Archive for May, 2010

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Affiliate Spotlight: Congrats, Jean Marie Herron!

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

jean marie smallOur Affiliate Spotlight will not only introduce you to an affiliate that stood out over the last month, but will hopefully inspire you to implement the ways they are making the program successful for them. This month, we’d like to highlight one very special affiliate, drum roll please…Jean Marie Herron!

Jean Marie Herron is a professional organizer who owns POSSE Partners, LLC. POSSE is an acronym for Professional Organizing Solutions Serving Everyone, they specialize in residential organizing by working with overwhelmed homeowners who want to change their lives.  

She was first introduced to ScanDigital at the NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) Conference in Florida last year. Upon first learning about our services, she said, “This is terrific, now my clients will be able to let go of the boxes of pictures if they are replaced with better technology.” 

Jean Marie first placed a trial order for herself to assure she could recommend our services confidently. She uses her own experience transferring her old memories to DVDs to share with others. She said “I bring an example of one of my DVD’s from ScanDigital to my organizing seminars and show them how simple it is to pop years worth of memorabilia into a machine and hit “play” instead of stacking boxes up in attics, basements and all over the house. Knowing exactly what you do since I tried it myself, it makes it much easier to suggest to people.” She’s right, there’s no better way to understand our services yourself than to actually try us out.

When asked one key highlight of being a ScanDigital Affiliate, she recognizes our team for our helpfulness. “Your customer service is excellent. It’s nice to get a real person on the phone these days when you have questions via a website.” That’s why we’re here!

About ScanDigital’s Affiliate Program:
Our Affiliate Program is a relationship where you get paid a commission for driving sales to our website. When you refer ScanDigital to your family, friends, customers, or clients, you will earn 15% on all revenue generated! You will give them your URL and/or Coupon Code to use when they place their order and all orders are automatically tracked through our site. It’s a really easy way to offer additional services and make money at the same time. Best of all- it’s free to sign up, so there’s no risk. Learn more about our Affiliate Program here.

Posted in ScanDigital Affiliates | No Comments »

1876 Photo Clues by Maureen Taylor AKA Photo Detective

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

1876 picIn 1876, the city of Philadelphia hosted a Centennial Exposition to mark the one hundredth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It was the first World’s Fair in the United States. There were thirty thousand exhibits in the four hundred and fifty acre park. There was even a separate building just for photography. Over twenty million people visited during the five month event.

Newspaper editor Edward L. Wilson and photographer William Notman had the only license for images. You can view many of their images at the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Centennial Exhibition website. The Smithsonian also has a Flickr site of images tagged as having been taken then.

There may be images in your own family album taken during the Exposition or during this centennial year. In my own collection, is this image of a woman captioned, “Aunt Ella in her brown corded silk wedding dress, 1876.”
 
To spot a photo from 1876, look at fashion clues (like Ella’s bustle), roll-back chairs (like the one she’s leaning on), and appropriate photographer work dates. Ella’s braided hairpiece was the height of fashion as was her choice of a brown dress. Not all brides wore white.

Add up the clues:

  • Fashion sense–bustles, braided hair, hairpieces, elaborate drapery on the dresses. For men, watch for bowler hats, wide neckties, ties under the collar and large mustaches
  • Roll-back chairs, painted backdrops and drapery appeared as props.
  • Look for patent information or awards in photographer’s imprints. There were thirty-nine different patents for photographic improvements in 1876 alone.

Hope you find images that document your ancestor’s life during the centennial.

About Maureen Taylor

Maureen Taylor AKA the Photo Detective is a professional genealogist, author and journalist on the topic who’s written a bunch of books and magazine articles, as well as being a contributing editor at Family Tree Magazine and editorial board member of Legacy Magazine. She’s also been a featured expert on CNN, the Today Show and in Martha Stewart Living. Maureen can be contacted through her website Photo Detective or on Twitter at @PhotoDetective.

Posted in Photo Scanning | 1 Comment »

8 Wallet Organization Tips to Prevent Identity Theft by Jodie Watson

Friday, May 21st, 2010

jodie watson photoI read an article from a financial institution this past month and was shocked to discover that an estimated 10 million Americans became victims of identity theft last year.   This is such a serious issue, and there are so many ways that our identity can be stolen, I wanted to share with you some ways you can safeguard your personal information to minimize the chance of this happening to you.

Protect your name, address and phone number, date of birth, bank and credit account information, driver license and social security numbers.  Only give out this information when absolutely necessary and never over the phone, through the mail or over the internet unless you initiated the contact and are certain you know who you are dealing with.  Never give this information out to anyone who calls, emails or contacts you unsolicited.

Don’t pre-print personal information on checks, especially not your driver license, social security or phone number and store new, unused or cancelled checks safely.  Monitor accounts and bank statements each month and check your credit report on a regular basis. 

Avoid putting sensitive information in the trash.  Get into the habit of shredding any paperwork or financial documents that contain personal information before you discard them.

Your mailbox is a very easy place for someone to steal information about you.  Make sure that it has a lock and that you retrieve your mail on a daily basis.  Where possible avoid having bank or credit card statements and utility bills sent to you in the mail and use online options instead.   If you do receive them in your mailbox, keep track of them and contact the company if you don’t receive them as usual. You can reduce pre-approved credit card offers that are sent to you in the mail by opting out at www.optoutprescreen.com.   Instead of putting outgoing mail into your mailbox, use an official postal service mailbox.

Our computers, phones and the internet are other places where we are very vulnerable to identity theft.  Protect your computer or laptop by setting it to require a password when it is turned on.  Guard PIN numbers & passwords and change them often.  Don’t use obvious info such as your birth date, pet’s name, mother’s maiden name, telephone number or last four digits of your social security number.    When making online purchases, only use websites you know are secure and protect your data.  Never click on links or images in unsolicited emails; instead type in a Web address that you know.

Install and keep up to date firewall, anti-spyware and anti-virus software to protect your computer.  Take care of your smart phone.  Delete text messages and emails from your handheld device that contain any personal information as soon as possible.  If you do lose your phone, immediately change passwords on any email or other accounts that could be compromised so that they can no longer be accessed from your phone.

Check out my May Organizing Tips to find out how to organize and protect the contents of your wallet in the event that yours is lost or stolen.  I hope it never will be, but it’s always helpful to be prepared, just in case.  And if you need help, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Make it a safe month,

~ Jodie ~

messy walletWallet Organization Tips to Prevent Identity Theft 

When was the last time you looked closely at the contents of your wallet?  It doesn’t take long for it to become crammed full of old receipts, credit or debit cards, membership cards,  phone cards, notes from your kids, photos, stamps, etc that in addition to keeping your wallet a mess, can give away a lot of information about you to potential thieves.     

To protect yourself as much as possible in the event that your wallet is lost or stolen, it’s important not to carry around a lot of unnecessary personal information and to be aware of exactly what you have inside at any given moment.  Take a few minutes to organize the contents of your wallet using the steps below.

1)     Empty out the contents of your wallet.  Remove anything that doesn’t belong or is trash.  Shred any expired cards or other personal information. 

2)     Separate the cards you need to have with you 24/7 such as your driver’s license and one or two credit/debit cards. 

3)     You may also want to keep store membership cards that you use frequently, your medical & dental insurance cards and prescription benefit cards, membership cards for automobile organizations and/or library cards.

4)     Do not keep any bank account information, your social security card, birth certificate or passport in your wallet.

5)     Use your wallet to hold a small amount of store coupons, gift cards and store credit receipts, so that if you find yourself at the store, you have them with you to make purchases.  Keep them to a minimum and go through them regularly to keep them up to date.

6)     Your wallet is not a photo album.  Limit the amount of photos you carry around with you.  Keep just a couple and leave the rest at home.

7)     Before putting anything back into your wallet, be sure and photocopy the front and back of each card in there.  Keep in a safe place so that you have all the information you need at your fingertips in the event that your wallet is lost or stolen.

8)     Regularly purge store receipts from your wallet and keep with other monthly financial items in your home. 

Contact Jodie Watson:

If you have any questions, would like to schedule a free professional organizing telephone consultation, or would like Jodie Watson to speak at your next corporate function, group meeting, social event, or retreat, call at (818) 590-7800. You can also contact Jodie on Facebook and Twitter or visit her website at Supreme Organization.

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Posted in Photo Scanning | 9 Comments »

More Customer Testimonials!

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

testimonial- person with bubbleTo assure we’re doing our job right, we follow up with every customer after their order is complete. If there’s ever any issue, we address it immediately. Most of the time however, we receive rave reports. On behalf of the ScanDigital team, I’d like to say “Thank You” to our amazing customers. We’re truly flattered to know you are happy and honored to have been trusted with your family’s precious memories. Please find a sampling of the testimonials below that we’ve recently received.  

If you’d like to hear more from our customers, you are welcome to visit our Testimonial page. If you have any questions or would just like to chat, you can always find us here on Twitter and Facebook, by email at info@scandigital.com or by phone at 888.333.2808 if you have any questions or just want to chat!

“Thanks you for your fast and easy service.  I happened across some negatives from 1961 and your service was fantastic.  My family will now be able to enjoy them for many years to come.” Danalee – Alberta, Canada

“We are really enjoying watching our DVDs.  Thanks a lot! Also Chris was very nice to work with and answered my e-mails and questions promptly. Thanks!” Mary- Gig Harbor, WA

“I had a great experience working with ScanDigital. My mom loved her birthday gift of some of our old home movies transferred onto DVDs. I do plan on using your services again because we’ve got more VHS tapes that need to be converted. Thanks for doing a great job!” Cindy – Los Angeles, CA

“My experience was incredible! I called back after my order to specifically thank your staff for doing such an amazing job…my only feedback is that your pricing is WAY too cheap – I called three other vendors who were not only charging more per scan, but a rush fee (I needed my job back quickly) of $95. Thanks much – I am looking for ways to refer you business.” David – Los Altos, CA

“I am very happy with your service and am a repeat customer.” Howard -  Park City, UT 

“I was pleased with the quality of the transfers, and would recommend it.” Macauley – Shokan, NY

“I first heard about ScanDigital on Groupon. My experience with ScanDigital has been nothing less than professional with the customer in mind. I have since found more items to preserve on disc and have placed another order and will be placing a third order soon. Hats off to your company. I was treated like a valued customer!” Lisa – Lincoln, RI

“I was pleased with the service.” Kim – Paradise Valley, AZ

“My experience with Scan Digital was great, I used your service with a Groupon Coupon and found it to be dependable and worry free. I loved being informed of the status of my order every step of the way! Thanks!”  Mirage – Boston, MA

“Yes, I had a very positive experience using Scan Digital, and should a need arise I would absolutely turn to your again company for future services.  Regarding your questions about referring friends, I would indeed (and have.)  I found the entire experience to be quite user friendly, and very stress free.  Your employee that handled my account (Koa Nuuhiwa) was extremely receptive to the custom needs of my order, willing to work with me regarding all specifics and questions, and made himself readily available by phone as well as email. Thanks – looking forward to doing business with you again.” Jeff – New York, NY

“I just wanted to let you know that I was thrilled by your company’s service.  I bought a Groupon to ScanDigital as a gift for my grandmother and grandfather to try to help archive some really old photos. Leaving behind very old, irreplaceable and much-treasured photos was scary. I was relieved to get the email saying they arrived safely and were being readied for scanning. I was ecstatic to receive that box delivering them safely back to me, along with a DVD of them all. Thank you, thank you, thank you for taking such good care of them!” Jodis- Austin, TX

“It was great.  I was inspired to FINALLY take care of this task with a Groupon.  I paid to have all my tapes transferred, not just what Groupon covered.  The quality is great–I love that there is a sort of proof sheet on the back of each DVD to tell me what’s there to see.  Customer service was good– I asked questions via e-mail and got a rapid response.  I am already recommending your company. Thanks!” Beth- San Diego, CA

“I will be using your service again. The quality that came back is great and your order updates are great! Your pricing is easy to understand and your prices are comparable if not cheaper to others who don’t do the services that you do! Thanks for the great DVD.” Joe – Springhill, FL

“I think the service is good. Good clear progress reports.” Dallas- Bernardsville, NJ

“I had an excellent experience with ScanDigital.  I purchased a Groupon and was a bit nervous about sending my tapes out of state as there were my wedding video as well as tapes from when I was young that can’t be replaced.  They turned out beautifully!!  I would definitely recommend you to others-I have already told all of my family and friends and neighbors about the wonderful service I received.  I had to call with a question and your customer service was very friendly and helpful. Thanks again for your fantastic service!!” Lisa, Highlands Ranch, CO

“My experience at Scan Digital was great… from pricing to turn-around to communication. I’ve already given your brochure to several friends. I will also be back to do business with you. Thank you so much for a great job!” Yvette – Torrance, CA
“You did a good job in two different media in two separate orders (from prints and from slides). I’ve just started down the path of archiving 40 years of photos plus those from my parents’ and in-laws’ generation. There is a lot of work to do.” Clifford- Kensington, MD

“I was pleasantly surprised with ScanDigital’s quality of work.  Your presentation really seems customized and sincere.  Specifically, the pictures on the DVD covers and the titles for each DVD.  As for the music video’s that are created on the DVD’s, I think they are a great idea.  The videos we send you are priceless and un-replaceable.  I would definitely recommend your service to family and friends.  It is worth every penny.” Liam- Oakley, CA

 ”I liked your service a lot. Thanks!” Lila – Austin, TX

 ”I have to say that I was very happy with the service.  I really loved the fact that the DVDs came with software that allowed me to cut and paste different parts of my home movies and then I was able to successfully upload some of them to my blog.  I didn’t think I would be able to do that, especially because a lot of my old home movies from the ’80s were recorded over my mom’s old soap operas or a movie on TV that I didn’t really care about keeping.  Just the few minutes at the beginning of home videos was what I wanted. Anyway, I would absolutely recommend the service to my friends and, in fact, already did to my mother in law who is going to try it out.  I have a few more videos that I will send in at some point as well.” Joy- Normandy Park, WA

“I was thrilled with the service and can’t thank you enough.” Peggy- Washington, DC
“I simultaneously sent negatives to you and to [competitor].  Though [competitor] was cheaper, their results were far inferior to yours. I would certainly use your service again.  I have already recommended you to my Dad, who has many carefully kept slides from the 1950’s on. Your pricing options are clear and understandable.  Your website is much more navigable than [competitor’s] (or any others). Thanks again for your follow-up.” Paul- Granbury, TX,

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Posted in Photo Scanning | 2 Comments »

Betty White Delivers On Saturday Night Live

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

Betty White Delivers On Saturday Night Live

Is Carol Burnett Next?

bettywhite After months of campaigning by a group on Facebook entitled “Betty White to Host SNL (please?)!”, the 88-year-old actress became the oldest person ever to host Saturday Night Live when she hosted the show’s special Mother’s Day episode on May 8th 2010. The grassroots campaign that led to White’s hosting was founded on Facebook in January 2010 by 29-year-old fan David Mathews. On March 11th, when it was confirmed that White would indeed host the show on May 8th, Mathews’s Facebook group had nearly half a million members.

The Golden Girls star, equally well known for her role as happy homemaker Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, recently received the Screen Actors Guild’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her 60 plus years of excellence in show business. Just as sharp as ever, White was a huge hit on SNL, appearing in every single sketch, and delivering the laughs like a pro. Digital video transfers of her monologue began appearing on the Internet only minutes after the live broadcast began.

Her monologue was classic Betty White – deadpan one-liners delivered with impeccable comedic timing. She even gave a shout-out to Facebook, jesting that it “sounds like a huge waste of time.” White showed no reservations about making fun of her own old age. “Needless to say, we didn’t have Facebook when I was growing up,” she said. “We had phonebook, but you wouldn’t waste an afternoon with it.”

With digital video transfers of Betty’s antics crowding the Internet before the show even finished airing on the east coast, it is no wonder that SNL, now in its 35th year, achieved its highest ratings for nearly two years with White at the helm. Entertainment Weekly reported that SNL’s ratings were up 66 percent in Nielsen-metered homes over the same week from 2009.

Fresh from the glow of success, the Facebook masses have now assigned themselves a new task, this time to give veteran comedienne Carol Burnett a chance to host TV’s longest-running comedy show. There are currently two “Carol Burnett to Host SNL” fan pages vying for NBC’s attention, and together they have over 100,000 fans. When Saturday Night Live was launched in the mid 1970s, The Carol Burnett Show was already a hit, and one of sketch comedy’s biggest successes. The Carol Burnett Show ran from 1967 to 1978.

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Posted in Photo Scanning | 1 Comment »

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