Archive for October, 2008
Halloween, 2008
There’s a lot to be scared about out there.
But this is Halloween, a quite wonderful day, from where I sit.
I’m looking forward to a busy evening, helping my sister give out to the hundreds of Trick or Treaters who will ring her bell in Salem, Massachusetts. And to snagging a couple of Butterfingers, and maybe [...]
Creatures of Habit
I read somewhere recently - can’t quite remember where: it was one of those ‘make a mental note’ things - that, while marketers are embracing online in some respects, they’re a lot more cautious in others. What marketing folks are doing is e-mail marketing, e-newsletters, webinars, banner ads. What they’re not doing - at least [...]
Consider the humble case study
Upfront confession: there are few marketing things I enjoy more than writing a customer case study. I like speaking with the customers, figuring out the angle, writing the story. Not quite writing a short story, but good case studies do have a narrative arc. And for prospects, reading a good, meaty case study can make [...]
Take a Puff, It’s Springtime
I’m old enough to remember TV cigarette advertising. Lots of it.
“Winston tastes good, like a cigarette should.” “Sold American.” “Call for Phillip Morris.” “I’d rather fight than switch.” “Take a puff, it’s springtime.” The Marlboro man. Oh, the disadvantages of Benson & Hedges, that were a “silly millimeter longer” than standard cigarettes.
As a seven year [...]
Judy, Judy, Judy - your coupons are nothing but spam to me
One task that bloggers must see to is ridding their comments of nonsensical and odious spam.
You can spot them quite easily, of course:
Nice post!
I love your bog!
Great writing!
And the ubiquitous link to some site you would not, in 700 billion years, ever have found, let alone linked to.
An August post, appropriately titled “Can’t They Just [...]
A few thoughts on direct mail vs. e-mail
I recently recommended that a client test a direct mail program to augment their online efforts. Sure it’s expensive, but when I looked at the company’s demographic, which didn’t exactly scream ‘tech-oriented’ or ‘I live online’, I thought it was worth a try.
But it did get me thinking about the pro’s and con’s of [...]
Nifty little cross-promotion
I’ve flown Jet Blue a few times, and rather like them. What’s not to like from an airline that, in my experience, has been both cheaper and better than the alternatives? And they do so without my having to put up with the gosh-golly-let’s-sing-happy-birthday-to-pilot-Bob-and-just-why-are-you-so-grumpy-you-yes-you-the-grouch-in-seat-21C-with-the-blue-eyeglasses-and-the-New-Yorker chirpiness of Southwest Airlines.
I get e-mails from them, most of which [...]
My technology’s better than their technology (wah-wah-wah)
A few weeks ago, I received a plaintive little e-mail from the head of a software company that I have done a bit of work for over the years.
“Did you see this?” he asked. And then went on a bit of a rant about how a BIG BAD MAJOR SOFTWARE COMPANY had just come out [...]
Columbus Day Observance
Who might actually observe Columbus Day, you might ask?
Well, people in Massachusetts have always taken it pretty seriously as a holiday, I guess because of our large Italian-American population.
Which is not to say that it’s taken all that seriously: most businesses don’t have it off, or treat it as one of those half-hearted holidays that [...]
Meeting Request? My royal Irish, errrr, foot
The other day I received an e-mail with the subject “Meeting Request” from someone I don’t know.
Let’s call him “Nathaniel”.
“Nathaniel” was not actually sending me a meeting request at all. He was inviting me “to participate in a complimentary webinar”.
Well, complimentary webinars are my favorite kind of webinar, but why didn’t you just say “Invitation [...]
