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Five Questions for: Matt Langie, senior director of product marketing at Omniture

October 23, 2009

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
 

Dos and Don'ts: Online copywriting

October 16, 2009

Consumers interact differently with copy on the Web than they do with traditional marketing media. Transferring copy from a printed brochure online is not a recipe for success. Web copy must embrace online consumer behavior and be relevant to the audience's needs. Three senior creatives share tips on how to optimize online copy.
 

Five questions for: Lisa Lynn, director of marketing and communications at UPS

October 09, 2009

UPS launched a new insert marketing service in early October in five US metropolitan areas with Bed Bath and Beyond, Men's Wearhouse and Zappos. DMNews chats with Lisa Lynn, director of marketing and communications at UPS, about ways the program differs from traditional insert media, the overall challenges marketers face and how to make a statement in white.
 

Top Tips: Planning a successful e-mail campaign for the holidays

October 07, 2009

Holiday sales are more important than ever this year, as retailers gear up for the final quarter of this recession year. As marketers begin to plan their strategy for the holiday season, five seasoned e-mail marketing veterans share their tips on the best way to reach consumers through the inbox during the busy shopping season.
 

Ad networks 101

September 28, 2009

Today, more and more marketers and agencies are turning to ad networks. Prices tend to be lower than buying advertising directly from publishers and the networks boast a vast online footprint. Starting to experiment with and choose your network(s) can be overwhelming. Here, our experts offer tips on how to make smart choices when it comes to online ads.
 

Dos and Don'ts: Webserts

September 20, 2009

Webserts — banner ads placed in confirmation e-mails sent after an e-commerce purchase — have grown in popularity as e-commerce expands and list brokers look for new sources of income. Experts share their "Dos and Don'ts" for marketers looking for opportunities in this emerging channel.
 

Dos and Don'ts of catalog circulation strategy

September 11, 2009

Many multichannel merchants are compelled to cut catalog circulation because of the current economic picture. Some retailers, however, are doing so in the name of "mailing smarter." The goal is for sales to drop at only a fraction of circulation cuts. Multichannel merchants such as Williams-Sonoma and J. Crew reported double-digit reductions to circulations in the first half of this year simultaneous with better-than-expected profits. However, one retailer, Chico's, has expressed remorse recently over making cuts it later realized may have been too dramatic. Here, Kevin Hillstrom, president of MineThatData; Rod Ford, CEO of CognitiveData; and Holly Wasas, account manager for brokerage at Direct Media Millard, weigh in on how to cut back wisely.
 

Five Questions for: Jim DeRouchey, president, InfoUSA Database Licensing at InfoGroup, about local search

September 08, 2009

InfoUSA Database Licensing, a division of InfoGroup, provides proprietary database services for value-added resellers. The company has recently announced content partnerships and expanded alliances with search companies such as Bing and V-Enable. DMNews chats with Jim DeRouchey, president of InfoUSA Database Licensing, about the challenges of local search and the company's strategy to meet that challenge, as well as its future plans.
 

Five Questions for the Weather Channel about mobile

August 31, 2009

The Weather Channel is one of the most trafficked content sites on mobile phones, with more than 12.5 million unique users visiting the site every month and about 6 million iPhone applications in use. According to AdRelevance, the Weather Channel's mobile WAP site is in the top 10 for mobile Web traffic. DMNews chats with Cameron Clayton, VP of mobile at The Weather Channel about the cable channel's mobile strategy and its plans for the future.
 

What you need to know about IMB

August 24, 2009

DMNews spoke with Tom Day, SVP of Intelligent Mail and Address Quality at the US Postal Service, about the basics of the Intelligent Mail barcode (IMB).
 

Dos and Don'ts of online fundraising

August 14, 2009

Online fundraising offers nonprofits the opportunity to reach new audiences while building stronger relationships with existing constituents who are spending more time on the Internet. For organizations used to communicating via direct mail and telemarketing, embarking on a digital strategy presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities. Here, Pamela Barden, VP and group director, Russ Reid; Debbi Barber, president, Grizzard Communications Group; Vinay Bhagat, chief strategy officer, Convio; and Angie C. Moore, SVP and GM, fundraising services group at Merkle offer their Dos and Don'ts when it comes to online fundraising.
 

Conference Call: The Benefits Companies and Sage Software discuss CRM

August 07, 2009

DMNews chats with The Benefit Companies and its CRM provider Sage Software about CRM. On the line is Larry Ritter, SVP of global product management and product marketing, Sage; Bill Sells, manager of IT, The Benefit Companies; and Justin Andaloro, marketing manager, The Benefit Companies.
 

Dos and Don'ts of Social Media

August 03, 2009

Because social media is designed primarily for networking with friends and peers, it is a delicate space to convey marketing messages. Like any social event, marketers should learn a certain kind of etiquette when entering this realm. Collin Douma, VP of social media, Proximity Canada; Paul Dunay, global managing director of services marketing for Avaya; Jeff Hilimire, managing director at Engauge Digital; and Aaron Shapiro, Partner at interactive agency HUGE, offer their Do's and Don'ts when it comes to social media marketing.
 

Debunking Insert Media Myths

July 24, 2009

Leon Henry's Gail Henry, EVP and GM, discusses where the insert media channel stands today, touching on popular misconceptions, unknown benefits and the evolving "websert" channel.
 

Problem Solver: How can b-to-b marketers stretch their marketing budget to generate leads in this economy?

July 20, 2009

With too few dollars in the ever-shrinking b-to-b marketing budget, marketers are hard-pressed to quickly generate qualified, sales-ready leads. M. H. (Mac) McIntosh, president and principal consultant of Mac McIntosh Inc., suggests eight tips for making the most of a minimal budget.
 

Five questions for: Julian Baim, chief research officer, MRI

July 10, 2009

Industry expert Julian Baim, chief research officer of print rating service MRI describes the evolution of circulation and audience measurement.
 

Technique: How to build the best PPC landing page

June 29, 2009

You've paid for the click and now you need to make the most of it. We asked three experts to share their secrets on how to design the best landing page so that every pay-per-click lead from a search engine turns into a buyer.
 

Dos and Don'ts of building a successful e-mail database

June 22, 2009

A solid e-mail database is the cornerstone for any successful e-mail campaign. David Eldridge, CEO of Alterian, and Blake Groves, online marketing consultant for Convio, share their top Dos and Don'ts for building the most valuable e-mail database.
 

Problem Solver: Are you prepared for the biggest postal change in years?

June 12, 2009

Beginning in late November 2009, mailers will be required to switch to full-service Intelligent Mail barcode (IMB) to qualify for greater U.S. Postal Service discounts. IMB offers a dynamic alternative to the extremely limited POSTNET barcode. As you prepare to make the switch to IMB, here are five tips to make sure you take advantage of IMB's benefits.
 

Top Tips: Make alternative payments work for your e-commerce site

June 08, 2009

With the new credit card bill potentially making plastic an option for fewer people — including those under age 21 and those without good credit — e-commerce retailers are offering more alternative payment methods, which are becoming more and more attractive when shopping online. So what should marketers keep in mind when it comes to choosing and promoting alternative payment methods? Bala Janakiraman, principal product manager, Litle & Co., shares his top tips.
 

Top Tips: Keeping your databases safe and secure

June 01, 2009

As data collection becomes increasingly complex, sophisticated and essential for marketers, protecting the security of those databases is more important than ever. We asked several top experts to offer their best tips for how marketers can make sure their data stays safe.
 

6 Tips: Integrating social media with other marketing channels

May 25, 2009

Social media is a hot, ongoing buzzword among marketers. But just good social marketing goes beyond just having a Facebook page. How can you be sure to take advantage of these tactics and integrate it with the rest of your marketing efforts? Six experts share their top tips.
 

Problem Solver: "How can I integrate social media with my e-mail marketing program?"

May 15, 2009

The rise of social media is creating an exciting inbound marketing channel that serves as an excellent complement to outbound email marketing efforts. Marketers who allocate the time and resources to integrate programs can realize synergies - driving incremental revenue while creating positive customer experiences. Here are five tips to help you integrate social media with your e-mail programs and ensure you're getting the most out of them.
 

4 Tips: Twitter marketing

May 08, 2009

Twitter is everywhere and chock-full of consumers - so more and more marketers want to get on the Tweeting bandwagon. But how can you be sure you're making the most of your microblogging efforts? Four experts share their top tips
 

Dos and Don'ts: Local search

May 01, 2009

Local search offers all the accountability and potential for delivering high ROI that make SEM such an attractive channel for marketers, and can help businesses geo-target as well. OrangeSoda co-founder Derek Miner and Gregg Stewart, SVP, TMP Directional Marketing, offer tips on how to become local search-savvy without letting dollars fly out the door.
 

Conference Call: GLU and interactive shop WDA discuss new mobile game campaign

April 24, 2009

David Zemke, director of product marketing at mobile game publisher GLU, and Brennan Hayden, VP at interactive agency WDA, discuss the strategy behind GLU's "The Price is Right" mobile game campaign.
 

Technique: How to make your e-mail go viral

April 17, 2009

Four experts serve up their best tips for getting readers to share your e-mails
 

Problem Solver: Is it smart for an online business to use direct mail?

Dean Rieck, copywriter, Direct Creative April 10, 2009

Copywriter Dean Rieck explains why an online business should not limit its marketing initiatives to online-only and how an online business can reap the benefits of a direct mail campaign.
 

Getting to know...Matt Greitzer, VP of search marketing, Razorfish

April 06, 2009

Matt Greitzer discusses his inspirations, search marketing's appeal, and how karaoke can bring a team together.
 

Do's and Don'ts: Insert Media

March 23, 2009

There are lots of choices when it comes to implementing insert media programs, especially as more marketers choose this channel for its affordable yet high-exposure options. Two insert media experts share their thoughts on what you should and shouldn't do if you want to see success with inserts.
 

5 Tips: How to spiff up your SEO

March 16, 2009

As budget-conscious consumers continue to do more price-comparison shopping online, it's more important than ever to make sure customers can find you online when they search, as well as make sure they see the results you want. Five search experts offer ways to improve your SEO.
 

Problem Solver: How can I turn anonymous Web visitors into leads?

Martin Schneider, director of product marketing, SugarCRM March 06, 2009

So, you've spent a lot of time and resources building a killer Web site; one that you know is attracting a lot of visitors every day. But there is just one problem: you have no idea who is coming to your site and clicking around. The Web is a great tool for casting a wide net and reaching millions of potential customers, and with a few simple tweaks to your site, you can take the anonymity out of the equation.
 

Getting to Know: Rob Weisberg, VP of multimedia marketing, Domino's Pizza

February 27, 2009

The pizza power-player discusses his transition from agency exec to client marketer and the best parts of the job -- besides free toppings
 

Conference Call: Fox Home Entertainment and PointRoll

February 23, 2009

Mark Levien, executive director of digital at Fox Home entertainment, and Dea Lawrence, PointRoll's West Coast VP, joined DMNews for a conference call to discuss the strategy behind the campaign and how the companies worked together to reach consumers.
 

5 Tips: Harnessing the mobile Web

February 13, 2009

Everyday, more consumers are purchasing Internet-enabled handsets, so having your brand available on the mobile Web has become essential. So how can you optimize your presence in this quickly emerging channel? Five experts offer tips on how to beef up your mobile Web offering.
 

Problem Solver: Are there simple ways to reduce my direct mail costs?

Dean Rieck, copywriter, Direct Creative February 04, 2009

Smart direct mailers should always look for ways to cut costs. But in today's economic climate, cutting costs is a must. Paper, postage, and printing are all on the rise. Prospects have become more choosy about responding to offers. And marketing departments are being asked to tighten their belts and stretch their dollars.
 

Dos and don'ts: Measuring social media

February 02, 2009

Social media marketing fully emerged in 2008 as a "buzz" channel in marketing. Marketers have worked tirelessly to find the best ways to reach consumers while they interact with each other on myriad social networks, blogs and other online forums.
 

Getting to Know: Alexandra von Plato, chief creative officer at Digitas Health

January 26, 2009

Alexandra von Plato, EVP and chief creative officer at Digitas Health, discusses her career path and the day-to-day intricacies of her job
 

What agencies wish marketers knew

January 20, 2009

DMNews asked five top agency executives what they wish marketers knew about working with a direct or digital agency - that they typically don't.
 

Problem Solver: How can you stretch a tight pay-per-click marketing budget?

Alex Porter, vice president, Location3 media January 12, 2009

In an effort to cut costs, your CMO has reduced pay-per-click (PPC) marketing budgets (despite it getting the best ROI of any tactic), yet still expects to maintain sales levels. What's a savvy online marketer to do?
 

5 Tips: Lead generation lift-off

January 05, 2009

Growing your databases and driving sales means generating enough leads. So how can you make more of those essential connections? Five experts offer tips on how to beef up your lead-generating efforts.
 

The Economic Challenge: List marketing in a tough economy

December 24, 2008

As budgets for mailers, marketers and consumers tighten, there is a growing need to provide targeted value to consumers and cut down on campaign overhead such as postal expenses. List experts Roy Schwedelson, CEO of Worldata, and Mark Traverso, VP of sales, new business development and e-commerce at Lighthouse List Co., advise marketers on how to navigate uncertain times successfully without sacrificing consumer engagement.
 

The Economic Challenge: Search success in a tough economy

December 22, 2008

Because search marketing's greatest strengths are accountability and measurability, experts warn that search efforts should not be among the casualties left lying on the cutting room floor after marketers crunch their budgets during these trying times.
 

The Economic Challenge: E-mail success in a tough economy

December 15, 2008

While times are tight for marketers and consumers alike, now is as good a time as ever to use e-mail marketing. E-mail is cheap, measurable and affords marketers the ability to test, target and measure in ways that more traditional channels such as direct mail and print cannot. Companies looking to weather these tough times should take advantage of the channel and refine their e-mail programs.
 

The Economic Challenge: Direct mail success in a tough economy

December 08, 2008

With ever-tightening marketing budgets and an official recession, marketers must explore creative ways to promote their brands cost-effectively. While many companies consider e-mail or digital marketing as a cheaper way to reach consumers, experts say they shouldn't eschew traditional direct marketing at its expense.
 

Looking ahead: The deal with digital

December 01, 2008

As we count down the days until 2009, digital marketers are already making their trend predictions. Executive editor Sharon Goldman chats with Adam Turinas, EVP of client development at agency Organic, about his thoughts on interactive marketing for the coming year.
 

Problem Solver: What is the most effective way to generate sales leads?

Dean Rieck, copywriter, Direct Creative November 25, 2008

Lead generation has always been an important sales tool for those who sell products that are expensive or hard to explain. It's a great way to identify who is really interested in your products and services, help your sales people work productively and improve your marketing ROI.
 

Social media shares the spotlight in larger campaigns

November 17, 2008

Social media such as online communities, blogs, video and widgets are redefining how internet users engage the interactive world and, as a result, how marketers must approach multichannel campaigns.
 

Do's and Don'ts: Managing your e-mail reputation

November 10, 2008

In e-mail marketing, reputation is everything. Users are able to make a decision about your e-mail without even opening it — if they don't like what they see in the "Subject" or "From" lines, the delete key is never far away. Marketers also must contend with the negative connotation of "spam" — consumers apply the term to any unwanted e-mails, even if they are legitimate marketing messages to which recipients have opted in. To top it off, ISPs — always looking to streamline their networks and respond to customers' frustrations — create their own barriers. Our experts examine the ways in which e-mail marketers can manage their reputation.
 

Problem Solver: How can online retailers increase conversion rates for the holiday season...and beyond?

October 27, 2008

The issue on the mind of most retailers today is, "How can I grab hold of higher sales and consumer satisfaction during this holiday season?" The malls are becoming less crowded, disposable incomes are dwindling, and most frighteningly, people are losing their jobs at an alarming rate.
 

Five questions for: Jeff Hirsch, CEO, Revenue Science

October 17, 2008

The behavioral targeting ad industry has been under fire recently with privacy advocates pushing for additional protections against online data tracking. The recent pullout of the US market by behavioral targeting firm Adzilla has had some saying the industry is too tricky to thrive. Jeff Hirsch, CEO of behavioral targeting ad network Revenue Science, recently spoke to DMNews about his take on the issue and about a recent Skechers campaign.
 

Conference call: Vail Resorts talks about its search efforts with agency iCrossing

October 10, 2008

Mary Elizabeth Hurn discusses search marketing efforts for Vail Resorts' recently launched site, Snow.com, with executives from Vail Resorts and iCrossing.
 

3 Tips - word of mouth marketing

October 06, 2008

Although word-of-mouth marketing can be difficult to measure, it is one of the most cost-effective and fastest growing channels out there -- WOM spend increased from $722 million in 2005 to $981 million in 2006. Three experts offer tips on how to optimize buzz campaigns to reach brand influencers.
 

Problem Solver: How can I rapidly rev up direct mail response?

September 25, 2008

An industry expert shares three tips on how to boost your response quickly and cheaply.
 

Do's and Don'ts: Building e-mail lists

September 17, 2008

Growing an e-mail list is no easy task - marketers must not only be patient, but also adhere to increasingly-stringent opt-in and opt-out laws. Despite privacy concerns, building an e-mail list organically allows marketers to track customer behavior as well as target customers based on buying habits. DMNews asked two experts for their two cents on how to care for your growing house file and encourage those all-important opt-ins.
 

4 Tips: Getting the best results from online video marketing

September 04, 2008

According to data from eMarketer, US spending on Internet video advertising is expected to grow to $4.3 billion by 2011 - and is currently the fastest growing segment of online display advertising. Four industry experts share tips on how to get the most from your online video campaign.
 

5 Tips: Improving direct mail ROI

August 22, 2008

Though direct mail has always been a reliable channel, personalized copy and unique offers can heighten response rates and improve ROI. Five experts offer tips on how to optimize your mail campaign.
 

How to reach Generation Y

August 14, 2008

The massive population of "echo boomers" means big opportunities for marketers - if you can reach them.
 

Viral videos hit their targets

August 08, 2008

Direct and interactive tactics are helping videos become viral sensations.
 

Online Exclusive: Facebook Pages offer brands a powerful presence

July 24, 2008

Less than a year old, Facebook's Pages application allows brands to join the social networking masses - but can it be used as a DM tactic?
 

Web exclusive feature: 5 tips on how to improve your e-mail subject line testing

July 16, 2008

Working to improve your subject lines - and your test results - is an important ongoing task for e-mail marketers, say experts. Five industry pros share their top tips.
 

Web Exclusive: "Conference Call" with Digitas, InterContinental Hotels Group and Communispace

July 09, 2008

Digital agency Digitas recently enlisted Communispace, a company which creates private online communities to connect businesses and customers, to help optimize InterContinental Hotels Group's loyalty program through the power of consumer feedback. The responses have led to specific changes at IHG, including in their customer materials.
 

Conference Call: Sephora and Acxiom Digital

July 01, 2008

Partnering with interactive agency Acxiom Digital since 2005, Sephora has developed its Beauty Insider loyalty program from the ground up. Tiffany Lei, marketing director at Sephora, and Tim Suther, SVP of digital marketing services at Acxiom, recently took part in a conference call with DMNews' Mary Elizabeth Hurn to discuss the successful partnership and the challenges of bringing in-store experiences to the Web.
 

Conference Call: Trek Bicycle Corporation and Bronto Software

June 16, 2008

High-end American bicycle manufacturer Trek Bicycle Corporation recently ran an e-mail campaign promoting the company's updated Madone brand bike. DMNews' Kevin McKeefery gets the lowdown from Casey Kohner, e-commerce manager at Trek Bicycle, and DJ Waldow, e-mail marketing account manager at e-mail marketing firm Bronto Software about the campaign's success, the unique e-mail campaign structure Trek has built with its retailers, and the working relationship between Trek and Bronto.
 

What's up with widgets

June 09, 2008

Widgets — small, downloadable applications that can interact with the Web to be updated dynamically, for sports scores, weather reports or news — have been around for over three years now. As this timeline illustrates, they surfaced when Apple released its "Tiger" edition of OS X, the Macintosh operating system, which included a suite of widgets called Dashboard.
 

Conference Call: Bausch & Lomb and Digital Pulp

June 02, 2008

Kicking off "Conference Call," DMNews' new online exclusive feature series, Kevin McKeefery chats with Gene Lewis, partner and director of Web site development at agency Digital Pulp; and Kimberly Jones, senior manager, interactive marketing at leading eye care supplier Bausch & Lomb. The two companies have worked together since 2005 on online marketing and Web sites for the brand - both primary sites and microsites for initiatives and partnerships. Jones and Lewis discuss Bausch & Lomb's current efforts as well as the evolution of their working relationship.
 

Marketing luxury during tough times

May 13, 2008

Sector experts say companies can still sell the good life, even though the economy is slowing down.
 

The game changers: Online exclusive

May 12, 2008

Five more agency leaders share their thoughts on direct marketing's evolution
 

Mobile rising online exclusive: Industry experts share their thoughts on mobile marketing

April 14, 2008

Expanded and extended content from our April 14 mobile marketing special, featuring four leading experts spanning the breadth of the channel.