Podcasting Network For Web Marketers

 

A Podcasting Network For Web Marketers and Technologists: Media Swamp Gaining Listeners, Attracting Advertisers

The Media Swamp Podcasting Network, a podcast hosting service and information network featuring original and syndicated podcasts and vodcasts available for download, has debuted at www.mediaswamp.com.

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) May 31, 2006 -– The Media Swamp Podcasting Network, a podcast hosting service and information network featuring original and syndicated podcasts and vodcasts available for download, has debuted at www.mediaswamp.com.

Currently focusing on Web 2.0, search marketing, web design, social networking and web development, Media Swamp expects to carry other genres of podcasts soon and has begun experimenting with podcasts produced purely for entertainment.

“As an interactive marketing professional, I advise clients on podcasting strategies and how to make the most of this medium,” said Giovanni Gallucci of Media Swamp, “so it seemed only fitting that I be able to steer them toward a safe and convenient place to host their podcasts.”

Live for a little over a month; Media Swamp is monitoring increasing traffic and download activity. Media Swamp is currently developing an advertising model in response to an increasing number of inquiries regarding sponsorship.

“We are in the very dawn of this medium,” said Dave Wilkie of Media Swamp, “and there are developments coming that will make podcasting a very attractive vehicle for advertisers. As always, the bottom line is the number of listeners, viewers or readers that you can show a potential advertiser. We believe Media Swamp will be a very cost effective way for businesses to reach targeted consumers, whether through ads on the site itself or within the podcasts.”

“Downloading a show has benefits to an advertiser over streaming,” said Gallucci, “and though we have plans to offer streaming voice and video casts soon, the attraction of downloading to an advertiser is the portability of the show. The user takes it with them and listens on their time. Maybe they listen two or three times. Maybe they email it to colleagues. The potential for exposure in that sort of viral model is unknown, but to start with, you must be able to show download numbers, and we’ve got the numbers already.”    

Media Swamp currently features the following shows: The AgencyCast, Cocoa Radio, KinetiCast, Mad Techie, Radio Free Babylon, and The Reach.

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Press Contact: Masha Geller
Company Name: Media Swamp
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 203.981.7256
Website: htttp://www.mediaswamp.com

Consumers File Class Action Lawsuit Against Used-Car Dealer

 

Los Angeles Consumers File Class Action Lawsuit Against Used-Car Dealer Drive Time For Allegedly Leaking Their Private Financial Information to Unauthorized Third Parties

Several Los Angeles-area consumers have filed a class action lawsuit against used-car dealer Drive Time, formerly known as Ugly Ducking, for allegedly leaking their credit applications, which included their social security numbers and other private information, to unauthorized outside parties. Cheryl Long, an Individual, on behalf of herself and all others similarly aggrieved by defendants’ conduct as alleged herein v. Drive Time, a California Business Entity; Ugly Ducking, a California Business Entity, et al., Case. No. BC 352 692.

La Crescenta, Ca. (PRWEB) May 31, 2006 -- Many Los Angeles-area consumers shopping at Drive Time (formerly known as Ugly Ducking) for used cars usually have filled out credit applications containing all of their confidential financial information, including name, social security number, employment information and home address. These consumers assumed that Drive Time would keep these credit applications under lock and key and not leak them to anyone outside of Drive Time.

In connection with an investigation of a different case involving alleged misconduct by auto insurance brokers, the La Crescenta, California firm of Brennan, Wiener & Associates (“BWA”) alleges that Drive Time had, for some years, leaked these confidential credit applications in large numbers to insurance brokers for the purpose of placing auto insurance. The affected consumers had no idea that this was happening.

“My clients are understandably outraged,” commented Robert F. Brennan, lead counsel for the plaintiff class. So far, Brennan has collected several files from the insurance brokers with Drive Time credit applications in them. “With the Choicepoint scandal and so many other related instances, businesses which get a consumer’s social security number must learn to keep it safe and secure, under lock and key and accessible only to authorized personnel. They can’t be spreading around this information, even if it does make money for them directly or indirectly. The opportunity for identity theft and for other misuses of a consumer’s personal information is just too great in this day and age.”

The class members have filed a class action in the Los Angeles Superior Court, Cheryl Long, an Individual, on behalf of herself and all others similarly aggrieved by defendants’ conduct as alleged herein v. Drive Time, a California Business Entity; Ugly Ducking, a California Business Entity, et al., Case. No. BC 352 692.

Brennan offers some tips on making sure that your private financial information does not get spread about by corporations or stores to which you provide it. “First, there’s nothing wrong with asking exactly how the information will be protected before you provide them with the information. At a minimum, such information should be kept under lock and key and should be accessible only to key personnel and not to any low-wage temporary worker who happens to be passing through. Consumers are entitled to have corporations or retail companies agree in writing to keep confidential information private and secure.

“Since this situation usually comes up in connection with loan applications, I frequently advise my clients to simply go to their own banks and get pre-approved loans before shopping for major items. That way, there’s no reason to even worry about the whole dealership financing shell game. There are so many hidden charges and fees in many dealer financing deals that it’s almost always best just to go through your own bank. Then there’s also the greater chance that your information will be kept safe and secure.”

Brennan also points out that any consumer’s personal data is still subject to theft, even from otherwise secure locations. “There’s simply no foolproof way to entirely protect your personal information. 21st-century consumers must learn about handling consumer credit disputes as part of their basic financial information. It’s no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity.”

Brennan’s website, www.socalcreditdamage.com, gives consumers the tools for handing identity theft and false credit reporting situations.

About Robert F. Brennan: Robert F. Brennan, Esq. and his firm, Brennan, Wiener & Associates, 3150 Montrose Ave., La Crescenta, Ca., handle identity theft and wrongful credit report damage cases for residents of Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange and Ventura Counties. Brennan, Wiener & Associates have a track record of successfully cleaning up credit reports and also of obtaining compensation for their clients. Mr. Brennan is well known for taking this fairly technical area of the law and breaking it down into its simplicity so that anyone can themselves, without the assistance of an attorney, clean up derogatory marks on their credit reports which do not belong there. When consumers find themselves unable to clean up their credit reports on their own, that’s where Brennan, Wiener & Associates steps in, to ensure that the wrongful derogatory marks get cleaned up and to ensure that the consumers so affected receive adequate compensation.

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Press Contact: Robert Brennan
Company Name: BRENNAN, WIENER & ASSOC.
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 818-249-5291
Website: www.brennanlaw.com

Self Directed IRA Investments Seen As Growing Trend

IRA123.com Complements Growing Trend with Self Directed IRA Investments

 

Investing in real estate, businesses, franchises, tax liens, and more with an IRA (Individual Retirement Account) is becoming a growing trend. IRA123.com (www.ira123.com) is happy to announce that BusinessFinance.com has recognized that trend and they have listed them in their Business Funding Directory which provides resources for entrepreneurs seeking financing.

 

Portland, OR, May 30, 2006 --(PR.COM)-- Investing in real estate, businesses, franchises, tax liens, and more with an IRA (Individual Retirement Account) is becoming a growing trend. IRA123.com (www.ira123.com) is happy to announce that BusinessFinance.com has recognized that trend and they have listed them in their Business Funding Directory which provides resources for entrepreneurs seeking financing.

 

“Both IRA123.com and BusinessFinance.com complement each other very well,” says Robert Hubbard, Founder and CEO of IRA123.com. “We provide a simplified approach to setting up an IRA so you can invest it into your business, and BusinessFinance.com can now provide alternative funding options to entrepreneurs in need of capital.”

 

IRA123.com turns what is typically a complex process into a simple three step process. They provide the resources and the knowledge necessary to allow anyone to setup a self directed IRA. A self directed IRA is also known as a checkbook IRA, which means your IRA funds are put into a checking account, so you can write checks for your investments.

 

“Our goal at IRA123.com is to simplify the complex into an understandable framework. We're strong believers that once complexity is reduced, uncertainty will be minimized, and people can start to take charge of their retirement future with a Self-Directed IRA,” says Hubbard.

 

The two websites, www.ira123.com and www.businessfinance.com, offer articles related to IRA investing. For further information on how you can invest your IRA into business, real estate, tax liens, and more visit www.ira123.com, or you can call 503-484-5626.

 

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Contact Information

 

IRA123.com
Robert Hubbard
503-484-5626
info@ira123.com
http://www.ira123.com

Turn Your Cell Phone Into A Coupon!

 

Quickpons.com Launches New Advertising Method that merges Coupons, Cell Phones and the Internet

Quickpons, Inc. is launching a new Internet based service for consumers that will allow them to send coupons to their cell phones as text messages. There is no charge to consumers and businesses can join the service for free during the beta period.

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) May 30, 2006 -- Quickpons, Inc. is launching a new Internet based service for consumers that will allow them to send coupons to their cell phones as text messages. There is no charge to consumers and businesses can join the service for free during the beta period.

Businesses post special coupon offers on the website, such as “20% Off Your First Order”. Consumers arrive at the website seeking bargains. Once the consumer has located an offer that they wish to take advantage of, they simply click and send the offer as a text message to their cell phone. The merchants honor the text message on the cell phone as if it were a printed coupon.

The advantage to consumers is obvious, no more cutting out small paper coupons that often go forgotten and unredeemed. Quickpons, Inc. believes that this will be the new preferred method by which consumers will seek discounts. “I invented this service because I would usually forget to bring coupons with me, but I always have my cell phone”, says Glen Wheeler, President of Quickpons, Inc. “I also think many consumers will want to try it out just because it is so unique.”

Businesses benefit because studies show that consumers who use coupons spend more than those who don't. Also surprising is the fact that Americans in the upper income brackets are more likely to use coupons.
Text messaging is a growing trend among cell phone users. By merging the Internet, text messaging and consumers looking to save money, Quickpons, Inc. plans to bring those consumers together with businesses eager to oblige. The site is set to launch on June 16th with the Beta period ending that day. Businesses seeking further information should visit the website at www.quickpons.com.

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Press Contact: Josh Lassiter
Company Name: QUICKPONS, INC.
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 888-476-2461
Website: http://www.quickpons.com

Text Message Spam By B Targets Those That Opt-in With A

 

Reach Customers Right in their Pockets

Promotions via text message offer the most powerful advertising medium ever invented. The author bases this on the fact that 70% of all promotional text messages are opened and read.

Philadelphia (PRWEB) May 25, 2006 -- Advertisements on key chains are hot. Those are the little plastic membership key tags to Acme, Blockbuster, or a local gym.

What a powerful advertising medium this is. It’s right in the owner's pocket and he or she sees it every time they get into their car, arrive at the office, or come home.

Now, imagine if that key tag brought relevant and changing information to you every day. Imagine if that information was timely. Now, imagine that key tag beeped every time information arrived.

And, oh yeah. There are 214,175,214 of them in the United States.

Imagine the cell phone. The ubiquitous cell phone.

According to Frost & Sullivan, over 70% of all promotional text messages are opened and read. Compare that to email where less than 3% of all promotional email messages are opened and read. After all, how many more Viagra ads can we all read?

No doubt, the massive offshore spamming that has occurred in the email world has made email marketing ineffective. Similar spamming has not occurred in the area of text messaging, at least not yet. The carriers are diligently policing text message spam and advertisers are understandably reluctant to spam when the recipients may have to pay for receipt of the text message or count the message toward a finite amount of prepaid monthly texts.

Just 15% of the over 36 billion text messages sent in 2005 were deemed promotional messages, according to The Yankee Group. This means that a promotional message to an opt-in list will stand out.

But, how does one obtain an opt-in list?

“I like to think of it as A+B=C,” said Bob Bentz, Co-Owner of Advanced Telecom Services (www.advancedtele.com) . “Advertising agencies and consumer product companies use the ‘A’ to establish a database of opt-in users through an interactive promotion such as a sweepstakes or contest then provide the ‘B’ with ongoing value-added text message blasts. The ‘C’ then becomes the successful promotion.”

Bentz gave an example of a cosmetic product offering a contest to win a free makeover and weekend at a health spa via text message. All entrants in the contest would then be opted in to the database. Those consumers in the database would receive two text messages per week with a makeup tip and a product discount from the cosmetic company.

“The fact that over 70% of promotional text messages are opened and read is a phenomenal statistic,” added Bentz. “With channel flipping and competition on a print page, surely television, radio, and newspaper cannot say that any where near 70% of its audience actually ‘gets’ the advertising message.”

The New York Times said it best. “The cell phone is the most personal and immediate medium ever invented.” The success of promotional text messaging is proving just that.

By Anthony Wayne
Text Message Blog (www.textmessageblog.blogspot.com)

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Press Contact: Robert Bentz
Company Name: ADVANCED TELECOM SERVICES
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 1.610.254.7191
Website: http://www.advancedtele.com

Hispanic Advertising Network Has 5.42 Million

 

Hispanic Online Advertising Network HispanoClick Finds U.S. Audience of 5.42 Million and Growing

ComScore has verified HispanoClick, the leading online Hispanic advertising network, reaches 5.42 million viewers in the US alone every month. The Hispanic online advertising network also reaches millions of unique viewers in Latin America and Spain.

(PRWEB) May 25, 2006 -- HispanoClick, the leading Hispanic online advertising network with Spanish-language publishers in the United States, Latin America, and Spain, had comScore measure their network-wide traffic patterns beginning March 2006.

The comScore study concluded the Hispanic online advertising network reaches over 65 million unique visitors every month. The United States, Mexico, Spain, Argentina, and Chile topped the list of HispanoClick’s online advertising markets, with the U.S. alone reaching 5.42 million unique viewers.

"We are pleased to see our traffic numbers confirmed by ComScore," said Marc Duquette, HispanoClick CEO. "We provide advertisers an additional and efficient media outlet to reach the US Latino market, as well as online Hispanic advertising markets throughout the world."

In addition to the total number of unique visitors, ComScore’s analysis of the Latino online advertising network showed:
*     84.5% of visitors are between the ages of 18-49
*     57% of visitors ages 18-59 are male
*     62% of Business & Finance channel visitors report household income levels starting at $60K

This trend in traffic will likely continue as HispanoClick grows. The company recently added Universal Music, Nestle, Nextag, and Monster.com in Spanish to their expanding list of clientele.

Learn how to join the online Hispanic advertising network and begin reaching 65 million Spanish-speaking viewers in the United States, Latin America, and Spain by calling 415-282-9796 or visiting www.HispanoClick.com.

About HispanoClick
HispanoClick, a premier Hispanic online advertising network specializing in web sites for the Spanish-speaking market, offers a complete solution for advertisers seeking a way to clearly communicate their message to the online Hispanic market. The HispanoClick online Hispanic advertising network empowers businesses and advertisers to achieve brand recognition, sales, and lead generation within the Hispanic community by using the latest business technology. They are headquartered in Montreal, Quebec.

About comScore
comScore Networks is a global information provider and consultancy providing leading companies with consumer behavior insight to drive successful marketing, sales, and trading strategies.

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Press Contact: Lou Ramirez
Company Name: HispanoClick
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 415-282-9796
Website: http://www.hispanoclick.com

Self-Scheduling Appointment Website

 

New Website Fills Business Appointment Books 24/7

NextAvailable.Com is the first appointment self-scheduling site that uses a search engine to promote service providers. Consumers are drawn to the site looking for the next available appointment for a wide variety of businesses in any U.S. city. By allowing clients to self-schedule and confirm instantly, businesses attract new clients, keep existing clients happy and cut both admin time and expense.

SACRAMENTO, Calif.(PRWEB) May 24, 2006 -– A new web site, NextAvailable.Com, which debuted in February of this year is a sign of the times for business owners. The site allows busy consumers in every U.S. city to search for and self-schedule the “next available” appointment for businesses of all types. The Next Available® search engine connects consumers and businesses by appointment, and services the growing community of online consumers who either cannot or will not plan ahead.

Developed as a result of continuing consumer trends, the site provides an innovative online forum for businesses and consumers to meet – “in the now.” Customers with urgent service needs are an important source of revenue and goodwill to business owners, and a potential loss to businesses that appear to be unavailable. The site also addresses an often-overlooked source of revenue for businesses: travelers and temporary residents.

“As consumers we expect to book our appointments the same way we book flights and hotels,” said Bonnie Garvey, President of NextAvailable, LLC. “NextAvailable.Com provides the low-cost essential toolkit for businesses to meet consumers’ online scheduling and time management demands.”

How It Works
The service works like this: Using a simple web interface, businesses post appointment availability online, along with a detailed business profile to attract newcomers. Consumers use the search feature on the site’s home page to find appointment openings by date and time. Consumers can search for both the Next Available® appointment starting in the next 15 minutes, or up to 30 days in advance. The search engine returns a list of all businesses with appointment openings that meet the consumer’s criteria. After browsing the profiles of available businesses, consumers self-schedule appointments on the spot. Established clientele can also bypass the search engine to do business directly with their preferred providers.

According to Nielsen’s NetRatings, as of February 2006, 74% of Americans use the Internet, and those users average 30.5 hours online per month. According to a March 2006 special issue of Time, over 95% of affluent Americans made a purchase online in 2005. And the trend is growing. The next generation of consumers promises to be even more tech reliant.

NextAvailable.Com promises businesses an increase in new customer activity, improved goodwill among current customers, and a decrease in administrative time and costs. According to site subscriber Christine Trice, owner of Brown Bag Botanicals pre-natal massage, “I no longer have to worry about lost business due to a missed phone call. My admin time has dropped while bookings have increased.”

Pricing and Availability
At a base price of $20 monthly, businesses can get online and appear in availability searches quickly. Pricing includes a one-page unique website with free video upload and placement in the Next Available® search engine. Retail and non-service based businesses can also use the site to meet internal time management needs. Businesses can sign up online from the site’s home page.

NextAvailable.Com, owned by NextAvailable, LLC, also provides a free survey feature where consumers and businesses can sound off about the site. The company hopes that open communication with the public will help to maintain its pulse on current trends.

For more information, visit the web site at http://NextAvailable.Com.    

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Press Contact: Bonnie Garvey
Company Name: NextAvailable, LLC
Phone: 916.419.4178
Website: http://nextavailable.com  
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Don't Ever Change Babe...!

Don't Change - Why You Should Avoid Organizational Change 
 
Arlington, VA - May 15 2006 - Financial advisor, Kay R. Shirley quoted in The Washington Post (5/7/06) said that many of her client’s portfolios have been destroyed by pride. “There’s this ‘I’m different’ feeling. . . People see mistakes others have made, and they think they’re immune or it’s not going to happen to them. I advise my clients to, when they’re considering an investment, double your emphasis on the negative and halve you’re your interest on the positive, and see if your judgment would be the same.” Now she tells me.

 

This advise – which comes from the relatively new field of behavior economics -- can teach us something about leading change.

 

Consider this: only about one-third of all major changes in organizations actually are worth the effort. Most people I work with can tell you exactly why most of these changes fail. It’s resistance – and they can tell you why resistance comes up and how it destroy us otherwise decent ideas. And yet, they somehow believe that they can ignore what they know about resistance and make this change work.

 

I like Shirley’s suggestion. The next time you or I consider a major change we could ask ourselves: what if the worst that could happen was actually twice as bad as we imagine – and what if the benefits were only half of what we anticipate? Would we go ahead? Or might these simple questions cause us to slow down and examine this change more closely. I didn’t think so, but I thought it was worth a shot.

 

Rick Maurer
author of Beyond the Wall of Resistance, Why Don't You Want What I Want?, Building Capacity for Change Sourcebook, and advisor to organizations on leading change 
 
(rick@beyondresistance.com)
Maurer & Associates
Arlington, VA  
Phone : 703 525-7074
Fax : 703 525-0183 

Dartboard Out, Writing Down Dreams New Financial Planning Tool

Ameriprise Financial Introduces The Dream Book(SM) - Where Life and Retirement Planning Intersect; Unique Financial Planning Guide Helps Turn Retirement Dreams into Retirement Goals
 
MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 16, 2006--Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE:AMP) today announced the release of the Dream Book(SM), a new retirement planning tool unlike any other. It goes beyond the numbers by balancing the financial and emotional aspects of retirement planning. The Dream Book leads people through the process of writing down their goals and dreams so they can clearly envision plans for their future retirement.

 

Originally developed as a discussion tool for Ameriprise Financial advisors and their clients, the Dream Book has evolved into an essential part of the company's financial planning process. Using the Dream Book in one-on-one client meetings not only encourages rich discussions about retirement, it also helps clients determine their long-term financial planning objectives and identify a plan to achieve these goals.

 

"For too long, retirement planning has been solely about crunching the numbers - how much people need to save, and when and how these amounts should be distributed," says Craig Brimhall, vice president of Retirement Wealth Strategies for Ameriprise Financial. "That's still important, but it's not enough. The baby boom generation is looking beyond the money to what kind of life they want in retirement and they need help realizing that dream."

 

First introduced to Ameriprise Financial advisors in the fall of 2005, the Dream Book guide incorporates findings of the groundbreaking New Retirement Mindscape(SM), the first study to map the emotional journey leading up to and into retirement. Early research associated with the New Retirement Mindscape identified an unmet consumer need for a planning tool that could help people articulate their vision for an emotionally-fulfilling retirement.

 

"Ameriprise Financial is dedicated to a one-to-one approach for personal financial planning and the wisdom of that approach is being validated by the success and popularity of the Dream Book- both with advisors and clients," said Kim Sharan, executive vice president and chief marketing and communications officer of Ameriprise Financial. "The results are amazing. Every day we hear stories from advisors about how working through the Dream Book has helped clients identify specific goals that weren't formerly discussed, from helping to adopt grandchildren to realizing a post-retirement dream of working at a professional baseball stadium."

 

The following are examples of some of the questions posed in the Dream Book-

 

-- Do you have a passion in life? What is it?

 

-- If you could do anything you want, time and money aside, what would it be?

 

-- If you only had five years left to live, how would you spend those years?

 

-- Who do you want to spend more time with?

 

-- How do you want to make your lasting mark?

 

"Defining your dreams is the first step toward making them a reality," added Brimhall.

 

The Dream Book is available through the personal advisors of Ameriprise Financial or by request through the Ameriprise Financial web site. For a copy of the Dream Book or to find an Ameriprise Financial advisor in your area, visit ameriprise.com, or call 1-800-AMERIPRISE.

 

About the New Retirement Mindscape

 

Demonstrating leadership in understanding, planning and preparing for retirement, Ameriprise Financial recently conducted a groundbreaking study, the New Retirement Mindscape. The study is the first of its kind to assess and identify the attitudes, emotions, behaviors, concerns and aspirations of people leading up to and in retirement. The New Retirement Mindscape, which identified five distinct emotional stages of retirement, is an emotional roadmap that goes beyond the numbers to help people anticipate, manage and enhance their own retirement experience.

 

About Ameriprise Financial

 

Ameriprise Financial, Inc. is a leading financial planning and services company with more than 12,000 financial advisors and registered representatives that provides solutions for clients' asset accumulation, income management and insurance protection needs. The company's financial advisors deliver tailored solutions to clients through a comprehensive and personalized financial planning approach built on a long-term relationship with a knowledgeable advisor. The company specializes in meeting the retirement-related financial needs of the mass affluent. Financial advisory services and investments are available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member NASD and SIPC. For more information, visit ameriprise.com.

 

(C) 2006 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

Contacts
Ameriprise Financial, Inc., Minneapolis
Media Relations:
Ann Wasik, 612-678-1592
ann.m.wasik@ampf.com
or
Hill & Knowlton
Jessica Schweitzer, 212-885-0388
jessica.schweitzer@hillandknowlton.com

Financial Institutions Comply with New Identity Theft Guidelines

ID Insight's Safe2Change(SM) Helps Financial Institutions Comply with New Identity Theft Guidelines; Sections 114 and 315 of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act Require Financial Institutions to Resolve Consumer Address Mismatches

 

ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2006--Safe2Change, a new service from ID Insight Inc. will help financial services companies comply with recently proposed Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACTA) guidelines aimed at preventing identity theft, according to Adam Elliott and Bob Clark, the company's founders.

 

Signed into law in December of 2003; FACTA requires that the Federal Trade Commission and other federal entities draft identity theft regulations and guidelines for financial institutions. Last week a consortium of federal agencies including the FTC, Federal Banking Agencies, and National Credit Union Administration, released a proposed rulemaking surrounding sections 114 and 315 of FACTA.

 

"Sections 114 and 315 both recognize the fact that all true instances of identity theft involve an address manipulation," said Adam Elliott, co-founder and president of ID Insight. "Our new solution, Safe2Change is built on extensive research around that same dynamic. Our core technology has data and analytics that provide financial institutions with definitive resolution to all address mismatches."

 

"The truth is, people legitimately change addresses all the time," said Bob Clark, co-founder and former fraud investigator. "But at the same time, the amount of fraud in address change transactions is simply too much to ignore. Safe2Change effectively isolates this fraud; allowing you to approve more genuine requests and deny more fraudulent ones."

 

Safe2Change is based on ID Insight's patent pending Address Differential Analysis(SM) technology - a blend of data and analytics designed to resolve address mismatches and prevent identity theft in both new accounts and address change requests in existing accounts. In addition to identity verification, the analysis produces the AD Score(SM), which numerically predicts the likelihood of fraud. The score helps financial institutions focus on high-risk requests in real time, allowing them to act immediately to protect consumers and prevent serious losses.

 

Safe2Change will help financial services companies comply with "red flag" provisions included in Section 114 of FACTA, which requires a credit or debit card issuer to assess the validity of a customer-requested address change when that request is coupled with a request for a new card within thirty days. Additionally, Safe2Change is compliant with Section 315, which requires users of consumer credit reports to verify and reconcile address discrepancies between a customer-supplied address and the address on file with a consumer reporting agency.

 

"Section 114 was written with account takeover in mind, while section 315 was targeted at new account fraud. Both of these new FACTA provisions support what we know from research; that it's all about the address," said Elliott. "Safe2Change allows financial institutions to serve more customers while reducing fraud and investigative expense at the same time."

 

ID Insight Inc. is a privately held company dedicated to preventing identity theft in new and existing financial accounts. ID Insight is based in St. Paul, Minn. and serves financial services clients nationwide.

 

Contacts
ID Insight Inc., St. Paul
Matt Schraan, 651-291-3557

Terminate the Tyranny of Tactical Marketing for Technology Companies

 

Effective Marketing Process Ends the Tyranny of Tactical Marketing for Technology Companies

The two-day Effective Marketing Programs™ training seminar shows product marketers and marketing communications professionals how to think strategically as they plan, execute and measure marketing programs perfectly aligned with their budgets, market segments and sales processes.

Scottsdale, AZ (PRWeb) May 9, 2006 -- Thousands of product marketers and marketing communications professionals in hundreds of companies have become more effective for their companies and more valuable as employees by learning at the intensive and enjoyable two-day Effective Marketing Programs seminar taught by the technology industry product marketing experts at Pragmatic Marketing, Inc.

The Effective Marketing Programs seminar - www.pragmaticmarketing.com/emp - shows product marketers and marketing communications professionals how to think strategically as they plan, execute and measure product marketing programs. Through the process, marketing programs become perfectly aligned with their budgets, market segments and sales processes.

"Effective Marketing Programs generated immediate benefits for my organization," says Robert Thomas, Division Vice President of Marketing at ADP, Time and Labor Management.

Seminar developer and instructor Adele Revella says: "When I became a technology company VP in 1990, I knew that markets were dominated by the companies that could hire, train and retain the best product marketing managers. It was obvious that tactical "list" marketing would not get us where we needed to be. The Effective Marketing Program was the answer -- a standard set of marketing tools, ideas and frameworks that people with any level of experience or background could use to be strategic about everything from a single campaign to a product launch or sales enablement program."

About Pragmatic Marketing®
The industry standard for technology product management and marketing education, Pragmatic Marketing teaches a practical, market-driven approach to creating and delivering technology products, based on the Pragmatic Marketing Framework. Founded in 1993, Pragmatic Marketing has trained over 30,000 product managers and marketers with more than 90% of alumni rating the seminars as essential or very useful to their careers. Visit www.PragmaticMarketing.com to learn more.

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Press Contact: Adele Revella
Company Name: Pragmatic Marketing
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 360-378-2684
Website: www.PragmaticMarketing.com

1-800-CERTIFIABLE

 

Probably The Most Unique Business Listed on Ebay, Toll Free Directory; Yellow Pages Are Now In The Cross Hairs

With the high prices and poor results of too many phone books to advertise in, as well as too much competition in them, aggressive toll free marketing company takes aim at the Yellow Pages and opens it’s doors to investors.

Colorado Springs, CO (PRWEB) May 7, 2006 -- Mark Russell, President of Venturis Systems Inc, put what could arguably be the most unique businesses ever posted up for sale on Ebay- “The 1-800-Certified Network”. The network takes aim at the inflated prices, and poor results, of the Yellow Pages by creating a One-Number directory where callers can reach any type of business, in any city, nationwide.

Service business owners know leads that come from the Yellow Pages are more likely to be price shoppers. With more competition and more books to advertise in, it’s disaster to profits. The answer is to become branded by an easy-to-remember number so clients aren’t forced to it up. (Ex. 1-800- FLOWERS, 1-800-PROGRESSIVE, 1-800-COLLECT). Also, there is no competition within the network because membership is limited to one high-quality business per industry, per marketing area. When customers call, live agents route the call to the business they are seeking.

Mark Russell, president and founder, stated, “We are very excited accept bids for full or part ownership of this business. Numbers like 1-800-CERTIFIED never come available, especially combined with a marketing strategy like this. The potential size and scope of 1-800-CERTIFIED will give instant brand name recognition and great marketing position to companies in the network. When 40+ companies in one metro area all have the same easy-to-remember number, no one will forget it”

1-800-CERTIFIED is currently focused on the auto industry, however the call routing model will be opened to all industries upon completion of this deal.

With this unique listing on ebay, this is THE time for an entrepreneur to walk into this one of a kind business that will change small business marketing and create a whole new advertising medium. If you would like more information,the auction can be found by searching Ebay for the term “1-800-CERTIFIED”. The auction will end on May-14-06 18:15:20 PDT
It can also be found with the following link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1-800-CERTIFIED-Toll-Free-800-Number-Marketing-Business_W0QQitemZ7616712539QQcategoryZ46690QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

For more information please call 1-800-CERTIFIED.

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Press Contact: Mark Russell
Company Name: VENTURIS SYSTEMS INC.
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 719-272-6747
Website: www.1800CERTIFIED.COM