• Tencent – Products & Services – Ecommerce
  (tags: Tenpay Products Services Payment China eCommerce Platform)

• The Future of Digital Marketing 2009 | Conferences | Events | Econsultancy
  (tags: digital event future)
• Finding the new model army – Travolution.co.uk
  New Business Models, IBM White Paper
  (tags: Models business IBM Whitepaper)
• IMRG Hitwise Hotshops List Top 100 – IMRG
  The IMRG/Hitwise List of the Top 100 online Retailers in the UK
  (tags: UK, retail, online, Hitwise, top 100)

• 8 Simple Ways to Improve Typography In Your Designs
  (tags: web inspiration webdesign typography CSS layout resources)

• E-commerce | IT Facts
  eCommerce Stats
  (tags: eCommerce stats research statistics)

• Brands that build Communities
  (tags: design web socialmedia internet brands top community)
• Fireclick Index
  The world's first publicly-available web analytics benchmark index
  (tags: ecommerce web Research analytics tools conversion e-commerce statistics free fireclick metrics benchmarking)

• Utilising Web 2.0 in Business
  (tags: web 2.0 IBM Tools Business Enterprise Integration)

• 50 Fabulous Web Tools for Group Projects
  (tags: web2.0 inspiration business tools collaboration)

The Royal Mail (the national postal service of the United Kingdom) has to be part privatised by 2010, and in the run up to this date there is no doubt in my mind that the company is trying to raise its game. (Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turns operates the brands Royal Mail (UK letters), Parcelforce Worldwide (UK parcels) and General Logistics Systems. The Post Office Ltd., which provides counter services, is a wholly owned subsidiary).

One innovation I have spotted (and like) is the MMC – The Mail Media Centre.  The Royal Mail’s vision is to be “demonstrably the best and most trusted postal services company in the world” and in this regard they seem to be on a big ‘win the hearts and minds’ mission.

And the MMC is a big step in the right direction.  Its a cool resource for all direct marketers to immerse themselves in. By showcasing compelling creative and offering expert advice, it is clear they want to inspire excellence in direct mail.

Key contributors include Rory Sutherland, vice-chairman of Ogilvy Group UK, London, Patrick Collister, editor of Xtreme Directory and Amanda Phillips.  They also feature expert content from Chris Arnold, strategic & creative director of Symple, Darren Burnett, head of data planning, Elvis, Mike Colling, managing director of Mike Colling & Company, Steven Day, director of UK Changes, Tim Dunn, head of marketing services at Mobile Interactive Group (MIG), Caroline Kimber, head of data planning at Stephens Francis Whitson, Jane Pritchard, head of strategic planning at Tullo Marshall Warren, Clare Taylor of Clare Taylor Consulting UK, coupon company Valassis, and Chris Whitson, planning director of Stephen Francis Whitson. Plus, they have made available selected content from an award-winning Redwood Publishing title - Contact magazine.

That’s some team sheet!

Yes the devoted online marketer will no doubt shout me down (”if you’re not with me, you’re my enemy” lol), and yes there is lots going on in online media that is down right impressive; but when used appropriately traditional direct mail still has a role to play in the marketing mix.

Don’t discount traditional direct mail just yet.  It can still be very innovative and very effective when used well.

If you are going to take a peek at the MMC, if I were you I’d head straight to the Creative Showreel.   Then take a look at their Knowledge Centre, Case Studies, Research, Facts & Figures, and the other Useful Tools.

Enjoy!

• 99 Essential Twitter Tools And Applications
  (tags: web2.0 web twitter social socialmedia technology tips application resources tools apps utilities smashingmagazine)

• Digital Outlook
  (tags: marketing trends agency digital razorfish advertising)
• E-Commerce News: SaaS: IBM Taps Amazon as Conduit for Affordable Cloud …
  (tags: IBM Amazon SaaS cloud)

• 7 Billion People | Connect. Relate.
  (tags: marketing startup ecommerce analytics people personalisation)
• brand tags : 1.5 million + tags and counting
  (tags: marketing design web2.0 web inspiration branding Research social advertising brand business brands culture logos tag visualization)

• Putting a Bolder Face on Google : NY Times
  (tags: technology google Marissa Mayer personality people)

The 100 Best Business Books of All Time has been on sale for over three weeks now.  I haven’t read it yet (or bought a copy) but it sounds very good.

The 100 books covered covered are listed here.