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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
Better Business Bureau Serving Nebraska, South
Dakota, The Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa
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:
BBB
16%Google +
14%Amazon
9%
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
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
Better Business Bureau Serving Nebraska, South
Dakota, The Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa
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:
BBB
16%Google +
14%Amazon
9%
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
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
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
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 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
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
Better Business Bureau Serving Nebraska, South
Dakota, The Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa
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
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,
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 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
Instances of service
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)
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
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
2015
2014
2013
Millions
Top 10 inquired about industries
Internet marketing Service 184,239
Roofing Contractors 131,294
Construction & Remodeling Services 96,667
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
2016 Statistics
Serving Nebraska, South Dakota, The Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa
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
BBB
16%
#1#3#2
Google +
14%
#1#3#2
Amazon
9%
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?
BBB
87%
Angie’s List
54%
Yelp
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 the 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
*Survey results are from a 2014 Nielsen “Consumer Journey Survey” of U.S. consumers commissioned by the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB).
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.
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
iPad
Kindle
318,673
295,830
155,253
18,934
Bu
ild
Tru
st A
dverti
se Honestly Tell the Truth B
e Transp
are
nt
Ho
no
r Pro
mises | Be Responsive Safeguard Priv
acy
Em
bod
y In
teg
rity
BBB Standards For Trust
Since 1912
BBB YearInReview 2017_rev1.indd 1 1/25/17 8:18 PM
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 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
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
Better Business Bureau Serving Nebraska, South
Dakota, The Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa
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
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,
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 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
Instances of service
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)
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
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
2015
2014
2013
Millions
Top 10 inquired about industries
Internet marketing Service 184,239
Roofing Contractors 131,294
Construction & Remodeling Services 96,667
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
2016 Statistics
Serving Nebraska, South Dakota, The Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa
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
BBB
16%
#1#3#2
Google +
14%
#1#3#2
Amazon
9%
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?
BBB
87%
Angie’s List
54%
Yelp
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 the 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
*Survey results are from a 2014 Nielsen “Consumer Journey Survey” of U.S. consumers commissioned by the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB).
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.
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
iPad
Kindle
318,673
295,830
155,253
18,934
Bu
ild
Tru
st A
dverti
se Honestly Tell the Truth B
e Transp
are
nt
Ho
no
r Pro
mises | Be Responsive Safeguard Priv
acy
Em
bod
y In
teg
rity
BBB Standards For Trust
Since 1912
BBB YearInReview 2017_rev1.indd 1 1/25/17 8:18 PM
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
customers to submit reviews!
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
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.
BBB YearInReview 2017_rev1.indd 2 1/25/17 8:18 PM
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
customers to submit reviews!
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
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.
BBB YearInReview 2017_rev1.indd 2 1/25/17 8:18 PM
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
customers to submit reviews!
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
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.
BBB YearInReview 2017_rev1.indd 2 1/25/17 8:18 PM
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
customers to submit reviews!
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
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.
BBB YearInReview 2017_rev1.indd 2 1/25/17 8:18 PM
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 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
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
Better Business Bureau Serving Nebraska, South
Dakota, The Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa
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
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,
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 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
Instances of service
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)
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
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
2015
2014
2013
Millions
Top 10 inquired about industries
Internet marketing Service 184,239
Roofing Contractors 131,294
Construction & Remodeling Services 96,667
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
2016 Statistics
Serving Nebraska, South Dakota, The Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa
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
BBB
16%
#1#3#2
Google +
14%
#1#3#2
Amazon
9%
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?
BBB
87%
Angie’s List
54%
Yelp
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 the 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
*Survey results are from a 2014 Nielsen “Consumer Journey Survey” of U.S. consumers commissioned by the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB).
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.
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
iPad
Kindle
318,673
295,830
155,253
18,934
Bu
ild
Tru
st A
dverti
se Honestly Tell the Truth B
e Transp
are
nt
Ho
no
r Pro
mises | Be Responsive Safeguard Priv
acy
Em
bod
y In
teg
rity
BBB Standards For Trust
Since 1912
BBB YearInReview 2017_rev1.indd 1 1/25/17 8:18 PM