Mediaboss Marketing

With employees working from home, and entire, multi-million dollar organizations being run remotely, businesses are more reliant on their tech infrastructure than they've ever been in the past.

That's seen some significant shifts in business approaches, with new tools being adopted, and new frameworks being established to facilitate what could become a permanent, and significant, workplace shift.

Those trends are largely reflected in the evolving tech conversation on LinkedIn, which has published a new report on the key topics and trends gaining traction across the tech sector.

Among the key points of discussion are live-streaming, collaboration tools, social media marketing and advice on how tech providers should communicate with their customers during the pandemic.

There's a heap of interesting insight here - you can read LinkedIn's full report here or check out the infographic below.

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LinkedIn Publishes New Data on How the Tech Conversation is Evolving During COVID-19 [Infographic] - Social Media Today

During the weeks from May 1125, 2020, over 900 travel executives from the top tourism source markets participated in a global survey by Travel Consul, an international travel marketing alliance. The goal of this survey was to get a better understanding of the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the industry, current needs and a view to what the future might entail. Here are a few highlights of the results:

How destinations can support distribution partners in recovery

When asked how destination organisations (DMOs) can best help travel advisors and tour operators in recovery, the number one answer was clearly introducing health and safety certificates for advisors to feel sure the destinations are safe to send their customers. Two out of three participants requested help from the destinations. The next top three answers included marketing campaigns, presenting useful and timely data, and industry and media updates.

Clients are still waiting to decide where to travel next

Over 40% of clients who are rebooking or showing some interest in traveling said that they were planning to go to the destination where they had originally booked. Although the largest percentage (46%) are at a halt, waiting to see how the situation evolves before making their decision. Among US respondents, 51% said their clients were looking to the destination they originally booked, while 38% said their clients were waiting to decide.

Marketing efforts for recovery are focused on social media

In regard to marketing activities during recovery, social media was clearly the winner with two out of every three respondents claiming that social marketing was their main concept. That number is even higher amongst US respondents, with 75% saying they would focus on social media. Digital and co-op campaigns respectively came in second and third.

Business implications of Covid-19

Overall, distribution partners expect a 73% decrease in business volume in Q3 2020 and a 60% decrease in Q4 2020. Two-thirds of respondents anticipate being able to sustain their businesses for six months without government financial support. US respondents feel less financially secure than the global average. One in three (33%) said they could only sustain their business without government assistance for one to three months, and 28% said four to six months.

Actions implemented during the crisis

Approximately 41% of global respondents reported designing new products and adjusting the business model as the main measures adopted during the pandemic. Customer service improvement and training programs ranked second.

Top communication methods used with clients

Email leads as the preferred form of communication for tour operators and agency owners that are interacting with clients during the Covid-19 emergency. Interestingly, the traditional use of the telephone was the second most utilized channel. Although gaining popularity, video conferences and live chat make up less than17% of communications methods.

Tourism associations serve as primary data sources

Concerning the top three data sources that are used for information during the Covid-19 crisis, tour operators and travel agency associations clearly lead the pack (global average of 69%). This was followed by destination tourist offices, trade media, their own national government and industry friends.

How Covid-19 is changing the rules in 2020 and beyond

When asked how the role of travel distribution partners will change going forward in order to adapt to these new circumstances, 70% of the respondents believe that modifying cancellation policies or terms and conditions will be among their main undertakings. Additional strong responses were expand customer communication channels, diversify/change your product and destination offerings, and creating new partnerships with new buyers and suppliers.

Loyalty to destinations and hotels and resorts is being reconsidered

Almost 50% of respondents said that they were extremely likely to consider hotels and resorts they had never sold before. Additionally, another 37% said that it was somewhat likely they would consider other options. US respondents answered similarly to their global counterparts.

Link:
Research reveals impact of Covid-19 on travel businesses - Conference and Meetings World

Iowa Governor responds when asked if she'd attend in-person church services after allowing them to continue earlier in the week. Des Moines Register

Uptown Ankeny Farmers' Market has announced it will reopen July 11after months of delaysdue to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But that doesn't mean everything is back to normal quite yet: Due to safety measures, the weekly Saturday gathering will be limited in size.

"We have restricted our vendors to just be produce and farm products at this time," said Alexa Middleton, marketing director for Uptown Ankeny. "We just wanted to make sure we could get the market, and make sure you guys had access to fresh produce without overcrowding, and still keeping the social distancing aspect in place."

Also, the market will only operate from 9 a.m.-noon, and people will be counted as they enter and exit by staff to ensure smaller crowds.

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Staff and vendors will be required to wear masks, and customers will be encouraged to wear them, too. Guidelines also call for keeping attendance to one person per family andfollowing posted instructions to maintainsocial distancing. In addition, there will be two hand-washing stations, vendors will make hand sanitizer available andthe organizers are asking customersnot to bring reusable bags.

Middleton said people should expect the market to look "a little different this year," with fewer family attractions than usual.

"We won't get to have the delicious food that's eaten on-site, we won't be having our kids' activities either," Middleton said. "But we're just so thankful that we do get to have a market, and we get to have a place for our community to come together."

Uptown Ankeny Association, which puts on the farmers' market, originally said it hoped to resume the event in June after canceling its planned opening May 16.

The market is sponsored by the city of Ankeny and UnityPoint Health Clinic, and typically extends through the end of September. People planning to attendshould watch the Ankeny Farmers' Market websitefor more updates, the organization wrote in a Facebook post.

Some other cities will not be holding in-personfarmers' markets this year, including Des Moines, usually site of the largest weekly market in Iowa. This month, the organizers of the Des Moines Farmers' Market introducedanonline platformthat lets would-be marketgoersorder products online for pickup or delivery.

Robin Opsahl covers the eastern Des Moines metro for the Register. Reach them at ropsahl@registermedia.com or 515-284-8051. Support reporters who follow your community by becoming a subscriber. Sign up at DesMoinesRegister.com/Deal.

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Uptown Ankeny Farmers' Market will kick off July 11 with public health restrictions - Des Moines Register

(CNN / WINK News)

Scammers continue to capitalize on coronavirus misinformation by offering fake antibody tests, the FBI warned, which could be used to steal personal information.

The FBI said this month that fraudsters are touting fake or unproven antibody tests and marketing them to people to steal Social Security numbers or health insurance information.

Antibody tests are used to determine whether someone was infected with COVID-19 in the past and has since developed antibodies, which protect the body from becoming infected with COVID-19 again.

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved some antibody tests, and theyve all been previously tested by the National Institutes of Healths National Cancer Institute or another government agency. But its not easy to make that distinction when youre being offered an antibody test over the phone.

MORE: Test for past infection (antibody test)

The FBI said being offered a test at all is one sign youre being scammed. Labs test patients who request them, and if marketers offer free tests or dangle incentives for getting one, thats a red flag.

Other warnings include targeted ads on social media, email or unsolicited phone calls if youre being offered a test without expressing interest through your doctor, say no, the FBI said.

And if youve received individual calls, texts or emails from unknown people telling you that the government requires you to take an antibody test, thats not true either. Antibody tests are voluntary.

Dr. Luis Aponte of Fort Myers explains, The sensitivity and specificity of tests that are not FDA approved can be misleading, can lead to misdiagnosis and eventual medical treatment and complications from not being treated appropriately.

Before you agree to any antibody tests, the FBI recommends you talk with your doctor they should know the tests that are FDA-approved and considered accurate. The FBI also suggests using well-known labs approved by your health insurance and never sharing personal information with anyone besides your health care provider.

This is just the latest in a months-long string of coronavirus scams. Since the pandemic began in March, fraudsters have called and texted people saying theyve been infected with coronavirus and lead them to a link to submit personal information. Scammers also call people and tell them they must provide a hospital with personal and financial information over the phone because someone they know is sick with coronavirus.

MORE: FBI: Protect your wallet and your health form pandemic scammers

The coronavirus antibody tests arent always reliable as it is, because its not clear when coronavirus antibodies develop in the body or whether every coronavirus patient will develop antibodies at all. But tests could become an important indicator of the viruss spread when scientists answer some lingering questions.

Even FDA-approved coronavirus antibody tests may be inaccurate up to 50% of the time. In May, the CDC warned healthcare providers that coronavirus antibodies are expected to be low in most of the country, so testing could create more false-positive results (meaning that the test results indicate theyve been infected when they havent), and they shouldnt be used by policymakers to decide when to reopen spaces like offices and dorms.

The FBI warns the public to be aware of the following potential indicators of fraudulent activity:

The FBI recommends:

If you believe you have been the victim of a COVID-19 fraud, immediately report it to National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at (866) 720-5721 orjustice.gov/disastercomplaintform, or the FBI (ic3.gov,tips.fbi.gov, or 1-800-CALL-FBI).

For up-to-date information about COVID-19, visit:

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Beware of fake coronavirus antibody tests, the FBI warns - Wink News

Apple recently fixed a bug in iOS 14, which it will release this fall, that allows apps to secretly access the clipboard on Apple devices. The new OS will warn users when an app reads the last item copied to the clipboard. However, several apps have already been caught invading peoples privacy, including TikTok, according to security researchers Talal Haj Bakry and Tommy Mysk.

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Chinas Bytedance, owner of TikTok, stated the problem is tied to an outdated advertising SDK. However, according to the clipboard warning in iOS 14 beta, TikTok is continuing to abuse users privacy. A company spokesperson said it was triggered by a feature designed to identify repetitive, spammy behavior. TikTok submitted an updated version of the app without the anti-spam feature to the App Store.

The TikTok spokesperson added: The clipboard access issues showed up due to third-party SDKs, in our case an older version Google Ads SDK, so we do not get access to the information through this. We are in the processes of updating so that the third-party SDK will no longer have access.

Changes to Apples iOS 14 security and privacy settings helped to identify TikTok and other apps secretly accessing the clipboard. The vulnerability meant anything copied on a users Mac or iPad could be read by active apps on their iPhone, including passwords, work documents, personal emails and financial documents. Apples iOS fix will force TikTok and other companies to update their apps.

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Apple initially ignored the clipboard vulnerability, eventually publishing a fix following media coverage of the security findings. According to Bakry and Mysk, Apple dismissed the risks that we highlighted and explained that iOS already had mechanisms to counter all of the risks. But the mechanisms that Apple provided were not effective to protect user privacy.

iPhone users should update their TikTok app when the newest version is released.

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TikTok caught secretly spying on millions of iPhone users - IT PRO