Haven’t We Learned Anything?

By on January 27th, 2012 - Comment

I am looking for some case studies or statistics that talk about increased response rates using PURLs. What type of response rates have you experienced when using PURLs? Or do you know of a source where I can find those stats? I have tried [industry vendors] and most other reputable sites without any luck. They…

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Hurray for the American Stamp!

By on January 26th, 2012 - Comment

On January 20, the U.S. Postal Service released five gorgeous stamps. The artistry of American stamps is nothing new, of course, but this collection reminded me of the potential value of decorative stamps in targeted direct mail campaigns. In searching for high resolution versions of the five stamps, I happened upon a wonderful website, BeyondthePerf.com….

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Understanding Different Applications for Personalization

By on January 24th, 2012 - Comment

“Personalization” continues to be a prominent topic in a number of different circles: marketing, publishing, eCommerce, social networking, and search. It’s no wonder why: personalization helps boost response rates and profitability in cross-media campaigns, helps marketers drive conversion on their Websites & landing pages, and much more. Wikipedia provides a very broad definition of personalization, which…

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Are You Providing Multiple Paths to Response?

By on January 24th, 2012 - Comment

It’s not often that one of those hokey affordable healthcare  commercials made me smile, but this one did .  .  .  just not for the reasons you might expect. The commercial showed the response of three different sets of consumers to the product — a recent college graduate, a mid-life couple, and a retired couple….

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The Latest Super-Cool Fold of the Week

By on January 23rd, 2012 - Comment

This week, we showcase the Iron Cross with Stitched-in Booklet submitted by Digital Ink in Alexandria, VA created for the American Bankers Association. The piece first opens in gate format to reveal two sides that fold out to create an iron cross format. The innovation doesn’t stop here. The interior boasts of a 12 page…

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Think Before You QR

By on January 20th, 2012 - 2 Comments

QR codes are great tools, but you have to think about what you are trying to accomplish before you take up space on your marketing collateral, product packaging, or other project with one. I recently purchased a nice little toy, the Snow Wovel, which is like a giant snowshovel on a wheel. Clear your driveway…

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Are You Ready for Mobile Payments?

By on January 19th, 2012 - 1 Comment

Anyone involved in multi-channel marketing is painfully aware of the crush of pressure to integrate social and mobile marketing into their clients’ marketing programs. Even the glow of QR codes on direct mail and marketing collateral is tainted by the issue of mobile. Now the issue of mobile payments is growing along with them. After…

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Are You Ready to Get on the Google+ Train?

By on January 18th, 2012 - Comment

When Google+ was first released in 2011, there certainly was a lot of buzz in the marketing world.  However, for many of us, the reaction was this: “Oh no; do we really have another social network to worry about?” Well, if you have been neglecting adding Google+ to your marketing activities up until now, you…

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Driving Out Waste for a Better 2012

By on January 17th, 2012 - 1 Comment

I was looking for some inspiration in this New Year; a way to look differently at the world of process improvement that I live in. I especially wanted to make it relate better to those that are often the most difficult to convince of the desirability, even “good-ness” of processes, those in the “front end”…

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Five Key Considerations for Offering Mobile Marketing Services

By on January 12th, 2012 - 2 Comments

As you’re likely well-aware, the mobile channel continues to experience significant levels of growth. According to the CTIA Wireless association, mobile subscription penetration in the United States exceeds 100% of the population; many people own and use more than one mobile device. Furthermore, CTIA estimates that that close to 30% of U.S. households are “wireless-only,”…

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How To Apply Macro Trends To Your Own Career or Company

By on January 11th, 2012 - Comment

I’ve been a fan of “trendwatching” for a long time. For example, check out their “12 Crucial Consumer Trends for 2012” here. Of most immediate significance to marketers would be the last paragraph of the landing page. This section offers readers – and marketers – four ways to apply consumer trends. In other words, here’s…

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Too Many 2D Codes?

By on January 10th, 2012 - 4 Comments

I just received a press release about Jeff Hayzlett’s new book, Running the Gauntlet, and was interested to see that, even with all the talk about QR codes lately, he chose to use SnapTags—not QR codes—to provide interactivity with his audience. In the book, released just this month, Hayzlett has added SnapTags to the front…

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Looking for a More Lucrative Revenue Stream?

By on January 10th, 2012 - Comment

A recent InfoTrends study entitled The Evolution of the Cross-Media and Marketing Services Provider reveals 58% of the 280 print service providers surveyed are offering cross-media services. There’s no doubt that the cross-media market is dynamic, growth-oriented, and a major contributor to the future of the printing industry. The marketing executive is the key decision-maker…

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Super-cool Fold of the Week

By on January 9th, 2012 - Comment

Welcome to the first FOW on The Digital Nirvana in 2012! I’m sure this year will bring plenty of innovative and fun new folds. This week’s Fab Kaleidoscope Cover Invitation comes from Schmitt’s Press in Baltimore and was created back in 2005 for a fundraising event for Maryland Institute College of Art. What makes this…

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6 Social Media Threats You Need to Know About

By on January 5th, 2012 - Comment

I recently read an article from Visible Technologies about six social media threats to be aware of when implementing a social media strategy. It struck me as interesting because social media is so buzz worthy now – it seems to be integral to any marketing plan as more businesses adopt a social media strategy. Social…

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