A Day in the LIfe of the Internet

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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?

The PCI Security Standards Council has the definitive guide to PCI Compliance.

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.

Internet 101 - Laws of Search Engine Attraction

Understanding Search Engine Optimization is a full-time job--literally.  DMI Studios has an in-house Marketing Specialist to assist all of our clients with interactive marketing, beginning with Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

Search Engine Optimization is working to create a website that is easily found on search engines.   SEO is the natural positioning within search engines such as Yahoo!, Bing and Google.

Each search engine has a different way at looking at websites--this is called their algorithm.  SEO works to ensure your website has the specific features each algorithm is looking for.

Search engine placement is important!  Let's imagine, a valued client of ours, FleaBDead,  sells diamond studded flea collars.  The market for these products is huge and the demand is high, so we want to be sure people can find this website.

Words!

In working with FleaBDead, we look at their product and determine how John Q. Public is planning to use a Search Engine to find their website.  Johnny will probably search for "diamond flea collar," "diamond studded flea collar" and "flea collar."  We ensure these phrases are included throughout the website we create for them.

Johnny probably won't know these flea collars by name.  So the name of client's company, "FleaBDead" is of lesser importance here.  

So, we add the words the public may use to find these products to the titles throughout their website.  A title is found at the very top of your browser.  It is also the first line listed in search results.  So, we'd add "Diamond Studded Flea Collars - FleaBGone" to their title--important words first. This covers all of their important search terms.  

Links

Search engines look to other trusted websites to see if they should trust your website--thus reducing the chance you're simply a SPAM website.  When a big-name pet store links to FleaBGone, it's like giving search engines a "thumbs up" about our site.  Win!  The more of these great links, the better for our client!  Although, not for the fleas.

The words that are used in these links are also important.  The pet store linking to our client's site with "Diamond Studded Flea Collars" will help search engines to further categorize us within the realm of diamond studded flea collars.  Linking to our client with "FleaBDead" doesn't do that.  So, we help our clients be picky about their links.

Ever Growing

Websites that are continually adding content and gaining links are noticed by search engines.  It's like the popular kid in school who keeps gaining attention by his following.  Search engines take note of these popular kids.   We help websites become popular with our Content Management Systems and by integrating blogs when they are a good fit.

Our Approach

DMI Studios has a specific approach when working to optimize a website.  First, a website is created using a clean coding and design (major disadvantage for template-websites).  Next, DMI works with each client to ensure the content on each web page is valuable to your audience and has those important search terms (or keywords) related to your business.

Once the website is launched, we collaborate with our clients to work on increasing search engine leads for their website.  This could entail modifying the copy on specific under-performing pages on the site, working to create better links to your website or adding code in the back end informing search engines about the content of your website.  All in an effort to help your audience find you!

This is just the beginning of Search Engine Optimization.  If you're looking for ways to increase your website's SEO, we'd be happy to help!

Internet 101 - Content Management for Websites

This post is 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.
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In the infancy stages of the World Wide Web, updating your website required fluency in HTML or having an on-call webmaster.  The Internet has grown up quite a bit in the last 20+ years and content management is a powerful change.

Content Management Tools (CMTs) (n.) are "forms" within the administrative area of a website that allow a web owner to quickly and easily update content on their website.

What kind of content can be updated?

A CMT can be created for virtually ANY content that you'd like to provide and update regularly on your website--News, Events, Products, Services, Testimonials, Video, Photos, Employment Openings, FAQs, Documents, Links, and the list goes on.

Why update content?

Many websites start out as online brochures--well, you have to start somewhere!  However, an interactive website that your audience can rely upon as a valuable source of information is much more powerful than an online brochure.

You see, any valued relationship needs conversation.  Imagine a dinner party guest that tells the same story over and over to each party attendant.  After listening to the story time after time, people would begin to wonder what was wrong with that guy.

What was his social faux pas?  Aside from the plaid pants he was sporting, he also delivered the same story regardless of the audience--kind of like a brochure website.

Now the life of the party, what was he up to?  He had great stories to tell, listened attentively and enjoyed the conversation--he was dynamic!  And, he was dressed like 007.

CMTs allow your website to be dynamic and encourage conversation with your audience, so you can be the life of the Interwebs.

DMI Studios has proprietary Content Management Systems-loaded with CMTs to give your website a competitive advantage.  If you'd like to see a Content Management System demonstration, we'd love to show off our work, you party animal.

Internet 101 - Mobile App vs. Mobile Website

This post is the first in 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.

Do you need an app for that? Apps get all the love these days, but what is an app and do you need one for your website? First, we'll ask Mr. Webster:

Mobile App – An app is a program that is downloaded from an app store onto a user's phone. Apps are typically focused on one task (customer service, social media, entertainment, training, or informational).

Mobile Website – A mobile website resides on the internet and your audience can navigate to it through a browser. It is a streamlined for efficient loading and viewing from mobile devices.

Here's a side-by-side comparison:

It can be difficult to determine if an app or a mobile website is best suited for your business needs. Each application has unique qualities that can grant your idea success.

In a majority of cases, a mobile website is the best bet for business. However, apps are extremely powerful when used in the proper cases. Just take a gander at the 50 Best iPhone Apps of 2012 by TIME magazine.

Are you brainstorming an app or mobile website?  We'd love to chat with you about your options!

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Here are a few apps we can't live without:

Angry Birds 
of course

Google Sky Map
we star-gaze as well as naval-gaze

Flashlight
this one is just fun

WebMD 
should I bring my son to the doctor or not...

Scramble
keeps copywriting sharp

Evernote
a true genius takes copious notes

Kindle
the ultimate in multitasking

Packers
home or away? who's out of the game? 

Netflix
long wait at the doctor? why not watch a movie?

Baby Rattle
don't you dare judge us...we love technology and teach our babies to, too

Mobile websites that are frequent stops:

m.cnn.com
daily news stop

m.amazon.com
book fettish

m.packers.com
football fettish

m.dominos.com
pizza fettish

m.packersproshop.com
fan apparel fettish

What's on your phone?