amount involved in closed complaints $24,558,009€¦ · after creating your account, ... your...

Omaha Metro Area/ Southwest Iowa11811 P StOmaha, NE 68137

Lincoln Metro Area/Greater Nebraska 300 N 44th St Suite 100Lincoln, NE 68503

South Dakota 300 N Phillips Ave Suite 100Sioux Falls, SD 57104

Kansas Plains 345 N Riverview St Suite 720Wichita, KS 67203

C O M M U N I C AT I O N SBBB Mobile SiteAt bbbinc.org users can find a BBB Accredited Business

from their cell phone, personal organizer or wireless

handheld device.

BBB iPhone AppA convenient, mobile BBB solution is available for

the iPhone and iPad. BBB Search 2.0 is a free app

download on Apple’s iOS App Store for devices

running iOS 6.0 or later.

BBB Social Media ChannelsFollow us on:

bbbnesdksia

BBBNE_SD_KS_IA

Better Business Bureau Serving Nebraska, South

Dakota, The Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa

BBB of NE, SD, KS Plains and SW Iowa

BBBNESDKSIA

BBBInc

M E D I A E X P O S U R EBBB issued numerous news articles, scam alerts and

tips to the media in our service area

• Number of media mentions = 3,047 compared to

2,584 in 2015

- Print = 793

- Broadcast (Radio and TV) = 996

- Web = 1,258

• Average media mentions per month = 254

• Approximately 120 presentations by BBB staff to

groups/organizations

• Increased presence at local trade shows

- Nebraska: Aurora, Columbus, Grand Island, Kearney,

Lincoln, Norfolk, North Platte, Omaha and York = 18

- Kansas: Topeka and Wichita = 2

- South Dakota: Brookings, Rapid City, Sioux Falls and

Yankton = 4

- Iowa: Council Bluffs = 1

Dear BBB Accredited Businesses,

Throughout the past year, your

BBB: conducted numerous

scam investigations, helped

both businesses and consumers

resolve complaints, represented

our BBB at trade shows

throughout our four state region,

issued alerts and consumer tips on a regular basis,

produced four different printed Accredited Business(AB)

Directories, upgraded our online directory by adding our

popular information pages, awarded integrity, protected

and educated seniors across our service area and made

e-quotes and customer reviews more accessible and

easier to use by both our ABs and consumers - it all

adds up to a great 2016!

As you will see in the statistical part of this report,

we continue to see increases in demand - particularly

on mobile devices - for our services. We believe this

is a clear indicator that BBB’s brand is more relevant

than ever. This trend confirms that the consuming

public prefers doing business with organizations that

have been fully vetted by BBB and have made the

commitment to supporting our mission of “being the

leader in advancing marketplace trust.” Please refer

to the back of this Review for specific information

regarding BBB’s “Consumer Journey Survey.”

On behalf of our Boards of Directors and staff, I would

personally like to thank you for your continued support

and commitment. I am certain that our exceptional

BBB team will continue to build opportunities designed

to enhance the value of your BBB Accreditation. Best

wishes to you and yours for a happy and prosperous

New Year!

Enclosed is a computer calendar, a gift for you, and a

reminder that we are here if you need us!

Sincerely,

Jim Hegarty

BBB President/CEO

Give Your Satisfied Customers The Opportunity To Say “Thank You”

Using BBB’s New One Click “Review Solution” AppAre customer reviews important to your business? Of course they are!

Consumers go online to check out businesses constantly, and they look for

customer reviews to help decide whether to hire or to buy from you. So don’t

be afraid to ask – be direct. Your customers will write reviews if they have an

easy way to do it. Your solution is now just one click away with the FREE

“Review Solution” App!

Our latest initiative, only for BBB Accredited Businesses (ABs), provides your

organization with a free app that allows you to request a customer review with

a single click. You can download the app to as many Apple or Android mobile

devices or PCs as you need with no additional

cost. Then, you simply send text messages

by entering the customer’s first name, their

mobile number and hitting “send” to request

customer reviews. BBB’s double verification

process always ensures the highest level of

integrity for each of your reviews.

Your Quick Start Instruction Guide To Get Online BBB Customer Reviews Step 1: If you have an Apple device, go to the App Store, if you have an

Android device, go to Google Play to download the app called “The Review

Solution–ABs”. If you do not have a “Smart” device, you can download the

app to your computer at thereviewsolution.com/downloads/.

Step 2: Activating the App

1. Go to thereviewsolution.com/bbb

2. Click on “Set Up Your Free Account”

3. You will be asked for “Contact Information”

and to “Create Account Login”

4. After creating your account, the next

screen you will see has the BBB option

checked at the top of the screen. This is

for the free version only! You have the

option of also clicking any of the other

review sites on the screen, but that is for

the Express Version that costs $99/month

5. After clicking “next” you will be taken to

the training video

6. After watching the video, you will receive

your device key(s) needed to activate the

app for each device you want to use for

receiving BBB Customer Reviews

Step 3: Using the App

• Enter your customer’s first name

• Enter your customer’s cell phone number

• Hit “Send”

Step 4: Your customer receives a text from your business with a link

• When the link is clicked, the BBB Customer Review Form opens

• The customer fills out the review form and hits “submit”

• Their review has now been sent to BBB for verification before posting it

on your BBB Business Profile at bbbinc.org

Instances of service

2013 = 2,768,341

2014 = 2,940,851

2015 = 3,114,541

2016 = 3,947,425

Instances of service breakdown

1,761,057 Unique Website Visitors/Users

4,357,103 Website Page Views

2,272,671 Website User Sessions

2,656,730 (99.2% online) Business Profiles Searched

(not on mobile devices)

788,690 Business Profiles Searched

(on mobile devices)

295,830 Apple iPhones

155,253 Apple iPads

18,934 Kindle

318,673 Droid/Other

75,258 Company URLs on Business Profiles Clicked

7,392 Request-A-Quote Buttons Clicked on

Business Profiles

8,244 eQuotes Claimed

31,430 eQuotes Sent

56,362 BBB Online Dynamic Seals Clicked

265,760 Type of Business (TOB) Accredited Business

Lists Requested

234 Ad Reviews & Logo Violations Challenged

11,299 Complaints Closed

$24,558,009.55Amount Involved in Closed Complaints

Top 10 inquired about industries

Internet marketing Service 184,239

Roofing Contractors 131,294

Construction & Remodeling

Services96,667

Insurance Companies 85,588

Heating & Air Conditioning 55,818

Contractors – General 55,634

Plumbers 54-834

Collection Agencies 50,712

Home Builders 47,520

Concrete Contactors 42,532

Top 10 complained about industries

Credit Cards & Plans 590

Security Control Equipment &

System Monitor283

Auto Dealer – New cars 263

Collection Agencies 258

Scholarships & Financial Aid 224

Furniture – Retail 188

Internet Shopping 184

Banks 162

Roofing Contractors 154

Insurance Companies 135

BBB’S MISSION:

To be the Leader in Advancing

Marketplace Trust

2016 Statistics

The more reviews your

company has, the higher

ranking it gets on search

engines like Google, Yahoo

and Bing. Utilizing BBB’s

“The Review Solution” App

will bring more traffic to

your business!

Serving Nebraska, South Dakota, The Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa

Annual Review 2016

Did You Know?The top 3 organizations that come to mind when thinking about ratings and reviews are:

16%Google +

14%Amazon

How known is BBB’s Seal?

82%of U.S. consumers who are familiar

with BBB recognize BBB’s seal when

they see it.

How trusted is BBB compared to other review sites?

87% 54% 67%

How does BBB’s Seal influence purchasing decisions?

66%are more likely to expect better quality

products or services if a business has a BBB

Accreditation Seal

62%are more likely to purchase when a business

displays BBB Accreditation Seal

46%are more likely to come back for more purchases

from a business with BBB Accreditation Seal

45%are more likely to recommend if a business has

a BBB Accreditation Seal

29%are more likely to spend more money on a

business with BBB Accreditation Seal

81%of people who are familiar with BBB’s letter grade

are less likely to purchase from a business that has

a lower BBB letter grade – such as a C, D or F

50%are more likely to donate to a charity that

displays BBB Charity Seal

*Survey results are from a 2014 Nielsen “Consumer Journey Survey” of U.S. consumers commissioned by the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB).

#1#3#2#1#3#2 #1#3#2

FREE PUBLICATION

bbbinc.org

StartWithTrust®

SolutionSolutionACCREDITED BUSINESS DIRECTORY

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU®

SERVING SOUTH DAKOTA

THE 2017

Read & Submit

Kansas Plains 345 N Riverview St Suite 720Wichita, KS 67203

C O M M U N I C AT I O N SBBB Mobile SiteAt bbbinc.org users can find a BBB Accredited Business

handheld device.

bbbnesdksia

BBBNE_SD_KS_IA

BBBNESDKSIA

BBBInc

M E D I A E X P O S U R EBBB issued numerous news articles, scam alerts and

tips to the media in our service area

• Number of media mentions = 3,047 compared to

2,584 in 2015

- Print = 793

- Web = 1,258

Yankton = 4

Dear BBB Accredited Businesses,

BBB: conducted numerous

scam investigations, helped

both businesses and consumers

resolve complaints, represented

our BBB at trade shows

throughout our four state region,

issued alerts and consumer tips on a regular basis,

produced four different printed Accredited Business(AB)

Directories, upgraded our online directory by adding our

popular information pages, awarded integrity, protected

and educated seniors across our service area and made

e-quotes and customer reviews more accessible and

easier to use by both our ABs and consumers - it all

adds up to a great 2016!

As you will see in the statistical part of this report,

we continue to see increases in demand - particularly

on mobile devices - for our services. We believe this

is a clear indicator that BBB’s brand is more relevant

than ever. This trend confirms that the consuming

public prefers doing business with organizations that

have been fully vetted by BBB and have made the

commitment to supporting our mission of “being the

leader in advancing marketplace trust.” Please refer

to the back of this Review for specific information

regarding BBB’s “Consumer Journey Survey.”

On behalf of our Boards of Directors and staff, I would

personally like to thank you for your continued support

and commitment. I am certain that our exceptional

BBB team will continue to build opportunities designed

to enhance the value of your BBB Accreditation. Best

wishes to you and yours for a happy and prosperous

New Year!

Enclosed is a computer calendar, a gift for you, and a

reminder that we are here if you need us!

Sincerely,

Jim Hegarty

BBB President/CEO

Give Your Satisfied Customers The Opportunity To Say “Thank You”

Using BBB’s New One Click “Review Solution” AppAre customer reviews important to your business? Of course they are!

Consumers go online to check out businesses constantly, and they look for

customer reviews to help decide whether to hire or to buy from you. So don’t

be afraid to ask – be direct. Your customers will write reviews if they have an

easy way to do it. Your solution is now just one click away with the FREE

“Review Solution” App!

Our latest initiative, only for BBB Accredited Businesses (ABs), provides your

organization with a free app that allows you to request a customer review with

a single click. You can download the app to as many Apple or Android mobile

devices or PCs as you need with no additional

cost. Then, you simply send text messages

by entering the customer’s first name, their

mobile number and hitting “send” to request

customer reviews. BBB’s double verification

process always ensures the highest level of

integrity for each of your reviews.

Your Quick Start Instruction Guide To Get Online BBB Customer Reviews Step 1: If you have an Apple device, go to the App Store, if you have an

Android device, go to Google Play to download the app called “The Review

Solution–ABs”. If you do not have a “Smart” device, you can download the

app to your computer at thereviewsolution.com/downloads/.

Step 2: Activating the App

1. Go to thereviewsolution.com/bbb

2. Click on “Set Up Your Free Account”

3. You will be asked for “Contact Information”

and to “Create Account Login”

4. After creating your account, the next

screen you will see has the BBB option

checked at the top of the screen. This is

for the free version only! You have the

option of also clicking any of the other

review sites on the screen, but that is for

the Express Version that costs $99/month

5. After clicking “next” you will be taken to

the training video

6. After watching the video, you will receive

your device key(s) needed to activate the

app for each device you want to use for

receiving BBB Customer Reviews

Step 3: Using the App

• Enter your customer’s first name

• Enter your customer’s cell phone number

• Hit “Send”

Step 4: Your customer receives a text from your business with a link

• When the link is clicked, the BBB Customer Review Form opens

• The customer fills out the review form and hits “submit”

• Their review has now been sent to BBB for verification before posting it

on your BBB Business Profile at bbbinc.org

2013 = 2,768,341

2014 = 2,940,851

2015 = 3,114,541

2016 = 3,947,425

2,656,730 (99.2% online) Business Profiles Searched

(not on mobile devices)

788,690 Business Profiles Searched

(on mobile devices)

295,830 Apple iPhones

155,253 Apple iPads

18,934 Kindle

318,673 Droid/Other

Business Profiles

31,430 eQuotes Sent

265,760 Type of Business (TOB) Accredited Business

Lists Requested

Construction & Remodeling

Services96,667

Contractors – General 55,634

Plumbers 54-834

System Monitor283

Auto Dealer – New cars 263

Furniture – Retail 188

Banks 162

BBB’S MISSION:

To be the Leader in Advancing

Marketplace Trust

2016 Statistics

The more reviews your

company has, the higher

ranking it gets on search

engines like Google, Yahoo

and Bing. Utilizing BBB’s

“The Review Solution” App

will bring more traffic to

your business!

Annual Review 2016

Did You Know?The top 3 organizations that come to mind when thinking about ratings and reviews are:

16%Google +

14%Amazon

they see it.

87% 54% 67%

Accreditation Seal

displays BBB Accreditation Seal

46%are more likely to come back for more purchases

from a business with BBB Accreditation Seal

45%are more likely to recommend if a business has

a BBB Accreditation Seal

29%are more likely to spend more money on a

business with BBB Accreditation Seal

a lower BBB letter grade – such as a C, D or F

50%are more likely to donate to a charity that

displays BBB Charity Seal

#1#3#2#1#3#2 #1#3#2

FREE PUBLICATION

bbbinc.org

StartWithTrust®

SolutionSolutionACCREDITED BUSINESS DIRECTORY

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU®

SERVING SOUTH DAKOTA

THE 2017

Read & Submit

2017 APPLICATION FORMComplete and print this form and submit with your scholarship application package.

Judges will not consider incomplete applications.

Student’s Name——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Student’s Home Street Address ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

City —————————————————————————————————————————————

State ————————

Zip —————————————

Student’s Home Phone ( —————

) —————————————————

Cell Phone ( ——————

) —————————————————————

Student’s Email ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Parent or Legal Guardian’s Name ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Name of School —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Address —————————————————————————————————

City ———————————————————

State —————————

I learned about this scholarship:

Scholarship Website —————

BBB Website ——————

School Official ——————

School Newspaper ——————

Other ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

I HAVE ENCLOSED ALL OF THE ITEMS LISTED ON THE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD CHECKLIST FOUND IN THE APPLICATION GUIDE.

By submitting an entry for the Scott Mecham BBB Student of Integrity Awards, I certify that the statements contained in this application packet are true, accurate and complete. I understand and agree that any scholarship funds received will be distributed directly to my post-secondary institution upon verification of enrollment.

I also agree that this entry becomes the property of BBB, and my name and essay may be released to the public and news media.

Student’s Signature ————————————————————————————————————————————

Date ———————————————

Parent or Legal Guardian’s Signature ——————————————————————————————————

Date ———————————————

Deadline: All materials for scholarship consideration must be submitted together, and your entry packet must be postmarked by Friday, March 10, 2017.

*Please note: Applications cannot be submitted electronically. See Application Guide submission procedure.

Download

Angie’s ListBBB Yelp

Student’s Name——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

City —————————————————————————————————————————————

State ————————

Zip —————————————

) —————————————————

) —————————————————————

Student’s Email ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Name of School —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Address —————————————————————————————————

City ———————————————————

State —————————

Other ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Date ———————————————

Download

Angie’s ListBBB Yelp

Kansas Plains 125 S Washington St Suite 100Wichita, KS 67202

C O M M U N I C A T I O N SBBB Mobile SiteAt bbbinc.org users can find a BBB Accredited Business

handheld device.

bbbnesdksia

BBBNE_SD_KS_IA

BBBNESDKSIA

BBBInc

M E D I A E X P O S U R EBBB issued numerous news articles, scam alerts and tips to the media in our service area• Number of media mentions = 3,047 compared to

2,584 in 2015

- Print = 793

- Web = 1,258

Yankton = 4

M E S S A G E F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N TDear BBB Accredited Businesses,

BBB: conducted numerous scam

investigations, helped both

businesses and consumers resolve

complaints, represented our BBB

at trade shows throughout our

four state region, issued alerts

and consumer tips on a regular

basis, produced four different

printed Accredited Business(AB) Directories, upgraded our

online directory by adding our popular information pages,

awarded integrity, protected and educated seniors across

our service area and made e-quotes and customer reviews

more accessible and easier to use by both our ABs and

consumers—it all adds up to a great 2016!

As you will see in the statistical part of this report, we

continue to see increases in demand—particularly on

mobile devices—for our services. We believe this is a clear

indicator that BBB’s brand is more relevant than ever. This trend confirms that the consuming public prefers doing business with organizations that have been fully vetted by BBB and have made the commitment to supporting our mission of “being the leader in advancing marketplace trust.” Please refer to the back of this Review for specific information regarding BBB’s “Consumer Journey Survey.”

On behalf of our Boards of Directors and staff, I would personally like to thank you for your continued support and commitment. I am certain that our exceptional BBB team will continue to build opportunities designed to enhance the value of your BBB Accreditation. Best wishes to you and yours for a happy and prosperous New Year!

Enclosed is a computer calendar, a gift for you, and a reminder that we are here if you need us!

Sincerely,

Jim HegartyBBB President/CEO

Give Your Satisfied Customers the Opportunity to Say “Thank You” Using BBB’s New One Click “Review Solution-ABs” App

Are customer reviews important to your business? Of course they are! Consumers go online to check out businesses constantly, and they look for customer reviews to help decide whether to hire or to buy from you. So don’t be afraid to ask—be direct. Your customers will write reviews if they have an

easy way to do it. Your solution is now just one click away with the FREE “Review Solution-ABs” App!

Our newest benefit only for BBB Accredited Businesses (ABs), provides your organization with a free app that allows you to request a customer review with a single click. You can download the app

to as many Apple or Android mobile devices or PCs as you need with no additional cost. Then, you simply send text messages to request customer reviews. BBB’s double verification process always ensures the highest level of integrity for each of your reviews.

To take advantage of this new BBB Accredited Business benefit, go online to thereviewsolution.com/bbb to set up your free account. To do this, you will need the link to your BBB Business Profile:

• go to bbbinc.org• search your company name• click on your company’s link• copy the URL located in the browser

After you fill out your contact information (that includes a place to paste the link to your BBB Business Profile) and create an account login, you will be shown a short training video. Then, you will be given a device key(s) to activate the app that you will have to download to your “Smart” device. If you do not have a “Smart” device, you can download the app to your computer by going to thereviewsolution.com/downloads/.

To get the free “The Review Solution–ABs” App on Apple devices go to the App Store, for Android devices go to Google Play. Then, open the app, enter your key number, your customer’s first name, their cell phone number and hit ”Send.” Your customer will receive a text message with a link that provides the BBB Customer Review Form. They fill it out, hit “Submit” and their review goes directly to BBB for verification and posting on your BBB Business Profile.

FOR MORE INFORMATION & ASSISTANCECALL THE REVIEW SOLUTION’S SUPPORT TEAM AT888-649-6140

2,656,730 (99.2% online) Business Profiles Searched (not on

mobile devices)

Business Profiles

31,430 eQuotes Sent

265,760 Type of Business (TOB) Accredited Business Lists

Requested

BBB’S MISSION:

To be the Leader in Advancing Marketplace Trust

0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0

2,768,341

2,940,851

3,114,541

3,947,4252016

Millions

Construction & Remodeling Services 96,667

Contractors—General 55,634

Plumbers 54,834

System Monitor283

Auto Dealer—New cars 263

Furniture—Retail 188

Banks 162

2016 Statistics

Annual Review 2016

D I D Y O U K N O W ?The top 3 organizations that come to mind when thinking about ratings and reviews are:

#1#3#2

Google +

#1#3#2

Amazon

they see it.

Angie’s List

Accreditation Seal

displays the BBB Accreditation Seal

a lower BBB letter grade—such as a C, D or F

Read & Submit

Student’s Name——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

City —————————————————————————————————————————————

State ————————

Zip —————————————

) —————————————————

) —————————————————————

Student’s Email ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Name of School —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Address —————————————————————————————————

City ———————————————————

State —————————

Other ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Date ———————————————

The more reviews your company has, the higher ranking it gets on search

engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing. Utilizing

BBB’s “The Review Solution -ABs” App will

bring more traffic to your business!

Read & Submit788,690 Business Profiles Searched (on mobile devices)

Droid/Other

iPhone

Kindle

318,673

295,830

155,253

18,934

dverti

se Honestly Tell the Truth B

e Transp

mises | Be Responsive Safeguard Priv

BBB Standards For Trust

Since 1912

BBB YearInReview 2017_rev1.indd 1 1/25/17 8:18 PM

handheld device.

bbbnesdksia

BBBNE_SD_KS_IA

BBBNESDKSIA

BBBInc

2,584 in 2015

- Print = 793

- Web = 1,258

Yankton = 4

Sincerely,

mobile devices)

Business Profiles

31,430 eQuotes Sent

Requested

BBB’S MISSION:

0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0

2,768,341

2,940,851

3,114,541

3,947,4252016

Millions

Plumbers 54,834

System Monitor283

Banks 162

2016 Statistics

Annual Review 2016

#1#3#2

Google +

#1#3#2

Amazon

they see it.

Angie’s List

Accreditation Seal

Read & Submit

Student’s Name——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

City —————————————————————————————————————————————

State ————————

Zip —————————————

) —————————————————

) —————————————————————

Student’s Email ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Name of School —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Address —————————————————————————————————

City ———————————————————

State —————————

Other ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Date ———————————————

Droid/Other

iPhone

Kindle

318,673

295,830

155,253

18,934

dverti

e Transp

Since 1912

Accredited Business (AB) SealYou can increase the power of your status as a BBB Accredited

Business by using BBB’s Accredited Business Seal in all of

your off-line marketing and advertising: newspaper ads,

handouts, direct mail,

vehicle signage, business

cards, annual directories,

invoices, phone book ads,

TV commercials, etc.

Additionally, you should be using BBB’s AB Dynamic Seal.

When you participate in this program, you are able to display

the seal on your company’s website or any place you control

and do business online (such as Facebook or email). The online

seal links directly to your BBB Business Profile; providing your

company the instant reliability consumers are looking for

by ensuring your accreditation is legitimate. It will also help

increase your website’s search engine optimization (SEO).

If you would like to receive electronic copies of BBB’s

Accredited Business Seal for your offline marketing or would

like to add BBB’s approved Dynamic Seal to your website,

please call 402-898-8521 or 800-649-6814 #8521.

Business ProfilesBBB’s new Business Profiles, formerly called Business

Reviews, have been redesigned to optimize the user’s

experience—whether they are using a mobile device,

tablet or desktop computer. The new design puts more

of the information consumers

are seeking front and center.

Customer engagement is

encouraged with a “Submit

A Review” button that is

easily accessible. Also, easy-

to-use tabs allow customers

simple access to general

business information, as well as

complaint history, the Request

a Quote button and information about BBB Accreditation.

Each Business Profile clearly delineates if a business is

BBB Accredited by having the Accredited Business Seal

displayed on the top-right of the page on its Business

Profile. Check out your Business Profile at bbbinc.org.

Request-A-Quote SystemThis popular service is designed to connect consumers with

Accredited Businesses. It allows prospective customers who

are interested in your products or services to connect with

you directly from your Business Profile. These valuable leads,

delivered to your email or texted

to your cell phone, are only generated for BBB Accredited

Businesses. Consumers can request a quote from the homepage

of our website at bbbinc.org or from your Business Profile.

StarsStars have been added to BBB Business Reviews, and they

also show in Google searches. Stars will appear (1-5) at the

bottom of your Business Profile once your company receives

a Customer Review. The higher your BBB rating and the

more positive reviews submitted, the more stars you receive.

Advertisers in BBB’s

Accredited Business

Directory also have

stars on their color-

sponsored listings. Stars are very important to consumers

when choosing a company from an online/mobile search,

and Google keeps highly rated companies more relevant—so

having more stars is a key element for companies and their

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) programs. If you have stars,

use them in your marketing. If you don’t have stars, urge your

customers to submit reviews!

Google keeps highly rated companies more

relevant—so having more stars is a key element for

companies and their Search Engine Optimization

(SEO) programs. If you have stars, use them in

your marketing. If you don’t have stars, urge your

Scam TrackerWhether it’s a fake check scam, a phony IRS call, a lottery

scam or something else, BBB has an online tool called Scam

Tracker to let the world know about it. It’s designed to monitor

and track fraudulent activity, both locally and across North

America. Go to bbb.org/scamtracker to report a suspect offer

or to get more information about scams targeting your area.

People have the option

of filing a report or

learning about scams

or suspicious activity

other people in the

region have reported

to us. BBB staff review

all submissions to the

site in order to watch for patterns of a problem and ensure the

submissions are authentic. In 2016, 42,602 scams were found on

BBB Scam Tracker.

Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Solution MarketingSearch Engine Optimization (SEO) is provided by BBB to all

Accredited Businesses to generate higher ranking results on

major search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo. SEO

is the process of affecting the visibility of a website or a web

page in a search engine’s unpaid results—often referred to as

“natural,” “organic,” or “earned” results. In general, the higher

ranked on the search results page and more frequently a site

appears in the search results

list, the more visitors it will

receive from the search

engine’s users.

Search Engine Solution

(SES) Marketing is

an exclusive program

for BBB Accredited

Businesses in specific

industries that have purchased an

eighth of a page display ad or larger in our Accredited Business

Directory, “The Solution.” SES is designed to directly increase

your visibility in the online marketplace and drive consumers

searching on Google for your products and services directly

to you by connecting your company to BBB’s trusted brand.

The SES program provides an affordable opportunity for

your company to achieve higher rankings in Google searches.

Participating ABs are experiencing fantastic results. For more

information, contact 402-898-8531 or 800-649-6814 #8531.

Online BBB Accredited Business Directory Our online directory, “The Solution,” is also mobile-friendly!

Features on the search page include:

• Rotating images of the most recently searched Type of

Business Categories

• Listing of the top 15 categories searched daily

• Listing of recently Accredited Businesses

• Accreditation application information

• Video about BBB

• Information pages from the printed edition of the directory

All BBB Accredited Businesses in our service area have their

company’s name, address and phone number listed, at no

cost, under their main Type of Business (TOB) category in

the online “Solution” at bbbinc.org. Every listing has a link to

the company’s BBB Business Profile. Accredited Businesses

can be easily accessed on the home page of our website at

bbbinc.org by clicking on “The Solution” icon or by clicking

the link “BBB Accredited

Only” and filling out

the information in the

search bars at the top

of the page. In 2016

the online “Solution”

was clicked on over

550,000 times.

Additionally,

organizations that

were BBB Accredited

Businesses as of

December 1, 2016 have

their organizations listed

for free in the printed

directories that will be

distributed across our

service area in 2017.

Affordable opportunities to advertise are available. Besides

having an ad in the printed version, the ad also appears in

the online “Solution” along with a map to the company’s

place of business, its phone number and a link to its website.

For more information about advertising in “The Solution,”

contact 402-898-8538 or 800-649-6814 #8538.

Secure Your ID/Document Shredding EventsIn 2016 BBB held free Secure Your ID

Events in Omaha, Lincoln, Wichita,

Topeka with the AG’s office and Sioux

Falls with Crime Stoppers of the Sioux

Empire. These enabled the public

to shred approximately 330,000

pounds of sensitive paper documents

and served over 7,000 vehicles. In

addition, Lincoln raised $1,106.75 and

collected 792 pounds of food for the Lincoln Food Bank, and

$278.55 was raised for the United Way in Wichita.

Business Integrity AwardsBBB’s Integrity Awards are designed to promote not only the

importance of ethical business

Practices, but the willingness and efforts made by outstanding

organizations to ensure that our marketplace remains fair

and honorable. Every winner of a BBB Integrity Award has

an extraordinary opportunity for

public recognition and well-deserved

visibility. Sixteen organizations

from BBB’s service area: 1 from

Lawrence, KS, 2 from metro Wichita,

4 from metro Lincoln and 9 from

metro Omaha were honored for

their commitment to an ethical

marketplace at BBB’s 2016 Integrity

Awards celebrations. Information

about these awards and the 2016 Winners are posted on our

website at bbbinc.org.

Student of Integrity AwardsTwelve high school seniors

each received $2,000 college

scholarships as winners of the

BBB Scott Mecham Student of

Integrity Awards. The students

were from cities and towns

across our BBB’s service area:

Griswold, IA, Council Bluffs, IA,

Omaha, NE, Clark, SD, Madison,

SD, Onida, SD, Gypsum, KS, Holton, KS, Marion, KS, Lincoln,

NE, Chadron, NE and Norfolk, NE. Information about the 2016

awards and the 2015 scholarship recipients can be found on our

website, bbbinc.org, under Student Award Programs.

Student Service Excellence AwardsTen high school sophomores from metro Omaha, who had been

Downtown Rotary Honor Roll Students when they were in the

8th grade, were selected by an independent panel of judges for

exemplifying the values of BBB and Rotary—personal integrity,

ethical behavior, leadership and academic achievement. BBB’s

Foundation donated $200 to a charity designated by each winner.

Fraud Education: In April BBB Foundation

and its partners presented

a program in Omaha on

how criminals use social

engineering to perpetrate

fraud. Speakers were

from EPCOR, Bank of the

West and the U.S. Attorney’s office. In June, BBB’s Foundation

co-sponsored a presentation called “Money Smart” for seniors

in Omaha and Lincoln. The featured speaker was Nora Dowd

Eisenhower from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Cyber Security ProgramsAs part of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, in October,

BBB’s Foundation and its partners sponsored a free Cyber

Security Program in Omaha to train businesses on how to best to

identify and protect their company’s’ vital data and technology

assets and how to detect, respond to and recover from a

cybersecurity incident.

The session was

presented by CBBB’s

Chief Security Officer.

BBB in Wichita had

a panel discussion to

educate consumers

and businesses about

how to secure their

sensitive data from

online hackers. The panel included representatives from the:

FTC, FBI, 177th Information Aggressor Squadron and National

Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA). A similar program was held

in Sioux Falls with professionals from the: FBI, SD Division

of Criminal Investigation, Dakota State University and SDN

Communications. In January, Sioux Falls BBB also participated

in an annual Trendigital Summit that focused on cutting edge

digital technology and marketing

BBB Senior LineMore than 5,000 Senior Line

magnets were distributed

throughout our service area

by direct mail, at facilities and

organizations serving senior

citizens, at our Secure Your ID

events, at trade shows and at speaking engagements. These

magnets are attached to cards with lists of scams that target

seniors and the kinds of advice they can receive from BBB when

they call our Senior Line.

File of LifeBBB distributed approximately 6,500

Files of Life in partnership with Omaha

and Sioux Falls Fire and Rescue

Departments. This voluntary program

assists senior citizens in Omaha and in

Sioux Falls in an emergency. It is designed

to promote BBB’s Senior Line and to

help local first responders quickly obtain

necessary medical information. Files of

Life were also given out at presentations

made to seniors by BBB staff and they are in demand by many

organizations and facilities that serve senior citizens.

Scam VideosBBB, with the financial support of

its Foundation has produced video

reenactments exposing two of the

most common scams targeting

seniors. Rather than just telling people

about a scam, BBB is showing how

the con is perpetrated. You can hear

and see a “real” scam going down and

the consequences for the victim. One scam portrayal is about

Foreign Lotteries. Over $100 million dollars are lost annually by

people who are made to believe they have won a sweepstakes

from another country. This video has had 5,329 views.

The other video produced is about the Grandparent Scam

that preys on the love of a grandparent for their grandchildren

and has proven to be an extremely lucrative con. Scammers

impersonate their victims and make up an urgent situation—“I’ve

been arrested,” “I’ve been mugged,” “I’m in the hospital”—and

target friends and family with urgent pleas for help and money.

This video has had 3,000 views.

The videos also provide alerts and tips to help viewers

recognize these scams and to hopefully prevent consumers

from becoming victimized. You can view the videos on BBB’s

Facebook page at facebook.com/bbbnesdksia or go to youtube.

com and search BBB of NE, SD, KS Plains and SW Iowa.

Business Ethics AllianceBased in Omaha, the Business Ethics Alliance (The Alliance) is

a one-of-a-kind community-based initiative. It is comprised of

small, medium and large organizations that are committed to

creating an ethical business climate that benefits the overall

community. The Alliance serves as an avenue for sharing best

practices and ethical reflection.

BBB is a partner of The Alliance along with Creighton

University Heider College of Business, Greater Omaha

Chamber of Commerce and the Omaha Business Community.

These entities work together to promote Omaha’s core

business values: Accountability, Community Responsibility,

Financial Vitality, Integrity and Moral Courage—to enhance

trust and to create an ethical marketplace. The Alliance

receives funding from BBB’s Foundation, and it is also

supported by BBB’s president who serves on its Board.

ReBUILD with TRUST ProgramAnother new project is our

“ReBUILD with TRUST”

booklet that was developed in

cooperation with the Voluntary

Organizations Active in

Disasters (VOADs) in Nebraska,

Iowa, South Dakota and Kansas.

It is a printed hand-out to help

survivors of disasters rebuild

their homes, businesses, towns

and lives without the fear of

being scammed. Now, disaster

survivors can begin a safer

recovery by using this booklet.

The American Red Cross

serving Omaha and Council

Bluffs selected this project for their Community Preparedness

Award. It was also been chosen for the “Citizen Corps Partner

Program of the Year” award by the Nebraska Emergency

Management Agency for making strides in reaching out to

other agencies, organizations and communities in order to

foster resiliency after a disaster.

Give Your Organization The Competitve Edge

BBB’s Foundation Serves Our Communities With

USE BBB’S ACCREDITED BUSINESS BENEFITS!

PROGRAMS, ACTION AND EDUCATION

A+★★★★★

TOLL FREE

877-637-3334

Start With Trust®

Keeping You Safe From Scams

BBB® SENIOR LINEBetter Business Bureau Foundation

When Disaster Strikes

Better Business Bureau®

bbbinc.org | 800-649-6814

BBB_NaturalDisasterBrochure_v2.indd 1 7/1/16 8:06 PM

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please call 402-898-8521 or 800-649-6814 #8521.

Accredited Business

Directory also have

other people in the

BBB Scam Tracker.

engine’s users.

(SES) Marketing is

for BBB Accredited

Business Categories

• Video about BBB

was clicked on over

550,000 times.

Additionally,

organizations that

were BBB Accredited

Businesses as of

contact 402-898-8538 or 800-649-6814 #8538.

The session was

BBB in Wichita had

educate consumers

how to secure their

sensitive data from

A+★★★★★

TOLL FREE

877-637-3334

Start With Trust®

bbbinc.org | 800-649-6814

Student’s Name——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

City —————————————————————————————————————————————

State ————————

Zip —————————————

) —————————————————

) —————————————————————

Student’s Email ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Name of School —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Address —————————————————————————————————

City ———————————————————

State —————————

Other ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Date ———————————————

please call 402-898-8521 or 800-649-6814 #8521.

Accredited Business

Directory also have

other people in the

BBB Scam Tracker.

engine’s users.

(SES) Marketing is

for BBB Accredited

Business Categories

• Video about BBB

was clicked on over

550,000 times.

Additionally,

organizations that

were BBB Accredited

Businesses as of

contact 402-898-8538 or 800-649-6814 #8538.

The session was

BBB in Wichita had

educate consumers

how to secure their

sensitive data from

A+★★★★★

TOLL FREE

877-637-3334

Start With Trust®

bbbinc.org | 800-649-6814

Student’s Name——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

City —————————————————————————————————————————————

State ————————

Zip —————————————

) —————————————————

) —————————————————————

Student’s Email ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Name of School —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Address —————————————————————————————————

City ———————————————————

State —————————

Other ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Date ———————————————

please call 402-898-8521 or 800-649-6814 #8521.

Accredited Business

Directory also have

other people in the

BBB Scam Tracker.

engine’s users.

(SES) Marketing is

for BBB Accredited

Business Categories

• Video about BBB

was clicked on over

550,000 times.

Additionally,

organizations that

were BBB Accredited

Businesses as of

contact 402-898-8538 or 800-649-6814 #8538.

The session was

BBB in Wichita had

educate consumers

how to secure their

sensitive data from

A+★★★★★

TOLL FREE

877-637-3334

Start With Trust®

bbbinc.org | 800-649-6814

Student’s Name——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

City —————————————————————————————————————————————

State ————————

Zip —————————————

) —————————————————

) —————————————————————

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Address —————————————————————————————————

City ———————————————————

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Date ———————————————

handheld device.

bbbnesdksia

BBBNE_SD_KS_IA

BBBNESDKSIA

BBBInc

2,584 in 2015

- Print = 793

- Web = 1,258

Yankton = 4

Sincerely,

mobile devices)

Business Profiles

31,430 eQuotes Sent

Requested

BBB’S MISSION:

0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0

2,768,341

2,940,851

3,114,541

3,947,4252016

Millions

Plumbers 54,834

System Monitor283

Banks 162

2016 Statistics

Annual Review 2016

#1#3#2

Google +

#1#3#2

Amazon

they see it.

Angie’s List

Accreditation Seal

Read & Submit

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Droid/Other

iPhone

Kindle

318,673

295,830

155,253

18,934

dverti

e Transp

Since 1912

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