ETD: 882 Blogging Ads; Online Marketing Survey; Stores Blame
Checkout Software For Security Breaches
E-Tailer's Digest
etd_post at gapent.com
Thu Apr 28 11:09:31 GMT 2005
E-Tailer's Digest --- Everything for the Retailer
Issue #0882 April 28, 2005
George Matyjewicz, Moderator mailto:georgem at gapent.com
Published by: GAP Enterprises, Ltd. http://www.etailersdigest.com
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CONTENTS
[1] Greetings
[2] Blogging Ads
[3] Online Marketing Survey
[4] Stores Blame Checkout Software For Security Breaches
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[1] Greetings.
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Hi All:
In the last issue, I said I was interviewed this week by someone who was
doing a study to determine the feasibility of using blogs as an advertising
vehicle. I spoke with Heidi again and we agreed to post that survey here
in E-Tailer's Digest, which we are doing today. Let's here from you. What
do you think about this concept (see 3 below)
Some of our members have posted their own experiences with
blogs. Interesting comments.
There is some major security issues going on with major retailers as we all
know. Well the Wall Street Journal reports that it is caused by POS
software flaws, with credit card authorization. It seems the software is
storing a three-digit security code found on the magnetic stripe of the
cards, which is illegal per Visa regulations ($500,000 fine). Worse yet,
almost all the top 10 software solutions had this flaw. Check your
provider to ascertain your software complies.
Tell us about your business, which will remain for posterity at
our "Members: Who Are You?" site. This is a courtesy to our members who
contribute to our forum, and not merely a way to advertise for
free. Anything to do with the retail world, i.e., supplier, retailer,
consulting, etc. http://etailersdigest.com/resources/members/index.htm And
we have a form there for you to tell us about you. As I said when I first
proposed this idea, we have "known" each other for a long time, yet we
often don't know anything about each other. So, tell us who you are and
what you do.
Now, let's get to everything for the retailer.
Sincerely
George Matyjewicz, PhD
Chief Global Strategist, GAP Enterprises, Ltd.
mailto:georgem at gapent.com
http://www.etailersdigest.com
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[2] Blogging Ads
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I am using a blog as a combination of information site and selling page. It
is to promote the use of VoIP in Bermuda and generally refers to what is
happening with VoIP here and in other jurisdictions. I admit at the
beginning that it is self serving! I do have references to my products and
regular web site. The blog is at http://voipbuzz.blogspot.com Whether it
is effective or not - I can't say yet.
I have also just set up a communal blog for former employees of Triminghams
in Bermuda. This is/was Bermuda's premier department store which is now in
liquidation after 163 years in business. http://trimscrew.blogspot.com Not
a commercial application but the same idea could be used inside a company
for Internal PR, as my wife likes to call it.
Anybody can try out Google's Blogspot at www.blogger.com Sign up, create a
blog and sit back (almost). It is free and worth experimenting.
If somebody writes something nasty about your products or your company, you
can always delete their comments. Nothing is cast in stone. You can also
put a link to an RSS feed on your site which lets the consumer get updates
whenever your blog is updated via a newsreader (explanation at
http://www.skype.bm/xml.htm).
The current (May 2) Business Week deals with the subject of blogs
and commercial applications of them. Well worth a visit to
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_18/b3931001_mz001.htm?campaign_id=nws_insdr_apr22&link_position=link1
Best regards
Richard Woolnough
Bespoke Solutions Ltd
www.BespokeSolutionsLtd.com
+1(441)295 0951
We can tailor your business
+++ [Next Post] +++
To me, the notion of creating ad blogs strikes me the wrong way. It reminds
me of Big Marketing's attempts to co-opt and orchestrate such grassroots
efforts as viral marketing.
Pretty soon, the phonies will be found out. And the ad-free bloggers will
take great delight in pointing out the pseudo-blog that they just found.
Which, of course, will lower the credibility of the ad campaign even further.
Martha Retallick
Western Sky Communications Web & Graphic Design
Phone: 520-690-1888
Web: http://www.WesternSkyCommunications.com
== Your referrals are welcome and appreciated! ==
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[3] Online Marketing Survey
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Thank you for participating in the prestest project concerning etailers and
advertising on Blogs. The thought occurred to me after we completed the
survey that perhaps the members of eTailers Digest would like to
participate in the project. Each participant will receive a copy of the
results as well as a discount on the service when it is launched if they
are interested.
Below is a link to a study of online etailers to get their opinions of
online marketing strategies and to test a new concept incorporating
blogging and product level advertising. The results of this research will
be made available for purchase through top level research
groups. E-tailers who participate in the project will receive a free copy
of the results. You will also be able to receive the service at a discount
when it becomes available.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=64861031788
Please feel free to contact me with questions.
Heidi Hanson, Principal
Market Murmurs
www.marketmurmurs.com
info at marketmurmurs.com
Phone: 320-679-4392
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[4] Stores Blame Checkout Software For Security Breaches
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There's a common thread to some of the recent security breaches at
retailers that exposed sensitive financial details of hundreds of thousands
of customers: software that retailers say improperly stored credit-card data.
The computerized systems that manage much of U.S. commerce are supposed to
purge most credit-card information -- including a secret three-digit code
that can enable criminals to counterfeit cards -- after each transaction.
But merchants, banks and credit-card associations say many widely used
retail-software packages often retain this information -- creating an
alluring target for hackers.
The three-digit number on the magnetic stripe -- which is different from
the visible verification codes found on the backs of most credit cards --
is particularly sensitive because it is necessary for creating counterfeit
cards. The secret code can be used to produce a card in which the visible
name on the card's front need not match the account information on the
magnetic stripe. That could allow fraudsters to present a driver's license
or other identification to "validate" a fake card. But the account number
on the stripe isn't that of the person who's name is on the front of the
card. Many times the fraudulent purchase wouldn't even be known or reported
until the victim of the card theft sees his or her monthly statement.
Visa, MasterCard and other credit-card associations bar storing information
from a card's magnetic stripe after a transaction is completed. Visa's
guidelines provide for penalties of as much as $500,000 for violations. In
the wake of the BJ's breach, Visa last summer called a meeting of two dozen
software suppliers to stress the importance of cleaning up their systems.
Since February, Visa has been checking software to make sure it doesn't
retain sensitive information. So far, it has approved only seven systems,
but not IBM's.
The spate of data lapses at retailers makes clear that software problems
represent "a vulnerability that has to be closed," says Michael Petitti,
senior vice president of marketing at Ambiron LLC in Chicago, a security
firm that audits software for compliance with security standards. "But it
has not been getting the attention it should receive."
Details at...
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB111455367943717582,00.html
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