The Square a Small Business Innovation

04/11/2010 by AnitaMedia

Since co-founding Twitter  in 2006, Jack Dorsey has started another company  called  Square, Inc.   The Square is paving the future for small business to process financial transactions remotely.

Jack Dorsey started Square using three concepts that emerged from Twitter.  Square like Twitter is  immediate, approachable and transparent.  Most customers use credit or debit cards as their preferred payment method.  Unfortunately many small business can’t pay the high transaction fees that are associated with them.  Many smaller business work on a cash and check based payment system.  Dorsey created the small plastic device called the Cube, to make it possible for smaller businesses to make credit card transactions simply by using a phone.

The Square is being used on the i-Phone and i-Pod. In the future the Square will work on any storage device with an audio input.

When the Square is inserted into a audio input of a phone a credit card can now be swiped thru and information uploaded to the phone.

(The device does not need power when the card is swiped the small wheels on the device power the transaction.)

A transaction is set up on the phone ( similar to a credit card/ATM )then an electronic signature is taken, photo ID verification made and the transaction is processed.  A digital receipt can either be emailed or sent via SMS.

“With the audio jack and thru the microphone we can make the device very cheap, so that we can give it away for free.” said Dorsey in a recent interview.  The program is currently being tested with small business in various markets.

Additional aspects of the program include;  1-cent per transaction benefit to a charity of your choice, instant receipts and user reward programs.

Do you know of a small business that could benefit from this type of financial device?

Copyright AnitaMedia-All Rights Reserved. This article cannot be re-published without the expressed, written consent of AnitaMedia. Please contact us for more information or to request publishing permission.

Tags: business, community, credit, dorsey, financial, payment, square

The Case for QR Codes

8/2011

By Anita Beninger

QR codes (Quick Response Code) are being used on everything from coffee cups to direct mail postcards. The two-dimensional barcode is readable by smart phones and special QR readers. (The use of QR codes is free of any license to use)

QR codes are being used to give mobile users information at high speed. The QR code above was created to promote a social media site.  Try it!

Use the scanner application on your smartphone to see which one. This particular code is designed to store a uniform resource locator (URL) making it easier for users to get additional information by pointing their phone at the code. (No voice recognition or typing needed)

Some ways that QR codes might be used in healthcare

Marketing and education

1. Collateral. From print ads to digital sites. Get users to your online sites. If you are using direct mail such as postcards, posters etc…) Add a QR code to your direct mail to see if they go online to check it out.

Examples: (magazines scan to get health information) promotional giveaways (t-shirts, bags promoting services and events)

Healthcare delivery

1. Medication. (scan for medication reactions and info) 2. Patient identification and training information for caregivers. (video’s post-op care etc…) 3. DME equipment training information. 4. Dietary needs and requirements. (information on nutrition)

Potential Drawbacks

A scanner application is needed for a smartphone to read the code. Errors can occur if the mobile device does not have the application or users are not familar with the technology.  The good news is that both Google’s Android operating system and Apple’s OS support free scanner applications. (Many phones have the apps pre-installed)

Potential Benefits

Some of the benefits of using the QR codes include:

1.) Increased information delivery 2.) Audience targeting  3.) High tech branding for the organization

While QR codes are still relatively new in the U.S. I have noticed significant growth within the past two-years. Non-technical organizations are using the codes on direct mail, price tags and disposable items. People are naturally curious and perhaps it’s the surprise of the unknown.. that makes people continue to try them out.

Digital Tools for Emergency Preparedness and Survival

By Anita Beninger

In light of the recent earthquakes and national emergencies, I have compiled a list of helpful tools, information and resources for preparing and surviving natural disasters.

MOBILE APPS

GOV Weather App
http://mobile.weather.gov/

FEMA mobile App
https://market.android.com/details?id=gov.fema.mobile.android

TWITTER FEEDS
http://www.twitter.com/@RedCross
http://www.twitter.com/@CDCEmergency
http://www.twitter.com/@femaregion2
http://www.twitter.com/@fema
http://www.twitter.com/@CraigatFEMA

http://www.twitter.com/@EPAgov

FACEBOOK
http://www.facebook.com/FEMA
http://www.facebook.com/cdcemergency
http://www.facebook.com/redcross
http://www.facebook.com/FEMA#!/FEMA?sk=app_7146470109

WEB
http://www.ready.gov/
http://www.disasterassistance.gov/
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/psa/prescription.asp
http://www.fema.gov/news/disasters.fema
http://www.stormpulse.com/atlantic

http://www.epa.gov/hurricanes

A big thanks for the NEW resources added to my Facebook page!

Tags: Disaster, emergency, FEMA, hurricane, mobile, storms

Social health is here

By Anita Beninger

I define social health as using digital tools to research, inform and engage in health and wellness.  The social health community  is growing. Today’s baby boomer population makes up the largest sector using health care services and they are socially engaged.

When I tell people about my career often they act amazed that health care organizations are using digital media.  This reaction is surprising especially when a 2010 report issued by Pew Internet & American Life Project  found 78% of baby boomers use the Internet for health information.

If boomers are socially active how should health care organizations join the discussion?

Some hospitals are trying new social platforms like Google+ .  While  Google+ is still in the testing phases, I have been evaluating the beta 1.0 version.  Reading updates from bloggers, technical analysts and specialists in health care, I have found a growing number of U.S. hospitals with pages on Google+.

For the full list check out Ed Bennett’s Hospital’s on Google+ update.  Research supports a growing trend of digitally connected people using health care services.  How is your organization using these tools?  Do you have plans to reach a specific demographic using social media?  Will you join Google+ ?

Tags: ed bennett, google+ health care, hospitals

Drills, Disasters and Digital Devices

By Anita Beninger

This month I was asked to be the social media participant in my organization’s disaster preparedness drill. It was my first time in the command center of one of our largest hospitals.

I sent texts about bombs, fires, protesters and complete hospital evacuations from my mobile phone. As I began to return phone calls (while tweeting status updates) I remember thinking to myself ..this is crazy is it possible to have this much chaos in a hospital?

That was Monday.  By Sunday evening following a health care social media tweet-up, I began viewing the updates below.

It soon became clear to me, that it was in fact possible for a major disaster to rapidly change the way an organization normally operates.

After the tornado St. John’s could no longer keep patients. Due to the extensive damage the entire hospital was evacuated. Their website was down and was eventually replaced with a Facebook page.   People posted pictures of the devastation and online tools such as @safeandwell  by the American Red Cross were made available to help people register their location and status.

A recent study by the American Red Cross found that “In a real emergency people will use social media.” I think the “tweets and pictures” of Joplin support their findings.

Recently FEMA Chief, Bill Read encouraged social media tools as an important part of disaster preparedness efforts. Is your organization using social media in your preparedness efforts and training? If not do you plan to do so in the future?

Copyright AnitaMedia-All Rights Reserved. This article cannot be re-published without the expressed, written consent of AnitaMedia. Please contact us for more information or to request publishing permission.

Tags: Bill Read, Disaster, FEMA, Joplin, Red Cross

Five Ways To Create a Successful Social Media Program

Jul 28, 2010

By Anita Beninger

Social media is becoming one of the main ways to reach an audience. If your organization is considering using social media or expanding a current program this post is for you!

1. Find the Champion

Social media efforts take time to develop grow and support. Successful organizations find a professional within their company to sell the benefits of social media. Finding the champion is paramount to a successful social media program.

2. Invest in a Social Media Professional

Organizations that employ social media professionals see continued growth and success. While many of the sites have free registration, social media is not free.  Just a basic set-up and creation of accounts such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter can cost around $60,000. *

Social media communities take time, effort and commitment to grow and require daily maintenance and support. A basic social media program can take a couple of years to fully develop.

3. Train Employees

37% of internet users have a personal social media site; some of these people are your employees.  Employees who post comments and/or concerns on social media sites can pose problems for an organization. Employee training that promotes safe and proper use decreases user confusion and the chance of inappropriate postings.

4. Implement a Social Media Policy

Nobody wants to post a Facebook comment that gets them fired.  Social media policies are important tools to guide employees and the public on proper use. By creating guidelines employers can manage online expectations, promoting employee safety and reputation management.

5.  Plan and Measure

Plan, do, check and act.  Social media is no different than any other type of marketing program. Success begins with a social media communication plan. A well-developed plan includes data evaluation and metrics. User evaluation is a very important way to evaluate if a program is working and what type of changes may be needed.

*Paul Gillin, author of Secrets of Social Media Marketing.

Source: Transforming Business Strategies: FHS Social Media Review 2010. ( Anita Beninger)

Copyright AnitaMedia-All Rights Reserved. This article cannot be re-published without the expressed, written consent of AnitaMedia.

Tags: anitamedia, Facebook, Health care marketing, metrics, Paul Gillin, policy, social media, twitter, YouTube