find what they are looking for."  User experience is key in creating a valuable resource.

A major benefit to DMI's Content Management System is the ability to control costs as well.  "The easy-to-use CMS keeps costs in-line with dedicated staff being able to update content and manage the website without having to pay anyone else to make the changes," Kathy noted. That means more updates on-the-fly.    

Kathy explained, "[There are] no financial boundaries keeping us back from using the website.  This keeps the website vibrant and refreshed with the latest information and helps us do a better job of communicating info about Port Washington to our audience, thus helping us to drive more tourism visits and business for our economy."

Timely content is the key to engaging customers on the web.  Port Washington relies heavily on content management with various parts of the website being updated almost daily!  Port Washington has become the expert in their brand by publishing timely content and communicating daily with their distinct audiences.

Website created.  Business enhanced.

What can content management do for your brand?
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If you'd like to see a demonstration of our Content Management System, we'd be happy to show it off!  Contact us and we'll be there.  With bells on. 

Bing the Vote!

We interrupt your Tuesday to remind you to vote.  And, in the spirt of voting, we'd love to see which Search Engine you prefer--Bing or Google.

Want to know how the candidates stack up?  Bing has created a tool to help with that.  You can search simultaneously for varying search topics to see which search engine YOU prefer:  Bing or Google.

Since we're savvy and strive to be empirical, we did a double blind test -- no caffiene was ingested directly prior to this test.

Note :: You can click graphics to view them at a larger size.







We were split 50/50 and selected Bing twice, Google twice and had a draw for Round 5.


Looking for more Bing vs. Google standings?  Check out this great infographic.

We'd love to hear which search engine gets your vote!