WebRev Blog

Have you been to the front page of WebRevelation.com lately?  If not, you might want to check it out!

Better yet, go grab your mobile device, and check it out there.  Very cool.

Tim and the gang at WebRev have been very busy.  They want to help you get your website mobile-ready, and upgrade your content management system (CMS) as well as your customer relationship management (CRM) and your e-commerce system, if you're selling on your site.  They can even help you develop custom web applications specific to your business and website (so you can say, "Yes, we have an app for that!").

If you're not sure what all of this means, or why you need these features, check out the updated list of services.  Even the admin screens have a fresh new look.

Also see Why you can no longer ignore mobile.  

by Bob Manista - President & CEO of Better Business Bureau Serving Central Oklahoma

Most business owners like appearing in a yellow pages directory or two. Some spend significant money on ads directing customers to their companies' services. Unfortunately, con men - both in the States and abroad - know that directory advertising can be a critical part of doing business, and are willing to exploit misunderstandings and half-truths to get your money while providing little or nothing of value.

The scam is both typical and easy to spot. Your receptionist answers the phone and the con man identifies himself as being a representative of "the yellow pages," or "your directory." (They are almost universally vague about the publication name in an effort to create confusion or the assumption that they represent the most popular directories.) The supposed purpose of the call is to "confirm your business listing" and the con man asks whoever answers the phone to either say the listed data is correct or actually list the contact information for the business. After the info is confirmed, the con man may ask a series of "yes or no" questions, and may ask to confirm credit card or billing information. (They'll do this as simply as saying "You want this billed to the same address, right?") The "yes or no" questions have often been recorded and re-cut as a confirmation of an order for special listings or services. By the time someone is transmitting credit card data, the cat is out of the bag and you may be charged for listings.


What do you get for your money? Maybe nothing. Some international directories exist, both in the real world and online, but they have extremely limited circulation or are not widely promoted. An infamous Swiss website has a number of listings from seemingly localized U. S. businesses like barber shops - which may be faithfully and accurately listed, but needlessly reported to an international cabal of viewers. Some directories go unpublished or print only a couple dozen books - enough to provide "tear sheets" for the unlucky (and often unwary) advertisers.

The billings for such publications are notoriously difficult for a business to fight, partly because the perpetrators of the scheme are often outside the country. Your best protection is to make sure everyone who might answer the phone at your business is aware of the scam and will take steps to avoid giving the con man a green light.

• Make sure only one person is responsible for your business' directory advertising. Relay any inquiries to that person.
• Carefully restrict access to any credit card or billing information among your employees.
• Beware of calls "confirming" company data, especially those from inquirers with foreign accents.
• Ask the company name of the publisher of any directory. If you don't recognize the name, hang up.
• Do business with directories only in business and/or in writing. Demand a written invoice before giving permission to go to print.

Remember (and remind your employees) that the famous "walking fingers" logo does not belong to any one entity. The logo was not copyrighted by Ma Bell or A T & T, so anyone with a scanner can reproduce it and place it in billings. That logo itself is no guarantee of the legitimacy of the directory.

Limit your business listings to two or three directories at most. Expanding your reach may sound like a good idea, but the effectiveness of those listings is arguable. Research how your customers first located you and stick with what works. The more directories your business appears in, the more likely you or your staff will be confused by marketing calls.

Also of note is a practice in which con men broadcast mail throughout an area, sometimes containing an invoice or small rebate check associated with phone listings. The invoice may not be a real billing, but a contract to do business with the company - by returning the disguised contract/invoice with a check, you've obligated yourself to use the company's services. Fine print on the back of the $5 check might obligate you to thousands of dollars in unneeded services.

Listen carefully to callers, watch your mail, and call the BBB with questions on your Accredited Business Hotline: 405.236.5292.

As of February 1, 2010 Webrevelation has obtained server certifcation required for PCI compliance! If you are one of our customers or future customers and you process credit cards; rest assured that we use only the highest standards for server security as related to the guidelines of the PCI data security initiative.

What is the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard?
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard is a worldwide information security standard assembled by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC). The standard was created to help organizations that process card payments prevent credit card fraud through increased controls around data and its exposure to compromise. The standard applies to all organizations which hold, process, or pass cardholder information from any card branded with the logo of one of the card brands.

The standard is maintained by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council, which maintains both the PCI DSS and a number of other standards, such as the Payment Card Industry PIN Entry Device security requirements (PCI PED) and the Payment Application Data Security Standard (PA-DSS).

Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance is a complex and ever evolving subject affecting millions of businesses – acquiring banks, Independent Sales Organizations (ISOs), processors, hosts, shopping carts, e-commerce and retail merchants and other merchant services providers.

If you are not hosting your website with us, make sure your host is PCI compliant.
 

WebRevelation has been selected by Goldline Research as one of the Leading Web Designers of the Central United States for 2009. The list of the Leading Web Designers of the Central United States is scheduled to be published in the May 25th issue of Forbes Magazine. WebRevelation was chosen in this region to receive this prestigious designation showing that WebRevelation is truly a Dependable Web Development Firm. Read More Here >>>