Fail. Oh, the irony!

Fail

Oh the irony.  Ouch.

Filed under: Direct Email, Email, Fun, marketing , Direct Mail, Fail

Earning a living, in appalling rendering conditions

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

Find your brand spam

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

Out of Office

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

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).

Filed under: 2.0, ACL, Adobe, Advertising, Affiliate Marketing, Analyst, Analytics, Apple, Awards, BBC, Blog, Blogging, Blogroll, Books, Branding, Business, Buzz, CBS, CIM, CRM, Charity, Colour, Computer, Computing, Conversational marketing, Conversion, Cool, Corbis, Customer service, Data, Deloitte, Design, Direct Email, Direct Mail, EMI, Email, Entertainment, Entrepreneur, Events, Experiential, Facebook, Fairchild Semiconductor, Forrester, Fun, Gartner, Google, IBM, IODA, IT, IT Planning, Ideas and Riffs, Illusion, Imagery, Influence, Infrared, Job, Keywords, Knee, MIT, Mac, Measurement, Media, Microsoft, Mobile, Music, News, Online, Online Video, Open Social, PC, PR, Planning, Power 150, Printing, Public Relations, Punchstock, Quotes, RSS, Religion, Remarkable, Research, SEO, SEO / SEM, SPARQL, SQL, Salmon, Scene7, Search, Search Engine Optimisation, Second Chance Tuesday, Second Life, Semantic Web, Sinclair, Social Graphs, Social Media, Social Networking, Software, Sony BMG, Spam, Spectrum, Strategy, Surgery, Survival, TV, Tattoo, The Orchard, Tim Berners-Lee, Twitter, Usability, User Generated Content, Viral, Viral Coefficient, Virtual Worlds, WIFI, WIKI, WOM, Warner Music Group, Web, Web2.0, White Paper, Wired.com, Wordpress, Xerox, Xuuk, Yahoo!, YouTube, ZX, blogs, bob, copywriting, digital, dotcoms, garfield, iStock, ideas, illustration, last.fm, marketing, ogilvy, permission, photography, podcast, sport, startups, stock photography, technology, trust, venture capital, verge, web 2.0, webmasters, wi-fi, word of mouth , 2008, Advertising, Age 5-14, Animals, Anime, Announcements, Answered, Art, Articles, Barack, Basketball, Bible, Big, Big Questions, Blog, Blogging, blogs, Books, Business, Charity, Children, China, Christianity, Church, clinton, Club, Comedy, Commentary, Community, Crime, Culture, Current Events, Daily, Democrats, Design, Economics, Economy, Education, Election 2008, Elections, Eliot Spitzer, English, Entertainment, Environment, Events, Faith, Family, Fashion, Fiction, Film, Food, Friends, Fun, Funny, Games, God, Government, Health, Hillary, Hip-hop, History, Home, Humor, ideas, India, inspiration, internet, Iraq, Islam, Jesus, John McCain, Journal, Kids, Leadership, Life, Links, Love, marketing, Marriage, Me, Media, Misc, Miscellaneous, Money, Movies, Music, Musings, My Life, Nature, News, Obama, Opinion, Parenting, penguin, People, Personal, Philosophy, photography, photos, Physics, Pictures, Poems, Poetry, Political, Politics, Pop culture, Prayer, Projects, Psychology, Questions, Quotes, Race, Ramblings, Random, Rants, Recipes, Reflections, Relationships, Religion, Research, Review, Reviews, School, Science, Sewing, Sex, Shopping, Society, Software, Spiritual, Spirituality, Sports, Stories, Stuff, technology, television, The Page, Theology, Thoughts, Travel, trends, TV, Unanswered, United states, Update, USA, video, Videos, web 2.0, Welcome, Women, work, World, Writing, YouTube

The 26 Week Internet Marketing Plan

If I said to you, you can learn about Internet Marketing in a weekend, and implement a thorough Strategic Internet Marketing plan in just 26 weeks, you might react in two negative ways; depending on your perspective. I know I did.

How can you provide me a strategic plan? That’s nonsence.
or
26 weeks? That’s too slow, too lethagic.

I’ve changed my mind. And I’d urge you to think again. I VERY rarely recommend items on this blog, but this deserves a mention…….

When the authors of the 26 Week Internet Marketing Plan asked me if they could send me a full preview of their package I was flattered, slightly nervous about what I would receive and hestitant to be seen like so many other bloggers who jump on a bandwagon to secure affiliate revenue, or traffic to their site (the latter is just not my style)

But I am so glad I accepted the gift, and challenge! What a wealth of content. It took nearly a full weekend to get through the content – and I am sure I missed bits.

Many UK marketing bloggers have been sent the pack as part of the stealth launch, and I’ll link to some of their content in this post. In a nutshell though, to be one of the best online marketers it is really key to know the basic rules of Internet Marketing – and this package has the basics outlined in as clear a manner as I have EVER seen.

The 26 week Internet marketing plan contains 4 DVD’s, 8 Multimedia CD’s and 4 ring-bound workbooks; plus a wall planner and 10 step quick start guide. It is written in a no-nonsense, pragmatic and conversational way – clearly a reflection of author David Bain’s clear understanding and experience in the Internet Marketing space. Great stuff.

Now don’t get me wrong. If you are a well read, experienced Internet Marketer, with a record of practising Internet Marketing for a number of years this quite possibly is not the guide for you. BUT (and I think this is a big ‘but’) if you are a marketing manager, business leader, entrepreneur or anybody who needs to make an impact online, is serious about it (you should be), and don’t know where the hell to start, the 26 week Internet Marketing Plan is an unbelievable package for you.

To give you an idea on its depth and breadth, this is what is provided out of the box.

Phase 1: Website Structure
Business Strategy
Keyword Research
Site Architecture
Conversion Rates
Viral Coefficient
Visitor Tracking

Phase 2: Automation and Launch
Blogging
RSS
Email Updates
Blog Communities
Blog & RSS Directories
Press Releases
Pay Per Click

Phase 3: Broaden Your Base
Major Directories
Industry Directories
Local Directories
Article Marketing
Competitor Backlinks
Forum Interaction
Blog Comments

Phase 4: Broaden Your Horizon
New Website
Social Networking
MyPage Marketing
Podcasting
Video Marketing
Visitor Analysis

Phew! See why it took 2 days to get through it!

This is what my marketing counterparts are discussing about the materials, and here is a brief introduction, plus here’s another.

As I mentioned the workbook writing is hype free, clear, easy to read; but most importantly littered with examples that makes the content easy to read and understand. So what? Well I have read many internet marketing books and too many are still poorly written.

But whilst the 4 workbooks form the core of the 26 week Internet Marketing Plan, they really are just the tip of the iceberg. And that leads me to the next great thing about the package. Its loaded with MP3’s of interviews, documented transcripts and .pdfs which really help to contextualise what you can learn in the core workbooks. Contributors include Jonathan Farrington and Yaro Starak by the way.

And finally what I really like is the overriding candid, honest, hype free approach that David has taken in producing this package.

IMHO there are numerous starter courses that prospective Internet Marketers could take – seminars, courses, training sessions etc. The trouble is they’re slick, polished but ultimately forgettable (most of the time).

For £399 I would be amazed if you could spend your hard earned money more wisely. And for the forgetful – the CD’s, MP3’s, .pdf’s and workbooks are a timely reminder of what to do, when and how. Highly recommended!

Filed under: Advertising, Affiliate Marketing, Analytics, B2B, Blog, Blogging, Branding, Business, Buzz, Conversion, Data, Direct Email, Entrepreneur, IT, IT Planning, Influence, Keywords, Measurement, Media, Online, Online Video, Open Social, Planning, RSS, Research, SEO, SEO / SEM, Search, Search Engine Optimisation, Social Media, Social Networking, Strategy, Usability, User Generated Content, Viral, Viral Coefficient, Virtual Worlds, Web, Web2.0, YouTube, blogs, copywriting, marketing, permission, podcast, technology, web 2.0, word of mouth , david Bain, Internet Marketing, Internet Marketing Plan, Jonathan Farrington, Marketing Automation and Launch, Marketing Strategy, Marketing Training, Purple Internet Marketing, Strategic Plan, The 26 Week Internet Marketing Plan, Website Structure, Yaro Starak

Outgoing only

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

The opt-in hokey cokey. In out, in out….

I am flabbergasted. OMG! I’ve never had an email requesting I re-opt-in to email correspondance, after previously opting out.

Here’s the email in full. Obviously received, read and deleted. The only thing left? A stain on their good name.

—————–

From: xxxx (Intl Vendor) [mailto: xxxx]
Sent: 26 November 2007 09:55
To: xxxx

Subject: xxxx Global Relationship Survey

Hi xxxx,

I hope that you are all well. Every year xxxx sends a Global Relationship Survey to all Customers and Partners. We would like you to have the opportunity to provide important feedback regarding your ongoing experience and relationship with xxxx. Currently, you are suppressed from receiving any communications from xxxx and therefore we will be unable to send you this survey. It would be much appreciated if you could please take some time out to complete this survey as this is your chance to have your say and make ecommendations for future changes.

The survey will be sent early next year but we are collating the data sample now. If you would like to take part in the survey please could you reply to this email saying CONFIRM and I will update our records to say that you are willing to receive email communications from xxxx. (Please note that by doing this you may receive other marketing material from xxxx). Granting us your permission will be a huge help in our survey, but will also ensure that we keep you updated of relevant events, offers and product launches.

Thank you for your support and I hope you will take part in the survey.

—————–

Some people and some companies just don’t get it. And believe you me – this company is as BIG as it gets in the IT sector.

Filed under: Direct Email, Email, ideas, marketing, permission, trust , email marketing, marketing, opt-in, permission

Mr. and Mrs. Average

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

Now available as an email

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

A brief history of spam

“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

A Potted History of B2B High-Tech Marketing

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

Three letter acronyms (TLAs)

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

The Debate: “Has digital media usurped traditional B2B channels”

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?

• Listen to the expert panel comprised of the Royal Mail, CommuniGator and Lyris and other industry experts, on the future of B2B marketing channels and then have your say!
• Will traditional marketing be replaced with pure digital, will they work with an improved integrated approach, or will Digital’s ROI diminish over time, with so many messages competing for the one desktop?
• Draw down from expert advice as well as gaining insightful options of the future of the B2B marketing media

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

FREE Event: Online Marketing 2007

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:

• Register Now!
• Conference
• FREE Workshops
• Google University (Want to know more about the Google missions and how it can help your business? Book to attend the free Google University and hear from Google staff in the know!)

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