Friday, May 30, 2008

An e-commerce lesson from Grand Theft Auto

I read an interesting opinion piece by Michael S. Malone on abcnews.com called Silicone Insider: Applying ‘Grand Theft Auto’ to Business. Most of the article discussed how GTA continues to be brutal and violent but also about how the graphics are dazzling. Players can open doors, make purchases and even go bowling.

How does this apply to business? If our kids are enjoying “dazzling graphics” everyday in the gaming world, why are adults subjected to boring, static websites? Mr. Malone thinks it is due to lack of imagination and I agree with him. Cost is almost certainly another factor. Regardless, it’s time for the e-commerce marketplace to begin upgrading their websites to be more visually appealing and interactive. I for one would probably shop on-line more if I could look at books, clothing and products in a lifelike alternate reality.

Here’s another thought: If our kids are already accustomed to impressive graphics, what’s going to happen when they become adults and can shop online? Will web merchants be ready for them or will they still maintain the same old static websites?

Labels: e-commerce, marketing, virtual reality

Hats off to Consumers Union

If you haven’t seen the article in this month’s Target Magazine yet, you have to check it out. It explains how Consumers Union has made “going green” a top priority. And they’re not only helping the environment, they’re saving money! I can personally vouch for the team effort referred to in the article, having been of part of the seasonal strategic meeting. It’s just like we always tell our clients…we want to be part of your team!

Meta Brophy and CU should be very proud (as I am to be a part of it!)

Labels: client, green

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Oil, education, wind and water...

Edmond, OK. Oklahoma ranked somewhere near second in the US in oil and gas production - that doesn't change the fact that gas prices still hover around $3.69 a gallon. Certainly not as bad as many have it, but it still stings.

There are some advantages for our area when oil prices are over $130 a barrel... Enter T Boone Pickens.

Hillary Clinton's plan to address soaring prices at the pump was one option of spreading the wealth. Pickens, founder and chairman of BP Capital Management, has other ideas in mind.

Today, adding to the already over $300 million previously given, T Boone announced that he's giving another $100 million to Oklahoma State University for academics. One of Pickens other companies, Mesa Power, ordered more than 600 wind turbines from GE this month for his $6 billion project announced last year described as the Worlds Largest Wind Farm. Pickens is taking some heat on his hopes to sell 200,000 acre-feet of water from the Ogallala Aquifer under the wind farm to North Texas.

Like Pickens or not, "What we need, now more than ever, are people with large capital who are willing to invest in the infrastructure”, writes a recent blogger. Having some of the OIL profits put back into Education and Alternative Energy projects help ease the pain at the pump a little... but not much!

Labels: guest blogger, oil and gas

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

It's official: Scott Chilcutt thinks we're pretty cool...

At RMI we like to keep things new and exciting - and what better of a way than to have the "Industry Innovator" (and President of Marketing Information Network) join RMI Today as a guest blogger! We asked, he accepted. It's a beautiful thing.

So keep your eyes peeled for posts from the data guru, coming soon!

Labels: guest blogger

RMI's 7th Annual Health Mailer Symposium

The weather was horrible, but for those who attended RMI's 7th Annual Health Mailer Symposium (5.16.08) it was an awesome day. The informal, mailers-only gathering created an excellent forum to exchange ideas and discuss trends which affect each other's businesses.

The symposium is the brainchild of Laura Smith who had the idea to gather publishers of health newsletters together where they could "let their hair down" and pick each others brains. Unlike traditional conferences where the agenda is preset, here the attendees send their anonymous discussion topics to RMI (who acts solely as a facilitator) prior to the event. This way attendees are assured that the content of the day will be pertinent and beneficial.

As a result of the success of this event, RMI has held two symposiums for nonprofit mailers which take place annually in Washington, DC - around the time of the DMA Nonprofit Federation's conference in January.

Labels: health, Health Mailer Symposium

Monday, May 19, 2008

VerticalResponse for nonprofits

Becky and Debbie passed this tidbit on to me. A company called VerticalResponse is giving away 10,000 emails/month for FREE to any qualified 501(c) 3.

If you don't have an email piece they will give you the tools to create one. And if you choose to mail over the 10,000 credit? No worries, you'll still get a 15% discount on the excess. I've looked over their website and there's no catch.

If you are a new just sign up, fax back the application and you're ready to go. If you're already a user and not getting the credit, just email nonprofits@verticalresponse.com and request to be part of the program.

Labels: email, nonprofit

Friday, May 16, 2008

Online photo-sharing opportunity for nonprofits

It seems that Flickr, an online photo sharing company (who we happen to have an account with), has teamed up with TechSoup to offer nonprofit organizations the opportunity to share their stories through the use of digital images. This all according to an article in the recent issue of Fundraising Success.

Get this, the first 10,000 memberships are free for qualified non profits (normal cost is $25/ year). Organizations will be able to upload unlimited number of images to their site.

Flickr feels that nonprofits have unique stories to share with the world, and that digital photos are one way in which they can do so. I happen to agree with them. In my recent plunge into frigid Lake Mahopac for Cystic Fibrosis, the pictures that were taken showed jubilation, not hypothermia.

Apparently, there is no deadline to take part in this giveaway, but the 10,000 memberships are available on a first come first serve basis. Get ‘em while they’re hot!

Labels: nonprofit, viral marketing, Web

Thursday, May 15, 2008

21st Century = Mass Innovation

Thanks to Darryl at Brandflakes for pointing this out. This is a really creative and well thought out production about the web, ideas, and how we interact today. In my opinion - great food for thought and creative inspiration for marketers. A must watch.

Labels: Web

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Welcome RMI rookies!

Well, not entirely... Although these two fine gentlemen (Alan Yu and Dan Gallo) are indeed our new management hires, they both aren't completely new to RMI - and definitely not to the industry.

Alan actually worked for RMI as a Senior Account Executive back in June of '91 until July of '93. We imagine the summer heat must have gotten to him because of course no one in the right mind would ever leave us. But, he's now back with over 18 years of experience under his belt and is taking on the role of Strategic Sales Director.

Alan has a BA in Psychology (read: mind reading) from Binghamton University and is known to participate in competitive sports including fast pitch softball, tennis, and touch and flag football. (Brokers beware!) He's also been flagged as another die-hard Yankees fan on the RMI roster -- sorry Rich & Cyndi -- and takes an avid interest in the NFL, NBA, professional tennis, the stock market, photography, and enjoys playing with his nieces and nephew.

Dan, on the other hand, is joining RMI as an Account Executive with 13 years of industry experience - most recently working for mass publisher InterMedia Outdoors Inc. where he generated record list rental revenue figures last year. Nice!

As far as hobbies are concerned, he has proclaimed an interest in performance cars and auto racing, photography, steam and diesel railroads, singing, music and most of all spending time with his wife and two young children. Understandably, we're curious about the "singing" confession and if he's aware of our promotional videos (and expanding blackmail file).

So welcome fellas! We're glad to have you and your many talents aboard.

Labels: employees, RMI

Monday, May 5, 2008

Debbie & Justine spend some time in the trees

Last weekend Debbie and Justine (the ladies of our ADF account team) took an adventurous journey to Nebraska where they spent two whole days with the Arbor Day Foundation crew celebrating National Arbor Day (and doing really important, highly confidential executive things which we don't talk about).

Of all the special outdoor activities they offered, these gutsy ladies favored the Canopy Tree House, which features a climb 50 feet above the forest floor to look over the Arbor Day Farm orchards, hazelnut fields, Lied Lodge, and natural sanctuary. Their least favorite? They opted for more grounded entertainment when they were asked to put on a harness and learn how trim branches while hanging among the tree limbs. They decided to leave that to the professionals; they'll take care of the direct marketing instead.

Labels: client, employees, green

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

At RMI we love on any old excuse to have a little fiesta - and what better an occasion than Cinco de Mayo! We treat these holidays kind of like a "pot luck" where everyone brings in a dish and we eat all day long. Really. Now if only alcohol consumption were allowed during work hours... (note the missing margaritas)

And don't let our pretty pathetic lack of authentic Mexican cuisine fool you, (warning: plug) we have gobs of data about Spanish speaking people and their cultures. Try us out sometime - see what we have to offer.