#csk technologies

[cskblog-blog]

The Facebook Video Scam, Beware

This is old news now, but worth reminding everyone about one more time. 

Facebook seems unable to stop scammers from circulating malicious Web links that install fake antivirus software on victims' computers.

The scam was spotted Tuesday by antivirus vendor Sophos. At that time the criminals behind it were luring victims into installing the software by offering links purportedly to a video of disgraced former International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn and a hotel maid. On Wednesday the scam switched and the link was supposed to be an X-rated video of celebrities Rihanna and Hayden Panettiere.

In both cases there is no such video. People who click on the link are sent to a website that tries to install the fake antivirus software. The scam is slightly different, depending on whether the victim is using a Mac or a PC. On the PC, the site tells victims that they need to install the latest version of Adobe Flash Player to watch the video. But the software they install is actually the fake antivirus program.

To read more click the link below:

[cskblog-blog]

Email Marketing, Make It Effective for You

Most business owners, marketers and sales people utilize E-mail Marketing frequently as a means of reaching a large number of prospects and clients cheaply, quickly and effectively.  Constant Contact, Mail Chimp and Vertical Response are very popular tools for managing email marketing programs.  If you are a small business it fits in your budget, it's the effective and you see results, so email marketing should never be overlooked, its a no brain-er. 

According to an industry expert, Ramon Ray and the Smallbiztechnology.com team, you should treat Email Marketing like a 6 course meal. In this post from the business insider blog they share practical tips and ideas on making email marketing effective. Here are some tips on creating an effective email campaign, the content keys and a link to the original post:

The subject line: Communicates benefit, reason to act and time required to realize the benefit

Headline/intro: Clarifies the intent of the communication

Act I: Honest and direct. Focused on driving action

Act 2: Here is where folks can talk about themselves if they must

Act 3: Quickly get back to talking about the recipient

The Ask: After 2 or more calls to action delivered in the context of the evidence/support section, there is room for a more transaction “ask”.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/treat-your-email-marketing-like-a-6-course-meal-and-see-more-clicks-2011-6#ixzz1ODc11rTH

[cskblog-blog]

CSK Focus on Sustainability

Today we launched our corporate garden. Chad and I (Paul) talked about this a few weeks ago and talked about a loose plan for planting our garden at the CSK offices in West Knoxville. Chad scoped out the spot, and he and his wife put the garden together today. These are the specs:

640 lbs of topsoil

50 lbs of manure compost

3 cubic feet of peat moss compressed 

1 green bell

1 yellow bell

1 banana pepper

3 burp-less cucumbers with small trellis

5 beefsteak tomatoes

And a soaker hose for easy watering

Fertilized with seaweed concentrate. 

The natural question is why? We believe that sustainability of this earth is critical and take it seriously. Recently we implemented a corporate wellness program, contributing to our employees HSA for various activities such as annual physicals, gym memberships, trail, road and bike races and much more. Shortly after implemented our "snack" policy, eradicating our office of most processed foods,sugars, high-fructose corn syrup and any junk food and replacing them with granola, oatmeal, nuts, fresh fruit, dried fruit, water and vitamin water.

The next step was our garden and here it is. Come by and get some tomatoes, cucumbers or peppers!

[cskblog-blog]

Is Your Head in the Cloud?

This is a re-post of an article written by our CEO, Paul Sponcia, and published in the East Tennessee Medical News this month. 

http://www.easttnmedicalnews.com/news.php?viewStory=1976

[cskblog-blog]

Army readies apps for Android combat device

The U.S. Army is finalizing a software framework for Android-based devices that will let third-party software developers createinteroperable mobile apps for combat soldiers. It's already being tested by the 82nd Airborne Division on a prototype device, dubbed the Joint Battle Command-Platform, or JBC-P Handheld.

The software framework is called the Mobile/Handheld Computing Environment, or CE. It guides application developers so the resulting code is secure, and will mesh with apps for other tactical systems, such as air support, logistics and armor, according to a news story by the Army News Service.

Learn more about us @ http://www.csk-tech.com

[paulsponcia-blog]

What's the most difficult skill for a CEO?

Being an entrepreneur, being a CEO, being around other CEO's and having worked with other CEO's I find this to be an important blog post from Ben Horowitz

"By far the most difficult skill for me to learn as CEO was the ability to manage my own psychology. Organizational design, process design, metrics, hiring and firing were all relatively straightforward skills to master compared to keeping my mind in check. Over the years, I’ve spoken to hundreds of CEOs all with the same experience. Nonetheless, very few people talk about it, and I have never read anything on the topic. It’s like the fight club of management: The first rule of the CEO psychological meltdown is don’t talk about the psychological meltdown.

At risk of violating the sacred rule, I will attempt to describe the condition and prescribe some techniques that helped me. In the end, this is the most personal and important battle that any CEO will face."

[cskblog-blog]

Not your daddy's business cards. There is a next generation business card coming.

Business cards are a reality, a need, an important tool in the life of a business owner, sales or marketing individual, executive, etc. When you meet someone and they want to get your info they still ask for a business card. Why is that? With all the technology shouldn't we just "bump" info, or email it, or something digital? Well maybe in the future, but right now business cards are necessary and not going anywhere. BUT, there is a tide swelling.....check this post out about what business cards might be like in the near future.

http://www.businessinsider.com/smart-business-cards--rehashing-hashable-2011-3

[cskblog-blog]

Re-Blog: Preparing For Disaster To Avoid It

This ia re-blog of a post of our good friend, and also a competitor oddly enough, Greg Kill at Integracon. A lot of people would wonder, why are you re-blogging a post from a competitor? Greg and his company have unwavering integrity, they do great work, offer great insights and are experts in this area. This is valuable information for our clients and friends to have. There is plenty of work out there for all of us, so enjoy Greg's post:

http://integracon.wordpress.com/2011/03/04/preparing-for-disaster-to-avoid-it/

Learn more about CSK @ http://www.csktech.com