Why partnerships with nonprofits and community groups is smart business

Sure, you're in business to make money. Though what if we told you that you are more likely to be successful if one of your business objectives is to help your community

Incorporating principles of community outreach gets your company off to a great start – and invigorates established companies. Think of it as a marketing strategy, one that sets you apart from your competition and creates a business culture that draws people to your company and creates repeat and loyal customers.

One example is our partnership with the ASPCA. As a 2015 Business Ambassador, we donated surveillance devices to aid their field investigations and response team’s efforts to stop animal abuse and neglect. The field team will use the devices for surveillance purposes and to gather evidence as they work across the country in partnership with emergency responders, humane associations and shelters to rescue animals from life-threatening situations and provide them with the essential care they need.

The ASPCA partnership benefits both them and us. From a product development standpoint, it helps us test the integrity of the devices for this type of purpose and investigation. From a marketing standpoint, it aligns us with a recognizable, credible organization that is doing good works. And most importantly, it has the potential to save the lives of innocent animals – animals without a voice.

Protecting those without a voice is one of KJB's business values. And it can only be fully accomplished when we partner with like-minded organizations.

We hope 2015 is off to a great start for you and we encourage you to identify ways you can partner with organizations in your community this year. Is there a women's shelter or daycare center near you in need of surveillance products? What about the local senior citizens advocacy group that helps family members investigate suspected nursing home neglect and abuse? If your business in online only, there are still many organizations that could sue your support. You might even find that your business ends up being the bigger beneficiary.

Meet our first Market Pro Dealer

We are happy to introduce our Market Pro Dealer program. As a wholesale distributor of spy and surveillance equipment, we depend on Dealers understanding our products enough to create engaging and timely content them. Home Security Store has done just that with a video blog detailing why you should choose a SleuthGear® hidden camera over the cheaper Chinese-made variety.

Click below to watch the video, then stay on their site to shop all the different SleuthGear cameras available.

Dealer Strategies: How To Newsjack

If you’re active in social media, then you’ve likely employed a strategy content marketing strategists call newsjacking. If you follow our Facebook page, then you’ve seen our “Caught on Camera” posts that show video footage of actual crimes taking place and reported in the news. In most cases, these posts show our products in action, most often capturing burglaries or abuse. This is the most basic form of newsjacking.

The term newsjacking refers to the process of attaching your brand, ideas or angles into breaking news, in real-time, in order to generate media coverage and engagement among your customers and prospects. In simpler terms: finding digital angles to major news events. The concept, when correctly executed, may also be employed in email marketing and may be reinforced with a clear call-to-action on your website.

The benefits of newsjacking include boosting SEO, engaging readers with timely commentary, sharing a new angle on a timely topic, and positioning yourself as a thought leader in your industry.

 

Whether you’re already doing this, or looking for new ways to reach potential customers, it’s important to note that you walk a fine line when you newsjack. This is especially true in our industry when readers might view it as fear-mongering or taking advantage of tragic news stories, so we urge you to be sensitive and use sound judgment. 

Before sharing a few tips, we thought we’d share a few examples of newsjacking done right – and wrong:

First, the Good

Police Newsjacking – Urgent Genius’ Jon Burkhart shares his thoughts on the Seattle Police Department’s use of “planned spontaneity” when they handed out Doritos at Hempfest with a sticker attached advising Hempfesters of the do’s and don’ts of the new marijuana laws. “Operation Orange Fingers” attracted global news coverage.

And one of the most famous examples to date of timely newsjacking is when Oreo Cookie used the Superbowl power outage to cleverly capitalize on the event with their Twitter post.

Then, the Bad and the Ugly

Newsjacks in poor taste include Kenneth Cole who Tweeted during the Arab Spring uprising in Egypt: "Millions are in uproar in #Cairo. Rumor is they heard our new spring collection is now available online... -KC.", and Kentucky Fried Chicken in Thailand who posted a Facebook update after an earthquake stating “Let’s hurry home and follow the earthquake news. And don’t forget to order your favorite KFC menu.’”

Stay One Of The Good Guys

So, when you see a story in the news that you think you might be able to leverage, we encourage you to review the following tips courtesy of Content Marketing Institute’s “Newsjacking: 6 Tips to Help Your Branded Content Use the News.”

• Stay tuned: You have to know what’s going on in the world if you want to newsjack. It’s crucial to plug in. 
• Be very discerning: A military coup, the death of a celebrity, a natural disaster — these are not events of which you should take advantage. 
• Act fast: To get the most traction; hop on news as soon as you can. 
• Make a natural connection 
• Take a constructive angle especially in the case of a disaster or tragedy. 

Sources: Content Marketing Institute’s “Newsjacking: 6 Tips to Help Your Branded Content Use the News.” For the complete post, visit: http://contentmarketinginstitute.com/2013/01/help-branded-content-use-news/

New Partnership with LandAirSea, makers of GPS and tracking devices

We are pleased to announce that we have been named exclusive worldwide distributor for LandAirSea Systems’ GPS tracking devices. As KJB makes the transition to their products, we want to share a number of benefits for dealers and consumers:

Product benefits include:
• All GPS devices are manufactured in the USA, continuing KJB's trend of high standards for quality
• Unlimited historical playback
• iPad and iPhone software apps offering side-by-side 2D and 3D display providing overhead map view while simultaneously providing street level view
• Multiple real-time tracking speed options and pay as you go month-to-month service (see the chart below, click for a larger view)

KJB will carry four GPS trackers: two live trackers and two passive trackers. Click on the pictures below to read more about each one:

SilverCloud® Sync Fleet GPS Tracking System

SilverCloud® Live GPS Tracker

GPS Tracking Key

GPS Tracking Key Pro

Full Cyber Speed Ahead! Our Dealer Promo Deals start in a few days!

We are thrilled to partner with so many Dealers!

The Partnership only works if you promote your point of sale hard for the next two weeks. Also, remember that Black Friday and Cyber Monday means that you will be moving full speed ahead for the next 10 days!

According to BestCyberMonday.com, since its initial inception in 2005, Cyber Monday has experienced a tremendous amount of growth every single year. It is by far the single largest online shopping day of the year. Cyber Monday 2012 is already predicted to be a record breaker.

Remember to keep your customers interested. Use these tips to capture the increased web traffic over the next 10 days:

• Boost your blog postings and commenting on blogs. Post items not related to your business - think of your blog as the department store restroom with the big comfy chairs and soothing music. Customers need somewhere to relax, when they do, they ultimately spend more time on your site.

• Increase social media activity but follow the rule above about selfish posting.

• Create giveaways and contests to keep customers coming back over multiple days. This works for on-line and brick and mortar stores. Even if customers don't come back they may tell their friends about it.

• Think about the holiday spirit. When the crush of greedy shoppers seems overwhelming, companies that indulge in selfless causes and sponsorships stand out of the crowd. And this kind of publicity will last past the 6 week holiday rush.

Click here for a list of all our participating dealers.

Our Partners are Ready To Deal!

Here's who's ahead of the game in the Dealer Partnership Promo. Want your name at the top of this list? Get in on the deal, details here.

Check out these sites for Black Friday/Cyber Monday specials on hidden cameras, GPS trackers and smart phone security.
Spy Tech
Spy Gadgets
Spy Emporium
Recorder Gear
IRB Store
Proof Pronto
Spy Gear Gadgets
KG Security Sales
Eye Spy Supply
JLM Merchandise
DIY Controls
US Spy Store
Rolling Trends Security
Brickhouse Security

Find out their favorite position

When you think about positioning your products online think about who's buying them. An estimated 29 million Internet users bought gifts online last year during the holiday shopping season, and 58 percent of them were women. Stand out from other online electronics retailers by paying attention this fact. The personal protection aspects of KJB's products can make them very attractive gifts for women. 

For example:

• Give the new mom going back to work a Zone Shield DVR so she can feel confident about who's watching the baby.

• For the parents who bought the teenager a new car for Christmas, someone needs to give them an iTrail GPS Logger!

Remember to explain technical jargon such as what field of view is or how a GPS logger versus tracker works. Taking time to educate your buyers results in a more comfortable shopping environment, and during the holidays when everyone is in a mad dash you want to give users extra reasons to stay on your site. Using the longer names for these acronyms also beefs of your own SEO (or, to be completely accommodating, search engine optimization.)

What if your buyers don't have pressing surveillance needs?

No problem! This holiday season, be sure to highlight features of typical surveillance devices which ALSO have practical purposes:

• Small elecronic gadgets make great boss or client gifts. Consider the Black Media Pen Recorder, it's easy to record meetings and reviews notes on a plane or in a cab.

Don't forget about big kids - you know, grown men who revert to childhood movie characters when presented with something shiny, black, and battery operated. Remind your shoppers about these Big Kid toys:

• The Bluetooth Headset Cam is a great gadget to capture all those special holiday moments when no one thinks they're being recorded!

• The Super Ear. Give one of these to Dad, then get the kids to try to beat the Super Ear personal amplifier by being super quiet. Guaranteed Christmas morning entertainment.

Dealer Partnership Promo Featured Products

So you’ve heard about the Dealer Partnership Promo!? We're unveiling the list of featured products. Take a look below and contact us to find out what each one's Black Friday/Cyber Monday deal is. Don’t forget that KJB will provide weekly tips and product information to help you maximize your holiday sales!

Handheld Recording:

• USB Flashdrive Voice Recorders - D1400, D1408

• Black Media Pen Recorder - DP7074

• Mini Voice Recorder - D1304

• ProGrade Mini Camcorder - DVR90

• Mini Touch DVRs - DVR160 and DVR165

• Pen style Camcorder - DVR776

DIY Cell Phone and PC Monitoring

• Discover It - P9950

• Cellphone Recon - P9901

• Spy Cobra PC Monitoring Software Deluxe - PC401

Easy Personal Surveillance and Tracking

• iTrail GPS Logger - H6000

• Reverse Peephole - D200

• 2 Camera Car Recorder with GPS Logger - DV401

For Big Kid Spy Pros

• Bluetooth Headset Cam - DVR215

• Switch Cam - DVR253

• Cell Phone Voice Changer - VC2000

• 2.4 Wireless Color Camera with DVR Receiver - C800

• High Frequency RF Detector - SH055DV

• Single Camera DVR Kit - C1196

• Super Ear - SE4000