DPS Technologies Official Blog

10 Guidelines for Investing in BPO (Business Process Outsourcing)

2010-01-31T21:55:00.000-08:00

For those looking to reap the benefits of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), the ISO 9000 series of quality management is internationally renowned for setting the bar. They verify the quality of an international business investment in areas like; training, servicing, and purchasing, and that quality is backed by certification received only after an external audit. There are potential difficulties for those looking to outsource ISO certified organizations though. These include change orders on long-term locked in contracts, a lack in available resources, and the most harmful for a joint venture, the lack of visibility known as the execution gap. The following is a list of tips useful for avoiding these pitfalls:

Research the ISO certifications standards by visiting www.iso.org, American Society for Quality www.asq.org, or the American National Standards Institute www.ansi.org, to fully understand what these quality management standards will mean for your company.
Design a layout of your service structure, so all operations can be documented for review and you can structurally assign outsourced responsibilities to specific domains.
Conduct your own audit prior to partnering with a BPO vendor. This could include visiting the offshore premises, and asking for references.
Create a contract that specifically outlines the service need, expansion guidelines, and quality requirements.
Avoid long terms contracts, in case the company does not meet investment requirements.
Monitor industry trends to prevent service impediments in the future.
Verify that the corporation will have all resources available to you at all times.
Make certain they are flexible to your needs, and have a point of contact on shore.
Reduce the execution gap by maintaining lines of communication with video & audio conferencing. Cost efficient communication tools like Skype, make it easy for businesses to communicate with their offshore vendor.
Conduct your quality assessment in-house using a detailed matrix, and hold BPO vendor accountable for quality standards.

By Kevin Haggerty

As Obama & Singh converse on Global Outsourcing, ISO Certifications become a necessity for BPO vendors

2010-01-29T02:03:00.000-08:00

The efforts for bolstering outsourcing & global business transactions have been supported by the governments from both the United States, a leading client, and India, the leading vendor. President Barack Obama in his meeting with India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh "agreed to strengthen economic recovery and expand trade and investment," because, "Indian investment in America is creating and sustaining jobs across the United States, and the United States is India's largest trading and investment partner." India's Singh has traditionally encouraged international business in his early sentiments, "India has to be integrated into the evolving world economy. We have to share in the benefits of an increasingly interdependent economy. Trade offers opportunities; it creates an environment in which our industry can grow at a rate faster than domestic demand."

Outsourcing has seen a recent boom as businesses struggle to survive in today's economy. However, if international businesses merely employed workers as they needed them, without some standard in the services provided by their investment, there presents the possibilities of both mishandled operations and poor quality work within inescapable contracts. This is why the International Standards Organization (ISO) has been so critical in the evolution of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry.

ISO has created more than 17,500 standards since its inception in 1987 and each one is influential in some form of international business. In the case of the BPO industry, the ISO 9000 standards are the dominant preference to ensure quality management for new and existing organizations outsourcing. According to the ISO website, the "ISO 9001:2000 specifies requirements for a quality management system-aims to enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system" provides, "the assurance of conformity to customer and applicable regulatory requirements."

In an interview with BPO specialist, Rohit Barman President of DPS America, exclusive outsourcing vendor for 30 year old BPO provider, DPS Technologies", he said, "US companies looking to outsource to BPO vendors are well educated on the ISO certifications, and run a great risk by signing with companies that have not been certified. At the same time, they don't have a small pool to choose from as most reputable BPO vendors are aware of this, and make sure to get certified.

The significance of these regulations is that certification can only be awarded by an external audit. Furthermore, the means by which an organization meets those standards is not specific, so long as they are met.

SPAMs Skyrocket as Businesses Crash

2010-01-21T23:24:00.000-08:00

A sobering find: Spam devours corporate resources, clogging up to 50% of a network's assets. Clearly spam remains a major force to contend with, underlining the importance of good combat readiness.

Facebook recently brought spam back into the headlines with a $711M judgment against infamous social media spammer Sanford Wallace under a law known as the CAN-SPAM Act (Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act). Lawmakers passed this act in 2003 fully intending to take a bite out of internet marketing spam. Unfortunately a number of anti spam advocates expressed concern that the act did not go far enough. And they may have a point: since 2003 the number of junk mail messages has increased ten-fold, leaping from 45% of all emails to above 90%.

Consider this: in June the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shut down an Internet Service Provider suspected of harboring malware programs and other tools hackers use to carry out web activities related to email spam and identify theft. In another case, the FTC doled out a $2.9 million fine to advertiser ValueClick, Inc. for deceptive advertising through emails, banner ads, and pop-ups.

Here are a few steps to make sure you protect your business:

Start with a spam filter to protect your business on the front lines, although keep in mind that a variety of anti spam solutions exist, so shop around and find an offer attuned to your company's needs.
Introduce your network security team to the spam blacklist.
Educate your employees: get them to understand what spam is, how to identify it, and how to overcome it.
On public web pages, use a technique like a response form to protect company addresses from a spammer's prying eyes. Make sure to add a "captcha" for authentication.
On the customer end, ensure your network security protocols are robust and updated, and have a notification policy to keep customers informed.
For internet marketing, consider that many consumers' previous experience with spam makes them wary of unexpected messages. Encourage your business to use an "opt-in" policy when developing internet marketing campaigns, and follow the terms of CAN-SPAM as a guideline in identifying what differentiates email spam from honest selling. Make sure your tactics avoid landing your business on a damaging spam blacklist.

You do not need to pay expensive per-email pricing in order to participate in Internet & Email Marketing campaigns. DPS' Technologies recently launched their "Smart Flyer Software" which includes a powerful network & campaign management center (within your website), allowing you to control multiple campaigns, and a comprehensive email list. The software purchase includes a registration form compliant with SPAM laws.

By Joe Unander

Public Relations gets outsourced for increased Brand Awareness

2010-01-13T01:44:00.000-08:00

It has long been understood that the objective of a PR (Public Relations) firm was to represent a business in their brand creation, target audience engagement, and brand awareness/ distribution. The digital age has brought an increased investment to public relations & campaign management, and more and more businesses are looking to create strategy that has a strong ROI.

The foremost of these changes for PR firms is in the utilization of BPO/ Business Process outsourcing. Already, the trend of outsourcing has found its way into major media outlets including Reuters, The Boston Globe, The Financial Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times, and the Associated Press. Brand Consultant & BPO specialist, Rohit Barman, president of DPS America suggests that American businesses must "look to implement campaign design & distribution off-shore, while keeping the Art Direction in-house". The additional capital saved can also be allocated for hiring strong Art Directors, engaging in paid press releases, organizing live marketing events, & other face to face interactions that must occur on-shore.

One possible site to take a cue from would be PitchEngine. The concept of this site is user generated Social Media Releases. These SMR's take advantage of the popularity of Social Media sites like Facebook and Twitter and allow the client to put together a pitch that reaches these sites. A BPO team is a strong solution for the distribution of such campaigns, as they can cost-effectively take ONE campaign & submit it to various internet feeds, social networks, media outlets, and other online distribution resources. Rohit Barman adds that, "the race to the top of the search engines requires a strong emphasis on distribution, and this equation can only be done with increased manpower"

By Kevin Haggerty

Generating Votes & Election Support through Smart Internet Campaigns

2009-12-21T02:58:00.000-08:00

We live in a Democracy, where "every vote counts". So, it seems obvious that with 250 + million internet users, politicians would be utilizing the plethora of internet marketing tools in their campaign management, and expansion of loyal voter base. If you are a politician, or a campaign manager, here are some simple steps you need to consider, prior to your next election:

Create a website, as your online campaign headquarters.
Generate an online support network (voters) through registration:

Conduct offline campaigns directing consumers to your website, to receive updates on campaign specific interest(s).
Create & distribute ad campaigns, linking ads to your registration page.
Set up an affiliate network (online partners) to co-campaign/advertise for you. Groups that are stationed within your campaign area, have a local/ geo-targeted consumer base, and have similar political interests would be ideal. These campaign affiliates are extremely important as they will play an integral role in acquiring votes for future elections. Distribute your ads through your affiliates' online websites. You can even target specific consumer groups depending on the affiliate specifics.

With the eventual goal of creating targeted voter email campaigns, ask your supporters about their individual political interests (through a brief survey)...

... What topic interests you the most?

Local/ National Economy
State/ Federal Unemployment
International Business Relations
Immigration laws
Gay Rights & Marriage Equality

... Get basic demographic information - age, sex, ethnic origin (make this optional).

Optimize your website content through composing & incorporating a list of "geo-targeted keywords" (content incorporating your consumer bases' political interests & location for better visibility)
Utilize a mass emailing software; segment your voters and campaign affiliates into separate address books in order to run aggressive personalized campaigns.
Set up pages on major Social Networks (Facebook, Myspace, Twitter) and keep fans involved in the issues that majority of your registered network appreciates.
Create a YouTube page, and run advertising campaigns through YouTube. Optimize your YouTube videos with rich geo-targeted keyword content.

Begin Campaigning!, but don't forget to utilize the valuable consumer data you have collected.

Internet Marketing specialist, Rohit Barman, president of DPS America insists that "political officers and campaign managers MUST get acquainted with internet marketing, as it allows them to acquire valuable data on voter interests, segment it seamlessly with the help of automated email registration software(s), and run aggressive campaigns targeting voters with interests that effect them the most. Tapping a voter's core nerve will create enough excitement to get them out on Election Day."

By Kevin Haggerty

"DPS' 2.5 hour interactive training, Digital Promotions Strategy, beginning in January and based in New York City, is the first of its kind to incorporate the entire spectrum of creating, engaging & expanding an online network. Extracted from the internet's scientific principles, the live seminar(s) will provide celebrity agents the knowledge, structure, and tools to track consumer/ fan behavior & campaign effectiveness - an internet marketing strategy that will give agents the confidence to manage their public relations campaigns more effectively than ever before."

Social Media, a gold mine for Celebrity Agent’s PR Management

2009-12-21T02:55:00.000-08:00

As a Celebrity Agent, there is no marketing channel friendlier than social media marketing, which allows one to create, develop, and channel a consistent PR (public relations) campaign for a comprehensive fan base. Here are some reasons:

Distribution of Campaigns - To effectively endorse the public relations identity of a celebrity, it is necessary to build a fan & campaign distribution base within the gossip-friendly realms of "social networks". Social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter, allow the traditional "word of mouth" to travel faster than ever before. A primary feature is the instantaneous contact with everyone in an established fan base. So, if a celebrity was planning to attend a premiere event like the opening of a new nightclub, an agent could easily geo-target their campaign my emailing the appropriate fan base to increase attendance.
Public Relations & Community Outreach - Social Network Marketing is also useful in promoting a celebrity's charitable contributions, while increasing the popularity of their committed event(s). With simple one line "posts" or "tweets", a celebrity agent can notify fans about the initiative, with details for physical and monetary support.
Celebrity "Face Exposure"- The rapid upsurge or Media Marketing creates a prominent channel for public relations management & campaign exposure. YouTube, the renowned media marketing giant, acquired by the mega-marketing internet search engine, Google, has contributed much to this internet marketing growth. YouTube is the 4th most visited website on the internet, and it allows celebrity agents the ability to create accounts, post videos, add search friendly tags, and communicate with fan base through a chat sequence similar to the likes of internet forums. With Media Marketing, you can create a public celebrity portfolio that creates, retains, and expands a fan base more effectively than ever before.

Internet Marketing specialist, Rohit Barman, president of DPS America suggests that celebrity agents get acquainted with social media marketing as it allows them to be the "speaker of their celebrity's house".

By Kevin Haggerty

Google’s stepchild, YouTube, has the most social media marketing potential… experts say

2009-12-16T03:24:00.000-08:00

Businesses & consumers have begun to embrace online videos in recent months more than ever before, with viewers reaching 168 million in September. And with the online video surge, arrives a distinct business investment splurge on video advertising. The research firm e-Marketer projects a 35 to 45% growth in online video advertising for each of the next five years.

YouTube, the renowned media marketing giant, acquired by the mega-marketing internet search engine, Google, has contributed much to this evolution. How?

Posting a YouTube video incurs a $0 investment. As a business marketer, you can align your promotion with your company marketing budget to create the appropriate video advertisement. Some techniques include: infomercials, presentations, trainings, testimonials, property tours, and video blogs.
YouTube's "feedback analysis" tools persistently co-developed by the technical brilliance of Google, allows automated consumer behavioral analysis for businesses to target their internet marketing investments. YouTube & Google technicians are also testing the ability to add video captions to all online videos, allowing businesses to search engine optimize their video posts using the familiar techniques utilized by businesses to attract users to their online portfolio(s) & network(s).
YouTube accounts for 40% of all online video views. It is essential for businesses to identify their target consumer, grab their attention, elicit reaction, and escort them to take action. And unlike TV advertising, this does not necessarily call for professional production(s).

Internet Marketing specialist, Rohit Barman President of DPS America boldly claims that, "YouTube is the stepchild of social media marketing, with significantly more marketing potential than his sister social media networks".

By Bruce Lacey

"A 2.5 hour interactive training, Digital Promotions Strategy, beginning in January and based in New York City, is the first of its kind to incorporate the entire spectrum of creating, engaging & expanding a business' online network. Extracted from online scientific principles, the live seminar will provide business professionals the knowledge, structure, and tools to track consumer behavior & campaign effectiveness - an internet marketing strategy that will give attendees the confidence to manage their online marketing in-house.

The seminar follows the life cycle of creating a convincing online presence, while identifying the key components of branding, drawing an audience to a firm's online portal, engaging an established network through viral promotions, and expanding consumer base through extensive internet marketing campaigns."

Video Advertising cuts her own umbilical cord to hit Jackpot

2009-12-16T03:19:00.000-08:00

It is the child of television and internet marketing, but surpasses either parent in ways that are sometimes surprising. Welcome to Video Advertising.

According to Comscore, 140 + American consumers tuned to "online videos" in 2009, multiplying the consumer base by 700 %. Average monthly consumption rose from 6 to10 hours, with more than 26 billion views on a given month. The facts about growing usage actually understate the promise of online video advertising.

	Television Advertising	Online Video Advertising
Brand Awareness	54% brand awareness	82 % brand awareness
Brand Recall	19 % brand recall	77 % brand recall
Consumer Purchase Intent	Consumers fast-forward advertisement (DVR) or go on snack/ restroom break.	40 - 55% consumers watch complete video promotion

So, what does this mean for Businesses & Internet Marketing?

According to video marketing expert, Bob Clarke, "it is very difficult to establish trust through written words. People will trust you more if they have a face and voice to associate with your name." While this new marketing channel shows greater promise for consumer purchase, what unique attributes does online video advertising reveal?

Online video ads are short and mandatory. Some videos allow fast-forwarding promotions post 10 seconds, allowing a business to create a basic brand imprint within the consumer's brain.
Video advertising allows immediate, "call to action" such as "click here to receive 20% off your next purchase".
The advent of internet marketing has created a whole new realm of targeted consumer behavior analysis & advertising, which allows businesses the ability capture demographic data and cater their promotions to specific consumer groups.
Social Media Marketing in tangent with Video Advertising takes brand exposure to a whole new level. The "click here to post video on profile" transformed the traditional "word of mouth" in ways that words cannot express.

Research firm e-Marketer projects 35 to 45 percent growth for online video advertising for each of the next five years. This simply means that businesses have a brand new internet marketing channel that they must consider in their upcoming budgets.

By Bruce Lacey

A BPO insider addresses risk management in business outsourcing

2009-12-08T21:42:00.000-08:00

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) can easily come off as a complex industry full of used car salesmen types. However, there is no doubt that American businesses are reaping the benefits associated with outsourcing. I had the opportunity to recently interview, Rohit Barman, consultant for 30 year old BPO service provider, DPS Technologies, who outlined some key outsourcing know-how's for any business considering the offshore advantage.

Barman is the president of DPS America, and a 2nd generation BPO agent. His experience includes setting up a HIPAA compliant KPO- centric customer support facility for a Medicare Part D program catering to 70,000 beneficiaries, establishing a BPO-centric 24/7 medical emergency response service, and founding a NY based internet marketing solutions provider with an offshore facility in Kolkata, India.

Q: Describe the role of the "middle man" in business process outsourcing. What makes an executive at a BPO vendor fit this description?

A: A "middle man" is traditionally an outsourcing agent, usually lives in the United States, and is of the same ethnic background of the BPO vendor.

Q: Which BPO services do you recommend outsourcing? and which ones would you say no to?

A: It really depends on the country you are outsourcing to.

When it comes to IT software, internet marketing, and data entry work, India is clearly the offshore leader.

For customer support efficiencies (cell centers), the Philippines has pretty incredible results. Their spoken English skills are comparable, if not better than most Americans.

For hardware support, I would recommend China or Taiwan.

I would not recommend outsourcing art direction, writing/ editing, telemarketing, or any service that requires higher level familiarity with our local culture & communication.

Q: Fraud is an unfortunate side effect of any business, and the complexity of a BPO service certainly opens the door for various types of scams. Have you ever seen an outsourcing executive resort to a pricing scam like bait-and-switch, hidden fees, or false billing?

A: Being a 2nd generation BPO middle men, I have grown up in the outsourcing world. I've worked as a BPO vendor, BPO buyer, and a BPO middle man. In my experience, I have witnessed pricing scams, but I've actively stayed clear from affiliating myself with such businesses. BPO executives are no different than executives of US firms. You should not sign a deal, till you are comfortable with your research & analyzed your risk.

Q: Have you ever witnessed a BPO executive exaggerate what they can deliver in order to make a sale, or charge higher rates?

A: Of-course, the good news is that I'm familiar with global BPO rates & service standards, and utilize my familiarity to negotiate pricing.

Q: How can a company be on guard for these types of unethical practices, ensuring that the value they get from outsourcing is real? What can a BPO buyer do to ensure transparency, reliability, and data security in their deal with an offshore vendor?

A: Business should not underestimate the amount of research and background checks you have to do when selecting an outsourcing vendor, even if they were recommended to you. Some imperative research includes asking yourself...

Who is the middle man/ agent? - look up records for felony, fraud, and other potential misdemeanors in the United States. There are several BPO middle men in the United States who have settled law suits out of court, and have paid their way back into building a business reputation. Ignoring such an important red flag is no different than getting married to a heroin addict - your partnership is doomed.
Look up the BPO production facility to see how long they have been around? Ask for local references, and verify them.
Don't fall victim to the "yes, we can do everything spiel. I've heard it a million times.

Q: Is it possible to settle on a performance scale that uses accepted methods?

A: Buyers should always set up a quality management system in-house. If you open this up to the BPO vendor, you risk being exposed to improper reporting. Conduct monthly reviews based on quantitative reasoning.

Q: While there are always a few of the proverbial "bad apples" in every industry, what has been your overall experience working with BPO companies?

A: A good outsourcing partnership could be a lifelong marriage. If trust & efficiency can be established within the first 6 months to a year, the BPO vendor & business buyer will experience significantly stronger ROI & customer service satisfaction.

By Joseph Unander

Could the evolution of outsourcing be the fastest global development in history?

2009-12-08T21:38:00.000-08:00

In a recent interview, the CEO of a major BPO company, WIPRO, said, "As a young industry, business process outsourcing has seen significant change in the market, both from buyer and supplier perspectives."

How significant is this change?

Traditional outsourcing tackled poor communication with pricey phone calls and expensive business trips. But, over the last decade, internet communications has made it fairly easy for local businesses to setup their offshore support, adhering to textbook communication standards. Free software(s) like "Skype" enable businesses to be in constant contact with their BPO units. Skype allows instant messaging & virtual conferencing with voice and video efficiencies. It has become such an outsourcing fad, that GN Netcom, the largest headset provider estimated that the "2009 global market for headsets is worth $2.5 billion and is growing rapidly at 17 % per year."

Over the last decade, American businesses developed a familiarity with outsourcing. While cost used to be a principal factor in diving offshore, businesses became attentive to the liability it aligned itself to. Before long, the solution arrived...

... In an interview with Rohit Barman, president of DPS America, exclusive consulting hub for 30 year old BPO service, DPS Technologies, he said, "Currently, the ISO 9001-2000 certifies companies for better performance and quality. Simply, do not outsource to a BPO that isn't accredited."

While the two barriers in outsourcing were tackled aggressively, where is this global phenomenon heading?

... It's only been a few years since American Businesses supported "working from home" to reduce infrastructure costs. BPO vendors recently began evaluating this option as well. Raman Roy, CEO of outsourcing facility, Quattro Solutions, views this as "the next-generation step for the industry. It will create jobs for people who are educated but don't have travel flexibility."

In 2005, New York Times columnist & author of bestseller, "the World is Flat", said, "If you don't visit the bad neighborhoods, the bad neighborhoods are going to visit you." With the advent of seamless technology & support, globally accredited BPO models, and cost effective business remedies that mirror local service standards, Business Process Outsourcing is reinventing itself daily. The global neighborhoods have merged, company fences eradicated, and cubicles are being set up thousands of miles apart.

By Joseph Unander

Check mate on social media consumers with innovative marketing strategy

2009-12-06T21:35:00.000-08:00

A September 2009 survey of 5,000 moms conducted by The Parenting Group reveals that while 60% of moms have used social media in the last 24 hours, they are four times more likely to purchase through direct referrals, than proposals through social networks."When it comes to influencing brand perception and purchase decisions, the data shows that social media still has a long way to go," said Stephanie Molnar, Work Place Media. "Most of our meaningful recommendations continue to be old-fashioned, word of mouth recommendations from friends, co-workers, and/or family."

While consumer analysis seems to challenge the effectiveness of social media in internet marketing, businesses continue to invest in this tool, reporting significant gains.

In April, Ford loaned 100 top bloggers their new Fiesta for six months, on one condition - they wrote about their experience driving the car. Comcast, the cable company, has invested in Twitter marketing for the last year, using this social media bigwig to supply their 28K+ consumer base with news updates, while collecting feedback & analyzing their behavior trends. Social media marketing has also been a success for Dell, which reported $3 million+ revenue from consumers who clicked through Dell's Tweets, funneling purchases.

While only a few businesses have demonstrated a clear ROI on their social media marketing efforts, it would be silly for most to ignore this latest trend -Facebook has 250+ million website users, while Twitter is up to 40 million consumers. As we approach 2010, social media marketing has proved to be a tremendous asset to businesses who utilize offline promotions to offset internet marketing campaigns, engage consumer audience through service expectations, and create strong business strategy that delivers immediate consumer purchases.

By Kimberly Stanley

Small Business owners weigh in on ROI in Banner Ads

2009-12-06T21:25:00.000-08:00

In 2010, small businesses will use fewer banner ads in their internet marketing campaigns according to a survey conducted by Vertical Response. The survey, that talked to 831 small business owners (632 with a staff less than 10), indicates that 54.2% do not plan to use internet marketing budgets for banner advertising. However, 68.4% do plan to increase social media marketing efforts, and a whopping 96.2% plan to use e-mail marketing. Nearly one quarter (23.8%) felt that Internet Marketing "...was the tool most needed for small business to succeed in 2010."

Small Businesses can only model themselves after the extensive2009 internet marketing campaigns & consumer purchasing data conducted by the bigger names.

The Daily Beast, news reporting website has started to integrate banner ads within the website content."Banners are small and standard, and have been in exactly the same place for so many years it's an easy user behavior to ignore them," said Caroline Marks, GM, "We felt the need to challenge the existing product set and look for new products to help advertisers leverage the benefits of interactivity."

Digg, ratings website, now permits consumers the ability to "digg" banner ads in the same way they "digg" other website content. Chas Edwards, the chief revenue officer says, "We need to find ways for brands to borrow the grammar of the user experience."

Meebo, the chat website, uses custom banner ads - the ads start out as the traditional 728 x 90 size, but then expand to 900 x 400 when a user clicks on it. "With the Web awash in ad impressions, there's a need to stand out in the market," said Martin Green, CIO.

Despite the belied by small business owners that banner ads are ineffective, website consumers seem to disagree. A May 2009 survey of 1575 users, commissioned by iProspect, showed that a significant number DO notice banner ads, even if they do not click them. Almost half of them (49%) said that they eventually search for a product or service that they saw advertised, and 38% go to a related website after performing the search. Reports like this show that small businesses need to put more thought into their banner ads. It is imperative that getting creative with banner location within website content, using more appealing graphics, and a thorough analysis of consumer trends will clearly optimize banner ad investments.

By Kimberly Stanley

A simple strategy for creating profit friendly Tweets

2009-11-30T04:12:00.000-08:00

Supreme search engine, Google, announced they will be showing tweets in their search results, recognizing social media giant, Twitter, for its overwhelming consumer interest. Twitter's explosive growth (surpassing 27 million in October '09) indicates that businesses need to get acquainted with yet another powerful internet marketing channel. So how do you leverage Twitter to improve your business ROI (return of investment), website visibility, and traffic?

In layman's terms, Twitter is much like other Social Media websites. You create a profile, affiliate with like consumers, and communicate (tweet) by listing short posts (less than 140 characters). If other Twitter consumers like your message, they can "follow" you, and re-post your tweets, exposing you to their followers. The ability to effectively create a large consumer audience will eventually draw more traffic to your social media page, and business website. So, where do you start?

Step 1- Define your Social Media Personality by defining the following (in order):

Consumer Demographics - age, sex, race, socio-economic status, location, etc.
Common interests - Create assumptions about your target audience; their purchasing trends, likes and dislikes, affiliations, associations, etc. If you aren't sure, run a focus group comprising of actual consumers.
Once you create a consumer profile, design your social media personality. Whether you are the well versed educator, the comedic entertainer, or the gifted scientist, stick with your decision be consistent.

Step 2 - Like most internet marketing material, successful Twitter campaigns rely on technically establishing authority through consistent research of effective keywords and links. Your Twitter profile and content is indexed by Google, and will enhance your visibility. Optimize your 140 character tweet with as many keywords associated with your business and consumer needs. Incorporating links that compliment your social media personality tweets will increase traffic to your twitter profile & company website.

Step 3 - Engage in social media networking. Create tweets that followers will re-post, known as "re-tweeting", exposing your social media personality to more consumers. Follow non competing twitter personalities (a twitter link exchange), and strategize each tweet.

To effectively market your online business, you need to create a balance between using keywords, and creating attractive tweets. If you are too aggressive, you'll lose credibility. With utmost patience, construct your social media personality, technically optimize your tweets, and deliver messages that demand consumer interest. Happy tweeting!

--By Ben Jacoby

Is SPAM the ultimate rejection in e-mail marketing?

2009-11-30T04:10:00.000-08:00

Email marketing, commonly associated with "SPAM" has a less than stellar reputation. We're all used to cleaning out our spam/ junk mail folders, while skimming through computer-generated promotions for products we aren't particularly interested in.

But the reason that email marketing still thrives, is that bulk email blasts cost little to nothing to produce and send. Promotional productions avoid the likes of direct mail costs, such as packaging, printing, postage, and affiliated manpower. So, if only one out of ten-thousand consumers buy the "Deluxe Rolex Watch - CHEAP!!", the promotion is profitable. Businesses are now introduced to an inexpensive means to mint money from good strategy.

A clear incentive in email marketing is the ability to create a legitimate consumer audience (address book), engage them through strategized promotions, and expand network through automated referrals. Tracking of bounced emails & adherence to SPAM laws maintain a genuine network of interested consumers, with very little expense. Promotions can be strategized in advance, tested for efficacy (focus groups), and successful campaigns can be promoted to out of network consumers by means of incorporating a "Forward to Friend" feature within each campaign. Additionally, the Social Media surge (facebook, myspace, twitter, etc.) has amended the tradition structure of an email promotion to include posts to consumer profiles with a single click.

Email marketing's most exciting attribute is in accumulating brilliant market research on target audience & consumer trends. Businesses can acquire demographic details during consumer registration, allowing them to construct segmented email lists, and devise targeted promotions for specific consumer groups. Male & female recipients can now view the same Rolex promotion with imagery that compliments their personal style. Additionally, with the advent of embedded tracking cookies, campaign strategists can ascertain the success of individual promotions, creating priceless market research.

While 92% of emails are considered SPAM, recent consumer surveys indicate that majority of people (62%) prefer to receive marketing promotions via email, than direct mail. In fact, three-quarters of consumers report they've bought something as a direct result of e-mail marketing. Don't be mistaken, the email marketing strategy will create record buyer rejections, but don't take it personally. Always, remember that a few hot minutes can alter the tide of your sales and proper analysis of each promotion will create an encyclopedia of effective sales pitches.

--By Ben Jacoby

Brand Consultants & established Web Design/ Outsourcing Firm contribute to Autism as part of their non-profit outreach program.

2009-11-16T05:10:00.000-08:00

Brand Gurus in the New York area joined forces with established BPO-centric web design provider, DPS Technologies, to reach out yet again & contribute to an organization that is beyond deserving, "The Fay J Lindner Center for Autism & Developmental Disabilities"

Since forming in 2001, the Fay J Lindner Center for Autism has strived toward achieving its mission, "to be a national Center of Excellence for the development and implementation of comprehensive assessment and continuum of services for children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities, their families, and the professionals who serve them."

"We were alarmed," Rohit Barman, the President of DPS America, the exclusive consulting hub for 30 year old outsourcing establishment, DPS Technologies, said when asked about this project, "to learn that Autism was the fastest growing developmental disability today. It is our honor to contribute this website to the Fay J Lindner Center for Autism & the clinical infrastructure of AHRC Nassau, & hope that the internet will draw more awareness & means for supporting this incredible epidemic affecting autistic children & adults nationwide."

Utilizing their BPO service facility & NY Brand Consultants, DPS Technologies created the autism center's brand identity (logo) & website to compliment the center's clinical infrastructure located on Long Island, NY, as well as their parent program, AHRC Nassau. In addition, they utilized their in-house internet marketing resources to create the center's press release announcing their website launch.

In past projects, DPS' Non-Profit Program created & launched the online brand for the Robbie Levine Foundation, & the American Airpower Museum, which resulted in media exposure of their sites (CNN, CBS Morning Show, News 12, etc), while experiencing increases in donations, volunteers and memberships. A recent addition is the DPS Scholars program reflects the firm's interest in utilizing their outsourcing resources in supporting the greater community.

DPS invites non-profits to apply for this program by emailing a one page request to their PR Representative.

“Out of the box” thinking in a real estate recession is an available necessity

2009-11-16T05:06:00.000-08:00

As a realtor, you work hard at selling real estate, especially in our infamous recession. This leaves you little time to think out of the box, or strategize new channels for home sales. However, consumers are increasingly turning to the internet for local business research, underlining the competitive necessity of having an online presence. So, how do you make sure you appreciate a strong ROI (Return of Investment)?

It's easy! Unlike most professional services, realtors have a multitude of real estate marketing solutions available at their fingertips. Vendors competing for your purchase of their real estate marketing tools often spend $5- $10 just so you click on their website... a gamble it is.

In terms of cost and immediacy, website templates work best. A real estate template offers an inexpensive, yet comprehensive solution allowing you to establish your online presence, while still supplying a level of individuality through various designs and options. Additionally, certain template providers provide user friendly administrative controls which allow you to edit content, images, & property listings, allowing you to optimize your website appearance & delivery, as you grow to understand your online audience.

Why is this important? In the very competitive real estate market, realtors in your area are competing to appear higher on the search engines (Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc.). Content plays a huge role in your buyers' ability to find you before your local competitors. Although, it takes about 6 months for you to effectively see the results from utilizing optimized content, some Real Estate Template providers offer "SEO - search engine optimized content" as part of their website template package. This technical content is strategically created based on scientific principal(s) defined by the combination of diligent research & consumer search analysis.

Interaction also works to keep buyers engaged, and realtor templates oblige with options to showcase floor plans, message boards, property searches, 3dwalkthroughs, and virtual tours, a 360-degree view of a property. A potential buyer can "tour" a property on your website, while sitting on their couch, and narrowing down the property listings they want to see - an excellent way to optimize your time. Consider also that many of these interactive elements have become expected features for a real estate website.

Additionally, property search parameters provide a catalog of user information, turning online home searches into a valuable consumer behavior study . Some template provider(s) offers a service that sends tailored property listings to a visitors' email, a great method for generating leads, while providing excellent customer service.

A realtor solutions' combination of comprehensive website editing controls, optimized content for search engine exposure, interactive services for buyer engagement, and consumer search data reports for strong forecasting, can establish the resulting website as one of your premier online marketing tools. And how much does this cost?

Research says you can get all of the above for less than $500.

DPS launches innovative property marketing tool for Realtors

2009-11-16T05:02:00.000-08:00

DPS Technologies recently announced the launch of a comprehensive Real Estate website solution for agents, with advanced functions such as 100% content & image mgmt. controls (yes, including their logo!), mgmt. of property listings, mechanized consumer search analysis, and automated buyer profile acquisition, property matching, & emailing of customer(s) with a personalized list of available home listings. This inclusive real estate website service offers significant promise & confidence to realtors in a very bumpy real estate market.

DPS Technologies' Real Estate Website solution is an affordable, user-friendly means to create a dent in the ever growing online market. A secure administrative portal, allows a realtor complete control over each section within their website(s) framework. Using this website solution does not rob the agent's real estate website of originality. DPS provides a number of unique website designs, in a variety of colors, so a realtor can tailor their website to a desired flavor, matching their existing brand identity (logo). The ability to edit all content and images, allows realtors the ability to optimize their appearance & delivery as they grow to understand their online audience.

An enticing lead generation tool convinces buyers to register & receive automated deliveries of property listings as they enter the real estate market, as well as engage in conversations over the agent monitored (optional) message board. Visitors can also utilize a wide array of website function(s) such as quick & advanced property search tool(s), mortgage calculator, submit homes for sale (optional), and get assistance with financing their home (optional).

Ultimately, it's the realtors who benefit most from this extensive solution. With a click of a button, they can select to turn on or off individual website function(s), review consumer search trends, create and edit their open house calendar, and list as little or as much information about each property listing as they like. Realtors can add as many home image(s), upload floor plans, virtual tours, 3dwalkthroughs, school information, exterior and interior amenities, individual room details/ dimensions, and much more!

As if they haven't just created the ultimate home marketing tool, DPS' insider(s) just announced that all realtors within their network will have free access to "search engine optimized" content utilizing the latest real estate consumer search trends.

Outsourcing can define your company fate, so look before you leap

2009-11-16T04:52:00.000-08:00

According to a recent survey of company executives who pursued an outsourcing strategy, the number one reason for BPO/ offshore investments was expected cost savings. Yet, 25% of those services who outsourced saw no change in costs. Among those who did reduce costs by outsourcing, the average savings was 19%, well short of the high hopes that typically motivate a BPO strategy. Common factors that affect savings include miscommunication, service quality, & security.

However, not outsourcing is even riskier. The competitive environment has become harsher as a result of a historic market depression. Global competition & automated service processes (software driven) have made it even harder for businesses to strengthen their ROI. The most efficient producer is the one who successfully weaves together the best and lowest-cost segment within their company to the finished product.

The risk(s) of offshore investments segments can be assessed, managed, and controlled through proper strategy & service implementation. Independent outsourcing surveyor, Ventoro Institute, found that the leading causes of failure were a lack of preparation by the American purchaser, exclusion of a joint- operation & communication map, and outsourcing the wrong service segment. Each could be avoided with greater diligence on the part of the outsourcing client. "As a rule of thumb, the outsourcing buyer should be the one pushing for greater clarity throughout the entire engagement".

Ventoro estimates that proper service strategy could lead to cost savings of 30%, or greater. So, how do you select a strong BPO vendor?

Communication: A clear point of contact must be available in person. The point of contact must offer practical intelligence & support you in mapping your service strategy. The "point of contact(s)", are often labeled as the "middle-men of outsourcing" are in many ways a local, and essential agent to the BPO production.
Quality Control: Check certifications & portfolio. In India, the globally acclaimed program, "ISO 9001-2000" (see example) certifies company(s) for service quality. However, the certification does not guarantee strong ROI.
Security: If your service maintains sensitive data, ask your BPO vendor to discuss security protocol with you & provide evidence. The ISO 9001-2000 certificate(s) does certify internal security procedures, but does not cover higher level security procedures as required by US federal programs.

BPO specialist, Rohit Barman, the President of DPS America, the exclusive consulting hub for 30 year old global outsourcing firm encourages businesses to "conduct a background check of each company, senior staff members, ask for references, and ensure the company has catered to American clientele for 5+ years." He adds that "you should never take a leap of faith in outsourcing, let proper research define your leap". The result of all this is that if a service fragment can efficiently be outsourced for cost savings, it should be. And those who fail to optimize their service by outsourcing will be competing with others who have conducted their research, and gained ground in the overall market share, with greater ROI & investment potential.

A Logo might be your Brand Identity, but it does NOT define your Company Brand

2009-11-15T23:26:00.000-08:00

What is branding? ...

... The goal is to make your product or business the most recognized "face" amongst competitors, to be a face known, liked, and trusted by as many consumers as possible. This involves much more than creating a logo or brand name. It's actually a little like speed dating. First impressions mean a hell of a lot, as you have only a few seconds to appeal, & convince an audience that your business is worthy of their time. But, it is equally important to follow up this first impression with an equally convincing "brand experience".

Big company brands are worth lots of money. Wall Street firms calculate these values in the billions, rating their typical contribution to profits as upwards of 40%. However, if you're reading this article, you're probably not the CEO of a Wall Street business. And if my intuition holds strong, I'd like to add that most experts conclude that branding is an ROI Strategy (return of investment) better suited for small businesses. First, it's easier for them to project their vision and "brand personality" and to establish stable relationships with customers, because the brand really is a projection of the owner's intelligence, passion, & investment strategy. And since small businesses typically have a focused product, their brand message(s) can easily be aligned. Additionally, flexibility and size make it easier to project a brand message through every aspect of the consumer experience.

In her delightful book Brain Tattoos, brand consultant Karen Post describes the goal of branding as the creation of an "imprint" in the minds of customers (a "brain tattoo"). What should go in the tattoo is the "essence" of your small business and how it relates to its customers. To discover your essence, you will want to take out a notepad and answer these simple questions:

What service do you provide? (define your service)
What is your competitive advantage? (why is your company in the market - pricing advantage, location, value, technical strategy)
Who/ what is your target audience? (Businesses, Consumer Market, Demographics, etc.)
How will your target audience communicate with your company post-purchase? (customer service strategy)
How will product or service growth affect your business strategy, corporate infrastructure, & target market? (Define your 1-2-5 year vision... and no, I don't mean your family vacation to Aruba.)

With the advent of the internet (larger audience), social media (focus groups), automated consumer trends analysis (statistics) & BPO/ business outsourcing (low investment), small business owners now have the option to create a cost efficient & effective branding strategy that is affordable & appreciated.

Finally, you are ready to create you company logo!

DPS Technologies Reaches Out Again - This time to Autism

2009-10-21T05:13:00.001-07:00

Of the many state of the art clinical care providers for Autism, the Fay J Center for Autism and Development Disabilities is doing everything they can to help children and adults with Autism and connected disabilities. The multi disciplinary team of Jay J Center for Autism is highly trained and respected in medicine, Psychology, Social World and Special Education.

This center is the National Center of Excellence in the areas of:

1. Clinical Service

2. Clinical Research and Scholarship

3. Specialized program consultations

4. Professional Training

5. Community Education and resource information

6. Advocacy

It makes DPS very happy to know that their diagnostic team is very highly trained & engage in ongoing research to back up their trainings. We hope that our website contribution to their service will increase their online exposure & allowing more funds to be accrued nationally to support their great cause.

Some of our past website contributions were great hits, with the American Airpower Museum being was displayed LIVE on the CBS Morning Show on Memorial Day '07, & the Robbie Levine Foundation, which was featured on CNN along with the moving story, drawing thousands of visitors in one night.

Outsourcing to India - BPO vs. KPO

2009-10-21T05:07:00.001-07:00

In a declining economy, outsourcing to India has become a fad. So, if you’re a Business looking to outsource, think about your service, what elements within your enterprise you would like to outsource, & how much of an investment you have to set it up.

In general, outsourcing to India has two basic models for you to choose between:

BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) is the corporate term used for hiring a 3rd party with a specialty in a work area to perform routine duties within their specific niche. In most cases, businesses choose to outsource tasks that are outside the core focus of their primary service. Examples of BPO services are: Accounting, Formatting, Archiving, IT Maintenance, Software Development (to automate internal processes) & Maintenance, Floor plan Constructions, Data Conversions, etc.

In the BPO Model, the contractor rarely speaks to the client, as you, the Primary Service manages the client's needs.

KPO (Knowledge Process Outsourcing) is the term used for hiring a 3rd party to grow your Business idea. It is a relatively new model, but has accrued quite some interest over the last decade as businesses in declining economies are looking to cut costs. KPO models usually comprise of a Business entity working in conjunction with an International Facility to manage end-to-end internal service needs, by training members in a variety of specialty areas to manage domains within their enterprise. The KPO model’s foundation is reliant on a long-term partnership, where both the contractor and the buyer work closely together to deliver a primary service to the client.

In the KPO Model, the Contractor & the Primary Service maintain a codependent relationship in servicing a client.

A younger generation of BPO & KPO Consultants offer US Businesses unique expertise which includes a thorough comprehension of the American Consumer, more than ever before in the history of outsourcing. At the same time, these 1st- 2nd Generation US citizens have constant contact with their Indian counterparts, understand their language & culture, & demand the vigorous consumer expectations needed by Corporate America.

Real Estate Market Recovery - Tips for Realtors to Optimize Online Sales.

2009-10-21T05:02:00.000-07:00

The US Real Estate Equity Market Trends show some positive signs for Agents/ Realtors & Homeowners. According to the National Association of Realtors, Pending Home Sales have increased for seven straight months, the longest consecutive monthly increase in Home Sales since 2001.

So, how do Agents get prepared for this potential boom- Create a sophisticated online presence!!

1. Get a Realtor Website - Although Custom Websites may be expensive to invest in, this is one industry where Agents can purchase real estate templates with comprehensive solutions like total content & image management, which enables easy upload of new properties, & editing of website content to keep website fresh & follow through with new SEO research.

2. E-Mail Deliveries - Several website template providers offers automated e-mail deliveries to clients based on their personal profile they set up during registration. As soon as properties enter the market & agents post properties on their website, an email is sent to the client notifying them of the opening.

3. Be Credible - Realtors should ALWAYS allow clients easy access to details about the properties, including square footage of rooms, city description, & school information.

4. Be Friendly - Agents can show their picture or a friendly logo with a visible phone # for easy client contact. Also, they should list their open house calendar on their real estate website or template, & consistently update it to increase client approval.

5. Learn SEO Basics - It is always recommend to pick up an SEO Basics book or Hire a company to do a manage your Search Engine Optimization for your Agent Website or Template. Often companies are going off-shore to conduct this intricate program that involves compiling valid matrix based on thorough research of competitors & consumer search trends.

These days Real Estate Template providers may also offer discounts to capitalize on this potential market surge. We recommend services like DPS Technologies , where they offer significant discounts on content management agent website templates, personalized email deliveries for clients on new home openings, comprehensive information about school & locality, virtual tour & 3dwalkthrough uploading options for Agents, & many affordable SEO techniques to enhance your websites current search performance.

DPS Technologies Overview

2009-10-01T01:48:00.000-07:00

At DPS, we specialize in both BPO & KPO Services. They are both B2B Models, and can be differentiated in the following manner:

In the BPO Model, the contractor rarely speaks to the client, as you, the Primary Service manages the client's needs.

In the KPO Model, the Contractor & the Primary Service maintain a codependent relationship in servicing a client.

DPS’ Primary Service areas are:

Business Staffing
Data Conversions
Software Development
Website Solutions

We understand that every Business’ needs vary, and we invite you to read through our Case Studies to learn more about how we customize our solutions to the individual client’s needs, or contact us >> to speak to one of our Business Consultants, who are trained to educate you on both models, as we treat each client with the same precision and detail one would use in a science/ technical project.