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VivaKi and BlueKai launch Audience Insights

VivaKi Nerve Center and BlueKai have launched Audience Insights, a software that is designed to allow marketers to collect customer data online without tagging.
 

Experian acquires Conversen

Experian announced May 21 its acquisition of Conversen, a Burlington, Mass.-based multichannel marketing company.
 

NetSuite announces SuiteCommerce at annual conference

NetSuite announced the SuiteCommerce platform at its SuiteWorld 2012 conference in San Francisco. The platform, which connects companies' CRM to ERP, is the first of its kind, said CEO Zach Nelson during his May 15 keynote address.
 

IBM to acquire Vivisimo

IBM will acquire Vivisimo, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based data search solutions company, said David Corrigan, director of strategy for IBM's InfoSphere Portfolio. He expects the deal to close within a month to six weeks.
 

Marketo adds social platform with Crowd Factory acquisition

Marketo has acquired Crowd Factory, a provider of a social campaign management platform, said Jon Miller, Marketo's VP of marketing. The acquisition, the terms of which Miller declined to disclose, will enable Marketo to deploy social campaigns on top of its hosted marketing automation platform, thereby expanding the reach of each campaign.
 

Lighthouse List debuts list that segments by device

List broker Lighthouse List Co. has made available a new-to-market postal and email list that segments by mobile device consumers that have responded to a direct response email offer, said Mark Traverso, VP of new business and sales at Lighthouse List. The list contains a total of 25 million postal names and 40 million email names.
 

U.S. Bank rolls out virtual gift card program

U.S. Bank will expand its virtual gift card program, powered by the FreeMonee Network, offering vouchers between $2 to $50 from national merchants to select check card customers, said Mike Shepard, SVP of consumer credit and debit products at U.S. Bank.
 

Amazon Web Services launches CloudSearch

Amazon Web Services launched CloudSearch, a tool designed to help businesses and marketers sift through large amounts of data and information on a cloud platform, the company said in a statement.
 

The Container Store selects Epsilon as database provider

The Container Store has selected Alliance Data subsidiary Epsilon as the company's database provider, said Don Lucchetti, VP and GM at Epsilon in an email.
 

Ricoh launches customer marketing suite for utilities

Ricoh Production Print Solutions LLC, a digital output marketing company, launched a customer marketing suite for utility companies April 10, said Mike Bryant, worldwide practice leader of strategy and marketing analytics at Ricoh.
 

Sephora revamps website, mobile apps to integrate in-store and online experiences

Sephora launched a personalized, targeted website, mobile site and targeted in-store experience and integrated Pinterest fully into their e-commerce platform on April 9, said Bridget Dolan, VP of interactive media at the company.
 

IBM introduces data consolidation software

IBM announced on April 3 it has launched new software that enables companies to consolidate data and increase search efficiency, said Bernie Spang, director of strategy and marketing, Database Software at IBM.
 

Express launches NEXT loyalty program

Apparel retailer Express launched a loyalty program titled Express NEXT, which will allow customers to earn points not only for what they buy, but also for engaging with the company through social media, said Jim Thompson, Director of CRM at Express.
 

Google launches customer survey tool

Google launched its first consumer survey tool designed to help companies conduct low-cost, online research, said Andrea Faville, the company's manager of global communications and public affairs.
 

SMS revamps list search website, launches search tool

Specialists Marketing Service (SMS) introduced a revamped website and search tool today designed to help users create appropriate lists for direct mailing and email initiatives, said Tim Walsh, EVP of the Direct Data Division at SMS.
 

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino launches revamped rewards program

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas launched a revamped rewards program designed to provide consumers with points and prizes for activities including gaming, dining and clubbing, said company CMO Brian Bork. The program was designed by L.A.-based agency Meat and Potatoes, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's AOR.
 

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards forms agreement with Freecreditscore.com

Southwest Airlines rapid rewards members will now have the option earn points toward flights by signing up for services on freecreditscore.com, an Experian company, said Angie Russell, manager of partnership marketing at Southwest.
 

Salesforce.com launches Site.com

Salesforce.com, launched Site.com, a platform designed to give marketers an easy way to update their websites, said Andrew Leigh, director of product marketing at Salesforce.com. Site.com's functionality also includes integration with a CRM database in order to quickly upload information from the database to the website, he said.
 

Friendly's Ice Cream launches online ordering system, loyalty program

Friendly's Ice Cream has launched an online ordering system using in its home market of Springfield, Mass., and plans to roll out a revamped loyalty program this summer, said Richard Del Valle, VP of Restaurant Operations Support at the restaurant chain. For both launches, Friendly's will use technologies from MICROS Systems, a provider of ecommerce solutions for the hospitality and retail industries.
 

Most online preference centers are useless: DMCNY

Most online preference centers are useless, said Ernan Roman, president of Ernan Roman Direct Marketing, during a Direct Marketing Club of New York (DMCNY) presentation on March 8. Brands shouldn't ask consumers if they want to be bothered via email or other contact methods, but should instead engage consumers to understand their wants and feelings.
 

Infogroup aquires GoTime

Infogroup, a database services provider, has acquired Seattle-based data company GoTime, Christian Ward, chief data officer of Infogroup told Direct Marketing News. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
 

Alliant, Lotame partner to enhance database offerings

Segmentation service provider Alliant Data has partnered with Lotame Solutions to integrate Alliant's consumer database with Lotame's data management platform, the companies said Jan. 9.
 

Infogroup CEO replaced

Infogroup president and CEO Clare Hart has been replaced by Michael Iaccarino. Hart, who joined Infogroup in July 2010, is leaving the company to pursue new opportunities, Infogroup said in a Dec. 15 statement.
 

Infogroup CMO to leave firm

Infogroup CMO Slade Kobran will be leaving the firm, according to an Infogroup source. The source said Kobran would be leaving because "Infogroup is decentralizing marketing."
 

Acxiom execs to resign

Acxiom Corp.'s COO and EVP John Adams and Shawn Donovan, EVP for global sales, consulting and U.S. markets, will resign effective Dec. 31, according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing. It is unclear why both executives have stepped down.
 

SDL to acquire Alterian

Translation software and web management firm SDL will acquire London-based CRM firm Alterian for more than $107 million, according to several news reports.
 

Gupta files countersuit, claims Infogroup execs have 'no brains'

List company Database101.com filed a countersuit against data giant Infogroup alleging it used unethical business practices to sabotage the 14-month-old company. The countersuit is in response to a September lawsuit filed by Infogroup, accusing Database101.com founder Vinod Gupta of stealing confidential Infogroup information and using it to develop Database101.com's client base. Gupta also founded Infogroup.
 

Southwest Airlines launches retail rewards program

Southwest Airlines launched a shopping initiative that enables loyalty program members to earn points by making purchases with more than 700 retailers, said Katie McDonald, communications manager at Southwest Airlines. The "Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping" program was built in collaboration with marketing technology company Cartera Commerce.
 

Alterian to shutter Chicago office

Alterian will close its Chicago office as part of a restructuring plan that began in September, said Adrian Duffield, partner at College Hill, Alterian's financial PR agency. Alterian employees were notified on Nov. 6 that the shuttering process would begin immediately, he said.
 

Drakoulias promoted to Draftfcb global chief of staff

Peter Drakoulias has been promoted to the newly-created position of global chief of staff at Draftfcb effective immediately, he told Direct Marketing News. He will report to Draftfcb president and CEO Laurence Boschetto and he will partner with George Kane, EVP and worldwide financial director, to oversee the agency's global M&A activity.
 

MediaWhiz taps new SVP of strategy and operations

Jeremy Leonard has been named SVP of strategy and operations at the MediaWhiz division of The SolutionSet MediaWhiz Partnership, said Ed Kats, president of MediaWhiz. Leonard will be based in New York. He will report directly to Kats.
 

Salesforce.com promotes insider to COO

George Hu was promoted to COO of CRM company Salesforce.com effective Nov. 7, the company said in a statement. Hu previously served as EVP of platform, marketing and operations and will continue to report to chairman and CEO Marc Benioff in the newly-created role.
 

Harte-Hanks' direct marketing revenue up slightly

Harte-Hanks' third-quarter direct marketing revenue increased 0.6% to $151.9 million compared with Q3 2010, while direct marketing operating income declined 10.8% year-over-year to $20.5 million. The San Antonio, Texas-based company reported a decline in overall revenue in the quarter, decreasing 1.8% to $212.8 million compared with Q3 2010.
 

Oracle to acquire RightNow for $1.5 billion

Database company Oracle announced it has agreed to acquire CRM company RightNow Technologies, for $1.5 billion, both companies said in a statement. The transaction is expected to close by late 2011 or early 2012.
 

Hyundai's Veloster campaign increased related Web traffic 73%: DMCNY

Hyundai Motor America's October integrated marketing campaign promoting the Veloster automobile delivered a 73% increase in Veloster-related visits on Hyundai.com, said Jon Budd, senior group manager of CRM and interactive marketing at Hyundai.
 

Oracle agrees to acquire Endeca

Database company Oracle entered into an agreement on Oct. 18 to acquire data management and Web commerce company Endeca Technologies.
 

Alterian cofounders resign due to 'recent failures'

Michael Talbot, president and cofounder of marketing technology company Alterian, resigned effective Oct. 14. Research and development director and cofounder Timothy McCarthy also resigned and non-executive directors Hugh McCartney and Iain Johnston have stepped down from the board.
 

Merkle opens a social CRM agency

CRM agency Merkle has launched a social media marketing firm to develop social products and clients' go-to market strategy. Rich Fleck will serve as VP and GM of the Denver, Colo.-based agency, Merkle Connect, reporting directly to Craig Dempster, Merkle's EVP and CMO.
 

Salesforce.com acquires Assistly, but stock falls after insider trading report

Salesforce.com on Sept. 21 acquired the cloud services customer service company Assistly, to expand the reach of its cloud computing platform. Its stock price dipped after reports of alleged insider trading by its CFO.
 

Infogroup sues Gupta's new firm over trade secrets

Infogroup has accused founder and former CEO and Chairman Vinod Gupta of stealing confidential company information and using it to develop a client base for his competitive startup Database101. Infogroup also claims Gupta is marketing this venture in a way that makes it appear associated with Infogroup.
 

CityGrid Media extends agreement with Infogroup

IAC subsidiary CityGrid Media has renewed its contract with Infogroup to provide approximately 15 million local business-database files to publishers in the CityGrid advertising network.
 

Infogroup launches digital, data units

Marketing services company Infogroup has created two divisions, Yesmail Interactive and enterprise marketing services, to focus on digital and data-oriented services, respectively.
 

Salesforce.com to use D&B files for Data.com

CRM company Salesforce.com has launched recently acquired domain Data.com as a corporate-data site. Business information company Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) is the site's exclusive source of corporate information.
 

List Services acquires Accession

List Services Corp. has acquired digital marketing firm Accession Media. The company will combine Accession with its LSC Digital arm to form Allora Media.
 

Eloqua, Jive file $100 million IPOs

Marketing technology companies Eloqua and Jive Software filed separate $100 million initial public offerings this week, according to documents submitted to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
 

CognitiveData names Marshall CMO

Merkle subsidiary CognitiveData has named Cindy Marshall CMO. In the newly created position, Marshall is focusing on crafting "the story that CognitiveData is a full-service marketing company that can help customers with their database marketing," she said.
 

Kellogg picks Epsilon for CRM, database work

Kellogg Co. has selected Alliance Data Systems subsidiary Epsilon to build a real-time customer-preference management system and a classic database and to execute email deployment.
 

Salesforce.com posts record revenue, small loss

Salesforce.com reported $546 million in revenue in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, a 38% year-over-year increase. However, the company saw a slight net loss of $4.3 million during the period.
 

Virgin America, Hertz partner on car-rental promotions

Virgin America and The Hertz Corp. have partnered to give members of the airline's Elevate loyalty program exclusive deals on Hertz rental cars. Elevate members who rent cars from Hertz will earn one point per $1 spent on qualifying rentals.
 

Barclaycard US launches loyalty shopping program

Barclaycard US, the payments business of financial services company Barclays, has launched a shopping platform for more than 1,000 co-branded card programs. The platform will enable cardholders to automatically earn discounts, rewards, miles and cash back for on- and offline purchases with participating retailers.
 

WhitePages to use Infogroup data for local directory

WhitePages will use Infogroup's consumer point-of-interest data for approximately 15 million businesses in its search-based business directory, the companies said August 11.
 

Nielsen buys Marketing Analytics

The Nielsen Co. acquired Marketing Analytics in a deal that closed August 8. Marketing Analytics tracks and correlates marketing initiatives and product sales to measure ROI.
 

Protect-A-Bed launches back-to-school sweepstakes

Bedding-protection products company Protect-A-Bed has launched a back-to-school sweepstakes to promote its Student Bedding Protection Kit. The Wheeling, Ill.-based retailer will promote the campaign through email, social media and its company blog.
 

Merkle taps Beckwith as Dell team lead

CRM agency Merkle has named Cyndie Beckwith VP and client team lead for its Dell Americas account. In the new position, she will report to Scott Cone, SVP and GM of Merkle's client leadership group, and lead a team of 15 to 20 marketers.
 

MCH Strategic Data buys Wilson Marketing Group

Marketing database company MCH Strategic Data has acquired early childhood marketing firm Wilson Marketing Group.
 

Accent Marketing Services to double its workforce

MDC Partners subsidiary Accent Marketing Services will add an additional 2,000 workers within the next two years. The move is part of the new jobs4america initiative, which is a coalition designed to generate American contact center jobs.
 

KBM Group names VP of data and analytics

Shawn Sweeney has been named VP of data and analytics at KBM Group, a new position. The post is effective August 11. Sweeney will report directly to Andy Rutberg, chief data officer and president of global services at Wunderman subsidiary KBM Group.
 

IHG launches an integrated shopping rewards program

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) launched an integrated shopping rewards program, Priority Club Shopping, on August 3 that will enable IHG Priority Club members to earn loyalty points for shopping with more than 600 retailers, said Mark Shepherd, director of partnership programs at IHG.
 

Marketing & Technology Group selects MeritDirect for list management

Marketing & Technology Group, a Chicago-based b-to-b media company, has appointed direct marketing company MeritDirect as list manager of each of its four magazine titles. Marketing & Technology Group titles Hotels, Plate, Meatingplace and Carnetec reach more than 123,000 readers combined each year.
 

Infogroup names Das SVP of database technology

Infogroup has named Purandar Das chief architect and SVP of database technology, a newly-created position, Direct Marketing News has learned. Das will be responsible for developing and implementing Infogroup's database innovation strategy.
 

Acxiom names Howe CEO; revenue up

Marketing services company Acxiom Corp. named Scott Howe CEO and president on July 27, prior to its fiscal first quarter 2012 earnings call. The Little Rock, Ark.-based company reported a 6.9% year-over-year revenue increase to $288.9 million in the period.
 

American Airlines launches sweepstakes to promote luxury service

American Airlines has launched the "Five Star Vacation" sweepstakes campaign, which it will promote through email, on AA.com and in print media. The sweepstakes is supporting the airline's Five Star Service, which assigns a personal airport assistant to members.
 

Infogroup hires execs to bolster client data services

Infogroup has hired Christian Ward as SVP and head of data strategy, analytics and capabilities. The Omaha, Neb.-based company has also named Dana Hayman VP of marketing strategy and insights.
 

B-to-c email list prices plummet 49% since 2006

Permission-based b-to-c email list prices have decreased 49% to $89 per thousand files since summer 2006, according to the Worldata's five-year trend report and list-price index.
 

American Express launches Facebook deals, rewards applications

American Express has launched two Facebook applications that allow cardholders to redeem digital deals and rewards, said Dave Wolf, VP of global marketing capabilities at the financial services company.
 

Alterian turns to Davies to lead company

Marketing technology services provider Alterian has hired Heath Davies as CEO and Phil Cartmell as non-executive chairman. Both will begin work at the UK-based company September 5. Davies will replace David Eldridge, who resigned in April when the company warned investors that revenue would fall 10% below market expectations for the fiscal year ending March 31.
 

CVS promotes digital rewards with social campaign

CVS Caremark launched a digital campaign to support the ExtraCare Rewards loyalty program on July 8. The effort, which encourages consumers to cash in loyalty points, includes a CVS/pharmacy Facebook page with interactive content and loyalty program information.
 

MRM Americas combined with McCann Salt Lake City

McCann Worldgroup subsidiary MRM Worldwide has combined its Americas operation with McCann Erickson Salt Lake City (McCann SLC). The move will result in a single operating unit with more than 1,200 North American employees across disciplines including digital, creative, marketing and CRM.
 

Infogroup sells research unit to private equity firm

Database company Infogroup sold its research branch, Opinion Research Company International (ORC), to Chicago-based private equity firm Lake Capital Management. Infogroup president and CEO Clare Hart said July 7 that the sale will allow Infogroup to concentrate on consumer data, list management and brokerage, multichannel marketing and sales enablement.
 

Infogroup begins round of layoffs, more cutbacks possible

Database services company Infogroup began a round of layoffs today across functions and across US offices, Infogroup CEO Clare Hart told Direct Marketing News on June 30.
 

Tasti D-Lite selects Engage121 as its social CRM platform provider

Frozen dessert company Tasti D-Lite has selected Engage121 as its social CRM platform provider as the company expands globally.
 

Epsilon beefs up email security 92 days after data breach

Marketing services firm Epsilon has added new security enhancements to its email marketing platform in collaboration with Verizon Business, Epsilon president and CEO Bryan Kennedy told Direct Marketing News on June 28. The new features include enhanced protection for Epsilon's information technology (IT) infrastructure and the ability to track malicious IP addresses.
 

MarketShare adds Beyer to boost analytics

MarketShare has hired Dirk Beyer as SVP of analytics and modeling, with a focus on creating commercial opportunities for the marketing analytics company and improving its capabilities.
 

JoS. A. Bank increases catalog sales using database segmentation: DMA All For One

JoS. A. Bank Clothiers generated a 19.5% increase in catalog response and 16.7% growth in catalog sales by using its customer database to better segment offers, said John Lewis, strategic services director of database marketing at the retailer on June 21.
 

Citizens Financial Group uses branch interactions for data: Forrester Customer Experience Forum

Citizens Financial Group uses its in-branch customer experiences to bolster its database marketing, said Nick Primola, SVP and director of direct marketing at the financial company, on June 21 at Forrester Research's Customer Experience Forum 2011.
 

MeritDirect renames list division to emphasize range of services

MeritDirect will rebrand its list management and interactive services division as the "data and media services" unit, the company said June 17.
 

Marketfish hires Fowler as privacy chief

List marketing and lead generation firm Marketfish has named David Fowler chief privacy officer, the company said this week. His primary responsibility is defining and overseeing Marketfish's privacy policies.
 

Citigroup targeted in latest customer data breach

Citigroup said June 9 that it recently discovered an unauthorized person hacked the files of about 1% of its Citi North America bank card accounts.
 

Credit card-brand alliances to help marketers target offers

Credit card companies are becoming integrated partners in the marketing process, helping brands deliver targeted offers to consumers by using their customer databases.
 

Hearst, DMA launch second analytics challenge

Michael Corso

Hearst Magazines and the Direct Marketing Association will launch the second annual "Hearst Challenge" on June 1. The media company will give a $25,000 prize to the entrant who can best build a model to predict whether a consumer will open or click through an email promotion.
 

Mardevdm2 repositioning highlights new capabilities

Mardevdm2 is conducting a b-to-b campaign to promote its transition from a traditional list services company to a service provider offering a wider range of services. The firm, a subsidiary of Reed Business Information, enlisted the help of Branddeli, a UK-based ad agency, to emphasize the services the company had added in recent months.
 

Visa launches travel-themed integrated campaign

Visa has launched an integrated marketing campaign to promote its products to travel enthusiasts during the peak summer travel season. The effort includes a sweepstakes, digital and social media components, TV ads and a Facebook application. The financial company worked with TBWA\Chiat\Day on the TV and social media elements and AKQA on digital. OMD is managing media strategy and planning.
 

ReachForce adds lead marketer, two other execs to management team

ReachForce, a b-to-b data services company, has added Aprimo's former CMO to its executive team, and has hired leaders of product and partner development. Michael Emerson will join the Austin, Texas-based company as VP of marketing, effective immediately.
 

Consumer word-of-mouth activity down since start of recession: Colloquy

Michael Corso

Consumers have cut back significantly on sharing opinions about companies, as well as their products and services, since the beginning of the "Great Recession," according to research from Colloquy. Fifty-eight percent of consumers said they have discussions with family members, friends and colleagues about the brands they use, down from 73% in 2008, according to the loyalty marketing consultancy.
 

WPP Digital buys minority stake in nPario

WPP Digital has bought a $5 million strategic minority stake in technology services provider nPario, the companies said May 17. The investment will help both companies develop services to help marketers improve audience insight and digital campaigns. NPario will integrate WPP's online and offline data into its platform.
 

MasterCard campaign highlights World Elite benefits

MasterCard Worldwide launched an integrated marketing campaign May 16 to promote new features of its World Elite card. The direct mail, email and print effort highlights new Elite benefits, such as a global concierge service, price assure for travelers and exclusive golf packages. The financial services company worked with McCann-Erickson on the initiative's print elements and R/GA on the campaign's online elements and microsite.
 

Disney subsidiary Playdom agrees to $3M FTC children's online privacy settlement

Playdom, a Disney Enterprises subsidiary, has agreed to pay $3 million to settle Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charges that it violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The alleged violations included illegally collecting and disclosing personal information from more than 1.2 million children under age 13 without parental consent, the FTC said this week.
 

Acxiom revenue up in fiscal Q4; company reports loss

Marketing services provider Acxiom reported 3.6% growth in revenue to $298.8 million in its fiscal 2011 fourth quarter, which ended March 31. However, the Little Rock, Ark.-based company also saw a loss from operations of $53 million in the quarter.
 

Infogroup consolidates subsidiaries, launches client experience group

Infogroup has consolidated five of its data and marketing services brands into a single sales organization, CEO Clare Hart told Direct Marketing News on May 9. The new unit comprises former Infogroup subsidiaries Direct Media Millard, Donnelley Marketing, Edith Roman & Associates, Walter Karl and Yesmail.
 

Sony database breach exceeds 100 million customers

An ongoing Sony Corporation investigation into the April database breach of Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) systems revealed hackers may have accessed the personal information of an additional 24.6 million customers, the company said in a statement May 3.
 

Marriott and JetBlue launch joint loyalty program initiative

Marriott International and JetBlue Airways launched a joint loyalty program initiative on May 2 that will allow JetBlue TrueBlue members to earn points for staying at any Marriott hotel.
 

Brands turn to loyalty efforts as recovery remains sluggish

Major consumer brands are premiering new loyalty programs or overhauling aging membership initiatives to meet consumer expectations, satisfy corporate pressure for ROI, and solidify their customer bases during still-challenging economic times.
 

Class action suit claims Acxiom, former execs withheld adverse information

Law firm Izard Nobel filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of Acxiom Corp. common stock holders this week, claiming Acxiom officers and directors violated federal securities laws by failing to disclose facts about the company's struggling financial performance.
 

Infogroup to fold companies under one brand

Infogroup will reposition its various companies as product lines or services under the Infogroup brand beginning July 1, Clare Hart, the company's CEO, told Direct Marketing News. As a result, well known direct marketing brands, such as Direct Media Millard and Edith Roman Associates, will no longer be used.
 

The Children's Place database hacked; email addresses exposed

Retail store chain The Children's Place is notifying customers that an unauthorized third party accessed its email address database. The company said in a statement that no personal information, other than email addresses, was obtained, and that the data was stored with an external email service provider.
 

Slow recovery doesn't hurt analytics growth: Gartner

Technology service providers earned $1.65 billion in revenue from analytics applications last year, a 17.7% increase compared with 2009, according to a Gartner report. Analytics revenue will increase 10.5% in the next five years, according to the research firm.
 

B-to-c email list prices drop, other lists steady: Worldata

The average cost per thousand (CPM) of business aggregated email databases decreased $20 since the start of the first quarter, according to Worldata's List Price Index for spring 2011. The average cost of permission-based b-to-c email lists dropped 13.3% this spring to $93/M compared with the same period of 2010, representing the largest percentage drop.
 

American Airlines, British Airways promote loyalty contest through social media

American Airlines and British Airways began promoting the "Miles Millionaire" loyalty contest on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube on April 12 to acquire new program members. The contest, developed by OgilvyOne, is targeting existing American Airlines AAdvantage and British Airways Executive Club members, as well as prospective members.
 

Ford targets black women in Focus campaign

Ford Motor Co. launched a national campaign promoting the 2012 Ford Focus to black women on April 11. The "Inner Child" effort campaign features digital, TV and radio components and collects consumer data for remarketing. The campaign was created by The UniWorld Group, Ford's African-American advertising AOR since 1986.
 

Dunkin' Donuts takes loyalty program nationwide

Dunkin' Donuts unveiled its first national customer loyalty program, "DD Perks Rewards," on April 5. The initiative allows members to redeem unlimited rewards for purchases made with a Dunkin' Donuts Card. Dunkin' Donuts will also ask customers who register for the loyalty program to opt in to its database to receive future email and SMS marketing messages about new offers, products and store openings.