Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Denny, that's not the point

In the April edition of Target Marketing, Denny Hatch puts a different spin on the ad spots from InfoUSA. Denny's position is that as long as they make a profit, they're OK. He's addressing the negative feedback from critics who just don't like the ad concepts.

As a marketer, I agree with Denny. Hey, I'm not in any position to judge... But it's not the content I object to, it's the idea that anyone can get a mailing list of people for "free". No screening. No where do you have to submit anything for approval. With all the various privacy advocates, "do not mail" groups and environmental groups breathing down our industry, is it wise to flaunt this?

It just flies in the face of the way most list businesses work. There are approval processes, sample clearance processes, mail date approvals, service bureau approvals, list rental agreements, mail date approvals and the list goes on and on. All this to prove that we are monitoring what is being delivered to consumers.

I wonder how much of a drop in InfoUSA would see if they followed the same practices?

Labels: DRTV, privacy

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

I dream of Sales Genie

After the parade for the victorious underdog NY Giants, there will only be a few who remember vividly the entire game. Sure in sports bars all over NY and Boston, the die hard fans will re-play each exciting moment of the last 2 minutes. But for me, what I will remember are the commercials.

To me the Super Bowl is like the new fall season of TV; a harbinger of commercials to come. So I was a little disappointed by the line up this year. In particular, the Sales Genie campaign. Who's their target audience? Serious business people or Saturday morning cartoon watchers? Maybe I'm too close to it but I found them to be degrading. Also, the ads play into the hands of those who feel like there is no oversight in our industry. That thousands of names are just available for the taking, to anyone who wants them, without taking proper security measures and background checks.

I imagine that only time will tell how successful (or unsuccessful) the campaign is, but the potential damage to the DMA's efforts to protect privacy is already out there.

Labels: privacy, video

Monday, January 14, 2008

Facebook falls into the privacy trap

In an interview with 60 Minutes, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the 23 year old whiz-kid of the social media scene, was chastised for his faux pas in the possible invasion of his members' privacy. What's interesting here is the fact that for all the press and notoriety, Facebook is not making money. The only way they have made anything is through the famous $240 million sale of 1.6% share of the company to Microsoft.

In order to try to generate revenue, the company decided to sell advertising - but not through your conventional means. Apparently Facebook began using Beacon, a tracking program that monitors what its members buy on over 40 websites. Then, without explicit permission, it automatically reports their purchases to family and friends through a member "endorsed" ad. (Picture your face next to the scarf you just bought online at Bloomingdales.) It's a really innovative idea, just poorly executed. In any event they'll need to make some major changes in their methodology.

Will Facebook become the new Google? Some people think so.

Labels: privacy, social media

Friday, January 11, 2008

Great article, must read

Ken Magill has a great article this week on how being over zealous can some times cloud your judgement. Sears, trying to do the right thing by disclosing what they were going to do with information given to them voluntarily, still can't get a break from the privacy advocates. Sears very clearly and completely explains in their disclaimer, that by clicking and joining their research group, people are allowing Sears to follow their internet movements. What's the problem here, or rather, who's the problem?

Labels: privacy

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

We're not the bad guys

The onslaught of negative press for direct mail has found its way to the pages of Parade Magazine ( Sunday, 09/16/07). Just as before our industry is being lumped together with on-line city mapping, grocery store shopping cards, sharp divorce lawyers using electronic toll booth records and of all things, the FBI paying phone companies to stockpile phone call information. What they are doing is blurring the lines between “marketing information” and Internet clutter you may have done years ago which could come back to haunt you. There’s a big difference in good customer relations which may include keeping records of past purchases to provide future service, and spying which is what this article alludes to.

I’m sorry but my personal information was compromised when a lap top computer was stolen from one of the offices of the Governor of the State of Connecticut, not from the catalog where I buy my shirts. Get real! Two separate things here people.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Denny, that's not the point

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

I dream of Sales Genie

Monday, January 14, 2008

Facebook falls into the privacy trap

Friday, January 11, 2008

Great article, must read

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

We're not the bad guys

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