Category: Business

AI-created Subtitles to Leverage Video Performance

In today’s competitive digital world, it is essential that you employ an effective approach to captivate and engage your target audience. Video content has become incredibly popular on social media platforms due to its accessibility and entertaining nature, meaning videos are part of most modern marketing strategies nowadays, and in this article, we will explore a very clear video feature: subtitles! 

In fact, there is more to subtitles than you might think. Subtitles play an important role in mediating the communication of online video content: they create improved comprehension of video content – leading to better engagement metrics; they can participate in securing higher search engine rankings – leading to more views; and not least, they can give rise to the opportunity of reaching a global audience – leading to overall increased chances of success. 

Thanks to the development of artificial computer intelligence we are not left to manually subtitle our videos anymore. We have innovative software within our reach that can generate automatic subtitles for videos. 

Discover why subtitles are becoming increasingly popular as we examine their many advantages!

Videos Played Silently

In a world where videos are watched in increasingly more public spaces and with the audio volume significantly decreased or completely muted, subtitles provide an essential way to ensure viewers understand your message. They unite audible content with visual elements so that even when sound is not heard, your details will be processed correctly by those watching!

However, that decreased audio volume might not always be voluntary. Hearing difficulties are a significant global challenge, with currently 466 million people in the world experiencing some degree of reduced hearing. This number is expected to rise dramatically over the next three decades – up to 700 million by 2050. 

In excess of these numbers, 2.5 billion individuals are thought to have various degrees of hearing loss worldwide, and knowing this – it’s not odd that subtitles originally when movies with sound became possible, were used to assist those hard of hearing. And, this will continuously be a relevant purpose for subtitling videos.

Studies have shown that the comprehension of, attention to, and memory of videos are significantly improved when subtitles are present. In fact, they increase engagement rates by up to 80%. Also Learn: How Instantly Create AI Videos Using Basic Text?

The Language Barrier

Going global is the way of the future. As we know, with only a few clicks through the internet, we can make content available to audiences around the world and open up vast new opportunities for success. The only thing standing in our way? Language barriers! And unless we are categorised as a linguistic genius, this could be a tricky obstacle to conquer.  

One option is hiring a professional translator. In some cases that’s definitely the most recommendable thing to do. But if you want to translate your video subtitles for video content shared on for instance social media platforms you don’t have to stretch your budget or use excessive time om expert help. You can easily and quite fast translate your videos automatically with an AI subtitle generator and translator.

Let’s look into the specifics of AI subtitling and translation.

AI to help Automate the Process of Subtitling and Translation? 

We don’t need to exaggerate when referring to the process of automated subtitling and translation as a revolution. Because for people working with video editing on a daily basis, the forthcoming advanced subtitling and translation software truly is a time-saver and a chance to streamline the otherwise tedious and sometimes linguistically challenging task of subtitling.

AI-powered software can now quickly transcribe video speech into text and create subtitles for videos in mere minutes – with remarkable accuracy especially when audio is clear. In fact, the accuracy of transcribing speech into text with AI is up to 98%. Additionally, the same software allows users to effortlessly translate the subtitles into multiple languages; ensuring content creators have an efficient way of reaching a global audience. Content creators can learn how to transcribe YouTube videos using AI-powered software.

Subtitle Design

Although the task of subtitling has become automated, it doesn’t mean that there’s no need for editing subtitles anymore. As many experienced video editors will know most subtitles are actually shortened in regards to the whole transcript of video speech. This comes down to the fact that people tend to speak faster than they read, and we want subtitles to be easy to read – therefore we leave out some excessive words that are not relevant in order to understand the whole context.

Editing of subtitles is about more than words, it’s also about the subtitle style and position on the screen. Choose font, size, color, background, position, and more to make your subtitles count in defining your brand and message, and to complement the design of your video.  

The editing part of subtitling is a clear reason why we shouldn’t just rely on direct auto-generated captions on social media platforms. It doesn’t allow us to modify our subtitles to fit our video. The subtitles might end up covering some important graphics that we could have avoided by changing position or background – or the subtitle style might look odd in regard to our video. If you’ve tried it, you know the trouble. 

Linguistic Characteristics

When it comes to translation, no software is as accurate as a professional human translator can be. This is due to all the linguistic characteristics that are not easy for machines to understand. Pre-AI translation software is based on word-by-word translations – often resulting in sentences with a nonsense context.  

Although it isn’t perfect, AI software has taken translation to another level, by utilising advanced language models that consider grammar, sentence structure, and other language-specific features that matter. Therefore AI-powered translation software can in fact translate into accurate and meaningful sentences and is indeed very useful when needing to translate subtitles for videos. With AI software you can translate your video subtitles into a selection of languages to fit your target audiences’ needs.        

Subtitles to Help obtain a better SEO Strategy   

Adding subtitle files to videos has a secret superpower: it can positively boost your search engine optimization! SEO, short for search engine optimization, involves the process of search engine robots crawling the internet detecting specific ranking factors on each website page in order to rank it. Keywords are the number one ranking factor that counts in SEO, as they can enable robots to position web pages in compatible search inquiries. Meaning matching your content with viewers’ specific requests and increasing visibility!

However, when it comes to videos, robots can’t detect audible and visual content, and therefore only the engagement metrics of videos are considered in SEO, not the actual content. Obviously, a bit of a bummer, when considering all the work put into video-making! But, there is a way to get around this. Make sure to include those all-important keywords in the title, tags, and subtitles. This will give the search engine robots something to chew on and allow them to rank your video fairly in the search engine system. Ensure that your keywords actually describe what your video is about, and the other way around – so that your content will answer your viewers’ queries. This way you can keep your viewers engaged and avoid high bouncing rates!

Closed caption subtitles

Although subtitles are the secret spice to the video recipe, it’s not just any kind of subtitles that can contribute to improved SEO. It specifically has to be a subtitle file and the kind referred to as closed caption subtitles. This is the kind of subtitles uploaded as an SRT or VTT file together with the video on the video distribution platform, and it can be turned on and off. It further allows the option of adding a selection of subtitles in different languages for the audience to choose between. 

Create Closed Caption Subtitles

You can create closed caption subtitles by uploading your video to the subtitle generator, adding automatic subtitles, editing and translating them if needed, and in the end downloading the subtitles separately as SRT or VTT files to upload with your video on the platform of your choice. 

If you prefer to add hardcoded subtitles to your video – the kind of subtitles that are always there, and can’t be turned off – they are created the same way, except the saving process is different, as you export the whole video with the subtitles burned onto it. Note that this will not have an effect on SEO.   

Subtitles, SEO, Success!

So, the aim is to use all these juicy benefits of subtitles to their fullest. Use closed caption subtitles if you can, make sure your keywords correspond well with your video content and find the balance between you and your audience: open up, be inclusive, clarify your message with confidence, and invite your audience to engage with your video content. Whether you are making informative, commercial, entertaining, or educational videos – or a mix – subtitles create improved ways of reaching a bigger audience.  

 

 

Top Tips to Level Up Multi-location Marketing for Your Business

Multi-location marketing is a strategic approach that businesses use to promote their brand, products, and services across multiple locations. The goal of marketing for businesses with several locations is to create a consistent brand message and experience for customers, regardless of which location they visit, in order to build trust and credibility. This can be challenging, as each location may have its own unique characteristics and target audience.

One of the most difficult aspects of expanding your business to multiple locations is making sure your marketing efforts are consistent across all locations. These are some tips that will help you increase your ROI and marketing efforts to attract more customers. However, by implementing a multi-location marketing strategy, your business can increase visibility, reach more customers, and drive more sales.

Adplorer horizon software for multi-location marketing:

Adplorer horizon is powerful software that allows you to easily manage your multi-location marketing efforts from one central platform. With Adplorer horizon, you can create and publish location-specific content, track your marketing campaigns, and analyze your results all in one place. This multi-location marketing software is a must-have for any business looking to level up its business. Here are some ways that Adplorer can help your company:

 

  • Centralized management: This platform allows you to manage all of your locations’ marketing efforts from one central platform, making it easy to keep track of your campaigns, analyze your results, and make adjustments as needed.

 

  • Location-specific content creation: Horizon software enables you to create and publish location-specific content, such as social media posts, email campaigns, and promotional materials, making it easy to connect with customers on a more personal level.

 

  • Campaign tracking and analysis: With the help of this software to track your marketing campaigns and analyze your results, you can see which campaigns are performing the best and make adjustments as needed.

 

  • Brand consistency: Adplorer horizon helps you maintain a consistent brand across all of your locations by providing a centralized system for managing your brand assets, such as logos, colors, and messaging.

 

  • Automation: This software has automation capabilities that can automate some of your marketing tasks, such as scheduling social media posts, sending follow-up emails, and creating reports. This can save you time and resources.

 

  • Data-driven insights: Offer analytics and insights features that can give you a better understanding of your customers and help you make data-driven decisions.

Utilize local SEO:

Multi-location businesses can use local SEO to improve their visibility and attract ore customers. These businesses can increase their visibility in local search results by optimizing their websites for local searches. 

 

  • You should create a landing page for each business. These pages should contain detailed information about each location and can be used to attract customers looking for businesses in the area.

 

  • You should create a Google My Business Page for each location: This is another important aspect of local SEO for multi-location companies. Customers will be able to easily find information like hours of operation, reviews, contact details, and other pertinent details such as contact details. 

 

  • Optimize Every Location Page: Local SEO is essential for this kind of businesses. It is crucial to optimize every location page for search engines in order to boost local SEO. You can do this by using location-specific keywords.

 

  • Review Care: A positive review can increase visibility in search results. Multi-location businesses should encourage customers to leave reviews on sites like TripAdvisor, Yelp, and Google. Businesses can increase their customer base by taking care of their reviews.

 

  • Do not forget to check your SEO report each month: Businesses with more than one location need to track and monitor their local SEO efforts. Businesses can improve their Local SEO by reviewing their SEO reports each month.

Invest in social media:

Social media makes multi-location marketing possible. Social media platforms, such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, allow you to interact with your customers in a more personal way and offer you the opportunity to reach a wider audience. By creating a customized social media strategy for each area, you can personalize the customer experience and increase sales.

It can be challenging to develop a social strategy that includes multiple locations. It is essential to maximize your multi-location marketing efforts. These tips will help you create a social media strategy that works for all locations.

 

  • Create a content calendar. A content calendar will help you plan and organize your social media posts. This will ensure that your location shares timely, relevant content that aligns with your marketing goals.
  • Create content that is specific to your location. Each location has its own unique characteristics and audiences. You should create content that is specific to each location, such as news, promotions, or events. This will enable you to build a deeper relationship with your customers.

 

  • User-generated content can be used: Customers should encourage customers to share their experiences via social media with your locations. These posts can be shared on all social media channels in your area to build trust and credibility with potential customers.

 

  • Social media advertising: You have the option to target specific geographic locations to reach customers in each region.

 

  • Monitor your performance and track it: Social media analytics tools allow you to monitor all of your social media performance from any place. This will help you identify which elements are performing well and which are not. This will allow you to make adjustments and improve the strategy.

Define your target market

Before you start marketing your business, it’s essential to define your target market. Identifying who your ideal customer is will help you create marketing campaigns that will resonate with them. By understanding your target market’s needs, preferences, and pain points, you can create marketing messages that speak directly to them.

Develop a consistent brand identity

Having a consistent brand identity across all of your locations is essential for building trust and credibility with your customers. This includes everything from your logo, color scheme, and messaging to the way you interact with customers on social media. By maintaining a consistent brand identity, you’ll create a strong and recognizable brand that customers will remember.

Final Words

In conclusion, multi-location marketing can be challenging, but with the right tools and strategies, you can level up your efforts and attract more customers to your business. By using marketing automation software, defining your target market, developing a consistent brand identity, utilizing local SEO, and investing in social media, you’ll be well on your way to success.

 

A 6-Step Guide To Launching A Successful Outbound Calling Campaign

How’s your business doing these past few days? It’s a simple but difficult question, especially if nothing’s going as planned. Check out your bank account and see how much you lost or gained in the past few months.

If the status of your accounts isn’t as good as you want them to be, maybe there’s something wrong with your sales strategy. Have you tried executing outbound calling campaigns? If you haven’t done so, this might be the best time to consider it. 

An outbound call can help you reach customers and prospects to meet your business goals. These may include conducting surveys, promoting products, setting appointments, collecting debts, and generating leads (also known as cold calling). 

Today, sales representatives use information about every existing and potential customer to make the call as successful as possible. As a part of a sales and marketing strategy, outbound calls are proven to help increase returns on investment (ROI).

 

How Is An Outbound Call Different From An Outbound Call?

Outbound calls are calls made by companies to reach customers—inbound calls are the exact opposite of it. These are calls made by customers to engage with businesses and organizations they might be interested in. 

Aside from that, here are other reasons why people call a business:

  • They want to raise a concern about a specific product or service.
  • They want to know more about the products and services of a particular company.
  • They want to find out where a certain business operates. 
  • They want to confirm whether a particular business is legitimate or not. 

Inbound calls are also crucial to the success of your outbound call campaigns. If a customer takes a liking to your offer, it’s only a matter of time before they call you back and ask for more information. This is where hotline numbers come in.

Hotline numbers make it easy for customers to reach you via phone call. Also, they make you look credible and legitimate. Sooner or later, you’ll have to call them back for follow-ups. That said, using software made by companies, such as Power Dialer, may simplify the process. 

 

What Are The Different Types Of Outbound Calling Campaigns?

An outbound calling campaign is more than just a company calling customers and offering them a product or service they might want to purchase. It’s also about a company conducting surveys, collecting debts, and asking for donations. In other words, there’s more to outbound calling campaigns than you think.

To expound further, here are the different types of outbound calling campaigns:

  • Telemarketing

Telemarketing is a form of direct marketing that uses different communication sources. Among these sources, using telephones is considered to be the most profitable. And it’ll be more effective with software solutions, like auto-dialers.

An auto-dialer is an automated dialing software produced by companies like Auto Dialer. It automatically dials consecutive numbers before and after each call, so you don’t have to do so. This will help you save time, energy, and money in the long run. 

  • Telesales

Telesales is an essential part of telemarketing, which involves reaching qualified and non-qualified prospects. If telemarketing focuses on promoting products and services, then telesales is how you sell them over the telephone. 

  • Debt Collection

Debt collection is crucial, especially when maintaining cash flow. An outbound calling campaign may help encourage clients to settle their debts as early as possible. Using a predictive dialer—an advanced type of auto-dialer—might be helpful in this situation.

  • Surveys

Outbound calls make a great tool when it comes to surveys. Conducting surveys can help you determine whether customers are satisfied with your offerings. It can also help you with market research, especially when releasing a new product.

  • Outbound Customer Support

Customer support is typically a part of inbound calling campaigns. But sometimes, you must reach out to your customers to provide support. Examples of outbound customer support include warnings regarding service unavailability and payment concerns.

You’ve probably understood the basics of outbound calling and its significance in different operations, including sales, marketing, debt collection, etc. Now, it’s time to learn how to create a successful outbound calling campaign. 

 

How To Launch A Successful Outbound Calling Campaign

Below is a step-by-step guide to launching a successful outbound calling campaign. Understand each step carefully and ensure not to leave anything out to increase your chances of success.

  • Define Your Goals 

When you create an outbound campaign, the first thing to do is to identify the goals of your campaign—why are you doing this? 

Here are some questions that may help you define your campaign goals:

  • What do you want to gain from your campaign?
  • Will your customer benefit from your campaign?
  • Are the goals of your campaign achievable and profitable? 
  • How can your sales and marketing agents achieve these goals?
  • Do you have a secondary goal in mind?
  • How many dials does it take?
  • What do you want to do to boost your returns?
  • What kind of information should you collect from your customers?
  • How these pieces of information help you in the future?
  • How will you manage and process outbound calls?
  • What practices should you apply to improve your outbound calling campaign?

With these questions, you’ll be able to define the goals you want to achieve. You can also use them to determine the length of your outbound campaign and understand the things you need to make it as successful as possible. 

  • Develop A Campaign Strategy

Once you’ve identified your goals, it’s time to focus on your outbound campaign strategy. This is what you need to achieve your campaign goals. 

Here are some key principles you need to keep in mind to develop an effective outbound campaign strategy:

  • Apply The Customer-First Principle

The customer-first principle is a pretty simple idea—it is what it is. It’s strategy successful businesses use to prioritize their customers and put them at the center of decision-making. 

Keep in mind that your customers aren’t interested in your needs and problems. They don’t even care whether your company succeeds or not. What they want is a product or service that can put an end to their problems.

  • Manage Constructive Criticisms

Absorb whatever your customers say about your products and services, whether good or bad and don’t take them personally. Constructive criticisms can help improve your products and services and reduce further complaints. 

  • Be Sincere

Do you think your customers would appreciate your lack of sincerity? Of course, not! No matter how great your products or services are, you’ll never succeed if you’re not sincere enough. 

Show your sincerity when communicating with clients by being honest, calm, patient, and clear.

  • Encourage First-Class Communication

Excellent communication is crucial when it comes to outbound calling campaigns. Your tone must be relevant to the information you’re sharing with your customers. Also, you must be consistent and easily understood.

Avoid jargon and technical terms so that customers can understand what you’re babbling about.

Apply these basic sales and marketing principles when developing an outbound campaign strategy to increase your chances of success. Prioritize your customers’ needs, take everything constructively, be sincere, and communicate properly.

  • Manage Customer Data

When it comes to managing customer data, there are three essential factors to keep in mind: sourcing, handling, and using.

  • Data Sourcing

First, understand the meaning of ‘warm’ and ‘cold’ data. Warm data refers to the connection previously established between you and your customer.

For example, customers have reached your website or social media platform and left information about them. This may include a phone number, queries, personal requests, and email.

On the other hand, cold data refers to purchasing customer information from other sources, such as list brokers and data owners. If you’re planning on doing this in the future, make sure to verify the information provided before using it. 

  • Data Handling

Data handling involves checking data accuracy, enforcing data security, and promoting data compliance. 

Check the accuracy of your data before importing them into your software system. Phone numbers must be written using the international format—for example, 1 (U.S. country code) + 800 (area code) + 1001000 (local phone number).

Ensure the security of your data by implementing a robust cybersecurity solution. That way, it’ll be difficult for cybercriminals to launch attacks on your system. 

Lastly, review all the laws that have something to do with outbound calling campaigns. You may visit the Federal Trade Commission for more information. 

  • Data Using

Filter your data and remove everything that doesn’t make sense. For example, calling those who are not even a part of your list of target customers may not make sense at all. It’s just a waste of your time, money, and energy.

Always keep your data up to date. Customer information may change over time, so make sure to update it regularly. You may call your customers from time to time to check if the information you have is still useful.

Managing your customer data is essential for a successful outbound calling campaign. Use the tips above to source data properly, stay compliant with the law, determine target customers, and provide exceptional customer service.

  • Create A Call Script

A call script is an essential element of a successful outbound calling campaign. It is a written dialogue that guides sales representatives during a call. With this, they’ll make fewer mistakes and provide structured messages, increasing their chances of closing a sale. 

A call script should contain four primary components: disclosure, structure, summary, and post-call process.

  • Disclosure

This includes the introduction part of the call, where sales agents inform the customer about the purpose of the call. Don’t forget to mention your name and the company where you came from.

  • Structure

A proper call structure should include the following:

  • Asking relevant questions.
  • Finding out whether customers are satisfied.
  • Discussing product benefits.
  • Answering customers’ questions.
  • Closing the call. 
  • Summary

You want to ensure that your customer understands everything you’ve discussed with them. This is the best time to summarize the entire call and erase all possible misunderstandings.

  • Summary

You want to ensure that your customer understands everything you’ve discussed with them. This is the best time to summarize the entire call and erase all possible misunderstandings.

  • Post-Call

This is the stage where sales agents have fulfilled their promises during a call. For example, they provide a detailed email about your products and services right after the call. 

Keep in mind that call scripts are just a guide; they’re not made to be read while on a call. If you want to read them, make sure you don’t sound like one. The customer on the other end of the line might think you’re not prepared enough to make the call.

  • Choose A Dialing Mode

Dialing modes can be divided into three types: preview, power, and predictive. 

  • Preview Dialing

This mode provides sales agents with a preview of information regarding the contact they’re about to call. This is ideal for sales teams with a small contact list. You can use this mode to follow up with customers about their previous transactions.

  • Power Dialing

This mode is ideal for calling multiple prospects and customers in a day. It automatically proceeds to the next contact on the list and filters unattended, busy, and unanswered lines.

  • Predictive Dialing

This mode is more advanced compared to others. It uses machine learning to analyze call duration and pick-up rates to ensure that your agents can call as many contacts as possible. 

When choosing a dialing mode, make sure that it’s suitable for the goal you want to achieve. For example, if you want to call clients to verify their bookings for their trip, using preview dialing mode might make more sense than others. 

  • Measure What Needs To Be Measured

Do you want to find out whether your outbound calling campaign is successful? If you do, measuring these essential key performance indicators (KPIs) is necessary.

  • Occupancy Rate – determines how busy your agents are
  • Hit Rate – determines the percentage of sales against the total number of calls made
  • Conversion Rate – determines the percentage of prospects who purchased the call
  • First Call Close – refers to calls that lead to outbound sales after the first call
  • Average Talk Time – refers to the average call duration
  • Calls Per Agent – refers to the average number of calls an agent can handle per day
  • Contact Rate – refers to the percentage of successful calls against the total number of leads

Track these KPIs to improve the efficiency of your sales agents’ efficiency and your company’s profitability.  

 

Final Thoughts

Outbound calling is the backbone of sales and marketing campaigns. It’s the process of reaching existing and potential customers via phone. It’s done to promote products, make surveys, sell services, and collect debts. 

If you’re planning to launch an outbound calling campaign but don’t know where to start, this step-by-step guide is what you need. Follow the steps provided for a successful outbound calling campaign.

 

PCI Compliance Process

The search for new ways to reduce financial costs has led to the emergence of electronic payments, which have become an affordable tool for quick purchases. Using a credit or debit card is a faster, less error-prone, and easier payment method for many people. Institutions that store, process, or transmit card data must adhere to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. The standard contains more than 200 requirements, which you can read thoroughly on the PCI Security Council Standards website. Compatibility with PCI payment services has a large number of clear advantages. There is an opportunity to protect card data and significantly reduce the risk of personal data leakage.  All merchants, payment systems, and organizations that store and process sensitive online card data must comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). Your system should have the highest level of PCI compliance, providing a secure environment for customers. The Data Security Standard was developed by the Security Standards Board, a joint effort of Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and JCB to reduce the risk of sensitive personal data being leaked, valuable information stolen, and other types of cyber fraud. Compliance with these standards is mandatory for companies of all sizes. PCI standards protect not only you as a merchant, but also reliably protect cardholders. There are four levels of PCI compliance based on annual transaction volume. Note that each level has different requirements that you must meet.

 

Important reasons why your business needs PCI compliance?

PCI compliance is not a luxury, it’s a must for companies that transact with payment cards. For more modern organizations going digital, compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) should be a priority, not an afterthought. In the current situation, it is not surprising that almost every company is struggling with many of the many challenges that come before it. Despite all the excitement and uncertainty, PCI compliance doesn’t seem like the most urgent task on your to-do list. However, the domino effect of the coronavirus epidemic has led to a rapid acceleration of the digital transformation of companies, in particular, a sharp increase in the number of companies focusing on online payments. Compliance with PCI standards has never been more important than it is nowadays because cash has long since played a role in payments. The revolution happened with the gradual spread of contactless, online, and mobile payments. Consumers feel more and more comfortable with these technologies, and transactions have become fast and seamless. The pandemic has led to the rapid adoption of new technologies in the business world and encouraged many people to use online, efficient contactless payment methods. In today’s realities, all companies must remember that the pace of transformation should never come at the expense of high standards of data protection and information security. Failure to comply with the Data Security Standard (DSS) in the Payment Card Industry (PCI) puts at risk all the security processes that run throughout your company. Your business must be ready to adapt to difficult situations, you must be happy to use all the beneficial opportunities of digital transformation. It should not be forgotten that any business that receives, transmits, processes, or stores cardholder data must carry out all these important processes in the most responsible and completely secure manner.

The role played by PCI DSS in today’s realities of business activity

Adopting a PCI DSS compliance process does not mean mechanically completing a compliance declaration form; your key goal is to ensure ongoing security for your business customers and data security in the business environment itself. A large number of companies understand the true value of this process, some consider it expensive. When you look at it from another perspective, you can see the huge benefits of using PCI-DSS standards to strengthen corporate security, protect data and increase resistance to various cyber-attacks. In the event of a security incident, you have a clear management and response plan, which means you can get back up and running faster and minimize disruption. No doubt accepting card payments and making purchases with the click of a button or swipe of your card has many important benefits for you and your customers. You can significantly increase revenue for your business simply by offering more payment methods available to your customers. In this case, the advantages are obvious, but you should be as vigilant as possible and aware of your responsibilities, which are related to this, and understand all the potential risks.

Essentially, you need to take all necessary measures to reliably protect cardholder data from both accidental data loss and malicious data intrusion attempts, which may be in the form of fraudulent transactions or illegal hacking attempts to obtain personal data. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all of these cyber threats have become much more visible than ever. In many cases, telecommuters are now being paid online as they work from temporary home offices, often using their devices. All these conditions provide a real opportunity for hackers, who are engaged in the search for vulnerabilities of organizations, which, in turn, are forced to change their business model in a short period. Compliance with PCI DSS standards used to be important, but during the pandemic, it has become crucial.

PCI compliance goes a long way in helping organizations detect and prevent physical and network attacks. This standard enforces other important security standards that companies must carefully adhere to, as it can improve operational efficiency and reduce the cost of a data breach. Compliance with the PCI standard is not mandatory, but this does not mean that non-compliance with this standard does not matter. Brands can issue fines, terminate service, and even suspend accounts for organizations that are not PCI compliant. Agents may experience financial loss if cardholder data is compromised, and may be responsible for card re-issuance and future detection and prevention services required by cardholders. Compliance with the PCI standard allows you to avoid these negative effects, so it is important to thoroughly know all the glossary of PCI terms and fulfill the initial security requirements for compliance with the PCI standard.

To do this, all organizations and service providers must submit a vulnerability scan to an approved testing provider based on the number of transactions per card or according to the size of the institution. Compliance must be checked annually. Merchants or agents that process less than 6 million transactions per year (levels 2, 3, and 4) must complete the PCI questionnaire and demonstrate compliance with this standard. Once completed, you should receive your final results and all required documents. For example, Tier 1 organizations that processed more than 6 million transactions in the past year must undergo an annual on-site audit by a certified security auditor who has completed the PCI Internal Security Assessment training program. 

A key issue with PCI compliance is the myth that PCI compliance is purely an IT organization’s problem. This is related to technology, as much of the support is related to network security. Cyber attackers are more likely to discover that sensitive data has been compromised by non-technical people and methods. Employees who work with card payment systems should be trained on how your company maintains PCI compliance. Government agencies are stepping up PCI compliance because PCI compliance means they can stay compliant with leading companies and provide their customers with the right level of security. Start planning for compliance upgrades now and make sure it’s included in your company’s plans.

The cost of a security breach

The financial impact of an incident depends on several factors, including the size and scope of the incident, the payment channel it affects, and the number of transactions. Another important concern is the need to respond to security breaches by initiating a criminal investigation, which is required by the payment card industry. After notification to the appropriate regulatory authority and interested parties, an investigation will be conducted to determine the full extent of the incident and provide recommendations for necessary corrective actions. The cost can vary greatly depending on the nature of the incident, which immediately convinces you that efforts to prevent security breaches through a proactive approach to PCI compliance are always more cost-effective solutions. The reconciliation process doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Although the PCI DSS compliance process is rigorous, a trusted certified security assessor makes the process manageable and stress-free. By providing expert advice on how to accelerate your business, a certified evaluator can help you identify specific and concise needs, ensuring a quality process and avoiding unnecessary financial costs. Your PCI DSS compliance evaluator is helpful, accessible, and works closely with the business to achieve and maintain compliance, which translates directly into increased customer card data security. It is important to note that even if a company has conducted a compliance audit within the last 12 months, subsequent changes to systems and processes will require a new audit and reassessment. The key message for any business that accepts card payments is that the benefits of accepting cashless transactions far outweigh the challenges of PCI compliance if you are proactive and committed. It should not be forgotten that the damage caused is often irreversible. You and your business must be prepared to address the challenges of the Payment Card Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) to ensure corporate cybersecurity and meet all customer data security needs.

Argos to close ALL 34 stores and operations in Republic of Ireland #Argos

Argos has announced that it intends to close all stores and operations in the Republic of Ireland at the end of June this year. Argos is a retailer of general merchandise products, including toys, technology and consumer electronics. It arrived at the decision to leave Ireland following a long period of careful consideration and a thorough review of its business and operations in the country. Argos concluded the investment required to develop and modernise the Irish part of its business was not viable and that the money would be better invested in other parts of its business.

Argos operates a bespoke model in the Republic of Ireland that is significantly different to its wider UK operation and today’s announcement only relates to Argos stores in the Republic of Ireland. There will be no change to the retailer’s operations in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales, where Argos is performing well and collectively has over 1,000 points of presence. This includes 253 standalone stores and 422 Argos stores inside Sainsbury’s stores, as well as Argos Click and Collect inside over 400 other Sainsbury’s stores.

Everyone at Argos recognises that today’s news will be unsettling for all its colleagues, some of whom have served Argos customers in Ireland for many years, and disappointing for its loyal customers.

Argos is committed to doing everything it can to support its people and is talking to 580 colleagues[1], across 34 stores in the Republic of Ireland about their options. As part of its consultation with colleagues and Mandate, the recognised trade union, Argos will propose an enhanced redundancy package that goes well beyond its statutory obligations. The small number of colleagues not eligible for redundancy under Irish Law are expected to receive a one-off goodwill payment. To further support colleagues, Argos has also committed to a programme of wider support over the coming months.

Andy McClelland, Argos Ireland Operations Manager, said: “We understand this is difficult news for our customers and colleagues. As with any major change to our business, we have not made this decision lightly and we are doing everything we can to support those impacted. On behalf of everyone at Argos I would like to thank our colleagues, customers, suppliers and partners for their support to our business.” 

Argos stores will remain open to customers in the Republic of Ireland until 24th June 2023[2]. Following today’s announcement, Argos will begin the process of gradually winding down its Irish business. As part of this, customers in Ireland will no longer be able to pay for orders via the Argos website or place orders via its home delivery service after 22nd March 2023. Orders placed up to this date will continue to be fulfilled and customers will still be able to reserve products online and pay for them in store until the point of business closure.

The aftersales, returns, refunds and exchanges policy will continue to apply until Argos stores close. Customers will be able find more information here [3] about how this policy will continue, in line with the retailer’s statutory obligations, after its stores have closed.

Argos is communicating its overall decision to colleagues, customers, landlords, suppliers and other stakeholders today in order to give them as much time as possible to plan accordingly.

[1] The equivalent of 330 full time colleagues

[2] With the exception of our Kilkenny, St. Stephens Green (Dublin), Portlaoise and Galway stores, which will close slightly earlier due to lease terms

[3] The updated version will first be available for customers to view on 20th January 2023, after which it will be updated regularly.

International Calling: Everything You Need to Know

It may be unsettling to be away from home for a long time without keeping in touch with loved ones. Would you agree? It can also slow down business operations if you can’t connect with business partners back home, so it’s important to have data on hand. If you’re traveling overseas soon or intend to go abroad in the future, the following information may help you better grasp how international phone calls work and how to get the most out of them.

1. Think About Using Mobile Applications

Even if you have a special international phone plan, you should download a few programs for calling Kenya online or any other country, just in case. Keep in mind that using apps while traveling could use up a lot of data and cost you more money on top of the data fees. Therefore, to avoid racking up a large data bill, just use these apps when connected to Wi-Fi. 

Even if you’re on a business trip or vacation, being unable to interact with loved ones back home can be frustrating and even terrifying. With a bit of understanding of how mobile calling apps work, you may have a less stressful journey and safeguard your budget.

2. Think About Getting an Unlimited Plan

There are a surprising number of phone plans that only cover domestic calls. Unlike phones from some other countries, which automatically work overseas, handsets often need extra international packages. Even if you have a plan that allows you to use your phone in foreign countries, you will likely be charged hefty roaming costs if you make international calls or use data. 

Given how much it costs to use an international calling service, it might be smart to get an unlimited plan if your current plan doesn’t let you make international calls. This is especially helpful if you want to travel for a long time and need to stay in touch by phone without having to pay a lot every time you call an international number.

3. Employ the Session Initiation Protocol to Improve Communication

With the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), voice and other integrated communication systems can be set up and sent over the Internet. Global SIP can be used with local branch exchanges that are IP-enabled, such as Private Branch Express, which is a business phone system. You may route calls and messages to any of your company’s phone lines using a PBX system. 

If you don’t have a VoIP phone system yet, SIP trunking lets you send and receive calls over the internet instead of using a regular phone system. Also, using VoIP, any kind of data can be sent from one system to another. Because of this, more and more businesses are using VoIP office solutions to simplify and manage all of their communication channels.

 

54% of Young People in Ireland Have Been Tempted to Buy Fake Insurance Online

A new survey[i] of insurance customers in the Republic of Ireland has highlighted the risks facing young people in the region who are being targeted by ghost brokers selling fake insurance policies. The study by LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, a leading data, advanced analytics and technology provider for insurance, found that:

  • 54% of 17–34-year-olds have been targeted and tempted by an advert for fake insurance on social media
  • More than 1 in 10 (16%) of the youngest people surveyed, aged 17-24, has bought insurance through one of these adverts
  • 71% of 17–34-year-olds are worried their identity could be compromised for insurance fraud such as ghost broking
  • 92% of 17–34-year-olds expect insurance providers to check they are who they say they are when applying for insurance
  • Only 24% of the people surveyed actually know what a ghost broker is

In response to the growing problem of insurance application fraud and ghost broking[ii], LexisNexis Risk Solutions has launched LexisNexis® Emailage® Rapid  for the Irish insurance market.

Emailage Rapid is a powerful fraud risk scoring solution based on the email address and other personal information provided during the personal lines insurance application process.  As insurance fraud continues to cost insurance companies in Ireland an estimated 200 million annually[iii], Emailage Rapid provides immediate verification of the applicant’s digital identity and checks they are not linked to any fraudulent activity prior to policy inception. As well as helping to combat fraud, the solution may also help reduce the cost of cancellations to the insurance sector.

Emailage Rapid is built from over 82 thousand fraud events and transactions shared daily[iv], to provide a real-time risk score[v] at the point of quote. The score indicates a genuine identity, whether the identity has previously been linked to fraud or whether it could be a fraudulent ID, which may have been created to either procure insurance with the intent of making a fraudulent claim or to sell insurance on as a ghost broker[vi]. It provides additional metadata points, such as whether the email address and domain even exist, when the email address was first seen, or whether the email address bears a close resemblance to the proposer’s name for the policy.

An Garda Síochána (Ireland’s National Police and Security Service) lists the ‘Advance Fee Fraud of Ghost Broking and Car Insurance Fraud’ as one of the six most common types of fraud happening in Ireland today[vii]. Yet, research by LexisNexis Risk Solutions highlights that only 24% of people know about ghost brokers. As the number of internet users in Ireland continues to grow with a current 4.43 million internet users, projected to reach 4.73 million individuals by 2027[viii], so does the opportunity for online crime.

Shane McCabe, insurance strategic account manager, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Ireland, said: “Ghost brokers typically advertise their services online, claiming to be able to secure prospective policyholders a cheap insurance policy. They often target the young, who are more likely to use social networking and instant messaging[ix]. As nearly one third (32%) of younger persons between 16 and 29 years of age either bought or renewed existing insurance policies online last year, we can see how vulnerable they might be to fraud[x]. It is critical that insurance providers can offer the seamless online experience that policyholders expect, while protecting themselves and their customers from fraudsters. Building on the success of Emailage Rapid in the UK, we are delighted to have launched LexisNexis Emailage Rapid as our first motor insurance product for insurance providers in the Republic of Ireland.”

 

[i] 1000 insurance purchasers surveyed in the ROI, November 2022 through Maru/Hub.

[ii] https://www.socp.org.uk/news-insight/news/articles/ghost-broking-is-on-the-rise/97510

https://www.abi.org.uk/news/news-articles/2020/09/detected-insurance-fraud/

[iii] https://www.insuranceireland.eu/consumer-information/insurance-fraud

[iv] https://risk.lexisnexis.com/global/en/products/lexisnexis-emailage-rapid

[v] LexisNexis® Emailage® Rapid is a powerful fraud risk scoring solution based on the email address and other personal information provided during the application process. In February 2020, LexisNexis Risk Solutions acquired Emailage, a fraud prevention and risk management solutions provider. LexisNexis® Emailage® is a proven risk assessment tool that is fuelled by continuously updating global digital insights and uses a patented, proprietary analytic approach to reimagine fraud detection.

[vi] A “Ghost Broker” is a term used to describe a fraudster who pretends to be a genuine Insurance Broker in order to sell fraudulent car insurance.

[vii] Contains Irish Public Sector Data licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence https://www.garda.ie/en/crime/fraud/what-are-the-6-most-common-types-of-fraud-in-ireland-today-and-how-to-avoid-becoming-a-victim-.html

[viii] https://www.statista.com/statistics/566963/predicted-number-of-internet-users-in-the-ireland/

[ix] https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-isshdcb/householddigitalconsumerbehaviour2021/internetactivities/

[x] https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-isshdcb/householddigitalconsumerbehaviour2021/internetactivities/

Is Your Product Ready For The Market? Here’s How To Find Out

Are you an entrepreneur or inventor looking to launch a new product? You may have spent months, if not years, developing the perfect product – but is it truly ready for the market? Before you take the leap and introduce your product to the public, it’s important to ensure it is ready. In this article, we’ll take a look at the key steps you should take to ensure your product is ready for launch. Let’s get started.

Consider Product Testing

One of the best ways to know if your product is ready for the market is to test it. You can conduct product testing through experts to ensure it meets the standards and expectations of your target audience. They will assess the product’s design, features, and performance to give you valuable feedback. This could also help you determine if there are any potential problems or issues that need addressing before the launch.

Moreover, you can use volunteers to test your product. This can help you gather valuable data and insights into the user experience. It is also a great way to build hype for your product before launching it in the market. Ensure that your product testers represent your target audience so you can get the most accurate insights and feedback.

Gather Customer Feedback

Another way to know if your product is ready for launch is to gather customer feedback. You can do this through surveys, polls, and interviews with people who have tested the product. This will give you a better understanding of their thoughts about it and how they use it.

Gather customer feedback by offering incentives such as discounts or free samples to encourage people to provide their honest opinions. You can also ask questions such as how the product helped them, what features they liked or disliked, and how it compared to similar products in the market. This data will help you make changes and adjustments before launching it in the market.

Conduct Market Research

One of the most important steps in knowing if your product is ready for launch is to conduct market research. This will give you a better understanding of your target audience, their needs and preferences, and what they are looking for in products. It will also provide insights into the competition and how to differentiate your product from them.

Market research should be comprehensive to cover all aspects of the market and the product. This includes customer demographics, pricing, competitive landscape, industry trends, and more. You can then use the research to make the necessary changes to ensure your product is ready for launch.

Do Pre-Orders and Pre-Launch Events

Pre-orders and pre-launch events can be a great way to know if your product is ready for the market. They indicate how many people are interested in the product and if there is enough demand for it. You can also use this data to make any changes or adjustments before launching it in the market.

Pre-launch events such as webinars and online demos also help you gather feedback from potential customers. This can give you an idea of how people perceive the product and what features they like or dislike. Pre-orders are also a great way to gauge customer interest in the product before launch day.

By following these steps, entrepreneurs and inventors can ensure their product is ready for launch. Product testing, customer feedback, market research, and pre-orders are all great ways to know if your product is market-ready. Doing so will help you make the necessary changes before launching it in the market and increase the chances of success. So don’t forget to do your due diligence before launching your product.

How To Create A Cheap, Yet Effective Marketing Campaign

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to create an effective marketing campaign. With a little creativity and some elbow grease, you can reach your target audience without breaking the bank. Here are some tips on how to get started.

Set the budget for your marketing campaign

Establishing a budget for a marketing campaign is an important step that can ensure its success and adjust for any potential bumps along the way. To ensure budgeting accuracy, use a budget calculator that allows you to input information such as campaign goals and expense estimates. This will help you determine the most logical, cost-effective way to allocate your funds, while still allowing flexibility should needed adjustments be necessary. Through the use of a budget calculator and detailed consideration of your campaign goals and strategy, you can use your allotted funds to achieve optimal results.

Define your target audience and research what kind of content they consume

When creating your marketing campaign, it’s important to take the time to define your audience and carry out research into what kind of content they consume. Knowing who makes up your target audience is the driving force behind creating campaigns that are tailored to their wants, needs, and interests. Research can include gathering insight into which platforms they prefer, what topics appeal to them, or even which influencers they follow. It’s this kind of research that will help you create an effective marketing strategy and ensure that your campaigns reach the right people.

Create content that is tailored to your target audience and that will capture their attention

Crafting a flawless marketing campaign requires creating content that truly resonates with your target audience. To do so, you’ll want to build a comprehensive understanding of what interests and excites them as well as stay up-to-date on the latest trends. Being aware of their likes and dislikes will help you create tailored content that captures their attention and leads to greater engagement. Adding smart visuals to your pieces is also an effective way to draw in even more attention, further connecting with individuals and creating long-term relationships. Creating content for your target audience can be difficult initially but with the right techniques, it can become much easier and help propel your message forward in meaningful ways.

Monitor the results of your campaign and make necessary adjustments

It is important to carefully monitor the results of any marketing campaign and make necessary adjustments to ensure it meets desired outcomes. This can be done by tracking key metrics such as engagement rates, customer feedback, and overall sales figures. Examining this information closely allows marketing teams to tweak their strategies to create the most effective conduit between their product or service and their audience. Furthermore, regularly scanning the marketing landscape and comparing campaigns with similar ones in your space can provide profitable insight into what strategies have been effective and which should be avoided going forward. Ultimately, having a wide set of data available for review will make sure marketing efforts are running as efficiently as possible.

While it may be tempting to go for the most flashy and expensive marketing campaign possible, sometimes the best option is a more simple and cheap one. By following the tips in this blog post, you can create an effective marketing campaign on a tight budget. With a little creativity and outside-the-box thinking, you can reach your target audience without spending a fortune. So don’t be afraid to get creative with your next marketing campaign – you may be surprised at how well it works!