Q&As

Direct mail can provide so much benefit to small businesses that I’m surprised how many continue to misuse the medium. Too often, mail is sent out with no offer, no inspection of the message, and no real attempt to sell or get a prospect to buy.

A new survey shows that while fewer small business owners will reward their staff this holiday season with bonuses, more will give time off.

Toyota’s edgy Scion brand is launching two online ventures that extend its strategy of marketing through entertainment.

A new blog is created every single second of every single day. That’s a whole lot of content. But many blogs are abandoned by their creators almost immediately, totally defeating their purpose. Many blogs are of no value at all. E-mail, a medium that once held so much potential, is best served as a customer retention and reactivation tool; often in the form of a high-quality content e-newsletter that entertains, educates, informs and then sells.

Anti-spammers are claiming a recent court decision against e-mail activist Mark Mumma in favor of marketer Omega World Travel is clear evidence that the federal Can-Spam act is a disaster.

ValueClick Inc. has acquired London-based Shopping.net for approximately $13.3 million in cash.

During 2006, U.S. spending increases for both direct mail and the Internet outstripped the growth rate for all advertising.

Seth D. Radwell has been named president of Scholastic at Home. Radwell will have responsibility for the company’s school continuity marketing program and Back to Basics division.

Papa John’s is marking the debut of Superman Returns on DVD in a big way—a fully loaded pizza.

Consumers are letting retailers know they want—and plan to wait for—big bargains.