
Fail
Oh the irony. Ouch.
Filed under: Direct Email, Email, Fun, marketing , Direct Mail, Fail
December 11, 2008 • 6:53 pm 0

Fail
Oh the irony. Ouch.
Filed under: Direct Email, Email, Fun, marketing , Direct Mail, Fail
April 9, 2008 • 1:03 pm 0
For all the email marketers out there – earning a living in appalling rendering conditions – This is for you.
Hat tip to the author Mathew Patterson.
You may also want to check out, or join the Email Standards Project.
Filed under: Design, Direct Email, Email, Fun, Google, Media, Yahoo!, digital, marketing, technology , CSS, Email, email marketing, gmail, Google, html, marketing, semantic, standards, web design, Yahoo! Mail
April 2, 2008 • 4:02 pm 0
I had an interesting email exchange with Seth Godin a few days ago – in response to this post.
During this brief exchange Seth wrote, “I hate email.”
It turns out one of my email replies went straight into his spam folder. And he felt awful a couple of days later, because having retrieved the item and having read my message, he knew he would have replied sooner – given the chance.
But Seth ‘hates email.’
Of course, in reality he might not. Seth hates ‘Spam’ and the effect it has had on his email use. And his reputation. So much so, that it might have made him say (and think) the wrong thing.
For B2b brands there is a lesson here. Someone somewhere might well be ‘hating’ your product or service due to something that you have no control of. The best B2b marketers will try their darn’dest to find the unrelated ‘Spam’ that messes or cloggs up their brand – and look to fix it.
As for email? It turns out the real Killer App (for productivity and collaboration) is actually Spam. What a shame. I am sure innovation pays a price.
Filed under: Direct Email, Direct Mail, Email, Ideas and Riffs, ideas, marketing, technology , BBC, collaboration, Email, innovation, Killer App, Productivity, seth godin, Spam
March 24, 2008 • 3:40 pm 1
In an era of ‘On Demand’ service and the continued blurring between ‘work’ and ‘play’, is it wrong to put up an Out of Office notice on your email these days?
I am beginning to think most people display far too old fashioned notices – and hide behind them.
I am out of the office from x – x with limited access to email. I will return your email on my return.
I guess it is up to each individual, but please. No access to email? An increasingly unlikely story.
If you are that way inclined, say it as it is;
I am on vacation and taking a break from work and emails. If appropriate I will return your email on my return. If your matter is urgent contact x on x who can help you in x business hours.
For the rest of us how about:
I am on vacation. I will be accessing my emails from time to time but don’t expect an instant reply this time. If your matter is urgent contact me on Mob: xyz.
I really think it is time to cut out the crappy Out of Office email shenanigans. What’s the worst one you have received?
Filed under: Customer service, Direct Email, Email, Fun, Ideas and Riffs, ideas, marketing , Email, On Demand, Out of Office, service
December 4, 2007 • 8:35 am 2
I am sure everyone has received one of these before:
This is an “outgoing only” email address. If you ‘reply’ to this message by simply selecting the reply button, we will not receive your additional comments.
Sounds like a wasted opportunity to start a conversation if you ask me.
Seth Godin reminds us that if you think interacting with customers is expensive, driving costs down is a good thing, and getting people to go away is beneficial – you’re probably toast.
Filed under: CRM, Customer service, Direct Email, Email, Ideas and Riffs, ideas, marketing , CRM, Customer Relations, Email, Ongoing only email, seth godin
August 10, 2007 • 9:53 am 1
See how you compare with the UK’s IT and Business Decision makers in these Silicon.com surveys.
Do you think a business blog can be a good way for companies to communicate with their customers?
View Results
What is the biggest expenses claim you’ve ever made?
View Results
When you are on holiday, how often do you check your work email?
View Results
How long have you been with your current mobile phone provider?
View Results
How do you interact most often with your boss?
View Results
How many emails on average do you get in your inbox per day?
View Results
How would you describe your normal stress level at work?
View Results
Who is in charge of IT risk management within your organisation?
View Results
Would you be happy to go through biometric security checks in airports?
View Results
Have you ever visited a virtual world?
View Results
How much time in the office do you spend using social networking sites each week?
View Results
By 2015, your working week will be…
View Results
How often do you work from home?
View Results
Are you worried about potential health risks associated with using wi-fi?
View Results
Filed under: Blog, Blogging, Business, Computer, Computing, Direct Email, Email, IT, Measurement, Mobile, Research, Social Media, Virtual Worlds, WIFI, blogs, marketing, wi-fi
August 8, 2007 • 6:00 pm 0
By popular request, you can now subscribe to this blog by email. Powered by Feedburner, an email simply shows up in your inbox once a day. It is the same low, low price as the regular blog, but a bit more convenient for the easily forgetful, or the very busy marketing or technology executive.
Filed under: 2.0, Advertising, B2B, Branding, Business, Direct Email, Email, Planning, Strategy, ideas, marketing
August 1, 2007 • 5:48 pm 0
“Damn Spam”, The losing war on junk e-mail, by Michael Spector of The New Yorker
Filed under: Data, Direct Email, Direct Mail, Email, Spam, marketing
July 22, 2007 • 9:37 pm 0
A while ago, brands were communicated simply by ‘campaigns’. Blast a message out a gazillion times and the message would hopefully ’stick’, and hey presto…..more sales. A consistent monologue was established. In this era, messages and media were key. Communication was the order of the day. But times change.
A short time ago, brands were communicated via integrated marketing ‘programmes’. Consumers were treated equally across different channels. Messages and creative were executed consistently – and a consistent ‘dialogue’ was established. Channels, dialogue and CRM were key. Building a relationship was the order of the day. But times change.
Today, long lasting ‘experiences’ are required for brands to differentiate and lead. And that means that the bar has been raised yet again. Today’s focus therefore? ‘Experience’ is the order of the day.
‘Experience’ is a process of interaction between consumers and a brand that creates new brand meaning.
Experience takes saying and listening and adds a third activity: ‘making things happen‘.
Is you B2B High-Tech Marketing making things happen?
Filed under: 2.0, Advertising, Affiliate Marketing, B2B, Blog, Blogging, Branding, Buzz, CRM, Customer service, Direct Email, Direct Mail, Experiential, Ideas and Riffs, Measurement, Planning, Strategy, Viral, blogs, ideas, marketing, word of mouth
July 6, 2007 • 8:35 am 1
I got an invite to a webinar today. I get a lot of these. Tech vendors LOVE their webinars.
I’ve read the title of the invite twice. Twice. Slooooooowly.
“TWO WORLDS COLLIDE: Combining PPM and ALM, from the PMO Perspective” *
Now I’ve worked in technology marketing all my working life. I get technology.
But the use of two, three, four letter acronyms is getting beyond a joke. Either that or I am getting too old and need to be put out to pasture.
P.S. The invite went into the deleted items before I could be bothered to read the title a third time. And I am usually a patient lad.
* Hint. Drop the TLAs. Prospective clients might actually be interested in what you do – if they can get through your complex messaging and hyperbole.
Filed under: Advertising, B2B, Computing, Direct Email, Direct Mail, Events, IT, Ideas and Riffs, Strategy, copywriting, ideas, marketing
June 29, 2007 • 3:52 pm 0
B2B Marketing, in partnership with Mardev, will be hosting its 6th event, as part of the B2B Marketing Great Debate series on September the 18th - “Has Digital media usurped traditional B2B channels.”
Be part of the new media debate and get inspired insight into current thinking behind the new integrated mix; and then network with your peers, both client side and agency with champagne and canapés.
What’s to debate?
Direct mail has long been the mainstay of B2B communications, but is the combination of a plethora of digital media channels and recent upheavals in the postal system sounding the death knell for this medium?
Is post being marginalised by cheaper, quicker and more versatile forms of online marketing?
Or is mail about to enter a new golden age where it finds new forms of relevance for B2B marketers?
The agenda:
16.00 Registration – Tea & coffee
16.30 Welcome: Joel Harrison, Editor, B2B Marketing [Chair]
For the motion:
17:40 Lee Chadwick, MD, CommuniGator
17.55 Andrew Robinson, MD, Lyris
Against the motion:
18:10 Antony Miller, Head of Media Development, Royal Mail
18:25 Nick Martin, MD, Mardev
17:40 Q&A – Debate opened up to the floor
18.15 Champagne & Networking
19.15 Event closes
Tuesday, 18 September 2007, 4pm to 7:15pm, English Speaking Union, Mayfair. £95 per delegate place. Call 020 8652 4569 to book your place
Filed under: 2.0, Advertising, B2B, Blog, Blogging, Buzz, Direct Email, Direct Mail, Email, Events, Experiential, Ideas and Riffs, Measurement, Online, Planning, SEO, SEO / SEM, Search, Search Engine Optimisation, Social Media, Strategy, Viral, Web, Web2.0, ideas, marketing, web 2.0, webmasters, word of mouth
June 20, 2007 • 12:48 pm 2
Online Marketing 2007, (26-27 June) brought to you by NMA and Marketing Week, is one of the only UK events to bring together experts and suppliers covering every element of online marketing all under one roof, over two days. It’s now in its third year and the show promises it’s bigger and better than ever, moving to a new venue in the process – the Business Design Centre, Islington, London.
From SEO to PPC, blogging to podcasting, accessibility to analytics, email, affiliate and mobile marketing, online ads and integration, the show tackles all the challenges surrounding online marketing and offers advice on the latest developments. Find out how to make interactive marketing and advertising campaigns work harder for your money.
It’s a good event to meet exhibitors from the entire online market – an invaluable opportunity to discuss your needs with leading suppliers and industry experts, face to face. And offcourse there is a (paid for) educational conference programme. This is often where there is real value.
Here’s some quick links:
You can also attend free workshop sessions at the Search Arena, NMA Arena and Online Advertising Arena……perhaps even getting dedicated advice to suit your specific needs in the process?
Its always good to take a day out of the office once in a while. Perhaps the 26th or 27th June is the ideal time?
Filed under: 2.0, Advertising, Affiliate Marketing, Analytics, Blog, Blogging, Branding, Buzz, Customer service, Design, Direct Email, Direct Mail, Email, Experiential, Fun, Measurement, Online, Online Video, PR, Planning, Public Relations, SEO, SEO / SEM, Search, Search Engine Optimisation, Social Media, Software, Strategy, Usability, Viral, Web, Web2.0, ideas, marketing, web 2.0, webmasters, word of mouth
March 14, 2008 • 10:42 pm 0
Please help
Sport Relief
(I should apologise for bringing you here by illicit categorisation and tagging, but I won’t. You might have wasted just 10 seconds. Hopefully you will make the choice to change someone’s world in less than a minute).
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