E-mail marketing services firm StrongMail Systems has acquired PopularMedia, a social media marketing company, for an undisclosed figure. Under the terms of the agreement, PopularMedia will come under the StrongMail brand and its social media tools will become part of the StrongMail suite of digital marketing offerings.

As the automotive industry is challenged with cash strapped consumers, direct marketing agency Aspen Marketing has been working with their automotive clients to reach consumers in a more multichannel and geo-targeted way.

Spammers have jumped on the death of Michael Jackson and are sending out spam e-mails with the King of Pop in the subject line.

Retailers who count on the 20% lift of holiday sales know they can't wait until October to formulate their seasonal sales strategy. Although consumers spent some $475 billion during the 2007 holiday season, the mixed forecasts for 2008 increase the pressure to make the holiday selling season extend beyond the traditional September-to-December window.

A recent evaluation conducted by Silverpop researchers of the e-mail practices of North America's largest online retailers revealed that some are engaging in risky strategies. In comparing e-mails sent during the same 30-day period in 2007 and 2008, the study found a sharp increase in e-mail frequency. Top retailers sent 23% more e-mails to subscribers last year than the year before. At the same time, only 28% offered subscribers choices at opt-in. This is down from 56% in 2007.

Powell's Books, one of the nation's largest booksellers, has reported an increase in e-mail open rate thanks to its new focus on personalization. The Portland, OR-based retailer began an e-mail effort with ExactTarget that targets customers based on their favorite kinds of books. The effort began in February, and the most recent mailing in June saw a 70% increase in open rates.

Dunkin' Donuts has introduced a new online ordering form in a move to create viral marketing.The goal of the new campaign is to make ordering easier and to take the concept of "A Dunkin' Run" — a trip to Dunkin' Donuts — and make it a household term. To promote the new service, Dunkin' Donuts is using Facebook, Twitter and e-mails to opted-in customers.

Mail.com Media Corporation (MMC), a digital media company that owns and operates Mail.com and its e-mail service, has acquired DeadlineHollywoodDaily.com (DHD).

While it may seem like the hot new software coming out these days all circulates around mobile marketing and social media, e-mail has not ceased to drive new innovation as well. The latest release, an e-mail organization tool called Xiant Filer, could prolong the life of marketing messages, giving consumers more control over how to filter the e-mail they receive.

Marketers today face great challenges in generating results, what with ever-shrinking budgets, rising expenses and limited resources. But it's also an exciting time for targeted, direct marketing to really shine.