Today’s blog post is by Margaret Stewart, Executive Assistant to the CEO at SafeSourcing.

Most of us have discovered clickbait at some point browsing through social media and other internet sites, but perhaps never knew it had a name.  Clickbait is a term used to describe articles or links online that are solely made to peak the curiosity of readers just enough to click the link. Once a visitor clicks, they are redirected to another site where they are asked to post to social media and/or are bombarded with advertisements. They may have the article promised, but it often is put onto several pages, all of which require more clicks. Often times, the original article is completely fabricated and doesn’t discuss what it claimed to in the first place.

“You are losing money browsing! Find out how to protect yourself!”

Advertisers want you to see their ads, so clickbait sites want you to visit. They will try new ways to lure visitors to their site and to keep them there as long as they can.

“Soldier surprises family! But watch what happens next!”

The titles to the articles sometimes never have anything to do with the site you are about to visit nor do they have anything to do with the content you are about to see.

So how do you protect yourself against clickbait? You have already made a step in the right direction. By learning what clickbait is and that there are sites that stop at nearly nothing to get your attention, you can be more cautious when browsing. Know what sites are genuine and what sites are simply trying to get clicks by any means.  If a safe and secure site that you are familiar with says, “By focusing on 10% of your cost of goods, you can improve profitability by 100%,” you can safely click and know you aren’t being lured in for advertising revenue.

For more useful information on safety in technology and social media, or to find out how you can improve profitability by 100%, or on our “Risk Free” trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative. We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

We look forward to your comments.

Today’s blog is by Margaret Stewart, Executive Assistant at SafeSourcing.

Research. These three especially require digging in and getting all the information available.

Recently there was an article  about a suburban neighborhood’s ban on Pit Bulls. Having never heard of such a ban before, it was surprising that one particular breed had been outlawed in an area. The news article talked about how the city officials issuing the citations did not have a formal way of testing what breed a particular dog was, other than visual, and the main story was about how a family was repeatedly cited and fined when their family pet was in fact a Boxer, not a Pit Bull.

Despite strongly disagreeing with this city’s policy of banning one breed of dog when there are many breeds of dog that bite (and are more likely to come from a small breed ) and that the behavior of an animal has a huge amount to do with how that animal is raised, one important lesson here is that there is very little to back this law. The notion that a family can be repeatedly fined over a “dangerous” breed of dog when their dog is neither dangerous nor of that breed, is reminiscent of mob mentality without due process. Perhaps mob mentality is a bit extreme, but the principal is the same. Fear should not dictate law and those making the laws ought to know better than to pass something with no checks or balances.

The purpose of bringing this situation to light is that if a business were to run its operations similarly, it would fail horribly (unnecessary expenses, delay in parts and production, perhaps even lawsuits). A business cannot start implementing policies without having knowledge and research to back it up. For example, when ordering manufacturing parts, a business has to know the specifications of a part before ordering it. Just like not knowing the difference between a Boxer and a Pit Bull, using a nail when you need a screw is going to cause problems. In other words, do your research.

One way to ensure that your business is doing the research it needs is by implementing a SME, or Subject Matter Expert. This is just one way SafeSourcing can help your business, by providing experience and knowledge on your supplies and the industry.

If you would like more information on how SafeSourcing can help with your business research or on our “Risk Free” trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative. We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

We look forward to your comments.

Today’s post is by Shelly Hayre, Project Manager at SafeSourcing.

I am sure I am not the only one a little worried here. Ebola is in the United States and not only has someone been diagnosed with it, but now someone has contracted it here in the States. Is the CDC prepared? Do we have the correct personal protection equipment to protect the nurses, doctor, paramedics, hospital staff, and anyone everyone else?

Many articles online state, “You should not be worried; it is highly unlikely you get infected.” If this does spread and become a bigger issue, are we prepared? Being prepared for an emergency small or big is crucial in the success of running a nation, and even a business.

Is your business prepared for an emergency?

Your biggest fear within the business is probably not Ebola, but what about a tornado, fire, or data breach? Providing emergency planning information to employees so they know what to do if there is an emergency and are prepared for the worst is usually missed by companies. Even if there is an emergency plan, does everyone required to execute it, understand it? Include emergency information in newsletters, on your company intranet, and train all employees for proper protocol.

Prepare for Utility Disruptions

Businesses require water, electricity, natural gas, telecommunications, sewerage, and other utilities. You should plan ahead for extended disruptions during and after a disaster. Evaluate options such as portable generators for backup power and strategies to deal with interruptions of other utilities.

Natural Disaster

When your office or store-front suffers a disaster and the building is exposed, you will need to have protocol on protecting the valuables (money, merchandise, etc.). You will want to call in a professional to temporarily cover the damage to avoid risk to customers and protect valuables. In addition, call a security guard on-site until the damage is repaired. You are at risk when your building is exposed at all times during the night. 

Security Breach

Protecting your electronic data and information technology systems may require specialized expertise, but even the smallest business can be better prepared. Protect networked computers with firewalls, install anti-virus software, and keep software up-to-date. Back up your computer data off-site.

These are only a few of the disasters to be prepared for. Having the right equipment and suppliers ready to service you when needed is important in an emergency. If you do not have a contact for security guards, emergency disaster maintenance, and equipment readily available, you are not ready for an emergency.

Let SafeSourcing help you gather the suppliers and equipment you need to be prepared. We will make sure you are prepared for any disaster and provide reliable suppliers to meet your needs.

We look forward to and appreciate your comments.

Today’s post is by Shelly Hayre; Project Manager at SafeSourcing.

Gray market is a collective system of unauthorized sales channels for a specific product or brand. The gray market is the middle grounds for white market, legally sold goods, and black market, illegally sold goods. The products in the gray market are not illegal to sell, however the channel is not an authorized distributor of these products.

When you are buying IT equipment sometimes buying used is the most cost-effective way for your company. If you avoid the gray market you will be buying directly from an authorized dealer of this brand. The product price will be determined by the manufacturer and is typically a percentage of the original new price. Since technology changes so often and IT equipment seems to depreciate quickly, you could find yourself paying high dollar for a used piece of equipment that is in the white market.

So what if you go through the gray market to obtain that piece of equipment? The supplier is not an authorized re-seller of the brand, but most suppliers are selling good quality and tested equipment. Some suppliers have stricter guidelines to testing used equipment than the manufacturer. The price tag will be the biggest difference with gray market products. The ironic piece to this is that some manufacturers sell their used equipment to the unauthorized sales channels due to overstock.

Difference? The main difference is who tests and handles the used equipment first, oh and of course the price tag. SafeSourcing has many authorized and unauthorized resellers of manufacturers’ equipment in our database. SafeSourcing’s supplier database includes reputable suppliers that can fit your needs as a company.

For more information on how we can help you with your procurement needs or on our “Risk Free” trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative.  We have an entire customer services team waiting to assist you today.

We look forward to your comments.