A&E Television Networks media property History has partnered with digital agency HUGE for a new interactive Web site promoting the launch of the new show Expedition Africa on The History Channel. The site was launched as part of a multiplatform marketing campaign that also includes online video, social media, out-of-home and TV ads.

Meredith is launching a new magazine, Mixing Bowl, as an extension of its nascent social media site of the same name. MixingBowl.com, an online community focused on cooking and other food topics, soft-launched in February with invites to known online "mavens" in the space. The site, part of The Meredith Women's Network, now has 19,000 registered members and expects 180,000 unique visitors this month.

Worldwide investment in advertising is expected to improve in 2010, but growth is not expected yet, according to media buying giant GroupM. Direct marketing, along with digital media investment, both fare better than traditional media in the agency's outlook.

Digital River Inc. has introduced a new e-commerce platform designed to optimize the online sales of limited-edition and clearance merchandise for manufacturers. "Companies are looking for additional sources of revenue," said Matt Voda, group VP and product manager at Digital River. As a result, the traditional scenario that saw manufacturers liquidating left over inventory through a third-party isn't as appealing as it once was.

Nestle's Kit Kat took home the Media Grand Prix, the top media award, at the 56th Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, for its edible direct mail product. JWT Tokyo developed the "Kit Kat Mail" campaign, which featured a small, mailable three-dimensional box with a Kit Kat bar enclosed. It is sold exclusively at 20,000 post office outlets in Japan. It also marks the first time Japan Post postal service has partnered with a marketer.

InfoGroup's InfoUSA data now powers point-of-interest (POI) content for LikeMe.Net, a social search and recommendations engine, the former announced on June 22. In other words, the data will both provide and confirm address data for businesses reviewed on LikeMe.

Sometimes, snobbery sells. People don't buy a BMW 700 series automobile because they think it's a superior car. They buy it because it appeals to their inner snob. But, when BMW creates promotional materials, it makes sure to differentiate between the product and the promotion.

Most of us know the keys to direct marketing success are multifaceted and includes many — if not all — of the following techniques.
Define the goals of your program with a clear and concise call to action. Create and scrub your list.

As Web sales gain importance for nearly every multichannel retailer, making sure your site is competitive with today's best e-commerce offerings is essential. Whether you're just getting started in e-commerce or your site needs freshening up, there are some basic must-haves, says Scott Todaro, senior director of product strategy at Demandware:

Omniture is a data company that works with hundreds of technology vendors, including ExactTarget and Silverpop to help combine data with digital channels. It recently partnered with ComScore to help media planners have better audience measurement tools. DMNews chats with Matt Langie, senior director of product marketing at Omniture, about data integration, behavioral targeting legislation and the new partnership

New list — Nonprofit & Tax-Exempt Organizations — GreatLists.com — This file contains nonprofit organizations in the US. It includes educational, labor, charitable and philanthropic, business and professional, healthcare, religious, sports and recreational, housing, farming, youth, community development, fraternal, employee benefit, pension trusts, state chartered credit unions and veterans organizations. It is compiled from official IRS records.

New list — National Science Teachers Association Members — Rickard List Marketing — This file contains teachers, department heads, professors, principals, supervisors, coordinators, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives and others involved in the area of science education. They have paid to join an industry organization. The file is 61% female.

New list — NCS Catalog Buyers — The Information Refinery — This file contains buyers of promotional products for apparel and gift retail stores. Items include signs and sign holders, banners, merchandise displays, pegboards, shelf dividers and extenders and security products.

New websert program — CRT Catalogs E-Mail Confirmation Ads — Direct Media — This websert program places ads on confirmation e-mails for CRT Catalogs, from which buyers purchase a wide variety of unique merchandise, from sweatshirts, bedding and collectibles to uniforms, medical instruments and educational games. Catalogs include Whales & Friends, Nurses Station and Homeroom Gifts. Made up of mostly females, the CRT Catalog Buyers have an average age of 40 with a household income of $48,000.