Hello everyone, dear readers of the AFlife.ru blog! Social networks are not only a place for communication, but also a good platform for business promotion. And not only the one that takes place in the online space, but also the most ordinary one. Now even a small clothing department in a supermarket and a butcher shop have their own VKontakte or Instagram pages. Just to attract customers, creating a group on a social network and posting photos of products in it will not be enough; competent promotion is also required. In our article we will tell you what SMM is in simple words, what it gives to a business, what tools are used in it, and whether you can really make money by running groups on social networks.
What is the CVC code on the card?
The English abbreviation CVC stands for Card Verification Code - the security code of a bank card. These are three (rarely four - for example, American Express) numbers. The code is used for additional identification of the owner when purchasing online.
There are many varieties of CVC code with the same effect:
- CVV2 code – stands for Card Verification Value, in Russian – “Card Verification Value”. Used for cards of the international payment system Visa.
- CVC2 code – used for cards of the international payment system MasterCard.
- CID code - Card Identification - used for American Express cards.
- CVP2 code – Card Verification Parameter (“card security parameter”) or MirAccept – for cards of the national payment system “Mir”.
Similar technical solutions are used by all other payment systems in the world (Maestro cards stand out, where there is no verification code, but these cards are almost never used for online payments). The CVC code is considered the cardholder's personal information and is protected accordingly. The Bank does not have the right to transfer information about customer card codes to third parties.
The CVC/CVV code is placed on the back of the card for a reason. Many stores have CCTV cameras above the cash register. The code placed on the reverse side does not get into the sights of the lenses, nor into the eyes of the seller.
The ID on the back of the card is considered additional protection, since without entering it it is impossible to make an online payment. At the same time, this is an increased risk factor, since the code is printed on the card itself, and if the “plastic” falls into the hands of an attacker, he will have access to all the information necessary to make the payment. Therefore, for the safety of your funds, never give your card to strangers. And if you transfer, then try to make sure that the person is visible and you can see what he is doing with your card.
Example:
In some cafes and restaurants, a payment terminal is only available at the checkout. Some visitors are too lazy to get up from their table to pay the bill. Therefore, they pass the card to the waiter, who makes the payment for the client. This is a risk factor, since in your absence the waiter or cashier can rewrite your card details and then use them for personal gain. Don't let this happen.
Creating content for social networks
There is a “golden content formula”: 40% of materials on a social network should be of an entertaining and communication nature, 30% – branding and reputational, 25% – educational and expert, and only 5% – advertising content.
Entertainment content
engages and retains the audience. It can revitalize the community and attract new subscribers. In addition, if a community has its own distinct style of texts and design, then it will be easier to “recognize” such posts in the feed. Entertainment and communication content includes memes, games, comics, quotes, short videos, collections (videos, books, services, places, etc.), ratings, news, polls, chats, competitions and sweepstakes.
Educational content
will help you create online status as an expert in your field and solve problems or problems for users. These can be instructions, research, guides, manuals, advice, reviews, interviews, answers to questions from subscribers, collections of blog articles, united by any topic.
As a rule, such content is often even more viral
than, for example, entertaining. A selection of useful tips, ideas, recipes, and life hacks motivate readers to like and repost.
Reputational content
builds trust in your company, works with subscribers’ doubts (for example, about product quality), and increases loyalty. You can publish cases, customer reviews, company news, reports on achievements, photos and news from the “internal kitchen” (for example, talk about the production itself), news about products and their updates. Content created by employees themselves also works well.
Advertising Content
is aimed at sales, but it may also be of interest to users. Publish news about upcoming promotions and special offers, posts about product selection, product selections, information about possible payment and delivery options.
Don't forget about the tone of voice (voice of delirium). The style of communication of a brand company on social networks should not differ much, even if 20 SMM department specialists are simultaneously working on your pages. For example, the tone of voice of “Burger King” can be immediately recognized:
How does the CVC code work?
The three-digit code is used for purchases in online stores, online payments and card-to-card transfers via C2C and P2P systems. The algorithm for using it is as follows:
- We go to the website of the online store or organization whose services we are going to pay for.
- We find the desired product or service, select/put it in the cart, enter all the necessary contact information. Confirm your choice. Select the payment type - card.
- In the order payment window that opens, enter the card details: its number, expiration date, first and last name of the owner (the same as on the card) and CVC code. Without it, payment cannot be made.
- The system generates a code that is sent to the cell phone number linked to the card. You enter it in the appropriate window, and the payment is considered complete.
Please note that payment systems do not store data on CVC codes of transaction participants - this information is used one-time for a specific payment and is not saved.
Setting goals
Each company determines the goals of SMM promotion independently depending on its business objectives. It can be:
- increased brand awareness (focus on the number of subscribers and reach);
- creating a community around the brand and increasing engagement (analysis of audience reaction and interaction with content);
- collecting leads and increasing sales (transitions to the website, orders with promotional codes are taken into account);
- analysis of your target audience (surveys, analysis of mentions, reactions to content, etc.).
There may be several tasks. And to solve each of them, you need to carefully consider the tactics of maintaining pages, that is, the SMM strategy.
Where is the CVV code on the map?
Cards from different banks have different designs, but the principle of placing the verification code is common. The three-digit number is located on the back of the card, under the magnetic stripe, next to the field in which the cardholder signs when receiving it.
There are variations in placement: some bank cards have not only a CVV code on the back side, but also the last 4 digits of the card number. It is impossible to confuse them, because the numbers are separated by a space, and the verification code is three-digit and is always on the right.
A separate topic is American Express cards. They also have a four-digit CVC code, and it is located on the front side.
It is worth noting that cards of this payment system are not common in Russia and are rare. The main payment systems in the Russian Federation are Visa, Mastercard and the domestic MIR.
Review analysis
There are no difficulties with using the codes. It’s easy to figure out where the CVC2 and CVV2 codes are located. On plastic issued in the Russian Federation (including Sberbank), just look at the back, that’s where the required numbers are located.
The main problem is the attempt of scammers to take over confidential information; new types of deception of gullible citizens are constantly appearing. If cards are handled correctly during remote transactions initiated independently, there are no negative consequences.
How to find out the CVC code for a virtual card
A virtual card is essentially a set of data about the card - its number, expiration date, etc., most often without a real plastic carrier. Such payment instruments are issued by many banks and other organizations - Yandex.Money, MTS and others (Visa and MasterCard payment systems are used). They are specifically designed for payments via the Internet.
The CVC code of the virtual card is sent to the client via SMS after it is issued. Or by letter to your online banking account. If for some reason you have lost the code (deleted an SMS, forgotten the password to your personal account), to recover it you will have to go to the bank or perform a complex procedure for remote identity verification.
How to keep your CVC code secure
There are several rules that must be followed to ensure that your verification code does not end up in the hands of criminals.
Rule 1. Do not tell anyone the numbers of the verification code.
No matter how warm your relationship with friends and acquaintances may be, there is no point in showing them the cardholder’s personal information. People change, various accidents happen, information may become known to outsiders. Why take the risk? Please note: the bank does not have the right to ask you for information about CVC, so if they call you supposedly from a credit institution and ask you to tell them the code on the back of the card, they are scammers.
Rule 2. Use the CVC code on the Internet only when paying for purchases
There is no need to make it a nickname on forums or write on your personal page on a social network. It is highly not recommended to enter the code on various gaming and pseudo-lottery sites, when filling out all kinds of questionnaires from “bank representatives” - information can be stolen. And in general, it is better to avoid dubious resources that collect personal data of payers. Such sites include newly existing resources, one-pagers, empty pages with one or two links leading directly to the payment form.
If you make purchases on the Internet often and in different places, it is advisable to create a separate virtual card and transfer to it each time exactly as much money as is needed for one purchase. It's not very convenient, but it's reliable.
Life story “I was sitting and working on my tablet, and a letter came via email from a familiar address with a link - “Take the test and get a cash prize.” I went to the site using the link, passed the test, and a page opened with an image of a bank card, in the fields of which I had to enter my card details in order for money to be transferred to it. I also thought: why do they need a code on the back of the card? But he entered it, a window opened: “Now you will receive a confirmation code, enter it into this window.” The code came from the bank number, I entered it. And immediately an SMS: “Purchase in a store for such and such an amount..,” - almost all the money was gone. I took a closer look - and the address from which the letter with the link came is only similar to the real one, but differs by one letter.”
Rule 3. CVC code of virtual cards is not recommended to be written down or saved in files
Here it’s the same as with conversations: one wrote it down, the other saw it, he was tempted, and off we go. It's better not to take risks. We recommend storing such data in special, protected password programs, for example, KeePass or LastPass.
Rule 4. Never give a CVC code if you should be paid
Oddly enough, scammers use this simple method often and successfully. “I’ll give you an advance payment now, tell me your card details,” and people, joyfully expecting money, lay out all the information about the owner, the expiration date, and the verification code. Remember: if they pay you, you must only say the card number (on its front side), or even better, the phone number to which the card is linked.
Rule 5. Use Mobile Banking to control card payments.
When using Mobile Banking, not a single payment from your card can be made without entering the digital code that is sent to you via SMS. Accordingly, even if the card ends up in the wrong hands, you will be able to prevent an unauthorized purchase.
Rule 6. Don't give your card to anyone.
It often happens: you are celebrating a holiday with friends, the youngest one has to run to the store, the wealthiest one gives him his card. And then people are surprised what purchases someone made with their card on Ali.
Basic SMM tools
Content marketing.
The main reason why users subscribe to a company page is content. This includes not only text, but also videos, images, stories, podcasts and other possible forms of presenting information.
Carrying out promotions.
These could be flash mobs, webinars and live broadcasts, sweepstakes, promotional codes for subscribers and special discounts. The main thing is to maintain transparency of the conditions, not to miss deadlines (for example, when announcing the winners of a competition) and to be technically prepared (if this means using promotional codes on the site or conducting a live broadcast).
Working with opinion leaders.
Publishing guest posts, joint videos, direct advertising, special promotional codes with discounts that bloggers provide to their subscribers, initiating a controlled “leak” of information about new products into the blogosphere, and so on.
Personal branding
– promotion through the personal brand of the manager (or personal brands of employees), getting to know the team, projects, success stories.
Using promotional characters
(for example, SberCat or Red and Yellow M&M's).
Communication with customers.
This can include prompt responses to user questions and comments, conducting surveys, and engaging posts that help organize a discussion.
Advertising mailings.
Some social networks now have the ability to create newsletters. For example, on VKontakte you can offer users to subscribe to news. This way you can inform the interested audience about discounts, promotions, and assortment updates. Subscribers of such mailings can be offered special promotional codes or other bonuses.
Advertising in groups/pages of thematic communities.
Large communities often offer advertising services. For a fee, they repost your post or create an advertising post about your group themselves. This method is more suitable for completely “fresh” groups and pages, as well as if you are promoting a Telegram channel, since there are simply no alternative options for launching advertising there yet.
Targeted advertising.
Today, this is one of the most effective promotion options. Thanks to the settings and selection of the target audience, you can show your ads only to those people who could potentially be interested in your products, services, or the social network page itself. This way you can avoid paying for untargeted impressions and attract customers more effectively.
We described how to launch targeted advertising on Facebook, Instagram, VKontakte and MyTarget in our detailed instructions.
