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VR Interactive Team

December 15th, 2011 | Posted in Blog, Uncategorized | No Comments
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Good news! The VR Interactive team is growing. If you’re a client or prospect, this means better customer service and more efficient turnaround time for projects or quotes. With the depth of talent now in house, VR Interactive will step up to even higher levels of technological innovation. It’s exciting for us and hopefully for you, as well!

The VR Interactive team has a unique blend of skills and talents in the web development field. Stop by our office upstairs in Buffalo Junction in Jackson, Wyoming to chat with us anytime.

The VR Interactive Dream Team:

Brian Modena

Co-Owner/Web Developer Brian Modena dreams in divs. As a CSS expert and programmer, he makes websites and applications and makes them look good! When he’s not styling the code at work, you can find him styling on his Santa Cruz mountain bike up on Teton Pass or skiing the famous JH powder.

Jed Frumkin

After graduating from Brown University in 1999, Jed founded VR Interactive and began developing for a number of clients in the action sports, real estate, and lodging industries. Since then the firm has grown, but you can still find this Co-Owner/Web Developer of VR Interactive standing (yes, standing) at his computer programming all day long. When he finally does leave his stand-up workstation, he’s usually playing bass guitar in the popular JH band The Deadlocks, biking, or skiing.

Charles Trout

Originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Lead Programmer Chuck Trout is known for finding creative and elegant solutions to programming and development problems. When he’s not solving the problems in the VR dev world, he likes to ride his motorcycles, hunt, ski, etc.

Galen Strasen

SEO Guru/Web Designer Galen Strasen makes beautiful websites and gets them to rank high in search engines. When she’s away from the code, keywords, and analysis, she likes to travel (she just returned from a backpacking stint in Southeast Asia), spend time with her pet bunny, rock climb, and paint her fingernails obnoxious colors.

Chris Hanson

Project and Account Manager juggles all the VR projects with complete composure. When he’s not keeping online projects in line, he spends his free time in the mountains fishing, skiing, and hunting. He just tagged and processed this year’s elk (yum!).

Myke Myers

Myke is our new .NET Developer with ten years of professional web development experience under his belt. He’s still getting used to Jackson’s fresh and clean mountain air since he just moved from the upper east side of Manhattan, but once his lungs get used to it, he’ll be shredding the slopes on his snowboard. He wanted to get back to mountain living after having lived in South Lake Tahoe before the “Big Apple.”

Jay Cogen

Originally from Tuxedo, NY, Jay’s a WordPress/PHP Developer and Web Designer who rode his motorcycle all the way from South Carolina to start working at VR Interactive in late October. Since the tank only holds three gallons, he had to stop every 120 miles across the US. A graduate of Northeastern University in Boston, he’s been traveling for the past 3.5 years living in the Caribbean, Colorado, New Zealand, and Montana. In his spare time he likes rock climbing, free diving, skiing, and motorcycling.

Christine Mychajliw

Content Management/E-Marketing Specialist Christine Mychajliw (say, “Me-Hi-Leave“) likes to ride bikes, ski, hike, and cook when she’s not wrangling content, blogging or communicating in 140 characters or less at VR Interactive.

Charlie Jonas

Junior Programmer Charlie is joining the development team as a recent computer science graduate and brings a fresh perspective on new technology with him.

VR Interactive Expert Partners and Agencies:

VR Interactive also works with a number of expert partners such as contractors and agencies further increasing what can be achieved. A few notable partners are Scott Wood, John Pansewicz, Massie’s Studio, and Champ Internet, among others. This means we have the expert resources on call if we ever need to respond more quickly to our customers’ needs.


VR Interactive Releases BuyBtn Affiliate Button Generator

December 15th, 2011 | Posted in Affiliate Marketing, Blog | 1 Comment
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BuyBtn will make linking buttons and searches easier for AvantLink affiliate marketers

VR Interactive announces the launch of Buy Button (BuyBtn), an easy and exciting new way for affiliate marketers to generate cutting-edge “Buy Now” direct link buttons and product searches with all of their AvantLink affiliate info embedded. This will revolutionize the traditional methods that web designers and bloggers have used to write code and create fancy yet functional buttons that properly reflects affiliate identification numbers and tracking codes.

The easy-to-use “wizard,” found in the AvantLink “Affiliate” section under “Tools,” steps users through a series of easy decisions that even for someone with no coding knowledge will find easy to quickly create a button or a product search. The clean interface stores the encoded buttons inside a list for each of their websites with a preview of how the button looks, the type of button (direct link or product search), the name of the button and the Get Code link. This allows bloggers and web designers to come back any time and click on the Get Code link and copy/paste it into their blog or website.

BuyBtn Screenshot

BuyBtn makes attractive yet functional "Buy Now" buttons

Affiliate marketing is a marketing practice in which a business rewards one or more affiliates for each visitor or customer brought about by the affiliate’s own marketing efforts. Many bloggers use affiliate marketing to earn income based on the content that they push.

BuyBtn will streamline the process that a blogger would use to “get rewarded” for writing about a company’s product. For example, an outdoor gear blogger could write a story about the best type of soft shell jackets for backcountry skiing. After identifying the product to promote, the blogger could log into their AvantLink Affiliate account and quickly generate a fancy, yet functional “Buy Now” button that would include their affiliate ID and tracking info and simply copy/paste the code into the back end of the blog post. The result, an attractive but code-compliant button that would take the reader to a merchant to buy the product and would allow for the blogger to get credit, where credit is due.

Likewise, the blogger could highlight a search of products that would fit their post. So, say the blogger is writing about the best type of softshell jacket that a backcountry skier would want, he/she could use BuyBtn to generate the code that would reveal the results of the search. So, it could show numerous jackets from one brand in one attractive window that would open from the Buy Now button. See an example of this in the Stoic Outerwear Gear Review on the blog, The Deal from CleanSnipe.

BuyBtn search

An example of BuyBtn search results for Stoic gear

“We’re excited to add Buy Button to AvantLink’s suite of industry-leading tools for affiliate marketers,” said VR Interactive co-owner and web developer Jed Frumkin. “It will substantially increase the efficiency and eloquence with which bloggers and designers implement ‘Buy Now’ buttons. It saves a couple of steps, really, and looks classier than a lot of homemade image buttons.”

Buttons, Buttons, Buttons

The current button options are grey (default), blue, magenta, red, orange and yellow. However, VR Interactive can customize the buttons to match the branding of an affiliate by e-mailing info@vrinteractive.net.

BuyBtn Screenshot

There are 6 current button color options, but they can be customized.

BuyBtn is easy to use, but here’s a Help Document PDF just in case you need it. Follow BuyBtn on Twitter for more juicy tidbits including user tips, button-in-use examples and upgrade information.

About Avantlink

AvantLink (www.avantlink.com) has created an efficient and productive platform for serious Affiliates & Web Retailers. They are unique because they only work with high-value merchants with substantial catalogs on a percentage of sale. This particular advertiser segment can best utilize the industry-leading Affiliate Tools AvantLink is known for.

About AvantLink App Market

Recently, AvantLink launched the groundbreaking and, frankly, freaking awesome AvantLink App Market. The concept is simple–they opened our network up to third party developers who have great ideas for affiliate marketing tools, allowed them to build those tools, and then make them available to all of the affiliates on our network. Think “iPhone App Store for affiliate marketing,” except all of the tools in its market are completely free to AvantLink members!

Check out the AvantLink App Market accessible via the “Tools” page of your Affiliate account. They feature specific applications now via a blog post series.


Job Offer: ASP .Net Web Developer

October 20th, 2011 | Posted in Blog | No Comments

Position : Web Developer

VR Interactive is a full service website design shop located in Jackson Hole, WY. This is a great opportunity to jump into a fast paced established and growing web design firm. A large portion of our client base is outdoor, travel, and action sports oriented clients.
Read more »


Google +1 for AdWords

July 8th, 2011 | Posted in Blog, seo, tips and tricks | No Comments

Will you be Google’s +1? Google hopes so. They recently introduced Google +1 for AdWords, which is similar to the Facebook Like button, but if someone “+1′s” your site or ad it ends up in the Google search results page (if they’re logged into their Google account).

Here’s how Google +1 for AdWords works:

An example from Google’s e-mail to AdWords users

Let’s say you own a hotel in Madrid. Brian had a lovely stay at your hotel last summer. When Brian starts researching accommodations for his next trip to Spain, he searches on Google while signed into his Google account, and sees your ad. He clicks the +1 button on the ad to recommend it to his contacts.

Googel AdWords +1 Example

When Brian’s friend Ann plans her trip to Spain, she signs in to her Google account, searches, and also sees your ad – plus the personalized annotation that Brian +1’d it. Knowing that Brian recommends your hotel helps Ann decide where to stay during her travels.

Googel AdWords +1 Example 2

Think of the +1 button as a way for fans of your business to recommend what you offer, for all their friends and contacts to see. By helping searchers see more personal, relevant ads, we believe you’ll see more qualified traffic. You can also add the +1 button to your site to give your customers the opportunity to +1 your site after visiting it.

Are you engaged?

Google thinks that you’ll definitely use this “word of click” advertising. In their introductory video (below), Google says it saves you time since you can +1 something that you wouldn’t necessarily send an e-mail to a friend or write a post about and the results will show up right when it’s most useful — on Google search (as long as their logged in). According to the Google AdWords Innovations Page, “As results become more personal and relevant, we believe that users are not only more likely to click, but they’re more likely to act as well. +1 annotations bring you pre-qualified users, who just received recommendations from their friends and are actively looking for your content. This powerful combination may result in more conversion and deeper engagement with your site overall.”

What else do I need to know?

The +1 button shows up for signed-in users of Google.com using a modern browser. Since it’s tied to your Google account, you can’t click the button numerous times to “ballot-stuff” an ad because it will only allow you to click it once (we tried it, and it changed the number briefly then adjusted it).

According to the HubSpot Blog, it can impact the score of your ads and increase your click-through rate, “Since your ads gain more credibility the more they are +1’ed, it increases the likely hood of other users enaging with your ads. This extra level of engagement can increase your ad’s CTR (click through rate). Although +1’s are not part of the quality score of your ads, the historical CTR of your ads is. So, +1’s can most certainly impact the quality score of your ads.”

The ROI Revolution Blog suggests using canonicalization in your HTML header since it can help you retain your +1 data across pages. Learn more about this at the Google Webmaster Central Help Center.

Whether you will you click the +1 button is up to you, but the impact on your site is more favorable than not, so get some more info and add your button!

More info:


Job Offer: Experienced WordPress Developer

May 13th, 2011 | Posted in Blog, Uncategorized | No Comments

Effective Dates: Immediately

VR Interactive is a full service web site design shop located in Jackson Hole, WY. This is a great opportunity to jump into a fast paced established and growing web design firm. A large portion of our client base is outdoor, travel and action sports oriented clients.

The Ideal Candidate:

We are looking for a WordPress developer who is experienced in building and supporting custom WordPress themes and plugins. The ideal candidate should display attention to detail, show creativity in solving problems, and shall demonstrate a thorough understanding of php, mySql and website design. The ideal candidate may also have knowledge of ASP.Net. This position is in-house only.

Qualifications Required:

• PHP

• mySQL

• jQuery

• HTML

• CSS

• Design

Position Responsibilities:

• This position requires the ability to work well in a team setting, while being detail-oriented and self-motivated.

• Foster a collaborative working environment, accept and encourage new ideas from the team for both internal and external projects.

• Special consideration will be given to any candidate with experience in Object Oriented Programming.

For more information or to apply, please send resume, cover letter and include links to top 3 sites you have built in WordPress and top 3 plugins you have built to Natalie@vrineractive.net.

HTML/CSS/PHP Web Design Internship

May 13th, 2011 | Posted in Blog, Job Posting | No Comments

Spend your summer vacation in beautiful Jackson Hole!

Effective Dates: Early June – Late August

*Dates flexible based on availability.

VR Interactive is a full service web site design shop located in Jackson Hole, WY. This is a great opportunity to jump into a fast paced established and growing web design firm. A large portion of our client base is outdoor, travel, and action sports oriented clients.

The Ideal Candidate:

We are looking for someone with a good knowledge of web development. The ideal candidate should display attention to detail, be a self-starter, show creativity in solving problems, and shall demonstrate a basic understanding of website design and programming. The ideal candidate should also have CMS experience and be familiar with working in the WordPress platform.

 The Ideal Candidate will be competent in all of the following topics:

• HTML

• CSS

• JQuery

• Photo Shop

• PHP

Position Responsibilities:

• This position requires the ability to work well in a team setting, while being detail-oriented and self-motivated.

• Foster a collaborative working environment, accept and encourage new ideas from the team for both internal and external projects.

• New media initiatives.

• Will assist in all aspects of the web development process.

 *Position responsibilities may change to fit the specific needs of the chosen candidate based on skill set.

Qualifications Required:

• Knowledge of Office applications (Word, Excel, Access)

• Knowledge of HTML/CSS

• General degree of understanding of web programming

For more information or to apply, please send resume and cover letter to Natalie@vrineractive.net.

jQuery Sniplet to make a website phone number dial on mobile browser.

May 12th, 2011 | Posted in Code, jQuery, tips and tricks | No Comments

The Problem

The other day I was looking for a way to make a websites phone number dial the phone number when viewing the site in a mobile browser.

Solution 1 :

The Easy and not fully supported version is to add 

<a href="tel:555555555">555-555-5555</a>

to your telephone number. The tel: code is supported by most mobile browsers and works great. However when not in a mobile browser you will get this error -

Alert – Browser does not know how to open this address, because the protocol (tel) isn’t associated with any program.

The Solution

I decided to write a quick little jQuery script that will check to see if the view-port is less then 500px wide – if so it wraps any item with the class mobile_tel in the appropriate link.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <script src="http://code.jquery.com/jquery-latest.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
  <p>Hello</p>
  <p class="mobile_tel">Click Here with your Mobile to dial 555-555-5555</p>
  <p>World</p>
<script>
if (screen.width <= 500) {
	$('.mobile_tel').each(function() {
	    $(this).wrap("<a href='tel:5555555555'/>");
	});
}
</script>
</body>
</html>

Most mobile browsers will try and “sniff” out phone number and make them link automatically. This makes sure they can find the phone number


Job Offfer : ASP .Net Web Developer

March 11th, 2011 | Posted in Blog | No Comments

Position : Web Developer

VR Interactive is a full service web site design shop located in Jackson Hole, WY. This is a great opportunity to jump into a fast paced established and growing web design firm. A large portion of our client base is outdoor, travel, and action sports oriented clients.
Read more »


“AvantLink Related Products” Plugin for WordPress

October 6th, 2010 | Posted in Plug-in | No Comments
Tags: ,

VRI is proud to announce the launch of our “Avantlink Related Products” plug-in for WordPress. This plugin enables WordPress users to leverage the Avantlink API right on their blog. The plugin allows bloggers to input a series of keywords—either specific to a single post, or relevant to the blog as a whole—and creates a widget of related product links from all existing affiliate relationships. Avantlink Related Products also allows bloggers to identify negative keywords (to block potentially irrelevant products from appearing), as well as determine the number of products they would like to display. Here is an example of a blog running the plugin (scroll to the bottom of the post).

Download “Avantlink Related Products” Plug-in Now

Please leave any suggestions for improvement as a comment to this post. Thanks.

Specify keywords for a particular blog entry


Or display products related to entire site


CleanSnipe iPhone App Launch

September 10th, 2010 | Posted in Blog | No Comments

For the past couple of months, the VR Interactive team has been working away on an iPhone app for our popular deal-tracking website, CleanSnipe.com. When officially released the app plans to make shopping for discounted outdoor gear simpler than ever.

iPhone app launch

Skiing Mag—the go-to resource for reliable reviews on everything from ski equipment to mountain resorts—got wind of CleanSnipe’s venture into the app world, and sat down with founders Brian Modena and Jed Frumkin to discuss the advantages of having all gear discounts on the web in one easy-to-navigate interface, and how the CleanSnipe iPhone app might change the way we shop (and successfully land) great deals on the best gear.

Read full article here >>

Steep and cheap iPhone app, from cleansnipe.com


New Position : Web Developer

August 9th, 2010 | Posted in Blog | No Comments

Position : Web Developer

VR Interactive is a full service web site design shop located in Jackson Hole, WY. This is a great opportunity to jump into a fast paced established and growing web design firm. A large portion of our client base is outdoor, travel, and action sports oriented clients.
Read more »


PCI Compliance: Protecting Your Business

June 7th, 2010 | Posted in Blog | No Comments

The credit card has long been the payment method of choice due to its convenience, its portability and its universality. However, the prevalence of plastic has also created a window of access to cardholders’ data, which has resulted in a spike of identity theft and fraud offenses over recent decades. Many merchants remain unaware of the fact that the magnetic strip on the back of every credit and debit card contains such information as the cardholder’s name, billing address, and all other account numbers, expirations dates and security codes necessary to authorize purchases, and all of this information is stored in the merchant’s database, which without the proper security safeguards can easily fall into the hands of hackers. Therefore, it is necessary that merchants remain aware of the necessary security protocol needed to protect their customers’ confidential information.

In the fall of 2006, major credit card companies joined forces in hopes of configuring a streamlined set of security standards that, when utilized by merchants, would seal off any remaining access to unauthorized data. The outcome is the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard), a set of regulations intended to be followed by any and every merchant responsible for the processing, storing and/or exchanging of credit card data. When complied with, the Data Security Standard ensures the protection of all customer information throughout the transaction process and following the completed transaction.

VR Interactive is recommending that all of our clients review their credit card systems and consider the value of becoming PCI compliant. Read on to learn about the benefits of implementing this program with your own company.

Why should my business become PCI Compliant?

These data security standards were devised to help merchants, no matter their size or volume of credit card transactions, avoid credit card fraud through improved regulation of information and its vulnerability to threat. Compliance with the PCI standard ensures that companies are yielding the strictest information security available for their customers’ protection. Following these guidelines guarantees that the merchant will avoid the high costs associated with credit card fraud and data violation, and will preserve the right to process credit card payments. Any merchant that chooses not to follow these regulations runs the high risk of accumulating fines associated with security breach and of losing the privilege to process credit card payments.

What are the PCI Regulations?

The PCI has specified twelve requirements necessary for complete compliance, they are organized into six categories:

Build and Maintain a Secure Network
1. Install and maintain a firewall configuration to protect cardholder data
2. Do not use vendor-supplied defaults for system passwords and other security parameters
Protect Cardholder Data
3. Protect stored cardholder data
4. Encrypt transmission of cardholder data across open, public networks
Maintain a Vulnerability Management Program
5. Use and regularly update anti-virus software on all systems commonly affected by malware
6. Develop and maintain secure systems and applications
Implementing Strong Access Control Measures
7. Restrict access to cardholder data by business need-to-know
8. Assign a unique ID to each person with computer access
9. Restrict physical access to cardholder data
Regularly Monitor and Test Networks
10. Track and monitor all access to network resources and cardholder data
11. Regularly test security systems and processes
Maintain and Information Security Policy
12. Maintain a policy that addresses information security

What kind of expenses are associated with PCI Compliancy?

A recent study broke down the costs of becoming PCI compliant into three major categories: Upgrading Infrastructure, Verifying Compliance and Sustaining Compliance. The first cost relies heavily on the merchant’s existing infrastructure. While larger companies often already possess much of the necessary software, smaller merchants may find themselves lacking when deciding to become compliant. Therefore the process of purchasing the needed software and employing an IT professional to install and maintain these overtime, can be costly. The other expenses, which may not seem evident from the get-go, are those that arise not only from the security assessments required by the PCI Security Standards Council, but also from the maintenance of the standards, which are a key step to guaranteeing PCI Compliance. It is important to note that although the cost of becoming PCI compliant may appear rather high, the cost of non-compliance can easily be twenty times that of complying. For further detail on the costs associated with becoming PCI Compliance, be sure to read PCI Compliance Analysis: A Justified Expense by Solidcore Systems

How important is it that small merchants comply?

According to the PCI Security Standard Council, it is necessary that every merchant, no matter its size, comply with the PCI standard. Oftentimes it is the smaller merchants who fall prey to information hacking. According to Visa USA Inc, as of 2005, over 80% of the cases of illegal access to credit card information have been connected to smaller companies who remain unaware of the importance of and regulations required to truly secure credit card information. In spite of these facts, another Visa survey, which interviewed 600 merchants with less than 250 employees discovered that “52% of them were storing sensitive customer information”. Therefore it is crucial that all merchants comply with these standards in order to avoid not only the extreme costs associated with facilitating unauthorized access to data, but the ultimate possibility of being put out of business.

Want to learn more?





Android phones outsold the iPhone in U.S. last quarter

May 12th, 2010 | Posted in Blog | No Comments

With the ever expanding Android phone market the demand for better Android app’s is soon to follow. The 800lbs Gorilla (iPhone) may have something to worry about.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ytech_gadg/20100510/tc_ytech_gadg/ytech_gadg_tc1977

We are well underway in development of both Android and iPhone applications, and hope to launch our first App in the next few weeks.


VR Interactive Partners with POW (Protect Our Winters)

March 4th, 2010 | Posted in Blog | No Comments

VR Interactive Media is thrilled to announce a flagship partnership with Protect Our Winters (POW). As our community, livelihood, clientbase and planet is directly impacted by global climate change we find that it is our responsibility to take action and participate. POW gives us a strong resource to protect our land and save our winters.

POW, created by Jeremy Jones in 2007, is a community of people committed to reversing the detrimental effects of global warming and climate change. This community consists of snowboarders, skiers, resorts, and corporations who put forth grassroots initiatives and widespread education efforts to protect our planet and save our snow.

If you love to ski, snowboard, or make snowmen, and you want to be able to do so for the next 30 years, please check out Protect Our Winters, or better yet become a partner, at www.protectourwinters.org.

Currently, POW is taking political action on a groundbreaking climate change bill before congress. Learn more at www.60daysto.org.


Job Offer : Web Developer

February 2nd, 2010 | Posted in Blog | No Comments

Position : Web Developer

VR Interactive is a full service web site design shop located in Jackson Hole, WY. This is a great opportunity to jump into a fast paced established and growing web design firm. A large portion of our client base is outdoor, travel, and action sports oriented clients.
Read more »


Swift.Silent.Deep. social media project

January 29th, 2010 | Posted in Blog | No Comments

Project overview

JHAF-Patchhi-resIn the fall of 2009 VR Interactive was hired to execute a social media marketing campaign for the independent documentary ski film Swift.Silent.Deep. Producers Jon “JK” Klaczkiewicz and Troy Beauchamp wanted to get the word out to the ski community about their new, critically acclaimed movie that tells the story of a group of renegade skiers from Jackson Hole. VR Interactive tackled the task and, in the process, designed an effective social media marketing strategy that works for almost all businesses. Below is a summary of the work we did to ensure the public heard about the film, talked about the film, liked the film and then, of course, bought the film. Read more »


VR Interactive Media Enters a New Era

November 5th, 2009 | Posted in Blog | No Comments

JACKSON, WY – Now ten years in the web design game, VR Interactive positions itself to move into the next decade by moving into a new home. These days, you can find us at 1135 Maple Way on the second floor of the Buffalo Junction building in Jackson, WY. If you’re local, that means we’re above Pica’s Taqueria in the former Alpinist Magazine office. If you’re really really local, you may remember this office was once the Cloudveil Headquarters. There’s a rich history in this building of mountain town media that we plan to continue in good style. We continue to ascend.

Read more »