GreenSea Media

FREE is a Wonderful Word this Holiday Season!

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lawson) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:24:00 +0000

This holiday season is the perfect time to start using free online services to market and build customer relationships for your business while reducing costs.

Here are a few of the free online services and one trial your business should take advantage of to make this holiday season a success:

Social Media - Start marketing your business online using FREE social media tools you probably already use for personal use like Facebook, YouTube, Yelp!, and Twitter (lot’s more too.) These services enable businesses and customers to share thoughts, photos, videos, and more while you learn your customers opinions about your business. Nordstrom, Inc. and Coca Cola are examples showing Facebook features. Note how you can intermingle social network content. Having “Facebook Fans” is fun too.
Blog – Get the word out simply and frequently about industry news, your business, products or services with text, photos, and video. Or sum up your year about business or personal happenings. Use free services like Windows Live Spaces, Blogger, TypePad, WordPress, YouTube for video blogging, and many more. Then manage all your blogs with Windows Live Writer.
Email marketing, Event Marketing services (NEW), and online survey tools help small businesses and organizations connect to customers quickly, easily, and affordably—and build stronger relationships. Increase your website traffic, inform your customers, and attract new leads with email marketing. It’s not a free service but the free trial will get you through the holidays and realize its full potential.
Learn more and FREE 60-Day TRIAL!
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) – Look for and learn about the free “Webmaster Tools” and information available to optimize and improve your website ranking on search engines. Make this a priority today.
Google™ Analytics - Measure your website’s visitor habits, campaigns, and see web page successes and failures. Get automated reports emailed to you.
Business Listings - Promote your business on the myriad of search engine local listings and other listing services which also provide detailed maps and directions. See Bing’s local listing for Starbucks.
Free Microsoft® Services –
1. Office Live:
  - Office Live Workspace - View, edit, share and store documents online up to 5 GB with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint integration.
  - Office Live Small Business - Create a free website.
2. Windows Live (in short):
  - Email with Calendar and Contacts synced to mobile phones.
  - SkyDrive – 25 GB of secure photo and document storage.
  - Windows Live for Mobile – Stay in sync on the go.
  - Free Windows phone apps - Windows Live for Mobile, Facebook, Bing (search, maps, and a ton more.)
  - Messenger – A very powerful under utilized tool offering screen sharing, instant messaging, online status, PC to PC voice and video calling. Chat with customers right from your website.
  - Movie Maker – Get Noticed! Create a video and post it online.
Skype™ – Almost everyone uses Skype these days enabling your business to contact its customers, clients and vendors from anywhere while saving money. Skype offers instant messaging, PC to PC voice and video calling and more.

You can find plenty of self help documentation if you want to do it alone. Use your best marketing and media law practices, test it, and keep it simple before communicating with your customers.

If any of the services are too complex or time consuming for your small business to handle and you still want to take advantage of them, don’t worry, we will help you through the process or do it all for you. GreenSea Media’s services aren’t free but but we offer a free consultation, essential experience, and affordable rates.

Contact Us Today!

Tips to Safeguard Sentimental and Sensitive Data

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lawson) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:56:00 +0000

Everyone has sentimental and sensitive data on their computers. Putting steps in place to protect this data may seem expensive and time consuming but consider the cost and time if something does happen? Data can be compromised in many ways such as theft, hackers, fire, breakage, water damage, etc. All of these dangers can be detrimental to your personal or organization’s information but it can also put your family, friends, and customer’s personal information at risk of identity fraud.

Besides the tasks you hopefully already do like a computer “user account” and backing up your computer’s hard drive to an external drive, there are several defenses you can make to safeguard your data.

Make a Backup, Encryption, Recovery, and Security (BEARS) Plan

Backup Your Backup
Ideally it is best to make a backup of your backup and then take the second backup off-site to ward off any thieves, fire, smoke, water, etc. which can destroy everything at one location. Drives are cheap enough now you can rotate additional backups off-site or in a fireproof/waterproof safe.

Backup software is included with most external hard drives and available in some editions of Microsoft^®Windows^®(such as “Backup and Restore Center”). *

Costco sells several decent affordable external hard drives perfect for making backups. One drive in particular is the ioSafe which is fireproof and waterproof. Check it out at Costco.com or visit Iosafe.com.

Online Backups - This is Cool
Backing up data online is another method which takes care of the off-site task and backup all in one. There are tons of pay services out there but two that come to mind are Mozy.com (McAfee Online Backup is powered by MozyTM) and Carbonite.com. Check out Windows Live SkyDrive for free storage. Be sure the service you choose encrypts files during transfer and while in storage which all of these do.

Encrypt It
Sounds scary but it is simple to do. Some editions of Microsoft Windows include Encrypting File System and BitLocker Drive Encryption. Encrypting data makes if impossible for a thief or hacker to read the contents of your data on your drives.

Encrypting File System (EFS) encrypts data at the folder and file level. You can choose which folders and/or files to encrypt. Be sure to read “Import or export certificates and private keys” in Windows Help and Support to make certificate backups so you can restore encrypted data back to a new system configuration.

BitLocker Drive Encryption does what it’s name describes, it encrypts the entire drive running the Windows operating system. You’ll need a trusted platform module (TPM) or a USB memory device to store the BitLocker key. It is impossible to hack something you can’t read since the entire system is encrypted.

Recovery Plan
Recovery is usually just as unpleasant as the accident whether it be a car accident or a data mishap. Learn how your recovery software works before you need it. Some software only allows certain scenarios or the exact version to be installed on the new system. Try a basic recovery by deleting a non-essential file and recover it using your software. It should be pretty easy to do.

There isn’t enough time to discuss all of the recovery features but also make sure System Restore is turned on and perform a complete PC backup every once in a while. One neat feature if you accidently delete or rename is to restore a file using shadow copy available in some editions of Windows. Search Windows Help and Support for more information on the bolded features.*

Security: Use Asset and Software Protection
Lock your computer physically and using “Windows logo key+L”* when away from your desk, hide it, put into a safe, everything you can think of to protect your data and to deter a thief or prevent water or fire damage, do it now. Anything can happen anytime by anyone. Also, a burglar and fire alarm will discourage thieves and alert emergency services when triggered. Potentially saving your data from theft and/or being burned. A simple $25 laptop lock is enough to stop a thief. Get one for your nightly external backup drive too. Read my Online Security Tips blog for more information about protecting against viruses, spyware, worms, using firewall, and keeping your system up to date.

Mobile Phones
This article pertains mostly to PC security but now many of you sync your data to a mobile phone. Protecting phone data is a similar methodology to your PC security. Be sure your Bluetooth is protected as well using a passphrase or turned of in public areas.

Microsoft My Phone - All phones have their own special tools but Microsoft just launched a cool service called My Phone for Windows Mobile 6+.
Features:

Back up your phone automatically
Share photos on your favorite social networking sites
Access your contacts, text messages and more online for free
Locate your lost phone. Make it ring even when silenced, remotely lock it or erase it.

Other important tasks: Empty Trash/Recycle bins, use a file Shredder to delete files such as one from McAfee, setup Parental Controls and find a book or online articles to learn more.

All you need to do now is create a task list and set reminders in your calendar to make sure these are done on a regular basis. You’ll get in the habit real fast and feel confident that your sentimental and sensitive data is secure.

Leave a comment below or check out Microsoft Security, Window Help and Security (F1), and your security software documentation for more information.

Take care and be safe online.

Mark Lawson
Owner
GreenSea Media

Other operating systems note: Refer to your operating system documentation and help or look under Mac OS Utilities for similar tasks.

Email Alert and Online Security Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lawson) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:18:00 +0000

We have been hearing a lot about flu shots, H1N1 flu and various other health related topics lately. But what are you doing to keep your identity and computer safe from online hackers, viruses, spyware, and more? It is very possible to use the Internet safely through regular computer checkups and common sense just as you would do for your own health and safety.

Like our bodies, our computers are susceptible to many hazards when exposed to its surrounding environment. By protecting your own computer, you will also protect the computers of your family, co-workers, and friends.

Here is a recent email alert and a few tips to protect yourself and your computer from online hazards.

Email Alert - There is an official looking scam email circulating claiming it is from Microsoft to update your Outlook software. Do not click links in this email.

Microsoft, other corporations, and the government do not normally send out email alerts and attachments with links to update software or enter personal information.

There are also phony emails from the IRS and various Banks. My bank asks me to forward email to their fraud email alias in regards to email related to their bank. Please don't forward questionable emails to anyone unless asked.

If you are ever in doubt, even if it is from someone you know, throw it out, then delete your "Deleted" items.

4 steps to protect your computer -

Keep your firewall turned on.
Keep your operating system up-to-date.
Keep your antivirus software up-to-date.
Keep your antispyware technology up-to-date.

Online Security Tips:

To update your Microsoft Software use the software built into Windows named Windows Update. Click the Start Menu > Windows Update or you can find it in the Control Panel > Windows Update. If it isn't already set, you can enable the software to update your system automatically. Other operating systems have similar features.
Pause before you open attachments or click links in e-mail or IM even if you know the sender; they could be phony. Confirm with the sender that the message is real or visit the official Web site by typing the address yourself. *
Never give sensitive information in response to an e-mail or instant message (IM) request. *

For more information, check out the Security & Updates section of the Microsoft Corporation web site at www.microsoft.com/security where you will find Internet and computer safety tips and more.

Be safe online and everywhere!

Take care,

Mark Lawson
GreenSea Media

* Security tip from www.microsoft.com/security.

GreenSea Media Announces New Business Partnership with Constant Contact

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lawson) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 23:41:00 +0000

Issaquah, WA - GreenSea Media is excited to announce our new business partnership with Constant Contact®, Inc. Businesses and organizations can now have secure email marketing integrated with their website design, landing pages, and analysis tools.

Read more about how GreenSea Media can improve your customer relationships with Constant Contact.

Constant Contact, Inc. champions small businesses, associations, and nonprofits to help them connect with their customers, clients, and members easily and affordably. More than 200,000 organizations worldwide use Constant Contact's industry-leading email marketing and online survey tools. They create professional-looking email communications and online surveys to inform their audience and get feedback that ultimately result in closer relationships and tangible business growth.

Constant Contact supports customers every step of the way with award-winning, unlimited, free customer service. Plus, Constant Contact provides high email deliverability rates due to its strong ISP partnerships, no-tolerance spam policy, and participation in anti-spam industry groups.

Email Marketing and Online Survey build lasting relationships with your customers and keep them coming back.

Email Marketing and Online Survey are the tools you need to help grow your business. They're affordable. They don't take a lot of time to use. And they're effective. In fact, more than 200,000 businesses use Constant Contact® to drive their success because they know using our tools to communicate with their current customers generates more referrals, customer loyalty, and repeat business.

Email Marketing lets you connect and get relevant messages out to people who want to hear from you. Online Survey helps them tell you what they really think about your products, services, and communications—giving you new ideas and feedback to better understand and meet their needs.

The insights you'll get with Online Survey help you focus on how to meet customer needs—and deliver what they want. And with Email Marketing, you can deliver relevant, professional-looking email campaigns that get opened, measured and acted on.

Create professional email campaigns and online surveys quickly and easily; choose from more than 200 easy-to-use newsletter templates and 40 survey templates.

Get survey feedback and measure email campaign results in real time with instant tracking and reporting—and uncover revealing trends and patterns.

Use online polls to keep your website fresh and your visitors coming back.

Manage your email and survey lists, and reporting—all in one place with your integrated Constant Contact account.

Create targeted email lists based on survey response, and follow up with relevant email communications.

Get help every step of the way with our online educational resources and award-winning, free, and unlimited customer support.

Open the lines of communications with your customers or members. Build strong, lasting relationships with them. Do it all with Email Marketing and Online Survey by Constant Contact today!

Sign up for a FREE 60-Day Trial today.
Explore Email Marketing and Online Survey with no risk.
No obligation.

Take a FREE 60-Day Trial

Call or e-mail for a free consultation!

425.654.0144 or info@greenseamedia.com

About GreenSea Media

GreenSea Media™ LLC has been offering innovative online services and consulting for small businesses since 1996. Build your online business to sell products, inform customers, attract new leads, and enhance communications using our website services and solutions. Get connected and stay connected with your customers through our online marketing support. Discover your online business potential using one of the most affordable mediums with a worldwide audience.

Visit our website for more information: http://www.greenseamedia.com

New GreenSea Media Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lawson) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:45:00 +0000

The new GreenSea Media Blog offers ideas, tips, guides, and other information to spark conversations and thoughts about any topic which come up. Some entries may be short thoughts or new industry items to share. Hope you like it!

You may have noticed a new business name and Web site at http://www.greenseamedia.com/. The renaming and revamping was changed to reflect the many new services as well as enhancements to the existing services offered. I also want to note that the new Web site design was dreamed up by my friend Treasure Hinds at Anvil Studios http://www.anvil-studios.com/.

To help you learn more about GreenSea Media, here are a couple answers to some frequent questions (more to come later):

What does GreenSea Media do? GreenSea Media offers consulting and services for businesses and organizations to build and promote their online presence. A few of the services include Web site design/development, online marketing such as Email campaigns, and search engine marketing/advertising and optimization. Learn more about our services.

Why the GreenSea name? As I have lot of respect for water and understand that it is the most critical resource of the world, I wanted to relate this to my other passion, connecting people through communications technologies. The Pacific Northwest hosts one of the most alive waters which makes it very green, see photos at http://www.seaoasis.net/. So I put a name to a communications technology, GreenSea Media.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me anytime at mark@greenseamedia.com.

Take Care,

Mark Lawson
Owner / Consultant
http://www.greenseamedia.com/